Chapter 54 Dressed in Full Regalia
The next day, before dawn, the Guanju Palace was already bustling with activity.
Yuwen Che habitually woke up at a fixed time, his arm instinctively reaching out to his side, only to find nothing. He opened his eyes and discovered that no one was beside him, only the faint fragrance lingering in the bedding.
A very faint rustling sound came from outside, mixed with Fuling's deliberately lowered voice asking, "Your Majesty, isn't this hair ornament a bit too heavy?"
Yuwen Che was somewhat surprised. He got up, put on an outer robe, and walked to the beaded curtain separating the inner and outer halls.
Su Luoxue was already sitting upright in front of the dressing table, wearing only a plain white undergarment, her long black hair cascading down. Although her face was still pale and sickly, her eyes were surprisingly bright, and she was in better spirits than she had in the past half month.
Fuling and two skillful palace maids were surrounding her, carefully helping her put on the moon-white brocade dress embroidered with gold butterflies and flowers. The dress was made of soft fabric and shimmered with a warm luster in the dim morning light. The golden butterfly and flower embroidery was so lifelike that it made her, though thin, appear even more elegant and refined.
An experienced old woman stood behind her, meticulously combing her long hair with a comb dipped in special hair oil, preparing to style it into an elaborate and elegant updo.
"Your Majesty, you look much better today. You look even more beautiful in this dress!" Fuling praised with a smile as she adjusted the silk sash around her waist.
Su Luoxue looked at herself carefully in the mirror, still somewhat uncertain: "Is my complexion still too bad? Could I use a little more rouge? And this lip color..."
“No!” the old nanny hurriedly dissuaded her, her hands still moving. “Your Highness, you are pregnant with twins now, so your makeup should be light and gentle. Using too much powder might be bad for the royal heirs. This old servant will style your hair into a smart bun and then apply a light layer of powder, which will surely make you look radiant.”
Upon hearing this, Su Luoxue had no choice but to suppress her thoughts, sit obediently, and let them do as they pleased. However, her eyes would occasionally glance at the set of dazzling filigree and gemstone phoenix crown and pearl jewelry placed in the brocade box.
Yuwen Che leaned against the door, watching the scene before him, feeling both amused and moved. His Xue'er, for the sake of today's banquet, had actually gotten up earlier than him for the first time, and was so meticulously dressing up. That hidden concern and competitiveness in her heart made him find her incredibly adorable.
He didn't make a sound to disturb them, but just watched quietly for a while until Li Dehai quietly came over with the eunuchs who were helping him change. Only then did he turn around to wash up and change his clothes.
When Yuwen Che reappeared, dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold dragons, Su Luoxue's hair was already styled. The exquisitely crafted gold phoenix crown sat securely in her hair, with delicate pearl tassels dangling from either side, complementing the pearl earrings she wore. A red-gold dragon-patterned necklace adorned her neck, adding to her regal air.
She wore only a thin layer of powder and a touch of light-colored lip rouge, which concealed her illness and highlighted her already delicate features. Although she couldn't match the rosy glow of her health, the gorgeous clothes and accessories gave her a delicate and pitiful beauty, making her uniquely charming.
She stood up, twirled in front of the mirror, her skirt swaying gracefully, then looked at Yuwen Che with some nervousness, her eyes asking, "A-Che, is this... alright?"
Yuwen Che stepped forward, his gaze lingering intently on her face for a moment, as if admiring a priceless treasure. He reached out and gently straightened a small pearl on her phoenix crown, which was slightly askew, a tender yet affirmative smile curving his lips.
“Beautiful.” He held her hand, his voice deep and resolute. “My Xue’er will surely amaze everyone today.”
Inside the magnificent palace, the lights were already on, and the sounds of clinking glasses and toasts could be faintly heard.
Most of the civil and military officials had taken their seats according to their ranks, conversing in hushed tones. The atmosphere seemed harmonious, yet a subtle tension and anticipation lingered beneath the surface. Several noble ladies who had been granted the title of First-Rank Imperial Concubine also sat regally in the women's quarters, dressed in luxurious attire and displaying dignified bearing. However, their gazes frequently drifted towards the empty throne and the high-ranking seat beside it, clearly reserved for the imperial concubines.
Everyone's thoughts, more or less, were focused on the true protagonists of today's banquet—the Consort Chen, who had not appeared for a long time and was rumored to be seriously ill and favored, and... the princess from the Northern Kingdom whose intentions were unclear.
Outside the palace gates, Princess Helian Mingzhu of the Northern Kingdom stood quietly. She had indeed dressed meticulously today; her crimson brocade dress embroidered with gold phoenixes shone like a burning flame, standing out strikingly against the backdrop of the surrounding elegant palace attire. Her crimson gold and ruby headdress shimmered under the palace lanterns, highlighting her radiant beauty and exuding a flamboyant, exotic charm.
However, this beauty now carried a hint of stiffness. She had been waiting outside the hall for a while. According to etiquette, she, as a guest, could only be formally invited in after the arrival of the Emperor and Empress, or rather, the Imperial Noble Consort Chen, who was now equivalent to a deputy empress.
Time passed slowly, and the throne remained empty. The subtle whispers emanating from within the hall were like invisible needles, piercing her pride. She could feel the worried gaze of the envoy Wuzhu behind her, and she could imagine the curious, scrutinizing, or pitying looks cast upon her by the officials of the Great Zhou and their families within the hall.
An official from the Court of State Ceremonial stepped forward and bowed to her, saying, "Your Highness, please wait a moment. His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine will be here shortly."
Helian Mingzhu nodded slightly, maintaining the demeanor of a princess, but her hands, hidden within her wide sleeves, clenched quietly. It was the Imperial Concubine again! A foreign princess, waiting here for a mere concubine?
She couldn't help but recall what she'd heard yesterday—the Great Zhou Emperor's ruthless act of betrothing a subject's daughter to a hunter. The flames of resentment and a thirst for conquest burning within her intensified. She wanted to see for herself what kind of woman Yuwen Che protected so fiercely, even at the cost of intimidating the court! Could she truly bear the weight of his unwavering devotion?
Inside the hall, several noblewomen were exchanging glances in hushed tones.
"I heard that the Imperial Concubine is unwell during her pregnancy and has not appeared in public for a long time. I wonder what will happen today..."
"Since His Majesty has allowed her to attend, things must be much better. But this princess from the Northern Kingdom... judging from her attire, she doesn't seem to be here with good intentions."
"Let's wait and see. Everyone knows His Majesty's feelings for the Imperial Concubine. This princess has probably miscalculated."
A multitude of thoughts were swirling beneath the surface. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the arrival of the two who would determine the course of today's banquet.
Finally, the clear and resonant voice of a eunuch rang out from outside the hall, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly shattering all the waiting and speculation—
"His Majesty has arrived—Consort Chen has arrived—"
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