But why?
Since this was all Wang Shuyao's memory, what she saw should also be what Wang Shuyao experienced. Yet, in an instant, she witnessed this wedding.
And the groom was not Crown Prince Yun Yanqing, but Sheng Huaizhi, who had never appeared before Wang Shuyao.
What on earth had happened?
At that time, Qin Jiujiu did not yet know that the emperor of the Shengqi Kingdom was called Sheng Huaizhi.
"The Crown Prince will not come." Hearing a stranger's voice, Wang Shuyao ignored all etiquette and lifted her veil herself.
"Who are you?" The person in front of her was wearing the same wedding attire as herself.
Wang Shuyao, who was already intelligent, understood the situation immediately.
The groom had been changed, but she had not been informed.
She had clearly seen Yun Yanqing just three days ago.
"You don't know who I am? It seems no one in the Wang family told you…"
Qin Jiujiu was completely clueless at the moment. Wang Shuyao's expression changed, as if she had suddenly thought of something. She rushed forward and grabbed Sheng Huaizhi's sleeve.
"Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Sheng Huaizhi's already displeased expression did not improve upon seeing the pale, distraught face before him. Instead, he frowned deeply, his eyes filled with utter disdain.
"I heard Xie Qing has returned. She should be there, then…"
Upon hearing this, Wang Shuyao's hand, which had been gripping his sleeve, suddenly loosened.
"Sheng Huaizhi!" It was Yun Yaoyao's voice.
Sheng Huaizhi's face lit up with joy. Upon seeing the woman before him, he seemed to recall something. A flash of disgust flickered in his eyes. He flicked the sleeve she had just grabbed, as if to clean off something unclean.
A graceful figure appeared at the doorway.
Yun Yaoyao was still dressed in red. Her red attire was as alluring as a ripe fruit. At this moment, she looked more like a bride than Wang Shuyao. A smile capable of captivating all beings graced her face as she approached Sheng Huaizhi.
The rebellious youth seemed to have found his beloved. All his sharp edges were hidden, as if he were afraid of hurting Yun Yaoyao.
Why did Yun Yaoyao come?
Qin Jiujiu couldn't figure it out.
But the scene soon changed. All she could remember was Yun Yaoyao's meaningful smile as she looked at Wang Shuyao.
"Host, the Empress's emotions are very unstable. It's likely that the preceding scene has affected her too much. She is currently in a semi-conscious state, so the host cannot see anything for now."
Qin Jiujiu's vision turned completely dark; indeed, she could see nothing.
*
"How is my mother?"
Seeing the Empress appear even more pained, Sheng Xuanyin exclaimed in distress.
Bai Qianluo and Xie Yun exchanged glances. Zhao Yong's face was also one of helplessness, indicating that his efforts had not succeeded.
Zhao Yong relied on a few treasures passed down from his ancestors. In fact, he did not understand the method of exorcism. However, the one who had framed the Empress this time was a powerful demon. Without a master of immense power to wield them, the treasures could not function effectively.
Thus, Zhao Yong was unable to proceed further.
Zhao Yong stopped the Sanqing Bell in his hand, already drenched in sweat, yet the Empress's condition did not improve.
However, Xie Yun had already discerned the Empress's predicament. He replied before Zhao Yong could, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Her Majesty the Empress has fallen into her own dreamscape. The dream ebbs and flows, causing the Empress to sometimes smile and at other times appear extremely pained. If we can break the Empress's dream, she should be alright…"
However, if such a dreamscape were not managed properly, it could lead the Empress to be lost forever.
Therefore, the best method would be for someone to enter the dreamscape and resolve it according to the situation within.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please allow me to try," Xie Yun stated with certainty.
Although Sheng Xuanyin was hesitant to trust him easily, he had no other options at the moment and could only agree.
Su Ming frowned upon hearing Xie Yun's words.
He scrutinized Xie Yun from head to toe. The young man before him possessed a distinguished bearing and did not seem like a charlatan. He therefore spoke, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Her Majesty the Empress is of noble lineage. How can she bear such a risk? In my opinion, these are merely street performers…"
Zhao Yong panicked upon hearing this. He did not want to die.
But looking at the dark expression of the man in black, the words he was about to say were inexplicably choked back.
"Your Highness, please allow me to try. The longer this dream drags on, the harder it will be to break. Before long, Her Majesty the Empress will be trapped within it forever!"
Sheng Xuanyin, who had initially harbored doubts, changed his mind after hearing Su Ming's words.
"Then allow you to try."
Su Ming intended to continue, but Sheng Xuanyin said, "National Preceptor, you have already spent a long time at the Empress's palace today. Please return first. Perhaps His Majesty is looking for you."
It was already evening. The Emperor would certainly be with Su Ming at night. Therefore, although Su Ming's expression soured upon hearing Sheng Xuanyin's words, he still left the room.
Once he was gone, Xie Yun breathed a sigh of relief.
Perhaps it was due to the illusion from before, but facing this National Preceptor, he always felt a sense of unease.
"Then let's begin," Sheng Xuanyin said to Xie Yun.
"Your Highness, if I enter the dream, no one else should be around. Only she [referring to Bai Qianluo] should remain," Xie Yun indicated Bai Qianluo. Sheng Xuanyin nodded in agreement.
Xie Yun continued, "Your Highness must guarantee that during the time I am performing this ritual, no one enters this room. Can you do it?"
"Alright!" Sheng Xuanyin agreed to everything. Perhaps it was Xie Yun's demeanor or something else that inexplicably inspired trust in Sheng Xuanyin.
Soon, only Xie Yun, Bai Qianluo, and the Empress were left in the room.
The door was tightly shut, and outside stood the Crown Prince and the guards.
"Brother Xie, let's begin!"
Xie Yun lit a stick of incense and said to Bai Qianluo, "If this incense burns out and I have not returned, forcefully wake me!"
If he did not return from the dream by the time this incense burned out, he would never be able to return.
Because the owner of this dream was the Empress, who was repeatedly having the same dream. A complete dream required the time it took for one stick of incense to burn. If he did not emerge after one dream ended, he would be erased by the dreamscape when the next one began.
"Alright!"
"Host, the dreamscape has continued!"
Qin Jiujiu saw Wang Shuyao again. Perhaps due to the anomaly that had just occurred, Wang Shuyao was now the Empress.
The dynastic change had occurred in an instant.
Just moments ago, it was a wedding; now, it had become an enthronement ceremony.
Wang Shuyao was still in a formal red palace gown. This time, she appeared more mature and alluring than at her wedding, with less innocence in her eyes.
"Yaoyao?"
Sheng Huaizhi was still on the grand hall. A palace servant entered and whispered something in his ear. He immediately ran out without a second thought.
Leaving behind all the civil and military officials, leaving behind the Empress Wang Shuyao.