Chapter 90: The Imperial Wedding of the Emperor and Empress

Chapter 90: The Imperial Wedding

At the dawn hour, before the sky had fully brightened, Zhu Yunxuan rose from bed. Today was the grand wedding ceremony for the establishment of the Empress. A series of rituals would occupy the entire day, followed by an evening banquet in the palace for all the officials. It was going to be a busy day.

As he stirred, Rong'er, lying beside him, also woke up, rubbing his eyes and calling out for help to go to the bathroom. He was carried away by a nanny.

Liang Zhen was not present; he had returned to his residence yesterday to await the imperial procession from the palace. Zhu Yunxuan donned his imperial robes, looking both energetic and joyful. After his morning grooming and change of clothes, Rong'er was led back by the nanny, curious as he gazed at his father. "Father, what are you doing?"

Zhu Yunxuan playfully caressed his son's face, answering happily, "Father is getting married to your other father today."

Rong'er's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

"Indeed. Your other father will be here soon."

"Then is Father the bride?"

Zhu Yunxuan chuckled. "Your other father is the one who is."

While Zhu Yunxuan received the obeisance of the officials, Liang Zhen, outside the palace, had already left his residence and boarded the imperial carriage. Amidst the sound of firecrackers and festive music, the grand wedding procession set off, making its way back to the palace.

Along the way, Imperial Guards paved the way, while countless citizens thronged the streets to witness this once-in-two-centuries spectacle of an emperor taking a male consort.

"I heard that His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, was actually born to the emperor himself. Though it's officially an imperial wedding to establish a queen, everyone in the court knows that it's this remarkable queen who has truly won the emperor's heart."

"That's nothing! I've also heard rumors that this Queen Xiao is none other than the executed Prince Zhao from three years ago. The emperor had a predestined relationship with him and couldn't bear to part with him. Back then, they staged a deceitful charade, and now he's returned with a new identity as the esteemed Empress of Great Yan."

"I wonder what kind of extraordinary presence and allure this empress possesses to have captured the emperor's heart."

"In my opinion, it's the emperor's willingness to acknowledge these truths openly that truly earns our admiration for his broad-mindedness."

Listening to the occasional snippets of conversation drifting in, Liang Zhen smiled gently and closed his eyes.

Upon arriving at the Fengtian Gate, the chief official of ceremonies helped him down from the carriage. A proclaimer held up the imperial edict, and Liang Zhen knelt to receive his title. From this moment on, he was the genuine Empress of Great Yan.

Amidst the peals of bells and drums, he stepped back into his palanquin and proceeded through the Fengtian Gate into the inner palace, finally stopping outside the emperor's chambers in the Ganlin Palace.

According to tradition, the nuptial chamber for the emperor and empress should be situated within the empress's own quarters. Zhu Yunxuan had specially altered this detail; the bridal chamber was within his own quarters. Standing at the highest step, he smiled as he watched his queen alight from the carriage and approach him step by step.

In a fleeting moment of reminiscence, Zhu Yunxuan recalled standing in this very spot when Liang Zhen had asked him what he truly desired. The emotions he felt back then and his response had long faded from memory. Now, in the present, he had reconciled with his past, fulfilling both his current reality and their future together.

It wasn't until Liang Zhen took his hand that Zhu Yunxuan came back to his senses, offering a gentle smile in return and firmly grasping the other's hand.

In the afternoon, the emperor and empress visited the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pay respects to their forefathers. Kneeling before the ancestors of the Zhu family, Liang Zhen calmly paid his respects. His father had died because of Emperor Zhaoyang, and he himself had taken revenge on the late emperor. The scores were settled. His father had remained loyal to the Great Yan court until his death, and now, by marrying the emperor of Great Yan, Liang Zhen would dedicate himself to the well-being of the kingdom for the one he loved.

Upon returning to the palace, Zhu Yunxuan entertained the officials in the imperial reception hall, while Liang Zhen retreated to their nuptial chamber.

The room was illuminated by flickering red candles, and the dragon bed, adorned with silk bedding, was scattered with symbolic fruits like red dates, peanuts, and lotus seeds. Liang Zhen smiled at the sight, casually pushing them aside. He instructed someone to bring some edible treats and dismissed the rest of the attendants.

A rustling giggle echoed from behind the bed. Liang Zhen turned around to find Rong'er, dressed like a lucky boy, emerging from behind the red canopy. With a grin, the child asked, "Father, are you going to be Daddy's new bride?"

Liang Zhen playfully pinched his nose, "Why are you hiding here?"

Rong'er slipped off his shoes and climbed onto the bed, tumbling into Liang Zhen's embrace. Reaching out to grab a red date, he was stopped by Liang Zhen. "Don't eat these. Snacks will be served soon."

The child blinked innocently. "If Father is the bride, does that mean you're going to have the wedding night with Daddy? Can Rong'er stay and watch?"

Liang Zhen replied, "No, you can't."

The child pouted, then leaned closer to Liang Zhen and whispered, "Why is Father the bride? Rong'er thinks Daddy looks more like a bride. Was Rong'er born to Daddy?"

Liang Zhen chuckled. "Why does Father seem more like the bride?"

"Father is so pretty! Nanny said that only the prettiest one is the bride!"

"You're quite the clever little fellow."

Rong'er persisted with his questioning. "Brides give birth to babies. Then, was Rong'er born from Father or Daddy?"

"You sprang out of a rock crack."

"Daddy's lying!" The child's eyes widened as he argued, "Big Daddy said Rong'er was born from Daddy!"

