The second year of Yongping was undoubtedly a year worthy of detailed recording in the Great Xuan’s history books, with numerous new policies implemented one after another.

For instance, the spring policy of “clearing fields, reforming taxes, and returning land to the people,” the reform of the spring imperial examinations allowing a large number of scholars from humble backgrounds to be employed by the court, and the official opening of the capital’s first women’s academy in August…

But what people found most fascinating was the news that the Princess Regent and Prince Su had finally announced their grand wedding.

Two equally matched individuals joining together like connected pearls and jade—the Great Xuan’s most joyous event. Court officials naturally followed this current, collectively requesting that a wedding date be set soon.

After several rounds of proceedings, the wedding date was set for the late spring of April the following year, leaving half a year for preparations.

Previously, for convenience and to economize, Zhao Yān had mostly lived in the Eastern Palace or Hanming Hall, without establishing a Princess Regent’s residence. Now that she was to be married, this residence could no longer be neglected.

Fortunately, Wenren Lin was very reliable. He had already selected a mansion in Yongchang Ward, purchased two adjacent courtyards to connect them, and spent several months renovating everything according to Zhao Yān’s wishes.

“The Princess Regent and Prince Su are equally matched, each with their foundations. Do you think after their marriage, the Princess Regent will move into Prince Su’s mansion, or will Prince Su marry into the Princess Regent’s residence?”

Several passersby gazed at the magnificent main gate of the Princess Regent’s residence, stopping at a distance to chat.

“Bah, now that the court advocates equality for all and gender parity, what talk is there of marrying down or marrying in? Husband and wife are one—they’ll live wherever is convenient!”

…

…

“As they say, even heroes find it hard to overcome the beauty pass. Think of how terrifying Prince Su once was—just one stomp of his foot would make the capital tremble three times. Now he willingly submits to the Princess Regent’s authority. Tsk, you haven’t seen it—Prince Su comes to the Princess Regent’s residence every few days to supervise the construction, personally adjusting and inquiring about every detail. Such meticulousness and patience—which man wouldn’t feel ashamed in comparison?”

“Brother, your words are mistaken! The Princess Regent is not someone who can be summarized with the shallow words ‘beauty.’ In her two years as regent, the Great Xuan has seen daily innovations. With her restraining someone as controversial as Prince Su, the military power will surely remain secure, which is a blessing for the world!”

“What do you call this? This is what you call the radiance of connected pearls and jade—everyone is happy.”

The crowd exchanged a few more laughing words before dispersing.

In the spring of the third year of Yongping, on the auspicious eighteenth day of April.

The sky had not yet brightened when Zhao Yān, with the help of Liu Ying, Shi Lan, and the dressing palace maids, had already bathed, changed clothes, and applied makeup.

The palace was decorated with lanterns and festive ornaments, extraordinarily lively. Palace maids and eunuchs carrying various headdresses and food, and wine came and went endlessly, full of joy.

The bedchamber was brightly lit, illuminating the crimson wedding dress hanging on the rosewood clothes rack, as well as rows of brilliant headdresses and jewelry on the table.

Zhao Yān raised her finger to touch the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, looking at herself in the bronze mirror: four years after returning to the palace, her youthful naivety had faded, her delicate and beautiful features had fully matured, adding a firm yet gentle charm befitting her position, like a bright pearl with flowing light.

Having shed her girlish air, she seemed less like Zhao Yǎn now.

The familiar face in the bronze mirror gradually blurred, as if a frail young man sat clothed, smiling slightly at her.

Just as she was lost in thought, Shi Lan’s voice broke her reverie: “Your Highness, please have some porridge! There are still four hours before Prince Su comes to escort you. You mustn’t starve yourself.”

Zhao Yān came back to herself, accepting the bowl of white rice porridge in the jade-green porcelain bowl. She blinked and asked: “Is there any meat?”

According to custom, a bride could only have some porridge and water before leaving her home, with no meat or greasy food.

