Chapter 10
Throw Her Out
“So it’s basically impossible to find ten kinds of herbs on Upper Moon Slope.”
Fu Zhao Ning shook her head and sighed.
“What a miscalculation.”
She had not expected that choosing Prince Jun and getting married would bring so many troubles. But the moment she thought of Old Master Fu, her spirit rose again.
It was only gathering herbs.
Even without this condition, she still needed to search for medicine anyway. The Fu family’s situation was difficult. There was barely any money left at home. Buying medicine would cost too much. If there were herbs on Falling Moon Mountain, digging them up herself for free would obviously be better.
Thinking that way, Fu Zhao Ning calmed down again.
“These rice balls are pretty tasty.”
Seeing how calm she was, Hong Zhuo and Fen Xing became even more worried for her instead. The two maids already hoped from the bottom of their hearts that Fu Zhao Ning could firmly keep her position as Princess Consort of Prince Jun.
Back at the wedding hall, the Emperor still wanted to ask Prince Jun more questions, but the Empress Dowager seemed to be getting dizzy.
“Your Majesty, Empress, perhaps we should return to the palace,” the Empress Dowager said. “A-Yuan’s wedding was arranged too quickly. There is hardly even a banquet to enjoy.”
“This…”
The Emperor still felt somewhat guilty. Prince Jun’s wedding had happened so hastily that it almost felt like they had only come to go through the motions.
“Your Majesty,” the Empress stood up, “the Empress Dowager is right. If we stay here, everyone will only feel restrained. Besides, after three days, who knows whether the woman who entered today will still be the proper Princess Consort or merely a concubine?”
She smiled lightly.
“If Miss Fu fails the task and can only become a concubine, then today’s ceremony would merely count as Prince Jun taking a concubine. If we all attended this, would it not be unfair to the true Princess Consort he formally marries in the future?”
After saying this, the Empress sneered inwardly.
She was already certain Fu Zhao Ning would never complete the task.
If Fu Zhao Ning did not die in Falling Moon Mountain, then at best she would only become a lowly concubine.
Would the dignified Empress stay here to celebrate a concubine? What right did Fu Zhao Ning have?
The Emperor nodded after hearing her words and stood up as well.
“What the Empress says makes sense. A-Yuan, then We shall return to the palace first.”
Prince Jun bent slightly.
“Travel safely.”
The Emperor frowned.
Why say “travel safely” to him?
Why could he not properly say, “Respectfully sending off Your Majesty”?
A-Yuan truly had not been raised in the palace. It really was a problem.
The Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager could leave, but the guests who came to celebrate did not dare leave.
If not for the condition suddenly brought up by the Empress, the Emperor and Empress Dowager would have stayed here to support Prince Jun’s wedding.
Why?
Because Prince Jun possessed the exemption-from-death gold token personally granted by the late Emperor, along with the imperial sword and the Zhao Kingdom Imperial Seal.
And that Imperial Seal carried enormous authority.
Even the Emperor feared it somewhat, because the Zhao Kingdom Imperial Seal could directly command the royal Shadow Guards.
This was the most powerful secret guard force of the royal family.
Unless Prince Jun committed a grave crime such as treason or disgrace against the royal family with undeniable evidence, the Emperor had no right to reclaim the seal.
As long as Prince Jun held it, it was like a sword hanging above the Emperor’s head.
The officials present were all extremely sharp-minded. One after another, they stepped forward to offer congratulations.
“Congratulations on Prince Jun’s grand wedding. May you have a harmonious union for a hundred years.”
“Today is a joyous occasion. Congratulations, Prince Jun.”
“Prince Jun looks radiant indeed. Truly, happy events brighten the spirit.”
“May Prince Jun soon have a noble heir.”
No matter whether Fu Zhao Ning could gather the ten herbs in three days, that was not their concern. Right now, the marriage ceremony had already been properly completed.
Until Prince Jun himself said otherwise, Fu Zhao Ning was still Princess Consort Jun.
