Chapter 17

Xu Duanyi sat upright in the Yan Zhai carriage, still using her fan to shield her face. She sat on the right side, slightly tilting her head, peering through the thin gauze curtain to observe the scene outside the carriage.

Though the gauze curtain obscured her view, she could faintly make out the sight of her aunt, being helped by Aunt Danfeng, looking towards her.

It seemed that her aunt had noticed her movements.

The Empress Dowager Zhao Yu’s reluctance was evident on her face, yet she tried to turn it into a smile. She watched her, smiling and waving at her.

Soon after, the officials began chanting their ceremonial lines.

The musicians played their instruments.

The carriage wheels rolled over the ground, making a ringing sound like a brass bell.

The procession officially set off, heading toward the Huangji Gate.

Xu Duanyi was 19 years old this year.

She had entered the palace at the age of six, and now, thirteen years had passed.

For the past thirteen years, she had been with Empress Dowager Zhao Yu every day, both aunt and niece, but more like mother and daughter. Now, as they were about to part, Xu Duanyi naturally felt a deep sense of reluctance.

Though Xie Qingya could not see her face behind the fan, he could catch glimpses of her movements from his peripheral vision.

He did not speak.

He didn’t even direct his gaze fully toward her.

It seemed as if he didn’t care about her actions.

However, every time he looked down, he would notice the hand she had previously held gently, still carrying some lingering warmth. He couldn’t help but become a little absent-minded.

The carriage had drawn closer to the Huangji Palace, and the distance from the people behind grew farther.

Xie Qingya could sense that Xu Duanyi had straightened her posture and felt her glance in his direction.

He appeared to be oblivious.

He still stared straight ahead, silent, with a distinct jawline and clear features.

But at the moment when she glanced at him, he unconsciously clenched his palm and pressed it against his knee.

The bright red ceremonial robe wrapped around his tall figure, hiding the tense muscles beneath.

Xu Duanyi, through her fan, could see Xie Qingya’s handsome yet indifferent face.

The heat from his palm, which wasn’t hers, seemed to still linger, and Xu Duanyi couldn’t help but gently clench her slender fingers, seemingly hoping that the warmth would last just a little longer.

She didn’t speak.

Her face, which had tilted toward Xie Qingya, lingered for a moment before she turned it back again.

Both of them were facing forward, silent.

The spring sunshine was bright.

Outside the carriage, the sounds of rituals and music echoed, but inside, there was complete silence.

Even though newlywed couples are often quiet early in their marriage, for them to not speak at all was indeed unusual.

—-

Outside the Huangji Palace.

After seeing the Yan Zhai carriage leave, Empress Dowager Zhao Yu was no longer interested in staying there.

She instructed several noblewomen to go to the Prince of Nan’an’s mansion to keep Xu Duanyi company.

Empress Dowager Zhao Yu didn’t want Xu Duanyi to feel lonely after her marriage, so she had given orders for them to liven up the Prince’s residence.

The officials and noblewomen naturally dared not disobey.

Thus, after the Empress Dowager left, most of the remaining people, except for a few old officials who weren’t summoned by the Empress Dowager, followed her out of the palace.

The young emperor, however, could not leave the palace.

So, he was accompanied by a minor noble back to the Qianqing Palace to rest.

“Empress Dowager.”

On the way back, Empress Dowager Zhao Yu, with her eyes closed, sat in the procession. She heard a voice from behind.

Outside the procession, Danfeng glanced back, then turned to Empress Dowager Zhao Yu and said, “Empress Dowager, it’s Cao Da.”

Empress Dowager Zhao Yu didn’t open her eyes, but murmured an “mm.”

She had worked with Cao Da for many years, so she could naturally recognize his voice.

Empress Dowager Zhao Yu remained silent.

She continued to rest in the procession.

Cao Da had originally served by the late emperor’s side.

Her initial interactions with him had been limited, but they had become more involved after Qi’er’s departure.

At that time, the late emperor was displeased with Qi’er’s defiance in the court and had intended to make Lin’s vile daughter and their son the crown prince, planning to depose Qi’er.

She, of course, did not agree with that.

Not only had Qi’er never done anything wrong, but even the late emperor’s ability to sit on the throne was due to their Xiao family and Qi’er’s contributions.

Had it not been for the late emperor’s fondness for Qi’er and his guilt toward their Xiao family, it might not have been clear who would have ended up on the throne!

She could tolerate that the late emperor’s vows during their wedding had been false.

