CHAPTER 261: CHAPTER 259: YOUR HIGHNESS, DO YOU THINK I DESERVE TO DIE?

The next day.

Today marked the official wedding day of Luo Xibai and Lu Qianqian. From early morning, guests arrived at Liang Garden in an endless stream. Every distinguished official and wealthy merchant from Jiangnan came with their families to offer congratulations. The courtyard filled with wedding gifts spanned over ten halls, with Luo Xibai personally greeting every guest. The entire garden was bustling with activity.

The banquet was scheduled for dusk. By the shore of Qianyou Lake, tens of thousands of lanterns illuminated the scene, casting a dazzling brilliance.

As the sound of firecrackers erupted, a red-lacquered grand pleasure boat, lavishly adorned and its eaves draped with octagonal glass palace lanterns, slowly glided across the mirror-like lake toward the shore. On the intricately carved deck, palace maids clustered around a young girl in red, whose presence emitted faint scents of perfumed clothes and hair.

The girl held a round fan, concealing her face. She was none other than Lu Qianqian, dressed as a bride.

"The bride’s boat is here!"

The younger guests called out excitedly.

Though Lu Qianqian was remarrying, she was, after all, still a princess.

Officials of Jiangnan, who had never seen the princess before, were curious about her voice and appearance, craning their necks for a closer look at her.

In a distant tower, Xue Ling stood with arms crossed beside Shen Yinning, her tone laced with amusement. "What an interesting touch you’ve come up with, Miss Shen. Making the Ninth Princess cross the lake from the far side by boat—it’s so elaborate and ceremonial. Truly novel. Next time, when I take Mianmian as my concubine, I’ll design something just like this."

At the word "concubine," Shen Yinning’s eyelashes fluttered faintly.

After a moment, she glanced at Lu Ying, who was standing by the lake. "The drug I had you put into the wine jugs—did you follow through with my instructions?"

Xue Ling chuckled lightly. "When I handle things, are you ever not assured?"

As they spoke, the red-lacquered pleasure boat reached the lakeshore.

Palace maids, stepping gracefully onto the red carpet laid out for the occasion, descended the ship one by one and lined up on either side, waiting to escort Lu Qianqian off the boat.

Luo Xibai stood at the end of the red carpet.

Today, he was unusually dressed with care, wearing a finely tailored wedding robe, his gaze fixed on Lu Qianqian.

The master of ceremonies announced loudly, "May the bride descend from the boat!"

Lu Qianqian did not move.

The master of ceremonies paused in confusion, thinking she hadn’t heard, and repeated in an even louder, drawn-out tone: "May the bride descend from the boat—!"

Lu Qianqian still showed no response.

The surrounding crowd fell silent for a moment. All eyes naturally turned to her, and hushed whispers of speculation swept through the air like a tide.

Luo Wanxiang, seated among the guests, couldn’t hold back the smirk curling at the corners of her mouth.

Earlier this morning, under the pretense of bringing wedding adornments, she had successfully met with Lu Qianqian.

She had told Lu Qianqian that Shen Yinning, going by the alias Lv Zhu, had shamelessly accompanied her brother-in-law to Jiangnan as a married woman, intending to become his concubine. Unexpectedly, she had taken a liking to her elder brother instead and shamelessly seduced him, even using the pretense of sworn siblinghood to carry out clandestine acts!

Just as Luo Wanxiang expected, Lu Qianqian had instantly erupted in fury, smashing her entire table of rouge and powder in a fit of rage!

Her face twisted, eyes like poisoned daggers, and she snarled, "That wretched woman nearly caused me to be beaten to death by Shen Xinglei back then. To think she’s gotten bolder now, daring to seduce my husband! Such audacity! If I, Lu Qianqian, don’t settle accounts with her today, there’s no point in me remaining a princess!"

Under the flickering palace lanterns on the ornate pleasure boat, the water reflecting their swaying light, Lu Qianqian clutched her face-covering round fan with an attitude of prideful arrogance. "I am the Ninth Princess, Lu Qianqian, acting under my father’s imperial edict to marry Luo Xibai, Jiangnan’s Salt Commissioner, today. But before the wedding proceeds, I have something to ask the Prince Consort."

Luo Xibai’s patience was beginning to wear thin.

He found Lu Qianqian insufferable from the start and merely wanted to quickly finish the ceremony and apprehend Lu Ying.

