Chapter 472: Uproar Among the Officials, Bridal Chamber and Wedding Candles

She lifted her gaze to find someone standing before her.

’How could the Emperor mess up at the final moment?!’

The court officials burst into an uproar.

Qingwu almost cried out in alarm.

Emperor Wu Su had actually stepped down from the dais to welcome her.

The Emperor was supposed to remain on the high dais and wait for her to come stand beside him.

A broad, lightly calloused palm appeared before Qingwu. In front of all the court officials, she had no choice but to place her hand in his.

With a firm pull from Zhao Mingyan, Qingwu was drawn along by his strength, and together they ascended the nine-zhang-high dais.

Li Yuzong, beaming brighter than a sunflower, unfurled the imperial edict in his hands.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims—"

Li Yuzong’s voice echoed throughout Jiyin Hall.

"To the Lady of the Ji Family: you embody filial piety and virtue, your fine name a testament to your character. Your gentle brilliance outshines the mountains and rivers. Nurtured in a noble house, your grace is a model for all. Bearing great virtue within the royal palace, your excellent reputation has long been known. By this decree, the Lady of the Ji Family is named Empress Mingde and is hereby bestowed the Empress Golden Seal and Treasure."

This edict sent shockwaves through the assembled officials.

Qingwu only half-understood it. The language was far too ornate, and she couldn’t tell what part had so affected the civil and military officials.

Li Yuzong bowed and stepped forward, saying with a cheerful laugh, "Empress, please accept the golden book and golden treasure."

Qingwu received the gold treasure and the golden book with both hands. The gold treasure was a gold, dragon-knobbed seal with a yellow ribbon, and the words engraved on the golden book were the very edict Li Yuzong had just proclaimed.

Qingwu read it carefully from beginning to end, her gaze finally resting on the single word ’Mingde’.

Her pupils constricted.

Mingde...

Ming...

’That’s part of Emperor Wu Su’s name!’

Throughout history, an emperor’s personal name has been a strict taboo, never to be spoken or written directly.

But this word, ’Ming,’ had been bestowed upon her as part of her title.

Such a public display of affection, one that disregarded all convention, made Qingwu’s hands tremble. A large, warm palm steadied hers, helping her secure the items she held.

"You can’t drop these," Zhao Mingyan said with a low chuckle.

He gestured with his chin, and Li Yuzong quickly stepped forward to take the tray holding the golden book and golden treasure.

Then, the ceremonial music suddenly quickened its pace.

Qingwu froze for a moment. ’Are we already at the next stage?’

She hadn’t even knelt to give her thanks.

There had been far too many breaches of protocol in this wedding ceremony. The officials were still reeling from the issue with the Empress’s title; her failure to give thanks was a minor matter in comparison.

Zhao Mingyan took her right hand. They stood together, facing the court officials below the dais to accept their obeisance.

This time, Qingwu could clearly see the officials’ expressions. At the very front, Prince Yong was frantically winking and making faces at her. She couldn’t bear to look at the fool and quickly averted her gaze.

Lu Juan, who stood at the head of the civil servants, looked utterly distracted.

Since Lu Juan had overseen most of the arrangements for the imperial wedding, the back of his official robes was soaked with sweat, and his head was throbbing.

He was mentally calculating how he would deal with the Imperial Censorate if they decided to raise a fuss tomorrow over the Emperor’s impatient descent from the dais and the Empress’s title being a breach of protocol.

Only Duan Mingfeng’s reaction was normal. He wore an expression of blessing, with a faint hint of envy in his eyes.

*

After the ceremony, a banquet began in Jiyin Hall.

Under Aunt Fanghua’s guidance, Qingwu arrived at the Empress’s bedchamber, Chening Hall.

Her taut nerves could finally relax, and only then did she feel her back begin to ache.

Worse still was the five-jin phoenix crown on her head. It not only made her neck sore, but it also felt like a tightening circlet, leaving her head spinning.

Her graceful composure from before the court officials vanished. She leaned against the headboard of the bed and asked pitifully, "Aunt Fanghua, can this phoenix crown be taken off now?"

