Chapter 462 Phoenix Coronet and Embroidered Robe

The atmosphere in Weiyang Palace was unusually different the day before the investiture ceremony. Before dawn, Jiang Huan was gently awakened by the palace maids.

She sat up sleepily and found the hall brightly lit. Led by Granny Chang, two rows of palace maids and eunuchs stood there, each with an irrepressible look of excitement on their faces.

"Your Highness, it's time to get up and do your hair." Granny Chang stepped forward, her face flushed with a rare excitement.

Jiang Huan rubbed her eyes, somewhat puzzled: "Why so early? Isn't the investiture ceremony tomorrow...?"

Granny Chang smiled mysteriously: "Your Highness, there is also an important matter to attend to today. Please rest assured and leave it to us old servants to serve you."

Jiang Huan wondered to herself, what important event could require her to get up and dress before dawn?

She yawned, like a delicate doll, surrounded by a group of people, bathing, scenting, changing clothes...

Layer upon layer, so complicated it made her scalp tingle.

A faint commotion could be heard outside the hall, as if countless people were moving about, and the sound of ceremonial music was approaching from afar.

"What's going on outside?" Jiang Huan couldn't help but ask.

As Granny Chang straightened her elaborate sash, she smiled and reassured her, "Your Highness, please be patient, the auspicious time is almost here."

Auspicious time? What auspicious time?

Jiang Huan was full of doubts, but looking at herself dressed up in the mirror and the mysterious yet expectant eyes of the palace servants around her, she decided to suppress her curiosity.

By the time I finished dressing, it was already broad daylight.

Granny Chang carefully placed the heavy nine-dragon and four-phoenix crown on her head, and then picked up a red veil embroidered with dragons and phoenixes.

Jiang Huan: ? ? ?

Wait a minute! A veil? This isn't the ceremony for bestowing the title of Empress.

When an empress is conferred a title, she wears a phoenix crown and receives the imperial seal. There is no reason for her to wear a veil.

"Granny, this..." She was about to speak when Granny Chang had already covered her head with the veil.

"Your Highness, the auspicious time has arrived, it's time to get up." Granny Chang's voice was filled with laughter as she helped her up.

Jiang Huan was filled with doubts and could only be helped out of the inner palace step by step by Granny Chang and the palace maids.

She was led to a phoenix palanquin, and the palanquin began to move. In her ears were solemn ceremonial music and the clamor of the crowd, and it seemed that countless people were following her.

What's all this secrecy about? This is such a grand affair.

What tricks is Huo Lin playing? And this veil... something's not right, something's very wrong!

The sedan chair traveled for a long time before finally stopping.

She was helped down from the sedan chair and stepped onto the red carpeted ground. People on either side supported her as she walked forward step by step.

The surroundings were quiet, with only solemn music and footsteps.

Then, she heard her father's voice, which was trying to remain calm but couldn't hide his excitement, her mother's suppressed sobs, and even her brother's barely audible laughter.

Parents? Brother? What are they doing in the palace? And why are they here in this kind of setting?

Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat, and a guess came to mind.

Then, she heard more familiar voices: Princess Mingzhu's chattering exclamations, He Ling's whispers, and Prince Huo Yunxing's lazy teasing...

Almost all of her relatives and friends came; this was by no means an ordinary court ceremony.

She was guided through a series of rituals, stepping over a fire basin, crossing a saddle... it was exactly the process of a traditional folk wedding.

Jiang Huan's heart pounded faster and faster, her fingertips trembling slightly. She seemed to know what Huo Lin was about to do.

She was led to the center of the hall and stood there. The surroundings instantly fell silent, and even the music stopped.

A pair of familiar black boots, embroidered with an exquisite five-clawed golden dragon pattern, came to a steady stop in front of her, just a step away.

The crisp, refreshing scent of ambergris, mingled with the warmth of the sun, quietly permeated the air, instantly enveloping her with its powerful presence.

Then, a loud and solemn voice rang out.

