If it only involved eligibility for the throne, it wouldn’t cause such a stir. After all, even those who secretly coveted the throne wouldn’t dare show it now – making too much fuss about not wanting to marry the Tubo princess would only reveal their ambitions as clearly as Sima Zhao’s intentions that all could see.

The greatest hidden danger lay in the possibility of being rejected by the new Emperor in the future. Having a Tubo princess as a primary wife, unlike Li Yanyan who was a princess of a fallen nation, could be exploited at any time since Tubo still existed. With slight manipulation, one could be charged with collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country.

Moreover, the Tubo princess, born in Tubo, shared neither language nor customs, making marital harmony difficult. Thus, Prince Zhao Xiao Changmin was currently the happiest – he had gained a noble primary wife and avoided the potential trouble of marrying a Tubo princess.

The Tubo princess could only become His Majesty’s consort; she couldn’t be a concubine to a prince.

“His Majesty will return to the palace soon, right?” The Tubo princess coming for a political marriage was a major state affair.

“We’ll set out after the Mid-Autumn Festival,” Xiao Huayong nodded, somewhat regretfully. He preferred spending time with Shen Xihe at the temporary palace.

However, thinking that it was already August, and in half a year they would have their grand wedding, his heartfelt somewhat better.

Within days, news of the Tubo princess’s political marriage spread, capturing the attention of the entire court. The officials involved in this intricate web of relationships, especially those already aligned with certain princes, were full of calculations.

Shen Xihe noticed that this matter quickly diluted the chaos Xiao Juesong had created earlier, making the court gradually forget the rumors about whether the Crown Prince was truly His Majesty’s son.

This was probably one of the reasons why His Majesty approved the marriage.

Unlike last year when envoys came to the capital seeking a marriage alliance, when families were busy with weddings and feared their daughters might be named princesses for distant political marriages, this time the noble ladies were all waiting to watch the drama unfold. The temporary palace returned to its initial cheerful atmosphere.

As the sun grew cooler, the First Month arrived in the blink of an eye. Last year at this time, Shen Yun’an had accompanied her; this year she celebrated with His Majesty and the Empress Dowager at the temporary palace. Emperor Youning, along with the princes and high officials, hunted plenty of game. The First Month had more escorts and less of the usual palace restraint.

Even from the temporary palace, one could see fireworks rising into the sky in various places, as common people celebrated the festivities.

After the First Month, His Majesty led everyone on a magnificent three-day journey back to the palace. Shen Xihe continued living in seclusion, only emerging on the last day of the month for the Empress Dowager’s birthday. Unlike last year’s decennial celebration, this year’s affair was modest, with only some royal relatives and noble officials invited, not particularly grand.

Emperor Youning wasn’t extravagant; neither he nor the palace people would hold large celebrations unless it was a decennial birthday.

In October, late autumn painted the Eastern Palace’s maple leaves red. Shen Xihe remembered first meeting Xiao Huayong last year when he stood waiting for her under these two red maples, eagerly anticipating – though then he was pretending, while now his feelings were genuine and passionate.

“Your maple-colored cloak and skirt are extremely beautiful today,” Xiao Huayong praised softly after entering the palace.

Shen Xihe paused her steps, turning to look at Xiao Huayong with surprised joy in her eyes: “Your Highness, you…”

“Thanks to Youyou, I can see colors again,” Xiao Huayong said with smiling eyes.

He had recovered – he could see all colors, amazing even Linghu Zheng. Upon hearing of his recovery, Linghu Zheng had set out to come see Sunaxi. Moreover, Shen Xihe had collected many jade flowers this year, and now in late autumn, approaching winter, his lungs no longer had the previous years’ itching and burning pain, just slight coughing.

Only now did he experience how pleasant winter could be without illness and pain.

“Your Highness, what color is this?” Shen Xihe asked somewhat skeptically, lifting the jade pendant at her waist.

To match her clothes, it was a yellow jade.

“Apricot yellow,” Xiao Huayong answered with a gentle smile.

Only then did Shen Xihe beam with joy: “Congratulations, Your Highness.”

“I called you here today to try on your wedding clothes,” Xiao Huayong said, his eyes also showing happiness.

The Imperial Wardrobe Bureau had spent several months rush-producing Shen Xihe’s wedding dress and crown. They were originally meant to be sent to the Princess’s mansion, but Xiao Huayong intercepted them, inviting Shen Xihe to try them on at the Eastern Palace. The Bureau naturally couldn’t ask for better – the clothes were precious, and if damaged while being taken out of the palace, the entire Bureau would face punishment. Having Shen Xihe try them on in the palace was ideal.

It was October now – after another season, in March of next year, when the weather warmed and flowers bloomed, they would have their grand wedding.

Shen Xihe suddenly felt time moved so quickly. Though she saw through Xiao Huayong’s private intentions, this was official business, so she didn’t act coy and tried on the clothes straightforwardly.

When she saw the crown, she was stunned – it was inlaid with pearls, all round but varying in size, with a slight golden luster characteristic of northern pearls. Weren’t these northern pearls supposed to be extremely rare?

“Why did Your Highness spend so extravagantly?” Thinking this crown must be one of a kind, Shen Xihe assumed Xiao Huayong had paid for it himself, spending a fortune to have it made.

“It wasn’t extravagant – these are all pearls brought back by the gyrfalcon,” Xiao Huayong said casually.

Standing behind him, Tianyuan’s lips twitched – he made it sound as if the gyrfalcon had willingly gone to dig them up.

Remembering she had one such pearl given by Xiao Huayong, allegedly also brought back by the gyrfalcon, Shen Xihe didn’t think more of it. She very much liked it, and wearing the elaborate wedding dress, casually arranging her hair, and putting on the crown, she exuded both gentleness and nobility from her very bones.