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She lifted the teacup and drank a few sips before saying to Chun Xi, "Come, take off the hairpin on my head. It’s making my neck sore, and take off the ceremonial robe too, my limbs are all weak."

Chun Xi hesitated somewhat, "Master, is it really alright to take them off now? If someone comes to disturb the wedding chamber and sees the master’s attire disheveled, they’ll surely talk."

Once crowned as the Crown Princess, she could be referred to as ’Master’.

Shen Chuwei picked up a piece of flower cake and took a bite, "His Highness said that once all the procedures are completed, they can be removed."

Chun Xi hesitated for a good long while, but seeing how uncomfortable the master seemed, she couldn’t bear it.

So she stepped forward and began to remove the hair decorations from her master’s temples one by one.

After the hair ornaments were removed, next came the twisted braids.

Once the strands of hair were set free, Chun Xi braided them into twisted braids.

Freed from the weight of her hairdress, Shen Chuwei felt much more relaxed.

"Quickly, quickly, take off the ceremonial robe."

Chun Xi said, "Master, the ceremonial robe must not be removed."

Shen Chuwei puffed her cheeks and looked at Chun Xi with wide, puzzled eyes, "Why not?"

Chun Xi leaned in, "The ceremonial robe must be removed by His Highness personally."

Shen Chuwei was taken aback.

Seeing her master’s puzzled expression, Chun Xi reminded her, "Master, have you forgotten what the instructing matron said?"

"How can I remember such a detailed matter?"

Unable to remove the robe, Shen Chuwei could only tolerate it; filling her stomach was currently the most important thing.

At this moment, a maid brought in the meal and placed it on the table, pausing as she saw the Crown Princess.

Who would have thought that the Crown Princess would dismantle her hair as soon as she arrived?

Sensing the aroma of the food, Shen Chuwei stopped eating pastries and picked up her chopsticks. The dishes in front of her were all her favorites.

Chun Xi looked at her master, who was gorging herself, and reminded her, "Master, eat a little less."

Shen Chuwei nodded her head but didn’t stop eating. With delicious food in front of her, how could she restrain herself?

Seeing this, Chun Xi shook her head helplessly, fearing nothing more than her master wanting to sleep after filling her belly, especially when there was no telling when His Highness would return.

The coronation ceremony for the Crown Princess went so smoothly; some were happy while others not so much.

The Consort Xu held up her wine cup, glancing at the Consort Xue with a smile in her eyes, "Today’s coronation ceremony went so smoothly, sisters, let’s drink."

Lady Tao, with her teacup in hand, smiled brightly, "Consort Xu is right. Today is the great day of the Crown Prince’s wedding, let’s drink in celebration."

Consort Xue rolled her eyes at Consort Xu and Lady Tao. What was there to be happy about? It wasn’t them becoming the Crown Princess. They truly think that after Shen Chuwei becomes the Crown Princess, they will share her favor?

Idiots, keep dreaming!

After downing the cup of wine, Consort Xue stood up and left.

Lady Chang simply listened calmly, knowing that with things having taken a fixed turn, they could only take one step at a time from here on.

She glanced at Consort Xu and Lady Tao at the next table, noting that these two were the closest to Shen Chuwei. They were happy now, but they would cry later.

But on the other hand, if she could pull them into her camp, it might be helpful.

After Consort Xue walked out, she went straight to a secluded place and carefully surveyed her surroundings before quietly asking, "Weren’t they saying the ceremonial robe was damaged? How could the ceremony still go smoothly? Lady Chang wouldn’t lend her ceremonial robe to Shen Chuwei."

"Princess, it was damaged. Even the auspicious Ruyi bead was missing one, but they said she borrowed the Empress’s ceremonial robe," replied Shuiyao in an equally soft voice.

A flicker of doubt crossed Consort Xue’s eyes, "Borrowed the Empress’s? But the robe looked new, not like something from decades ago."

"Princess, it’s really the Empress’s ceremonial robe. The matrons said that back then the Emperor had the Sewing Bureau make two sets for the Empress to choose from in case she didn’t like one," Shuiyao said.

Consort Xue’s face darkened as she looked in the direction of the Crown Prince’s bedchamber, "It was all easy work in vain."

Shuiyao quietly soothed, "Princess, don’t worry, there will be ways in the future."

Apart from finding a way in the future, Consort Xue had no other options right now.

As a princess in her own right, the seat of the Crown Princess must be hers.

The night was deep and everyone was quiet.

Just as Chun Xi had thought, Shen Chuwei, full from eating and drinking, was beginning to feel sleepy. Sitting on the wedding bed, every time she thought of lying down, Chun Xi would shake her awake.

"Master, hold on a little longer, His Highness will be back any moment now."

Shen Chuwei yawned, unable to hold on any longer. She took out a bottle of peppermint oil from her pocket, dabbed a drop on her finger, and then applied it to her temples. The cool sensation helped her to stay barely awake.

Outside the door, the princes and courtiers following Xiao Jinyan clamored to disturb the wedding chamber.

It was just part of the process, what was there to make a fuss about?

Xiao Jinyan simply had Weichi and Qin Xiao block them at the door, not allowing them to come in.

When Shen Chuwei could no longer stay awake after applying peppermint oil to her temples many times, Xiao Jinyan leaned against the door frame and walked in.

The maids started to approach to offer their help but were waved off by Xiao Jinyan, "All of you, leave."

Seeing His Highness had returned, Chun Xi curtsied and then retreated with the group of maids.

"Your Highness, you’re finally back," Shen Chuwei stood up to greet him, and upon approaching, she caught the scent of alcohol.

Xiao Jinyan was slightly tipsy at that moment. Looking down at little nine, a smile played on his lips, "Sorry to keep you waiting. They wouldn’t let me return until I drank enough."

She wasn’t angry because of this; what was most important now was to take off this ceremonial robe, put it away properly, clean it, and return it to Mother.

Having become the Crown Princess, she could now refer to the Empress as Mother.

She grabbed Xiao Jinyan’s hand, guiding it towards the sash around her waist, her tone slightly urgent, "Now that you’re back, hurry and help me out of this ceremonial robe."

Shen Chuwei’s impatient actions, in Xiao Jinyan’s eyes, carried another layer of meaning.

"I’ll help you," Xiao Jinyan said, pulling her hand towards the bed.

The hem of the ceremonial robe was too long. Shen Chuwei, overtaken by sleepiness, accidentally stepped on it, tumbling into Xiao Jinyan’s arms and bringing him down with her to the floor.

As luck would have it, their lips touched.

Already having a child together, her first reaction was that her mouth hurt a bit.

Xiao Jinyan, looking at the person on top of him, chuckled softly, "Little nine, are you really that impatient?"

ps: Third update (each Chapter three thousand words)

Do you babies like the love story between Consort Xu and the man in black? If you do, I’ll write more.

Tonight, many are drunk~