The clansmen were utterly shocked.
“What? But it was Yao’er who was betrothed to the Second Prince.”
“Did they get into the wrong bridal sedan?”
Faced with everyone’s questions, Cheng Jiahui didn’t know how to explain.
Wang Qiuniang forced an awkward smile and cut in, “The two girls happened to fall for the wrong men. Yao’er likes the Prince of War, while Lan’er likes the Second Prince. They secretly switched their bridal sedans on the day of the wedding without telling anyone. I’ll have to give them both a good scolding later. What a pair of reckless girls.”
What?
They switched marriages?
People could actually do that?
They were treating marriage like a child’s game! How were they going to explain this to His Majesty?
Besides, everyone knew that Cheng Yao was in love with the Second Prince and had chased after him for years, causing no end of embarrassment. Old Master Cheng had even shamelessly begged His Majesty to grant her this marriage. Cheng Yao had gotten exactly what she wanted, so how could she possibly have fallen for the Prince of War instead?
Suspicion filled everyone’s hearts. Feeling guilty, Wang Qiuniang didn’t dare meet their eyes. Her gaze darted about as she called to the nanny beside her, “It’s getting late. Go see whether the newlyweds have returned.”
The moment she finished speaking, a servant reported, “Master, Madam, Miss and her husband have returned.”
Wang Qiuniang’s face lit up with delight, though she chided the servant aloud, “How improper. They are the Second Prince and the Second Princess.”
“Madam, come. Let’s go welcome them.”
Cheng Jiahui was brimming with pride. With Wang Qiuniang clinging to his arm, the couple happily went to greet the newlyweds, while all the clansmen followed behind them.
Cheng Yao stepped down from the carriage. Seeing a large crowd charging toward her, her mind instinctively conjured up the image of a zombie horde. She almost turned and ran.
The moment Wang Qiuniang saw her, however, her expression darkened.
The smile on Cheng Jiahui’s face vanished as well. Realizing that would look inappropriate, he hurriedly squeezed out another reluctant smile.
“Yao’er, you’re back?”
The guards brought out a wheelchair. Upon hearing him, Mo Baichuan interjected, “In-law Master, you should address her as Princess Consort Zhan.”
Cheng Jiahui froze. His smile grew even more strained. “Yes, yes, of course. Even though she’s my own daughter, we must observe proper etiquette. I’ll correct myself.”
Wang Qiuniang nudged him with her elbow. “Master, the Prince of War has difficulty walking. Why don’t you lend him a hand?”
Her words sounded considerate, but in reality, she was slyly implying that Zhan Haoting was a cripple.
However, Zhan Haoting merely braced both hands against the padded couch inside the carriage and dropped easily into the wheelchair, his movements light and graceful.
Cheng Yao smiled. “My husband has only injured his legs; he isn’t crippled. Why are you so concerned, Auntie? He is highly skilled in martial arts. Not only can he travel without difficulty, he could even take the battlefield and slay the enemy. I seem to recall that my half-brother often frequents brothels and has worn himself out so badly that servants have to support him when he walks. Isn’t he the one you should be worried about?”
When had this wretched girl become so sharp-tongued?
After her initial shock, Wang Qiuniang seethed with resentment, but her tone remained gentle and composed. “Yao’er, sixteen years ago, your father formally took me as his wife. I became his principal wife, the mistress of the Cheng household, and your mother. Why are you calling me ‘Auntie’ again? And the half-brother you mentioned is your own younger brother. He is a legitimate son of the Cheng family, not a bastard. He’s merely playful and perfectly healthy. Don’t make such jokes and cause everyone to misunderstand.”
Cheng Yao put on a puzzled expression. “If I remember correctly, my mother’s bones had barely grown cold when you moved into this household. You had no three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts, nor were you properly wed. You simply carried a small bundle through the door. You couldn’t even be considered a formal concubine, and yet you became the principal wife? How does that work?”
Cheng Jiahui’s face turned livid. “Cheng Yao! You—”
Before he could finish, Mo Baichuan interrupted him. “Lord Cheng, according to the law, addressing Princess Consort Zhan by her given name is an act of disrespect. You will receive twenty strokes of the cane.”
Wang Qiuniang’s eyes reddened. She tugged at Cheng Jiahui and said to Cheng Yao, “Princess Consort Zhan, we know we were wrong. Your father is old and cannot withstand twenty strokes. Punish me instead.”
