Xie Junlin and her gazes suddenly met.
Staring into those clear, bright eyes and glancing at her graceful figure, Xie Junlin thought to himself that although the fan concealed the bride’s face, those captivating eyes alone were enough to convince anyone that she was a beautiful young woman.
Xie Junlin calmly took one look and prepared to avert his gaze.
After all, this was his subject Ling Zhao’s bride. He wouldn’t rudely stare at her—just a brief glance to see if her appearance matched well with Ling Zhao was sufficient.
But just as he lowered his eyes to politely avoid any impropriety, his mind suddenly buzzed, and he felt dazed for a moment.
Out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to see the radiant sunset glow swirling behind the bride. Within that glow, a small, blurry figure appeared—a child whose features were unclear, dancing joyfully and rushing happily toward the bride.
In the hazy light, as the child rushed toward the bride, it turned its dark, shining eyes to look at him.
The sounds of gongs, drums, and music faded from his ears, replaced by a ringing buzz. He seemed to hear the child’s soft, sweet voice calling out to him…
Imperial Father…
Imperial Father…
Each adorable and melodious call pierced through the mist, reaching directly into Xie Junlin’s mind, leaving him in a daze.
No child had ever called him Imperial Father.
These calls made his heart burn with an unsettling warmth.
Unwilling to only glimpse such a beautiful scene from the corner of his eye, he immediately raised his gaze to look intently at the girl and the sunset behind her!
But when he focused and stared, all those blurred visions instantly vanished.
There was no child dancing joyfully in the sunset.
Nor was there any soft, sweet voice of a child calling him Imperial Father.
In the blink of an eye, the cheerful sounds of gongs, drums, and music flooded back into his ears like a tide, completely shattering the illusion he had just witnessed.
It was as if he had returned to reality from the clouds.
All he could see was the bride standing alone outside the threshold. The sunset glow wasn’t swirling, and there was no child at all.
It seemed that what he had just seen was nothing but madness, a delusion of his own making.
Xie Junlin silently watched as the bride, completely unaware, lifted her foot to step over the threshold and followed Xiao Lingzhao step by step toward the hall where the parents sat.
His fingers tightened fiercely on the armrests of his chair.
What had just happened to him?
Why had he suddenly seen such an illusion? Had he gone mad with longing for a child? Why, upon seeing another couple marry, would he envision a child rushing toward the bride?
Even if this bride were pregnant, the child she bore would be Ling Zhao’s. How could he have heard the bride’s child calling him Imperial Father?
He must be insane.
Not only did he dream at night of his own consorts becoming pregnant, but now he was even dreaming in broad daylight, imagining another man’s bride giving birth to a child who would call him Imperial Father!
“…”
Xie Junlin pinched his palm, suddenly disgusted with this version of himself that constantly yearned for a child. How could an emperor, dignified as he was, become so crazed over the desire for an heir?
He lowered his gaze to the hem of his robe, not daring to look at Ling Zhao and the bride.
He didn’t dare let anyone know about the illusion he had just witnessed, afraid they would think he was harboring unclean thoughts about another man’s bride!
As Xie Junlin guiltily lowered his head to avoid suspicion, Xiao Lingzhao and Shen Yuanwei had already reached the parents in the hall.The Wedding Matchmaker stepped forward with a beaming smile, holding a handkerchief, and bowed to Old General Xie Junlin and Old Madam—
“I am Madam Cui, a renowned bearer of complete blessings from all the surrounding villages. My husband’s family has four generations living together without a single absence, and my maiden family is the same. Both sides of our families are harmonious, and I have given birth to eight children—four sons and four daughters, forming four perfect pairs!”
“Today, I am honored by Old General and Old Madam’s trust in inviting me to dress the bride and preside over the wedding ceremony. I sincerely pray that the heavens bestow upon the bride and groom the same good fortune granted to me, so they may live in harmony and be blessed with both sons and daughters!”
“Now, with everything ready, let the bride and groom prepare for the wedding ceremony!”
Old General and Old Madam nodded with smiles.
They glanced at the bowed head of Xie Junlin and tentatively asked, “Your Majesty, shall Ling Zhao and the bride proceed with the ceremony?”
Xie Junlin responded softly, “Yes.”
Seeing Xie Junlin with his head lowered, Old General assumed he was tired and hurriedly urged the Wedding Matchmaker to proceed.
The Wedding Matchmaker cheerfully took her position at the front and announced in a clear, resonant voice—
“Bride and groom, bow to heaven and earth! Maids, quickly assist the bride to face the entrance!”
“First bow to heaven and earth!”
As the Wedding Matchmaker’s voice rang out, Xie Junlin, who had been keeping his eyes downcast, slowly raised his head.
He watched as Xiao Lingzhao and the bride, with their backs to him, knelt and bowed to heaven and earth.
From his vantage point, he could clearly see the bride’s profile, which the fan could not entirely conceal.
She was indeed a delicate and beautiful woman.
A perfect match for Ling Zhao.
But…
Why did he see such unrealistic visions on this complete stranger? Why did he hear a child calling him Imperial Father?
Those calls of “Imperial Father” were so clear, so sweet and tender—it didn’t feel like a daydream at all. It was as if the heavens were giving him a hint, as if the ancestors were manifesting to guide him…
As if this woman could bear him a prince…
Xie Junlin stared intently at Shen Yuanwei, lost in thought, and failed to notice that she and Xiao Lingzhao had already completed the bow to heaven and earth and turned toward him.
Thus, his deep, dark eyes fixed directly on Shen Yuanwei, and she caught him in the act.
Shen Yuanwei met his abyss-like gaze and felt her heart skip a beat.
Oh no…
Why is the Emperor staring at me like that?
Has he discovered my good pregnancy constitution and started paying attention to me?
But that shouldn’t be possible—can something like fertility be seen with the naked eye?
Shouldn’t it only be confirmed after sharing a bed and conceiving a child?
It can’t be that he can tell just by looking, can it? That’s too mystical!
Yet, thinking of the power of the Mysterious Light Orb, Shen Yuanwei grew uneasy.
If that orb could transport her through time, bring her back to life, and grant her such a special constitution, then making the Emperor aware of her good pregnancy constitution wouldn’t be difficult, would it?
Shen Yuanwei clenched her palms tightly.
Heavens, please don’t play such a trick on me!
She still wanted to enjoy a few good years with her handsome, loyal, and adorable husband by her side. Please don’t let that dog Emperor set his sights on her now—don’t let him ruin her happy life or forcibly seize a subject’s wife!
Not daring to meet the Emperor’s frighteningly dark eyes, Shen Yuanwei silently raised her fan higher, covering her own eyes and blocking everything from view.
“…”
Xie Junlin only snapped out of his reverie when he heard the call for the “Second bow to the parents.”No sooner had he regained his composure than he noticed Ling Zhao’s bride looking at him. Then, timidly, the bride raised her fan higher, blocking their line of sight.
Xie Junlin was momentarily taken aback before realizing—had the bride noticed him staring and cautiously used the fan to shield herself from his gaze?
He had been secretly watching another man’s wife and got caught red-handed.
A wave of embarrassment washed over him, yet he couldn’t help feeling vaguely amused.
Did Ling Zhao’s young wife mistake him for some lust-driven fiend? Was that why she was guarding against him like this?