Chapter 162: The Grand Wedding Begins!

The following day was the sixteenth day of the seventh month—the day of the Grand Wedding between the Empress Regnant and her Empress Consort.

Luo Wushuang rose before dawn to return to the palace. Before she left, she specifically instructed Qingdai and Yueying, who were guarding the door, to let her sister sleep a little longer. The etiquette for an imperial wedding was incredibly tedious and exhausting; she was terrified of overtaxing her.

However, the moment she departed, Shangguan Liqian opened her eyes. Wushuang wasn’t the only one feeling the pre-wedding jitters. Liqian hadn’t slept soundly either.

Soon, the thunderous chime of bells shook the sky, accompanied by the festive roar of gongs, drums, and firecrackers. The news of the Grand Wedding spread like a refreshing breeze through the sweltering summer heat.

The citizens of the Imperial Capital took it upon themselves to decorate the streets. Red silk carpeted the ground, colorful banners fluttered in the wind, and high-hanging red lanterns bathed the city in a crimson glow. A jubilant atmosphere permeated every corner.

Officials from every province and envoys from foreign states galloped into the city, eager to attend the ceremony. Anyone with half-decent information knew exactly how much the Empress Consort meant to Her Majesty. With the Empress Consort around, they felt their collective survival rate had significantly increased. Naturally, everyone wanted to witness the investiture and catch a glimpse of the Empress Consort’s heavenly countenance.

Those officials who haven’t met Shangguan Liqian yet are thinking: “I must see if she’s truly such a transcendent beauty that she could turn our wise and martial Empress into a complete fool…”

Meanwhile, the Lu Mansion had become uncharacteristically boisterous. Several young masters of the Lu family stood at the gates to welcome guests, while Lu Xuanxiao and Lu Xuanyu busied themselves in the courtyard.

Everyone wore wide grins, their feet barely touching the ground as they hurried about. There were simply too many guests; almost the entire civil and military officialdom was present. Those who weren’t at the palace trying to curry favor with the Empress were here.

Even Yang Qing, the Chancellor and head of the bureaucracy, had arrived. He was, in many ways, the direct beneficiary of the Shangguan family’s fall. No one who survived the shark-infested waters of politics was a fool; he knew that if the Empress Consort had insisted on protecting the Shangguans back then, even Her Majesty would have been hard-pressed to stop her.

Instead, the Empress Consort had not only refused to shield them but had knelt and begged Her Majesty to be impartial and just. Because of her, the Shangguan family fell smoothly, and Yang Qing rose to his current position. From that perspective, the Empress Consort was his greatest benefactor. After drifting through the bureaucracy for decades to finally achieve his ambition, Yang Qing found it impossible not to hold her in high regard.

Consequently, he hadn’t even gone to the palace this morning, choosing to come directly to the Lu Mansion instead.

Lu Xuanxiao hadn’t expected the Chancellor to arrive so early. Upon hearing the news from the front gate, he hurried out to greet him personally.

The Chancellor didn’t put on any airs. As soon as he saw Lu Xuanxiao, he offered his congratulations. “My congratulations to the General of the State—ah, no, I should call you the Imperial Father-in-law now!”

Lu Xuanxiao felt a wave of immense satisfaction at the title. Even the wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out. Who would have thought that in his old age, he would be hit by such a magnificent stroke of luck? So what if he didn’t have a biological daughter to send to the palace? He was still the Imperial Father-in-law!

Over the past few days, he had been walking on air during court sessions. Listening to his former rivals cautiously trying to flatter him was an incomparable feeling. But only now, with this title, did it feel official. As long as his beautiful foster daughter departed for the palace from the Lu Mansion today, who would dare deny his status? From this day forward, he was imperial kin.

Of course, he knew this was all thanks to Her Majesty’s immense grace, so he didn’t dare act too arrogant. He replied with humble grace, “The Chancellor overestimates me. It is all due to Her Majesty’s favor.”

After the pleasantries, Lu Xuanxiao gestured with a beaming smile. “Please, this way, after you…”

As a man of the battlefield, his voice was naturally booming. In his excitement, it became even louder, though the joy in his expression made the roar seem warm and approachable.

