Things were finally developing in a positive direction, allowing Dong Shi to breathe a sigh of relief, while the entire capital city bustled with activity in preparation for the Female Emperor’s wedding in three days.
At the women’s academy, Lu Baohua heard that the Female Emperor would marry within three days because Xiao Rongyan was gravely ill, and was quite astonished.
Hearing the female students around her all discussing how the Female Emperor valued relationships and loyalty, Lu Baohua remembered when she and Liu Ruofu had seen Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan walking side by side on the main street. At that time, Lu Baohua had felt that Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan were very well-matched.
Later, when Bai Qingyan ascended the throne, she had even speculated whether Bai Qingyan would still marry this merchant. After all, Xiao Rongyan was a merchant, and the position of imperial consort, like that of empress, was often used for imperial marriages to stabilize alliances between two countries or stabilize the previous dynasty and gain support from important court ministers… where was the need for real feelings?
She hadn’t expected that now, with Xiao Rongyan gravely ill, Bai Qingyan would still marry him and grant him such a noble position as imperial consort.
Lu Baohua had once resented Bai Qingyan because of Liu Ruofu’s situation, but hearing about this matter improved her opinion of Bai Qingyan somewhat.
On the thirteenth day of the eighth month in the first year of Yuanhe, the mother of Dengzhou Prefecture Governor Dong Qingyue, Old Madam Dong, along with Dong Qingyue’s wife Lady Cui, arrived at the capital. The Great Zhou Empress Dowager and Female Emperor welcomed them at the palace gates.
Seeing Old Madam Dong, Empress Dowager Dong Shi was already in tears. Upon learning that Bai Qingyan would marry on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Old Madam Dong was even more shocked. After all, when they departed from Dengzhou, they hadn’t heard anything about Bai Qingyan’s marriage. Who would have thought that just upon arrival, their granddaughter would be marrying the day after tomorrow? If they had been any later, they would have missed the Female Emperor’s wedding entirely.
After Dong Shi explained to Old Madam Dong that it was because of Xiao Rongyan’s grave illness, she and Grand Secretary Dong helped Old Madam Dong into the palace. Old Madam Dong couldn’t help but mention the dragon and phoenix twins that Dong Changyuan already had at a year and a half old – An Ge’er and You Jie’er.
At the mention of the two children, Bai Qingyan’s second aunt Lady Cui smiled so widely she couldn’t close her mouth. Previously, when young Lady Cui hadn’t conceived, it had worried Lady Cui greatly. Who would have thought that when children came, two would come at once, and they were a boy and a girl – how could this not make her happy?
“If not for the great distance of the journey, I would truly want to bring those two precious ones with me,” Lady Cui said to Dong Shi, her face full of joy.
Dong Changyuan followed beside Lady Cui, his gaze turning to Bai Qingyan, who was accompanying Old Madam Dong and Lady Cui as they walked into the palace. His heart was filled with mixed feelings. He knew his cousin was now the Female Emperor, and the gap in their status was vast – perhaps some matters weren’t his place to worry about, but… with Xiao Rongyan gravely ill and his cousin still insisting on marrying him, it seemed Xiao Rongyan’s condition had reached the point where even the imperial physicians were helpless.
His cousin’s deep loyalty was certainly true, but in the future… if that Mr. Xiao were to pass away, he wondered how heartbroken his cousin would be.
On the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the first year of Yuanhe, the Great Zhou Female Emperor married the Great Yan wealthy merchant Xiao Rongyan, establishing Xiao Rongyan as imperial consort.
Because of Xiao Rongyan’s weak health, to care for his condition, Liu Rushi eliminated many complicated procedures, simplifying the entire grand wedding.
After Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan received congratulations from all the officials, they proceeded to the palace banquet.
This was the first time Xiao Rongyan had seen Bai Qingyan since entering the palace.
Empress Dowager Dong Shi had given orders that Xiao Rongyan should focus on recovering his health, and before the grand wedding, Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan were not allowed to meet. Since Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyan had erred before, they dared not make Dong Shi unhappy again. For these three days, Xiao Rongyan truly stayed in the palace to recover, while Bai Qingyan focused on court affairs.
