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However, the empress lifted the curtain of the carriage herself and reached out a hand towards the lady-in-waiting and leaped out of the carriage, stuffing something at the lady-in-waiting. The lady-in-waiting took a look at the object—half a fruit pit, a pile of broken jade pieces…
Cold sweat dripping…
The fire burned brightly, and two ladies-in-waiting were waiting for her, but Meng Fuyao casually grabbed the golden bottle and stuffed it under her armpit, then with a hitch of her skirt she hurriedly ran ahead. Meanwhile, the two ladies-in-waiting were dumbstruck.
Cold sweat dripping…
Meng Fuyao ran towards the fire, rushing to ”get married”—she had to hurry, or else the madman Zhan would appear soon.
Just at that moment, the Regent King had just finished welcoming the guests and was settling the arrangements, unaware. Apart from several officials, eunuchs and ladies-in-waiting, nobody knew that the ”Empress” was hurrying so…
By then, Zhan Beiye had already reached the palace grounds. Although the Regent King had changed his orders and had it sent to the palace within the shortest time possible, the door guards had not yet received the message and thought that Zhan Beiye was here to attend the marriage, and happily welcomed him in.
The rule that no horses were allowed in the palace held no weight in Zhan Beiye's eyes, and with a flick of his gold whip, the horse flew through as the guards' and eunuchs' voices trailed helplessly behind him, ”Your Majesty, when there is a royal ceremony, no horses are allowed in the imperial palace…”
”I've never used my own legs to enter a palace! Every palace is the same!” Without turning back, Zhan Beiye continued his gallop forward.
The guard broke out in a cold sweat…
At that moment, in front of the Qinsheng palace, was a 1,200-step white marble stairway, shining majestically like a stairway to heaven under the sun.
As the chosen one to become the nation's empress, while walking up this long road, full of glory, slowly moving with gracefulness, and according to etiquette, every step had to be accompanied with a slight pause.
However, in Meng Fuyao's case, a fraction of a period was all it took for what was supposed to be a period-long ceremonial ”ascension”.
Zhan Beiye followed the music from the ministry of rites and sprinted to the Qinsheng palace.
Meng Fuyao had just crossed the final step and had yet to enter the palace gates.
Zhan Beiye raised his head to see hundreds of ministers and nobles heading towards the palace gates, and at the top, the slim silhouette had vanished.
He hopped off his horse in an instant.
Yet someone suddenly shouted for him to stop.
”Your Majesty.”
The Empress' carriage had been silently parked outside the Qinsheng Palace gates, and from the side window, the curtain was drawn open to reveal a beautiful lady's face.
Zhan Beiye was getting anxious and didn't have the time to bother with her. Although it was strange that this person immediately recognized his identity with a single shout, he didn't care and prepared to leave.
”If you rush out now, you'll ruin her plan.”
”Hm?” Zhan Beiye finally responded. ”Why does she mind other people's business again?”
The girl was naturally Shadow Blade's disguise. He looked at Zhan Beiye, and after a moment, he said, ”Probably the same as when she helped you previously.”
Zhan Beiye frowned deeply and snarled, ”Who are you!?”
”Regardless of who I am, you just need to ask yourself, do you need to use force?” Shadow Blade glanced around the palace, his expression complicated. ”A beauty's heart is ever-changing, especially a girl like her. If you try to stop her, you'll only incur her annoyance and wrath. Your Majesty, I didn't want to say this to you, but now that I've said it, you should listen.”
”You're asking me to stand by one side and watch her be someone else's Empress?” Zhan Beiye snorted coldly.
”The royal ceremony is but a facade, they didn't even bow to the heaven and earth, and a replacement had already been found for the bedroom. If she's not willing, she doesn't even need to enter the bedroom.”
”So what?” Zhan Beiye's arms were crossed around his chest, and his expression darkened as he said, ”Let me tell you, even if it is fake, I still don't want her to stand beside someone else as husband and wife! She can only be my Empress!”
With a swish of his sleeve, he ignored Shadow Blade and strode out.
Shadow Blade watched his determined silhouette with a mixed expression in his eyes. After a long time, he leaned lightly against the carriage and mumbled, ”Whatever… Much less you, sometimes even I want to stop her too…”
Meng Fuyao was standing in front of the altar.
The Minister of Rites picked up the book of rites and began to read. According to custom, this chant would continue until the ceremony ended. Given that there were several thousand words in the flower-embroidered book, adding on the old man's reading speed, for it to take so long was understandable.