The Crown Prince's body stiffened, and neither of them spoke a word.
A heavy, stagnant atmosphere slowly spread between the two, while the old maid's voice outside continued.
Visible annoyance and anger appeared on the Crown Prince's face. "Insolent! Who gave you the audacity to come to the main courtyard and dictate orders?"
As the Crown Prince lost his temper, a young palace maid immediately pushed open the door and entered the room. "To answer His Royal Highness, the person outside is a dowry maid brought by Side Consort Liu. She said that Her Majesty the Empress specifically instructed before leaving that Your Highness must lift the bridal veil for the Side Consort."
This was considered a kind of reward and favor to the Liu family. As for where the Crown Prince would spend the night, the Empress, being the legitimate empress consort, naturally would not be so foolish as to force him to stay in the Side Consort's courtyard.
All she wanted was for the Crown Prince to give the Liu family a modicum of face. However, having the Liu family's servants come to demand it made the situation look rather unseemly.
But the main consort's veil hadn't even been lifted yet; how could it be the side courtyard's turn? The Crown Prince's face turned icy. "Tell her to get lost."
The young maid was startled and immediately shrank back.
Tang Qingwan stopped the young maid just in time. "Go out and tell the old maid who came to invite him that His Royal Highness will go over a little later."
"Yes." The young maid stole another glance at the Crown Prince before retreating in panic and fear.
"Qingwan," the Crown Prince said, his brows furrowed slightly.
Tang Qingwan said, "Your Highness, do not delay any longer. Please lift my veil quickly."
The Crown Prince pursed his lips and had no choice but to lift the veil according to etiquette, revealing Tang Qingwan's breathtakingly beautiful face. "Qingwan, you have been wronged. Do not be angry, I will not go."
Tang Qingwan concealed the loneliness in her eyes and forced a smile. "No, you must go. You absolutely must go."
"Firstly, this is Her Majesty's order. Secondly, Side Consort Liu represents the Liu family. On this wedding night, if you neglect her too much, it will inevitably breed dissatisfaction within the Liu family. If they harbor resentment against Your Highness, wouldn't that defeat the original purpose of this marriage alliance?"
Looking at Xiao Chen, who was bending over and gazing at her, Tang Qingwan suddenly raised her arms to embrace his waist, tilted her head up, and planted a kiss on the corner of his lips.
The Crown Prince froze.
Although Tang Qingwan treated him well, she had always prioritized her family. When they were together, she rarely showed such delicate, affectionate maidenly behavior.
This sudden kiss now made the Crown Prince's heart feel as though it had been slathered with honey, leaving him dizzy with delight.
"Qingwan," he murmured, his gaze hazy. He leaned forward, grasping the woman's wrists, wanting to press her down. "Do you know how long I have looked forward to this day?"
Tang Qingwan pressed her hands against his chest in time and gently shook her head. "It is getting late. Go quickly. I will wait for you to come back."
The Crown Prince's complexion darkened, his brows furrowing as he made no secret of his conflict and displeasure.
Tang Qingwan said, "Although Liu Wanting and I do not get along, personal grievances can never compare to your importance in my heart. Since it is for the great cause and the overall situation, you should go."
"Qingwan," the Crown Prince stared fixedly at Tang Qingwan, leaned in, and kissed her red lips.
Tang Qingwan's eyes curved slightly. The moment the Crown Prince closed his eyes, her smiling eyes seemed to transform into sharp scimitars—cold, piercing, and detached.
After a brief moment of intimacy, the Crown Prince reluctantly released Tang Qingwan. "I will be back soon. Wait for me."
Tang Qingwan smiled and nodded.
With a look of sorrow, reluctance, and helplessness in her eyes, she watched the Crown Prince leave the main courtyard.
Once the courtyard quieted down, her dowry maid pushed the door open and entered, curtsying to pay her respects. "Crown Princess, His Royal Highness has left."
Tang Qingwan's face had already returned to a state of calm. She gave a faint response of acknowledgment and sat on the bed, staring blankly at a corner of the room without moving.
After a long while, she murmured softly, "To think that my grand wedding would turn out like this."
She was also a young woman. No matter how rational and intelligent she was, she still harbored hopes of marital bliss and mutual respect with her husband.
"My lady," the maid said, her heart aching for her. "Since you cannot bear to part with him, why did you let the Crown Prince go? Today is your wedding night. If that woman gains his favor and becomes arrogant and domineering, how will you establish your footing in the Crown Prince's estate?"
Tang Qingwan lowered her eyes, her tone placid. "I have my own arrangements. Prepare my bath and a change of clothes."
Royal weddings were indeed complex and tedious. After a whole day, Tang Qingwan was truly exhausted, but the physical fatigue was still not as unbearable as the gloom in her heart.
She sat in the bathtub like a lifeless doll.
Reason and personal feelings would occasionally attack her heart, causing her pain, yet she dared not break down.
When Liu Wanting heard the servants report that the Crown Prince had arrived, she immediately covered herself with the bridal veil and sat up straight.
"Your Royal Highness." The servants in the room all curtsied and bowed to the Crown Prince, but after a long time, they did not hear the command to rise.
Liu Wanting felt a little nervous. She tilted her head and looked toward the ground. A pair of short boots embroidered with dark dragon patterns came into view. She exhaled a breath and called out softly, "Your Highness."
Her voice was utterly charming and enchanting, but it only made Xiao Chen frown.
"Your Highness, it is time to lift the veil," reminded the dowry maid beside Liu Wanting.
The Crown Prince cast a cold glance at the old maid, who immediately lowered her head, cowering slightly.
