516 Marriage 2
He would definitely not let her down in this life.
The bridal sedan chair moved further and further away. The Su family kept looking at it until it was out of sight before turning back to the house.
Su Hua and Su Chong began to receive the guests.
After Su Sanlang sent Madam Zhao back to her room, he went to the front to help.
Su Xiaolu accompanied Madam Zhao, and Madam Chen, Daniu, and Chen Erniu also accompanied her quietly.
Madam Zhao gradually calmed down. She prayed again and again in her heart, hoping that her daughter would not suffer and be happier.
Su Xiaoling sat in the bridal sedan chair and listened to the celebratory gongs and drums. She knew that she was getting further and further away from home.
When she and Zhou Heng got married, the etiquette was much more complicated than when ordinary people got married. She took out the medicinal pancake that Su Xiaolu had given her from her sleeve and ate it. This pancake was very filling and was not dry, so she would not be thirsty. Only then would she have the energy to complete all the formalities today.
After alighting from the bridal sedan chair, Zhou Heng held her hand and walked. They bowed to the heavens and the earth and met all the civil and military officials.
The emperor had practically groomed Zhou Heng as the Crown Prince, which was why the entire wedding was so grand.
Now that Zhou Heng had been made Crown Prince, he only lacked an opportunity.
Wei Ling’s face was cold the entire time, showing the might of the empress. She disdained to look at Su Xiaoling.
However, Su Xiaoling did not waver after all the etiquette. She could not help but take a few more glances. Their gazes met. Su Xiaoling smiled faintly, and Wei Ling looked away coldly. Even if she did not make any mistakes, she would not like her.
Wasn’t it because she had thick skin and wasn’t delicate that she could handle all these? Thinking of this, Wei Ling despised her even more.
Su Xiaoling didn’t pay much attention to Wei Ling. She only did what she had to do. She didn’t care if she was liked or not. She only cared about one person when she came here. As long as this person cared about her, it was enough.
After being sent to her new room, Su Xiaoling could finally relax.
Dou Fu and Hui Xiang closed the door. Hui Xiang gently took out the pearl crown for Su Xiaoling and said, “Miss, I’ll massage you. Young Miss has instructed me to use this.”
Dou Fu also gently massaged Su Xiaoling’s shoulders, arms, and legs to ease the soreness in her body. From leaving the house to entering the palace until now, she had been standing for a few hours. Her legs and feet could not stand the swelling anymore.
After applying the medicine and massaging it, Su Xiaoling felt much better.
The next step was to wait.
When they heard footsteps outside, Hui Xiang and Dou Fu put the pearl crown on Su Xiaoling and put on her red bridal veil.
Zhou Heng returned. After opening the door, he calmly ordered the palace servants, “All of you can leave.”
After entering the room, Hui Xiang and Dou Fu bowed slightly. Zhou Heng raised his hand. “You can leave too.”
When there was only him and Su Xiaoling in the room, he took off Su Xiaoling’s red bridal veil first. He smiled gently and said, “You must be tired today.”
This thick pearl crown left red marks on Su Xiaoling’s forehead. When he took it off, he smelled a faint medicinal fragrance.
He was quite satisfied with Hui Xiang and Dou Fu. Their martial arts were not bad, and they could also serve Su Xiaoling well. They took good care of her.
“Not really.”
Su Xiaoling smiled gently. She looked at Zhou Heng with a gentle gaze.
Zhou Heng also smiled. He went to pour some wine and drank it with Su Xiaoling.
It was unknown if they were intoxicated by the alcohol or by each other, but their faces were red and hot.
Zhou Heng put down the curtains and gently removed Su Xiaoling’s clothes…
There were strict rules in the palace, there must be blood on the couple’s first night.
The next day, Zhou Heng woke up at dawn. Su Xiaoling moaned. He smiled and turned his head to kiss Su Xiaoling’s cheek. He said gently, “Xiaoling, I’ll go to court first. I’ll bring you back to greet Father and Mother later.”
Su Xiaoling nodded gently.
After Zhou Heng left, she pulled the blanket over her face.
The prince’s wedding also had a marriage leave, but if he did not want it, it was fine. There were already four days of rest in a month.
Zhou Heng went to the morning court assembly. Su Xiaoling also woke up and called the palace maids over to get to know the people in the palace.
After the morning court assembly, the two of them went to Zhengyang Palace to pay their respects.
Su Xiaoling walked beside Zhou Heng. Zhou Heng whispered to her, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Wei Ling didn’t like Su Xiaoling to begin with. Zhou Heng was only respectful to his mother, so Su Xiaoling didn’t need to please her. She just needed to be respectful and polite.
There were only two older princes in the palace, Zhou Zhi and Zhou Heng. The other princes were only about nine or ten years old.
Zhou Zhao and Wei Ling were already waiting. The other concubines had not left and were waiting to see Su Xiaoling.
Su Xiaoling was born in a farming family. Everyone wanted to see what she looked like. Some people guessed that she would look scrawny and dull. When Su Xiaoling appeared, they were all shocked.
Su Xiaoling was exquisite and fair. Her actions were appropriate and she looked dignified, beautiful, and generous. Her temperament was not inferior to that of a noble lady.
Zhou Heng’s expression was calm and his aura was restrained. In just a few months, he had actually become a sly old fox who hid his emotions.
He brought Su Xiaoling to kneel and kowtow. He said loudly, “I have brought my wife to greet Father and Mother.”
“Greetings to Father and Mother.”
Su Xiaoling’s voice was gentle.
Zhou Zhao smiled gently and raised his hand. “Get up. Since you’re married, support each other. Father wishes the two of you to grow old together and have many children and grandchildren.”
After Zhou Zhao finished speaking, he looked at the empress, Wei Ling, meaningfully.
Wei Ling said calmly, “Get up. What your father said is what I want to say.”
Zhou Heng and Su Xiaolu both smiled. Zhou Heng got up and reached out to help Su Xiaoling up.
Su Xiaoling looked at the concubines present. She smiled and nodded slightly. It could be considered a greeting.
After greeting them, Wei Ling said coldly, “Alright, you can return for today.”
After she spoke, the concubines retreated. Only the four of them were left in Zhengyang Palace.
Zhou Zhao smiled and said, “Heng’er and Xiaoling haven’t eaten yet, right? It just so happens that Father and Mother haven’t eaten yet either. In that case, stay and eat with us.”
Zhou Heng and Su Xiaoling nodded.
At this moment, a voice announced the arrival of the Wisdom King.
Zhou Zhi came. He came in a wheelchair. There were stairs and he needed someone to carry him.
Seeing Zhou Zhi, Zhou Heng stood up and pushed him. He said softly, “Ah Zhi, thank you for coming.”
Zhou Zhi came because of his request.
Zhou Zhi’s expression was calm. He didn’t say anything and only nodded slightly.
Zhou Zhao looked gratified. He had just noticed that Su Xiaoling was also about to get up, but she seemed to remember that this did not make sense, so she sat down.
From some small details, Zhou Zhao could imagine what kind of care Zhou Heng had received from the Su family. The Su family was very kind.