Yang Qing smiled and returned the gesture. “Very well, very well… After you, Imperial Father-in-law.”

As Lu Xuanxiao led Yang Qing inside, he didn’t forget to invite the newly arrived Official Li. “Official Li, please, come in!”

Official Li hurried forward with a smile, offering his own round of compliments. Soon, Lu Xuanxiao and Lu Xuanyu were surrounded by a sea of people, the air thick with lively chatter.

While the men were being flattered in the outer courts, the inner chambers of the Lu Mansion were just as busy.

Not long after Shangguan Liqian rose, the Old Matriarch arrived, accompanied by her daughters-in-law, granddaughters, and granddaughters-in-law. Since the Empress had decreed that Liqian would marry out of the Lu Mansion, they were family. There were things a young bride might not understand, and the elder women were there to provide their wisdom.

The Old Matriarch, dressed in festive celebratory robes despite her age, sat beside Shangguan Liqian, holding her hand and chatting incessantly.

“Qianqian, Grandmother knows you are a good child, but once you are married, you are no longer alone. You must learn to show mutual restraint and tolerance as wives. Her Majesty is a good child as well; she won’t do anything to break your heart. If anything happens, speak up. Discuss things together and never keep secrets… From now on, you two will be the closest people to each other in this world.”

The Old Matriarch nagged with tireless affection, her eyes crinkling into slits from her smile.

Shangguan Liqian’s face flushed slightly as she whispered, “Her Majesty is very good to me. You needn’t worry, Grandmother.”

Hearing this, the lingering concerns of the Lu family women vanished, replaced by genuine smiles. Indeed, the Empress doted on Liqian; they were perhaps worrying over nothing.

The women of the house crowded around her, offering auspicious words and presenting their carefully prepared wedding gifts. Amidst the excitement, Qingdai and Yueying entered, carrying the Phoenix Crown and the tasseled wedding robes.

The Phoenix Crown was crafted with a frame of pure red gold, engraved with intricate patterns. At its peak, a golden phoenix looked ready to take flight, every feather distinct and exquisite. Its beak was slightly parted, holding a string of translucent pearls that chimed softly with the slightest movement. Around the sides, emeralds and Kingfisher feathers were arranged in shimmering tiers, creating a dazzling display of light.

The tasseled robes were made of vibrant silk, embroidered with lifelike phoenixes and peonies. The phoenixes were captured in various poses—some singing with necks arched, others soaring with wings spread wide. The peonies were lush and vivid, their petals layered with rich, saturated colors. Together, they made the robes look magnificent, radiating an aura of supreme elegance and nobility.

Beneath the robes, the skirts fell in heavy, elegant layers, the red silk ribbons dancing slightly in the breeze.

The women gasped in awe, stepping forward to help Liqian change. Once she was dressed, they realized that even such opulent clothing served only to accentuate her breathtaking beauty.

Dressed in her bridal finery, Shangguan Liqian’s expression remained calm, yet she possessed an indescribable presence. It felt as though… this was exactly what an Empress Consort should look like.

Admiration and envy filled the eyes of the younger women, while the Old Matriarch looked on with maternal tenderness and pride.

“Qianqian, you must take care of yourself in the palace. Whenever you miss home, come back with Her Majesty for a visit.”

The Old Matriarch’s words were sincere. Liqian didn’t miss the flicker of heartache and regret in the elder’s eyes. Was she hurting for Liqian’s past hardships, or regretting that she couldn’t walk?

The Old Matriarch was truly a kind person. In fact, the entire Lu family was wonderful. From them, Shangguan Liqian felt a strange, new emotion: the warmth of kinship.

Liqian’s eyes grew slightly misty as she nodded firmly. “Rest assured, Grandmother. When we have time, Her Majesty and I will return.”

The Old Matriarch nodded and pulled her into a hug, whispering softly, “It will get better. Everything will get better.”

At this moment, the clamor outside seemed to fade away. Liqian’s heart was full of gratitude. Wushuang had given her both family and love. Now, she began to look forward to the moment Wushuang would come to fetch her. She looked forward to it very much.