Chapter 016 Chapter 16

"My Lord, it's time for you to step forward."

The little nobleman beside Liu Xie reminded Xie Qingya in a low voice.

He was once rescued by Liu Yi, and later arranged by the Xie family to serve the young emperor. Although he is now the young emperor's man, he still respects Xie Qingya in his heart.

Seeing that he did not move at this time, I thought that he was unhappy about this marriage.

Fearing that he would offend Empress Dowager Zhaoyu, she could not help but remind him in a low voice.

Xie Qingya said nothing, but he moved his feet.

He closed his eyes, hiding all his emotions, lowered his head, followed Liu Xie, walked forward, and greeted Empress Dowager Zhaoyu.

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu stood beside Xu Duanyi.

After paying homage to the Emperor, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu heard the young man's voice and turned her gaze to Xie Qingya.

Xie Qingya was born with a good face.

Even Empress Dowager Zhaoyu had to admit that he had a very handsome face.

He has sword-like eyebrows, star-like eyes and a tall and straight figure.

Compared with the Prince of Nan'an and the eldest son of the Xie family back then, he is even better than them.

However, the sharp sword in youth has become a piece of soft bone that cannot stand up after being immersed in spring wine and gentle countryside for too long.

It is said that the more a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, the happier she becomes.

However, the more the aunt Empress Dowager Zhaoyu looked at Xie Qingya, the more dissatisfied she became.

Although she was unwilling in her heart, she also did not want Xie Qingya to be the same as before, for she was afraid that he would come to power one day and protect the emperor from her control.

But when she saw how lazy he was, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was not happy either.

I wish I could call off the marriage right then and there.

But I can only think about it.

"The auspicious time has arrived, let's celebrate first."

After Empress Dowager Zhaoyu finished speaking, she was about to leave, but she was still reluctant to leave Xu Duanyi and held her hand tightly, refusing to let go.

Until Xu Duanyi gently shook her hand back.

Only then did Empress Dowager Zhaoyu reluctantly let go of Xu Duanyi's hand.

After Empress Dowager Zhaoyu stood at the front, the ceremony officially began.

The officials and their wives still stood on both sides.

The Empress Dowager Zhaoyu and the Young Emperor stood at the front.

Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya stood in the same place, one wearing green and the other wearing red.

This was the first time the two were so close to each other after growing up after being separated for many years.

The two people's clothes were overlapped together.

Xu Duanyi covered her face with a fan. She could not see Xie Qingya's face, but could only see the bright red wedding dress he was wearing with her peripheral vision.

But she could clearly smell the crisp pine scent on him.

In front of him was the voice of the ceremonial officer, saying auspicious words such as "Lingyuejishi". Xu Duanyi didn't know what Xie Qingya was thinking.

She only knew that her heart was beating faster.

Fortunately, this place was quite empty and the ceremonial officer's voice was loud enough, so she didn't have to worry about her chaotic heartbeat being heard by others.

I don't know how long it has been.

The ceremonial officer suddenly shouted "Bai".

This bow was paid to Empress Dowager Zhaoyu and the Young Emperor.

The formal ceremony was continued at the Prince of Nan'an's Palace, where Xie Qingya accompanied Xu Duanyi to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager Zhaoyu.

Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya knelt on the ground and bowed to the Empress Dowager Zhaoyu above them.

Wait for the master of ceremonies to shout "the ceremony is over".

Xu Duanyi was helped up by Bixi who was following behind.

She didn't see the hand that Xie Qingya consciously reached out to her the moment she stood up.

No one noticed.

The moment happened so quickly that before anyone could notice, Xie Qingya had already withdrawn his hand.

Afterwards, Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya received greetings from all the officials.

Wait until all the etiquette is completed.

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was supported by Dan Feng and came over to talk to the two of them.

Young Emperor Liu Xie followed closely behind her.

"King Nan'an."

This time, Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was talking to Xie Qingya.

Xie Qingya lowered his head slightly, pretending to be listening to a sermon.

"I only have Zhaozhao as my niece. You must treat her well. If I knew that you have treated her badly and bullied her..." Empress Dowager Zhaoyu snorted coldly before she finished her words.

But the threat in his words was already very obvious.

If it were someone else, they would probably be trembling with fear.

Xie Qingya was not afraid. He just said in a lazy voice, "Your humble servant has taken note of the Empress Dowager's teachings."

Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was even more displeased when she saw him like this.

It was only because Xu Duanyi was still there and the officials were watching that Xie Qingya was not reprimanded in public.

But she was too lazy to say anything to Xie Qingya and just continued to hold Xu Duanyi's hand.

Thousands of words, turned into one sentence: "Tell me anything you have."

When the young emperor heard this from behind, his pupils suddenly contracted.

He looked towards Xie Qingya almost subconsciously.

Seeing that he still had that lazy look on his face, as if nothing had happened and it had nothing to do with him, she lowered her eyes again and clasped her hands tightly.

The auspicious time for travel has arrived.

The departing carriage and ceremonial guard had already come ahead to congratulate them.

Even if Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was reluctant, she had to let him go.

She patted Xu Duanyi's arm and said reluctantly, "...Go ahead."

Xu Duanyi also choked up a little.

She bowed again and saluted Empress Dowager Zhaoyu, then, surrounded by Bi Xi and others, followed Xie Qingya to the carriage.

This car is very large and luxurious.

This was something that Empress Dowager Zhaoyu specifically ordered the Ministry of Supervision to rush out.

Made of red gold.

The beams are made of red sandalwood painted with vermilion.

Images such as clouds, phoenixes, and flowers are cast on the body of the car.

There are also curtains made of shark silk gauze.

Beside the carriage, guards wearing purple robes and jade-head hats were waiting, and in front of the carriage stood more than a dozen palace maids dressed very gorgeously and holding flowers in their hands.

And music officials.

Behind them were the accompanying soldiers.

Later, Xie Qingya will sit inside with Xu Duanyi and meet the people along the long street.

The two walked in silence all the way to the side of the carriage.

Xu Duanyi stopped beside the sedan chair. She was wearing a ceremonial dress and a heavy phoenix hairpin, and it was difficult for her to move. She was waiting for Bixi to come forward and help her onto the sedan chair, but unexpectedly a hand suddenly reached out from her side.

That's a very nice hand.

Strong and powerful, with long fingers.

This hand had taken her on horseback rides, climbed trees, and scaled walls, and it had also saved her from death.

But this familiar hand also had many scars that she had never seen before.

Xu Duanyi stared at it under the fan in a daze.

Xie Qingya didn't know what she was thinking. He just saw that she didn't reach out her hand, so he thought she didn't like it.

He pursed his lips and acted as if nothing had happened.

I subconsciously wanted to take my hand back.

The original extension was a subconscious action, and now it was just retracted.

Xie Qingya also withdrew his gaze.

But just when he was about to withdraw his hand.

Xie Qingya was suddenly shocked.

Her thick eyelashes trembled twice.

Xie Qingya looked down again and saw that his hand was gently held by Xu Duanyi's soft and boneless hand.

Her gentle and soft voice also came to my ears.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."