MY PRINCE HUSBAND HAS SEVEN WIVES AND I AM HIS FAVOURITE!
Chapter 64: Do you want to stay inside?

Chapter 64: Do you want to stay inside?

The journey seemed endless, and Hua Jing had made her displeasure known the entire way.

"How much longer?" she groaned, shifting in her seat. "I’ve been sitting for what feels like days. My legs are going numb!"

Zhao Yan, who had been silently enjoying the peace, glanced at her with a faint smirk. "We’ll arrive when we arrive. Complaining won’t make the horses move faster."

Hua Jing huffed, crossing her arms. "This carriage is cramped, the road is bumpy, and I’m starving. I didn’t sign up for this torture."

"Didn’t you?" Zhao Yan teased, the corner of his lips twitching in amusement.

Before Hua Jing could retort, the sound of bustling voices and the rhythmic clatter of horse hooves outside caught her attention. She paused, tilting her head to listen. The noise grew louder with each passing second.

"We’re here," Zhao Yan announced calmly, peeking out of the small window.

Hua Jing leaned closer, squinting as she tried to make sense of the sounds outside. "What’s that noise? It sounds like a market."

"It’s not a market," Zhao Yan replied, settling back in his seat.

The carriage slowed, and Hua Jing could now clearly make out the voices of the crowd beyond the palace gates.

"The Prince is back!" one woman exclaimed, her voice laced with excitement.

"From his honeymoon!" another added, followed by a chorus of giggles.

"The Crown Prince has returned!"

Hua Jing’s brow shot up. She could hear the admiration and giddiness in the voices of the women outside. There was a tangible buzz in the air, filled with whispers and cheers.

Her lips twitched in disbelief. "Are they always like this?" she asked, her tone sharp.

Zhao Yan’s gaze slid to her, and for a moment, he simply watched her reaction. Then, a low chuckle escaped him. "You sound jealous."

Hua Jing scoffed, turning her nose up. "Jealous? Of what? Their delusions? Hardly."

Zhao Yan didn’t respond, but the subtle amusement in his eyes didn’t fade.

As the carriage approached the palace gates, the guards’ voices boomed. "Open the gates! Make way for His Highness, the Crown Prince!"

The massive iron gates creaked as they opened, and the carriage began to move down a narrow, paved path leading into the Imperial City. Hua Jing peered out of the small window again, taking in the grandeur of the palace grounds. Despite her earlier complaints, she couldn’t deny the splendor before her eyes.

The carriage finally stopped, and the door was promptly opened by a man dressed in a far more elaborate uniform than the guards Hua Jing had seen earlier. He bowed deeply, his posture respectful.

"Your Highness," the man said, his voice steady. "We have arrived."

Zhao Yan nodded, his expression unreadable as he stepped out of the carriage. Once outside, he turned and extended a hand toward Hua Jing.

Hua Jing hesitated, her eyes flickering between his hand and his face. "Do I have to?" she muttered under her breath.

Zhao Yan raised a brow, his hand remaining steady. "Do you want to stay inside?"

With a resigned sigh, Hua Jing placed her hand in his, and Zhao Yan helped her down. As soon as her feet touched the ground, her eyes widened in awe.

The Imperial City was unlike anything Hua Jing had ever seen before. The sheer scale and opulence of it were overwhelming.

The courtyards were paved with smooth stones that sparkled faintly under the sunlight, almost as if they were infused with tiny flecks of precious gems.

Towering archways adorned with intricate carvings rose high into the air, their golden accents catching the light and giving the entire place an otherworldly glow.

Every structure seemed to scream wealth, from the gilded eaves of the buildings to the ornate jade statues standing at strategic intervals.

Hua Jing’s eyes caught sight of a massive dragon motif engraved on one of the palace doors.

The details were so precise that the scales of the dragon seemed to ripple as the light danced across them.

Her mouth dropped open slightly as her gaze moved toward the towering spires crowned in golden finials. Is that gold? she thought, incredulous.

Her thoughts turned mischievous as her mind worked quickly.

If she could hoard even a fraction of the wealth on display here, it would set her up comfortably if she ever returned to her original life.

She was already imagining a stash of golden trinkets and ornate treasures hidden away for safekeeping when a voice cut through her thoughts.

"No," Zhao Yan said simply, his tone firm.

Hua Jing blinked, startled. "No, what?" she asked, feigning innocence.

Zhao Yan turned his head slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing as he glanced at her. "Whatever it is you’re thinking of doing—no, it can’t happen."

Hua Jing clicked her tongue in irritation. "You don’t even know what I was thinking."

"Trust me," he replied, his voice laced with dry humor, "I know."

She rolled her eyes dramatically. "You’re no fun."

Zhao Yan’s lips quirked into a faint smile, but before he could respond, a guard approached briskly and bowed deeply. "Your Highness," the man said, his voice steady, "the Emperor is awaiting your presence in the Great Hall."

Zhao Yan nodded in acknowledgment and turned to Hua Jing. "This is the first time we’ll meet the Emperor and Empress since our marriage," he said, his tone serious. "You must ensure that all protocols are followed. Do not deviate."

Before Hua Jing could even begin to protest or question what he meant, Xia Lin appeared at her side, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Don’t worry, Your Highness," Xia Lin said with a cheerful smile. "The Seventh Consort has memorized all the formalities."

Hua Jing blinked, her head whipping toward Xia Lin. "Memorized what now?"

Xia Lin’s smile widened, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Everything. The steps, the bows, the words. You’ve practiced it so much, you’ll be perfect."

Hua Jing groaned inwardly, her mind spinning as she tried to recall anything Xia Lin might have drilled into her during their travel preparations.

She found nothing!

This meant...she was fucked!

Zhao Yan, meanwhile, regarded her with an arched brow, as if daring her to embarrass herself.

Straightening her back and raising her chin, Hua Jing huffed.

Her confidence was over the roof even though she knew nothing!

"Of course I memorized it. I’m not some fool!"

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