She was quite confident that as long as the emperor caught even one glimpse of Xunyue, combined with the Hua family’s standing, there was bound to be some kind of opportunity.
So for the time being, the smile never left her face.
At dusk, the auspicious hour arrived. Hua Chun rode out from the Prime Minister’s residence on horseback to receive Qing Niao, still at the Hua residence, as the bride. Shooting an arrow at the bridal sedan door, carrying the bride on her back—she went through the full set of customs, leaving her utterly exhausted, collapsed on the horse, unwilling to move.
Her right hand was still useless! Could anyone possibly sympathize with someone who had to insert an arrow into the sedan door and carry a bride on her back using only one hand?
“Mistress.” Pin Tan reminded her quietly. “Your bearing.”
No one had ever seen a groom ride out to receive his bride with so little energy. No matter how tired, she needed to straighten her back and push through.
“Sigh.” Hua Chun sighed. “Getting married the way your mistress here is doing it—must be unprecedented in this world, right?”
Pin Tan remained silent, nodding lightly.
Clearly a woman by birth, yet playing the role of groom—it truly was unprecedented. But precisely because of this, her mistress’s life was bound to be quite eventful.
The suona horns played the whole way. Once they reached the Prime Minister’s residence, the bride had to step over the fire basin and be sprinkled with mugwort water. Hua Chun was starving, her head spinning, staring at this sea of red, wanting nothing more than to get to the wedding chamber and sleep.
However, before she and Qing Niao could even tie the ceremonial knot, a long announcement rang out from the official road outside the residence: “His Majesty has arrived—”
What?
Hua Chun thought she’d misheard. Turning around, she saw a procession in imperial yellow cutting through the ten-li stretch of red, dazzling enough to hurt the eyes.
Everyone at the gate of the Prime Minister’s residence froze in shock. A servant rushed inside to call out, and immediately all the guests poured out, kneeling on either side of the road.
Pin Tan tugged at her, snapping Hua Chun back to her senses. She dismounted and followed everyone in bowing.
High atop the imperial carriage, Yuwen Jie’s face showed not a hint of expression, his eyes half-lidded as he surveyed the crowd below, then glanced at the bride and groom, saying flatly, “Everyone may rise. I come on the Empress Dowager’s orders, specifically to congratulate the Prime Minister on this joyous marriage.”
The emperor coming in person was one thing, but on the Empress Dowager’s explicit orders?!
This elevated Hua Jinghua’s standing to unimaginable heights—what kind of honor was this? Prime Minister Hua’s wedding hadn’t even happened yet, and it had already stunned the entire realm!
The ancestral tablets of eighteen generations in the Hua family shrine were probably glowing from this imperial favor today!
Master Hua knelt at the front, truly overcome with emotion, kowtowing repeatedly. Madam Wan was equally delighted, her eyes reddening.
However, Concubine Wu couldn’t manage a smile, staring down at the emperor’s boots in the distance, murmuring blankly, “Why would he leave the palace at a time like this?”
Her words made Hua Zhengrong suddenly remember.
That’s right! Xunyue had only just entered the palace—why would the emperor be leaving now? Wouldn’t that mean they’d completely missed their chance?!
Half his joy evaporated. Father Hua pressed his lips together, thinking it over—surely the emperor wouldn’t stay long on this visit? As long as Xunyue lingered in the palace a bit longer, perhaps they might still cross paths?
Steadying himself, he looked toward Hua Jinghua, wanting to catch her eye.
But Hua Chun had already gone blank, staring dumbfounded at the approaching Yuwen Jie, completely oblivious to the rest of the Hua family behind her.
Well, she could understand him coming on the Empress Dowager’s orders—after all, the Empress Dowager genuinely wanted to maintain the relationship between the emperor and the Prime Minister, and likely wanted to use this opportunity to have the emperor meet Hua Xunyue.
But surely the old woman hadn’t anticipated that Hua Xunyue would act on her own and steal her token to sneak into the palace.
Once she found out the emperor had left the palace, who knew if she’d end up in tears.
“This subject thanks Your Majesty and Her Highness for this grace.” Bowing deeply, Hua Chun looked at Yuwen Jie with a flattering expression. “Your Majesty, please, come inside.”
He glanced at her, his eyes still full of disdain.
This shade of red was too vivid, didn’t suit him at all. Someone like Hua Jinghua should dress like He Chang’an, in pale blue-white robes, refined and courteous in every gesture, radiating the air of a gentleman. Red only made his face look paler, more delicate.
But this was merely Yuwen Jie’s own bias. Objectively speaking, Hua Jinghua’s figure looked strikingly good in this red robe, lips red and teeth white, radiant. Especially that narrow waist—man or woman, anyone looking would find their throat catching.
Everyone followed the emperor inside. With the emperor’s personal presence, this wedding could no longer proceed as an ordinary ceremony; the seating in the main hall had to be rearranged entirely.
So Yuwen Jie stood contentedly in the courtyard, watching a crowd of servants scramble in and out. Outside, the firecrackers fell silent; inside, the guests dared not speak loudly. The entire Prime Minister’s residence seemed to fall suddenly quiet, as if everything had emptied out.
