Chapter 6 Welcoming Him into the Palace
Before dawn, Yuwen Che got up to change. The red casual clothes that the Imperial Wardrobe had hastily made overnight made him look less cold and dignified than usual, and he really looked like a groom waiting to marry his bride. He stood in front of the bronze mirror as the palace servants carefully tied his hair, and there was a hint of imperceptible urgency between his brows.
“Your Majesty, it’s still early.” Li Dehai served him carefully from the side.
Yuwen Che straightened his cuffs and said calmly, "Today she enters the palace, and I will go to greet my beautiful imperial concubine."
Li Dehai was startled. His Majesty was going to... personally greet her? This was unheard of according to protocol! He immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty! Absolutely not! You are of noble birth, how can you personally greet the Consort? This... this action may cause controversy, and even more so... may be dangerous!"
Yuwen Che glanced at Li Dehai with displeasure. "Stop making such a racket. Go to court first."
As if to confirm Li Dehai's words, when Yuwen Che revealed his intention to personally welcome Consort Chen into the palace during the morning court session, the entire Golden Palace erupted in chaos. Led by the Prime Minister, civil and military officials alike knelt down, tearfully pleading against it.
"Your Majesty! Please reconsider!" The old prime minister, his hair and beard completely white, kowtowed repeatedly. "Your Majesty usually travels incognito with guards protecting you, and you wear masks to avoid being detected. But today's wedding procession is grand, and the whole world knows that Your Majesty will appear at Zhengyang Gate! If Your Majesty leaves the palace again, with so many people around, there's bound to be remnants of the previous dynasty or those with ill intentions among them. If anything goes wrong, we ministers will be condemned to death!"
"Yes, Your Majesty! A son of a noble family should not sit under a dangerous roof! Please consider the well-being of the nation!"
"Although Consort Chen is favored by the Emperor, she is still a concubine. His Majesty's promotion of her is already excessive. If he were to personally welcome her, it might shake the foundation of the nation!"
The courtiers knelt and pleaded, their cries shaking the rooftops. Yuwen Che sat upright on his dragon throne, his face grim as he looked at the sea of heads below. He knew the old ministers were right; as emperor, his safety concerned the entire nation, and indeed, it could not be compromised. The intense urge to personally bring Su Luoxue into the palace was forcefully suppressed by reality.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his agitation, and said coldly, "Get up, all of you. I... grant your request."
The officials breathed a sigh of relief, expressed their gratitude, and rose to their feet.
After the court session, Yuwen Che returned to his study, his expression still displeased. He remained silent for a moment, then said to Li Dehai, "Summon Pei Xuan to the palace."
Before long, a dashing young general in military uniform strode into the imperial study. It was Pei Xuan, the heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei and General of the Cavalry. He was Yuwen Che's childhood companion, and the two grew up together. Later, Pei Xuan accompanied Yuwen Che on his campaigns, sharing life and death on the battlefield, forging an extraordinary bond.
"Your subject Pei Xuan greets Your Majesty!" Pei Xuan bowed respectfully, his voice booming.
Yuwen Che looked at him and said, "No need for formalities."
He spoke directly, "Pei Xuan, I need you to do something for me."
"Your Majesty, please give your orders, and I will gladly die for you!" Pei Xuan said without hesitation.
"Today, Consort Chen enters the palace. I hereby command you, bearing my imperial insignia, to lead the ceremonial guard and go to the Su family to welcome her, and to escort Consort Chen into the Zhengyang Gate." Yuwen Che's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight.
Pei Xuan looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief. To send a dignified General of the Cavalry, a trusted minister of His Majesty, to escort a concubine…to her wedding? This was simply… He almost doubted his ears. Wedding ceremonies were traditionally handled by members of the imperial family or eunuchs; when had it become the responsibility of a military general like him?
Seeing Pei Xuan's astonished expression, Yuwen Che walked up to him, his gaze deep: "Pei Xuan, it's not that I look down on you. Precisely because this matter is so crucial, I can't trust anyone else, I only trust you. I... value Consort Chen." He emphasized the last few words.
