Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, red candles burned brightly, and joyous music filled the air.
Civil and military officials lined both sides, their faces beaming with joy. At the head of the main hall, on two large sandalwood chairs covered with bright yellow brocade cushions, Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan—the current Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager—sat side by side.
Xiao Che was still dressed in a black casual robe. Although he wasn't wearing a dragon robe, his long-held authority remained undiminished, making him look like a serene jade mountain, intimidating to behold. Beside him, Lin Wanwan wore a dowager's casual robe, similar in color to the new empress's phoenix robe but more dignified in style. Time seemed to have been exceptionally kind to her, leaving few traces on her face, instead giving her a gentle and graceful demeanor.
As the Master of Ceremonies announced in a high-pitched voice, "The newlyweds have arrived—", all eyes turned to the palace gate.
Emperor Xiao Tuan, dressed in an elaborate dragon robe, led his new empress, Su Qiaohui, who wore a magnificent phoenix robe and a phoenix crown, as they slowly walked down the red carpet. The red wedding ribbons connected the newlyweds and also the future of the Great Xiao Dynasty.
On Emperor Xiao Tuan's face was an undisguised joy and the composure befitting an emperor. Beside him, his new empress, Su Qiaohui, though her face beneath her phoenix crown was slightly flushed with nervousness, walked with unusually firm steps and her eyes were clear, showing none of the shyness or unease that a typical woman would feel on her first marriage.
She is someone who has gotten to where she is today through her own talent, and this confidence is ingrained in her very being.
Looking at this perfect couple, Lin Wanwan felt a surge of joy.
Su Qiaohui's gaze, after passing through the officials, immediately landed on Lin Wanwan, who was seated high above. Her eyes were filled with boundless respect and gratitude.
As one of the first female officials in the Royal Academy of Sciences, she knew better than anyone that the prosperous era in which women could enter officialdom and earn respect through their talents was entirely due to the legendary "Goddess Empress Dowager" before her. It was she who, with her advanced wisdom and fearless courage, paved a thorny path for her and her successors that no one before them could have imagined.
Today, she stands here as the wife of the new emperor and the empress of the Great Xiao Dynasty, a result of the empress dowager's extraordinary promotion and her overruling of public opinion. This favor is heavier than Mount Tai.
"I bow to Heaven and Earth—!"
"Second bow to the parents—!"
As the master of ceremonies announced their greetings, Xiao Tuan and Su Qiaohui turned around and performed a solemn kneeling ceremony towards Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan.
"Your subject (your daughter-in-law) greets Your Majesty! Your Majesty, Mother! May Your Majesty and Mother enjoy good health, longevity, and all things going smoothly!"
Their clear voices echoed in the solemn hall.
"Rise, please take a seat." Xiao Che's voice was as steady as a bell, revealing little emotion, but Lin Wanwan, who knew him well, knew that he was in a very good mood at the moment.
Next comes the tea ceremony.
The palace maids brought forward the tea trays that had been prepared beforehand. Xiao Tuan and Su Qiaohui each took a teacup and walked back to Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan.
First, it was Jing Linwanwan.
Su Qiaohui held the teacup with both hands and knelt down respectfully: "Mother, please have some tea."
Lin Wanwan accepted the jade bracelet with a smile, took a small sip, and then took off a jade bracelet from her wrist that was entirely green and of excellent quality. She then put it on Su Qiaohui's wrist and said gently, "Good child, get up quickly. From now on, you are the mistress of this house."
The term "mistress" carried immense weight, signifying both approval and entrustment. Su Qiaohui's eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded emphatically.
Then it was Jing Xiaoche's turn.
This is the most nerve-wracking part of a new bride's visit to her parents-in-law. Especially since this father-in-law is, in legend, a ruthless and authoritative retired emperor.
Su Qiaohui took a deep breath, picked up her teacup, and turned to Xiao Che. However, when her eyes met his expressionless "poker face," her heart couldn't help but skip a beat, and her palms began to sweat with nervousness.
That's too...too serious!
She knew the Emperor Emeritus was cold and aloof, but she hadn't expected him to remain the same on such a joyous occasion as his son's wedding. Was he... dissatisfied with her? Did he feel that his commoner background meant he was ultimately beneath him?
