Chapter 111: The Grand Wedding ◇

When the first snow of the season fell upon the capital, Yu Lian donned her wedding attire once more.

Unlike the previous simple red bridal robe she hastily wore to enter that man's household, this time she was adorned in the finest phoenix robe meticulously crafted by the most skilled seamstresses in the kingdom, representing the mother of the nation. Her makeup, too, was skillfully applied by the most proficient palace matron, accentuating her exquisite features and flawless complexion.

Her long hair was carefully combed by the respected matriarch of the House of Fushou, the Duke of State, who lovingly recited, "One comb through to the end, riches beyond worry; Two combs through to the end, free from illness and care; Three combs through to the end, many offspring and a long life... Beginning and end together, sharing wealth and glory throughout our lives."

Seated before the dressing table, Yu Lian's expressionless face softened into a gentle, sweet smile as she listened to the blessings. Images of the man filled her mind, making her heart even sweeter.

Though her initial marriage was a strategic act for survival, now, on the day she was truly marrying him, she found the prospect of spending her days supporting one another not so bad after all.

Especially when she heard the phrase "sharing wealth and glory throughout our lives." If they were not the emperor and empress at the pinnacle of power, but just ordinary citizens, she would still be willing to trust and work alongside Hua Ji, striving together to build a better life.

Reflecting further, although she had not been present during Hua Ji's military campaigns, she had protected their family of elders, women, and children from harm's way in the rear, which could also be seen as a form of "mutual support and shared struggle."

It was merely a difference in roles.

Sharing wealth and glory throughout our lives... Why not?

More than a month had passed since that day when Yu Lian and Hua Ji shared their innermost thoughts with each other. During that time, she spent several days in the palace, spending every moment with Hua Ji, deepening their affection. Then, she was persuaded by her grandmother to return to her parents' home.

Grandmother could no longer bear to witness her grandson's excessive attachment to his wife after he had finally realized his feelings. She insisted that, since they intended to hold a grand wedding ceremony, the bride and groom should not meet beforehand. They must be separated until the wedding day for their love to endure and last a lifetime.

Thus, under the watchful gaze of the palace guards and attendants, Yu Lian left the palace and returned to her family's residence.

Her family's home was no longer the modest two-compound courtyard; they had moved into the new Emperor's gift, the mansion of the new Imperial Father-in-Law, which was far grander than the standard for such a title. It was once the residence of the previous dynasty's Ninth Prince, who, being meticulous, had appointed his ten-year-old brother-in-law, Yu Shi, as the Marquis of Wealth and Honor to avoid any potential criticism from the court officials. He then divided the mansion into two parts, one for the Imperial Father-in-Law's residence and the other for the Marquis's, though there was a secret entrance connecting them, leaving no room for criticism. Everyone could only marvel at the great favor the Emperor showed towards the Empress's family.

Indeed, it was a great favor.

Her father was then appointed as the Minister of Revenue.

What was the Ministry of Revenue? It was the department responsible for the country's finances and food supplies, essentially the Emperor's purse, and it directly affected the livelihoods of the people.

Grain, population, taxes, land – all were matters of utmost importance.

When the new Emperor issued this decree, even the usually obedient scholars and military officials from prominent families couldn't help but voice their "objections."

After all, although Yu Sanlang came from a decent background, his record wasn't impressive. None of the positions he held in his early life exceeded the fifth rank, and he had always been a low-ranking, powerless official. How could such a person be entrusted with the crucial responsibility of managing the nation's "purse"?

Moreover, with the establishment of a new dynasty, the Ministry of Finance had an enormous workload: registering the population and land anew, implementing the new emperor's policies, auditing the new dynasty's treasury, untangling the previous regime's financial mess, and rebuilding the department's foundation, to name a few. It could be said that the Ministry of Finance was paramount among all government institutions. Not only did they need someone seasoned and efficient, but also someone with authority to command their subordinates. So how could they appoint Yu Sanlang, a man with no track record besides his background?

In terms of lineage, several candidates vying for the position of Minister of Finance outshone Yu Sanlang. Not to mention those from prominent families who had long been strategizing for this post.

The previous emperor had appointed a young and capable aide with a knack for strategy as the Left Vice-Minister of Finance, and a loyal and experienced Right Vice-Minister who had served in the old dynasty. However, the top position of Minister was left open, igniting the ambitions of many.

Unexpectedly, the emperor bestowed the role upon his father-in-law.

Regardless of how much he favored the queen's family, shouldn't matters of state be taken seriously?

Amidst the uproar in the court, several leading officials, either from noble clans or with merits in establishing the new dynasty, stepped forward to object. The emperor remained silent for a while.

The atmosphere became tense.

Kneeling below to receive the imperial edict, Yu Sanlang, the Father-in-Law of the State, bowed and vowed before the emperor could speak, "Your Majesty, please grant me three months. If I fail to perform or commit a grave error within that time, I shall take responsibility and resign, apologizing to the people of the world and abstaining from the court forevermore."

