Feng Tianlan looked at Xi Lin wearing the red wedding dress and suddenly thought of Gu Nansheng. She remembered asking in this same manner at the time, but later…
“Sister Lin.” Feng Tianlan stepped forward and helped to straighten the corners of the dress for her. She said, “You look good in it.”
Xi Lin smiled shyly and spoke, full of happiness and anticipation, “I think I look good too. I’m going to marry He Lianhuang tomorrow. We will hold the wedding rites in the palace first and have another ceremony when we get to Xi Yuan Nation. He Lianhuang said that the Master of Ceremonies in Xi Yuan Nation is preparing for it as we speak and will give me the grandest wedding ever.”
Feng Tianlan looked at the happiness shining on her face. But the depths of her beautiful eyes told another story. There was anticipation, desolation, and some other unclear emotions.
“You can leave us,” Feng Tianlan said to the serving palace maids standing around.
The palace maids responded, and then retreated, leaving only Feng Tianlan and Xi Lin.
“Dai’er, I’m getting married. Why don’t you look happy?” Xi Lin looked at her, somewhat rebuking. “You should be happy for me. I can finally marry the man I love.”
“Sister Lin…” Feng Tianlan looked at her and then at the hall with the word for double happiness put up. It was bright red everywhere, full of celebratory joy. Although Sister Lin looked incredibly happy, it did not feel like it belonged to her. It was as though she felt the joy of a bystander chancing upon a joyous occasion.
Xi Lin smiled at her and then the corners of her mouth twitched bitterly. Her hands covered her own slightly bulging stomach and she said, “Dai’er, I can’t always do as I like in this world. It’s not just me alone anymore. I have a lot of people who are dear to me. Especially when a person has a weak spot, a lifeline that can be choked at any time.”
“Sister Lin, what the hell is going on?” Feng Tianlan was very anxious but did not know how to ask, afraid of hurting her.
“Nothing much. Shen Yunya is still hellbent on tearing our relationship part, saying that you told He Lianhuang about my pregnancy. To put it simply, she said plenty of provocative things but you can rest assured that I didn’t believe her. She is full of nonsense.”
Xi Lin was telling the truth. Shen Yunya wrote a letter to her with the name Shen Qingdai. But such tricks were simply ridiculous schemes to her. Even if it was true that Dai’er told him, she still did not care.
Feng Tianlan frowned and looked at Xi Lin. She asked worriedly, “Sister Lin, what made you change your mind? And so quickly too?”
“Because I love He Lianhuang, I really love him,” said Xi Lin, smiling at her. “And the child will have a father when he’s born. It will be perfect.”
“Sister Lin, why can’t you tell me why?” Feng Tianlan was really anxious. She knew Sister Lin’s stubborn character and temper very well. She did not change her mind so easily. There must have been some other reason behind it.
“There’s civil strife in Xi Yuan Nation. He Lianhuang does not have enough power, and he is still in Dongshu Nation at this time—which is even worse for him. If I marry him, he will be able to get out of the predicament…”
After listening to Xi Lin, Feng Tianlan’s eyes widened and became more anxious. She said, “You are willing to be He Lianhuang’s imperial concubine for his sake? Do you know your marriage is equivalent to a formal alliance? Do you know what you are going to be up against?”
Xi Lin nodded and replied, “I know, but it doesn’t matter. It’s good as long as I can help him get out of trouble this time.”
Of course, she was aware of the circumstances she would have to face. She was going to get married while she was already pregnant—which was already a cause for castigation. She could only be an imperial noble consort at the most if she married him and would be subdued below the empress. She would have plenty of troubles to face in the future…
