Thank you for the kofi, txteckel! Double updates today~ I owe you guys two more extra updates now. Phew.
Letting Jiuzhu’s hair fall on her back, Shen-shi gently used a wooden comb to brush her daughter’s hair from the roots to the ends. She smiled tearfully: “Over the years, I’ve often bought hair ornaments for little girls, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to use them.”
“Mother, please style my hair in a double bun1T/N: Here’s a picture for you all~ 
. I look so beautiful because you gave birth to me, so the hairpins you bought before will surely look good on me even now,” Jiuzhu turned around and hugged Shen-shi’s waist while acting coquettishly. “Daughter loves those lovely and pretty hair ornaments.”
“Alright.” Shen-shi bent down and gently patted her daughter’s back as if coaxing a young child. “Mother will style whichever hairstyle you like for you today.”
Ming Jiyuan looked at the mother and daughter embracing each other and turned away to hide the tears in his eyes. Stepping out of the room, he closed the door behind him to give them some privacy.
After the two embraced for a long time, Shen-shi brought out a carved wooden box from the inner part of the room. It was packed with numerous neatly arranged jewelry for little girls.
Gold necklaces, little golden bells, longevity locks, a lot of buyaos2T/N: A buyao [步摇] is a type of a dangling hair ornament worn by women. It is a type of hairpin. It literally translates to ‘step (步) shake (摇)’ because it shakes with every step one takes. 
and other hairpins, jade necklaces and ornaments. Each piece carried a sense of innocent playfulness of a child.
“Really pretty.” Jiuzhu touched the box brimming with jewelry, wondering how long her mother had looked forward to her return.
“These- Take all of these with you.” Shen-shi combed her daughter’s hair. “May you and Chen Wang grow old together in harmony and love each other till eternity.”
Her movements were somewhat unfamiliar, but each gesture was filled with tenderness. “Though life in the imperial household is not easy, if you are resolute, nothing in this world can win against you.”
The double bun hairstyle was commonly worn by unmarried young girls.
Shen-shi pinned a red bean hairpin3T/N: Maybe something like this: 
on either side of Jiuzhu’s head: “Does it look good?”
People only know of the bitter yearning of lovers4T/N: Red beans are also called ‘beads of lovesickness’. They are a symbol of yearning for a loved one. This is a reference to a Tang dynasty poet, Wang Wei’s, poem ‘Lovesickness’ or «相思»., but little do they think of the deep affection among family.
“Looks good.” Jiuzhu looked at herself in the mirror and nodded earnestly. “Thank you, Mom.”
“Jiuzhu.” Shen-shi placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Don’t wrong yourself; the Ming family will always have your back.”
“Mom.” Jiuzhu held her hand. “Don’t be sad.”
“Mom is not sad,” Shen-shi forced a smile. “Mom just cannot bear to part with you.”
The light of the setting sun streamed through the window, climbing onto the dressing table as if it were a mischievous child.
Jiuzhu hugged Shen-shi’s waist once more. “Mom, this will always be my home.”
A warm tear rolled down her cheek and brushed past the corner of her mouth.
Chen Wang woke from his dreams and looked at the pitch-black outside through the window. He sat cross-legged on the bed. It wasn’t even dawn yet?
The eunuch on guard heard his movements and quietly asked from beyond the curtain, “Your Highness, are you awake?”
“Light the lamp.” Chen Wang replied as he got off the bed. “Fetch water. Ben Wang wants to bathe.”
“Your Highness, you just took a bath last night…”
“Ben Wang doesn’t like to repeat himself.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Chen Wang touched the scented coating on the table. He recalled that Ming Xiaozhu was allergic to incense. Worried that she might not like this fragrance either, he took out a handkerchief to wipe his fingertips.
Daybreak seemed to come really late on this early spring morning.
Sun Caiyao was still asleep when she heard the commotion from the adjacent courtyard. Worried that His Highness would awaken from the noise made by these people, she called a palace maid and asked, “Why is it so noisy outside?”
“His Highness Chen Wang is preparing to bathe this morning, so the servants are attending to him.” The maid said, looking at her with some awkwardness. “Huangzifei, today is His Highness Chen Wang’s wedding. You… Please excuse all these.”
Waking up so early to take a bath?
Sun Caiyao was puzzled. “There are still several hours left until the auspicious time for the wedding. Isn’t Chen Wang preparing too early?”