Shi Lan, thoroughly familiar with her mistress’s habits, smiled with pursed lips: “I knew you wouldn’t like such bland fare. Look, what has this servant secretly brought?”

She opened the bottom layer of the food box to reveal a bowl of steaming dumpling soup with large fillings and thin skins.

Zhao Yān took a deep breath of the aroma and immediately forgot about the porridge. She picked up the dumplings and began eating them in small bites. The savory flavor mixed with the meat fragrance was utterly satisfying!

Halfway through her meal, voices of palace maids paying respects suddenly came from outside: “The Empress Dowager, ten thousand years!”

“Mother?”

Zhao Yān quickly hid the unfinished dumplings back in the food box, hastily covering it as she stood up.

On those delicate, full cherry-like lips, there was a trace of oil, which she nervously pressed away.

“You’re about to be married, yet still so fond of food.”

Empress Dowager Wei still looked the same as she had years ago, cold and elegant, though her icy phoenix eyes now contained a touch of warmth. “Eat if you want to. There are no outsiders here.”

“Your daughter is full.”

Zhao Yān felt somewhat embarrassed, pressing her lips together before asking, “Why has Mother come at this time?”

Empress Dowager Wei stepped forward, took out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, and gently wiped away a spot of oil from the corner of her daughter’s mouth.

Zhao Yān’s eyelashes trembled in surprise, but she stood still.

“Sit down.”

The Empress Dowager gestured, then took a jade comb from Liu Ying’s hand and lifted Zhao Yān’s lustrous black hair from behind. “You’ve always been strong-willed. Everything you have now, you’ve earned yourself. As a mother, I’ve never truly done anything for you. I’ve heard that in common households, a mother personally combs her daughter’s hair before she marries, praying for a smooth life and a perfect marriage… Today, let me comb your hair.”

The jade comb glided through her hair like silk from top to bottom. Zhao Yān felt the gentle pressure of that hand on her head and suddenly smiled.

After all these years, she finally discovered that her mother’s hand was so soft, so warm.

Her hair was combed and coiled into a bun, adorned with a resplendent phoenix crown with dangling tassels. Zhao Yān wore a wedding dress that trailed on the ground, her forehead dotted with pearls. She seemed wrapped in countless stars and radiance, so noble and beautiful as to be almost unrecognizable.

Looking at her daughter in full bridal attire, Empress Dowager Wei gradually reddened and moistened her eyes.

She quickly turned her head, inconspicuously wiping the corner of her eye.

Zhao Yān glimpsed this in the mirror and was also moved.

She stood up, her pearl pendants swaying gently, and called out: “Mother.”

Empress Dowager Wei turned her face, regaining her usual composure, and responded: “Is there anything else you need me to do?”

Zhao Yān just smiled and shook her head: “All these years, I haven’t truly done anything for Mother either. Although Mother has said that family members needn’t thank each other, I still want to say…”

Zhao Yān stepped forward under Empress Dowager Wei’s slightly surprised gaze, and like an ordinary daughter, raised her arms to gently embrace this tough exterior, soft-hearted, imperfect mother. “Thank you for giving me six years of freedom in Huayang. I will continue to be well in the future and will still come to the palace every day. You needn’t worry.”

Empress Dowager Wei felt a surge of warmth in her throat. Before her breathing could become choked, she quickly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then slowly opened them with a smile, returning the embrace and gently patting her daughter’s shoulders. “Good.”

Zhao Yān hadn’t expected to take this step. The six-year estrangement seemed suddenly bridged in this embrace.

Perhaps feeling somewhat awkward, she quickly released her hold, gracefully stepping back to perform the grand ceremony of a daughter leaving home.

Zhao Yān put on the string of white jade prayer beads and first went to Penglai Hall in the North Palace to bid farewell to the Grand Empress Dowager.

The Grand Empress Dowager was in her seventies, with snow-white temples. Her spirits fluctuated, and she could no longer easily get out of bed, so she sat on the couch with a cane, receiving Zhao Yān’s grand ceremony.

