Chapter 35 A Hero Above Ten Thousand
Wen Miao was at a loss for words after Emperor Qian Yuan's remark. She raised her hand and lightly pinched the emperor's ear, asking in a low voice, "Do you still think you're dreaming?"
Emperor Qian Yuan nodded, a smile appearing on his face. He buried his face in Wen Miao's lower abdomen and then laughed out loud in a hoarse voice.
He laughed as he said, "It still feels like a dream."
He had thought about it for so many years, for thousands of days and nights, and now he could finally hold the goddess of his dreams in his arms and announce to the world that she was his queen, his wife.
Wen Miao felt her lower abdomen burning from Emperor Qian Yuan's touch and couldn't help but push him away, whispering, "Put me down, it's still early, we..."
She paused slightly as she spoke, and a faint blush appeared on Wen Miao's earlobes.
Although the sun was setting in the west, it was still bright and clear, not suitable for the evening's union ceremony, nor for thinking about things after the union.
Or perhaps Wen Miao was intentionally avoiding him. She was no naive girl. Seeing Emperor Qian Yuan's broad shoulders and narrow waist, and the heat and hardness emanating from his body as she approached, she felt that she could hide for as long as possible.
She had a feeling that, given the intensity and desire he was displaying, she might just have a near-death experience on the bed...
The emperor chuckled softly. He went along with Wen Miao's wishes and placed her on the ground. "It's still early. Shall I accompany the Empress for a stroll around the Phoenix Palace?"
Wen Miao nodded and agreed.
After arriving at Fengyi Palace, she had been taking off the phoenix crown and ornaments from her hair or sitting and resting. She hadn't really explored the place where she would be living for a long time, and she couldn't help but feel a little curious.
In the Great Chu Palace, the emperor and his ministers held the morning court in the Taiji Hall. Behind the Taiji Hall was the Taiji Palace, which was the emperor's sleeping quarters. Walking out of the Taiji Palace, one would find directly opposite the Fengyi Palace, also known as the Central Palace, which was the residence of the empress.
As for the twelve palaces in the east and west that were originally supposed to house the women of the inner palace, apart from the Shou Kang Palace where Consort Rong resided, the rest were all empty, and there were no other people except for eunuchs and palace maids who swept and cleaned the rooms.
Now that the new empress has been appointed, Fengyi Palace has become the only lively place in the Great Chu Imperial Court, and the entire palace belongs to Wen Miao.
The entire process, from the inside out, was overseen by Emperor Qianyuan, who ordered the palace servants to arrange everything. He was well aware of Wen Miao's preferences and tastes, so he naturally wouldn't be careless in these matters.
The main hall is large and spacious, with bright light. There are study rooms and pavilions on the east and west sides for reading, writing and painting, which are connected to the garden courtyard. There is a small kitchen, and even taking a walk takes half an incense stick's time. The sleeping quarters are exquisitely decorated and have everything you need. There are also many imperial treasures on display. Even the palace servants are very careful not to touch them.
Emperor Qianyuan led Wen Miao on a tour before returning to his bedchamber.
He said, "I originally intended to live with you in the Taiji Palace."
Upon hearing this, Wen Miao's eyes widened slightly, a hint of panic flashing in them.
Emperor Qianyuan seemed to have anticipated Wen Miao's reaction. He smiled slightly, still holding the Empress's hand in his palm, and continued, "But I was afraid you would feel uncomfortable, so I prepared the Empress's bedchamber in advance. The Phoenix Palace and the Taiji Palace are close, which makes it convenient for me to come and find you, or perhaps..."
His hand was already on Wen Miao's waist, and with a little force, he pulled her up and made her straddle his lap.
The elaborate and ornate skirt beneath the empress's gown spread out like a blooming peony, covering the coiled dragon on the emperor's robe.
He embraced the Empress in his arms, then reached out to smooth the loose hair at her temples, adding the last sentence: "...or perhaps the Empress has come to find me."
As soon as she finished speaking, Wen Miao felt Emperor Qian Yuan gently kiss her ear.
Holding the woman in his arms, the emperor pressed on, "Will the empress come looking for me in the future?"
The kiss that landed on the ear slowly moved down to the neck, burning hot yet gentle, which made the heart tremble and the spine go numb.
So Wen Miao trembled slightly, and the jade belt and pendants around her waist swayed and collided back and forth, making a few soft sounds that were not so solemn, but made people blush.
Wen Miao's breathing quickened, and she whispered, her fingertips pressed against the emperor's chest, "Yes, yes."
If she doesn't go, she'll probably be moved to the Emperor's bedroom, blankets and all.
Having received the answer, Emperor Qian Yuan was satisfied.
He did indeed prepare Fengyi Palace, and it was indeed intended for the Empress to live in, but...
Emperor Qianyuan raised his hand and gently rubbed the back of Wen Miao's neck to relieve the fatigue from wearing the phoenix crown during the day, his eyes gleaming with ambition.
He always found a way to live with the Queen.
Husbands and wives should share the same bed and the same room; this is how it should be.
...
