Two days later, on the day of Roujia's grand wedding, Qi Xiao got up early and instructed Jiang Deqing to send the prepared gifts over.

Jiang Deqing smiled, "Your Highness, both households are still in a flurry of activity at this time. It would be better for this old servant to deliver the gifts in the evening before the wedding ceremony when most of the guests have arrived. This way, they can all see and it will give the Princess more face."

Qi Xiao shook his head, "No need. The purpose is not just to have you deliver the gifts. There will be many people and matters to handle on their side today. He is just a child and may not be able to manage everything. After you go over, no need to come back. Stay by his side and make sure nothing goes wrong."

Jiang Deqing finally understood and quickly nodded, "This old servant was negligent. Your Highness can rest assured, this old servant will stay with the young master the whole day and not leave his side for a single step."

Qi Xiao gave an "en" and said, "With Xi Xiang watching over the internal affairs and Aunt overseeing things at the He household, nothing should go wrong. He will likely be very busy today. Be attentive in serving him tea and water."

Jiang Deqing nodded, "This old servant understands, this old servant understands."

"Also..." Qi Xiao paused and lowered his voice a little, "Speaking of Xi Xiang... that matter I mentioned to you last time, have you passed down the instructions?"

Jiang Deqing's expression changed. He subconsciously glanced left and right, lowered his voice and said, "The channels are not fully open yet, but it's about 70-80% done. Fortunately, Xi Xiang has some influence in the internal affairs department and procurement department. Over the years, he has also been secretly mobilizing people.

"But this matter needs to be done covertly so we can't rush it. Now we just lack the imperial physicians. Luckily, thanks to Your Highness's brilliant plan, Physician Liu has already gained the Emperor's trust. Physician Xu's health is failing and he will retire by the end of the year at most. At that time... it will likely be Physician Liu taking over. As long as there are no issues on the imperial physicians' side, we can start taking action."

Qi Xiao gave a faint smile, "No rush."

Jiang Deqing was still uneasy in his heart. He walked to the window again, opened it to take a look, and only returned after confirming no one was around. He said in a low voice, "Has Your Highness thought this through... once the arrow leaves the bow, there's no turning back. Once this matter begins... there will be no way to stop later."

Qi Xiao chuckled lightly, "I have planned for many years, all for this day. Why would I want to stop?"

Jiang Deqing was older and had more worries. He thought for a moment and said, "Also... Your Highness needs to be prepared for the Emperor's countermove. Once this drug is administered, it will take effect in less than a year. The Emperor will definitely be able to detect it. By then, no matter what, it can't be concealed from the imperial physicians. When the Emperor realizes, the first one he will suspect is the Crown Prince. It may become tricky to handle then."

Qi Xiao shook his head, "No matter. I have discussed this with Physician Liu before. He said when the poison takes effect, administering another drug can make the illness appear no different from tuberculosis. Then... a bout of typhoid fever will be enough to take his life."

Jiang Deqing felt a bit more at ease and said in a low voice, "Fortunately, in the past couple of years, there are already quite a few of Your Highness's people in the Three Departments and Six Ministries. With the support of those senior officials, there should be no worries in smoothly ascending the throne when the time comes."

Qi Xiao shook his head lightly, "Just these are not enough... the most crucial is the military."

When it came to this, Jiang Deqing was even more at ease. He laughed softly, "Come to think of it, it's still thanks to Your Highness's foresight. Starting a few years ago, you have been nurturing the descendants of the generals who followed Emperor Wu into battle. Now, they control military power to varying degrees. In the future, if it really comes to arms, I dare not say anything about other places, but just here in the capital, we won't be at a disadvantage."

Qi Xiao shook his head, "It's not my ability... The fathers of these young generals went through life and death with Imperial Father. On the surface they had a ruler-subject relationship with Imperial Father, but in reality they were like brothers. In the earlier years, they were deeply grateful for the Imperial grace.

"After Imperial Father passed away, the Emperor repeatedly took back military power again and again without any care or compensation. Whether it's for the sake of the bond from fighting alongside the Emperor in life and death back then, or for the sake of the decades of frustrations, they can't swallow this anger. I'm merely lucky to be Imperial Father's son."

