Chapter 4: Just Let Her Keep Waiting

Just as Granny Wang Xi lifted a corner of the curtain, Han Yunxi stepped on her hand, asking gloomily, "The auspicious hour has not yet arrived. Are you trying to ask me to step out of the sedan?"

"No, no! I... I wasn't being careful, I wasn't being careful!" Granny Wang Xi explained repeatedly, enduring the pain without daring to cry out.

Only then did Han Yunxi release her, elegantly withdrawing her foot and leaning lazily against the interior of the sedan.

The Han family usually subjected her to all sorts of abuse, but they hadn't skimped on her wedding procession; the sedan was spacious and comfortable, just right for her to take a nap.

She wasn't so foolish as to actually go back and return tomorrow. If she truly went back, who knew what other trouble might arise tomorrow to delay the auspicious hour?

The Prince Qin Mansion, constrained by imperial decree, dared not refuse the marriage, but they could certainly stir up all sorts of nonsense to delay it. In the end, she would be the one to suffer.

Although Han Yunxi didn't want to marry either, she knew she had to enter the gates of the Prince Qin Mansion. Otherwise, when the blame eventually came down from the Palace, she would be pushed out as a scapegoat.

The news of Prince Qin marrying a primary consort was already a sensation throughout the city. By waiting right at the entrance of the Prince Qin Mansion like this, the matter would surely reach the Palace. Once the Palace took notice, even if the Prince Qin Mansion was unwilling, they would have to open the gates for her once the auspicious hour arrived tomorrow!

With this thought, Han Yunxi shifted into a comfortable position and fell into a peaceful sleep.

At this time, the pampered Consort Yi had lost her usual leisure. She had rushed personally to the side gate of the Prince Qin Mansion. Peering through a crack in the door and seeing the festive red outside, her well-maintained face darkened.

"Imperial Mother, that woman Han Yunxi is so strange. People outside say she is timid, so how is she so bold today? Someone from the Palace just came to ask what was going on," Murong Wanru said with a look of worry.

She was the adopted daughter of Consort Yi, gentle and virtuous, and submissive. Having served Consort Yi since childhood, she was more attentive than a biological daughter; a single "Imperial Mother" was enough to show her status in the Prince Qin Mansion.

"That ugly freak, she's actually fighting this Palace right at our doorstep?" Consort Yi narrowed her eyes maliciously, tracing a finger lightly across her throat to signal Murong Wanru to deal with the person.

Murong Wanru showed a look of panic. "Imperial Mother! If someone dies at our doorstep, it will be very inauspicious. What if the Emperor blames Brother?"

The area around the Prince Qin Mansion was guarded; it would indeed be hard to justify someone dying at the main gate, not to mention that the entire Imperial Capital was watching this matter.

Consort Yi was not stupid; upon calm reflection, she understood this logic. "Fine, so that's why she's stubbornly staying here! Tsk tsk tsk, how can that ugly freak be so calculating?"

"Imperial Mother, what should we do now? When the auspicious hour arrives tomorrow, do we open the gates or not?" Murong Wanru asked helplessly.

"Hmph, so she wants to enter these gates that badly? Let her in. I want to see just how long she can stay!"

One did not mess with Consort Yi. Within the heavily guarded Prince Qin Mansion, even the biggest matters would not leak out.

Murong Wanru nodded helplessly, but a flash of triumph flickered in the depths of her eyes.

She had long been looking forward to Han Yunxi entering the household. Consort Yi intended to betroth her to Prince Qin, but unfortunately, due to her lowly origins, she could never be the primary consort and could only settle for being a side consort. She feared that the position of primary consort would be snatched away by someone with power.

A disfigured woman like Han Yunxi was merely a tool used by the Emperor to humiliate Prince Qin; she would only serve to make Prince Qin and Imperial Mother loathe and despise her, leaving her with no chance to ever rise. As for the primary consort of Prince Qin appointed by the Empress Dowager, even if she died, the position had to remain vacant. In this way, everything would suit her perfectly.

In a good mood, Murong Wanru took Consort Yi's arm and walked alongside her cautiously.

"Sigh, since the Empress Dowager is bestowing you upon Fei Ye, my life's wish can be considered fulfilled," Consort Yi said, lightly patting Murong Wanru's hand with a hint of regret.

"Imperial Mother, Wanru only wishes to serve you for a lifetime," Murong Wanru quickly stated her position.

"Being my daughter-in-law means you can serve me for a lifetime too. If you have nothing to do normally, spend more time in Prince Qin's study, do you understand?" Consort Yi smiled.

Murong Wanru's face flushed red as she lowered her head, looking pitiable. Seeing this, Consort Yi liked her even more.

"Imperial Mother, Prince Qin should be returning tonight, right? Should we perhaps not have anyone kick the sedan door tomorrow?" Murong Wanru asked again.

"It would be fine if no one kicks it. She can just continue waiting in the sedan," Consort Yi said in a casual tone, as if she were merely discussing the weather.