Chapter 63 [VIP]
With everyone's attention focused on it, the day finally arrived at the second day of the second lunar month.
This day was somewhat special for Mi Yao. With a touch of excitement, she changed into the dress that the embroiderer had rushed to make.
The outer garment, adorned with pearls and gemstones, featured wide sleeves of gold brocade, while the inner garment was a pomegranate-red, floor-length skirt with elephant and jewel patterns. A silver gauze shawl was draped over the arms.
Today, she specially styled her hair into a cloud-like bun that fully exposed her forehead, with a bright red and gold peony flower ornament on her forehead, and imperial green jadeite embellishments to adorn her eyes.
The tall, black hairpin is adorned with a golden chestnut hair ornament, and the rest of the hairpins are made of seasonal flowers: pink cherry blossoms, crabapple blossoms, and wisteria. The colors are fresh and rich yet not chaotic, and a small, delicate green willow branch is chosen to complement the design.
After using her head as a vase of flowers, Mi Yao wanted to put anything in it. She drew several sketches in advance, and only on the eve of the Shangsi Festival did she decide on one of the designs that best matched her clothes for her maid to do her makeup.
After dressing up, Mi Yao held a two-foot-long golden stalk in her hand, symbolizing a bountiful harvest.
This wasn't an old custom; it was simply because she didn't like the way she always put her hands on her maids when she dressed up for a grand entrance, so she always felt something was missing when her hands were empty.
Therefore, when thinking about clothing matching, she thought of a whisk that could be used by both hands, and after some modification, she had a goldsmith make this tasseled gold rod.
The actual product was even more beautiful than she had imagined. The craftsmanship was exquisite, the hollow design made the gold rod light, and the engraving and millet grain pattern on the rod were extremely beautiful.
Because she was satisfied with the golden whisk, she had the craftsmen make several more, in addition to the golden tassels, there were also shapes with auspicious meanings such as pomegranates and gourds.
Things are meant to be used once they're made, so not only did Mi Yao look like a goddess, but Xiao Shan and the others, besides being dressed in their finest attire, also carried things in their hands, just like her.
The maids carried bamboo baskets filled with fresh flowers.
Yu Shaoyang stared blankly at their posture for a long time: "Is this an immortal's outing?"
Zhen Jing, heavily pregnant, was among them. She had originally thought that Zhao Tianhe's favor towards Mi Yao had already aroused the jealousy of many people in Yizhou. If she were to be too conspicuous, wouldn't she become a target? But seeing Mi Yao's attire, she felt that it didn't matter if others envied her. She was determined to bask in this ethereal aura.
Holding the auspicious cloud patterned gourd, Zhen Jing raised her hand and made a demon-slaying gesture towards Yu Shaoyang: "You, a mere mortal, dare to look directly at an immortal. How dare you!"
"Fairy, please forgive me! I was so captivated by your ethereal beauty that I disturbed you in my rudeness. Please forgive me. I wonder if you are already engaged? I am twenty-two years old. If you find me pleasing, would you be so kind as to marry me?"
The opening remarks sounded pleasant, but the true colors were revealed later, quickly exposing the ugly and despicable nature of men, which was quite interesting.
Mi Yao initially watched the two bicker with a smile, but after a moment she felt the air around her getting hotter and hotter. Fearing that she would see them fighting like fairies on the couch if she didn't go down soon, she immediately moved away.
"Madam, this is an urgent message delivered by the garrison commander on horseback."
The urgency of the letter was evident from the panting messenger. Mi Yao was about to leave, intending to return to see what Xiao Chuan had to say, but upon seeing the messenger's appearance, she took the envelope from Pu Qing's hand.
Upon opening the seal, there wasn't anything urgent inside.
He began by asking about the situation at the manor, then told her that he had arrived in Jiangning and that there was no danger, so she didn't need to worry. Finally, he mentioned that he knew about her presiding over the Shangsi Festival.
"Father doesn't understand you. He sees your intelligence and wants to give you this honor. If you don't have the energy to deal with it, he will hand the matter over to Wen Sima. Father will not blame you."
After writing this sentence, Xiao Chuan thought that by the time the letter was delivered to her, the Shangsi Festival would have already passed, and then he added.
"You've worked hard. I heard the brocade here is beautiful, so I had someone send you some... Yesterday, I suddenly remembered something you said to me. You were joking, saying that you wanted to make the most of the medicine you had while I was away. We had a misunderstanding because of Lady Wang's matter before. You mentioned that you knew I was joking when I said that on our wedding night. Now, when I think back to that time, my words were really hurtful. From now on, let's not make such rude jokes to each other again."
"Wait for my return."
Seeing the last words, Mi Yao stared at the words that conveyed the awkward emotions of a young man, and smiled with a slight upturn of her lips.
It can only be said that Xiao Chuan has some ability to see the crisis through the events.
On the Shangsi Festival, he could recall the jokes they had made together, and cleverly first showed weakness, then hinted that she should behave herself.
Unfortunately, the emperor is far away and he thinks that if he changes his attitude, reflects on his actions, and apologizes, she will be grateful and want to live a good life with him. He is overthinking it.
In order to reply to Xiao Chuan immediately and anger him as soon as possible, Mi Yao took off her elaborate outer robe, rolled up her wide sleeves, and began to write.
"Xiao Lang is mistaken. I know you are joking with me, but I am not joking with you. I am an honest person who likes to speak the truth and keep my word."