It was not yet dark when Emperor Qian Yuan was waiting in the palace. Wen Miao followed Shi Cui and Wan Bi to the side hall to change out of her overly elaborate formal attire.
Because the wedding day was not yet over, and there was still a joint ceremony between the emperor and empress in the evening, Emperor Qianyuan was afraid that the empress's auspicious dress would tire Wenmiao, so he ordered the palace servants to prepare something else in advance. Soft bright red silk was layered on top of each other, with a simpler and more understated style, but it was still luxurious.
Inside the side hall, Wen Miao's long, thick black hair was not tied up, but gently held back with a jade hairpin, half hanging down. She had removed her earrings, bracelets, and sash, leaving only the exquisite little jade key around her neck.
When she came out, she saw that Emperor Qianyuan had also changed out of his black and red robes, and was only wearing dark red casual clothes underneath.
Naturally, Emperor Qian Yuan led Wen Miao to sit down together.
The meal was already laid out on the table, mainly consisting of light and refreshing dishes. Knowing what she was about to face, Wen Miao ate the meal with some tension. After she was about 70% full, she could no longer eat, but because of her anxiety, she was unwilling to put down her chopsticks.
Emperor Qian Yuan poured himself a cup of light tea. He ate until he was half full, then stopped eating, propped his head up, and turned his head to admire Wen Miao's eating. She was a feast for the eyes.
Seeing that Wen Miao was eating slower and slower, the emperor knew what was going on, and his smile deepened.
"It seems the Empress is going hungry for today's grand ceremony."
Wen Miao pursed her lips, feeling a little guilty, and said, "...I haven't eaten enough yet."
Emperor Qian Yuan's smile remained unchanged—it had been constant since he woke up this morning for the grand wedding—and at this moment, he leaned over and reached out his hand, which touched Wen Miao's abdomen as she instinctively leaned back.
Emperor Qianyuan said, "But I'm afraid the Empress will support herself."
Wen Miao felt as if the other party was talking to a child. She knew that no matter how much she dawdled, she would have to face it eventually. So she put down her chopsticks, avoided the emperor's gaze, and asked in a low voice, "And what's next?"
The emperor's gaze was intense, his emotions burning. "Next, it is time for me and the empress to perform the marriage ceremony."
Wen Miao: "Here..."
"No, go to Taiji Palace."
Everything he had prepared was there.
As he spoke, Emperor Qianyuan stood up, bent down and picked up Wen Miao from the embroidered stool, then weighed her in his arms. “The Empress is frail; she should be a little more plump.”
Wen Miao wrapped her arms around the emperor's neck, her wide sleeves falling back and brushing against Emperor Qian Yuan's back.
The distance from Fengyi Palace to Taiji Palace is not far. When Wen Miao stepped out of the palace gate, she discovered that a red carpet had been laid out on the road outside, extending all the way to the emperor's bedroom.
It's somewhat unconventional, yet strangely solemn.
As dusk settled, the stars twinkled.
Palace servants and guards stood at a distance; the former carried lanterns, their light dim and hazy; the latter held sword hilts, standing solemnly upright.
It was a path illuminated by everyone, but on that path were only Wen Miao and the emperor holding her.
When they had traveled more than halfway, the Grand Eunuch Xu Sheng suddenly flicked his whisk in the distance.
A tiny spark shot up rapidly, like a firefly, and in an instant, it burst into bloom like a golden chrysanthemum, illuminating half the sky and dragging countless golden threads that flowed in all directions.
This was a fireworks display suspended above the imperial city, visible to all the people of the capital.
And they were walking under the fireworks.
Wen Miao was stunned, her eyes reflecting the scattered strands of light, as if they filled the entire sky.
But Emperor Qianyuan could only see Wen Miao's figure reflected in his eyes.
He suddenly spoke up: "People all say that the emperor is above all others, and when they pray for blessings and offer sacrifices, they wish the emperor a thousand years and ten thousand years to show their submission."
Wen Miao looked over.
Emperor: "But I am a subject under the Empress's spell, therefore..."
Beneath the sky ablaze with fireworks, Emperor Qian Yuan kissed Wen Miao's lips and added with a smile—
"My empress is truly above all others."
Only after gazing at the magnificent night sky and the world returning to silence did Emperor Qianyuan carry Wen Miao across the threshold of the Taiji Palace, where he was greeted by a sea of crimson.
Emperor Qianyuan placed Wen Miao on the dragon bed covered with a red quilt. The palace servants withdrew and gently closed the palace door.
哢.
The emperor's bedroom fell silent.
Wen Miao sat somewhat awkwardly, "Your Majesty..."
Emperor Qianyuan picked up the Heqin wine and handed one cup to Wenmiao.
A red silk thread connects them; each holds a cup, their arms intertwined, their breaths almost touching.
Tilt your head back, open your lips, and drink.
The light fruit wine, which was served to Wen Miao as a substitute, went down her throat and turned into a warm current, making her cheeks even more radiant than rouge, and even her eyes were tinged with a hint of water.
Fruit wine was like water to Emperor Qianyuan, but he felt a surge of intoxication and his heart and lungs were burning hot.
