My stomach rumbled loudly, a stark contrast to the quiet that descended now that the festivities were over.
With Madam Xi and the palace maids standing in two neat rows, I couldn't even sneak a bite to eat. I recalled the wedding procedures explained by the governess, and realized I had to wait for Situ Yao to lift my veil before I could move freely.
Just moments ago, I had been pitying him for having to attend to guests without rest. Now, all I wanted was for him to come back immediately.
Thankfully, Situ Yao didn't keep me waiting long. I faintly heard someone ask, "Why has His Highness the Crown Prince returned so early?"
Situ Yao replied, "Let's lift the veil first. Where is the lucky scale?"
It seemed no one had expected him back so soon. Madam Xi hurried to fetch the scale, while others busied themselves pouring the nuptial wine.
Beneath the veil, I could only see the ground. I watched as a pair of red boots approached me step by step. I couldn't help but clench my skirt, my heart beating uncontrollably faster.
Perhaps every bride feels this way.
Soon, light returned to my eyes. Situ Yao smiled brightly at me, "A Chun, I have finally married you."
He sat beside me, and the palace maids quickly presented a tray with two cups of clear wine. Our arms intertwined, I dared not look at him, keeping my head down as I drank.
The ceremony was complete.
Situ Yao said, "There is much to attend to outside. I won't be back for a while. You should eat something first. If you're tired, you can sleep."
"Alright."
After Situ Yao left, I immediately sat at the table and ordered servants to prepare hot water for my bath. Going through the procedures in these heavy garments, I had sweated profusely despite the winter chill. I felt utterly uncomfortable.
The table was mostly filled with pastries. Just as I was about to take a bite, A Xiu brought me a bowl of shredded chicken noodles.
"Miss, eat this. Those pastries are dry and cold, not good."
"Where did the noodles come from?"
"Sent from Pengcheng. His Highness the Crown Prince is truly thoughtful."
With a bowl of steaming noodles, I finally felt alive again. After my bath and changing clothes, I leaned against the headboard, waiting for the groom.
I genuinely intended to wait for him, but the bed was so soft, and the blankets so warm. Even with a book in my hands, I couldn't resist the call of the Duke of Zhou and ended up playing chess with him.
When I woke again, the red candles had burned halfway. Situ Yao was pressing down on me, kissing my cheek, "Awake?"
My eyes were heavy with sleep, "What are you doing?"
"A Chun, on our wedding night, you don't want to just sleep, do you?"
"But I'm so tired."
"It's alright, I'll help you sober up." With that, his kiss fell upon me once more.
The room, heated by the underground furnace, was not cold at all. The temperature within the tent continued to rise. I slept, then woke, then slept again, only feeling the candlelight flickering throughout the night. The next morning, I was groggily attended to as I washed and dressed.
There was no help for it; it was the morning after the wedding, and I had to pay respects to my in-laws.
And these were not just any in-laws. According to Madam Xi, the morning greetings also had a specific time, and it was crucial not to miss the auspicious hour.
I could only be thankful that the royal family didn't require me, their daughter-in-law, to prepare breakfast.
In Changning Palace, the Emperor and his family had already gathered. Situ Yao led me through three kowtows and nine bows, after which I received a pair of phoenix hairpins and a pair of warm jade bracelets.
The Empress said kindly, "A Chun, you must be tired from yesterday. After Xiao Er and Sui Sui pay their respects, you should return and rest quickly. You are newlyweds, and there is nothing for you to manage in the palace. Just rest well."
"Thank you, Mother Empress."
I had also prepared gifts for Situ You and Sui Sui. After exchanging them, the ceremony was complete.
The Eastern Palace was very quiet. Situ Yao had never had a palace maid for his enlightenment at his age. The only true masters were the two of us. Accompanied by him, all the servants of the Eastern Palace were summoned before me. I had A Xiu distribute reward money, asking them to recognize their new mistress.
Situ Yao was granted a fifteen-day honeymoon leave, a duration that even surprised him.
But he was happy to stay in the palace with me. In his words, ever since he began dealing with politics, he had never been so idle.
As it turned out, this was the last of his leisure. Fifteen days later, the Emperor unexpectedly abdicated.
Everyone was stunned. The Emperor was in his prime, and it seemed he could easily reign for another twenty years. Who would have thought he would abdicate? Other emperors, in their twilight years, busied themselves with alchemy, lamenting their inability to achieve immortality on the supreme throne.
The Situ family was remarkable. The former Emperor had abdicated, and now the current Emperor was doing the same.
However, the Emperor's reign had been long and his authority deeply established, making the court his one-man show. Despite the courtiers' earnest pleas, he did not retract his decision. Instead, he enthusiastically began packing, stating he would travel abroad with the Empress after the New Year.
"Your Empress has been confined within the palace walls for so many years. Can you bear to keep her locked away like this?" the Emperor said with a heavy heart at the family banquet the next day. "You young ones, you loved to run outside the palace since you were children, but your Empress? How many times has she gone out? Now that Yao'er is married and established, isn't it time for her to breathe some fresh air?"
Situ Yao said helplessly, "But there was no need for you to abdicate. You could have simply taken Mother Empress out for a trip and let your son be regent."
The Emperor waved his hand, "This is one reason. Secondly, I do not wish to see anyone else damage the bond between you two brothers because of the throne. This empire will eventually be handed over to Yao'er. But as long as I am on the throne, there will always be those blinded by greed who try to instigate Xiao Er for favors. Currently, you two brothers are harmonious. But what about the future? Once Xiao Er takes a wife, who can guarantee she won't harbor improper thoughts?"
Situ You quickly assured that he would never let such a thing happen.
The Emperor, however, did not listen to a single word. He waved his hand, "This matter is settled. Starting tomorrow, Yao'er will accompany me to the Imperial Study to handle state affairs. Yao'er's wife will learn palace affairs from your Mother Empress."
I was even more bewildered, "Father Emperor, Mother Empress, your daughter-in-law is terrified. Before this, I have never been involved in such matters and fear I cannot shoulder such a heavy responsibility."
The Empress took my hand and said, "How could that be? Your mother said you managed the shops very well. These are just palace affairs. If you remember the procedures, you won't make any mistakes. Besides, you are already the Empress. What does it matter if you occasionally make a mistake?"
Life is full of surprises.
Who would have thought that I, who had barely warmed my seat as Crown Princess, would be promoted to Empress?
I remained in a daze until the day the Crown Prince ascended the throne.