Pei Xuan was somewhat incredulous. He had followed Yuwen Che for many years and knew the young emperor's temperament well—cold, decisive, and almost ruthless. When had he ever shown such obvious "value" to anyone or anything? He instantly understood that this was not an ordinary conferment of a concubine title; in His Majesty's heart, this must be a genuine marriage ceremony.
He immediately composed himself, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice, "Your subject obeys the decree! I will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust!"
Meanwhile, in the Su family courtyard.
Su Luoxue didn't sleep a wink all night. At the crack of dawn, Madam Liu and the old nanny she had hired came to her boudoir. Madam Liu's eyes were red and swollen, and she held back her tears as the old nanny helped Su Luoxue with her makeup and makeup, while she rambled on about court etiquette, especially... the rules for the wedding night.
"...Your Majesty, once you enter the palace, you must be cautious in everything you do. His Majesty's favor is a blessing, but you must also know how to please him..." The old nanny's words were blunt and direct, making Su Luoxue blush. "Your Majesty, nothing else in the palace matters. Don't fight or compete... just firmly grasp His Majesty's heart. His Majesty is currently in his prime, but he only has one eldest prince. Your Majesty is favored by His Majesty, so after entering the palace, the best choice is to give birth to a son or daughter as soon as possible, preferably both a son and a daughter... While you are favored, give birth to several princes and princesses, so that even if His Majesty finds a new favorite in the future, Your Majesty will have many children and can live a peaceful life." These words made Su Luoxue's heart pound like a drum, but she could only nod stiffly.
Madam Liu, holding a comb, gently brushed her daughter's long, glossy black hair. Tears finally streamed down her face, dripping onto Su Luoxue's hair. She choked back sobs as she urged Fuling, "Fuling...from now on, please take good care of...Miss...no, Consort Chen. Your family, Master and I will treat you like family, don't worry..."
Fuling knelt down and kowtowed: "Madam, rest assured, this servant will protect Miss with her life!"
Hearing her mother's cries and admonitions, and looking at her own reflection in the mirror—a magnificent yet unfamiliar image draped in a phoenix coronet and wedding robes—Su Luoxue felt as if her heart was being torn apart. There was no turning back.
As the auspicious hour approached, the deafening sound of gongs and drums filled the air; the wedding procession had arrived. Her freedom... had ended completely at that moment.
The area outside the Su family's courtyard was already completely surrounded. The people of the capital had never seen such a spectacle before. Royal processions, golden maces and axes, banners that blotted out the sun, and the one who had come to fetch the bride, sitting high on a fine horse, was none other than the renowned General Pei Xuan!
"It's General Pei! I recognize him! He's the heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei. When His Majesty personally led the expedition, General Pei was the vanguard!"
"Heavens! To actually have the General of the Cavalry, who has followed the Emperor through thick and thin, come to escort the bride? Just who is this Consort Chen?"
"Look at that carriage! My goodness, that's...that's made of Phoebe zhennan wood, isn't it? And it's inlaid with gemstones?!"
A cacophony of voices and gasps of amazement filled the air, and the windows of restaurants and teahouses were packed with onlookers, all eager to catch a glimpse of the imperial concubine who had caused such a stir for His Majesty.
Inside the courtyard, Su Luoxue, dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, with a bright red veil covering her face, was supported by an old nanny sent from the palace and Fuling on either side as she walked step by step towards the dazzlingly luxurious red carriage.
Finally, Madam Liu couldn't hold back any longer. Just as her daughter was about to step out the door, she cried out, "Xue'er, my daughter..." She tried to rush forward, but Su Wenyuan held her tightly. With tears streaming down his face, Su Wenyuan hoarsely called out to his daughter's back, "Your Majesty... From now on... please take care!"
Su Luoxue paused, tears streaming down her face beneath her veil, but she dared not turn back, fearing that if she did, she would never be able to take another step. She took a deep breath, and at the old nanny's prompting, straightened her back and stepped out of the Su family gate. With the help of Fuling and the nanny, she boarded the carriage.
Fuling stayed close to the carriage, never leaving its side, her ears perked up, ready to obey any instructions from inside.
