Chapter 15

Chapter 15

On the day of the grand wedding.

All the royal kin and noblewomen came to the palace to congratulate Xu Duanyi on her marriage. Even those who weren't high-ranking enough to attend sent gifts through others to express their closeness and congratulations.

Regardless of how good Xu Duanyi's marriage was, the mere fact that she was married from the palace, with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager seeing her off, was enough to demonstrate her status, which remained unchanged from before.

It is said that after a woman is married.

Her future would hinge on her husband's status.

No matter her previous status, if she marries poorly, her future won't be too bright.

Therefore, when prominent families marry off their daughters, they mostly choose good husbands and good families. Without reason, they would never let their daughters marry beneath their station.

But if a woman's status is truly noble to a certain extent, no matter how well she marries, she herself will not be too bad.

She might even be able to give her husband a leg up.

And that's exactly what happened.

At the beginning of this year, the former Prefect of Shuntian, Xu Ziyuan, suddenly handed in his resignation, wanting to retire and return home.

While the officials were speculating who the next Prefect of Shuntian would be, the fiancé of Princess Jiashun, Prince Nan'an, suddenly took that position.

Since the Battle of Changye four years ago, Prince Nan'an has been living in a fog. He forgets all his previous military achievements and doesn't return to Jizhou, indulging in drinking and revelry, lost in the pleasures of wine and romance.

Though he holds a noble title at home, the identity of the Prince of Nan'an still stands.

But looking around this capital—

How many people truly hold him in high regard?

It is said that even his former tutor, the current Imperial Preceptor and ex-Chief Minister, Qu Boyuan, now regards him with disappointment and has long ceased to associate with him.

Now, for this man to suddenly take up the position of Prefect of Shuntian, it would be impossible to say that it has nothing to do with Princess Jiashun.

Thus,

Even though the marriage of Xu Duanyi to the Prince of Nan'an was indeed unexpected, no one dared to treat it lightly.

Early on, everyone who could come rushed over in a frenzy.

They showered Xu Duanyi with countless congratulations and blessings, fearing that Empress Dowager Zhaoyu might think they were slighting the princess.

...

The wedding ceremony is elaborate.

Xu Duanyi’s wedding today follows all the

highest protocols for a

Princess's marriage.

Yet, even so, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu still feels dissatisfied.

She always felt a sense of indebtedness towards her.

She truly regarded Xu Duanyi as the apple of her eye, not only because of Xu Duanyi's mother but also because of the years they had spent relying on each other.

At this very moment,

It was almost time for Xu Duanyi's wedding.

The ceremonial officer outside had already urged them once.

All the noblewomen and relatives waited respectfully in the courtyard of Shoukang Palace, but Xu Duanyi and Empress Dowager Zhaoyu were still inside the room, sharing some last words before the departure.

Many things had already been said during this time.

Mostly about how if Xie Qingya treated her poorly after she married into Prince Nan'an's mansion, she should not endure it but come directly to the palace to tell her, and she would stand up for her.

Xu Duanyi had agreed to all of it.

But now, looking at Xu Duanyi in her wedding attire, with her hair elegantly styled, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu couldn't help but feel a pang of reluctance at the thought of parting.

She raised her hand, wanting to touch Xu Duanyi's head, but was afraid of ruining her carefully arranged hair.

In the end, all she could touch was the phoenix hairpin on Xu Duanyi's hair.

This was the same hairpin she had worn when she married the late emperor, a cherished heirloom.

"If Qi'er were still alive, you would have been marrying him today," Empress Dowager Zhaoyu said, her voice hoarse, her eyes filled with deep reluctance.

She was unaware that Xu Duanyi and Liu Qi only had a sibling-like relationship.

She simply wished to keep her two most beloved together, watching over them daily.

Xu Duanyi, aware of her good intentions, had never defied her.

At this moment, she refrained from saying anything that might upset her dear aunt.

Outside, it was quiet; the musicians dared not play until they had emerged.

Xu Duanyi gently assisted Empress Dowager Zhaoyu to her seat and personally poured tea, offering comfort: "Aunt, don't be sad. Even after I'm married, I will still come to the palace to see you."

"Then, I'll often bring you Chenji's preserved fruits."

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu took the tea, her tone resigned but with a hint of a smile in her eyes: "Do you really think your aunt is that greedy?"

Though she said this,

The reluctance on her face had lessened somewhat.

After all, Zhaozhao wasn't marrying far away.

Just at the foot of the capital.

