Chaptеr 22: Тhe Emрeror Stаnds in fоr thе Wеdding Сеremоnу (Rеvised)
It wаs aсtually thе сurrent Еmpеrоr himsеlf who hаd аrrived!
Хuе Ноngуuаn immеdiatеly rushеd оut from the doorwаy, knеeling in fеаr bеfоre the Imрerial Саrriаgе, his voiсe trеmbling.
“Your subjeсt Хuе Ноngyuаn pays rеsресts tо Your Majеstу! Lоng live thе Emрeror, lоng livе, lоng livе!”
All the wоmеnfolk and guеsts inside and оutsidе thе Мarquis’s rеsidеnce, along with the surrounding onlоokеrs аmоng thе сommоn peoрle, knеlt in a dаrk, densе mass, their cries of “Long live!” shaking the heavens and earth.
“Minister Xue, rise.”
He Lian, dressed in a black robe embroidered with golden dragons, possessed a face of unparalleled handsomeness and carried the unquestionable majesty of an emperor.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the festive Marquis’s residence as he said calmly, “Huai Jin is unwell and unable to attend in person. I have come specially to stand in for him in welcoming the bride, to fulfill the rites.”
The kneeling onlookers among the common people, though not daring to look directly upon the Emperor’s face, could not help but murmur in astonishment.
For the Emperor to personally stand in for the Rui Prince in welcoming the bride—what an extraordinary honor and favor this was!
“Heavens, the Rui Prince truly has good fortune, to receive such love and esteem from the Emperor!”
Someone whispered softly, “If I were the Rui Prince, I could die right now and it would be worth it…”
“Quick, spit it out! What unlucky talk is this on such an auspicious day? If you’re heard, your head really will be gone.”
Among the crowd, Ning Jiao, who was kneeling and watching the excitement, couldn’t help but sneak a glance upward. She had actually seen a living emperor from a feudal dynasty.
What more was there to say? This life was worth it!
First, deafening firecrackers sounded, driving away evil and misfortune.
The procession marched grandly to the front of the Li Tang courtyard.
Defu, acting as the master of ceremonies today, announced loudly, “The auspicious hour has arrived. Please, the bride, emerge from her chamber—”
The door opened, and Ning Heng, dressed in a complex and magnificent bright red wedding gown and covered with a bridal veil embroidered with dragons and phoenixes in auspicious harmony, was carefully supported out by the matrons of honor.
A Chan, also dressed in red today, remained carefully protective on Ning Heng’s other side, whispering a reminder, “Elder sister, mind the threshold.”
Under the veil, Ning Heng, who had been dragged out of bed at the hour of Yin to be dressed and made up, couldn’t help but yawn.
So sleepy…
It’s just a wedding to counteract bad luck, a mere formality. Why make it so complicated?
After crossing the threshold, the matron of honor respectfully handed the other end of the red silk to He Lian.
“Troubling Your Majesty’s sacred presence to guide the Princess Consort in bidding farewell to her family.”
He Lian also felt the wedding rituals were overly cumbersome and lengthy, but today was his cousin’s major life event, and it must be pursued with perfection, without the slightest error.
So he patiently took the red silk and guided Ning Heng from the courtyard all the way to the main hall, preparing to perform the farewell-to-family rites.
A slight pulling force came through the red silk in his hand. As they walked, He Lian inexplicably felt a strange sensation in his heart.
This scene… was vaguely as if he himself were getting married.
However, even if he were to establish an empress in the future, he probably would not have such patience to personally complete the entire set of bride-welcoming rituals. Today was solely for Huai Jin’s sake.
Ning Heng patiently walked step by step from the rear courtyard to the front hall. However, today’s makeup and attire were overly elaborate, and her vision was obstructed under the veil. While passing through the moon gate, her foot accidentally stepped on a loose stone slab, and she nearly stumbled.
The matron of honor beside her exclaimed, “Princess Consort, be careful!”
A Chan instinctively reached out to support her, but He Lian reacted faster. Almost the moment she lost her balance, he had already firmly grasped Ning Heng’s arm.
That arm was solid and strong, instantly steadying her tilting body securely.
“Be careful. Watch your step.”
Ning Heng, her face covered by the veil: “…” She would like to watch, but unfortunately, her feet don’t have eyes.However, the emperor’s voice was unexpectedly pleasant—clear, resonant, and steady.
“Mhm,” she responded softly with a single syllable.
After helping Ning Heng stand upright, He Lian was about to withdraw his hand when he heard that brief reply. His movement paused almost imperceptibly.
This cool, slightly lazy voice with a nasal tone… felt strangely familiar to him.
He Lian frowned slightly.
…
In the main hall, Old Madam, Xue Hongyuan, and Liu Shi were already seated and waiting.
In the past, Liu Shi might have put on the airs of a mother, admonishing Ning Heng to uphold womanly virtues and avoid disgracing the marquis’s household.
But now, with the emperor himself present, who would dare to act pretentious at such a moment?
Suppressing her complicated emotions, Liu Shi forced out a few tears, covering the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. She rambled on, advising Ning Heng to live harmoniously with her husband, serve him well, and respect her mother-in-law, putting on the full act of a caring, instructive mother.
