Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1101 The Prince’s Wedding

Duan Chaopei's bridal sedan chair was carried into the palace through Zhengyang Gate, where the wedding ceremony was held in the presence of civil and military officials.

The master of ceremonies from the Ministry of Rites loudly proclaimed, "First bow to Heaven and Earth!"

He Yucheng and Duan Chaopei knelt down together and performed a grand salute to heaven and earth.

"Bowing to our parents again!" The two then turned and bowed to the Empress Dowager, His Majesty, and the Empress.

"Husband and wife bow to each other!" Duan Chaopei gave a slight curtsy and bowed to He Yucheng. Under the red veil, her eyes were slightly hot, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

After the ceremony, a palace servant brought two cups of tea. He Yucheng picked up the teacup and carefully handed it to Duan Chaopei. Duan Chaopei stepped forward and respectfully offered the tea to His Majesty: "Father, please have some tea."

He Linzhang reached out and took the tea, saying, "Your Highness, now that you are married, you must cherish your Crown Princess and remember that husband and wife are one. You two must live in harmony and happiness, support each other, and walk hand in hand." He then took a sip of his wife's tea.

He Yucheng respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will follow your teachings."

Duan Chaopei also bowed and said, "Yes, your daughter-in-law will follow your teachings."

Duan Chaopei then took the tea from He Yucheng and offered it to Tao Yanyan: "Mother, please have some tea."

Tao Yanyan smiled and accepted the gift, took a sip, and then took a box of gold ingots from Xianglan and placed it in He Chaopei's hand: "From now on, the Crown Prince will be in your care. You must take good care of him for me."

Duan Chaopei accepted the heavy box of gold ingots and respectfully said, "Yes, your daughter-in-law will certainly not fail to live up to your expectations."

Tao Yanyan then said to He Yucheng, "Yucheng, from now on, the Crown Princess will be in your hands. You must take good care of Chaopei for the Duan family."

He Yucheng nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty understands."

Duan Chaopei's red veil still covered her face, so she couldn't see He Yucheng's features, but his voice was clearly audible. Hearing his promise, her heart suddenly warmed, and she leaped with joy.

The newlyweds were first sent to the East Palace, where the wedding banquet would also be held.

Duan Chaopei had gotten up before dawn to dress and do her hair, then walked around the city and went to the ancestral temple to pay homage to her ancestors. She was already quite tired. After being taken to the East Palace's sleeping quarters, He Yucheng thought for a moment and said, "You can only lift your veil tonight. If you feel tired, lean back and rest for a while. There are some snacks on the table. If you are hungry, have a bite to eat first. I will go out to entertain the guests."

Duan Chaopei gave a soft "Yes, Chaopei understands. Your Highness, please take care."

The two were very polite to each other, and He Yucheng did not linger, turning around and leaving.

Once the bedroom fell silent, Duan Chaopei breathed a sigh of relief and quietly lifted her veil to take a look.

The Eastern Palace's sleeping quarters were lavishly furnished, with crimson brocade draped everywhere and candlelight flickering on dragon and phoenix candlesticks. Various rare treasures were displayed inside, and calligraphy and paintings by famous artists adorned the walls. Duan Chaopei rose, strolled gently to the table, where several plates of exquisite pastries were placed, each one looking incredibly delicious.

She picked up a piece and ate it. The sweet and soft texture was amazing, so she couldn't help but eat two more pieces.

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, open the window quickly!"

The sudden noise startled Duan Chaopei so much she almost choked. The sound came from the window, like a child's voice. She mustered her courage, went over, and opened the window.

A small, pale yellow parrot flapped its wings and flew into the room, circling twice before landing on the table.

Duan Chaopei looked out the window, saw no one, and closed the window again.

"Sister-in-law, have some snacks, have some snacks."

Duan Chaopei then realized that it was the parrot that had flown in that was speaking. Curious, she walked over and stared at the parrot with wide eyes: "Was it you who was speaking?"

He Xiaoqi tilted her head, looking adorably innocent: "It's me, I'm He Xiaoqi."

Duan Chaopei: "..."

A parrot surnamed He? Duan Chaopei swallowed hard, pinched himself, and felt a pain, confirming that it wasn't a dream.

"Have some snacks, have some snacks." He Xiaoqi circled around the snacks, her eyes fixed on the snacks on the table.

Duan Chaopei tried to pick up a piece, broke off a small piece and placed it in front of He Xiaoqi, and He Xiaoqi then began to eat it bite by bite.

Having eaten half-full, He Xiaoqi was content and decided not to leave, instead snuggling into Duan Chaopei's arms for a light nap. Duan Chaopei let it be, and the two chatted idly, each taking turns saying a few words.

When He Yucheng returned to the room, He Xiaoqi was already drowsy.

"So it was here with you. I've been looking for it for ages." He Yucheng approached, carrying a faint scent of alcohol. Duan Chaopei's cheeks, hidden under her veil, felt slightly flushed.

"I was in the room when it came in, ate some snacks, and seemed to have fallen asleep."

The little parrot nestled quietly on Duan Chaopei, showing no shyness whatsoever. He Yucheng glanced at her; for He Xiaoqi to be so affectionate, she must at least be a kind person.

He reached out and picked up the bird from Duan Chaopei's arms, then found a soft undergarment in the wardrobe to make a nest for it. He then turned and went out to give a few instructions to the palace maids outside, asking them to tell the Fifth Princess that he would return the bird to her the next day, before returning to the room.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment. He Yucheng made a firm decision, stepped forward, and lifted the red veil, revealing a bright and beautiful young girl's face.

Duan Chaopei slightly raised her eyes, meeting He Yucheng's gaze. The flickering candlelight in the room illuminated her flushed cheeks. He Yucheng stared at the beautiful face before him, momentarily lost in thought.

Realizing his abruptness, he coughed lightly, breaking the slightly ambiguous atmosphere. "You must be tired today." Duan Chaopei said softly, "A little, but... thank you for choosing me, Your Highness. I... I am very happy."

After saying this, Duan Chaopei realized that she had been too blunt, and her face flushed even more. Her hands nervously twisted together. "I...I'm not usually...not that straightforward, and I didn't know...Please don't misunderstand me, Your Highness, and think I...Ah, I'd better not say anything." In her anxiety, she even started to stutter, and Duan Chaopei wished she could bite her tongue off.

She, who always considered herself to be able to act with composure, was so flustered for the first time that she couldn't even speak clearly.

He Yucheng looked at her flustered appearance and unconsciously curled the corners of his mouth. Seeing that the phoenix crown on her head was too heavy, he reached out and took it off for her.

Duan Chaopei, feeling a weight lifted from his head, said with relief, "Thank you, Your Highness."

A knock came at the door, and several palace maids entered carrying things. Cui, the head maid of the East Palace, handed over two cups of nuptial wine: "Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness the Crown Princess, this is nuptial wine. Please drink it." Cui said respectfully.

He Yucheng took one cup and handed the other to Duan Chaopei. Duan Chaopei accepted it shyly, lowering her head and not daring to look at He Yucheng. He Xiaoqi, who had been sleeping quietly, suddenly flew over and hovered above their heads, chirping, "Drink from the same cup! Drink from the same cup!"

The palace maids were amused and laughed, which eased Duan Chaopei's tension considerably.

Duan Chaopei finished drinking the wine with a flushed face. Aunt Cui then used scissors to cut off two locks of hair from the two of them, tied them together with a red string, and put them in a box, symbolizing a couple who have been married for many years.

"Hot water is ready, please bathe, Your Highness." The palace maids were well-trained, and in no time, Duan Chaopei was helped into the inner palace.