strictlysupreme Chapter 568 Xie Jue's storyline: Learning that she is getting married
Chapter 568 Xie Jue's storyline: Learning that she is getting married
Changqing acknowledged and withdrew, instructing someone to fetch the account books, and then quickly followed Xie Jue's pace.
As dusk settled and the evening rain in Jiangnan continued, the sound of horses' hooves thundered as they galloped towards Jiangzhou.
Not long after Xie Jue left the dock, a fast horse galloped up from the official road.
"Quickly deliver this message to Young Master Xie!"
The wind carried the sound of horses' hooves and the messenger's shouts; he was wearing a raincoat and covered in mud.
Where is Young Master Xie?
The steward received the letter and replied, "The young master just went to Jiangzhou, leaving about half an hour ago."
Prince's Mansion, Qingfeng Hall.
Gao Wanzhi called softly, "Your Highness."
Qin Jiuwei raised her hand to indicate that she should not stand on ceremony, and instructed a maid to serve tea, but her gaze remained fixed on her face, carefully observing her expression.
"Wanzhi, have you really thought this marriage through? Should we... wait for Xie Jue to come back?"
Gao Wanzhi raised her eyes and said softly, "I've thought it through."
"In his heart, everything, whether it's things at Fuyu Tower or any other people or matters, is more important than me..."
Qin Jiuwei sighed softly and reached out to take her hand.
"Fine, whatever choice you make, I will support you. You will always be my goddaughter."
A touch of emotion welled up in Gao Wanzhi's eyes. She nodded gently and whispered, "Thank you, godmother."
In the following month, the Princess's residence and the Jiang family interacted more and more frequently.
The betrothal gifts, dowry, and wedding invitations were all prepared to the highest standards. Red ribbons were everywhere, drums and gongs were about to sound, and the atmosphere was incredibly lively.
But Gao Wanzhi's courtyard remained quiet.
She sat by the window every day embroidering her wedding dress, from morning till night, yet her expression remained as calm as a still pond.
Occasionally, when the wind blows and the curtains flutter, she will stare blankly at the old elm tree outside the window for a long time, until the needle pricks her finger and draws blood, before she suddenly comes back to her senses.
On the eve of the wedding, the whole city was covered in red silk.
The sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers rose and fell, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
Xie Jue, covered in dust from his journey, rode his horse to the city gate, followed by a caravan and ledgers that had been traveling overnight.
As soon as the horse's hooves landed, he sensed something was wrong.
Red lanterns were hung up in the shops along the street, and the people were talking about it.
"Princess Anhe is getting married! This happy event in the Jiang family is truly the envy of everyone!"
"Who can argue with that? With the princess's marriage, we also benefit from it. Both families distribute wedding candy and fruit on the street every day. My youngest daughter is overjoyed!"
Xie Jue reined in his horse as if struck by lightning.
He dismounted, grabbed a passing vendor, and asked urgently, "What did you just say? Which family is getting married?"
"Which family? The Jiang family's young master and Princess Anhe! Their wedding is tomorrow, the whole city knows, and you still don't know?"
Xie Jue stood there, as if all his strength had been drained away.
The streets behind him were still bustling, but he couldn't hear a word of it.
His lips moved slightly, "...She's getting married?"
No one answered.
He felt as if he had been struck hard in the chest, and he whirled around, leaping onto his horse.
The whip lashed down, the horse neighed, and galloped away.
Before long, the Princess's residence came into view.
Red silk ribbons hang high, and rows of gauze lanterns line the streets.
The entrance to the mansion was bustling with activity, as servants carrying betrothal gifts and food boxes came and went in droves, making the paving stones in front of the gate shine slightly from being walked on.
In the center of the mansion gate was a pair of bright red "囍" characters in gold, so dazzling that they almost hurt his eyes.
Xie Jue pulled on the reins, and before the horse had come to a complete stop, he had already jumped off its back.
The servant hesitated to speak, but was shoved aside.
"Thank you...Young Master Xie?" Someone recognized him and exclaimed in surprise in a low voice.
But Xie Jue's gaze was cold at this moment, staring only at the mansion gate.
He walked extremely fast, almost barging in.
The guards at the gate stopped him. "Young Master Xie, the Princess's residence is celebrating a happy occasion today, so it is inconvenient to receive guests. Please leave."
Xie Jue's face turned ashen, and he shoved aside the servant blocking his way.
The next moment, he burst into the mansion, his clothes fluttering, his eyes filled with barely suppressed anger and panic.
He walked through the many corridors and headed straight for the inner courtyard.
At that moment, he no longer cared about worldly rules and regulations.
He just wanted to know if she was really going to marry someone else!
The inner court.
Gao Wanzhi had just finished trying on her wedding dress, her head adorned with pearls and jade, her bridal gown as splendid as clouds.
She stood in front of the bronze mirror, gently smoothing the strands of hair at her temples, but there was no joy in her eyes.
She instructed her maid, "Check the wedding gown again tomorrow morning, make sure nothing is missing."
Before the words were finished, a commotion suddenly arose outside the door—
"You can't go in!"
"Stop him—!"
The next instant, a familiar figure burst through the door, his aura menacing.
It is Xie Jue.
Gao Wanzhi froze, her fingers clenching the hem of her clothes.
"Young Master Xie?" The maid beside him spoke up instinctively.
Xie Jue looked at her as if he had been slapped hard, his chest churning with emotions that were almost out of control.
Are you really going to get married?
Gao Wanzhi did not answer, but turned away to avoid his gaze, and only instructed the maids, "You may leave now."
The maids hesitated for a moment, then withdrew and quietly closed the door.
There were only two people left in the room, and the silence was so oppressive that it was almost impossible to breathe.
"Wanzhi, I only went to Jiangnan for a short trip, and you're getting married already?"
Gao Wanzhi lowered her eyes. "Yes, I'm getting married."
Xie Jue's throat tightened, and his heart ached dully.
He approached her step by step, until he could see that the rouge on her lips had faded and her face was somewhat pale.
With anger and panic simmering in her eyes, Xie Jue asked again, "Are you really going to marry Jiang Huaiyu?"
Gao Wanzhi turned her head to look at him, and the corners of her lips suddenly curled up. "Yes, I'm getting married. Aren't you happy?"
She said softly, "As a brother, shouldn't I be happy for my sister's marriage?"
"Right, brother?"
That voice, soft and sweet, sounded like a knife to Xie Jue's ears.
His face darkened, and he was almost trembling with anger. "Don't say that!"
“I didn’t say anything wrong.” Gao Wanzhi looked at him. “Haven’t you always treated me like a younger sister? Now that your younger sister is getting married, what are you unhappy about?”
Xie Jue gritted her teeth, "Jiang Huaiyu... he's not a good match."
"Then who is it?" Gao Wanzhi suddenly stood up. "Since you don't agree, how about you choose a husband for me?"
"Is it okay, brother? Who do you think would be suitable? Hmm?"
Xie Jue froze, overwhelmed with emotion.
He thinks no one is good enough!
A series of possible names flashed through his mind, but he rejected them all.
The thought of Wanzhi walking arm in arm with someone else, wearing a wedding dress and nestled in someone else's arms, calling him "husband," and having children with him, just like his father and mother, loving each other until their hair turned white...
He was so angry he wanted to kill someone!
I want to kill them all!