Chapter 16

“Your Highness, it’s time for you to step forward.”

The young nobleman beside Liu Xie softly reminded Xie Qingya.

He had once been saved by Liu Yuan, and later, thanks to the Xie family’s arrangement, had been placed beside the Young Emperor to serve him. Although he was now under the Young Emperor’s command, he still held great respect for Xie Qingya in his heart.

Seeing that Xie Qingya had not moved, he thought it was due to dissatisfaction with the marriage arrangement. Afraid that he might offend Empress Dowager Zhao Yu, he could not help but remind him softly.

Xie Qingya remained silent, but his steps finally moved.

He lowered his gaze, concealing all his emotions inside, and walked behind Liu Xie to step forward and greet Empress Dowager Zhao Yu.

Empress Dowager Zhao Yu stood beside Xu Duanyi.

Having just finished greeting the Emperor, upon hearing the young man’s voice, Empress Dowager Zhao Yu naturally shifted her gaze to Xie Qingya.

Xie Qingya had a handsome face.

Even Empress Dowager Zhao Yu had to admit that he was exceptionally good-looking.

With sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, his posture was erect.

Compared to the South An Wang of the past and the eldest son of the Xie family, he was undoubtedly even more striking.

However, the sharp sword that once stood tall was now softened, dulled by years of indulgence in spring wine and the gentle comforts of life, making him no longer the man he once was.

It is often said that mothers-in-law become fonder of their sons-in-law the more they look at them.

But Empress Dowager Zhao Yu, this aunt, looked at Xie Qingya and found herself growing more dissatisfied the more she looked.

Let me know if you need any further assistance!

Although she was unwilling in her heart and didn’t want to see Xie Qingya, as before, perhaps one day gaining power and protecting the emperor, distancing him from her control, the sight of him in such a lazy state made Zhao Yu unhappy.

She almost wished to cancel the wedding on the spot.

But she could only think about it.

“The auspicious time has come, let’s proceed with the ceremony.”

Zhao Yu said, moving forward, still reluctant to let go of Xu Duanyi’s hand.

Only when Xu Duanyi gently returned the grip, did Zhao Yu, with great reluctance, release her hand.

Once Zhao Yu reached the front, the ceremony formally began.

The officials and noblewomen stood on either side.

Zhao Yu 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 were so close since they had grown up separately and matured.

Their clothes overlapped, and Xu Duanyi, holding her fan to cover her face, couldn’t see Xie Qingya’s expression, but she could faintly catch a glimpse of his red ceremonial attire.

However, she could clearly smell the fresh pinewood scent on him.

The sound of the officiant’s voice blessing them with auspicious words filled the air. Xu Duanyi didn’t know what Xie Qingya was thinking.

She only knew her heart was racing.

Fortunately, the space was vast, and the officiant’s voice was loud enough that she didn’t have to worry about her heartbeat being heard by others.

After what felt like a long time, the officiant suddenly called out “Bow.”

This bow was directed towards Zhao Yua and the Young Emperor.

The formal ceremony would continue at the South A n Wang’s residence, but at this point, Xie Qingya accompanied Xu Duanyi to bow before Zhao Yu to express their gratitude for her care.

Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya kneeled and bowed to Zhao Yu.

When the officiant called “Ceremony complete,” Xu Duanyi was helped up by Bixi behind her.

She didn’t see the hand that Xie Qingya subconsciously extended to her the moment she stood up.

No one noticed either.

The moment was too quick for anyone to react before Xie Qingya withdrew his hand.

Next, Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya received greetings from the officials.

After all the formalities were completed, Zhao Yu, supported by Dan Feng, came over to speak with them. The Young Emperor, Liu Xie, followed closely behind.

“South An Wang.”

Zhao Yu addressed Xie Qingya.

Xie Qingya lowered his head, appearing as though he was attentively listening to the royal admonition.

“I only have this one niece, Zhao Zhao. You must treat her well. If I find out that you mistreat her or hurt her…” Zhao Yu didn’t finish her sentence, letting out a cold hum.

But the threat in her words was clear.

If it were anyone else, they’d probably be trembling with fear by now.

Xie Qingya wasn’t afraid, however. He lazily responded, “I, Xie Qingya, will remember the Empress Dowager’s command.”

Seeing him in this manner, Zhao Yu displeasure only deepened.

But since Xu Duanyi was still present, and the officials were watching, she refrained from openly scolding Xie Qingya.

She was too tired to argue with him further and simply continued to hold Xu Duanyi’s hand.

Her words, despite being few, carried great meaning: “If anything happens, come and tell me.”

The Young Emperor, who had been quietly standing behind, suddenly narrowed his eyes. He instinctively looked at Xie Qingya.

Seeing him still looking indifferent, as if unaffected by anything, he lowered his gaze and clenched his fist.

The auspicious time to depart had arrived.

The bridal sedan and procession were already prepared ahead of them.

Even though Zhao Yu was reluctant to part, she had no choice but to let them go.

She gently patted Xu Duanyi’s arm, still holding back her reluctance, and said, “…Go.”

Xu Duanyi also felt a lump in her throat.

She bowed deeply to Zhao Yu, then, surrounded by Bi Xi and others, walked with Xie Qingya towards the sedan chair.

The sedan was large and very luxurious, especially crafted by Zhao Yu orders.

It was made of red gold, with purple sandalwood beams lacquered in vermilion.

Images of clouds, phoenixes, and flowers were engraved on the body, with delicate fishnet curtains.

Several guards, wearing purple robes and headgear, waited by the sedan. A number of palace maids holding fresh flowers stood in front of it, alongside musicians.

Behind them, soldiers followed.

Soon, Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya would sit inside, passing through the long street and showing themselves to the common people.

They walked in silence until they reached the sedan.

Xu Duanyi stopped at the side of the sedan, feeling the weight of her ceremonial attire and heavy hairpins, making it hard for her to move.

She was waiting for Bixi to help her get on the sedan, when suddenly, a hand reached out beside her.

It was a very beautiful hand.

Strong and graceful, with long fingers.

This hand had helped her ride horses, climb trees, and scale walls. It had also saved her life.

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

Xu Duanyi stood frozen, looking at it under her fan.

Xie Qingyao, unaware of her thoughts, noticed she didn’t reach out and assumed she didn’t want to.

He pursed his lips, and, as though indifferent, was about to retract his hand.

The movement of extending his hand was unconscious, and now retracting it felt just the same.

However, as he prepared to pull back his hand, Xie Qingya suddenly froze.

His long eyelashes trembled slightly.

He looked down again, only to find that his hand had been gently grasped by Xu Duanyi’s soft, fragile hand.

He could also hear her soft, gentle voice in his ear.

“Thank you, Prince.”