Chapter 261: Crown Prince
All the officials and ladies in the audience were speechless for a long time, looking at the girl beside the empress. At this moment, her beautiful appearance had become an embellishment, and her identity and the favor bestowed on her by the emperor had become the most dazzling glory.
Countless people were envious. What a good life it was. After being lost from a noble family, he was adopted by a more noble person. Not only that, this noble person didn't have his own children.
When thinking about the early death of Xiao Yuluan's biological child, the parents in the audience could fully imagine the kind of love that the adopted child received from the emperor.
Xiao Ji's chin was almost raised to the sky, like a proud phoenix. Even if he caught the envy and ridicule of others, Xiao Ji didn't care at all.
They were all jealous of him, jealous that he had such a good wife. At the same time, he was constantly feeling grateful in his heart, grateful that God had given him this fate, allowing him to marry Qingwu.
Not only was Xiao Ji surrounded by envious gazes, but Xi Jianan, standing among the officials, felt that the gazes from all around him were extremely complicated, with envy, jealousy, inquiry, and even a bit of indescribable sourness, which almost burned holes in his brand new court robes.
He tried his best to maintain composure on his face, even with a hint of just the right amount of honored respect, but his fingers in his sleeves were slightly curled up, and sweat oozed from his palms.
His heart was in turmoil. Who could have imagined that the itinerant doctor who left without saying goodbye, unwilling to be supported by the Xi family, was the princess who defended the country? Who could have imagined that the princess would become the emperor?
Xi Jianan was both delighted and terrified. He recalled the schemes of Zheng and his other daughter, and a cold sweat broke out on his back. If he hadn't been impartial and just... the Xi family would have been doomed by now.
While feeling relieved, Xi Jianan felt even more desolate. His wife and other children were actually selfish and shameless. As a result, even though the Xi family had such extraordinary wealth, half of it was gone...
This sadness, like autumn rain, silently soaked into his heart. It also made him more cautious, and from now on, Qingwu would be the leader in all matters concerning the Xi family.
If Xi Jianan was feeling a mixture of joy, fear and sorrow, then Song Yunhe, who was hiding in the viewing group, had a pale face, his body swayed, and he could hardly stand.
Song Yunhe only felt a buzzing in his ears. The dazzling figure on the imperial steps and the empress's extremely clear words were like red-hot irons, burning his heart fiercely.
"I personally raised her... treated her like my own granddaughter... taught her poetry and literature, taught her martial arts, and taught her how to conduct herself in society and govern the country and benefit the people..."
Every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting him so hard that his soul trembled.
It turned out...it turned out that during the ten years when she disappeared, she was not displaced and helpless as he imagined, but was taken care of by the most noble and capable woman in the world, who taught her everything!
What she has learned and seen is a pattern and wisdom that most men in the world cannot achieve!
He had once despised her for being "unlearned," "uncultured," and "unfit to be a mistress"... but now it seemed that he was the biggest joke! Blind and clueless! Stupid!
What he abandoned was not some country girl but a priceless jade carved by the emperor himself, containing the universe!
And what did he choose? He chose Xi Qingtong, the selfish, unfaithful Xi Qingtong who only knew how to sing and dance?
"Pearl...fish eye..."
He muttered to himself unconsciously, his face was pale without a trace of blood, and his body was shaking slightly uncontrollably. He was only able to stand steadily because the people beside him subconsciously helped him.
Song Yunhe subconsciously turned his head to look. Who else could it be but Xu Zhuangyuan standing next to him?
There was a blatant mockery on Xu Zhuangyuan's lips. In the past, Song Yunhe would have retorted, but now he didn't even have the energy to refute angrily. Endless regret instantly wrapped around his heart like a poisonous ivy, almost suffocating him.
What had he missed? What future could he have had? One wrong step, another. He had severed the stairway to the heavens with his own hands, forever nailing himself to the pillar of shame.
His life would be firmly bound to Xi Qingtong. He would be the son-in-law of the Xi family, but he would not receive any support from the Xi family. He might also be the brother-in-law of the future emperor, but he would be looked down upon. If he had not agreed to the exchange... then he would really be Yun Zhonghe now...
Song Yunhe didn't dare to look up at the shining figure on the imperial steps. He felt that the glory was like a sharp sword that was about to pierce him.
It's over... everything is over.
Not only his career, but his life has become a huge joke since the moment he made the choice.
However, Song Yunhe heard the verdict again in his daze.
On the high platform, the empress's calm and majestic voice once again clearly spread throughout the audience. Every word was like thunder, exploding in his ears:
"...The country cannot be without a ruler for a single day, nor can it be without an heir for long. Prince Zhao, Xiao Ji, is my great-nephew. He is benevolent, filial, intelligent, and gifted in both civil and military matters, making him worthy of inheriting the throne. From this day forward, he is appointed Crown Prince and takes the throne of the Crown Prince!"
Everyone's eyes turned to Xiao Ji. He took a step forward and stood at the foot of the Danbi. His posture was respectful, but it did not hide his natural grace.
However, Xiao Yuluan's words were not yet finished. Her gaze fell back on Qingwu beside her, this time with a noticeably gentler tone than before:
"My personally raised disciple is from a distinguished family, has a virtuous character, and is worthy of Kun Yuan. From this day forward, she is appointed as the Crown Prince's Consort, and will inherit the family lineage with the Crown Prince!"
Seeing that Xiao Ji was still standing at the bottom of the steps, respectfully not taking a step forward, Xiao Yuluan's eyes showed a little more smile, and a gentle breeze blew on him.
"Why isn't the prince coming forward?"
Xiao Ji looked up in surprise, and was stunned for only a moment, then immediately stepped onto the jade steps with his court robes. He looked at the crimson figure on the high platform, approaching the sun in his heart step by step.
My dear, here I come.
Finally, Xiao Ji, dressed in a crimson royal royal uniform, arrived on the platform and stood on the left rear side of the empress, with Qing Wu on the right rear side, accompanying the emperor on his left and right.
At this moment, all the ministers realized how gorgeous Xiao Ji Qingwu's wedding dress was. The dazzling red color was no less dazzling than the wedding gown, no, it was even more noble and dazzling.
The red color is no longer an ordinary festive color, but a supreme color that is imbued with power and the future.
All the officials and ladies bowed their heads again, this time with less hesitation and more confidence and awe:
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you! Your Highness the Crown Prince! Your Highness the Crown Princess! Long live your Majesty! A thousand years!"
The sound was like a tide, sweeping through every corner of the square. Amidst this deafening worship, Xiao Ji turned his head slightly and looked at Qing Wu beside him.
Just at this moment, Qingwu was also looking at him.
Their eyes met, no words were needed, each other's figure was reflected in each other's eyes. At this moment, they had made up for the regret of not having married together.
Is there any better wedding ceremony in the world than this?
All of this was given by grandma. The two of them looked forward together. In front of that thin but tall figure, there was a grand scene of hundreds of officials kneeling and worshipping. It was also - their future.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
