Xiao Lan and Xiao Cheng moved quickly, bringing the young ladies into the Imperial Palace the very next afternoon.
Xiao Yang watched from a distance as they approached side by side.
Xiao Cheng and Xiao Lan both carried the air of military generals. They were young but stood tall and poised with a steady presence, already capable of holding their own.
The two young ladies were slightly shorter, with slim, graceful figures. Though their faces were indistinct from afar, it was clear they were not unattractive.
They walked beside Xiao Cheng and Xiao Lan with straight backs and dignified poise, a clear sign of a good upbringing.
Xiao Yang entered Zichen Palace and waited for them to be announced.
Soon, the four were announced and entered. Xiao Cheng and Xiao Lan didn’t immediately bow and step aside; instead, they waited for the two young ladies to rise before facing the Emperor’s inspection together.
For that alone, Xiao Yang was very pleased with the two men.
The sons of the Xiao Family respected women. They weren’t dismissive, even toward ladies they were merely meeting for a potential match.
Xiao Yang turned her attention to the two young ladies.
The one in a pale blue gossamer dress was Zhong Ningxue. At sixteen, she was a cool beauty, poised and proper.
She was Xiao Lan’s prospective match. Her father was the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and she had two older brothers. Zhong Ningxue had passed the preliminary stage of the imperial examinations and was currently working as a teacher for young children, preparing to take the next level of exams the following year.
The one in a daffodil-yellow dress was Tao Mulan. At seventeen, she was winsome and lovely, with bright, expressive eyes.
She was Xiao Cheng’s prospective match. Her father was a newly promoted Fourth-rank Imperial Censor from a respectable family. She had an older brother and a younger brother, both still striving to pass the imperial examinations.
‘All in all, their looks are fine, and their family backgrounds are impeccable.’
‘As for my own impression, I don’t dislike them, so they pass.’
“Are the two of you willing to enter into this marriage?”
They answered in unison, “We are, Your Majesty.”
Xiao Yang nodded. “Very well.”
Xiao Yang raised a hand, signaling for gifts to be brought forth. She was ready to conclude the meeting.
Xiao Yang was not short on funds, and as the Emperor, her gifts couldn’t be anything but lavish. She presented them each with a beautiful set of jeweled hair ornaments and a jade carving.
The two young ladies accepted the gifts and expressed their gratitude.
According to protocol, this was the moment they should have bowed and taken their leave.
“Your Majesty…”
Zhong Ningxue suddenly took a step forward, her previously cool and reserved expression now showing an irrepressible excitement.
“I…” She stammered, her entire face flushing red.
Xiao Lan filled in for her, “She greatly admires Your Majesty. She’s been bursting with excitement the entire trip.”
‘So that cool, dignified act was all for show,’ Xiao Yang thought.
Zhong Ningxue finally found her voice, her eyes sparkling and her face bashful. “I have always admired you, Your Majesty. I’ve heard so many stories about you. I… I’ve even seen you before, at the Lantern Festival.”
Xiao Yang was amused by her expression. “Yes, I am aware.”
Zhong Ningxue bowed and retreated with Xiao Lan. As she left, she clutched her sleeves tightly, looking back every few steps until Xiao Lan finally had to lead her away.
Xiao Yang thought for a moment. ‘The Lantern Festival… I think I was in disguise as a man every time.’
She raised a hand to touch her face. ‘This face of mine really is deceptive.’
‘Er… that shouldn’t be a problem, right?’
Only after they had walked a good distance did Tao Mulan finally let out a huge sigh of relief.
Glancing at the still-dazed Zhong Ningxue, she whispered to Xiao Cheng, “I barely dared to breathe in there.”
Xiao Cheng smiled. “You did very well.”
Tao Mulan couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. “I admire the Emperor too, but I didn’t dare say it. The Emperor will definitely like her more now.”
“What’s there to be jealous of?” Xiao Cheng said. “No one can guess the Emperor’s preferences. Besides, this was just the first meeting. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to see the Emperor in the future. There’s still a long road ahead.”
Tao Mulan thought of the Emperor on the dragon throne—so handsome and majestic it was almost unfair—and took a deep breath. ‘There’s still a long road ahead.’
‘I won’t be outdone. I’ll definitely do something to make the Emperor see me in a new light.’
And in the future, Tao Mulan truly did accomplish that—by giving birth to quadruplets for Xiao Cheng all in one go.
Xiao Yang was more than just impressed; her jaw nearly hit the floor.
