"Jing Rou, An Yue, the bridal sedan chairs have arrived outside."
The Prime Minister Lin Bing Cheng trembled as he raised two bamboo sticks.
"One is long and the other is short. Among you two sisters, whoever draws the long stick will sit in the left bridal sedan chair and marry the Crown Prince Xiao Jin Yang, while the holder of the short stick will sit in the right bridal sedan chair and marry the Seventh Prince, Xiao Yun Zhao."
Heavily sighing, within a brief moment, Lin Bing Cheng seemed to age by a decade.
He loved both daughters equally. If it weren't for the imperial decree endangering the lives of his entire family, how could he bear to watch his beloved daughters facing such differing fates on their wedding day?
One would be getting married to the Crown Prince, renowned for his literary and military talents, the future sovereign of the Xiao kingdom.
The other would be marrying a useless prince notorious for his title as the 'War God'.
"Father."
Kneeling on the ground, Lin Jing Rou, in her bridal dress, was shedding tears uncontrollably, "As the elder sister of An Yue and the eldest daughter of Lin family, I cannot let my younger sister fall into a hazardous situation. I voluntarily choose to marry the Seventh Prince, Xiao Yun Zhao."
Marrying the Crown Prince would elevate her status to the Crown Princess, making her the future queen of Xiao Kingdom, a position just one step beneath the king.
But, marrying the Seventh Prince meant a hopeless life...
"Jing Rou...Father has failed you both. It's Father's incompetence."
"It's not Father's fault. I made this choice willingly."
Tossing away the bamboo sticks, Lin Bing Cheng and his daughter Lin Jing Rou hugged each other, crying desperately. On one hand, he felt helpless about the situation, and on the other hand, she was crying for her foreseeable dismal future.
"Why all the tears? Will crying solve anything?"
A discordant sound suddenly interrupted the emotional scene.
The stunning woman in bridal attire sat on the grandmaster chair, legs crossed. Her sweet voice was laced with a calmness and maturity far beyond her years.
"My elder sister will marry the Crown Prince and I will marry the Seventh Prince. This matter is settled."
"No, it cannot be so." Lin Jingrou, her eyes brimming with tears, shook her head in resistance. Despite her delicate and frail appearance, a strong determination shone through. "How can I bear to watch you marry Xiao Yunzhao, a cruel and unforgiving man? You, with your delicate constitution and gentle temperament..."
"Xiao Yunzhao tormenting me? How very audacious!" Lin An Yue interrupted, one hand resting on her chin, while the other drummed softly on the table, producing a steady thump-thump sound. She laughed scornfully, "I'll say it once more, you'll marry Xiao Jinyang, and I will wed Xiao Yunzhao."
The sweet but assertive voice dominated the entire room, leaving everyone too scared to even breathe.
Why was it that the second youngest daughter seemed to be… completely different after waking up from her near-drowning incident?
"The time has come. The Lin family brides, please ascend to the bridal sedan."
At this moment, a eunuch’s voice echoed from outside the door urging on the proceedings.
According to Xiaoguo's wedding traditions, the groom had to escort the bride around the entire city after the wedding in order to symbolize a successful marriage. Even the Crown Prince and the princes had to adhere to this practice.
Yet, only the Crown Prince was present outside the Prime Minister's estate. There was no sign of the Seventh Prince.
Moreover, compared to the luxurious entourage of the Crown Prince, there were merely four guards acting as bearers for the bridal sedan of Seventh Prince's residence.
This was a wedding procession yet the Seventh Prince was not present and the requisite formalities were not followed. No one could even imagine what challenges the daughter of the Lin family would face in the future.
"They're coming out, the Lin family brides are coming out."
A voice in the crowd exclaimed. All eyes were on the teary-eyed Prime Minister Lin Bing Cheng who was leading two of his daughters out from the main gate, each step heavier than the last.
"Father, your daughter bids you farewell, wishing you peace and good health." After bowing, Lin Jingrou stood up and headed towards the bridal sedan placed on the right side, taking steps that hinted her fear and anxiety.
However, before Lin Jingrou could even walk a few steps, she found herself being held in Lin An Yue's embrace, her foot hanging in mid-air.
"Little sister, just what are you trying to do?"
"I don't want to repeat myself the third time," Lin An Yue replied without giving much explanation. She carried Lin Jingrou towards the left-side sedan, forcibly putting her into it.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, my dear older sister is the epitome of beauty, kindness, and virtue, rare even in this world. It is my hope, on An Yue’s behalf, that Your Highness and the Crown Princess will live a long, loving life together."
As her words of blessing fell coldly, Lin An Yue, dressed in her red bridal outfit, stepped into the bridal sedan of the Seven Prince's Mansion without any hesitation, despite the groom's notorious reputation as a warlord.
In the audience, everyone was shocked by Lin An Yue's audacious move.
Was she marrying off her sister?
Everyone knew that marrying the Crown Prince would lead to a life of luxury, while marrying the Seven Prince would lead to lifelong regret. Was she out of her mind?
Moreover, wasn't it known that the second lady of the Lin family was frail and sickly, barely survived a near-drowning six months ago? Yet, she could casually lift another woman. Even some men may not be able to do the same.
"Where is Xiao Yunzhao?" Came Lin An Yue's inquiry from inside the sedan.
"In response to the second young lady of the Lin family, the prince is currently in the Xianlou, accompanying Miss Xianxian." The guard still referred to Lin An Yue as the second young lady, not the princess, since the wedding ceremony had not yet been completed.
Upon hearing his words, everyone present erupted into confusion. The prime minister, Lin Bingcheng, was nearly having a stroke on the spot due to anger.
On the wedding day, the groom was not only absent from the pickup but was also gallivanting in a place of pleasure. This was quite the scandal.
"Raise the sedan, let's go to the Xianlou."
"But you should be waiting at the Prince's Mansion for the prince to complete the wedding ceremony. May I ask why you are going to the Xianlou?" The guard was puzzled.
"To settle him." Came the sweet yet chilly voice of Lin An Yue from inside the bridal sedan.