The Eldest Daughter Is Beautiful and Saucy
Chapter 1014: distinguished
Chapter 1014 Noble
Things were finally going in the right direction, and Mrs. Dong could breathe a sigh of relief, but the entire capital city was busy with preparations for the empress’s wedding in three days.
In the girls’ school, Lu Baohua heard that the empress was going to get married within three days because Xiao Rongyan was seriously ill, and she was quite surprised.
Hearing the female students nearby talking about how the empress was loyal and righteous, Lu Baohua recalled the time when she and Liu Ruofu saw Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan walking side by side on the long street. At that time, Lu Baohua felt that Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan were a perfect match.
Later, when Bai Qingyan ascended the throne, she had speculated whether Bai Qingyan would still marry this businessman. After all, Xiao Rongyan was a businessman, and the position of emperor’s husband was similar to that of empress. It was mostly a royal marriage to consolidate the alliance between the two countries, or to stabilize the previous dynasty and gain the support of important officials in the court… There was no need for any real feelings.
Unexpectedly, even though Xiao Rongyan is seriously ill, Bai Qingyan still wants to marry Xiao Rongyan and give him such an honorable position as the Emperor’s husband.
Lu Baohua had once been resentful towards Bai Qingyan because of Liu Ruofu, but after hearing about this incident, he changed his mind towards Bai Qingyan.
On August 13th of the first year of Yuanhe, the mother of Dengzhou Governor Dong Qingyue, Lady Dong Lao, and Dong Qingyue’s wife, Cui, arrived in Dadu City. The Queen Mother of Da Zhou and the Empress met them at the palace gate.
Empress Dowager Dong was already in tears when she saw Old Lady Dong. When she learned that Bai Qingyan was going to get married on August 15, Old Lady Dong was even more shocked. After all, she had not heard about Bai Qingyan’s marriage when she set out from Dengzhou. She did not expect that her granddaughter would get married the day after tomorrow. If they were any later, they would not even be able to make it to the Empress’ wedding.
After explaining to Old Madam Dong the reason why Xiao Rongyan was seriously ill, Mrs. Dong and Situ Dong helped Old Madam Dong into the palace. Old Madam Dong couldn’t help but talk about Dong Changlan’s one and a half year old twins, Ang’er and You’er.
Speaking of the two children, Bai Qingyan’s second aunt Cui couldn’t stop smiling. Before, Cui was worried because she was not pregnant, but she didn’t expect that she would have two children at once, a boy and a girl. How could she not be happy?
“If the journey wasn’t too far, I really want to keep those two sweethearts with me.” Cui and Dong said this with joy in their eyes.
Dong Changyuan followed beside Cui, looking at Bai Qingyan who was accompanying Old Lady Dong and Cui all the way to the palace. He felt mixed emotions. He knew that his cousin was now the empress, and there was a huge gap in status between him and his cousin. Perhaps there were some things that were not his turn to worry about, but… Xiao Rongyan was seriously ill, and his cousin still insisted on marrying Xiao Rongyan. It seemed that Xiao Rongyan’s illness had reached the point where even the imperial doctors were helpless.
It is true that my cousin is deeply in love, but in the future…if Mr. Xiao is gone, I wonder how sad my cousin will be.
On August 15th of the first year of Yuanhe, the empress of Great Zhou married Xiao Rongyan, a wealthy businessman from Dayan, and made Xiao Rongyan her husband.
Because Xiao Rongyan was in poor health, in order to take care of Xiao Rongyan’s health, Liu Rushi eliminated many cumbersome procedures and kept the wedding simple.
After Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan accepted the congratulations from all the officials, a palace banquet followed.
This was the first time Xiao Rongyan met Bai Qingyan after entering the palace.
Empress Dowager Dong issued an order, asking Xiao Rongyan to recuperate well and not allowing Bai Qingyan to meet Xiao Rongyan before the wedding. Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyan were in the wrong first, and they did not dare to make Dong unhappy again. During these three days, Xiao Rongyan really stayed in the palace to recuperate, and Bai Qingyan also concentrated on state affairs.
Xiao Rongyan looked like a sick person, his face was so pale that there was not a trace of blood, and he needed Yue Shi’s support to barely stand, but… his overall aura had not weakened in the slightest because of his illness, and he looked like a god who was high above everyone else.
Bai Qingyan was dressed in the emperor’s robes, looking solemn and dignified. Xiao Rongyan, as the emperor’s husband, wore a Jinxian crown on his head, a brocade robe with a golden phoenix and dragon pattern, and a jade belt around his waist. After he and Bai Qingyan kowtowed to the Emperor of Heaven and burned incense, the two stood side by side in front of the incense burner covered with a red felt carpet, accepting the kowtows of all officials.
In the western sky, black gold slowly fell, flowing clouds and evening purple, and the last ray of warm setting sun illuminated the entire imperial palace of the capital city. Under the rolling clouds in the sky, the west side of the towering double-eaved palace was illuminated with warm light. The white jade steps and gold-painted column bases turned warm gold wherever the eyes could see, outlining a pair of beautiful people in formal wear on the red felt carpet.
All officials kowtowed and shouted “Long live the emperor” three times.
The two stood side by side to accept the kowtows of the officials and their families. Xiao Rongyan quietly grasped Bai Qingyan’s jade-like fingertips and whispered, “Are you tired?”
“Fortunately…” Bai Qingyan still looked solemn, and his voice was very low. “Even if we delay this day, I don’t know how many memorials will pile up.”
Xiao Rongyan lowered his eyes and rubbed Bai Qingyan’s fingertips distressedly. He wanted to say that he would help Bai Qingyan sort out the memorials after returning. But when he thought of the Queen Mother’s previous statement that he was not allowed to interfere in government affairs, Xiao Rongyan did not want to upset the Queen Mother, so he said, “Although I can’t help Abao this time, Abao can ask Taiwei Lu, Situ and Sikong to come together to deal with the memorials.”
“Speaking of this…” Bai Qingyan leaned slightly towards Xiao Rongyan and whispered, “Does Dayan still have books left by Empress Wu Ji? I want to take a look. I always feel that after reading the last volume you sent me, it seems that Empress Ji did not finish the book.”
“Yes, there are some, but… Mother once said that the ones she wrote later were too advanced for this era and would not be accepted by the royal family, so she sealed them all up. If you want to read them… I will send Yue Shi to bring them to you later.”
Bai Qingyan nodded: “Okay!”
An official saw the empress and the royal husband with their heads slightly close together and whispering. He felt that the empress and the royal husband had a really good relationship, but he couldn’t help but worry about Xiao Rongyan’s health, wondering if he could hold on.
There were also noble ladies in the capital city who secretly looked at the empress and Xiao Rongyan on high levels. When Xiao Rongyan was still a businessman, his elegant demeanor, profound knowledge, and handsome appearance had already attracted many noble ladies. If he were not a lowly businessman… he would have been a good husband.
Who would have thought that Xiao Rongyan, who once made them hesitate because of his status, has now become the high and mighty emperor’s husband.
That night, red candles with dragon and phoenix patterns were shining brightly.
Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan sat on the dragon and phoenix bed in an orderly manner. After completing the formalities, Nanny Tong stepped forward and saluted, saying, “The young lady and the son-in-law must be tired. I will take someone downstairs to prepare some water for them…”
Nanny Tong bowed again and turned to glance at the maids standing in the hall. She cleared her throat and walked out. The maids understood and bowed and retreated one after another.
Chuntao couldn’t hide her smile. She took Chunzhi and lowered the draperies on both sides of the hall hooked with golden hooks one by one, and then quietly left the hall.
First update, please …