“This slave heard that His Highness Chen Wang wishes to directly go to Assistant Minister Ming’s residence and personally welcome the Wangfei. So, he got up early to prepare,” the maid explained, sharing what she had heard. “It is rumoured that the Ministry of Rites initially disagreed with His Highness Chen Wang going to Assistant Minister Ming’s residence to fetch the bride. However, as His Highnesss insisted, the ministry had no choice but to compromise.”
According to the imperial family’s customs, when a prince married a legitimate wife, he almost never needed to go to the Wangfei’s family to fetch her5T/N: If the difference in status between the groom and the bride’s family is too steep, with the groom’s ranking high and the bride’s low, the groom had the option to not go personally and fetch the bride from her natal home. He could just send a bridal sedan chair and wait at his residence while entertaining the guests. The groom didn’t even need to escort the bride down from the sedan if he wished so. Everything would be done for him by others..
However, if a prince valued his bride, he could choose to wait at the entrance of his residence and escort her down from the sedan chair, just as His Highness did when he married her. According to the rules, the groom would only need to wait for the bride to enter the door before taking her hand to step over the threshold with the red embroidered ball in hand6T/N: Looks like this: 
.
It would already be a matter of great honour for Chen Wang to greet Ming Jiuzhu outside the Zhuque Gate7T/N: It is one of the four main gates of the imperial Palace. It is located towards the south. because he was marrying her at Qilin Palace. Why would he need to go and personally fetch her from the Assistant Minister’s residence?
Seeing that she was silent, the palace maid cautiously suggested, “Should this slave go speak to the servants in Chen Wang’s courtyard and ask them to quiet down a bit?”
“No need,” Yun Yanze lifted the curtain and walked in. “Today is a joyous day for fifth younger brother; it’s better for it to be lively.”
“You’re awake, Your Highness?” Sun Caiyao rose to greet Yun Yanze as he entered.
“Sit down quickly. We are husband and wife. Between us, there’s no need to act with so much propriety,” Yun Yanze said, pulling Sun Caiyao down to sit. He then turned to the palace maid and asked, “Did you say that fifth younger brother insisted on going to the Ming family to personally fetch the bride?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Yun Yanze smiled helplessly and turned to Sun Caiyao. “Fifth younger brother has always been this way; he dares to do what the other princes wouldn’t dare to.”
Hearing this, Sun Caiyao felt relieved. Indeed ah, when His Highness came to greet her at the entrance of the residence, it showed how much he valued her. Which other prince would dare to be as reckless and wilful as Chen Wang?
After Chen Wang took a bath and changed into the complicated wedding outfit, his jade-like face appeared even more fair and handsome against the backdrop of the bright red attire.
“Why haven’t the officials from the Ministry of Rites arrived yet?” He sat in the main hall, wanting to drink tea but fearing that it might cause bloating and make him lose grace later. A wedding only happened once; he couldn’t let his marriage to Ming Xiaozhu be anything short of perfect.
“Your Highness, the escort team is ready. The Dragon Guards and Golden Armored Guards are all prepared.” A little eunuch reported. “However, the officials from the Ministry of Rites said to wait as the auspicious time hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Tsk.” Chen Wang stood up and paced around the room. He had never felt time to pass so slowly before; why was it dragging on so much today?
“Congratulations, fifth younger brother!” Huai Wang, along with An Wang and Jing Wang, entered. Upon seeing Chen Wang’s wedding attire, a twinge of envy stirred within them.
After all, the child relies on the mother’s honor. As the Empress’ son was of a higher status, the grade of Yun Duqing’s wedding attire was half a rank higher than theirs.
“Many thanks to elder brothers.” Chen Wang raised an eyebrow on seeing the three people and bowed to them. “Elder brothers came at the right time. Younger brother has something to ask of you three.”
Seeing Chen Wang acting so proactive and bowing to them, the three princes instinctively took a step back. Yun Duqing would usually never be this courteous to them.
Such excessive politeness indicated some kind of an issue, and it was likely something significant.
An Wang and Jing Wang silently glanced at Huai Wang, who was standing between them. Huai Wang braced himself and spoke stiffly, “Fifth younger brother, feel free to say what you need. We are brothers, there is no need for such formality.”
Bah, it’s clear this won’t be anything good.
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