Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Jiang Pengji rode on White’s back. Behind her, many men carried dowries into the city. An impressive troop of bodyguards surrounded her and the dowries. Such a grand entrance sparked the curiosity of the people of Shangjing; people started filling both sides of the street to watch the commotion, talking ceaselessly.

“That’s a lot of dowries… Which family is marrying off this rich lady?”

There was ten miles of red dowries. They had been looking at the commotion for a long time. The dowries were carried one after another, and seemed endless.

“Be good. Even if the princess of the Northern Borderline, who married into the royal family, did not have that many dowries…” the person trailed off.

“Ai, isn’t your source pretty accurate? They seem to know all that happens in Shangjing. Did you not hear anything about this?”

The people were all discussing amongst themselves. Most were appalled by the extravagant dowries, while a minority were interested to know whose daughter got married and which family was generous enough to give such dowries.

So many dowries was a prelude to an empty house.

In the eyes of the people, even if it was the Emperor marrying off his daughter, he would not be able to afford so many items.

The discussion of the commoners drifted into the ears of daughter of the Liu manor. The sides of her lips broke into a smile, and she could not contain her joy.

Being the non-existent daughter of the concubine of the Liu manor, she never imagined she would be the center of attention and envied by many.

She tightly held onto the handkerchief in her hand and took a deep breath, holding the excitement in her heart.

They reached Shangjing city when she became the Fourth Princess Consort; not just the people of Shangjing, but all the people, knew her.

Her emotions hadn’t yet calmed down when sounds of excitement came from outside. Liu Huan listened carefully. Her face slowly darkened.

Jiang Pengji heard some commotion and instinctively turned back to look.

She saw that, amongst the troops, a horse carriage suddenly gained the attention of the people; some even took out their scented pouches and threw them towards the carriage. Some young men blushed, as if they saw their lover and had the urge to ask her out but had to hold themselves back. Their expressions were conflicted.

The curtains on the horse carriage were lifted slightly, revealing a fair lady with a disposition from the heavens inside.

The spring wind blew past. The air had an additional, unspeakable, faint scent, causing one’s mind and heart to become intoxicated.

It was a pity… The fair lady only appeared for that one moment.

When the curtain of the carriage was lowered, many felt their hearts were empty, as if they had broken up with their significant other and were in low spirits.

Jiang Pengji saw what happened. She smiled suddenly, and held the reins tight. White sneezed unhappily, but still turned its head obediently, bringing Jiang Pengji backwards.

She said, “Why did you lift the curtains of the horse carriage just now?”

“I was curious about Shangjing city––curious at how developed this place is. I overstepped my boundaries, and I seek your forgiveness.”

The people saw Jiang Pengji riding her horse back towards the carriage. They thought she was going to discipline Huijun and couldn’t help but tense up.

Shortly after, the sound of a lady’s voice, as crisp and pleasing to the ears as that of a skylark, rang out. The people recalled the gorgeous face, and one by one their heart and minds were intoxicated.

“I see. Lifting the curtain to look around is fine before the marriage. This is the only chance you’ll be free for a while.” Jiang Pengji agreed with an open mind.

After gaining approval, Huijun ordered her maidens to lift the curtains of the horse carriage at both sides. A pair of beautiful eyes briefly shot a glance at both sides of the street.

Back then, there were many places that were of enjoyment but were out of her reach. Her filthy body was unworthy to even set foot there. Now, she had taken on her identity and rightfully sat in the horse carriage. The people around were in awe of her beauty.

Because of Huijun’s actions, the people who were once orderly started to become rowdy. Some enthusiastic people ran after the horse carriage and threw their scented pouches.

“Be good. Is this what the bride-to-be looks like? It is a rare beauty on earth. You can’t forget that face after one glance… Even fairies cannot compare.”

Their words just came out. Someone immediately disagreed because that person knew the rules more than the rest. “Based on the look of it, she is not the bride. The horse carriage in front is bigger than hers––grander, even. The rightful master is most likely sitting inside that one.”

“That is not the bride? Then who is she?”

“That is the accompanying maiden to the bride. I heard the scholar at the entrance of the village say before that prestigious families have this rotten rule where they prepare a few maids for the daughter and send them all to serve their son-in-law. They said… They said it was to secure favor… Isn’t that unethical? What family would embarrass their own daughter…? If they didn’t do it, however, they wouldn’t prestigious families…”

The people around them heard and suddenly showed expressions of disbelief.

“Accompanying maiden to the bride… This son-in-law has profited much. He got to marry a legal wife, plus four to five other ladies who will warm the bed…”

“This accompanying maiden is so beautiful. Are they not afraid that their son-in-law will be enticed?”

“Who knows. I mean, the lady may be even more gorgeous…” Once the words came out, a reckless bully laughed out loud, a wretched smile filling his face.

“From what I see, I suspect this family has a feud with the son-in-law’s family. The daughter is already so gorgeous, and the accompanying maiden is also as beautiful as a fairy. When the son-in-law sees them, will he be able to walk? Won’t he be dying to lie on top of them, and then refuse to come down all day long? How can one bear it? I predict that, if he is spoiled for months, he will surely be squeezed dry by these ladies!”

The perverted topics caused the married women to blush and become angry. The men, in turn, showed agreeable expressions.

If one’s daughter-in-law was so pretty, she married, bringing along with her four to five fairies. They felt like they could not take it.

The topic of discussion mostly centred on Huijun. The conversation steadily drifted into the ears of the daughter of the concubine, Liu Huan. She was so angry that she tore two handkerchiefs in half. Her eyes had an ominous glint, and her whole face became distorted due to anger and jealousy. Her face had a repulsive appearance and a ferocious look to it.

It was hard to imagine that she was twelve years old and an innocent, young lady.

Ten miles of red dowries… It was known throughout Shangjing.

That day, both pieces of news seemed to have grown wings and spread through Shangjing.

Firstly, the future Fourth Princess Consort had a worth that far exceeded anyone’s expectations. Ten miles of red dowries far exceeded that of the Second Princess Consort, who was the princess of the Northern Borderline.

Secondly, the accompanying maiden to the bride was stunningly beautiful. Many young scholars that saw her loved her at first sight and subsequently had sleepless nights.

Other than that, someone heard news and knew that Huijun was the accompanying maiden to the daughter of the concubine from Liu manor. They hurriedly ordered their servants to send a congratulatory card. No matter how much the Liu manor demanded, in order to redeem her, they only asked to take Huijun as an honorable concubine and treasure her like precious pearls.

The accompanying maiden to the bride was plainly the lady who warmed the bed, helping her master secure favor. If her master did not let go, she was destined to have no status. Wasn’t an honorable concubine way better than that?

Some were smarter. They directly used floral paper that had been dyed in a scented smell and wrote their favorite quote to test how tight-lipped Huijun was.

Be it the former or the latter, Huijun rejected it with utmost politeness, and left the person wringing their wrists with regrets. Yet, they were all unable to be unhappy with her.

Jiang Pengji saw and couldn’t help but say, “The beauty that will bring misfortune to the country is beginning to take shape.”