"So you find it lively too? It seems to be getting interesting," Feng Xie said, his attention fixed on the chessboard, ignoring Nangong Yue's taunts.
"Your wedding is in three days. Why aren't you happy?" Nangong Yue asked lazily, his slender, jade-like fingers brushing his dark hair.
"Don't mention it. Say another word and I'll change my face," Feng Xie's handsome face turned cold. He was the stern and domineering type, while Nangong Yue was the gentle and effeminate kind, the sort of man one couldn't bear to harm.
"Then don't come to me for a game whenever you're upset. You need to concentrate on chess, understand?" Nangong Yue extended his hand and, with a snap, checkmated Feng Xie. His handsome face also showed impatience.
Wasn't it always this emperor who sought him out when he was troubled? And he could change his expression so easily. Fine, let him. He preferred peace and quiet.
"You?" Feng Xie gritted his teeth, his face tightening. A storm brewed in his eyes. This damned man always found a way to mock him, yet he couldn't do anything about it, because he hadn't broken any laws.
"Alright, if you have something to say, say it. If not, I'm going for a stroll."
Nangong Yue stood up as he spoke. Feng Xie flashed forward, his large hand sweeping towards Nangong Yue. "Sit down," he commanded coldly, "You're not going anywhere."
Nangong Yue sat down with a helpless expression. What could he do? Feng Xie was the emperor, and he wasn't.
"The late emperor's edict confuses me greatly. I can't understand why he insisted on making that ugly woman my empress. Originally, I thought it might be the work of my maternal uncle, the prime minister, and my mother. But when the late emperor passed away, he could have betrothed Liu Si to me. Instead, he betrothed an ugly woman to me. Now, it's not just a matter of beauty, but why did the late emperor do this?"
Feng Xie spoke with confusion. His face, usually calm, now flashed with sharp intensity. What he wanted most was to clarify this matter.
If he couldn't figure this out, he wouldn't be able to depose the empress and make that ugly woman his empress for life. He simply couldn't accept it.
"I believe the Empress Dowager should know about this. Why don't you ask her directly?" Nangong Yue frowned, looking at Feng Xie with incomprehension.
"If she were willing to say, she wouldn't have produced this edict on the day of the selection. She would have informed me first," he wouldn't be foolish enough to ask his own mother. Would she tell him?
They had already quarreled with their own son over that ugly woman. Would she reveal the truth of that year? Feng Xie's eyes suddenly filled with a chilling intensity. But don't think he couldn't find out.
"Actually, why are you in such a hurry? Now that this matter has surfaced, it will eventually come to light. If the emperor dwells on it, he'll only lose his way and it won't be conducive to analyzing the situation," Nangong Yue, who usually spoke little, actually said so much this time. After speaking, he fell silent again.
This sentence made Feng Xie suddenly enlightened. That's right, the matter had surfaced, and it would come to light sooner or later. Why was he in such a hurry?
He should have known the principle of responding to changes with constancy. His handsome features seemed to float as the knot in his heart loosened.
"Alright, you can go for your stroll. I need to attend to state affairs."
Nangong Yue's beautiful phoenix eyes widened, then narrowed into slits. He knew that emperors were the most heartless. As soon as he was used, he was dismissed. He snorted coldly and drifted away. Feng Xie behind him didn't know why Nangong Yue was angry.
"What's wrong now? Didn't he want to go for a stroll himself?"
Because the emperor had come to his senses, the palace became peaceful. Coupled with the Grand Eunuch Jiang Cheng's protection of Liu Liu, the vast harem fell silent for a time.
Today was the emperor and empress's wedding day. The sky was clear and cloudless, a pure azure. Sunlight cast myriad golden rays. The Imperial Observatory declared it an auspicious day.
Early in the morning, Liu Liu was pulled up by two young maids for makeup and dressing. She was tired and sore all over. Looking at the pile of gifts before her, she couldn't help but frown slightly.