Liang Zhen deliberately teased him. "If you already know, why ask me?"

The child grunted twice. Satisfied with the confirmation, he finally relaxed and began rolling around on the bed, overjoyed.

Eunuchs delivered hot soup and snacks to fill their stomachs. Liang Zhen ate some himself and fed his son the rest. The well-fed and watered baby lay in his arms, drifting off to sleep. He tilted his head to glance at the Western clock in the corner while listening to the faint sounds of commotion outside. A smile gradually spread across his eyes.

At the ninth hour of the night, Zhu Yunxuan was supported back by others. Liang Zhen stepped forward to take him from the eunuchs on either side. Zhu Yunxuan looked at him with a dazed smile before collapsing into his embrace.

Liang Zhen embraced Zhu Yunxuan, gently rubbing their foreheads together and whispering into his ear, "Are you drunk?"

Zhu Yunxuan mumbled something indistinct, his gaze flickering between clarity and haziness. After a long moment, he murmured, "All those old, reckless fools were trying to get me drunk, wanting to see my embarrassment. I'll teach them a lesson they won't forget."

Liang Zhen chuckled softly. "Rest if you're drunk. There's plenty of time to deal with them. I'm here, so A Xuan doesn't need to worry."

"You want to see my embarrassment too."

"Your Majesty is mistaken. I've said it before, whoever bullies my A Xuan, I'll bully them back. Don't you remember?"

This was more like it. Zhu Yunxuan felt a sense of relief wash over him. "Mm... the wine-sharing ceremony..."

Even in his drunken state, he still thought of the unfinished ritual. Liang Zhen held onto him with a touch of helplessness. "Can you still drink?"

"I can!"

The wine for the ceremony was served. Zhu Yunxuan picked up the cup, swaying slightly as he latched onto Liang Zhen's arm under the watchful gaze of the room filled with officials and palace attendants. He smiled at Liang Zhen.

Liang Zhen matched his actions, raising his own cup, and they both drank from their respective glasses together.

In the act of sharing the wedding cup, they became one in heart and body, never to part.

With only one ceremony left, their son lay sprawled asleep on the marriage bed. Zhu Yunxuan leaned over, gently tapping Rong'er's tiny nose with a smile. "How adorable. To think that such a lovely child is my own son, I must have a talent for parenting... Haha."

Liang Zhen, however, found nothing endearing about their son's current position at this moment. He called in a nanny to carry the child away. Zhu Yunxuan tugged on Liang Zhen's sleeve, watching helplessly as his son was taken. "You're so petty."

Liang Zhen pressed his hand against the back of Zhu Yunxuan's head, kissing his still-damp, rosy lips twice. "My A Xuan is even more adorable. Today is a significant day, so you're not allowed to be distracted."

As he pulled away, Zhu Yunxuan reached up, wrapping his arms around Liang Zhen's shoulders, and kissed him back eagerly.

Clothes were shed, revealing entwined bodies glistening with heat. A tear trickled down the corner of Zhu Yunxuan's eye, lost in the depths of passion. Liang Zhen kissed him tenderly - the Emperor of Great Yan, the supreme ruler of the world, willingly submitted beneath him, revealing the most alluring vulnerability, provoking the irresistible desire within Zhu Yunxuan.

The red silk canopy trailed along the floor, with a subtle fragrance lingering in the air.

Zhu Yunxuan opened his eyes, dazed, his tearful gaze fixated on the entranced Liang Zhen above him. Liang Zhen paused, planting a gentle kiss on his brow before returning to his lips.

Their soft tongues intertwined, every corner of their mouths tasted, saturated with the love Zhu Yunxuan could feel. Tonight's Liang Zhen seemed excessively tender, embracing every surge of emotion within Zhu Yunxuan, causing him to sink deeper and deeper, unable to resist.

Tears continued to flow from Zhu Yunxuan's eyes, seemingly endless. Liang Zhen drew him into an embrace, chuckling softly. "On this joyous day, you still cry so much. In this life, I'll surely drown in your and Rong'er's tears."

Zhu Yunxuan's tears turned into a smile as the most intimate spot was touched, causing a broken moan to involuntarily escape his lips, his voice now hoarse. "You picked it yourself, don't even think about changing your mind."

"No changing my mind."

The wax on the candlestick dripped steadily, melting away the pervasive springtime atmosphere in the hall.

As the night deepened and dew settled heavily, Zhu Yunxuan turned over and nestled into Liang Zhen's embrace. Their sweat-drenched bodies clung together, neither wishing to move.

His fingers entwined their long hair, gently looping it around a few times in silence.

Liang Zhen stroked his back softly and croaked, "A Xuan, from now on... I'll listen to everything you say."

"Everything I say?"

"Mm-hmm, anything you like, anything you want, I'll give it to you."

Zhu Yunxuan chuckled softly. "If I want the moon in the sky, will you fetch it for me?"

"I'll give it a try."

Zhu Yunxuan closed his eyes with a smile. "No need. You've already given me the best."

"Hmm?"

"Yourself, and Rong'er."

Liang Zhen chuckled. "Does that count?"

"It does. You've given me the world, the kingdom. I can't ask for more."

Once, Liang Zhen had promised him the world as a bond between them. Now, he offered the kingdom as a token of marriage to Liang Zhen. With Liang Zhen and Rong'er by his side, there was nothing else in this world he desired. He truly couldn't be more greedy.

Touched, Liang Zhen lowered his head and kissed Zhu Yunxuan's forehead again. "You are the best too."

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