Male superiority and female superiority: forced love

Before the hour of You, two-thirds of the guests had already arrived.

Today, the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion is unprecedentedly grand. The carriages parked at the door have blocked half of the street, and one BMW after another is waiting to be properly parked.

Seeing that there were still more than thirty carriages lined up, Zhao Wuji ordered his men to distribute wedding money to the blocked pedestrians.

Each red bag contained fifty coins. Many passersby easily pocketed a hundred coins in a single round trip. Far from easing the flow of people, this attracted even more and more city dwellers, clogging both ends of Liangyun Street. Only after all the luxurious carriages had been ushered into the palace did the crowds slowly disperse.

The wedding banquet, held in the newly expanded Lily Courtyard of the Zhenguo Mansion, featured fifty-five tables, each seating eight people. It presented a golden opportunity for the court to realign its forces. The dignitaries who attended had all made careful deliberations. Of course, there were also a few "old foxes" who played both sides, unwilling to offend either side.

Cai Lei sat with her father and Qi Jianshen.

Liu Dongxiang's father was a member of the Ministry of Rites, an official of the fifth rank. Because his daughter was good friends with Ruan Chuyin, he was given an invitation as an exception and was seated relatively further back.

When Liu Ze'an received the wedding invitation, he was so excited he couldn't sleep all night. His greatest joy in life was having a beautiful daughter. He was originally the prefect of a small town near Liangcheng, but because his daughter was beautiful and enrolled at Songshan Academy, he was able to move to Liangcheng and join the Ministry of Rites. Later, Liu Dongxiang met Wang Yumei, and he was favored by Lord Kong, the Minister of Justice, which helped him gain a firm foothold in the Ministry of Rites.

Now his daughter has become good friends with the future mistress of the Zhenguo Mansion, which has greatly increased his "value" in the Ministry of Rites. He will be promoted to Langzhong of the Ministry of Rites next year, and his career can be said to be going smoothly.

As for Wang Yumei, since her father was not a high-ranking official in the court, she came here today with her uncle, Kong Ji, the Minister of the Dali Temple.

Why was Lord Kong so kind to Wang Yumei? It was because Kong Ji, now over fifty, had yet to marry and had no children. Therefore, he had always treated his niece like his own daughter, doting on her even more than her own parents.

But Wang Yumei's expression wasn't particularly good right now, because sitting at her table was Crown Prince Jiang Wenzhou. His unattainable status and the perpetual smile that didn't reach his eyes made Wang Yumei shudder.

The most sought-after son-in-law among the four beauties of Liangcheng was the Crown Prince, but Wang Yumei was well aware of his scheming and ruthlessness. Therefore, Kong Ji had long ago put an end to her ambitions to become the Crown Princess, telling her that she could marry anyone in Liangcheng, but not Jiang Wenzhou, or she would die without knowing how.

Wang Yumei once asked her uncle why he still supported Jiang Wenzhou, a man so formidable. Kong Ji told her that Jiang Wenzhou might not be a competent husband, but he would certainly be a competent emperor in the future. As birds choose their trees to roost, and virtuous ministers choose their masters to serve. She could never go wrong by siding with Jiang Wenzhou.

Wang Yumei and Cai Leili's tables were next to each other. She saw her good sister staring at the prince with flirtatious eyes, and she was so scared that her face turned green. She quickly winked at her to restrain herself.

Cai Lei turned her head away with a sullen face. She was now increasingly disgusted with Liangcheng. The men here were harder to pursue than the other. She flirted with that handsome man a few times, but he didn't even bat an eyelid at her, which pissed her off. She looked sullenly at her father, who was chatting with Qi Jianshen and the Duke of Zhenguo and his wife, who were temporarily seated there, with a big smile on his face. She turned her head to the right again and saw the groom's two younger brothers staring at her with scorching eyes. Unfortunately, one of them was fifteen, and the other was the same age as her, neither of them was her cup of tea. Helplessly, she had to straighten her head and admire the delicacies on the table.

Today's wedding banquet was a sumptuous affair. Beneath the silver candlesticks lay sixteen delicacies: eight meat dishes, four vegetable dishes, two soups, and two side dishes. Furthermore, the rotating trays on the table were heated, and a small charcoal stove beneath the table kept the dishes constantly warm, ensuring their perfect taste.

Cai Lei looked carefully at the big red menu. Most of the dishes were ones she had never seen before, not even in Mingyue Tower. Her eyes couldn't help but become focused.

Eight meat dishes: Charcoal grilled BBQ platter, butter baked shrimp, seafood bread soup, pickled eighteen cuts, roasted lamb leg, braised shark's fin, fairy chicken, steamed yellow croaker

Four vegetarian dishes: Boiled Chinese cabbage, wine-flavored pea sprouts, three-color fried rice noodles, and roasted basil on slate

Two soups: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Wild Mushroom Soup

Two points: fresh milk winter peach jelly, thousand-layer cake

By the time she had finished her scan, her mouth was overflowing with saliva, and she had to pretend to cough lightly and swallow it all.

Looking at the sky, it was almost the auspicious time.

Following the host's loud shout, everyone's eyes turned towards the door.

Two bright red wedding dresses lit up the entire yard.

Ruan Chuyin, wearing a red veil, entered the venue hand in hand with Qin Guanzhi, under the gaze of the crowd. The pearl tassels on her hair swayed gently with her lotus steps, making a subtle, crisp sound.

The exposed part of her slender neck was stained with a golden halo under the candlelight, and her delicate white wrists were also stained by the light, giving them a hazy color.

The cloud-patterned pendant at her waist emanated the fragrance of orchids. Her graceful figure and charming waist, like a willow in spring, swayed gently with her steps, exuding infinite charm.

Although her face was not seen, it left endless imagination for the guests present who had never seen the bride's true appearance.

Jiang Wenzhou watched the two newcomers approaching from afar. His calm eyes showed a slight fluctuation, but he quickly returned to his aloof expression with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

The two jade feet were getting closer and closer to him. The breeze coming in from outside the door slightly lifted the big red veil, and the stunningly beautiful little face was deeply engraved in his eyes.

At the moment the wind stopped, the bride's casual glance met his stunned gaze. In a flash, the overwhelming color made his heart beat faster and faster.

The eyes hidden under the brows moved slowly, and an unprecedented panic arose in him, making him lost in day and night, illusion and reality.

Just one glance and he was doomed.

The cup in his hand creaked as it was twisted. The moment he lowered his head, he could clearly see that stunning figure again in the clear amber soup.

"Your Highness, are you okay?" Kong Ji noticed his loss of composure and quickly reminded him in a low voice, without forgetting to glance at Qi Jianshen who was standing beside him. Fortunately, his eyes were always closely following the two newlyweds and he did not notice the prince's abnormality.

"Nothing." Jiang Wenzhou regained his composure instantly and drank the liquor in his hand in one gulp.

Kong Ji shifted his gaze with confidence, but ignored his niece's sharpness.

Wang Yumei glanced at the prince subtly, took a symbolic sip of the wine, and began to imagine a love story of epic proportions. Unfortunately, Jiang Wenzhou's identity meant that this story was doomed to have no ending.

Nothing is absolute in this world. In the future, Wang Yumei will realize how wrong she was.