Song Yuan Lin absolutely did not want to leave. But hearing endless congratulations being thrown around made her even more upset.
“Hmph. Just wait. Fu Zhao Ning is not even worthy of being a concubine!”
Song Yuan Lin gritted her teeth and squeezed toward Prince Jun.
“Lan Yuan-gege, I don’t know how Fu Zhao Ning managed to seduce you, but you need to wake up. Tonight you are not allowed to consummate the—”
Before she could finish, Prince Jun interrupted her coldly.
“Song Yuan Lin.”
His voice was icy.
“I have never permitted you to address me like that.”
“You may call me Prince Jun like everyone else, or simply call me Wangye. We are not close enough for such familiarity.”
“Lan Yuan-gege…”
Song Yuan Lin stared at him in disbelief.
“Qing Yi, throw her out.”
Prince Jun showed no intention of sparing her dignity. He directly called Qing Yi over.
Qing Yi immediately stepped forward and reached for Song Yuan Lin.
Song Yuan Lin became anxious and furious at once. But looking at Prince Jun’s expression, she realized he truly meant it. He really would have Qing Yi throw her out of the residence.
“I’ll leave on my own!”
To preserve the last bit of dignity she had left, Song Yuan Lin stomped away angrily and stormed out of Prince Jun’s residence.
After leaving, she turned back to glare at the gates of Prince Jun’s residence and bit her teeth hard.
“Fu Zhao Ning, this is all because of you!”
“Just wait. I’ll make sure you die on Falling Moon Mountain!”
And she would die miserably.
Before this, Lan Yuan-gege might not have paid her much attention, but he had never humiliated her so mercilessly in public before. He had even wanted his guard to throw her out!
Lan Yuan-gege had become so heartless.
And it was definitely because of Fu Zhao Ning.
Song Yuan Lin turned and hurried away. She needed to make preparations immediately. During the next three days, she would make sure Fu Zhao Ning experienced unforgettable misery before finally dying.
Seeing how cold and merciless Prince Jun had been toward Song Yuan Lin, all the guests became nervous.
The steward quickly walked over.
“Wangye, the wedding banquet is ready.”
“Then let the guests take their seats,” Prince Jun said.
The steward immediately announced loudly,
“Please take your seats, honored guests! Eat and drink well tonight. Prince Jun’s residence has specially prepared Yun Nian Rare Brew for everyone to taste!”
The moment they heard the words “Yun Nian Rare Brew,” the guests were shocked.
“The Yun family’s finest wine? Ever since the Yun family disappeared, a single jar of Yun Nian Rare Brew has been sold for ten thousand taels!”
One wine lover immediately exclaimed.
“That’s right! Even if you have the money, you still can’t buy it!”
For people who loved fine wine and cared deeply about status and taste, Yun Nian Rare Brew had become an obsession. Every Mid-Autumn Festival or New Year’s Eve, when everyone drank heavily, someone would always mention it.
No one expected Prince Jun’s residence to actually bring it out today.
When they entered the banquet hall and saw three jars of wine carried in by maids, the entire crowd erupted again.
“Not just one jar? There are actually three jars?!”
Prince Jun had casually taken out three jars of Yun Nian Rare Brew.
What incredible extravagance!
With just those three jars of wine, the atmosphere of the banquet instantly became lively and excited. The congratulations became far more sincere.
However, no one dared toast Prince Jun or persuade him to drink. Everyone knew Prince Jun had been weak and sickly since childhood and had spent years recuperating outside the capital.
After thinking for a moment, Prince Jun said,
“Send a cup of wine for Fu Zhao Ning to taste.”
“Since she is now my Princess Consort, if all the guests can drink Yun Nian Rare Brew, she should at least know what it tastes like.”
“Yes.”
A small pot of wine was delivered to the bridal chamber.
Hong Zhuo poured Fu Zhao Ning a cup.
The moment she smelled it, Fu Zhao Ning let out a surprised sound.
“Hm?”
