Chapter 55 The Future Queen
As soon as the announcement was made, everyone's eyes turned to the entrance of the hall.
At the palace gate, the wind and snow, carrying a chill, rushed in, and two figures walked side by side through the snow.
Yuwen Che was dressed in a black dragon-patterned robe, without a crown. His dark hair was tied up with a jade hairpin, with a few strands fluttering slightly in the wind. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his expression cold and dignified. However, his actions were completely different from this coldness—he held the woman beside him tightly with one hand around her waist, and raised the other hand to shield her from the oncoming wind and snow with his wide sleeve, almost completely protecting her petite figure in his arms. His posture was one of undisguised tenderness.
The one he held so tenderly in his arms was none other than Consort Chen, Su Luoxue. She was wrapped in a snow-white fox fur cloak, the soft fur trim around the edge of the hood making her small face appear even more delicate. Although she was not heavily made up and her complexion was still somewhat pale, under the brilliant lights of the palace, her moon-white robes and dazzling phoenix crown shone brightly, giving her a cool and noble radiance, like a magnolia blooming in the snow, fragile yet exquisitely beautiful.
Both of them were covered in unmelted snowflakes, walking out of the wind and snow, as if they were isolated from all the noise and cold of the outside world, forming their own world.
This scene was more impactful than any words. The emperor himself escorted them, walking side by side, their posture intimate and natural, like the most ordinary loving couple.
Following closely behind the dazzling couple were the other concubines of the harem. Regardless of their rank, they all respectfully bowed their heads and followed behind, maintaining a perfectly respectful distance, not daring to overstep their bounds in the slightest. Although their clothes were also magnificent, they paled in comparison to the two figures in front of them.
Consort De was also among them, dressed in dignified imperial robes, her expression calm and gentle, one hand tightly holding the hand of the young Crown Prince Yuwen Hao. Yuwen Hao seemed a little shy, his little hand gripping his mother's fingers tightly, his big eyes curiously looking at Consort Chen, who was being carefully protected by her father, the Emperor.
Helian Mingzhu stood by the palace gate, watching Yuwen Che, with an almost instinctive protective posture, walk past her with the woman in his arms, not even glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. All of that man's attention, all his tenderness, was focused on the person in his arms.
The crimson brocade dress she had painstakingly chosen now seemed so contrived and ridiculous in the face of this natural intimacy amidst the shared snowstorm. She felt like a superfluous decoration, completely ignored.
Yuwen Che escorted Su Luoxue straight to the throne, carefully helped her remove the snow-covered cloak, and helped her sit down in the seat beside him. Then he turned around, his black robes brushing against the throne, and sat down steadily.
His gaze was like lightning, sweeping across the crowd below and taking in the various expressions on their faces. Finally, his cold gaze seemed to casually sweep over the Northern Kingdom princess, who stood frozen in place.
"Let the banquet begin."
As soon as Yuwen Che sat down, his gaze fell on Su Luoxue's still somewhat pale face beside him, and his brows furrowed slightly.
"Li Dehai".
"Your servant is here." Li Dehai bowed quickly.
"Go, move a heater and place it next to the Imperial Concubine, making sure she doesn't get cold," Yuwen Che ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Yes." Li Dehai immediately gestured for the eunuch to do so.
“And another thing,” Yuwen Che continued, his voice not loud, but clearly carried throughout the quiet hall, “first bring some snacks, something light and not greasy. Also prepare some sour fruits.”
"This servant obeys the decree." Li Dehai replied again, understanding that this was all prepared according to the Imperial Concubine's current appetite and health.
Just as the palace servants were quietly busy carrying out the emperor's orders, Princess Helian Mingzhu of the Northern Kingdom and the envoy Wuzhu seemed to have recovered from the shock of the emperor and empress's unity just now. They hurriedly walked into the hall and bowed respectfully.
"Helian Mingzhu of the Northern Kingdom pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Zhou!"
However, Yuwen Che on the throne seemed not to hear and did not immediately call out. He even turned his head slightly and asked Su Luoxue in a low voice, "Are you cold? Why are your hands still so cold?" He then took her hands and warmed them in his palm.
This silent neglect was more embarrassing for Helian Mingzhu than any reprimand. She maintained her bowing posture, feeling as if everyone in the hall was staring at her back like needles.
Just as the atmosphere became so tense it seemed to freeze, Li Dehai, who was standing below the imperial steps, stepped forward and, in a voice neither too loud nor too soft, with the smoothness and authority characteristic of a palace steward, reminded him:
“Princess of the Northern Kingdom, envoy, according to the etiquette of our Great Zhou, after paying homage to His Majesty, you must also pay respects to the Imperial Concubine.”
These words struck Helian Mingzhu like a resounding slap across the face. She abruptly raised her head, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief, humiliation, and fury. She, a legitimate princess of the Northern Kingdom, was to pay homage to a concubine of the Great Zhou?! Even if this concubine held a position equivalent to a secondary empress!
The envoy Wuzhu's expression also changed, but seeing the emperor's indifferent profile on the throne and the knowing yet scrutinizing gazes of the surrounding Zhou officials, his heart sank. He knew that the Zhou emperor was establishing rules and making his stance clear. This Consort Chen would likely become empress sooner or later.
He quietly tugged at Helian Mingzhu's sleeve, signaling her to be patient.
Helian Mingzhu's chest heaved violently, her nails digging deep into her palms, almost drawing blood. Looking at the woman whom Yuwen Che had so carefully protected, now quietly receiving the emperor's care, a surge of intense hatred and resentment almost burst from her chest.
But under the watchful eyes of everyone, in front of the Northern Kingdom delegation and the officials of the Great Zhou, she could not be disrespectful, much less ruin her brother's plans.
She forcefully suppressed her surging emotions, almost gritting her teeth, turned towards Su Luoxue, and knelt down again, her voice trembling slightly:
"Helian Mingzhu of the Northern Kingdom pays respects to... Consort Chen."
This time, Yuwen Che's gaze finally swept over indifferently, but he still didn't speak.
All eyes were on Su Luoxue.
Su Luoxue felt the gazes converging on her, especially the Northern Kingdom princess's gaze, which was both humiliating and sharp. Her fingers, resting in Yuwen Che's palm, twitched slightly. She looked up at Yuwen Che and saw him nod slightly to her, his eyes filled with encouragement.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her slight nervousness, and tried her best to make her voice sound calm and dignified: "Princess, you have come from afar, there is no need for such formalities, please rise."
Her voice was soft and gentle, yet it carried a natural air of authority, a confidence born from being pampered and honored.
Helian Mingzhu straightened up, her face extremely pale. From the moment she stepped into the palace, she had been completely outmatched at this banquet. Meanwhile, the Imperial Concubine Chen, without even uttering a word, had already won over the entire room simply by sitting quietly.
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