Chapter 300: Chapter 297: The Grand Wedding

On their wedding day, He Ying did not let Sang Yan return to Sang Mansion to await marriage.

He was mainly concerned for her safety and did not want her to leave his sight; therefore, he arranged for Qifeng Palace in the palace to serve as her temporary bridal chamber.

Sang Yan washed up, applied makeup, and changed into her wedding attire in Qifeng Palace, waiting for He Ying to come and fetch her.

The celebrations were noisy and boisterous.

Nanny Hu was attending to her on the side, equally riotous, “You lot, bring the red carpet over here quickly, the bride’s feet must not touch the ground at all. And the red veil, has it been suffused with fragrance? It’s cold today, put some cotton in Lady’s wedding shoes. To warm the body, start with warming the feet…”

She busily directed the Palace Attendants.

Watching this, Sang Yan for some reason began to feel more and more anxious.

She had this bad premonition–would this grand wedding proceed smoothly? Would the original host’s husband-killing fate harm He Ying?

Jiang Ling died on his wedding night.

Jiang Ke had been entangled with her for so long and met with no good end either.

So many precedents!

“Come, let’s put on the red veil for a lifetime of happiness.”

As Nanny Hu said auspicious words, she covered her with the fragrant red veil.

This fragrance was a warm sweetness.

Very peculiar.

It was comfortable to smell.

It made her nervous heart gradually relax a bit.

The sounds of joy continued.

Time quickly passed.

Soon, a series of kneeling voices were heard, “Congratulations to the Emperor, blessings to the Emperor–”

He Ying had arrived.

He wore a grand red wedding robe and a dark red crown; his well-preserved handsome face beamed even more on such a joyous occasion.

“You may rise. You shall all be rewarded.”

He spoke with a tender smile, gently raised his hand, and walked straight towards his bride.

Pei Muyang followed behind, sweeping his horsetail whisk, as several little eunuchs each carried in a tray.

In the trays were several red wallets.

Each wallet contained some fragmented silver.

Every Palace Attendant serving in Qifeng Palace received a reward.

“Thank you, Emperor. Thank you, Empress. Wishing the Emperor and Empress happiness in your grand marriage.”

The Palace Attendants knelt in unison, speaking auspicious words.

He Ying had already taken Sang Yan’s hand.

They left Qifeng Palace and sat in a red wedding carriage heading towards Chengtian Platform.

Chengtian Platform was the venue for the grand ceremony.

He Ying’s enthronement took place there.

He considered marrying Sang Yan as significant an event as his enthronement.

“Xinyuan, I’m a bit nervous.”

Sang Yan, covered by the red veil, hid her anxious expression.

He Ying could only feel her unease through her icy fingers, “What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

As he inquired, he attempted to lift the red veil.

He needed to see her face to determine her specific condition.

“It must not be done.”

Sang Yan, feeling him about to lift the red veil, hurriedly held down his hand, “It cannot be lifted. It’s inauspicious.”

She now held such superstitions–fearful that the husband-killing fate would come true.

Even though she had let go of these fears before, reconciling them with herself, and even though He Ying had consoled her many times, when it came down to it, she still felt a bit panicked,

“Xinyuan, do you think my husband-killing fate–”

Could it harm you?

She thought of it and became dreadfully afraid.

He Ying held her hand tightly, distressed by her fear, and said tenderly, “My dear, Ah Yan, I am the Emperor, the Chosen Son, naturally blessed by heaven. You know about Chengtian Platform, right? We are holding our grand wedding ceremony there to declare to the heavens and receive their blessing.”

Sang Yan, hearing this, became even more panicked, “What if heaven doesn’t accept me?”

If heaven truly had a spirit, then the original host’s husband-killing fate was a divine arrangement!

He Ying kissed her hand, saying firmly, “There are no ‘what ifs’.”

His firm tone did not soothe her anxiety.

The closer they got to Chengtian Platform, the more restless her heart–what if there was a ‘what if’? What if heaven did not accept her?

They arrived at Chengtian Platform.

“Congratulations on the grand wedding to the Emperor!”

“Long live the Emperor, forever and ever!”

…

The ministers participating in the grand wedding ceremony lined up on both sides, kneeling in succession.

