Volume One, Chapter 10: The Grand Wedding

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Ye Yuntang’s keen mind instantly discerned everything from Sang Zhi’s expression.

“Invite Lord Xue to wait in the front hall,” Ye Yuntang instructed calmly.

Sang Zhi quickly nodded, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Meanwhile, Ye Yuntang leisurely sipped her tea and admired the flowers, leaving Xue Zimu to wait there for a full hour before he finally strolled unhurriedly toward the front hall.

“Your humble servant pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress. May the Empress enjoy eternal blessings and peace.”

Xue Zimu was already anxious to the point of despair. Having waited so long without Ye Yuntang speaking, his eyes narrowed slightly, yet out of respect for authority, he dared not rise.

He could only hang his head low, presenting an expression of deep humiliation.

Ye Yuntang acted as if she hadn’t noticed, focusing solely on the begonia tree in the courtyard.

After a long while, Ye Yuntang finally said, “You may rise.”

Xue Zimu’s gaze briefly landed on Ye Yuntang before quickly dropping again.

“Today I come to congratulate Her Majesty and His Majesty on their perfect union, a match made in heaven, like phoenix and dragon in harmony…”

His voice betrayed a struggle to suppress some deep emotion.

Ye Yuntang frowned slightly. What a drama queen!

“This is a modest gift I have prepared for many years as a wedding present. I earnestly hope Your Majesty will accept it.”

Ye Yuntang: “...”

What nonsense is this? Now he’s playing the role of a devoted lover in front of her?

Xue Zimu took out a brocade box and opened it to reveal a wooden hairpin carved with begonia flowers.

“This was carved by my own hand. Though my skill is not exquisite, I gave my all, destroying several attempts before completing this piece. Does Your Majesty like it?”

He deliberately revealed the scars on his fingers, putting on a pitiful, love-tormented expression that made Ye Yuntang want to retch.

“I do not like it. Lord Xue, you might as well discard it.”

One sentence sent Xue Zimu into a cold abyss.

He shook off his daze involuntarily, as sunlight streamed through the side window, illuminating half of Ye Yuntang’s face and highlighting her exquisitely delicate features, making her appear transcendent and stunning.

How could the woman before him have transformed into such a cold and aloof beauty?

Was she no longer the humiliated little girl who once needed his protection?

The current Ye Yuntang was dangerous, indifferent, and enchanting—dazzling enough to stir his heart once more.

Unable to accept that Ye Yuntang had married another, Xue Zimu stepped forward.

“Tang’er, do you truly no longer want Brother Zimu?”

He looked utterly wounded.

“How dare you? My name is not for you to casually address!” Ye Yuntang said, feeling disgusted and annoyed. How shameless could one be?

“Tang’er, I know you’re trying to anger me. That’s why at the palace banquet, you volunteered to share a bed, right? The one you truly love is still me, isn’t it?”

As he spoke, he tried to make a move.

“Enough!” Ye Yuntang’s voice was cold. “I’ve seen shameless people, but never one as shameless as you!”

Xue Zimu’s expression changed instantly. He had come this far in his words—how could Ye Yuntang still treat him like this?

Didn’t she always obey him before?

Now, this was ingratitude. Had she forgotten all the kindness he had shown her?

“Have you completely forgotten the kindness I’ve done for you?” Xue Zimu looked heartbroken.

“Kindness?” Ye Yuntang clenched her fists. “Do you mean when you deliberately had someone harm me by pushing me into the lake and then ‘saved’ me? Or when you had others bully me only to step in and play the hero?”

“You… how do you know…” Xue Zimu’s face changed as if his schemes had been exposed.

“I know exactly what kind of person you are. Before, I was forced by my mother’s orders. Now that you’ve broken your vow, I no longer need to obey her. There is no longer any tie between us.”

Ye Yuntang fixed him with a blazing gaze.

Xue Zimu staggered.

“To be honest, from start to finish, I never liked you even a little bit!”

She raised her chin slightly, her eyes resolute and cold.

“If you dare to bother me again, the next time we meet will be to the death!”

With that, Ye Yuntang turned, her skirt tracing a sharp arc as she left him with a cold, resolute back.

Not long after Ye Yuntang returned to her chambers, Sang Zhi hurried in.

“What’s wrong? Has he not left yet?”

“It’s not him. That wretched man left long ago. It’s the Chancellor who’s here.”

Sang Zhi glanced cautiously at Ye Yuntang.

“Oh? What does he want?”

Ye Yuntang realized her household was truly lively.

“He says he’s here to return the late Madam’s dowry and wants to see you again. There are some things he wants to say.”

Ye Yuntang paused slightly, a complex expression flickering in her eyes, then snorted lightly.

“See me? What’s there to see? He’s only remembered to return my mother’s dowry now.”

Sang Zhi asked, “Will you see him or not?”

Ye Yuntang slowly stood, smoothing her clothes.

“If he wants to see me, it’s only for Ye Feiyao’s sake. If he wants to save her, let’s see how sincere he is.”

Sang Zhi whispered, “Miss, you must be careful. Chancellor Ye is cunning and crafty.”

Ye Yuntang smirked. “Go tell him to see what he offers in exchange for Ye Feiyao’s life!”

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“Understood.”

Not long after, Sang Zhi returned.

“Chancellor Ye says that to show his remorse and make up for years of neglect towards Your Majesty, he’s willing to give seventy percent of his household income and all of Lady Wang’s dowry to save Ye Feiyao.”

Ye Yuntang’s heart involuntarily ached.

After so many years, she knew exactly what kind of man he was—ruthlessly mercenary, willing to do anything for profit.

Emotionally cold; to him, everyone was merely a pawn to secure his position.

He always squeezed others dry, while no one could ever squeeze anything from him.

Yet now, he had come this far for Ye Feiyao—it was unfathomable.

It seemed...

He did have family affection, but all of it was reserved for Ye Feiyao.

She was nothing but a pitiable pawn.

“Sang Zhi, release Ye Feiyao,” Ye Yuntang ordered.

“Really let the tiger go?” Sang Zhi looked surprised.

“Killing her outright would be too kind. I want to watch her gradually fall into ruin and suffer everything my mother and I endured.”

Ye Yuntang spoke each word deliberately.

“I understand. Chancellor Ye is really going all out today, but Ye Feiyao is unruly. They will surely turn on each other. In the end, all three will suffer losses.”

Sang Zhi was delighted and immediately went to carry out the order.

In the latter half of April, the auspicious day for Ye Yuntang and Xie Chenyuan arrived.

A grand royal procession stretched from one end of the street to the other. The vibrant red silk, like fire, spread across every road in the capital.

It seemed as if the entire world was dyed in this celebratory red.

Commoners lining the streets knelt and shouted in unison, “Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress, thousands and thousands of years!”

The cheers rose and fell like thunder.

Ye Yuntang sat gracefully atop the resplendent phoenix carriage, adorned in a heavy and exquisite phoenix coronet and sunset robe.

The large pearls and emerald feathers on her coronet cast a captivating glow, and the phoenix embroidered in gold thread on her robe shimmered brilliantly.

Her hands lightly folded on her lap, yet her heart was restless.

She wondered if Xie Chenyuan would be easy to get along with.

“Lower the veil—”

At the eunuch’s sharp call, a pair of slender, well-defined hands covered her eyes.

Behind the red bridal veil, Ye Yuntang could not see Xie Chenyuan’s face, but those hands were exceptionally beautiful, albeit a bit too pale.

She stared a moment longer and suddenly realized the owner of these hands...