The murmurs ceased abruptly as all the civil and military officials turned their attention to him.

Yu Sanlang bowed again, rising with an upright posture. His words resonated with determination, "I assume this position today for my lifelong aspirations and, more importantly, to fulfill Your Majesty's grand ambition of stabilizing the realm. For the prosperous era in Your Majesty's heart, I am willing to give these three months a try."

The young emperor clapped his hands in laughter and repeated the word "good" three times, granting his approval.

Yu Sanlang knelt to express his gratitude for the imperial favor. When he rose, the father-in-law and son-in-law exchanged a knowing smile, reflecting their mutual understanding.

If it hadn't been for that day's conversation about politics and the world, Yu Sanlang might have assumed, like others, that he was being granted a high position solely due to his daughter's influence. He would have surely declined. However, after their candid discussion, he was aware of the emperor's future plans and the great expectations placed upon him. With numerous tasks at hand, he could not refuse, evade, or fail.

Even if not for his own aspirations... For the sake of ensuring his daughter's stable reign as empress, he wouldn't let this opportunity slip away. His youngest son was still young, and his daughter needed her father's power to support her.

As the saying goes, good things come in pairs. Following the promotion and the grant of a new mansion, news soon spread from the palace that the emperor and empress were to hold a grand wedding!

On the day of the royal betrothal, an endless stream of dowry gifts was carried from the palace gates to the residence of the father-in-law, stretching for an entire day like a flowing river. The emperor's generosity surpassed any previous dowry presented to an empress, drawing a massive crowd of onlookers.

It was then that the common folk discovered the truth: Yu Lian was once the Sixth Miss of the Wei Duke's household, and the new emperor was the late East Yuan Marquis's heir.

The entire capital city erupted with excitement. People roamed the streets, eager to share this astonishing news.

Not only was the father-in-law's residence swarmed on the day of the betrothal, but for days afterward, there were always people lingering outside, trying to catch a glimpse of the "Sixth Miss."

During Yu Lian's stay at her mother's home, she was "caught" by the local folks on several occasions. Each time, it happened when she was out playing with her younger brother. Remarkably, the people held an immense fondness for her, despite being unafraid of the future Empress.

Upon confirming her identity, he approached with flushed cheeks, eagerly addressing her as "Sixth Miss." Afterward, he stammered out a string of incoherent sentences, though the essence conveyed his overwhelming joy at seeing her. He then gazed at her with a look that suggested "she had finally overcome her hardships and was being rewarded, for the heavens do see justice and good deeds are never in vain."

A few daring elderly ladies, filled with excitement, even dared to grasp her delicate hands tightly with both of theirs, their emotions overflowing to the point of tears.

"I knew it, I just knew it. Such a virtuous young lady was bound to have a fortunate life. Indeed... Heaven never disappoints those who deserve it. Who wouldn't be delighted to see two loving hearts finally unite?"

Yu Lian vividly recalls that the elderly lady seemed to be the same one who, four years ago when she was about to enter the East Yuan Marquis's Estate, had tearfully sympathized with her plight and earnestly advised her from outside the gates. Over these past four years, the old lady's hair has grown whiter, yet her spirit remains undiminished. Despite being an ordinary civilian with an inherent sense of distance and difference from the powerful and noble, the gaze she fixes upon Yu Lian is no different from that of any loving elder. This realization prompts Yu Lian to muse deeply on life's changes and connections.

After that, she ventured out less frequently, choosing to stay home obediently as a bride-to-be.

Despite the fact that the common folk had no ill intentions and were merely excited, akin to encountering the protagonist of a storybook, Yu Lian wished to avoid any unnecessary trouble. She assigned her maid to wait outside and, whenever someone lingered near the residence, they would offer snacks and pastries, urging them to return to their daily affairs. They promised that on the wedding day, everyone was welcome to come to the Father-in-Law of the Empress's residence for sweets.

Gradually, the crowd hoping for a glimpse of Yu Lian dispersed.

However, the entire capital was buzzing with excitement over the true identities of the emperor and empress, as well as their upcoming wedding, igniting a lively atmosphere in the midst of winter.

The various editions of storybooks that had circulated among the common people in recent years, depicting the Sixth Miss and the East Yuan Marquis's heir, ceased to be sold due to the protagonists' return. Nevertheless, they were now treasured possessions. The stories told by storytellers in teahouses and taverns had shifted to accommodate these new developments.

The East Yuan Marquis's heir faked his death, enduring humiliation and bearing a heavy burden, all to seize the world and bestow the greatest glory upon the woman he loved. The heroine, who had silently sacrificed so much, finally found solace in the hero's return, and they lived happily ever after as the most loving imperial couple.

This was the most conventional narrative, albeit slightly embellished, but it remained largely accurate.

