sjar Chapter 567 Brother, I'm going crazy!
Chapter 567 Brother, I'm going crazy!
The warm sunshine is auspicious for weddings.
On the same day, the capital city witnessed two completely different joyous events.
Firecrackers crackled and scattered red fragments across the ground in front of the Chu Mansion in the east of the city.
Chu Ruohan stood at the door and watched as her younger brother, Chu Chenyu, dressed in a festive red robe, carefully led the veiled, slender bride out of the sedan chair.
There was no grand pomp and circumstance, no imperial entourage, but every guest wore a genuine smile on their face.
Looking at the undisguised joy and reverence in her younger brother's eyes, and then glancing at the Zhao family matriarch sitting quietly beside her with eyes full of love, Chu Ruohan felt a surge of warmth in her heart.
This is what marriage is all about; it's about uniting two families and beginning a lifetime together.
Meanwhile, at the other end, the wedding procession of Prince Yong's mansion almost blocked half of the long street.
The procession was lavish, with drums and gongs, and the road was paved with gold and jade, creating an extraordinary spectacle.
Zhao Qingzhi sat upright in the eight-bearer sedan chair, her phoenix crown weighing heavily on her head, but her straight back was not bent in the slightest.
Through the gap in the sedan curtain, she could see the crowd of people outside and hear their envious and awe-inspiring discussions.
She is the most glamorous bride in the entire capital today.
The younger sister who married into a merchant family is probably not even as good as the dust beneath her feet at this moment.
This moment of glory completely dispelled the last bit of unease in her heart caused by the imperial decree granting her marriage.
The night of flowers and candles in the bridal chamber.
Inside the new room of Prince Yong's mansion, red candles burned brightly, illuminating the room in a magnificent and opulent manner.
Zhao Qingzhi sat upright on the edge of the bed, listening to the noise of the guests outside gradually fade away, her heart pounding.
She waited for a long time, until the candlelight had dimmed, before she heard footsteps outside the door.
She quickly straightened her posture, posing her meticulously made-up face under the veil with the most gentle and graceful curve.
The door was pushed open, but instead of the husband she had been waiting for, a maidservant she didn't recognize entered.
"Princess Consort, the young prince is still entertaining guests in the front courtyard and will probably not return until later."
The passion in Zhao Qingzhi's heart instantly cooled down.
Meanwhile, deep within the Prince's mansion, in a secluded courtyard.
Lin Xingyao sat alone by the window, listening to the faint laughter coming from afar. The embroidery needle in her hand had already pricked her fingertips, drawing fine beads of blood.
She thought she could do it.
She thought that by deciding to have a son-in-law move in, she could completely sever that inappropriate thought.
But when she saw her brother dressed in wedding attire to greet another woman, she realized that all that so-called determination was nothing but a joke.
Jealousy, like a poisonous ivy, tightened its grip on her heart, making it hard for her to breathe.
Why?
Why can that woman stand openly beside him, while she can only hide in this dark corner, like a rat that can't see the light of day?
Lin Jingchuan returned from the front yard reeking of alcohol, but his expression showed no sign of drunkenness, only an unyielding weariness.
He was about to walk towards the new house when he was stopped by an old servant.
"Young Prince." The old servant bowed, carrying a tray in his hands, "Her Highness the Princess was afraid you had drunk too much, so she specially sent me to bring you a bowl of hangover soup."
Lin Jingchuan glanced at the dark-colored medicine and didn't think much of it.
He took the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
The herbal decoction had no unusual taste.
He handed the empty bowl back and continued walking.
But after taking only a few steps, a sudden feeling of weakness surged up from all over his body.
His head began to feel heavy, and the scenery in his eyes became blurry.
Upon seeing this, the old servant immediately stepped forward to help him up.
"Your Highness, you are very drunk. This servant will help you to the side courtyard to rest."
Lin Jingchuan tried to struggle, but found that he had no strength and his mind was a mess. He could only let the servant help him and turn into another road.
The door was pushed open, then quietly closed behind me.
Lin Jingchuan was placed on a soft bed.
He struggled to open his eyes, but what he saw was not a bride with a red veil, but Lin Xingyao dressed in red with red eyes.
"Brother..." Lin Xingyao's voice trembled uncontrollably.
The string in Lin Jingchuan's mind snapped instantly.
"What...did you give me to drink?" His voice was hoarse as he used all his strength to sit up, supporting himself on the edge of the bed.
The drug had strange properties; it wasn't meant to enhance pleasure, but rather to leave him limp and delirious.
"Go away!"
He shoved Lin Xingyao away as she tried to approach, and then fell off the bed in a disheveled state.
Lin Jingchuan gripped the corner of the table, struggling to stay upright, and stumbled toward the door.
"Even if I die out there looking for a doctor, I will never touch you!"
These words, like a poisoned blade, pierced Lin Xingyao's heart.
All her pretense and all her obsessions shattered completely at this moment.
"I won't let you go!" She hugged him tightly from behind, sobbing uncontrollably, "I was wrong! Brother, I was wrong!"
"Didn't I already make up my mind? I decided to find a son-in-law to live with me, and I decided to forget you! But I can't do it! I can't stand the thought of you sleeping with her... with another woman!"
"Brother, I'm going crazy!"
Lin Jingchuan used the last shred of his sanity to prop up his swaying body, "Let me go! I'm your brother!"
He had barely finished speaking when hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.
"Young Prince! Is the Young Prince inside?" It was a servant sent from the bridal chamber to look for him.
Lin Xingyao's face turned pale instantly, and she involuntarily loosened her grip on Lin Jingchuan's arm.
Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Jingchuan shoved her away and walked toward the door.
His hands trembled as he reached for the door latch, only to find that all the strength in his body seemed to have been drained away.
"Brother, please don't go, please don't go." Lin Xingyao knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face. "I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. But you can't do this to me, you can't leave me alone."
Lin Jingchuan turned around and looked at the woman on the ground, who was crying her eyes out. He felt a mix of emotions.
That face belonged to his most cherished younger sister.
"Xingyao," his voice was as soft as a breeze, "this shouldn't be between us."
"What should it be like?" Lin Xingyao looked up, her eyes filled with desperate madness.
"Tell me, what should it be like? From childhood to adulthood, you've been my only support, the only light in my heart. How can I treat you like a brother? How can I just watch you marry another woman?"
The footsteps outside the door grew closer, accompanied by the hushed whispers of the servants.
Lin Jingchuan took a deep breath and, with all his might, finally opened the door bolt.
Standing outside the door was the steward of the Prince Yong's mansion, followed by several servants.
When the butler saw Lin Jingchuan's appearance, he was taken aback at first, and then quickly stepped forward to help him up.
"Young Prince, what are you doing here? The Crown Princess has been waiting for you in the bridal chamber for a long time."
Lin Jingchuan did not answer and was helped away.
Before leaving, he glanced back at Lin Xingyao, who was still kneeling on the ground.
"Xingyao, our relationship as siblings ends here. From now on, you can stay in the manor peacefully, and I will find you a good marriage. Apart from that, we have no further connection."
These words struck Lin Xingyao's heart like a thunderbolt.
She watched the figure recede into the distance, then collapsed to the ground, tears blurring her vision.