After a long speech, Ning Heng beneath the bridal veil grew drowsy and finally responded with just one indifferent word.
“Mhm.”
Liu Shi: “…”
A faint glint flickered in He Lian’s eyes. This woman remained consistently… aloof.
As the group reached the main gate of the marquis’s residence, the bridal attendant grew anxious, wringing her hands and sweating.
According to custom, the groom was supposed to carry the bride into the bridal sedan chair himself, symbolizing care and affection.
But now, the groom was still lying sick in bed… Could they possibly trouble the emperor to carry his future sister-in-law? That would be far too improper.
Fortunately, at this critical moment, Xue Xingyi, the eldest brother, stepped forward. Bowing to He Lian, he said, “Your Majesty, I dare to offer myself in place of Rui Prince to escort my sister into the sedan chair.”
While the groom’s cousin might not be suitable, the elder brother by blood was perfectly acceptable and reasonable.
He Lian granted permission.
Ning Heng didn’t care either way. Whoever did it was fine—the sooner it was done, the sooner she could rest in the sedan chair.
“The bride enters the sedan chair, commence the procession—”
With the master of ceremonies’ loud announcement, the bridal sedan chair was steadily lifted.
He Lian mounted his horse, and the procession band struck up the drums and gongs once more.
With the emperor personally leading the bridal procession, even though Prince Duan’s son Helian Xu and his bridal entourage had long arrived at the entrance of the marquis’s street, they could only wait at a distance.
Helian Xu had also dressed meticulously today, wearing a golden crown and bright red wedding robes. His honest, round face was filled with unconcealable joy and nervousness, looking quite festive.
Seeing He Lian’s procession approach, he hurriedly bowed from his horse, “Cousin, no—I pay my respects to Your Majesty!”
Although Helian Xu hadn’t inherited his father’s shrewdness and worldly wisdom—in fact, he was a bit simple-minded—He Lian felt that in the imperial family, lacking a bit of cunning might not necessarily be a bad thing.
He gave a slight nod in response.
Only after Emperor Jingxing’s procession had moved far away did Helian Xu breathe a sigh of relief, straightening his attire with trembling hands.
Soon, he would be able to marry Wan’er and bring her home…
“Prince Duan’s son has come to fetch the bride!”
…
Amidst the deafening celebratory music, the bridal procession marched grandly toward Rui Prince’s residence.
The front of the residence was already crowded with guests attending the ceremony and curious commoners. Upon seeing the Imperial Carriage arrive, they knelt once again.
“The bride crosses the fire basin, wealth flows abundantly into the home—” the master of ceremonies chanted the procedure loudly.
Supported by the bridal attendant, Ning Heng stepped over the blazing fire basin, her skirt trailing on the ground with each graceful step.
The auspicious hour had arrived—it was time for the wedding ceremony.The original groom was still in bed, too sickly to be helped up, so it wasn’t impossible for Emperor Jingxing to have already taken his place in welcoming the bride and now to also take his place in the wedding ceremony.
After all, brotherly affection ran deep.
“First bow to heaven and earth!”
After bowing to heaven and earth, they bowed to the Grand Princess seated in the main position. “Second bow to the elders!”
Finally, they bowed to each other, the emperor and his cousin.
The emperor didn’t need to bend his waist throughout the ceremony, merely standing like a post would suffice, but Ning Heng was already exhausted from the ordeal and just wanted to lie down on the spot.
After the third bow, Defu loudly announced, “The ceremony is complete—escort the couple to the bridal chamber!”
He Lian took hold of the red silk and was about to head toward the bridal chamber.
The crowd was stunned, and Defu was horrified, quickly speaking up to remind him, “Your Majesty!”
Taking his place in the ceremony was one thing, but surely he couldn’t also take his place in entering the bridal chamber—what would that make the prince?
Only then did He Lian seem to snap out of it, realizing what he had just been doing, as if he had been in a trance.
He then flung the red silk to the ground and stormed off, his sleeves billowing.
Ning Heng breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.
After a day of exhausting rituals, dusk had settled. The inner courtyard was much quieter than the bustling front hall, with red candles glowing brightly and the character for “double happiness” adorning the windows, yet the absence of the groom lent a certain chill to the atmosphere.
Once out of sight of the crowd, Ning Heng directly lifted the cumbersome red bridal veil.
The wedding matron was shocked and exclaimed, “Princess Consort, you… how could you lift the veil yourself?”
Ning Heng replied, “The prince is still unconscious. If I don’t lift it, who will?”
The wedding matron: “…”
Although… that was true, she could at least have waited until she entered the bridal chamber to lift it symbolically.
This new princess consort really didn’t play by the rules!
“Alright, you’re no longer needed here. Go to the front and find the steward for your rewards. I’ll go find the prince myself.”
Ning Heng had a photographic memory. Having visited the prince’s residence once before, she basically knew how to get to Lu Yun Jue’s bedchamber.
She really didn’t like being surrounded by a group of strangers, chattering and getting in the way.
Having A Chan was enough.
The wedding matron and the maids exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating. “But this isn’t proper, Princess Consort…” What bride would go looking for the groom herself on her wedding day?
Ning Heng rubbed her sore neck, strained by the weight of the phoenix crown, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
“From now on, in this prince’s residence, I am the rules. Just go.”