Chapter 4

The imperial decree could not be defied. No matter how reluctant the Prime Minister and his wife were, they had to begin preparing for the wedding.

The wedding was to be held in one month. Both the imperial family and the Lu household appeared extremely anxious.

The Emperor and the Empress Dowager were worried that the Princess Consort of Prince Su—who had been so difficult to secure—would die inexplicably once again. They frequently dispatched imperial guards to stand watch at the Prime Minister’s residence day and night, protecting the young lady of the Lu family and preventing any potential danger. Given the intensity of their actions, those in the know understood it was to prevent the future Princess Consort of Prince Su from dying in various ways, but those who didn't know might have thought the Prime Minister’s residence was planning a rebellion.

As for the Lu family, they were not only worried about whether Anan might suddenly stop breathing one day, but they were also stressed about preparing for the wedding. To be honest, the preparations for such a wedding were truly complex; how could everything be properly arranged in just one month? Furthermore, the person Anan was marrying was the current Prince Su; the mere preparation of the dowry alone had the Prime Minister’s wife running ragged.

The people in the capital were also nervous.

After several years, just when people thought Prince Su would never be able to take a wife in this lifetime, he finally announced he was marrying again. People wondered if this bride would be able to survive the wedding and make it through the wedding night.

Because of this, gambling dens of all sizes across the capital opened betting pools, and the odds of the young lady of the Lu family not surviving the wedding were quite high.

Some young ladies from other noble families also expressed deep sympathy for Anan. Most of these were the same young ladies who had seen her at the flower-viewing banquet that day. At the time, Anan’s unconventional way of stealing the spotlight had made them feel resentful for a while, but when they heard the news of the imperial marriage the next day, all their indignation turned into sympathy. They all felt fortunate that they had behaved properly at the time and hadn't done anything to attract attention.

Not just anyone could marry Prince Su. Even a destitute woman from a humble background would never want such an opportunity to climb the social ladder. After all, to enjoy wealth, one had to have the life to enjoy it, right?

While Anan was being kept under high-security surveillance, she heard the news brought back by Ruchui. Hearing that the odds of her not surviving the wedding in the gambling dens were as high as one to a hundred, Anan was left between laughter and tears.

"Miss, the people outside are truly going too far! To actually use your life as a gambling stake! We really should report this to the Prime Minister and have him send men to raid those gambling dens," Ruchui said indignantly.

Anan sat on the lounge chair by the window, resting her chin on her hand as she watched Ruchui pacing the room in a fury. She asked curiously, "Ruchui, do you believe I will survive the wedding?"

Ruchui’s expression was somewhat conflicted. She wanted to say "Yes" with absolute certainty, but the rumors of Prince Su being a "wife-killer" who could have no heirs were too powerful, making it impossible for her to say it.

Anan sighed and decided not to put her on the spot.

"But don't worry, Miss. Ruchui will always be with you. If something unfortunate happens to you... I will never marry, and I will spend my life burning incense, praying to Buddha, and copying scriptures for you," Ruchui said, quickly pledging her loyalty.

Anan rolled her eyes at her. "Shouldn't a loyal maid be accompanying her master in dying in various ways?" That was the typical behavior of a loyal servant, after all.

"How could that be, Miss? This servant hasn't lived enough yet," Ruchui said very honestly, her expression looking rather foolish. "Besides, if I die, there will be no one to copy scriptures for you. Miss, why don't I go place a bet? I'll bet that you will survive the wedding, and even survive the wedding night. How about that?" the maid asked, trying to please her.

Anan feigned anger and gave the little maid a light tap, then generously agreed to her suggestion. If she dared to bet on her, she might as well let her vent some frustration.

She wasn't exactly pleased that so many people were betting on her not living for another month, so if she could find a way to stir up some trouble, she was naturally willing.

Because of Anan’s wedding, all the married daughters of the Prime Minister’s family returned, and even her brothers, who were usually out and about, came back. Because they were much older, the brothers weren't close to Anan and couldn't think of any comforting words to say, so they could only show their support through their actions. Anan’s three older sisters were much more formidable; each of them came to prepare Anan mentally, telling her that even if she faced death, she must not tarnish the reputation of the Prime Minister’s residence...

Anan: =__=! What exactly did they come back for? Were they really just waiting to see when she would die?

A month was truly not enough time. It was impossible for Anan to embroider her own wedding dress, and her needlework was only fit for looking at, not for showing off. Fortunately, the Lu residence had specialized embroiderers working day and night, so they should be able to finish the embroidered robes for a Princess Consort. The Prime Minister’s wife was so busy she barely touched the ground, and as the wedding approached, she suddenly realized one thing had been forgotten.

Anan was called into the Prime Minister’s wife’s room, where the woman furtively handed her a book and whispered, "Read this yourself when you have time. Originally, your biological mother should have told you about this, but since she passed away early and I have watched you grow up, I can only teach you this myself. If there is anything you don't understand... don't go asking others. You will understand in the future..."

Anan blinked, noticing the Prime Minister’s wife’s expression was extremely awkward.

When Anan returned to her room and opened it, she was stunned.

It was an ancient erotic manual.

Anan looked through it carefully and had to admit that although the poses in the ancient manual were very exaggerated—making her wonder if a real woman would sprain her waist or pull a ligament if she tried them—the artistry was actually quite good. The colors were vivid and lively, and the positions were truly bold, with even the most private parts drawn clearly and explicitly. If it had been a real young lady from an ancient boudoir, she would have been too embarrassed to look. Anan, however, simply treated it as a bedtime distraction, tucking it under her mat and flipping through it whenever she felt like it.

Amidst the intense preparations, while people were counting down the seconds of Anan’s life, and with the imperial family and the Lu household in a state of high tension, the wedding finally began.

And Anan had lived safely until this day, putting on her red wedding dress, covering herself with the red veil, and being sent off in the bridal sedan chair by the people of the Prime Minister’s residence.