nucmednet Chapter 413 A Blessed Marriage to Gu Wenhua
Chapter 413 A Blessed Marriage to Gu Wenhua
The next morning, as dawn broke over the Golden Palace, the gilded dragon pillars gleamed with a cold light. Ouyang Lie sat upright on his dragon throne, gazing at the assembled officials below with their varied expressions. He lightly tapped the white jade ring on his finger, and the hall fell silent instantly. His gaze swept over Gu Wenlin, Gu Wenhua, and Gu Wenye, who were with the Great Xia delegation. Today, he had also made a point of meeting Ayina. The girl had specially donned a magnificent Great Xia brocade gown; her fiery red wedding dress was embroidered with twin lotus blossoms in gold thread, making her radiant and beautiful, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Princess Ayina, Prince Gu Wenhua, please speak further!" As the eunuch's high-pitched voice rang out, Ayina stepped forward gracefully, her skirt brushing against the polished floor with a soft rustling sound. Gu Wenhua, on the other hand, walked out from the crowd with an upright posture, his heart filled with surprise, but his face remained calm.
"Young Master Gu Wenhua has traveled thousands of miles to my Western Regions, and is my brother-in-law, working tirelessly to maintain friendly relations between our two countries. Considering his sincere devotion, and finding Gu Wenhua to be handsome and capable in both literature and martial arts, I hereby bestow upon him the honor of marrying my sister, Princess Ayina, with the wedding to be held in the Western Regions. I have ordered five hundred personal guards to accompany and escort him, to demonstrate the sincerity of my Western Regions!" Ouyang Lie's voice echoed in the spacious hall, carrying an undeniable authority.
Ayina's eyes instantly filled with tears of joy. She curtsied, her voice trembling slightly with excitement, "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!" Gu Wenhua followed suit, his heart churning with turmoil. He had never imagined he could become the consort of the Western Regions. This was not only a leap in status, but also a chance to change his destiny. Turning to look at Ayina, the princess was now glancing at him shyly, her beautiful face stirring his heart. The image of that butterfly-like fairy from a few days ago flashed before his eyes again.
In the crowd of the delegation, Ayina's gaze seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, involuntarily searching for Gu Wenlin's figure. She strained her eyes through the gaps in the crowd, eagerly trying to find that familiar figure.
Finally, her gaze settled on Gu Wenlin. He stood quietly not far away, as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with him. His posture was as upright as a pine tree, and his long robe accentuated his elegant demeanor. However, his expression was unusually indifferent, like a stagnant pool of water, without the slightest ripple.
Ayina's heart sank into an ice cave. She never imagined that such a momentous event as the arranged marriage would elicit such a complete lack of emotion from Gu Wenlin. He seemed like an outsider, coldly observing everything as if it had nothing to do with him.
Ayina's lips trembled slightly as she bit them hard to keep from crying out. Her eyes were brimming with tears, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. She finally understood that her feelings all along had been misplaced.
Ayina took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She slowly closed her eyes, forcing back the tears, then resolutely turned away, completely severing her ties with Gu Wenlin.
Meanwhile, when the news of the arranged marriage reached the inner palace, Princess Wen was sitting in the garden pavilion when her teacup crashed to the stone table and shattered into pieces. She was first stunned, then a radiant smile spread across her face: "My son, Hua'er, has become the prince consort of the Western Regions!" She paced back and forth in the pavilion, her mind filled with the image of her son's grand wedding.
"Someone, prepare the sedan chair! I'm going to Wenxuan Palace!" Princess Wen couldn't wait to tell her daughter, Wenxuan, the good news, and also wanted to see her daughter's life in the palace. The carriage moved slowly along the stone-paved road in the palace. Through the carriage window, Princess Wen looked at the magnificent palace and was filled with emotion.
When she stepped into Wenxuan Palace, the scene before her made her sigh in admiration. The courtyard was a riot of color, pavilions and towers were arranged in a harmonious and orderly fashion, and palace maids and eunuchs, dressed in neat robes, bowed respectfully. Wenxuan, dressed in her imperial robes, sat on a soft couch, reading a book, with several palace maids standing behind her, holding tea, snacks, and fruit, ready to serve her at any moment. Upon seeing her mother, Wenxuan quickly rose to greet her, her face beaming with a happy smile.
"Mother, what brings you here?" Wenxuan took her mother's hand and led her to sit down on the couch.
Princess Wen looked her daughter up and down. Seeing that her face was rosy and her spirits were high, most of her worries disappeared immediately: "Xuan'er, do you know that your brother Hua'er has been betrothed by His Majesty to Princess Ayina from the Western Regions!"