Emperor Qian Yuan put down the wine cup, then suddenly rose from the couch, knelt before Wen Miao's legs, took her hand, and spoke softly:
"I would like to ask one more time—"
"Wen Miao, are you willing to marry Ji Huan, the emperor of the Great Chu?"
It was as if a string in Wen Miao's mind had been gently plucked.
She replied cooperatively, "...I'm willing."
Emperor Qian Yuan smiled. He took out a jade ring from his sleeve and carefully put it on Wen Miao's ring finger. The size was just right, fitting perfectly at the base of Wen Miao's finger.
Wen Miao's heart skipped a beat, feeling a strange sense of familiarity with this scene.
Then, he took out another one and asked, "May the Empress wear it for me as well?"
Wen Miao's eyelashes trembled as she took the jade ring, which was a size too large, and slowly pushed it onto the emperor's ring finger.
Immediately afterwards, Emperor Qian Yuan grasped her hand, and the jade rings on their respective ring fingers gently collided together, making a "ding" sound.
Emperor Qian Yuan, kneeling on the ground, looked at Wen Miao, touched her face with his other hand, and kissed the jade ring on her finger. His eyes were full of satisfaction. "From now on, we are husband and wife."
Night had fallen, and the candlelight flickered inside the hall.
"His Majesty……"
The shadow that had been kneeling below gradually covered and swallowed Wen Miao inch by inch.
The bed curtains, made of piled gauze, were rustled down, and the tassels on the hanging ropes swayed back and forth.
The layers of bright red skirt, like peony petals, were brushed aside one by one. Wen Miao, lying beside the pillow, suddenly clenched her jade-like fingers together, crumpling the brocade quilt with dragon and phoenix motifs.
Emperor Qianyuan was very gentle and patient.
When the moment actually arrived, his kiss was light and slow, seemingly unhurried, revealing a gentle tolerance and comfort in his actions.
He was fully aware of Wen Miao's nervousness and unease, so he was even more careful.
Emperor Qianyuan occasionally valued his status as emperor, because he felt that only by standing in this supreme position could he slightly reach the height of the goddess in his dreams, and only then could he be somewhat worthy of Wen Miao.
Occasionally, he would disregard the title of emperor, easily casting it aside in front of Wen Miao, like a dog wagging its tail, content as long as his wife was happy and didn't leave him.
So he tried every means to please her, to win her favor, and to be as gentle as possible, using all his words to his advantage.
Such gentleness and patience gave Wen Miao great comfort. She unconsciously drifted into a daze and relaxed her initially tense mind and body.
Or rather, as early as last winter, starting with the coma and amnesia caused by that time travel, her body had already adapted to the breath and body temperature of Emperor Qian Yuan when he approached.
The emperor was very restrained; he almost displayed the same patience he had shown when he ambushed barbarians on winter nights in the northern battlefields—except that back then the wind was biting cold, while now he was burning hot.
He kissed Wen Miao's lips, held her waist, and coaxed her in a hoarse voice:
"Call me by my name."
"Madam, Empress...may you call me by my name?"
"Miaomiao, call me."
The emperor changed his titles, pleaded, begged, and coaxed, completely disregarding his supreme status.
Wen Miao initially bit her lip, unwilling to speak, but she couldn't resist Emperor Qian Yuan's persistent advances. A mixture of unbearable discomfort and a shameful intensity washed over her, and she finally succumbed to his kisses. With the emperor's teeth marks still lingering on her lips, she spoke in a tearful, indistinct voice—
"Ji... Ji Huan..."
How can there be such wicked and shameless people in this world!
But even this title could not satisfy the greedy emperor.
He always wanted to be closer to Wen Miao, so he mischievously pressed himself against the plump and beautiful Empress in his arms, who was covered in sweat, and said that it wasn't enough; he wanted his wife to continue calling him.
They need to be more intimate, more in line with their current relationship.
Wen Miao's eyelashes were wet, obscuring the swaying bed curtains. In despair, she leaned against Emperor Qian Yuan's shoulder, hiding her flushed cheeks, and called out intermittently.
"My husband..."
It was trembling, but it also took away all of Emperor Qian Yuan's rationality and restraint.
The golden incense burner in the hall emitted wisps of blue smoke, its fragrance delicate and elegant, seemingly imbued with a lingering warmth, faintly mixed with the new empress's soft sobs, like the gentle chirping of birds in the forest.
That night, Ji Huan, who had risen from the cold palace to the throne of the Great Chu, finally embraced and kissed the goddess he had longed for in his dreams for decades.
He kissed Wenmiao's damp eyelashes and swollen lips again and again, holding the exhausted person in his arms, unwilling to let go for even an inch.
In the moments before Wen Miao fell into a deep sleep, she vaguely saw the emperor buried his face in her neck, his lips leaving a warm, damp spot, as if he were murmuring something in a hoarse voice—
"Can you remember slowly?"
"...Give me a little more time."
Let's give Ji Huan more opportunities to be noticed by Wen Miao and gradually fall in love with her.
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Author's Note: [Poor thing] The wedding night
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