She could also tolerate Lin’s arrogant behavior, relying on the late emperor’s affection to flaunt herself before her.

But she could never tolerate Qi’er being deposed!

Her Qi’er was kind, virtuous, and praised by all the officials in the court.

However, she had not anticipated that, while she was trying to rally the court officials to support Qi’er, her Qi’er had passed away.

Although the imperial doctors had said it was due to heart illness caused by depression…

She privately discovered that it was Lin’s vile daughter who had poisoned Qi’er, causing his premature death!

She had urged the late emperor to punish Lin, but the late emperor had only demoted her position and locked her in her palace for reflection.

In truth, it was more like protection.

She knew the late emperor couldn’t be relied on, so she completely withdrew her heart from him.

She knew Cao Da’s ambition, so she secretly made contact with him. Afterward, when the late emperor passed away and the princes rebelled, she led people to suppress and cleanse them, then supported the sixth prince—who had seemed the least likely to ascend the throne—to become the emperor.

Later on, she became the Empress Dowager, ruling from behind the curtains.

She also allowed Cao Da to achieve his goal, appointing him to head the Bureau of Internal Affairs, overseeing the inner court’s affairs.

Over the years.

Her collaboration with Cao Da had always been smooth.

Cao Da established the Eastern and Western Factories and revived the Imperial Guards, ensuring she could stay informed about the movements of both the officials and the common people.

She rarely interfered with his private activities.

But human greed is insatiable.

Over the years, Cao Da’s ambitions had only grown larger, and now he even dared to plot against her.

This was something Xiao Jin could not tolerate.

“Empress Dowager.”

Cao Da walked over.

He stopped by the palanquin and greeted Empress Dowager Zhao Yu with a smile.

Empress Dowager Zhao Yu opened her eyes.

She lowered her gaze and looked at Cao Da by the palanquin.

“What’s this? The Grand Secretariat isn’t busy today, and you still have time to greet me?” Empress Dowager Zhaoyu supported her forehead with one hand, looking at Cao Da with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

“What is Your Majesty saying?”

Cao Da smiled and replied, “If Your Majesty wants to see me, I’ll come every day to greet you at Shoukang Palace.”

Empress Dowager Zhao Yu couldn’t be bothered with his flattery, and turned her face again, twirling the beads on her wrist as she lowered her eyelids and said, “Enough, speak of your business.”

“I actually don’t have anything urgent to say, I just wanted to ask if the Princess knows…”

Before he could finish speaking.

Cao Da felt a sharp gaze directed at him from above.

“Don’t be angry. I am just thinking of you. The Emperor is growing older by the day. Although he is still under control now, in a few years, if he gains some power or relies on someone, this place will no longer be under my or your control,” Cao Da added.

Empress Dowager Zhao Yu naturally understood.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have tolerated Cao Da’s arrogance so many times!

But knowing was one thing—

Empress Dowager Zhao Yu lowered her voice and warned Cao Da, “I’ve told you before, don’t meddle with Jia Shun.”

“Jia Shun knows nothing, and I won’t let her be involved in these matters.”

It wasn’t yet time to openly break ties.

After the warning, Empress Dowager Zhao Yu fell silent for a moment before saying, “I’ve already arranged things. If that boy from the Xie family really has a problem, someone will report it to me.”

Cao Da knew well that she couldn’t possibly do nothing.

Just as he was about to smile and agree, a voice suddenly came from above: “Cao Da, I never concern myself with your matters, nor do I care about your grudge with the boy from the Xie family.”

“But there’s one thing you must understand—”

“If you harm Jia Shun, I will never let you off lightly. Do you understand?”

Cao Da’s smile stiffened slightly.

But only for a moment. He quietly replied, “Yes.”

Seeing that he had agreed, Empress Dowager Zhao Yu didn’t bother saying anything more.

She withdrew her gaze, closed her eyes again, and raised her hand.

Dan Feng understood her gesture and quickly ordered the procession to move forward.

Xu Duanyi had no knowledge of the affairs in the palace.

After leaving the palace with Xie Qingya, they proceeded along the Eastern Hua Gate, passing through several of the largest and most bustling streets in the capital, receiving the congratulations of the people. By the time dusk fell, the procession returned to the Prince of Nanan’s Residence.

The Prince of Nanan’s residence no longer had any elders in charge.

Therefore, Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya didn’t need to pay respects to the elders or the heavens. They went directly to the bridal chamber to continue with the subsequent rituals.