Xiao Chen stood there without moving. He only felt that the veil on Liu Wanting's head was somewhat of an eyesore, and even more so, ridiculous.
He finally stepped forward slowly.
Liu Wanting was full of anticipation. "Your Highness~"
"A side consort is not allowed to wear true red. Did the teaching nannies in the palace not teach you this before the wedding?"
Liu Wanting froze, the next melodious "Your Highness" choking in her throat.
"I... This concubine... is not wearing true red."
Although she was dissatisfied, today was the grand wedding, and the entire capital was watching. Naturally, she did not dare to breach etiquette and let anyone catch a vulnerability.
Xiao Chen hooked the veil on her head with his fingertips and held it out in front of her. "Then what is this?"
Liu Wanting stared blankly at the flash of red in the Crown Prince's hand. She opened her mouth several times. "This is a bridal veil."
She couldn't possibly use pink even for her bridal veil, right? Then what would be the point of lifting the veil? Wouldn't that be an absolute disgrace?
The little bit of joy and satisfaction in Liu Wanting's heart, born from the Crown Prince leaving Tang Qingwan to see her, vanished completely in an instant.
"No matter what it is, this is not something a side consort like you should use."
The Crown Prince's reprimand in front of a room full of servants made Liu Wanting's face flush red and swell with humiliation, her eyes quickly turning red.
Especially when the veil slipped from the Crown Prince's fingertips and fell onto the floor.
Her veil had been lifted just like that. Liu Wanting's eyes grew red with anger.
"Your Highness, did Tang Qing... Did the Crown Princess complain to you about something? This concubine's veil was tacitly approved by Her Majesty the Empress."
Even the Empress had not said anything.
The Crown Prince's face was cold. "Imperial Mother has always been lenient towards the younger generation, but you should not overstep the rules. Knowingly violating them is a usurpation of the main consort's authority."
"Your Highness." Liu Wanting stamped her foot, tears streaming down her face. "Today is our wedding day."
Becoming a side consort, being squeezed out by the Cui sisters, entering through the side door—she had endured it all, just looking forward to the wedding night in the bridal chamber, only to be treated like this.
Xiao Chen said, "Also, Side Consort Liu, do not forget that this is my Crown Prince's estate, not Imperial Mother's Fengluan Palace. You should carefully consider who the true master of the Crown Prince's estate is."
"The veil has been lifted. Rest well."
Xiao Chen took a step, about to leave.
Liu Wanting looked at the room full of maids, feeling as if they were all looking at her with mocking gazes. She called out hoarsely, "Your Highness," and threw herself forward, tightly hugging Xiao Chen's waist.
The servants in the room immediately and tactfully withdrew.
"Your Highness, this concubine knows that you and the Crown Princess are childhood sweethearts with deep affection for each other. But since I have married you, I am now your person as well. I do not ask you to treat us equally, but I only beg for a bit more pity and tenderness towards me."
She spoke with tears falling down her face, trying her best to act out everything her mother had sent someone to teach her before her marriage.
The Crown Prince replied coldly, "Rest assured, as long as you behave and know your place, I will not mistreat you."
Liu Wanting certainly knew this. After all, her father was still around, the Liu family was still standing, and their military power remained intact.
But what she wanted was far more than just this.
Gritting her teeth, Liu Wanting said, "Your Highness, the way you treated me just now was seen by all the servants who came with my dowry. If this reaches my parents' ears, wouldn't it ruin things?"
Xiao Chen frowned, his usually gentle and refined face turning significantly colder. "Are you threatening me?"
"I would not dare." Liu Wanting stepped around to the front of the Crown Prince and hugged him tightly, refusing to let go. "The whole capital knows how much you value the Crown Princess. I only beg Your Highness to give me a little bit of face, just so I can establish a firm foothold in the Crown Prince's estate and not be looked down upon."
"Your Highness, when Her Majesty the Empress arranged for you to marry me, you did not have this attitude. If I had known it would be like this, why would I have married over?"
Even if he were to cast her aside after she outlived her usefulness, he shouldn't have turned hostile so quickly. Liu Wanting felt incredibly aggrieved in her heart.
Her jealousy and hatred towards Tang Qingwan reached its peak at this moment.
How could a man possibly be devoted to only one woman? She told herself not to be anxious; she had to take it slowly.
"Your Highness, are you truly going to disregard the face of the Liu family?" Liu Wanting administered a strong dose of medicine, believing that since the Crown Prince needed the Liu family's help, she could definitely make him stay.
The Crown Prince lowered his eyes to look at her, his gaze gradually turning icy. "Why I am acting this way, are you not clear in your own heart?"
Liu Wanting froze. "What does Your Highness mean by this?"
"The rumors in the capital, who spread them?"
Liu Wanting's eyes held a clear, unfeigned ignorance. "What rumors?"
The Crown Prince sneered. "Side Consort Liu's ability to put on an act is quite impressive."
This phrase again!!
Liu Wanting wanted to tear her hair out, on the verge of losing her temper. "What exactly does Your Highness mean?"
In her mind, the events that took place in the Tang manor on the eve of her wedding unexpectedly surfaced.
The face of Prince An, Xiao Yi suddenly overlapped with the Crown Prince before her...
Along with Cui Yunfeng's slap that had nearly knocked someone over.
The Crown Prince said, "That day, I accompanied Qingwan to Anshan Temple to pay respects to her mother, and an accident suddenly occurred. Before we even returned to the capital, many rumors detrimental to Qingwan suddenly spread throughout the city. I sent people to investigate, and the mastermind behind it all was you."
Liu Wanting stared blankly at the Crown Prince, taking a few moments to process this.