Between them, they left a wide path covered with red carpet.

The red wedding carriage passed slowly through.

Upon reaching the steps of Chengtian Platform, the bridal procession came to a halt.

He Ying carried Sang Yan down.

No sooner had Sang Yan touched the ground–

“Emperor, be wary of Miss Sang’s husband-killing fate!”

The speaker was Imperial Censor Feng Ji.

He had always been a stubborn opponent of Sang Yan becoming Empress.

Just as stubborn were several officials from the Hanlin Academy.

“Doctor Feng is right! Emperor, the Demoness harms the nation and is unfit to be Empress!”

“The grave nature of Miss Sang’s husband-killing fate cannot be taken lightly, I implore the Emperor to think thrice!”

“Please, Emperor–”

The stubborn faction knelt, voicing their dampening words.

“Presumptuous!”

He Ying was livid with rage, his face an iron blue as he angrily commanded, “On this day of my great joy, you speak such alarming nonsense. Guards, take them away!”

This time, he was truly furious.

Time and again the opposition, always the same drivel–he was tired of hearing it even if they weren’t tired of saying it!

Now they had the audacity to cloud his grand wedding ceremony.

The authority of his Emperor’s majesty endured unprecedented offense!

“Wait–”

Sang Yan, still acting on instinct, tried to intervene, “You just said it’s a joyous occasion, it’s not suitable–”

“Not suitable to draw blood, is it?”

He Ying cut off Sang Yan’s words, his face showing no sign of improvement, and even a murderous look rampant in his eyes: “Ah Yan, you are mistaken. On the day of a grand wedding, how could we not execute someone to celebrate?”

Even if we don’t kill, we must peel off a layer of their skin!

“Pei Muyang, count for me, list who spoke just now, what they said, and punish them with a stick for each word. Carry out the punishment now!”

He could no longer afford to be lenient.

It was precisely because of his leniency that he faced such insolence today.

Upon the Emperor’s order, Pei Muyang immediately had the men carried out for punishment.

Five people in total, each received a beating with sticks, in front of all the officials.

This was a strike not only on their bodies but also their pride.

For civil servants, a scholar can be killed, but never humiliated.

“Enough, He Xinyuan, if you continue to beat them, I won’t go through with this marriage!”

Seeing that persuasion was futile, Sang Yan resorted to threats.

The threat was effective.

He Ying gestured for a halt and said coldly, “If you wish not to attend my grand wedding ceremony, then leave.”

He ordered those few officials to be dragged away and then turned to the other ministers: “Does anyone else wish not to attend? Withdraw as well!”

The Emperor was in a furious state.

No one dared to speak up.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Even the celebratory music came to a stop.

Luckily, Pei Muyang noticed and quickly signaled for the music to continue.

With the music resuming, the atmosphere slowly warmed.

Pei Muyang tapped with his horsetail whisk on Chu Jun’s shoulder.

Chu Jun, the newly appointed Director of the Observatory, was responsible for the proceedings of this grand wedding.

He glanced at the sun, then announced, “The auspicious time has arrived. Please, Emperor, take your place.”

He Ying didn’t want to miss the auspicious moment, nor did he want his mood spoiled by those people, so he composed himself and, holding Sang Yan’s hand, slowly ascended the steps.

“Be careful where you step.”

He reminded her softly; rather than saying he was holding her hand, it was more like he was supporting her shoulder.

As if she might stumble.

Truly, it’s unsurprising he was so cautious.

The Chengtian Platform was exceedingly high.

The layers of steps seemed to have no end.

Sang Yan felt as though she had walked a great distance, yet still hadn’t reached the end, which made her realize the good intentions behind He Ying’s attentiveness.

She really did need the support, unable to manage on her own.

As she ascended higher, the wind grew stronger, howling in her ears, nearly flipping the red veil.

Fortunately, each corner of the red veil was embroidered with red gemstones, adding some weight to it.

“Are we not there yet?”

She was tired from walking.

The wedding garments were quite heavy as well.

The jewelry and headdress she wore were also very valuable.

He Ying, hearing her somewhat erratic panting, asked, “Tired?”

Without waiting for her reply, he picked her up in one smooth motion and ascended two steps with every stride.