The round fan was used to fan away the ink on the paper and seal the letter.
In the past, if it wasn't urgent, the messenger was told that life was more important than the message, and there was no need to rush.
Despite being travel-worn, Pu Qing said, "Madam is kind-hearted."
As for the letter, he still found a fast-moving messenger with good legs and stamina. As soon as the lady received the letter, she replied immediately, which shows how much she valued the garrison commander. How could the master's affection be delayed because of the messenger's travel time?
Mi Yao and Shao Yang were amazed. The sedan chair was carried out of the mansion. Because of the maid's unique attire, flowers were sent along the way, and onlookers gathered all the way from the Xiao mansion to the city center.
When the sedan chair landed, Mi Yao lifted the curtain, and after a few breaths of silence, someone shouted "Goddess!" Then, like dominoes, the shouts radiated outwards, and people knelt down in droves to worship the Goddess.
Mi Yao was startled by the commotion.
She loves beauty and dressing up, but doesn't want to expend too much energy attending banquets and interacting with different people every day, so she cherishes every opportunity to make a grand appearance.
This time, she thought that someone might find fault with her, just like she had done at previous banquets. But to her surprise, no one showed up; instead, she was treated like a god.
Seeing the crowd of people kneeling before her, Mi Yao felt somewhat uncomfortable, but when she noticed that some of them had tears in their eyes and were truly praying to her as if she were a deity, she did not show any fear.
After instructing her maids to scatter peonies and peach branches everywhere, she took some fragrant dew made from the flowers and herbs, dipped a willow branch in it, and sprinkled it on the people before leaving amidst their excited cheers.
"You and Chua'er are a match made in heaven."
Everyone has a love for beauty. Zhao Tianhe noticed that Mi Yao was gazing at him for a moment as if admiring something beautiful, and then he sighed.
In his view, Xiao Chuan was the most suitable person to succeed him, but that did not mean he was 100% satisfied with Xiao Chuan. For example, Xiao Chuan had an imposing presence that was different from others, but he lacked a certain approachability.
It is convincing but too cold and hard, making it impossible for people to feel its benevolence and kindness.
Thinking that no one in this world is perfect, and that in chaotic times people would find iron-blooded strength more reassuring than a gentle breeze, he abandoned his diplomatic nature of ruthlessness.
Who would have thought that Xiao Chuan would marry Mi Yao, this precious girl? As long as we focus on building up Mi Yao's image, everything that Xiao Chuan lacks can be made up for by her.
That's what made him exclaim that it was a match made in heaven.
Mi Yao had no idea that her love of beauty would make Zhao Tianhe think so much. If she had known, she would have included the accessories and clothes she wore that day in her report and asked him to reimburse her for them.
When the auspicious time arrived, Zhao Tianhe uttered a few simple words of blessing for favorable weather and abundant harvests, and then gave his seat to Mi Yao.
This was a part that hadn't been agreed upon beforehand. Mi Yao was forced into it, and looking at the excited and expectant people below the platform, she chose to continue sprinkling flower dew.
"This is celestial dew! I've never smelled anything so fragrant before. The town magistrate's wife is a goddess; she used her magic to cure our illnesses and prolong our lives..."
The people who got wet with the water droplets cheered excitedly, and it wasn't just one or two people who foolishly believed that Mi Yao was a goddess, but a whole large group of them. They regarded Mi Yao and Xiao Chuan as immortals who had descended to earth to save the world, and the couple's reputation seemed to be surpassing Zhao Tianhe's.
The Zhao family didn't know if Zhao Tianhe would become suspicious because of this, but in any case, they were not having a good time.
If only one or two people deify Mi Yao, it could only be because she is using tricks to spread rumors and create momentum. But if everyone says the same thing, then it means that the people's hearts are with her.
I only hope that after this day passes, the people will calm down and realize that Mi Yao is just a beautiful woman in disguise, and has nothing to do with the goddess.
"What a nice view……"
The elders of the Zhao family looked solemn, already thinking about how to get rid of Mi Yao a second time, when they heard a sigh from one of the younger generation.
Turning around, I saw that there was more than one junior with a dazed expression.
"She's nothing but a vixen! She's all seductive charm, only fools can fool the ignorant masses, what's so beautiful about her!"
"Father, don't talk nonsense. What if the immortals hear this and we suffer retribution?"
Zhao Balang covered his father's mouth, and after speaking, he glanced at the sky, afraid that a bolt of lightning might strike and kill his father.
Elders of the Zhao family: ...
They're actually willing to risk their lives to rebel for these monkey brats? It would be better to let Yu Nu use her magic to kill them all.
After the dew was poured on the high platform, the officials were invited to the lakeside for a spring outing and to drink wine. Some commoners also set up tents next to the officials so that they could enjoy the performances arranged by Mi Yao.
Mi Yao herself took several children to visit Xiao Chuan's subordinates.
Standing at the edge of the training ground, watching the strong and vigorous young men, shirtless, performing a set of military boxing in unison, Mi Yao couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!" in her heart and out loud.
Zhen Jing couldn't restrain herself either. Supporting her large pregnant belly, her eyes shone brightly. She was very glad that she hadn't gone with the other women to watch the Hu people dance.
This is much more exciting than Hu Nu throwing flirtatious glances.
Compared to the other two, Yan Yun was more restrained, appearing calm on the surface, though her ears were bright red. Deep down, she felt the trip was worthwhile.
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