However, this was also because Yu Jingchen wanted to give Nan Zhiyun a surprise. Though these matters were not revealed to Nan Zhiyun, they had long been discussed and agreed upon with the Empress Dowager and Nan Su.
"His Majesty said that since the Empress is a lady of the General's estate, tomorrow she will depart from the General's estate with all due ceremony and grandeur. His Majesty will personally go to the General's estate to escort the bride, and formally take Nan Zhiyun, the thousandth daughter of the Nan family, as his wife, and his only Empress." Xing Lai spoke these words with great accuracy.
Nan Zhiyun was somewhat shocked. She was unsure of her feelings at the moment, but for Yu Jingchen, the Emperor of a nation, to go to such lengths was truly extraordinary. The mere act of personally fetching the bride was astounding, let alone the use of the words "formally take" and "as his wife" rather than merely "bestowing a title."
"And His Majesty? Will he be coming over shortly?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
"Your Ladyship, please understand, His Majesty said there is a folk custom that the bride and groom should not meet the day before the grand wedding. Therefore, he will not be coming to see Your Ladyship today. However, His Majesty has already made all arrangements. The Empress's wedding attire will be sent to the General's estate shortly, along with His Majesty's betrothal gifts. The Empress Dowager will also return to the General's estate this time to see Your Ladyship off. Furthermore, besides the betrothal gifts, His Majesty has also specially prepared dowry for Your Ladyship, which is known as 'tian zhuang' (adding dowry)."
"This is because His Majesty wishes for Your Ladyship to know that he is not only your husband's family but also your own. Should your husband displease you in the future, you can return to your natal home and complain to His Majesty, and he will deal with your husband on your behalf." Xing Lai's face was creased with smiles as he spoke these words. He could hardly imagine that His Majesty would say such a thing.
Hearing this, Nan Zhiyun's eyes felt a little sore. She had never imagined that she would experience such a day, nor had she dared to think of it. Yet, all of this was now happening before her eyes. Kuai Shu Ge.
"Your Ladyship, His Majesty has also specifically instructed this servant to escort you back to the estate. What do you say?" Xing Lai had not forgotten the main task.
"Yes, I'll return immediately." Nan Zhiyun hastily wiped away her tears. She could not cry.
"His Majesty had also prepared a set of attire from her maiden days for Your Ladyship. Perhaps Your Ladyship would like to change first, and then this servant will escort Miss Nan back to the estate?" Xing Lai, ever tactful, changed his address, and the palace servants behind him presented the clothes.
"Alright." Nan Zhiyun felt her heart was now full. She did not delay and immediately entered the inner room. Qian Xia directed these people to bathe and change Nan Zhiyun.
An hour later, Nan Zhiyun had changed into her maiden attire. Her hair, which had been pinned up, was let down, and she had changed her clothes. She wore a sapphire blue moonlit gown, a gradient blue painted skirt with ten panels, each panel at the waist in a different color, delicately and elegantly rendered, shimmering like moonlight in the wind.
Nan Zhiyun was young, and with this appearance, no one would likely recognize her as the former Consort Shu, nor would she appear to be a lady who had lived in the inner chambers.
Half an hour later, the carriage departed from the palace gates. Yu Jingchen stood atop the palace wall, watching the carriage recede into the distance. A faint smile unconsciously curved his lips. By tomorrow, he would formally wed this young lady.
He had owed her too much in the past, but from now on, he would treat this young woman who gazed at him with all her heart and soul with utmost care. He would no longer let her feel wronged or suffer any harm. From tomorrow onwards, she would officially become his wife, the one and only person he would love in this lifetime.