Speaking of Emperor Wu, Jiang Deqing let out sighs and said softly, "Your Highness is being modest. Haven't these years of Your Highness's painstaking efforts in secret coordination been real? Now the Feng family has also fallen, and the Emperor has lost a major pillar of support. We're just waiting for Your Highness to finish weaving this net, then major actions can be taken."

Qi Xiao gave a faint smile, "No rush. So many years have passed, haven't we endured them all."

Jiang Deqing suddenly laughed, "On such a joyous day, why are we talking about these things. This old servant will tidy up and head to the Lingnan Prince Estate." Qi Xiao nodded and left for the morning court without further discussion.

Inside the Lingnan Prince Estate, the entire household was decorated with lanterns and festive items, with the word "Xi"* pasted everywhere. After Jiang Deqing entered the estate, he was directly welcomed by the old steward of the Lingnan Prince Estate to the rear area.

*T/N: Xi means happiness.

Seeing the festive atmosphere everywhere along the way, Jiang Deqing felt happy in his heart. He laughed, "The young prince has worked hard. So young, yet managing everything so well."

The old steward grinned from ear to ear, "It's all thanks to the blessings, all thanks to the Crown Prince for always thinking of and always helping. Steward Jiang, please come this way."

Passing through the Chuihua Gate, inside a half-grown boy announced loudly, "The head steward of the Crown Prince Estate, Steward Jiang has arrived..."

Jiang Deqing quickly waved his hand, "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it."

The old steward laughed, "How can you not deserve it, come come... let's go see the young prince first."

Inside, Bairen was checking the list of dowry items. Jiang Deqing had just stepped over the rosewood door threshold when he knelt down and kowtowed with a smile, "Felicitations to the young prince, felicitations to the Princess."

Bairen quickly had someone help him up and said with a smile, "Steward, why have you come so early? His High... His Highness?"

Jiang Deqing smiled and took the pouch handed over by the young maid beside Bairen. He bowed and said, "The Crown Prince was worried that the young prince would forget about himself when he gets busy, so he specially sent this old servant over to keep an eye out. From breakfast to lunch, and the snacks in between, not a single meal can be missed."

Bairen felt warmth in his heart and smiled, "His Highness has gone to great lengths for this."

"Also, this old servant is here to keep watch and help out where I can." Jiang Deqing knew that Bairen wanted to ask when Qi Xiao would come. He smiled and said, "In the evening during the wedding ceremony, His Highness will go directly to the He residence."

Initially seeing only Jiang Deqing come alone, Bairen thought Qi Xiao wasn't coming. Hearing these words put his mind much at ease. He turned to the young maid and instructed, "The steward is an honored guest, we can't really trouble him. First invite him inside for some tea."

Jiang Deqing repeatedly waved his hand and laughed, "This old servant is destined for a life of toil. I've never sat idle watching others busy themselves, I really can't bear it. If His Highness doesn't mind, why don't you let this old servant go take a look at the Princess's courtyard.

"This old servant has served in the palace for a lifetime. I may not be skilled in other things but I do know a bit about the general etiquette. It would work for me to check on behalf of the young prince to see if there's anything improper on the Princess's side."

Bairen was struck to the core by these words. He and Roujia were both from Lingnan, and most of the people in the manor were also from the south. There were many differences in wedding customs compared to this region. Bairen was afraid that if anything was amiss, people would gossip. Hearing Jiang Deqing say this, he repeatedly expressed his gratitude and ordered someone to welcome Jiang Deqing to Roujia's courtyard.

After calculating the dowry, Bairen also entered the inner chamber. Roujia was having her face done up by the fortune nanny, while Jiang Deqing softly chanted on the side, "Plucking a string on the left will bear a noble son, plucking a string on the right will produce a lovely boy..."

The nanny's hands were quick. Before Roujia felt any pain, it was already done. The maids wrung cold towels to gently wipe Roujia's face. Seeing Bairen enter, Roujia hurriedly asked, "They cooked eight-treasure porridge. I had someone send it to you. Did you drink it?"

Bairen smiled tenderly, "I drank it. Sister, don't speak first, be careful not to pull your hair."

