Everyone present was stunned by Nan Zhiyun's appearance.
"The Empress is so beautiful today," Qian Xia praised, and a chorus of compliments followed. Nan Zhiyun's face flushed, making it hard to tell if it was due to the makeup or shyness.
"Yun'er will be the most beautiful bride today," the Empress Dowager also said.
Nan Zhiyun's smile hadn't left her lips all day. Looking at the joy filling the room, her heart felt equally full.
"His Majesty has arrived to escort the bride. Is the Empress ready?" the marriage officiant walked in. Following her was Nan Su. Nan Zhiyun saw her father and sweetly called out, "Daddy."
Nan Su walked over with a smile in his eyes, but his slightly red-rimmed eyes revealed his emotions.
"Nannan, you look truly beautiful today," Nan Su said. He took Nan Zhiyun's hand, and they looked at each other, as if there were more words they wanted to say but neither uttered the next sentence.
Nan Zhiyun looked at the streaks of white hair at Nan Su's temples. She had never imagined that her father, the majestic Great General, would one day grow old.
When she was little, she often rode on his shoulders, laughing and playing with him. He had doted on her, and back then, she felt her father was the greatest man in the world. Later... she saw her father in armor, defending the nation, and she again felt her father was the greatest man in the world.
"Daddy..." Nan Zhiyun called out.
This single "Daddy" brought tears to Nan Su's eyes. He fumbled to wipe away the tears, not wanting to cry in front of his daughter.
"Daddy is here. Daddy will see you off for your marriage. Come, Daddy will carry you out personally." Nan Su turned his back. The Empress Dowager and Qian Xia placed the bridal veil on Nan Zhiyun, and she gently nestled onto Nan Su's back.
A father's back had always been the safest place. Nan Zhiyun felt at ease... Nan Su walked step by step, carrying Nan Zhiyun, his gait firm and strong. Qian Xia and the others followed behind, helping to support Nan Zhiyun's skirt as they left.
The Empress Dowager watched Nan Su slowly walk away with Nan Zhiyun on his back. The heavy stone in her heart seemed to have settled, but... thinking of what might happen next, her emotions became complex.
As the Empress Dowager was about to follow them out, just as she was about to lift her foot, she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and lost her footing.
"Empress Dowager!" An Xin exclaimed, quickly steadying her.
The Empress Dowager's head was buzzing, and she felt severely dizzy. The figures before her were a bit blurry. She patted An Xin's hand, "I'm fine... I just didn't rest well last night preparing for Yun'er's wedding."
The Empress Dowager spoke, and An Xin's face was full of worry as she waited for the Empress Dowager to recover. However... the Empress Dowager looked ahead, the figures indistinct, with large patches of red being the most prominent. Was she going blind soon...
"An Xin, help me out. I want to see Yun'er get into the palanquin," the Empress Dowager commanded.
"But..." An Xin wanted to refuse, worried about the Empress Dowager's health.
"Just do as I say. I only have this one chance," the Empress Dowager's tone was unyielding.
"Yes..." An Xin couldn't refuse and could only comply.