Inside the bridal chamber.

The red candles burned brightly.

The matchmaker sent by the palace was already waiting by the side.

There were also several relatives and friends who had a close relationship with the couple, waiting inside.

Most of them were Xu Duanyi’s relatives, and a few were from the extended family, not particularly close to Xie Qingya, but in terms of seniority, they could still be called brothers or of the same generation as Xie Qingya’s mother, Princess Liu Yuan.

Xie Ping’an and Xie Changning were absent, the reason unknown.

“Your Highness, Princess, please sit together. There are still a few rites to complete,” the matchmaker said with a smile.

Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya sat together.

The room was lively. Although Xu Duanyi still held a hand fan and hadn’t yet shown her face, she felt a little nervous inside.

The matchmaker stepped forward to continue the ceremonies.

First, the “sacrifice of the bed.”

They didn’t need to do anything for this. They only needed to sit together while the matchmaker sang a ceremonial song, scattering peanuts, red dates, and five grains, symbols of “happiness, prosperity, and many children,” gently over them and their bed.

Once the bed ceremony was finished, it was time for the “fan ceremony.”

The groom had to ask his bride to lift the fan.

This required composing a fan poem.

This act not only tested the groom’s literary talent but also allowed the bride to see his sincerity.

When Xu Duanyi heard about this ceremony, she became a little nervous.

She wasn’t worried that Xie Qingya wouldn’t be able to do it.

When he had been a companion to her cousin, he had learned from Qu Yuanfu. Though not as talented as her cousin, he was still among the best of the princes.

It wasn’t difficult for Xie Qingya to compose a poem… Xu Duanyi’s concern was whether he would be willing to do it.

Since leaving the palace, they hadn’t spoken to each other.

The matchmaker was from the palace, and she would have to report back to Aunt. Xu Duanyi was afraid…

But her worries didn’t last long before she heard Xie Qingya’s voice.

“Yet I see my beauty…”

Xie Qingya spoke.

His voice wasn’t loud, but Xu Duanyi, sitting beside him, could hear it clearly.

Every word, every line.

It entered Xu Duanyi’s ears effortlessly.

At first, she relaxed her grip on the hand fan, relieved that he was speaking.

But after understanding his poem, she unconsciously gripped the fan handle again.

“…Entangled in love, together forever.”

That was the last line of his poem.

Xu Duanyi didn’t notice Xie Qingya’s gaze directed at her at that moment. She murmured to herself softly in her heart.

But for a brief moment, she couldn’t help but want to raise her head to look at Xie Qingya beside her.

But her instinctive movement hadn’t been executed yet.

Then, she heard the voice of the matchmaker standing nearby, who smiled and spoke first: “How does the princess feel? If it’s not to your liking, we can have the prince continue.”

However, the fan ceremony should only end once the bride is satisfied.

Xu Duanyi’s initial daze finally cleared at this moment.

She couldn’t help but laugh inwardly at her momentary distraction and the fleeting thought.

This was just part of the wedding ceremony.

She didn’t even know if the poem was written by him.

Even if it was, what could it mean?

She really was being foolish.

“Alright.”

She responded softly.

There was still some nervousness in her heart; after all, it was her first time.

But the ceremony had to continue.

Xu Duanyi didn’t want to delay any further.

The fan slowly moved away from in front of her eyes, finally resting on her lap, and Xu Duanyi kept her eyes lowered, not looking up.

The flickering lights of the dragon and phoenix candles on either side reflected onto her body.

Her delicate face, illuminated by the warm candlelight, seemed to shine with a jade-like glow.

The room suddenly became lively. A group of people began to tease and laugh: “The bride is showing her face!”

Children clapped their hands, saying, “The bride is so beautiful!”

Xie Qingya had been staring ahead the whole time.

But now, he was distracted by the sounds coming from the room, and he couldn’t help but glance toward her.

This was the first time he saw her with makeup on.

Her usually gentle face, now made up, appeared to have taken on a slightly more enchanting look.

Her cheeks were a little red.

But he couldn’t tell if it was from shyness or rouge.

Xie Qingya watched that spot and felt a sudden itch in his fingers. The emotions in his eyes were concealed behind his thick eyelashes.

Xie Qingya’s fingers lightly moved.

His dark and deep gaze landed on Xu Duanyi’s cheek, and his fingers slightly lifted, as if he wanted to test and confirm what exactly it was.