It seemed her aunt doted on her niece, showering her with so many gifts. Huaqing Palace was filled with them, and even the Grand Eunuch Qing'an from Cining Palace was left to help.
However, it was fortunate to have Qing'an; otherwise, many things wouldn't have been completed smoothly as they understood nothing. And the emperor had not sent any court ladies from beginning to end.
Although she knew the emperor detested her, and she didn't particularly like him either, this was, after all, a major joyous occasion in life.
Liu Liu still felt a sense of loss. Her most beautiful moment was ending so hastily. She reached out her fair hand and touched the luminous pearl on the phoenix coronet. Ninety-nine smaller pearls surrounded the larger one, making it exceptionally dazzling.
Liu Liu turned and looked at herself in the bronze mirror. Even with makeup, it couldn't hide the blood-red birthmark on half of her face. Thinking of the disgust in Feng Xie's eyes, she suddenly felt annoyed.
They were destined to be a mismatched couple, so why insist on being tied together? Who was responsible for this? Seeing Cui'er about to place the phoenix coronet on her head, she reached out to stop her.
"Let's wait a moment."
"Your Highness, the auspicious hour is almost here. The emperor will come to pick you up in his imperial carriage. This is the rule of Tianfeng. How can Your Highness not wear the phoenix coronet?"
According to the rules of the Tianfeng Dynasty, on the wedding day of the emperor and empress, the emperor must ride a nine-dragon-carved imperial carriage and circle the palace once, receiving the congratulations of ministers and servants. Then, the emperor and empress would ascend a high platform, and the emperor would personally lift the phoenix veil from the empress's head, receiving the homage of civil and military officials. A banquet would be held for three days, celebrating with the subjects.
Seeing that the auspicious hour had arrived, Cui'er and Qiao'er were anxious that their mistress still hadn't put on the phoenix coronet, wringing their hands. They quickly ran to find the Grand Eunuch Qing'an, who soon arrived.
"Your Highness, please put on the phoenix coronet. The auspicious hour has arrived. Xiao'anzi and Xiaonianzi are waiting for the imperial carriage outside the palace gates," as soon as Grand Eunuch Qing'an finished speaking.
The sound of music and strings echoed from outside the palace doors. Cui'er and Qiao'er paid no heed to their mistress's wishes and nimbly placed the phoenix coronet on her head. They then picked up the phoenix veil, preparing to cover her, when Xiao'anzi, panting, spoke from outside the hall doors.
"Your Highness, the imperial carriage is approaching," Xiao'anzi said, his lowered head looking somewhat displeased. Without moving, Liu Liu quickly pulled down the phoenix veil that was about to be placed on her head and cast a cold glance.
"Xiao'anzi, what is it?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, the Emperor has not come. And I heard? Heard?" Xiao'anzi clearly didn't know if he should say the rest and became flustered.
Liu Liu's face darkened. She had felt uneasy since early morning. Feng Xie had indeed made his move. It seemed he wanted the whole world to know she was a disfavored empress. What else awaited her?
This was already embarrassing enough. If anything else happened, she wouldn't be able to bear it. She ordered coldly.
"Speak?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Xiao'anzi knelt down with a thud in his haste. Although the empress was usually very kind, her chilling aura at times could be frightening. He dared not hesitate any longer and spoke quickly.
"I heard that His Majesty went to pick up Noble Consort Shu and Noble Consort De. Today is the wedding, and His Majesty has ordered Noble Consort Shu and Noble Consort De to tour the imperial palace simultaneously and receive the homage of all officials."
As soon as Xiao'anzi finished speaking, Huaqing Palace fell into a deathly silence. Liu Liu's body stiffened, her face turning pale. Feng Xie, so you truly hate me, to the point of never wanting to see me again? Then let us never see each other again. With a flick of her wrist, the phoenix veil in her hand, like a red cloud, spun a few times in the main hall of Huaqing Palace before being thrown into a corner.