Hua Chun looked up at the sky. The ancients called it “hūn yīn”—marriages traditionally sealed at dusk. But now, because of Yuwen the Great’s arrival, the auspicious hour had quietly slipped away, and she still hadn’t performed the bowing ceremony.
Fine, the emperor liked to put on airs. She’d endure it.
“Your Majesty.”
Once everything was finally ready, Eunuch Qin came to announce it.
Yuwen Jie nodded, glanced at Hua Chun, and said, “Let’s go in.”
“Yes.” Hua Chun followed him inside, her mind completely blank.
Hua Zhengrong and Madam Wan reached out in shock, wanting to stop them, but standing too far away, could only watch helplessly as their son walked into the ceremonial hall together with the emperor.
That’s right—the two of them, together, stepped into the ceremonial hall.
The bride behind them, still veiled, hadn’t even moved yet!
Everyone fell silent, since most present were seeing the emperor’s face for the first time; even their breathing grew quiet, no one daring to speak much.
Seeing this, the wedding matron quickly helped Qing Niao inside, handing the ceremonial knot to Hua Chun.
“The auspicious hour has arrived. Proceed with the bowing ceremony.”
The emperor sat in the seat of honor, with the Hua parents seated to the right. This first bow to heaven and earth had to be directed at the emperor.
Hua Chun didn’t think much of it, bowing respectfully toward Yuwen Jie as expected.
But the emperor on his seat turned his head aside, not looking at those below, his face showing not a trace of festivity.
No matter, at least he wasn’t ruining the occasion outright. She’d endure it!
Taking a deep breath, Hua Chun continued bowing to her parents, then finally the couple bowed to each other. Done.
Master Hua’s heart relaxed. Sneaking a cautious glance at the emperor, he thought—now that the ceremony was complete, surely the emperor would head back to the palace?
Instead, Yuwen Jie said nothing and simply stood up, heading straight toward the guest tables.
What was happening? The guests were too frightened to remain seated, everyone looking at the emperor with unease.
“Your Majesty?” Hua Chun was equally baffled, hurrying two steps to catch up. “Would you like some wedding wine?”
Yuwen Jie turned, frowning. “Attending someone’s wedding banquet, shouldn’t one drink the wedding wine?”
“…Yes,” she nodded. “But…”
“Chang’an.” Ignoring her, the emperor looked into the crowd.
He Chang’an, who’d been watching the show with interest, stepped forward, cupping his hands in salute. “This subject is here.”
“The three of us will share a table,” Yuwen Jie said.
“This subject obeys.” He Chang’an smiled in acknowledgment, turning to instruct servants to find a room in the back courtyard and set up a table.
If the emperor wanted wedding wine, naturally the groom had to accompany him, and it couldn’t be done in front of everyone—they needed a private room.
With that, the wedding banquet was left to the guests alone.
Not a shred of festive atmosphere remained.
Master Hua’s brow stayed furrowed. Concubine Wu hurriedly sent someone to fetch the third young lady back from the palace. Only Madam Wan remained delighted, clapping her hands. “Looks like His Majesty really appreciates our Hua’er.”
Appreciates her? Madam Ren glanced at the quiet courtyard outside.
After all that careful preparation for the wedding, the emperor’s arrival had swept it all away—all that remained was the honor brought to the Hua family’s name. In reality, everything had turned cold and empty, and who knew whether the bride herself was even pleased.
The emperor really was rather odd—showing no favor to Liuying, yet treating Hua Jinghua so well?
Hua Chun felt rather gloomy. She’d finally gotten half a month of peace, only to fall right back into Yuwen Jie’s clutches. What kind of nonsense was this? She’d worked hard all day and just wanted to go to sleep, but now she had to stay here and wait on this man.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Third Brother.” He Chang’an, also looking delighted, raised his cup toward her. “It’s rare for His Majesty to grace us with his presence today. Let’s, the three of us brothers, drink a few rounds properly, shall we?”
Not good at all! Hua Chun pursed her lips but still raised her cup, clinking it with theirs.
Yuwen Jie said in a low voice, “Can you drink?”
The question was directed at Hua Chun, clearly another jab at her. Hua Chun sneered inwardly.
Back when she used to dominate the drinking table, this guy was probably still stuck in a history book somewhere. What was he being so smug about?
“This subject’s tolerance is shallow.” Better to be humble first, lower the enemy’s guard.
“My tolerance is also shallow,” Yuwen Jie said. “Then let’s drink lightly.”
“Alright.” Hua Chun nodded, taking a small sip from her cup. Smiling as she looked up, she saw the emperor had already downed the entire large cup.
“…” So much for drinking lightly.
Setting down his cup, the emperor gave her a deep look, then glanced at her cup. The meaning was clear: I’ve finished mine, and you think you can leave yours unfinished?
Gritting her teeth, Hua Chun tilted her head back and downed the whole cup too.
This wine wasn’t as strong as modern liquor, going down smoothly enough. Feeling a bit more confident, Hua Chun relaxed and reached for chopsticks to eat the dishes on the table.
“Third Brother’s tolerance seems pretty good,” He Chang’an said with a smile. “I wonder who’ll get drunk first today, you or His Majesty.”
“Definitely me,” Hua Chun said. “Don’t believe me? Try it and see.”