Looking at the gentle and graceful woman beside her,

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu still held Xu Duanyi's hand and instructed: "When you go to Prince Nan'an's mansion, don't let yourself be wronged. If anyone from the Xie family mistreats you, come and tell me, and your aunt will stand up for you."

The usual platitudes.

Xu Duanyi was about to smile and agree when Empress Dowager Zhaoyu shifted the topic, saying, "If there ever comes a day when you no longer wish to live this life or be with him, you can always confide in your aunt. I would never let you endure hardship."

Xu Duanyi understood her meaning.

Taken aback, she couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

Regardless of what others might say about her aunt, she knew her aunt had always been incredibly kind to her.

"Aunt..."

She lowered her gaze, her eyes slowly welling up with tears.

Seeing that she was about to cry, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu comforted her instead: "Now, now, it's a day of celebration. Don't cry, or you'll spoil the lovely makeup you've so carefully applied."

"My Zhaozhao should marry beautifully, making everyone envious."

Comforted, Xu Duanyi sniffled softly, holding back her tears, and then smiled and agreed.

"Let's go, I will personally escort you to your wedding."

With that, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu took her hand and rose, just as she had done when seeing her own sister off to her wedding.

Thinking of her sister, she couldn't help but think of Xu Duanyi's father.

On such a great day, Xu Pingyi had not appeared, claiming he was delayed by affairs in Liaodong.

But at this time, there was no war.

She didn't know what could have delayed Xu Pingyi.

Just thinking about it made her angry.

It was only because Zhaozhao was sensible.

If it were that girl Bao Zhu, she would probably have made a scene long ago.

But at this moment, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu didn't want to speak ill of Xu Pingyi anymore, lest it delay the auspicious time.

Danfeng brought a round fan symbolizing marital bliss.

Xu Duanyi took the fan, holding it before her face, and was then escorted out by Empress Dowager Zhaoyu.

...

Today, all the officials were in front of the Huangji Hall, and Xie Qingya was also waiting there.

Since Xu Duanyi was marrying from the palace, the two would then be presided over by the ceremonial officials from the Ministry of Rites, completing the wedding ceremony in front of the young emperor and Empress Dowager Zhaoyu, under the gaze of all the officials and noblewomen.

Then the two would ride in a ceremonial carriage, accompanied by the ceremonial procession, guards, and musicians, proceeding along the Huangji Gate, through the most bustling streets of the capital, to Prince Nan'an's mansion.

Traditionally, a princess would have been married at her own mansion.

Initially, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu also had this idea, wanting Xie Qingya to live with Xu Duanyi at the Princess's residence.

But Xu Duanyi found it too troublesome.

When she was first granted the title of princess, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu intended to bestow a mansion upon her, but Xu Duanyi declined at that time.

Her family already had a mansion in the capital.

She mostly stayed in the palace and rarely went out.

It really wasn't necessary.

This time, when Empress Dowager Zhaoyu brought up the old matter again, Xu Duanyi still declined.

Firstly, she still found it troublesome.

Secondly, Prince Nan'an's mansion also housed Xie Qingya's younger brother and sister.

They were still young and naturally could not be without family companionship. Xu Duanyi also did not want to make Xie Qingya more dissatisfied with this marriage over this matter, so she quietly convinced her aunt.

Although she had long decided to treat Xie Qingya with respect and courtesy in the future.

But it would be good to make him less dissatisfied.

Therefore, Xu Duanyi would still move into Prince Nan'an's mansion after the wedding.

Arriving in front of the Huangji Hall.

There were already officials waiting there.

Civil and military officials stood on both sides, with the young emperor Liu Xie at the very front, and a man in bright red wedding attire standing slightly diagonally in front of him.

—It was Xie Qingya.

Through the silk gauze of the round fan, Xu Duanyi could vaguely see the scene ahead.

Today, her father was not present.

Her aunt was very angry about her father's absence, but Xu Duanyi was somewhat relieved.

If her father had come and seen her marrying Xie Qingya, he would probably have been unhappy.

To avoid him knowing the reason and getting into a dispute with Cao Da.

It was better this way.

She really did not want the people around her to be troubled on her behalf.

A high-pitched eunuch announced the ceremony.

The officials quickly turned to bow.

Liu Xie also tensed up for no reason and stepped forward.

Only Xie Qingya remained standing in his original place.

Looking past the crowd, Xie Qingya gazed at the woman in green ceremonial attire, holding a round fan to cover her face, her features hidden behind the fan.

Only her intricate hairstyle and the jewels in her hair were barely visible.

The scene he had imagined as a young man suddenly became real. Xie Qingya's thin lips pressed together slightly, and his eyes grew more intense.