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through her mind, and the hand holding the teacup began to tremble slightly.
Xiao Che looked at his daughter-in-law, who was stiff with nervousness, but he didn't intend to make things difficult for her. He was just... used to it. Used to maintaining the majesty of an emperor in any situation; it had almost become his instinct.
He was about to tell her to rise when he felt his son, Xiao Tuan, make a slight movement beside him.
Just as Su Qiaohui knelt down to offer tea, Xiao Tuan took a half step forward without making a sound. He seemed to be supporting her, but in reality, he quickly tapped her tightly clenched hand three times with a secret signal that only the two of them understood.
This is their usual code word when discussing academic issues at the Academy of Sciences, meaning: "Don't be afraid, I'm here for you."
Su Qiaohui's body stiffened slightly, and then a warm current came from the back of her hand, which instantly calmed her chaotic thoughts.
Immediately afterwards, she heard Xiao Tuan speak rapidly in her ear in a whisper that only the two of them could hear:
"Don't be afraid. Above Father's head... there's a bowl of 'sweet rice balls' floating. He's very satisfied."
"puff--"
Su Qiaohui couldn't help but burst out laughing, almost spitting out the "Father, please have some tea" that she was about to say.
Sweet glutinous rice balls?!
That seemingly dignified and chillingly imposing Emperor Emeritus… was actually thinking about… a bowl of steaming hot, soft, and sweet… glutinous rice balls?!
The contrast in this scene is just too great!
She abruptly raised her head, looking again at Xiao Che's poker face. This time, instead of feeling any tension or pressure, she thought that this legendary cold-faced emperor was... kind of cute?
She tried her best to suppress her laughter, forcibly pushing back the corners of her mouth that were about to burst into a grin, but her bright eyes could no longer hide the barely suppressed smile.
She steadily offered the teacup, saying, "Father, please have some tea."
Xiao Che watched as his daughter-in-law's expression shifted from tension to suppressed laughter in an instant, and his brow twitched almost imperceptibly. He was somewhat puzzled, but he still accepted the teacup, took a symbolic sip, and then handed over a jade pendant with a dragon pattern that he had prepared beforehand as a gift.
"Hmm," he replied succinctly.
However, to Lin Wanwan, who was sitting in the main seat, this scene was simply wonderful.
Although she couldn't hear what her son whispered to his wife, she was incredibly clever. Just by looking at Su Qiaohui's 180-degree change in expression and thinking about her son's amazing "golden touch" in cooking, she instantly guessed the answer.
Good lad! He actually used his "talent" to "translate" his father-in-law's inner thoughts for his wife in this kind of situation!
This is simply...cheating!
Lin Wanwan looked at her husband, who was still completely oblivious, and her heart was filled with joy. She thought that Xiao Che probably never imagined that the cold and aloof persona he had painstakingly maintained his whole life would be completely betrayed by his own son with a bowl of "sweet glutinous rice balls" in just a moment.
The "golden touch" of two generations was handed over and passed on in such a wonderful and heartwarming way at this moment.
One is looking at "emojis" expressing emotions, the other is looking at "food lists" expressing desires.
One is used to fathom the emperor's mind and survive amidst the clash of swords.
One who can soothe people's hearts and navigate both the court and the family with ease.
How similar, yet how different.
Su Qiaohui was helped to her feet by Xiao Tuan. She kept her head down, her shoulders still trembling slightly, clearly still smiling.
Xiao Che, observing the young couple exchanging glances and their clearly tense atmosphere, finally belatedly realized something was amiss. He looked at Lin Wanwan beside him, asking in a questioning gaze: What's going on?
Lin Wanwan did not answer, but instead gave him a mysterious and amused look.
Xiao Che: "..."
He felt as if he had missed something very important.
Joyful music filled the hall once more. The master of ceremonies announced the completion of the ceremony, and all the officials bowed in congratulations.
Lin Wanwan and Xiao Che looked down at the "cheating" couple who were receiving everyone's blessings. Seeing the unspoken sweet smiles on their faces, they couldn't help but smile at each other.
As time goes by, the tradition continues.
very nice.
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