The princess regretted it.

"Lanzhu, today is your big day, you should be happy!" Jin'an said, his face full of reluctance as he looked at Lanzhu who had come to bid him farewell. Jin'an's eyes revealed a complex mix of reluctance, helplessness, and a hint of depth that others couldn't perceive.

Lan Zhu was radiant today, adorned with a phoenix coronet and bridal robe. Although the Emperor had granted her the title of concubine to Wu Changfeng, Jin An felt that this was already an injustice, and to honor her, he specially prepared her a wedding dress and phoenix coronet, a near-red bridal gown. The pearls and jade on the coronet shimmered, and the bridal robe was exquisitely embroidered, both demonstrating Jin An's deep regard for Lan Zhu.

Lan Zhu caught a cold after returning that day and had to rest for seven days. During these seven days, Jin An had others help take good care of her and sent for the imperial physician to treat her. During these seven days, Lan Zhu's heart was filled with conflict and struggle. On the one hand, she was confused and afraid about her future, and on the other, she felt guilty for Jin An's care. After seven days of illness, she gradually accepted this fact. When she suspected that the Third Prince was about to abandon her, Zhang Sun Wuwang sent someone to contact her secretly, saying that he was ashamed of him and promised her that he would never treat her unfairly when that day came. He also explained the key points. So she forced herself to accept it.

After Lanzhu recovered from her illness, Wu Anshuo found an auspicious day and welcomed Lanzhu into the family. Lanzhu, dressed in her gorgeous attire, could not hide the bitterness and uneasiness in her heart. She knelt on the ground, kowtowed to Jin'an, and bid farewell to Princess Jin'an, saying in a trembling voice, "Princess, I thank you very much for your care and concern. After today, I don't know when I will see you again. I can no longer serve you, princess. Please take care!" Lanzhu's voice trembled slightly, and her eyes flashed with a complex light. She felt both uneasy about the future and guilty about Princess Jin'an. She knew she had betrayed the princess, but the princess showed her such care and concern at this time, which made her heart full of contradictions.

Jin An observed her reactions one by one, secretly mocking her, but her eyes revealed sadness and reluctance. She gently held Lan Zhu's hand, helped her up, and said softly, "Don't worry, there are still many days to come, and we will definitely meet again. You must take good care of yourself in Jin Wuhou Mansion and don't let yourself be wronged. Remember, you are leaving me."

Lan Zhu was overwhelmed with emotion after hearing the princess' words. She bowed again and said, "Princess, I will always remember your kindness. Please take care of yourself. I will pray for you in my heart." With that, Lan Zhu turned and walked away slowly. Her steps were heavy, each one like crossing an insurmountable chasm. Her orange figure was particularly dazzling in the sunlight.

Princess Jin'an stood quietly, looking in the direction Lanzhu left, a hint of a smile in her eyes. "Wu Changfeng, Liu Qianyi, I hope this gift won't disappoint you." Nanny Zhao stood quietly beside Princess Jin'an.

Lan Zhu sat in the ornately decorated sedan chair specially gifted by Jin An, her heart pounding like a tide. She recalled all her previous plans, and now she was married into the Jin Wuhou Mansion as a concubine in this way, feeling resentful and helpless.

Outside the bridal sedan, the sounds of joy and excitement filled the air. The wedding procession marched through the streets of the capital, drawing passersby to stop and watch. However, Lan Zhu had no time to absorb the festive atmosphere. Her mind reeled from Princess Jin'an's words of peace last night.

Last night, after Jin'an had dinner, accompanied by Nanny Zhao, she was presented with today's auspicious dress and phoenix crown. She took her hand and said earnestly, "Lanzhu, tomorrow you will be entering the Wuhou Mansion of Marquis Jinwu. I've thought I'd tell you something in advance. A man of Wu's status will undoubtedly marry a noblewoman from the capital of equal status. Furthermore, a man of such high status will undoubtedly have servants around him, but we don't know the specifics of the inner courtyard of the mansion. You must be mentally prepared for everything. Don't be afraid, after all, you are from my side. You must not let others bully you."

Lan Zhu's heart trembled at the thought. Various speculations surfaced in her mind, and she wondered if Prince Wu's entourage was as clean as the rumors said. She thought to herself, "From today on, I'll have to be extremely vigilant." However, with Princess Jin'an as her backer, and as the Third Prince's servant, she doubted they would dare to bully her easily. Lan Zhu straightened her back slightly, a glint of confidence in her eyes. She had to establish herself in the Jinwu Marquis's mansion as quickly as possible. Only then would the Third Prince see that she was useful.

Finally, the bridal sedan arrived at the Jinwu Marquis's mansion. However, the main gate was locked, with only a few gatekeepers peering through the side entrance. The wedding procession stopped at the main entrance, and everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, unsure of what to do.

A moment later, a doorman came forward and said to the sedan chair, "Madam Lan, the mistress has instructed you to enter the mansion through the side door."

The word "aunt" deeply hurt Lanzhu. Her face turned pale and she was unwilling to accept it. She shouted angrily: "This is the sedan chair given by Princess Jin'an. Why do you have to take a side door?" Her voice was sharp and angry, full of humiliation.

The doorman responded expressionlessly, "Madam Lan, this is the rule of the mansion. Concubines must enter through the side door."

Lan Zhu was trembling with anger, biting her lip tightly, tears glistening in her eyes. She had never imagined that even with the bridal sedan provided by Princess Jin'an, she would still be treated with such contempt. She understood that this was just a show of force from the Marquis' wife, but she couldn't back down now; she represented Princess Jin'an's reputation.

"The sedan chair I'm riding in was given to me by Princess Jin'an herself. You let me enter through the side door. Are you looking down on Princess Jin'an?" Lan Zhu said firmly, her voice revealing an unquestionable momentum.

The people in the wedding procession also echoed, and for a moment, the atmosphere became tense. The doormen were hesitant, not knowing how to respond. At this moment, there was a sound of footsteps in the mansion, and a man who looked like a housekeeper hurried out. He wiped the sweat on his forehead due to his haste, kicked the doorman aside, and told him to open the door quickly. Then he stepped forward and said to the sedan chair, "Auntie Lan, this is a mistake made by the doorman. He didn't hear the whole thing. Madam said that according to the rules, concubines should enter the house through the side door, but Auntie Lan was given by the emperor and is also someone close to the princess. She should be able to go through the main door. Auntie Lan, please!"

Lan Zhu handed a purse from the sedan chair to the butler, saying, "Thank you, butler. Let's go!" The sedan chair was lifted once more and slowly moved toward the main gate of the Jinwu Marquisate. Under the gaze of the crowd, Lan Zhu's sedan chair entered the mansion, beginning her journey to an unknown fate. The autumn sun still quietly shone in every corner of the mansion, witnessing this eventful wedding.