She raised her trembling hand, covered with wrinkles and age spots, beckoning: “Changfeng, come here.”

Zhao Yān carefully lifted her crimson, gold-sprinkled skirt, stepped forward to bow again, and took the Grand Empress Dowager’s extended dry yet warm hand, smiling in response: “Your granddaughter is here.”

“Back then, though you returned for the sake of the greater picture, this old woman doesn’t want you to sacrifice yourself for it again.”

The elderly woman firmly held her hand, patting it gently, and with a slow, hoarse voice, entrusted: “You two should live well together, and don’t exhaust yourselves. If Wenren Lin dares to wrong you, just divorce him.”

Zhao Yān couldn’t help but laugh at the last sentence, responding: “Yes, I will never let myself be wronged. But Grandmother, Wenren Lin is someone you approved of. I trust your judgment, and I trust myself—he won’t wrong me.”

The Grand Empress Dowager chuckled and nodded repeatedly: “Good, good.”

After bidding farewell to Penglai Hall, the noon banquet was prepared in Yonglin Hall, with all officials in their court robes standing in two rows.

As soon as the Princess Regent appeared, all civil and military officials knelt, lifting their robes and shouting: “Congratulations to the Princess Regent, nine thousand years! May your new marriage be joyous and may you remain together for a hundred years!”

Zhao Yān smiled, raising her hand solemnly: “I accept your blessings. All ministers, please rise.”

At the noon feast, Zhao Yān accompanied the officials for just one round of drinks before returning to Hanming Hall to retouch her makeup.

“The auspicious time has arrived—”

With the high announcement of the official of ceremonies, drums and music sounded. Wenren Lin led people from the East Gate to escort the bride.

Zhao Yān did not hold a modesty fan to cover her face but raised her hand to straighten the pearl tassels on both sides of her phoenix crown. Guided by Zhao Xun and Huo Zhenzhen, her two bridesmaids, and dozens of palace maids, she confidently walked along the red carpet and ground covered with fragrant flower petals toward that tall, strong figure outside the East Gate.

Sleeves flying, confident and light.

Wenren Lin stood tall in a deep red robe, a jade belt, and leather boots, raising his eyes amid the fluttering fragrance of late spring. His handsome face was like that of a deity, just as it had been when they first met by the warm pavilion pool years ago.

When their gazes met, they both saw clear amazement in each other’s eyes.

The Prince Su’s groomsman passed over a red silk flower, but he didn’t take it. Instead, with a smile, he extended one long-fingered hand and, in front of everyone, took Zhao Yān’s hand.

The man also wore a string of sandalwood prayer beads matching hers on his wrist. His strong fingers slid between Zhao Yān’s delicate white ones, then gripped tightly as they walked shoulder to shoulder across the red carpet toward the elaborately decorated gold-copper sedan chair outside the palace gate.

Wenren Lin’s hand was very warm and held hers tightly. Zhao Yān couldn’t help but glance at him sideways, meeting his downward, focused gaze directly.

In that moment, it was as if the drum music receded and the crowd blurred. The pear blossoms fluttered like a promise of white-haired togetherness, with only the couple remaining in the world.

Wenren Lin helped Zhao Yān onto the spacious red-lacquered, gold-carved sedan chair, bent down to lightly kiss her fingertips, and said in a deep, smiling voice: “See you soon, Your Highness.”

Zhao Yān’s fingertips slid across his slender joints, her snow-like cheeks flying with light peach blush, her bright eyes smiling as she said: “See you soon, Wenren Shaoyuan.”

The Princess Regent’s grand wedding was magnificent and unprecedented.

The wedding procession departed from the palace gates, with palace maids in brocade robes and gauze capes, holding fans and surrounding the sedan chair, stretching for miles. The imperial guards had to dispatch a large contingent to clear the way in advance to ensure the smooth passage of the sedan chair and the betrothal gifts.

The window seats of taverns and teahouses along the streets had been fully booked months in advance. Now, thousands upon thousands of Great Xuan citizens were crowded along both sides of the road and in the high buildings, eager to witness this once-in-a-century grand wedding. The capital was almost completely emptied.