This woman, however, insisted on turning everything into a scene with her poor attitude. Now she was delaying their descent off the boat to prolong matters with her pointless remarks!

Clamping down on his irritation, he forced a smile. "Please speak, Princess."

Lu Qianqian subtly peered at him through the sheer veil of her fan.

She had been reluctant to marry him initially, only agreeing after her mother consort had wept and pleaded to the emperor in vain. Through persistent inquiry, she learned about Luo Xibai’s life and character.

To her surprise, this seemingly unremarkable Salt Commissioner of Jiangnan turned out to be the wealthiest man in the region!

The famed Liang Garden itself belonged to him!

With visions of future extravagance and indulgence flooding her thoughts, Lu Qianqian begrudgingly began to accept the arranged marriage.

However, upon seeing Luo Xibai’s corpulent figure and bland appearance in person, she felt yet another pang of disappointment and disdain.

Her tone was sharp and filled with condescension. "I hear there’s a woman named Lv Zhu living in your estate, someone you’ve regarded as a confidante over this past month, pampering her with the best food and drink. Is this true, Prince Consort?"

Luo Xibai made no effort to hide the truth. "It is indeed true."

"Do you realize that you are my Prince Consort?!" Lu Qianqian’s tone grew icier and more commanding. "Without my consent, how dare you harbor another woman?! I demand you execute her this very moment! Otherwise, I will not set foot off this boat tonight!"

To show her resolve, she ordered her maids to bring a rose chair and audaciously seated herself upon it in front of everyone.

Whispers rippled across the crowd.

Luo Wanxiang shouted provocatively, "Brother! Did you not hear the princess’s command?! If you do not immediately have that woman executed, you won’t be able to marry the princess tonight! Do you wish to ruin the Luo Family’s once-in-a-lifetime chance to produce a Prince Consort after centuries?!"

Lu Qianqian lifted her chin smugly at the words.

No matter how her looks or talent might pale compared to Shen Yinning’s, as long as she remained a princess, Shen Yinning would always be beneath her.

Like tonight, if she insisted on staying aboard, the wedding would end in chaos.

Luo Xibai was no fool—he ought to know how prestigious it was to marry a princess.

To win her hand, he would have no choice but to forsake Shen Yinning!

Seeing Lu Qianqian’s smug assumption in her demeanor, Luo Xibai almost could not suppress his laughter.

If not for the Shen family’s grand scheme, he wouldn’t dream of marrying such a woman!

Ignoring her, he instead earnestly faced Lu Ying. "Does Your Highness, the Crown Prince, also think that Lv Zhu ought to be executed?"

Lu Ying idly played with the Moyu Ring on his finger.

He was well aware that Shen Yinning was nearby, observing them in secret.

Tonight’s entire wedding was orchestrated by that sly fox, and he was eager to see her next move.

Thus, he replied coolly, "This prince deems the princess’s words most reasonable."

Lu Qianqian was utterly astonished. Her usually indifferent royal brother was actually standing up for her tonight!

Surely, in his heart, blood ties with his sister outweighed his lingering affections for his ex-fiancée?

Basking in this newfound favor, she couldn’t help scanning the lakeside guests, hoping to spot a flustered, panicking Shen Yinning.

Then, just as she was about to revel in her triumph, the crowd parted suddenly.

The noisy chatter instantly fell silent.

A young woman approached, her movements graceful as if stepping through moonlight. Her cloudlike hair and delicate features were like frost and silk, and her exquisite beauty bloomed brilliantly. She wore the latest Jiangnan-style pear blossom white brocade blouse, paired with a pomegranate skirt and an overlaid dark green gauze robe with wide sleeves. Her jewelry, adorned with dazzling flowers, jade, and bells, sparkled softly under the light of the lakeside lanterns, making her appear nothing short of an Immortal Concubine descended from the heavens.

Wherever she passed, even the ambient light seemed to favor her, shining brighter around her.

All the guests collectively held their breaths.

Was this the famous Lv Zhu—who, within just over a month of arriving in Jiangnan, had incited a rivalry between Luo Xibai and Lu Shiyan?

Lu Qianqian abruptly rose to her feet, her face contorted with anger. "So, it’s really you!"

Shen Yinning ignored everyone else, her phoenix-like eyes sparkling softly, half-amused as she locked eyes with Lu Ying and lightly asked, "Does Your Highness truly think... I deserve to die?"