Cheng Yao smiled sweetly. “Since you insist, Auntie, how could I refuse? Guards—”
By now, everyone could see what had happened. The Princess Consort Zhan had most likely been forced by Cheng Jiahui and his wife to marry the Prince of War, which was why she had returned looking for trouble.
One of the clan elders hurriedly tried to stop her. “Yao’er—no, Princess Consort Zhan, at least call her Mother. She’s admitted her mistake. Let this one go, all right?”
“All right…” Cheng Yao turned to Wang Qiuniang. “For Third Grand-Uncle’s sake, I won’t hold it against you this time. But remember this: never again call yourself the mistress of the Cheng household. That would be against the law. Father…”
Cheng Yao looked at Cheng Jiahui. “There is no proper mistress in this household, and the whole place is filthy and disorderly. That day, I was forcibly held down by servants and made to take someone else’s place in the bridal sedan. His Highness was magnanimous and did not pursue the matter, but no one may trample on the dignity of the imperial family. If His Majesty decides to punish us, the entire clan could be exiled.”
Everyone’s expressions changed drastically. Wang Qiuniang said somewhat frantically, “It was you and Lan’er who got confused and entered the wrong bridal sedan. The Second Prince and the Second Princess will plead with us on our behalf. At most, His Majesty will summon Master and reprimand him. Nothing will happen.”
Yet no one present was a fool. Someone had switched out a prince’s bride without his knowledge. Wasn’t that an act of deception and humiliation?
Even ordinary people would be furious enough to kill someone over it, let alone an emperor.
They were finished!
The clansmen turned ashen.
“Jiahui, hurry to the palace and plead guilty.”
“Beg His Majesty for mercy. Otherwise, all of us will be implicated.”
The more they talked, the more frightened they became. One after another, they came up with excuses to leave.
“My wife is about to give birth. I should go.”
“My old sow is about to give birth too.”
“My mother is getting married.”
“Wait, don’t go!” Cheng Jiahui tried to stop them.
But the clansmen fled while making their excuses, disappearing in the blink of an eye and illustrating the meaning of “the fickleness of human nature” to perfection.
It was the first time Cheng Jiahui had ever been humiliated so thoroughly, and he found it utterly unbearable.
Then he noticed that Third Grand-Uncle was still standing there stiffly. Thinking that at least one clansman supported him and was willing to face this crisis alongside him, Cheng Jiahui felt a little comforted. He reached out to help the old man.
But before his hand could touch him, Third Grand-Uncle trembled and said, “Nephew, find someone to escort me home. My legs are weak. I—I can’t walk.”
Cheng Jiahui: “…”
Cheng Yao burst out laughing. Cheng Jiahui whipped his head toward her, his gaze vicious.
She took two frightened steps back. “Father, you and Auntie look so unhappy. Do you not welcome His Highness and me? Then we’ll leave.”
With that, she began pushing Zhan Haoting’s wheelchair away. Third Grand-Uncle hurriedly called out, “Don’t! There’s no grudge between father and daughter that can’t be resolved. Princess Consort Zhan, don’t take your father’s behavior to heart.”
“Jiahui, why are you still standing there? Invite your daughter and son-in-law inside! What are you waiting for?”
Cheng Jiahui looked as though he had swallowed something foul. If the Prince of War’s rank had been below his own, he would have thrown the couple out and pretended he had never had this daughter.
But the other man was a prince of a different surname, second only to the emperor and above countless others. Cheng Jiahui couldn’t afford to offend him in the slightest.
He tugged at the corners of his mouth and made an inviting gesture. “Prince of War, Princess Consort Zhan, please come inside.”
Then he gave Wang Qiuniang a push. “Take our guests in and entertain them properly.”
Wang Qiuniang’s eyes were red as she sobbed, “Princess Consort Zhan doesn’t like having me around. Why should I go over there and humiliate myself? You entertain them yourself, Master. I’m staying here to wait for Lan’er.”
Cheng Jiahui was so furious that smoke nearly came out of his head.
Was this really the time for her to act coy?
They had forced Cheng Yao to take Lan’er’s place in the marriage. The Prince of War was the injured party, and they had to placate him properly.
Otherwise, if he lodged another complaint against me before His Majesty, my already precarious situation would only grow worse.