Only then did Roujia relax a little. She softly nagged, "Be careful in the evening. Don't drink too much. I heard that they like to force the bride's family to drink here. With your tolerance, how can you withstand their rounds of toasts? Even your body can't take it..."

Jiang Deqing smiled, "Princess, rest assured. The groomsmen invited by Lord He are mostly close friends with the young prince. With them blocking, the young prince won't be able to drink much. Even if someone really comes to offer a toast, this old servant will definitely be the first to stop them."

Roujia knew that Jiang Deqing was a trusted person by Qi Xiao's side, different from others. Hearing this, she hurriedly nodded and smiled, "Then many thanks to you for looking after him, sir."

Jiang Deqing repeatedly said he didn't dare.

Applying makeup, styling hair, wearing pearls and jades in order, pressing the phoenix crown - several hairdressing ladies were busy for nearly an hour before they finished dressing up Roujia. Outside, they kept urging. Bairen smiled, "The groom is probably coming. Put on the veil."

Jiang Deqing smiled and stopped him, "Please wait, young prince. Before putting on the veil, the bride needs to be fed the sedan meal first."

Bairen patted his forehead, "The matchmaker just told me, but I actually forgot. Bring the five-grain porridge." The maids hurriedly brought over the prepared five-grain rice porridge. Bairen took the small porridge bowl and softly recited, "Every meal has rice, every day has food."

The sedan meal was always fed by the bride's mother to the daughter. Swallowing the rice grains, Roujia thought of the Lingnan Queen, and her eyes instantly brimmed with tears. Bairen and Roujia were connected at heart as siblings. He immediately understood Roujia's feelings and couldn't help but also redden his eyes.

Not wanting to make Roujia heartbroken, Bairen forced a smile, "Alright, with this, it's complete. Put on the veil."

As he spoke, he took the bridal veil handed over by the fortune lady and carefully covered Roujia with it. From under the veil, Roujia stretched out her hand and lightly grasped Bairen's hand, softly saying, "In the future... take good care of yourself in the manor. Don't... don't let me and Mother worry."

Teardrops fell from under the veil, landing right on Bairen's hand. Bairen's heart ached fiercely. He nodded, "Sister, don't worry."

Roujia's wet nurse saw through it and hurriedly joked with a smile, "What is the Queen worried about? The Queen must be rejoicing in Lingnan right now. With the princess marrying over, is she going to have a little grandson or a little granddaughter? Oh my, might as well have both."

Roujia smiled through her tears. The matchmaker hurriedly stepped forward to lift a corner of the veil and wipe the corners of Roujia's eyes. Jiang Deqing also consoled with a smile, "Princess, there's no need to be sad. The He Manor is not far from here. If the princess misses the young master in the future, just have a strong old woman shout at the door. The young master will be able to hear it from this side and rush over."

Everyone laughed loudly at those words. Outside, it became even more lively. The wedding procession had arrived. Bairen turned his hand to firmly squeeze Roujia's delicate little hand, then turned and went out.

Outside the ceremonial gate, firecrackers exploded in unison. He Zichen, dressed in bright red, was escorted by a dozen young men into the inner courtyard. He Zichen was smiling so much that he almost couldn't contain it. Seeing Bairen come out, he hurriedly stepped forward to bow, "Greetings, Brother-in-law."

Bairen smiled. He was not good at joking with others in the first place and didn't really block the door, only making a token effort before letting He Zichen enter.

In the Lingnan Prince's Manor, there was only Bairen as the bride's family, so it was quite simple. He Zichen helped Bairen to the main seat, and together with Roujia, they bowed again and again. After Bairen said a few auspicious words like "harmony and prosperity, continuous offspring," he had someone help the two up.

Who would have thought that after rising, He Zichen would solemnly bow to Bairen again and softly say, "Brother-in-law, you don't mind that my family has fallen from grace and can entrust Roujia to me. I... I'll only say one thing to Brother-in-law. The words I said when we first met in the Crown Prince's Manor that day, Zichen will do as he says. Gaining a person's well-being, guarding a person for life. From now on, there will be no concubines or side chambers in our manor. Roujia will definitely not suffer any grievances again."

At these words, everyone in the hall sighed with emotion. Bairen took a deep breath, completely putting his heart at ease.