Fanghua chuckled. "Empress, you must wait for His Majesty to return. Only after you have shared the wedding wine may you remove your hairpins and jewels and change out of your wedding robe."

Qingwu asked wearily, "Where is His Majesty?"

Fanghua smiled. "His Majesty is still in Jiyin Hall. Shall I send someone to hurry him along?"

’The Emperor is feasting with his court officials. If I send someone to rush him, especially tonight of all nights, it would make me seem terribly impatient.’

Qingwu said, "Let’s wait a bit longer."

The words had barely left her lips when Little Dongzi entered the hall, announcing cheerfully, "This servant pays his respects to the Empress!"

Qingwu roused herself and asked, "What is the matter?"

Little Dongzi replied, "On His Majesty’s orders, this servant has brought over a few of the better dishes from the banquet. His Majesty has been thinking of you, Empress. He said that you should eat first so you don’t go hungry."

Aunt Fanghua and all the Palace Attendants in the hall began to laugh.

Qingwu felt her ears grow hot.

Fanghua accepted the food container and asked, "Thank you for your trouble. If I may ask, how much longer until His Majesty arrives? The Empress wishes to prepare to receive him."

Little Dongzi said, "His Majesty has already left his seat."

Qingwu asked in surprise, "He left his seat? Where did he go? Will he be much longer?"

Just then, Li Yuzong’s announcement rang out from outside the hall: "His Majesty, the Emperor, has arrived!"

Qingwu had just risen to her feet when the Emperor strode into the bedchamber, the jade beads at his waist chiming with a clear, crisp sound.

Emperor Wu Su had already changed his clothes into a robe of the same style and color as Qingwu’s wedding robe, except his was embroidered with coiling dragons and auspicious clouds.

It was the first time Qingwu had ever seen him in bright red. With his distinguished air and unparalleled good looks, she suddenly felt her mouth go dry.

Whether it was a reflection from the red silk or because he had been drinking, she thought his face seemed flushed, and his eyes held a crimson glint.

Zhao Mingyan dismissed everyone in the hall, but he remained standing by the edge of the room, doing nothing but stare at her.

His gaze made Qingwu’s face burn. She walked over to the table where the dishes were laid out. "Your Majesty, would you like to eat some more?"

The two sat facing each other at the table. Qingwu moved her chopsticks only once to eat a piece of pastry, then set them down as the sweet taste faded from her lips.

No one could eat in peace while being stared at with such a predatory gaze, especially when her head still ached from the weight of her golden crown.

Qingwu extended a fair wrist and picked up a wine cup. ’Once we drink the wedding wine,’ she thought, ’I can finally change my clothes.’

She was about to hand one to him when she realized the two Dragon and Phoenix Cups were bound together at the base by a gourd vine fashioned from gold wire.

Zhao Mingyan said, "Come here."

Qingwu walked around the table to his side and set down the wine-filled Dragon and Phoenix Cups.

Before him was her girdle, woven into a lover’s knot and adorned with red jade. Even through several layers of wedding clothes, her waist looked impossibly slender.

Zhao Mingyan’s eyes darkened a few shades.

Qingwu, wanting to coax him into finishing the wine as quickly as possible, took his arm and placed it around her waist.

She lifted a leg and sat herself unceremoniously on his sturdy lap.

Qingwu wrapped an arm around his neck and brought the Dragon and Phoenix Cup to his lips.

"Your Majesty."

Zhao Mingyan didn’t part his lips. His dark eyes grew deeper, as if to gauge just how far she would go.

Qingwu shifted against him, urging him to open his mouth, but he merely arched a brow, a smile touching his eyes.

A desire to conquer this man’s sealed lips surged within Qingwu.

She shifted to straddle his lap. Her gaze fell to the rich, mellow wine in the cup, and she gently touched her lips to it.

Her vibrant red lips were instantly moistened.

She pressed closer against him and whispered sweetly in his ear, "Mingyan."

"This wine is so sweet."

"Don’t you want a taste?"