Upon hearing this, Wenxuan's eyes flashed with surprise: "Really? That's wonderful! Brother will finally be able to achieve something!"
Princess Wen nodded, her eyes filled with relief, but then she frowned: "It's just that the wedding will be held in the Western Regions, and I'm really worried about it. Although Hua'er isn't bad, he's been bullied by the eldest grandson of the emperor since he was little, and he's always been ignored compared to Gu Mochen's sons and Prince Lin. Now that we finally have this opportunity, I want him to stay in the Western Regions and make a good future there, but I'm also afraid that he won't adapt well to the unfamiliar place..."
Wenxuan gently held his mother's hand and comforted her, "Mother, don't worry too much. My brother has his own abilities, and besides, he will have five hundred personal guards accompanying him in the future, so nothing will happen. Moreover, the status of the Western Regions' consort might help my brother gain a foothold in the court."
Princess Wen sighed, her gaze falling on her daughter: "Xuan'er, seeing how well you're doing now, I'm relieved. Not only do you live a life of luxury, but you don't even experience the basic jealousy of women. The Empress Dowager dotes on you so much, and you have doctors from the Valley of the Immortal Physicians taking care of you..." She paused, "I know that Empress Dowager Ye's help is indispensable behind this. I owe her a favor."
Wenxuan nodded slightly: "Mother, Empress Dowager Ye is truly a great person. If it weren't for her nurturing me, I wouldn't be where I am today."
Princess Wen gently stroked her daughter's hand, her eyes filled with emotion: "Back then, your father insisted on sending you to the palace in the Western Regions, and I blamed him for being foolish. Now it seems he did the right thing. Even if you married into one of the great families of Great Xia, you might still encounter the troubles of wives and concubines fighting. How could you have such a good mother-in-law and a stable life like this?"
Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, Ayina was excitedly discussing the wedding details with her maids. "Quickly bring out all my jewelry! I want to choose carefully, and I must make sure Gu Lang's eyes light up on our wedding day!" she said, rummaging through her jewelry box, her smile never fading.
"Princess, that young master Gu is so handsome and talented, he is a perfect match for you both," the maids praised.
Ayina's smile froze for a moment, and Gu Wenlin's indifferent face flashed through her mind again. However, she quickly shook her head, casting aside those unpleasant memories: "Hmph, Gu Wenlin doesn't know how to cherish what he has; it's his loss. I, Ayina, will definitely make Gu Lang the happiest prince consort in the world!"
Meanwhile, Gu Wenhua was alone in his study, gazing at the bright moon outside the window, lost in thought. He was acutely aware of the political significance behind this marriage and understood the responsibilities he bore. Yet, a sliver of hope also lingered within him—a hope for married life with Ayina, a hope to carve out a place for himself in the Western Regions. "This might be my chance to turn my life around. I must not fail His Majesty's grace, nor disappoint my mother," he clenched his fist, silently resolving.
The news reached Great Xia and Southern Frontier, and everyone offered their congratulations. It was a great joyous occasion, and an envoy was sent to escort Gu Wenhua's betrothal gifts. This time, Prince Wen came in person.
Prince Lin stood aside, quietly watching everything, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.
As the wedding date drew near, the entire capital was bustling with activity. Craftsmen were working tirelessly to produce the necessary items for the wedding, and Princess Wen also saw Prince Wen. The two of them were personally preparing lavish betrothal gifts for their son. As she selected silks, satins, gold, and jewels, she instructed the servants, "Make sure all these things are prepared perfectly, without the slightest mistake. This is my son's life-long event; we cannot be careless!"
Meanwhile, in the palace, Empress Dowager Yageli also summoned Wenxuan and asked her how she should send a special gift to Ayina.
Wenxuan respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, I have prepared all the gifts and have drawn up a list of them. Please take a look."
The Empress Dowager nodded: "You are so considerate. I haven't made things difficult for Princess Ayina since I came here. That child is also a straightforward girl, and she should be able to get along well with your brother. It's just that the journey to Daxia is long, and I'm afraid we won't see her often in the future. She may not want to see us every day either, so I thought I would prepare more things for her."
Wenxuan felt a warmth in her heart. The Empress Dowager's concern for her and her family made her feel very gratified: "Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager. Xuan'er will definitely prepare more things for Princess Ayina. Besides, we have everything we need at home. Hua'er has a kind and gentle personality. She will definitely live a good life after marrying into the family. Please rest assured, Mother."
The Empress Dowager smiled and stopped asking about those things. She then asked Wenxuan, who was seven months pregnant and whose belly looked quite large.