“Is that Prince Su riding the horse in front? Heavens, only a man with such an immortal bearing could match the Princess Regent!”

“Not only is his appearance outstanding, but these hundred loads of betrothal gifts are also substantial! Prince Su truly has deep affection for the Princess Regent, loving his wife to the bone. He’s practically offered his entire fortune—even the Late Emperor’s wedding procession wasn’t this lavish!”

“Look at the back, though the Princess Regent’s dowry is also rich, she is, after all, the highest female of the imperial family. Compared to the betrothal gifts, it seems somewhat modest.”

“What do you know? That’s because the Princess Regent’s stipend and wealth have all gone toward encouraging agriculture and supporting scholars. She is truly a person of great virtue.”

However, when the sedan chair carrying the Princess Regent approached, those who had been arguing all fell silent simultaneously, forgetting to speak.

The light gauze of the sedan chair stirred, and the Princess Regent sat inside wearing her phoenix crown and red dress, her features as exquisite as a painting, occasionally nodding in acknowledgment to the surrounding crowd of spectators who cheered.

A fleeting glimpse like a startling swan, with stars in her hair and the moon in her eyes—just a sidelong glance was enough to make the city’s spring colors pale like clay sculptures.

Truly worthy of being the brilliant pearl of the Great Xuan’s golden age!

“These two belong together.”

As the sedan chair receded into the distance, someone murmured, “There’s probably no one else in the world who could match either of them.”

The final grand ceremony of the wedding banquet was arranged at the Princess Regent’s residence.

Everyone knew what this meant—Prince Su was willing to lower his status, submitting to his beloved wife.

The sunset gathered its last rays, yet the Princess Regent’s residence remained brilliantly lit, bright as day.

Inside the bridal chamber, wedding candles burned high, gilding the red silk throughout the room. Wenren Lin carefully washed his hands at the door, dried them with a silk handkerchief, then lifted his robe to sit beside Zhao Yān on the edge of the bed, accepting the ceremonial wine cup from the attendant.

Zhao Yān also took the other cup, and they crossed arms to drink, performing the ceremony of sharing a common cup and fate.

After both cups were emptied, it was time for the wedding night.

Liu Ying and Shi Lan helped Zhao Yān remove her makeup and phoenix crown, prepared two basins of clear water and towels, then bowed in congratulation before knowingly leading the attendants out, closing the door behind them.

The wind chimes under the eaves tinkled crisply. In the distance, the festive music continued, and the colorful lights of fireworks were reflected on the window paper, alternately bright and dim.

Wenren Lin’s eyebrows were bathed in the warm light of the red candles, and his thin lips, moistened with wine, appeared especially lustrous below his straight nose. He raised his hand to caress Zhao Yān’s jade-like, luminous white cheek, carefully examining her as if confirming a beautiful dream or a fragile treasure.

“Your Highness is beautiful.”

He suddenly smiled, unrestrained and unfettered, leaning closer to repeat, “This prince’s Yan’er is beautiful.”

As he leaned forward, the warm jade at his waist slid down, touching Zhao Yān’s fingertips.

Zhao Yān’s cheeks inexplicably heated up, her starry eyes filled with smiles as she said softly: “This jade pendant is so ugly.”

She pointed to the cat-patterned jade pendant that Wenren Lin had worn prominently at his waist all day—the one she had given him years ago—and said bashfully: “On such a joyous day, why didn’t you change to a more impressive jade? It’s too ugly… I didn’t notice before, but looking carefully now, it’s too ugly.”

“It’s not ugly. It’s quite distinctive, one of a kind.”

Wenren Lin’s deep voice contained suppressed laughter as he lifted one of Zhao Yān’s legs onto his knee, removing her shoes and socks, saying, “Everything that belongs to Yan’er is beautiful.”

Zhao Yān leaned back on the soft wedding bed sprinkled with longan and red dates, her toes lightly kicking him as she raised an eyebrow and said: “Wenren Shaoyuan, now you’re starting to tell lies with your eyes wide open.”

