Chapter 69 Beautiful but Unreal

The next morning, Guanju Palace became lively. The head maids of the Imperial Wardrobe and the Imperial Jewelry Office led the palace maids in, carrying phoenix robes, phoenix crowns and other items, and filed in one after another.

Yuwen Che did not attend the morning court session, but stayed to watch from the side.

"Your Majesty, please raise your hand." The two matrons carefully unfolded the bright red embroidered phoenix robe with gold thread and colorful silk, which was embroidered with phoenixes soaring through the sky and intricate cloud patterns. It was magnificent and solemn, and shimmered in the morning light.

With Fuling's help, Su Luoxue stood up and let the maids help her put on the heavy phoenix robe. Because she was pregnant, the robe was specially made loose around the waist.

Yuwen Che sat to the side, his gaze intently following her every move.

Dressed neatly, another nanny brought over the Nine Dragons and Nine Phoenixes Crown. Golden dragons coiled around the crown, and golden phoenixes spread their wings, adorned with countless pearls and gemstones, making it extremely luxurious and dazzling.

"Your Majesty, do you think this phoenix crown suits Her Majesty well?" asked the nanny of the Imperial Jewelry Office respectfully.

Yuwen Che stepped forward and examined it carefully. The phoenix crown was beautiful, but it was quite heavy. He frowned slightly: "Should the weight be reduced a bit? The Consort is pregnant and should not wear heavy objects for a long time."

The nanny quickly replied, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. This has been adjusted according to Her Highness's current condition. The inner material is lightweight, making it more than 30% lighter than the standard design. Once the main parts of the ceremony are completed, the lighter headdress can be changed."

Yuwen Che nodded and personally straightened a slightly crooked phoenix hairpin on Su Luoxue's crown.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror—a figure both familiar and unfamiliar—she felt a mix of disorientation and nervousness: "A-Che, is this... alright? Isn't it too formal?"

Yuwen Che stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders, looking at their figures side by side in the mirror, his eyes filled with undisguised amazement and satisfaction: "Very good, my Xue'er, she was born to wear this phoenix robe."

He leaned down slightly and whispered in her ear, his voice filled with laughter and encouragement: "Don't be nervous. On that day, you only need to stand beside me and receive the homage of all the officials. I'm here."

Looking into his determined gaze through the mirror, Su Luoxue's anxiety gradually subsided, and she nodded gently.

“Loosen it a little more around the waist,” Yuwen Che pointed to the waist of the phoenix robe again, “make sure it’s comfortable.”

"Yes, Your Majesty, I have noted it down," the head maid of the Imperial Wardrobe replied hastily.

After trying on the clothes, the palace maids helped Su Luoxue remove the heavy phoenix crown. Yuwen Che helped her sit down and personally handed her a cup of warm milk.

Are you tired?

Su Luoxue shook her head, leaned against him, her face filled with longing and a hint of shyness: "Ache, I just... felt like I really saw myself becoming your queen."

Yuwen Che embraced her, his tone firm yet gentle: "It's not just a feeling, Xue'er. Soon, you will be my rightful Empress, the most honored woman in this Great Zhou."

Su Luoxue leaned against Yuwen Che's chest, holding the milk he offered, and sipped it slowly. Now only the two of them remained in the hall, and the subtle unease that had been suppressed by their magnificent robes and jeweled crowns quietly resurfaced.

She was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up at Yuwen Che's sharply defined jawline, her voice soft, with a barely perceptible tremor:

“A-Che…”

"Hmm?" Yuwen Che looked down and met her watery eyes.

"Will you... always love me like this?" she asked, then, as if that wasn't enough, hurriedly added, with obvious trepidation, "In the future... in the future, will you... also favor other people?"

Upon uttering the question, she immediately lowered her eyelashes, unable to look at him, her fingers unconsciously tightening around her sleeve. She knew she was greedy; she had received all his favor, yet she still wanted it forever. But he was the emperor; having three palaces and six courtyards was the norm. Even if he only had eyes for her now, what about the future?

Looking at her cautious and anxious appearance, Yuwen Che felt no impatience, only heartache and pity. He put down his teacup, pulled her into his arms, and pressed her ear against his chest, listening to her steady and strong heartbeat.