"The auspicious time has arrived, the newlyweds are in place."

She was guided to stand side by side with Huo Lin.

"First bow to Heaven and Earth—"

Huo Lin gently squeezed Jiang Huan's hand, then turned around with her and bowed towards the palace gate.

[Heaven above, Earth below, I, Huo Lin, here today, offer the empire as my dowry, and the world as my witness, to marry Jiang Huan.]

She has entrusted her life to me, to spend these years in the deep palace together. I will give my all to protect her throughout her life and grant her a lifetime of joy.

In this life, we will never betray each other.

Jiang Huan bowed in response, listening to his sincere and rambling words, and couldn't help but smile from under her veil.

This fool actually secretly prepared such a wedding.

"Second bow to the parents—"

The two turned around, and although Jiang Huan couldn't see them, she could sense that someone was sitting directly in front of her.

She guessed that there must be memorial tablets for her parents, Huo Lin's deceased parents, and perhaps also respected elders from the royal family as witnesses.

They bowed down again.

[Father and Mother, if you can see my spirit in heaven, I am now married. She is the one I have chosen, and she will walk hand in hand with me for the rest of my life to protect this country.]

[Mother, if you are watching from heaven, you would surely love her too.]

Jiang Huan was moved and bowed down earnestly as well.

"Husband and wife bow to each other—"

The two turned to each other and bowed to each other for the third time.

This time, their heads almost touched.

Through the veil, Jiang Huan could almost feel Huo Lin's hot breath and the joy that was about to overflow.

[It's done. The wedding ceremony is over. She is now my lawfully wedded wife.]

[Quickly, shouldn't we lift the veil next? I can't wait to see her; this veil is really in the way.]

Hearing his impatient words, Jiang Huan's lips curved into a smile, and her anticipation reached its peak.

"The ceremony is complete—send them to the bridal chamber!" the master of ceremonies announced once more.

Amidst the joyous noise and blessings, Huo Lin held her hand tightly and led her towards the newly decorated wedding hall.

The bridal chamber was crowded with royal relatives and close ministers who had come to make a ruckus. Although she couldn't see them, Jiang Huan could feel the strong blessings and joy.

Huo Lin took the jade ruyi from the palace maid, took a deep breath, and gently lifted the veil under the smiling gazes of everyone.

The red hue gradually faded, and bright light, the festive red filling the room, and Huo Lin's incomparably handsome face slowly came into Jiang Huan's view.

[It's been lifted up! It's been lifted up!]

[She looks absolutely stunning today. That phoenix coronet and embroidered robe... I'm at a loss for words. In short, she's the most beautiful woman in the entire world, unmatched by anyone.]

Will she like this surprise? Will she think I was too abrupt?

[Why is my hand trembling a little? Steady! Huo Lin, you are the emperor!]

Jiang Huan was both surprised and delighted to see his seemingly calm but actually frantically scrolling through his screen. Her nose tingled and her eyes instantly reddened.

She recalled that when she first transmigrated, she became his concubine. Although he later enjoyed her favor, the sense of ceremony of becoming husband and wife was always lacking.

She thought she would never have the chance to experience it, but he never expected that he would remember it all this time and make up for it in this way the day before she was to become empress.

"You..." She opened her mouth, her voice choked with emotion, unsure of what to say.

Huo Lin panicked when he saw her reddened eyes.

[Oh no, she's crying! Does she not like it? Did I mess this up?]

Didn't those old fogies in the Ministry of Rites say that women all like these kinds of ceremonies? Were they lying to me?

What should I do? Is it too late to apologize?

He nervously leaned forward, awkwardly explaining, his tone cautiously ingratiating.

"We didn't have a proper wedding ceremony back then, but today I'm making it up to you. Heaven and earth are our witnesses, our ancestors are our witnesses, and all our officials are our witnesses. From this day forward, we are husband and wife, sharing the same bed in life and the same grave in death."

He paused, his ears turning slightly red, a little embarrassed: "You...you're willing?"