The wildest version Yu Lian heard from her brother was that the former dynasty's depraved emperor had an infatuation with her and sinister intentions. To possess her, he framed the "loyal" East Yuan Marquis and his son, executing the heir. Yu Lian, however, was fiercely devoted to her betrothed and refused to yield, even to death. On the day of her fiancé's execution, she donned her wedding attire and entered the East Yuan Marquis's residence. The emperor, constrained by public opinion, was forced to abandon his plans to take her into the palace. Little did anyone know that the heir had only pretended to die. He persevered, biding his time, and eventually regained the world from the despicable emperor four years later, reuniting with his beloved fiancée.

Yu Lian nearly choked on her tea.

She could hardly believe it herself if she hadn't been involved.

The intricacies of love, enmity, and loyalty in this tale were logically flawless. If one were unaware of the truth, they might have taken this fabrication for reality...

"..."

It was a pity that the genius behind these stories wasn't living in the modern era to become a screenwriter.

At that moment, the storytelling genius was locked in a dungeon, staring intently at the former dynasty's Ninth Prince, who suddenly sneezed.

He tilted his head slightly, surely Liang'er must be missing him.

Damn Hua Ji, that traitorous emperor, had turned his back on everyone once he ascended the throne. Perhaps fearing that Li Xiang would go to Liang'er, from the day the army marched into the capital, he assigned Li Xiang an extremely demanding task: to track down and capture the remnants of the former royal family, such as this ninth prince who was impervious to persuasion.

It took Li Xiang over two months to locate the prince, hiding in a temple, and he nearly lost his life in the process.

He had long realized that Hua Ji, the dog emperor, had deliberately tasked him with capturing the ninth prince because he believed the prince was not as innocent as he seemed, but the most deeply concealed member of the former royal family. By sending Li Xiang, he hoped for an accident – preferably the prince killing Li Xiang, thus eliminating his romantic rival.

Fortunately, Li Xiang was destined to live for Liang'er, so not only did he survive the counterattack, but he also brought the ninth prince back.

During the interrogation of a secret faction of the former royal army, he even found inspiration for a new play script.

Only this time, he was coerced into writing it by his father.

The new emperor had, after all, seized the throne through rebellion. Even though there were widespread uprisings towards the end of the previous dynasty, his rule was still illegitimate. To address this, after discovering that Li Xiang had secretly written a play about Liang'er, his father compelled him to pen this melodramatic tale.

Now, the love-hate relationship between the new empress and the former 'dog' emperor had captured everyone's attention. Many people were captivated, actually believing the story! They indignantly exclaimed that the previous emperor deserved his fate! How could he have torn apart two devoted lovers for his own selfish desires? He got what he deserved! Thankfully, His Majesty finally triumphed, avenging himself and allowing his beloved wife to become empress! What a satisfying ending!

Upon hearing the public's reaction, Li Xiang felt deeply frustrated. He thought, governing an empire is no easy feat. Although Hua Ji, that 'dog' emperor, had questionable morals, he was diligent in his duties. It was likely he would spend decades buried in state affairs. If he were to die young because of this, Li Xiang vowed to rewrite the play after his death, revealing that Liang'er actually loved someone else, but had mistaken her true love, leading to the misunderstanding. Fortunately, it wasn't too late; Liang'er would eventually realize her mistake and be reunited with her true love in her later years.

Of course, this beloved person he was referring to was none other than her!

He stroked his chin, his eyes crinkling into a smile. If Hua Ji were aware of this from beneath the earth, his royal tomb would surely be unable to contain his laughter!

"What are you laughing at? This prince will never confess."

Li Xiang cast him a sidelong glance. "I don't need your confession. I've already extracted most of the information I need. Bring this black-hearted creature who has wasted my time to be dealt with."

The once serene and composed Ninth Prince, who had resembled an immortal, now appeared utterly disheveled and astonished.

"Today is her wedding day, and as a courtesy, I should have gone to drink a cup of celebratory wine... I wonder how she's been all these four years... She must have become even more beautiful."

The Ninth Prince knew that the 'she' referred to by the Grand Procurator, Li Da, was the Sixth Miss of the Wei Duke's Manor, Hua Ji, now the Empress.

He had once crossed paths with that young lady and even pretended to send guards to escort her down the mountain to her home. Back then, she seemed to have been afraid of him, piquing his curiosity for a moment. But he didn't give it much thought; she was just the fiancée of a condemned prisoner.

Times had changed. He never expected that her husband would overthrow their kingdom, and she would ascend to the throne as the Empress.

Lost in thought, he barely registered when the jailer brought him a poison-laced wine and a sumptuous meal.

He laughed desperately, draining the cup of poisonous wine in one gulp.

Finally... he had come back to life!

I'll strive to finish it these two days (like resetting a fallen flag).

I love you all, I hope you have a joyful new year, with success in your endeavors and studies!