“Silly Xue’er,” his deep voice sounded above her head, with an undeniable firmness, “I thought you already knew the answer to this question.”

He gently lifted her chin, making her look into his eyes, where her reflection was clearly seen in his deep eyes:

"I have said it before, I only want you. This is not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a promise I will keep for a lifetime."

He ran his fingertips across her slightly furrowed brow, his tone tinged with a helpless smile: "Why do you think I went against all the opinions and made you empress so early? Why did I demote or kill those unruly people? All of this I did was to tell you, and the whole world, that I love you."

Su Luoxue's tears welled up instantly, not from sadness, but from immense relief and joy.

Yuwen Che gently kissed away her tears and continued, "As for forever... I don't know how far forever is, but I can tell you that as long as I live, the only person in my heart will be you, Su Luoxue. If there is a next life, I will follow your scent to find you, just like in this life on Zhuque Street."

He held her hand and pressed it against his heart, letting her feel the warmth and sincerity within: "So, don't be afraid, and don't overthink. My heart for you is as clear as the sun and moon, and will never change until death."

Su Luoxue could no longer hold back. She threw herself into his arms, hugged him tightly, and choked out, "Ache... I believe you... I'm just... just too afraid of losing you..."

“I won’t lose you,” Yuwen Che patted her back gently, as if comforting a frightened child. “I’m right here, always here. Even if you try to drive me away, I won’t leave.”

The atmosphere in the palace was warm and tender. With the most straightforward and steadfast promise, he completely soothed the last trace of unease beneath her phoenix robes. To him, the vast empire was indeed important, but nothing was more important than the peace of mind he felt for the person in his arms.

Su Luoxue leaned against Yuwen Che's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. His heartfelt confession soothed her, but then she remembered something and whispered in his arms, her tone hesitant and uneasy:

"A-Che... I know you're good to me... but... but those sisters in the harem... they're all daughters from good families, chosen to enter the palace... If you're only good to me, isn't that... too unfair to them?"

She raised her eyes, her gaze filled with pure confusion and a hint of reluctance. The Consort De's gentle demeanor, and the other concubines she occasionally encountered during her greetings, did not seem to be evil people.

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Che remained silent for a moment. He gently stroked her long hair, his eyes deep and unfathomable, showing no displeasure at being offended, but rather a calm composure that seemed to have seen through the ways of the world.

"Xue'er," he spoke slowly, his voice low and steady, "tell me, what is fairness?"

Su Luoxue was taken aback by his question.

Yuwen Che continued, "Is it fair to me to force them to give away a portion of my heart, which I was already unwilling to give?"

He looked at her, his gaze sharpening: "For them, is it fair to stay with a husband who will never win their heart and who only visits them occasionally out of a sense of fairness?"

Su Luoxue was speechless after his question.

"When I first ascended the throne, I did give them opportunities," Yuwen Che said indifferently, with a hint of coldness that was hard to detect. "The Empress Dowager and the court officials all put pressure on me, both openly and secretly. But I knew very well what I wanted. I was unwilling and unable to feign harmony and play the role of an emperor and his consort."

He cupped Su Luoxue's face in his hands, his eyes filled with utmost seriousness: "My heart is small, it can only hold one person. It used to be empty, but now it is filled with you, and there is no room for anyone else. This is the greatest respect for feelings, and also the most direct kindness towards them in some ways."

He paused, his tone carrying the decisiveness of an emperor: "Now that they have entered the palace, as long as they behave themselves, I will guarantee them a lifetime of wealth and prosperity, and a peaceful life. This is the only fairness I can give them. As for love... that is the only thing I cannot give, and do not want to give."

He lowered his head and kissed her forehead: "So, Xue'er, there's no need to feel uneasy about this. My choice, my focus, stems solely from my heart. You don't need to bear any guilt. You just need to be my empress, loved and pampered by me, and that is the best interpretation of fairness in this harem."

Su Luoxue nestled in his arms, seemingly understanding but not quite, yet the weight in her heart quietly lifted with his words. She understood: in his world, the rules regarding emotions were personally set by him, and the sole principle was her.