radicalducati Chapter 285 The Fairy Finally Donned Her Wedding Dress
Chapter 285 The Fairy Finally Donned Her Wedding Dress
Shen Shixi was woken up at the fourth watch of the night and told to get up, bathe, and change her clothes.
She was so annoyed that she rolled over on the bed, settling into the innermost corner. "Why get up so early? Showering and changing takes so long! I should sleep!"
Madam Shen was very worried. "My dear ancestor, please get up! What day is it today? You can sleep in another day!"
Shen Shixi was already fast asleep again, so Madam Shen had no choice but to ask Bai Ping for help.
Bai Ping shook her head and stepped back. She had already had enough of the Empress getting up early every day to attend court.
News kept coming from the palace: the emperor had gotten up, the emperor was dressed, and the emperor was preparing to set off to fetch the bride. The first wife even had a heart attack.
Du Hanyun brought her child over; her daughter was about six months old and at a very playful age. The child climbed onto Shen Shixi's bed and told Du Hanyun to call Shen Shixi, "Quickly wake up Auntie Empress! It's time to get up!"
With so many people making noise, Shen Shixi couldn't sleep even if she were a pig. Reluctantly, she turned over, only to be hugged and smacked all over her face by the little dumpling. Shen Shixi cried out, "Dumpling, dumpling, you can't molest me! You little brat, you're taking advantage of me!"
She hugged the little dumpling and rubbed it, playing around with it until the little dumpling giggled, revealing its pink gums, which amused Shen Shixi, who rewarded her with a seven-treasure necklace.
Du Hanyun picked up the dough ball, and Bai Ping and the others were about to help Shen Shixi take a bath.
She asked, "What are you thinking? You've been in the palace for several years now, and there's still no news. What have the imperial physicians said?"
The First Madam was also extremely worried and listened intently.
"I was too busy before, so I didn't want to have a baby. Now that I'm less busy, I'll focus on having a baby!" she said, yawning as she gently touched the baby's chubby cheeks with her fingertips.
"Let's have a little girl as cute as our Tuanzi! Tuanzi, you must come to the palace to play with your auntie often, your auntie will miss you if she can't see you!"
Du Hanyun retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about? Give birth to a prince first, then you can have a daughter later!"
The First Madam wholeheartedly agreed.
Shen Shixi had just finished dressing and changing into her wedding attire when she heard that the Emperor himself had arrived with the wedding procession. The atmosphere in her boudoir immediately turned somber. The First Madam was the first to shed tears, followed by Shen Shiwan and Shen Shixian, who wept bitterly and clung to Shen Shixi's robes, reluctant to let her go.
Those who witnessed the ceremony found it unbelievable and began to offer their advice.
The old lady was initially quite firm, saying, "No one is allowed to cry! Smile, or you'll ruin the Empress's makeup!"
When she said the word "cry," she couldn't hold back anymore, tears streaming down her face as she hugged Shen Shixi, crying, "My dear Shixi!"
Shen Shixi was also a little sad, but she dared not cry. Even the most waterproof cosmetics couldn't withstand too much water, let alone non-waterproof ones.
She patted the old lady on the back, "Grandmother, please don't cry. What will the Emperor think if he hears this? Don't make him uncomfortable."
These words were incredibly effective. Instantly, the room seemed to freeze in time, and everyone quickly wiped away their tears, not daring to utter a single cry.
The sounds of excitement came from outside. Apart from a few relatives, many people had run outside to watch the ceremony. The Emperor himself was coming to greet them. Such an opportunity to see the Emperor up close was truly unique.
Shen Shiyu passed the imperial examination this year. During the palace examination, Li Yuanke selected his brother-in-law as one of the top ten and he entered the Hanlin Academy.
Today's task of blocking the gate will be left to him, along with many scholars from Yongxi Academy.
