Chapter 16

Chapter 16

"My Prince, it's time for you to step forward."

Xiao Guizi, who stood by Liu Xie's side, whispered to remind Xie Qingya.

He had once been saved by Liu Yuan and was later arranged by the Xie family to serve the young emperor. Though he now served the young emperor, he still deeply respected Xie Qingya.

Seeing him unmoving, he assumed Xie Qingya was unhappy about the marriage.

Fearing that he might offend the Empress Dowager, he couldn't help but whisper a reminder.

Xie Qingya remained silent but finally moved his feet.

He lowered his gaze, hiding all emotion, and followed behind Liu Xie, stepping forward to greet the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager stood beside Xu Duanyi.

After paying respects to the emperor, upon hearing the young man's voice, her gaze naturally fell on Xie Qingya.

Xie Qingya was exceptionally handsome.

Even the Empress Dowager had to admit that he was strikingly good-looking.

With sharp eyebrows, starry eyes, and a tall, straight figure, he even outshone Prince Nan'an and the Xie family's eldest son from years ago.

Yet the sharp sword of his youth, after being softened by the pleasures of wine and women, had become a spineless man.

It is said that a mother-in-law grows fonder of her son-in-law the more she looks at him.

But the Empress Dowager, as his aunt, grew more dissatisfied the more she looked at Xie Qingya.

Though she did not wish for him to remain as he was before, fearing he might one day seize power and protect the emperor from her control, seeing him in such a lazy state displeased her.

She wanted to call off the marriage right then and there.

But she could only think about it.

"The auspicious time has come; let the ceremony begin."

After saying this, the Empress Dowager was about to step forward, but she still couldn't bear to part with Xu Duanyi, holding her hand tightly and unwilling to let go.

Only when Xu Duanyi gently squeezed her hand in return did the Empress Dowager reluctantly release it.

Once the Empress Dowager stood at the very front, the ceremony officially began.

The officials and their wives stood on either side.

The Empress Dowager and the young emperor stood at the forefront.

Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya stood together, one in green and the other in red.

This was the first time they had stood so close since growing up after years apart.

Their garments were intertwined.

Xu Duanyi hid her face behind a fan, unable to see Xie Qingya's face, only catching a glimpse of his bright red ceremonial robe from the corner of her eye.

Yet, the crisp scent of pine from him was unmistakable.

Ahead, the ritual master's voice echoed, reciting auspicious words for the auspicious hour. Xu Duanyi had no clue what Xie Qingya was thinking.

All she knew was that her heart was racing.

Luckily, the place was vast, and the ritual master's voice was loud enough that she didn't have to worry about her racing heart being heard by others.

After an unknown amount of time.

The ritual master suddenly shouted, "Bow."

This bow was meant for Empress Dowager and the young emperor.

The formal ceremony would proceed at Prince Nan'an's mansion, but for now, Xie Qingya accompanied Xu Duanyi to bid farewell to Empress Dowager's nurturing grace.

Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya knelt and bowed to Empress Dowager above.

When the ritual master announced, "The ceremony is complete,"

Xu Duanyi was assisted by Bixi, who was following behind.

She didn't notice the hand Xie Qingya instinctively extended as she stood up.

No one noticed. The moment was too brief; before anyone could even realize, Xie Qingya had already pulled back his hand.

Afterwards, Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya received the salutations from the officials.

Once all the rituals were completed,

Empress Dowager, aided by Danfeng, approached to speak with the two.

The young emperor, Liu Xie, followed closely behind her.

"Prince Nan'an."

This time, Empress Dowager was speaking to Xie Qingya.

Xie Qingya slightly lowered his head, assuming a posture of listening to the imperial edict.

"I only have Zhaozhao as my niece. You must treat her well. If I find out that you have wronged her or mistreated her..." Empress Dowager left the sentence unfinished, only letting out a cold snort.

But the threat in her words was already very clear.

If it were someone else, they might have already trembled in fear.

Xie Qingya, however, was not afraid, merely saying in a lazy voice, "Your servant will remember the Empress Dowager's edict."

Empress Dowager, seeing his demeanor, disliked him even more.

It was only because Xu Duanyi was still present and the hundreds of officials were watching that she did not publicly reprimand Xie Qingya.

However, she was too lazy to say anything more to Xie Qingya and simply continued to hold Xu Duanyi's hand.

All her thoughts condensed into a single sentence: "If there’s anything, come and tell me."

The young emperor, hearing this from behind, felt his pupils contract sharply.

He almost instinctively looked towards Xie Qingya.

Seeing that he still appeared indifferent and lazy, as if nothing concerned him, the young emperor lowered his gaze and clenched his fists tightly.

The auspicious time for departure had arrived.

The grand ceremonial carriage and the procession had already been prepared and were waiting ahead.

Even though Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was reluctant, she had to let them go.

She gently patted Xu Duanyi's arm, suppressing her reluctance, and said, "...Go."

Xu Duanyi’s voice caught with emotion.

She bowed once more to Empress Dowager Zhaoyu and then, surrounded by Bixi and others, followed Xie Qingya towards the grand carriage.

The grand carriage was enormous and extremely luxurious.

It had been specially commissioned by Empress Dowager Zhaoyu and hastily crafted by the Imperial Department of Construction.

It was made of pure gold.

The beams were made of sandalwood coated with vermilion lacquer.

The carriage body was adorned with images of clouds, phoenixes, and flowers.

There were also curtains made of gauze from mermaid silk.

Guards in purple robes and plain headgear stood beside the carriage, while a dozen lavishly dressed maids holding fresh flowers waited in front.

As well as musicians.

Behind them were the accompanying soldiers.

Soon, Xie Qingya and Xu Duanyi would sit inside the carriage together and travel along the main street to meet the people.

The two walked in silence to the side of the carriage.

Xu Duanyi paused beside the carriage. Her ceremonial attire and heavy phoenix hairpins made movement difficult. She was waiting for Bixi to come forward and help her onto the carriage, but unexpectedly, a hand suddenly reached out beside her.

It was a very beautiful hand.

Strong and powerful, with long fingers.

This hand had once guided her to ride horses, climb trees, and scale walls, and it had even saved her life.

But this familiar hand now bore many scars she had never seen before.

Xu Duanyi stared at it in a daze.

Xie Qingya, unaware of what she was thinking, saw her hesitation and assumed she was reluctant.

He pursed his lips, feigning nonchalance.

He instinctively wanted to pull his hand back.

Reaching out had been instinctive, and now withdrawing it felt just as natural.

Xie Qingya averted his gaze as well.

But just as he was about to withdraw his hand,

Xie Qingya suddenly stiffened, a jolt running through him.

His long lashes fluttered slightly.

Xie Qingya glanced down and found his hand gently clasped by Xu Duanyi's soft, almost ethereal fingers.

Simultaneously, her soft, melodious voice reached his ears.

"Thank you, my lord."