Novel Full Chapter 225 - 206: Is Your Majesty Satisfied With This Wedding Attire?
Chapter 225: Chapter 206: Is Your Majesty Satisfied With This Wedding Attire?
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty…”
Wei Xun’s voice came from outside Yangxin Hall.
Xiao Mo’s consciousness was slowly withdrawing from the Hundred Generations Book, returning to reality.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic tangle of memories and emotions in his mind.
Thankfully, with the help of the Hundred Generations Book, Xiao Mo quickly readjusted to his present reality, his mind gradually settling.
“Come in.”
A hint of barely perceptible displeasure tinged Xiao Mo’s tone.
He had originally planned to complete this life’s experience and finish his task before the wedding.
Being interrupted now, he was naturally a little impatient.
“What is it?” Xiao Mo asked, looking at Wei Xun.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests your presence at Lingxin Palace.”
Wei Xun replied in a low voice, his posture growing even more deferential.
Wei Xun was a shrewd man. He could clearly sense the Emperor was in a bad mood, so he bowed even lower, almost to the point of kneeling on the ground.
“Lingxin Palace?” Xiao Mo paused for a moment, then asked, “Did Mother say why?”
“The Empress Dowager said that Your Majesty’s wedding robes have been made and she would like to invite you to try them on,” Wei Xun answered.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Mo nodded, his tone placid. “I understand. Prepare the procession for Lingxin Palace.”
Although he didn’t want to see the Empress Dowager, his grand wedding was imminent. There were many matters that required his personal attention, and he couldn’t refuse.
“Yes, Your Majesty… This old servant will go and prepare at once.”
Wei Xun hastily agreed, bowing as he backed out of the room.
…
「A stick of incense later.」
Xiao Mo strode into Lingxin Palace, greeted ceremoniously by the Palace Maids.
“Your son greets you, Mother.” In the main hall of Lingxin Palace, Xiao Mo performed a solemn bow. “I trust you are well?”
“Well, very well. As Your Majesty’s wedding day draws nearer, my mood improves by the day.”
Just as she always did, Empress Dowager Yan quickly came down from her seat to help Xiao Mo to his feet.
“But I have said it before, Your Majesty need not be so formal. You are so earnest today. If you do this again next time, I will truly get angry.”
Xiao Mo smiled, his expression both filial and sincere. “Mother, I cannot do that. The rites must not be neglected.”
“Oh, you child…” Empress Dowager Yan sighed, her expression seemingly helpless, but she was actually in a very good mood.
’She just loves it when Xiao Mo is so deferential toward her.’
“Enough of that. Come, Your Majesty, and see what this is.”
Empress Dowager Yan led Xiao Mo to a rack.
Then, the Empress Dowager personally lifted a cloth covering the rack, revealing a set of red wedding robes before Xiao Mo.
The customs of the Zhou Kingdom differed from those of other Human Race Dynasties. When an Emperor wed, he also wore red groom’s attire, but his would be embroidered with a True Dragon in gold thread.
But the golden dragon on these robes was embroidered to perfection. The “dragon” element was flawlessly integrated into every part of the attire, looking completely natural without a hint of awkwardness.
“Would Your Majesty care to try it on?” Empress Dowager Yan asked with a smile, seeing his satisfied expression. Her tone carried a hint of pride.
“Then I shall,” Xiao Mo nodded.
“Attendants, serve His Majesty in changing,” the Empress Dowager called out.
As soon as the Empress Dowager’s words fell, several Palace Maids, who were already prepared, hurried forward to escort His Majesty behind a screen to change into the wedding robes.
「Half a stick of incense later.」
Xiao Mo emerged from behind the screen, dressed in the wedding robes.
The crimson groom’s attire made his figure appear even more upright and tall. A dragon motif, embroidered in gold thread, coiled from the lapels to the cuffs. The dragon’s head rested on his shoulder while its body flowed down along his waistline, appearing both majestic and elegant.
The robes were impeccably tailored, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist that outlined his well-proportioned, sturdy physique.
His face was already handsome, and now, set against the red and gold, he looked even more dashing.
Several of the Palace Maids were staring at the Emperor, mesmerized. They had never seen such a handsome man.
One Palace Maid’s cheeks even flushed a shy red at some unknown thought, and she lowered her head even further.
“Excellent, excellent!”
Looking at Xiao Mo, Empress Dowager Yan nodded again and again in satisfaction.
Back when Empress Dowager Yan had chosen Xiao Mo for adoption, besides his lack of a power base and his good reputation, there was another important factor: Xiao Mo was indeed very good-looking.
Now, after several years of growth, he was even more handsome.
For some reason, however, although Xiao Mo was merely eighteen, Empress Dowager Yan sensed a mature, even scholarly, air about him.
Not only that, but his scholarly aura was also tinged with a masculine Blood Qi.
’How strange. Doesn’t he practice Daoism every day? Why doesn’t his temperament resemble a Daoist’s at all?’
Doubt bloomed in the Empress Dowager’s mind.
However, Empress Dowager Yan was not the least bit displeased by Xiao Mo’s scholarly yet masculine aura; on the contrary, she was very satisfied.
After all, setting aside all else, with his outstanding looks and temperament, Ruxue would surely like him.
“Is Your Majesty satisfied with these wedding robes?” the Empress Dowager asked.
“Very satisfied.” Xiao Mo nodded, spreading his arms to look at his attire. “I wonder which master artisan’s hands created these robes? I shall reward them handsomely.”
“Hehehe…” The Empress Dowager chuckled, covering her mouth. “These robes weren’t made by anyone else. They are the handiwork of Ruxue.”
“Ruxue?” Xiao Mo was taken aback.
“Precisely.”
Empress Dowager Yan nodded and proceeded to lavish praise on the talented lady of the Yan Clan.
“A few months ago, the Textile Bureau was making Your Majesty’s wedding robes, but when Ruxue found out, she wrote me a letter.
That girl Ruxue said that since you are her husband-to-be, how could the wedding robes Your Majesty wears be made by another’s hands?
So for this entire period, Ruxue has been studying palace etiquette while also going to the Textile Bureau to personally make Your Majesty’s robes.”
“So that’s how it is…”
Xiao Mo looked down at the wedding robes, an inexplicable feeling stirring in his heart.
’Although I dislike this marriage, based on Yan Ruxue’s reputation and these robes today, the talented lady of the Yan Clan is indeed an exceptionally outstanding woman. Moreover, even though she has been chosen as a political tool and is fated to enter this deep palace, she still faces it all with a positive attitude.’
“Oh, there is one more thing I haven’t mentioned to Your Majesty,” the Empress Dowager said, as if suddenly remembering something.
“Please speak freely, Mother.”
“It’s nothing major, really.”
The Empress Dowager looked directly into Xiao Mo’s eyes and said with a smile,
“For the grand ceremony, besides Elder Huang of the Wanjian Sect, many other envoys will be coming to observe. Notably, the Qin Kingdom will also be sending a delegation to offer their congratulations.”
“The Qin Kingdom is coming too?”
Xiao Mo asked, puzzled.
Empress Dowager Yan nodded. “Our Zhou Kingdom had some friendly relations with the previous Emperor of Qin. So, when the Sovereign of Qin heard of Your Majesty’s wedding, he also dispatched envoys. Therefore, there can be no mistakes during this ceremony.”
“Then, what Mother means is…?”
“To be on the safe side, I was thinking that in seven days, Your Majesty and Ruxue should do a run-through to familiarize yourselves with the wedding ceremony procedures. What do you think, Your Majesty?”