Xiao Rongyan’s illness was performed extremely convincingly – his complexion was pale without a trace of color, needing Yue Shi’s support to barely stand. However… his commanding presence hadn’t diminished by half due to his illness, making him seem like a deity looking down from on high.
Bai Qingyan wore imperial robes, solemn and dignified. As imperial consort, Xiao Rongyan wore the Jinxian crown and was dressed in brocade robes with golden phoenix and dragon patterns, his waist bound with a jade belt. After the two kowtowed to the Heavenly Emperor and offered incense, they stood side by side before the incense tripod covered with red felt carpet, receiving the kowtows of all officials.
In the western sky, dark gold slowly fell, with flowing clouds and evening purple. The last trace of the passionate setting sun illuminated the entire capital’s imperial palace. Under the rolling clouds in the sky, the western side of the majestic multi-eaved palace buildings was bathed in warm, shimmering light. White jade steps and golden-painted column bases – everything in sight became warm gold, outlining the pair of perfect figures in ceremonial dress on the red carpet.
All officials kowtowed, thrice calling out “Long live!”
The two stood side by side, receiving the kowtows of all officials and their family members. Xiao Rongyan discreetly grasped Bai Qingyan’s jade-like fingertips, asking in a low voice: “Are you tired?”
“I’m fine…” Bai Qingyan maintained her dignified appearance, her voice extremely low. “It’s just that delaying for this one day, I don’t know how many memorials will pile up.”
Xiao Rongyan lowered his eyes and gently rubbed Bai Qingyan’s fingertips with concern. He had wanted to say he would help organize the memorials when they returned, but remembering the Empress Dowager’s previous words about not allowing him to interfere in court affairs, Xiao Rongyan didn’t want to displease the Empress Dowager, so he said: “Although I can’t help A’Bao share the burden this time, A’Bao can have Grand Marshal Lu, the Grand Secretary, and the Minister of Works come together to handle the memorials.”
“Speaking of which…” Bai Qingyan’s body leaned slightly toward Xiao Rongyan’s direction as she said in a low voice: “Does Great Yan still have books left by Empress Ji? I’d still like to read them. I always feel that after finishing the last volume you sent me, it seems Empress Ji hadn’t finished writing the book.”
“There are still some, but… Mother once said that what she wrote later was too advanced for this era and wouldn’t be accepted by the imperial family, so she sealed them all away. If you want to read them… I’ll have Yue Shi send them to you later.”
Bai Qingyan nodded: “Good!”
Some officials saw the Female Emperor and imperial consort with their heads slightly together, whispering to each other, and sighed that the relationship between the Female Emperor and imperial consort was truly good. They couldn’t help but worry about Xiao Rongyan’s health, wondering if he could pull through.
The noble ladies of the capital also quietly looked up at the Female Emperor and Xiao Rongyan on the high platform. When Xiao Rongyan was still a merchant, his scholarly elegance, profound knowledge, and handsome appearance had already captured the hearts of many noble ladies. If not for his lowly merchant status, he wouldn’t have been a bad choice for a husband.
Who would have thought that Xiao Rongyan, whose status had once made them hesitate, had now become the exalted imperial consort?
That night, dragon and phoenix red candles burned brightly.
Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan sat properly on the dragon and phoenix bed, having completed the ceremonies. Nanny Tong came forward to bow and said, “Eldest Miss and Master must be tired. This old servant will take people down to prepare water for Eldest Miss and Master…”
As Nanny Tong spoke, she bowed again, turned around, and swept her gaze over the maids standing in the great hall, cleared her throat, and walked out. The maids understood and bowed before withdrawing.
Chun Tao’s face couldn’t hide her smile. Together with Chun Zhi, she lowered the hanging curtains and veils that were hooked on golden hooks on both sides of the great hall, layer by layer, then quietly withdrew from the hall.