Pei Xuan sat upright on his horse, his gaze sharp as he warily surveyed the excited crowd. His mission today was no small matter; not only did he need to ensure a grand wedding procession, but he also had to guarantee everything went perfectly. As he watched Su Luoxue being helped onto the carriage, a complex curiosity arose in his heart towards this unfamiliar Consort Chen. What kind of woman could possibly move the cold-blooded Emperor to such an extent?
"Lift the sedan chair!" the eunuch's shrill voice rang out.
The procession slowly began, accompanied by deafening drums and music, and proceeded gracefully towards the Zhengyang Gate of the Imperial Palace. Crowds thronged both sides of the long street, with people standing on tiptoe to witness this unprecedented grand spectacle of welcoming the imperial concubine, their exclamations of wonder filling the air.
As the procession reached the Zhengyang Gate of the Imperial Palace, the atmosphere suddenly became even more solemn and dignified.
Yuwen Che, dressed in a red robe, was exceptionally handsome and had been waiting for some time. He stood on the high stone steps of the palace gate, behind him were the silent concubines of the harem arranged according to rank, as well as a dense crowd of imperial nobles, civil and military officials. All eyes were focused on the red carriage that slowly came to a stop.
As soon as the carriage came to a stop, Fuling stepped forward and carefully lifted the curtain. The old nanny helped Su Luoxue down the carriage slowly. The phoenix crown was heavy, the dress was complicated, and with her nervousness and the veil obscuring her vision, Su Luoxue felt as if she were walking on cotton.
According to etiquette, the newlyweds must step over a brazier placed in front of the palace gate to symbolize the removal of bad luck and the welcoming of prosperity.
The old nanny helped Su Luoxue, saying, "Your Highness, stepping over the fire basin symbolizes a prosperous and thriving life," and then guided her towards it. However, the wide skirt and long train became an obstacle. Su Luoxue was already nervous and uneasy; she tripped and stumbled, almost falling forward!
"Ah!" A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. A barely perceptible, cold smile played at the corners of the Empress's lips.
At the critical moment, a red figure leaped down the stone steps like a gust of wind!
Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Yuwen Che caught Su Luoxue just as she was about to fall, his arm strong and firm. Su Luoxue, still shaken beneath her veil, felt a familiar masculine scent, carrying the fragrance of ambergris, envelop her.
The next second, something even more astonishing happened—
Yuwen Che did not let go of her, but instead used his strength to lift her up horizontally! Su Luoxue almost instinctively wrapped her arms around Yuwen Che's neck.
"Your Majesty! This is unacceptable!" Li Dehai exclaimed in alarm.
The officials were in an uproar, and the concubines were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred, especially the Empress, whose eyes were practically spitting fire!
Su Luoxue was also terrified, squirming uneasily in Yuwen Che's arms, and whispered, "Your Majesty...please put me down...this is against the rules..."
"Don't move." Yuwen Che's deep voice rang in her ear, carrying an undeniable force. He carried her, steadily and with long strides, stepping directly over the brazier!
Then, ignoring the astonished gazes behind him, he turned and walked towards the Guanju Palace, carrying his veiled bride in his arms, leaving behind only a concise command:
"Return to Guanju Palace."
Li Dehai was the first to react, and quickly shouted in a shrill voice, "Let's depart—back to the palace—!"
The imperial procession and concubines, as if waking from a dream, hurriedly followed. Pei Xuan watched the Emperor's retreating figure, carrying Consort Chen away, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes, which quickly turned into deeper solemnity. The Emperor's actions had completely thrust Consort Chen into the eye of the storm.
Fuling was stunned for a moment, then immediately jogged to catch up, feeling both worried and inexplicably happy for her young lady.
Held tightly in Yuwen Che's arms, Su Luoxue's world was shrouded in darkness beneath the veil; she could only feel his strong heartbeat and steady steps. All her fear, hesitation, and grievances seemed to be shut out by this domineering yet warm embrace. Her stiff body gradually relaxed, and she even involuntarily leaned gently against his chest.
Yuwen Che sensed her subtle dependence, tightened his grip on her arm, and strode toward Guanju Palace.
At this moment, all the concubines and court officials who witnessed this scene clearly realized—this day was truly about to change. This Noble Consort Chen's position in His Majesty's heart far exceeded their imagination. The harem, and even the court, would be stirred up by this woman's arrival, creating unprecedented waves.
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