Chapter 326 Imperial Noble Consort

Huo Ting's body was quickly disposed of, and the chaos in the capital was swiftly quelled under Xu Xiuyuan's decisive and efficient control.

Huo Lin did not immediately hold a triumphant ceremony, but instead returned to the palace to handle urgent government affairs and stabilize the court.

Three days later, everything settled down.

Inside Weiyang Palace, a bustling scene unfolded.

Jiang Huan, dressed in elaborate and solemn imperial concubine court attire and wearing a four-phoenix crown adorned with pearls and gemstones, stood before a huge bronze mirror as palace maids made the final adjustments to her appearance.

The court robe was made of bright red with auspicious cloud patterns embroidered in gold thread. It was magnificent and solemn, but also heavy, making it hard for her to breathe.

Looking at her elegant and graceful figure in the mirror, she felt somewhat dazed and couldn't help but mutter to herself.

"This outfit is so heavy! I feel like my neck is going to break."

"And this makeup, isn't it a bit too heavy? It looks like she's about to go on stage to perform a grand opera..."

"Is Huo Lin trying to exhaust me by making such a big fuss?"

Upon hearing this, the palace maids serving nearby couldn't help but lower their eyes and chuckle softly, covering their mouths.

At this moment, Huo Lin walked in slowly. He was already exceptionally handsome, but now, with the imperial crown and robes, he appeared even more majestic and imposing.

The palace maids immediately knelt down, holding their breath.

Huo Lin waved his hand, signaling them to leave.

He walked behind Jiang Huan, looked at her through the bronze mirror, his gaze deep and focused.

"Are you ready?" His voice was deep and gentle.

Jiang Huan met his gaze in the mirror and pouted, "I said I'm not ready, can I not go?"

A faint smile flickered in Huo Lin's eyes as he gently straightened the slightly crooked tassels of her phoenix crown, his movements meticulous.

"No." He answered decisively, but his tone was indulgent. "If you don't go, I'll be all alone."

She deserves to share this glory with me.

[Let her stand at the highest point, so that everyone can see clearly that she is my only Imperial Noble Consort. Let's see who dares to look down on her or criticize her then.]

Hearing his domineering yet somewhat childish declaration, Jiang Huan felt both amused and helpless, yet a sweet feeling also welled up in her heart.

"Okay, okay." She turned around, looked up at him, and deliberately sighed, "It's just that this outfit is too heavy. Don't blame me if you can't walk later."

Huo Lin looked at her feigned aggrieved expression, reached out and held her hand, his palm warm and strong.

"It's alright, I'll hold your hand."

[As long as she doesn't mind, I'll carry her on my back or in my arms.]

His hands are very steady, which is reassuring.

The auspicious hour has arrived; bells and drums resound in unison.

In front of the main hall, on the plaza paved with white marble, civil and military officials stood solemnly according to their rank, with banners waving and a grand procession.

Huo Lin took Jiang Huan's hand and stepped up the stairs one by one.

Sunlight shone on the two of them, making the gold threads on the emperor's robes and the imperial concubine's court dress gleam like gods.

Jiang Huan could feel countless gazes falling on her, some with awe, some with curiosity, some with scrutiny, and perhaps even with hidden jealousy.

She took a deep breath, tried to straighten her back, and maintained a proper posture, but her palms were slightly sweaty.

Huo Lin seemed to sense her nervousness, tightened his grip on her hand slightly, and whispered, "Look at me, don't be afraid."

His voice was low, only she could hear it, yet it strangely calmed the turmoil in her heart.

Jiang Huan turned her head to look at his resolute profile, her heart settled, and her steps became much more steady.

Finally, they reached the highest point, turned around, and faced the dark mass of officials below.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Imperial Noble Consort! Long live the Imperial Noble Consort!"

The deafening roar of worship echoed through the heavens.

Everyone knelt down in unison, their foreheads touching the ground, to show their submission.

Huo Lin stood on the high platform, his gaze sweeping over the prostrate subjects at his feet, his eyes filled with disdain.

He held Jiang Huan's hand tightly, bringing her to his side and proclaiming her status to the world.

Standing beside him, Jiang Huan felt a mix of emotions as she witnessed the awe-inspiring scene of everyone bowing down to her.

She wasn't fascinated by this feeling of supreme power, but standing beside Huo Lin and facing everything with him gave her a strange sense of belonging.

The lengthy and solemn investiture and court ceremony proceeded one by one.

Jiang Huan maintained a dignified demeanor throughout, but the heavy phoenix crown on her head, the heavy court robes on her body, and the fatigue from standing for a long time gradually made her feel somewhat strained.

The sunlight shone directly down, reflecting a scorching heat onto the ground of the square in front of the palace, and the air seemed to become stuffy.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, her breathing became slightly rapid, and her vision began to blur. The shouts of the officials seemed to come from a very distant place.

It's so heavy and hot. When will this ceremony end?

No, we have to hold on. There are so many people here; we can't let Huo Lin down.

She secretly pinched her palm hard, trying to stay awake.

As Huo Lin was receiving congratulatory messages from the officials, he keenly noticed the unusual behavior of those around him.

He glanced to the side and saw that Jiang Huan's face was somewhat pale, and her lips were also a bit pale. Although she was trying her best to hold on, her body swayed slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Why does she look so pale?

[Is he tired? Or is this court robe too heavy?]

[Damn it, I was so focused on making her look good that I forgot she's been traveling all this way and has only just recovered.]

His heart tightened instantly, and disregarding the ongoing ceremony, he immediately reached out and put his arm around her waist, taking most of her weight with him.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Jiang Huan wanted to shake her head and say she was fine, but as soon as she opened her mouth, a strong sense of dizziness suddenly struck her, and the scenery in front of her began to spin and turn black.

She quickly bit her tongue, and the sharp pain instantly brought her back to her senses.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to stand firm: "It's okay, it's just that the sun is a bit strong and I've been standing for a while."

Huo Lin frowned, the worry in his eyes not dissipating.

[He said he was fine, but his hands were so cold and his face was frighteningly pale.]

This ceremony was too long; she shouldn't have been forced to endure it.

It would be better if this ended soon.

He subtly adjusted his posture so that she could lean more against him, while Wang Degui secretly gave him a wink.

Wang Degui understood immediately and signaled the Master of Ceremonies to speed up the process.

The time that followed felt exceptionally long for Jiang Huan.

She was holding on with all her might, maintaining her composure, but the cold sweat on her forehead was increasing. The scene before her eyes was sometimes clear and sometimes blurry, and Huo Lin's tight grip on her hand seemed to be her only support.

Finally, just as Jiang Huan felt she was about to reach her limit, the lengthy ceremony came to an end.

"The ceremony is complete!" the master of ceremonies called out in a drawn-out voice.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan breathed a sigh of relief, and the dizziness she had been suppressing instantly overwhelmed her.

She felt all her strength drain away, her vision went black, and she slumped forward.