Li Yuanke also came prepared. Among his groomsmen were five military officers and five young, good-looking officials who had passed the imperial examinations, including Lin Xiangchuan and Fu Chuji.
Li Yuanke himself hadn't read many books; the poems about urging one to get married were all written by others, which he memorized.
At this time, military generals were not needed, so the civil officials were really going all out to impress the emperor.
Shen Xianzhang couldn't stand it anymore. Was the wedding still going to take place or not? This was turning into a palace examination! He quickly sent someone over. Shen Shiyu symbolically made things difficult for his brother-in-law, the Emperor, and then opened the door.
People outside rushed in, and it actually looked quite convincing. The emperor wanted to experience a wedding ceremony, and everyone cooperated.
Li Yuanke was sincerely seeking marriage, and he didn't even skip the procedure of going to the Shen family ancestral hall to inform his ancestors. Fortunately, he didn't mention bowing; he only lit an incense stick and bowed slightly. But for the emperor, this was still a remarkable thing.
Shen Xianzhang was very worried for the ancestors of the Shen family. An unfilial son had raised an unfilial daughter, and her wedding day had caused trouble for the ancestors.
Li Yuanke finally arrived at Shen Shixi's boudoir. Even though the door had been repainted red, its former mottled appearance was still visible.
When Shen Shixi was little, he carried her countless times from the front yard to the back yard, escorting her through this door before leaving to return to the palace.
"Brother-in-law is here!" Shen Shixian called out.
Li Yuanke stumbled and almost fell; he was a little allergic to the term "brother-in-law."
Ling Meng quickly steadied him and whispered, "Is it really necessary? Why are you so agitated?"
Li Yuanke gave him a look that said, "You don't understand," and went to knock on the door.
"Brother-in-law, you have to recite three poems to urge my sister to get ready for the wedding. No one is allowed to help. We won't open the door until my sister is satisfied," Shen Shixian said playfully.
Inside the gate, the old lady, with tears in her eyes, said, "You naughty girls, how dare you block the Emperor's door!"
"Today, the Emperor is the Emperor, and also my brother-in-law!" Shen Shixian thought to herself. After today, it will be difficult for him to bully or make things difficult for her in the future.
Li Yuanke obediently recited three poems he had memorized. Unable to hear Shen Shixi's voice inside, he grew anxious and almost scratched his head, calling out, "Xi'er, quickly have someone open the door! We'll miss the auspicious time!"
Shen Shixi smiled without saying a word.
Shen Shixian added, "Brother-in-law, my sister said you should recite another poem you wrote to urge me to get ready for the wedding. The one you just recited definitely wasn't yours."
Li Yuanke couldn't bring himself to do it, so he looked to Fu Chuji for help.
Fu Chuji then said, "Fourth Miss, I still advise you to open the door, otherwise, if the Emperor randomly arranges a marriage for you, wouldn't that be terrible?"
These words made everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Shen Shixian's face turned bright red, and she said angrily, "Who are you? Can't you speak properly? Humph, brother-in-law, if you don't avenge me, I won't open the door."
Li Yuanke said helplessly, "Get out of here, you're more trouble than you're worth!"
Fu Chuji scratched his head and took a few steps back in annoyance.
Shen Shixian wanted to see who this person was, so she flung open the door and immediately saw Fu Chuji. Their eyes met, and Shen Shixian paused for a moment, then glared at him. "I'll let you off the hook for now!"
Fu Chuji quickly cupped his hands in apology, "Yes, yes, yes, I was rude and offended you, young lady!"
Li Yuanke strode into the room. Everyone in the room wanted to kneel down and pay their respects to him, but he said "No need for formalities" and couldn't wait to go into the inner room. He immediately saw the girl sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for him.
She was smiling faintly at him.
The peach blossoms and the maiden's face—he still remembered that year when he looked up and saw the little girl sitting on the peach tree. Years have passed, and the fairy has finally put on her wedding dress, waiting for him to come and marry her!