Helian Jue's actions today seem somewhat hasty.
Actually, that's not the case. He had already been preparing for this on his way back to Yuezhou.
Li Lizhi's provocation only gave him a better excuse.
"Ah Yuan, I owe you a wedding night!"
"No, it's not just about our wedding night; I also owe you a wedding ceremony!"
Helian Jue gazed intently at Xie Yuan, his voice low and focused.
Xie Yuan calmed himself down a bit, raised his head, and stared intently at Helian Jue.
She didn't speak, but her eyes shone like stars.
Encouraged, Helian Jue reached out and took Xie Yuan's hand.
The two eunuchs, Duofu and Duoshou, had already received Helian Jue's instructions and were busy with the servants and young men of the Prince's mansion.
The front yard was still being cleaned up, but the back yard was already being decorated for the wedding.
The big red lanterns were lit, the big red ribbons were hung up, and the dragon and phoenix wedding candles, as thick as a child's arm, were also lit.
Duofu and Duoshou personally carried a tray, each with a set of bright red formal attire on it.
However, the one in Duoshou's hand also had a phoenix crown made of red gold inlaid with rubies and sapphires.
"This phoenix crown was meticulously crafted by artisans after I arrived in Yuezhou."
"And this dress is not the cheap imitation from the Ministry of Rites. It was made by some imperial embroiderers who were exiled to Lingnan and spent half a year embroidering it."
Helian Jue wasn't trying to show off; he just wanted Xie Yuan to know how he felt about her.
He is indeed aloof and arrogant, and it is difficult for outsiders to get close to him.
But once he takes something to heart, he will give it his all.
The glittering, dazzling phoenix crown and the exquisitely embroidered, noble and elegant dress both reflected his feelings for her.
Moreover, all of these things were prepared several months in advance.
This also proves from another perspective that Helian Jue's actions were not impulsive, but rather "premeditated."
Xie Yuan's heart was touched once again.
It is often said that women value rituals, but what women actually value even more is the importance they represent behind these rituals.
Only those you value will go to great lengths to treat you well.
Love or not, it's really obvious!
"very nice!"
The phoenix crown is beautiful, the formal attire is beautiful, and Helian Jue, with such dedication, is even better.
As evening approached and the auspicious hour arrived, Xie Yuan, dressed in a brand-new, gold-embroidered wedding gown, wearing an exquisite phoenix crown, and holding a round fan, walked into the wedding hall with Helian Jue.
Helian Chen and his secret guards, Zhao Mama and Xie Zhen, as well as subordinates such as Zhao Min and Zheng Yurong, and even Zhou Wencheng and his family were "invited" to attend the wedding ceremony.
A crowd gathered, some joyful, some moved, and others with complex emotions, watching the belated wedding ceremony.
"I bow to Heaven and Earth!"
Helian Jue and Xie Yuan knelt down in unison.
"Bowing to the parents twice!"
Helian Jue's father and mother were both in the capital, but formalities still had to be followed.
Helian Jue, being mischievous, simply brought out the imperial edict that the emperor had bestowed the marriage upon him, as well as the decree that conferred upon Xie Yuan the title of First-Rank Prince's Consort.
It was placed directly on the high table in the main hall.
Helian Jue and Xie Yuan bowed respectfully to the two imperial edicts.
Seeing this, Zhou Wencheng, whose expression had been awkward, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Well, although His Highness the King of Yue deceived the world with his disguise and stirred up trouble in Lingnan, he still respected the sage in his heart.
Come to think of it, the King of Yue had served as the crown prince for over a decade, and he always considered himself the most legitimate successor to the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Proud and noble as he was, how could he possibly become a "traitorous minister"?
good!
Very good!
As long as the King of Yue has no intention of rebelling and is willing to submit to the court, there is still room for maneuver.
While "observing the ceremony," Zhou Wencheng was also mentally preparing his speech.
He would return to the capital to write a secret memorial after the wedding banquet ended.
"The ceremony is complete!"
The wedding ceremony concluded with a shout from a renowned scholar who had been exiled and was acting as the master of ceremonies.
Helian Jue and Xie Yuan went together to the main bedroom of the main courtyard, which had been decorated as a new house.
The dragon and phoenix wedding candles flickered, and layers of bright red curtains hung.
Two figures walked in hand in hand.
...
Outside, the guests, dressed in elegant attire and surrounded by clinking glasses, created a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Blending into the crowd, Zhou Wencheng was once again astonished by Helian Jue's skillful disguise—
"The King of Yue has secretly gathered so many great Confucian scholars and famous ministers!"
Although these people were either exiled or demoted.
However, many of them were officials from the Southern Dynasties. They could not stand the debauchery and incompetence of the last emperor of the Southern Dynasties, so they wrote a memorial in anger and were exiled to Lingnan.
Many of them are not problematic in terms of character or ability.
On the contrary, they are proud and upright.
After the sage unified the North and South, he issued an edict to pardon the loyal ministers and virtuous men who had been persecuted by the last emperor of the Southern Dynasty.
Some of them returned to the capital upon being summoned, while others remained in Lingnan.
If people are unwilling, even a sage cannot force them; he can only let them roam freely among the mountains and rivers.
However, it now seems that those who refused to go to the capital were not truly carefree and indifferent to fame and fortune, but rather dissatisfied with the court's summons.
Instead of going to the capital, they came to attend His Highness the King of Yue's wedding ceremony.
As a loyal subject of the sage, Zhou Wencheng could not criticize the sage for not respecting these famous scholars enough; he could only praise Helian Jue for being "cunning" enough.
This person must have personally visited and repeatedly invited the scholar, showing him the utmost respect and dignity, before finally persuading him to come out of seclusion.
"The King of Yue is indeed plotting something big!"
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