Wenren Lin grasped her restless ankle. Under his palm, her skin was soft and delicate, so slender it barely filled his grip. His eyes darkened slightly as his fingertips moved up along her well-proportioned calf, causing the magnificent wedding dress to gradually slide down, gathering at her waist.

Zhao Yān’s fingers suddenly clenched as she called out hoarsely: “Wenren Shaoyuan…”

Before she could finish, her lips were sealed authoritatively yet tenderly.

“We’re married now, and you still haven’t changed how you address me, hmm?”

Wenren Lin knelt between her knees, gazing at her misty eyes, leading by example to enchant her: “Yan’er, wife?”

“Wen… mmph!”

Her lips were sealed again, this time much more lingeringly. Zhao Yān could hardly catch her breath and had to both kick at him disobediently and mumble: “Hus… husband.”

Wenren Lin held her well-proportioned leg, satisfied, and smiled with his eyes full of spring, his shoulders shaking slightly.

Zhao Yān didn’t know how such a simple term could make him laugh like this.

Perhaps her tone had been too flustered?

While she was thinking, Wenren Lin drew her into his embrace, gazing at her moist eyes and saying huskily, “Before, I never imagined what it would be like for me to marry. I couldn’t picture it… But now, I know.”

This close, Zhao Yān could finally feel his usually steady heartbeat becoming turbulent, pounding powerfully against his chest, causing her chest to resonate with a numbing vibration.

Zhao Yān saw the deep affection in Wenren Lin’s eyes, not teasing playfulness, but genuine joy.

Wenren Lin was truly, very, very happy.

Zhao Yān’s heart softened. She cupped Wenren Lin’s handsome face in both hands, leaned forward, and earnestly touched those warm, thin lips.

Wenren Lin obediently lowered his eyelashes, returning her kisses intermittently before quickly taking control.

The most treasured spring paintings were placed under the pillow, but neither of them needed to use them.

The wedding candles cast a room full of warm light as the deep night stretched long.

Zhao Yān slept until the sun was high. Outside the window, magpies chirped crisp melodies in this peaceful time.

Her first sight upon waking was the man leaning against the bedhead watching her, his slender fingers slowly stroking a strand of her sleep-tousled hair as he smiled and said huskily: “Good morning, wife.”

Her second sight was the clothes strewn all over the floor.

“Good morning, Wenren Yao Fei.”

Zhao Yān said these words through gritted teeth, but due to her soft nasal tone, they carried a hint of coquettish spoiling.

Wenren Lin truly laughed—he had been laughing a lot lately.

Then he bent down and kissed his wife’s eyelashes.

So on the second day of their marriage, the time Zhao Yān got out of bed was delayed from mid-morning to noon, further confirming the title of “Wenren Yao Fei.”

On the second day, Wenren Lin took Zhao Yān to Lingyun Temple to share the good news with those silent souls in the Hall of Heroes.

Under the towering bodhi tree with its lush greenery, the elongated shadows of the newlyweds overlapped.

Wenren Lin grasped Zhao Yān’s slender waist, effortlessly lifting her above his head to reach the treetop.

Zhao Yān tied their newly written wish ribbons to a fresh branch and tucked back a strand of hair, saying: “Done!”

Wenren Lin pinched her waist, turned her in a circle, then placed her on the ground, pinching her small, white earlobe: “It’s still early. Where would you like to go?”

Zhao Yān took the opportunity to separate his five fingers and interlock them with hers, shaking her head with a smile: “Home, to accompany my Yao Fei.”

Wenren Lin’s lips curved slightly upward as he gripped her hand in return, walking through the evening sunlight on their way home.

The breeze swept by, tree shadows danced, and the prayer ribbons billowed like upside-down red sunrise clouds. Among them, two red silk ribbons with still-wet ink were faintly visible.

“May the world be clear and bright, and may we grow old together.”

“May all I love find lasting peace in Chang’an.”