At this moment, night fell.
A grand red bridal sedan chair was swayed and carried into the gloomy prison, stopping directly in front of the groom Xiao Yu's cell. Seeing this wretched environment, the accompanying dowry maids instantly burst into tears out of grievance.
"My lady's life is too bitter. The esteemed young mistress of the marquis's manor, reduced to performing her wedding ceremony in a prison cell."
At the thought of having to spend the wedding night in this ghostly place later, their faces turned pale with fear.
I snapped impatiently. "Shut your mouths. I chose this path myself. Even I, the bride, am not complaining. What are you wailing for? Are you trying to irritate me further?"
The two maids trembled in fear, dropping to their knees with a thud, shivering all over.
"Please appease your anger, my lady. We do not dare to make you feel aggrieved. Please do not be angry."
I waved my hand and said coldly, "Enough nonsense. All of you, guard the entrance."
After saying that, I stood up and stepped out of the bridal sedan. Supported by the wedding mistress, I crossed the threshold into the cell.
Xiao Yu was currently cowering behind the bed curtain. Feeling so desperate, he wanted to bang his head against the wall. He believed he had accumulated virtue and done good deeds throughout his life, never having committed any heinous acts. At most, he had uttered a couple of curses, calling his imperial grandfather a foolish ruler. Moreover, that was clearly a righteous act of pleading on behalf of the people, not a bad deed at all. Why is heaven so blind? Why did it have to send a bride to torture him?
The matchmaking dame raised her voice, cheerfully calling out for the groom. "Where are you? Come on out and welcome your bride."
Even if the wedding were held in the palace of hell, she could still liven up the atmosphere.
Although Xiao Yu prided himself on being aloof and could scold his own servants mercilessly, he could not bring himself to humiliate a woman in public. With a dark expression, he reluctantly shuffled out from behind the curtain.
The matchmaking dame's eyes lit up instantly. "Oh my, this groom is truly as elegant as jade and exceptionally handsome. But on such a joyous day, how is it that he hasn't even changed into his wedding robes?"
Her sharp eyes, like a ruler, measured his broad shoulders and narrow waist up and down. The more she looked, the more she felt his physical appearance was truly unmatched.
Xiao Yu squeezed out a dry reply. "I didn't have time."
In his heart, he hated his own cursed sense of morality. Why couldn't he learn the rascally ways of Xiao Lang? If he could steal his heart, he would have thrown those wedding robes out the door long ago and coldly barked at her to get out.
The matchmaking dame did not care about any of that. She turned around and shouted to the outside. "Hurry up. Are there any servants out there? Come in and lend a hand to help the groom change into his wedding robes."
Guiyuan and Babao had long been waiting by the door, eavesdropping. Hearing this, they shouted, "We're here," and swooshed inside in an instant.
The two of them coordinated perfectly. One handed over the clothes while the other began stripping him under everyone's watchful eyes. Xiao Yu was like a wooden post with its soul sucked out, allowing them to handle and manipulate him as they pleased.
The matchmaking dame's face creased with smiles. She grabbed Xiao Yu's hand, took my hand as well, and forced our hands together.
"Come, come, come, groom. The bride is handed over to you today. Although this place is unusual and the wedding is simple, seeing how well matched you two are, your love must be as strong as gold. In the future, you are destined to grow old together in perfect harmony."
With that, she slowly let go, seeing that I was gripping the groom tightly and wouldn't let go.
"Now that the ceremony is complete, this old woman won't overstay her welcome. I wish you two a baby soon."
As the wooden and iron doors were locked shut, heavy thuds echoed. As if shocked by electricity, Xiao Yu yanked his hand back. He couldn't wait to speak in a cold voice.
"I will not go through with this marriage. Go back yourself and make things clear to my mother. Whether you call off the engagement or have her adopt you as a daughter, it is up to you. Just don't drag me into it."
I calmly raised my hand and flipped off the red bridal veil, revealing a beautifully made-up, gorgeous face. There was neither bashfulness nor anger on my face, only a calm expression as I looked at him.
"Just as well. I don't want to get married either. Why don't we strike a deal?"
Xiao Yu had already turned to leave, but he paused upon hearing this. Somewhat surprised, he slowly turned around with a slight frown.
"What kind of deal are you talking about?"
"Anyway, you are stuck in this prison. Whether you get married or not makes no difference to you. But if you don't get married, won't you be letting down the good intentions of our elders? We might as well just get married. And then you give me a child. That way, your mother can have a grandson and enjoy family happiness, saving her from worrying about her rebellious son all day."
Xiao Yu was taken aback when he heard this, and narrowed his eyes to scrutinize me inquisitively. It was a waste of those two silly servants, Guiyuan and Babao, clamoring about our love being as strong as gold.
"Hey, this is a good bargain, isn't it?"
I put my hands on my hips, staring with my bright, almond-shaped eyes, pressing him with a burning gaze. Xiao Yu immediately averted his eyes, put his hands behind his back, and looked highly guarded.
"My mother is simple-minded and easily fooled. Who knows what malicious intent you have? What if you use the child as leverage against Princess Yunyang to stir up trouble in the estate, relying on the powerful background of your maiden family? Who is going to clean up that mess when the time comes?"
I let out a scoff, my lips curling into a sneer.
"Since you know your mother is simple and easily bullied, then why don't you think about how the Prince Consort and Xiao Lang mistreat her on a daily basis? What kind of vile character those two have, don't you have any idea in your heart?"
Xiao Yu was instantly choked up. His face was deathly pale.
I didn't bother to spare his feelings, either.
"That Prince Consort father of yours, his bias didn't just start yesterday. How miserably your mother has lived these past few years, do you really not know? All you do is hide here to keep yourself clean."
The more I spoke, the angrier I got, my finger almost poking into his face, throwing up my hands.
"You wash your hands of everything, being selfish and self-serving to the absolute extreme. What was the point of Her Highness giving birth to you? Raising a dog would have been more loyal."
Xiao Yu had been pampered since childhood and had never been pointed at and scolded like this before, but this time, surprisingly, he didn't lose his temper. I could see it, too. He wasn't actually heartless. At the mention of his mother, his expression visibly changed.