As for Zhong Ningxue, she was still gasping for breath long after they had left the Imperial Palace.
Xiao Lan was speechless. “Was that really necessary?”
If the Emperor had been a man, he would have suspected Zhong Ningxue of having ulterior romantic motives. But the Emperor was a woman—wasn’t this level of excitement a bit much?
‘Then again,’ he thought, ‘plenty of women have fallen for the Emperor.’
Zhong Ningxue took a deep breath. “You wouldn’t understand. The Emperor is my faith.”
“If the Emperor weren’t a woman, if the Emperor hadn’t opened the imperial examinations to us, I would have been married off two years ago to pave the way for my father and brothers.”
“I can take the imperial examinations, teach young students, and walk out of my family home with my head held high, all because of the Emperor.”
Xiao Lan was a son of the Xiao Family, a trusted subject of the Emperor, and a man. How could he possibly understand what she was feeling?
But that didn’t matter.
“Take me home.”
Xiao Lan: “Now? I haven’t prepared any gifts.”
Zhong Ningxue said decisively, “That doesn’t matter. The gifts from the Emperor are more than enough.”
‘Time to exchange our horoscopes and settle the match.’
‘I am going to marry Xiao Lan!!’
Xiao Lan: “???”
‘This girl… she’s completely different from before. Why is she so fired up all of a sudden?’
—
Song Qingyi and Ye Shao’s grand wedding was held on the tenth day of the tenth month—a date specifically chosen for the auspicious meaning of its homonym, “perfect in every way.”
The wedding went off without a hitch, just as planned.
The next day, the couple entered the Imperial Palace to offer their thanks, as theirs was a unique marriage, having been bestowed by imperial decree.
Xiao Yang saw the shy yet bewitching look in Song Qingyi’s eyes and knew the newlyweds were doing wonderfully. After giving them some token gifts, she sent them on their way.
「In the Imperial Garden.」
Xiao Yang was reclining, with four palace maids massaging her legs and shoulders while two others fed her delicacies.
On the stage before her, a rotation of opera, dance, and acrobatics was performed for her eyes only.
Xiao Yanged her eyes in contentment. ‘Now this is the life an Emperor ought to live.’
The sunlight was warm, making her drowsy. Behind her, the palace maid was replaced.
The newcomer gently kneaded her shoulders before guiding her head to rest on their lap.
A familiar scent of cedarwood filled the air. She knew instantly who it was.
Without opening her eyes, Xiao Yang allowed herself to drift off to sleep.
She awoke in the same spot, but morning had turned to afternoon.
A blanket was draped over her. The person holding her was still there, but the performers had all been dismissed.
A cool breeze swept through the garden, carrying the scent of chrysanthemums.
“You have this much free time today?”
Mu Yunlian: “The past two days have been relatively quiet.”
He raised a hand to brush a strand of hair from Xiao Yang’s cheek, then leaned down and gave her a gentle peck.
“Why is Your Majesty in such high spirits today?”
Xiao Yang said languidly, “Life gets dull. I’m just trying to find a little amusement.”
Mu Yunlian’s gaze darkened slightly. “Then it is my fault for allowing Your Majesty to feel bored.”
Xiao Yang grabbed his wandering hand. “I was only joking. Behave.”
Mu Yunlian adored her exasperated yet indulgent tone. He leaned in, pulling her closer into his embrace until their noses touched. He gazed at her intently. “I find everything interesting, especially when I’m looking at you.”
Xiao Yang shot him a playful glare. “Such a smooth-talker.”
Just as Mu Yunlian leaned in for a kiss, Xiao Yang stood up. They held hands and walked toward Zichen Palace.
Standing at the highest point of the Purple City, Xiao Yang gazed at the sunset clouds. “The weather is lovely today.”
Mu Yunlian’s gaze was fixed on Xiao Yang’s face. “Mm.”
Mu Yunlian ate dinner in Zichen Palace, assuming he would be staying the night. Instead, he was mercilessly kicked out.
“…”
‘Her Majesty was so heartless… toward this face of mine. Have I gotten uglier lately? Or has she grown tired of me?’
CRACK!
It was a bolt from the blue.
The invisible thunderclap nearly split him in two. ‘No, it can’t be, can it?’
Mu Yunlian used every ounce of his self-control to resist the urge to turn around, pound on the door, and demand an explanation. Face taut, he departed in a state of existential crisis.
‘Is there some secret formula to make myself new and enticing again?’
‘Offering a high price for any suggestions.’