The Old Princess finally realized that this unremarkable-looking person was indeed her own son. The Old Princess thought back carefully; she didn’t recall ever seeing her son act so impulsively before.
It seemed her son truly did like Li Zhiwei.
The Old Princess sighed inwardly, unsure whether this was a blessing or a curse.
Still, she thought, since her son had finally agreed to marriage, regardless of who the woman was, there was hope she might yet hold a grandchild in her arms.
With that thought, the Old Princess looked at the couple with a kind expression.
When they arrived at the festively decorated wedding hall, Xu Heming carefully set Li Zhiwei down.
Seeing that the auspicious hour was almost over, the officiant quickly called out, “The auspicious hour has arrived!”
The wedding matron quickly helped Li Zhiwei to the side and placed a length of red silk in her hand.
She then handed another piece of red silk to Xu Heming.
Perhaps the officiant also felt that Xu Heming was not easy to control and feared something might go wrong.
The Old Princess sat at the head of the hall, looking at the couple with great satisfaction.
“The red silk ties fate; with jade steps lightly moved, we invite the newlyweds to enter the hall!”
Seeing that the couple was ready, the officiant hurriedly announced.
Xu Heming walked slowly forward, holding the red silk.
The wedding matron carefully guided Li Zhiwei as she walked.
“First bow to Heaven and Earth!”
Xu Heming and Li Zhiwei turned and knelt to perform the ritual.
After they rose, the officiant quickly called out again:
“Second bow to the parents!”
Xu Heming and Li Zhiwei knelt before the Old Princess, who was seated at the head.
The Old Princess smiled approvingly and nodded.
Once they stood, the officiant quickly announced:
“Husband and wife bow to each other!”
Xu Heming and Li Zhiwei bowed to one another.
Seeing this, the officiant breathed a sigh of relief and quickly called out:
“The ceremony is complete! Lead them to the bridal chamber!”
After shouting this, the officiant felt a great sense of relief. For some reason, he felt that if he had made a mistake, this wedding might not have succeeded.
Li Zhiwei was utterly bewildered.
She felt that this ceremony had been somewhat rushed.
Was it necessary to be so hurried?
“Weiwei, go back to Songmo Courtyard and rest for now,” Xu Heming said warmly.
“Mm,” Li Zhiwei replied, though she felt there was something behind Xu Heming’s words.
Still, thinking of the woman in the wedding sedan earlier, she waited for Xu Heming to give her an explanation at some point.
In Songmo Courtyard, the atmosphere was joyous, as if waiting for the arrival of their mistress.
The maids of Songmo Courtyard had already been waiting nearby.
“Weiwei, rest here for now. I’ll go out for a while and come back to be with you,” Xu Heming said to Li Zhiwei.
“Alright,” Li Zhiwei nodded. She was, in fact, feeling a bit tired.
“Rusong, stay here and protect the princess. Qinghua and Qingyue, do not leave her side for a moment. Ru Feng and Qingsong, come with me,” Xu Heming instructed the few people nearby.
“Yes!”
After speaking, Xu Heming quickly left.
As soon as he stepped out of Songmo Courtyard, he asked Qingsong, “Where is she?”
He needed to deal with that woman quickly.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t know how to explain to Li Zhiwei who that woman really was.
“Your Highness, I have her locked up in the Western Side Courtyard,” Qingsong said quickly.
He had originally planned to put her in the prince’s mansion dungeon.
But given that her face was identical to that of the former princess, he didn’t dare do it.
“Let’s go take a look. Ru Feng, go out and find out where that woman comes from and who she’s been in contact with,” Xu Heming ordered as he stepped into the Western Side Courtyard, then added instructions to Ru Feng.
He wanted to see who was trying to set him up by sending a woman who looked exactly like his former princess.
When Xu Heming entered the Western Side Courtyard, Zhou Yuxin had not yet woken up.
“Fetch some water and splash it on her to wake her up!” Xu Heming ordered Qingsong darkly.
Hearing this, Qingsong knew that bringing her to the Western Side Courtyard was yet another mistake.
He didn’t dare hesitate this time.
Qingsong quickly brought a basin of water and, without waiting for further orders, poured it over Zhou Yuxin’s head.
“Mm—” Zhou Yuxin felt a sudden chill.
“Who are you?” A cold voice rang out.
Zhou Yuxin was startled awake with a shiver.
“Your... Your Highness!” Zhou Yuxin’s eyes widened. For a moment, she thought Xu Heming had discovered her elopement with Ding Chen.
Fear gripped her heart.
She dared not imagine what her fate would be if anyone knew she had run off with Ding Chen.
“Who are you?” Xu Heming stared at Zhou Yuxin’s fearful face and asked coldly again.
This face—he had nearly forgotten his former princess.
But he had seen Zhou Yuxin buried with his own eyes. He did not doubt that the person before him was an impostor.
Zhou Yuxin was terrified. She suddenly remembered that the Zhou family was gone, and she had come seeking Xu Heming, hoping to rely on him.
But she hadn’t expected that today would be the day Xu Heming took a new bride.
In a moment of agitation, she hid in the wedding sedan while everyone else entered Li’s residence.
And then she saw Xu Heming personally carrying that woman out the door.
Jealousy flared in Zhou Yuxin’s eyes. She had never seen Xu Heming behave like that when she married him.
Now, looking at the harsh expression on his face as he stared at her, Zhou Yuxin’s heart sank.
How could a proud man like Xu Heming tolerate her running off with another man?
Too afraid to admit her identity, Zhou Yuxin remained silent.
“Fetch the whip!” Xu Heming ordered darkly when she didn’t answer.
“Your Highness!” Zhou Yuxin’s eyes widened wide. She knew Xu Heming was ruthless, but he had never laid a hand on her before.
Was he going to strike her now?
No, impossible. Her husband still cared for her.
“Your Highness, it’s me, Yuxin!” Zhou Yuxin said tearfully, forced to reveal her identity.
At that moment, she no longer cared whether Xu Heming would punish her for it.
“Who did you say you are?” Xu Heming asked, slapping the whip lightly against his palm.
She claimed to be Zhou Yuxin?
A dead woman!
Had she come back to life on the day of his wedding?
“Your Highness, I am your princess, the mother of the heir!” Zhou Yuxin pleaded.
“My princess is not you,” Xu Heming sneered, looking at Zhou Yuxin as if she were already dead.
“Your Highness, even if you take a new wife, I am still your first wife,” Zhou Yuxin said, though terrified, she knew she had to return to the Prince’s Mansion to reclaim her dowry.
If Xu Heming treated her well, she might even stay, since the child needed a mother.
With this thought, Zhou Yuxin looked at Xu Heming with feigned shyness, trying to stir up any remnants of tenderness in him.
She believed she meant more to him than the woman who had just entered the mansion.
Chapter 495
6 min read