Chapter 1: 001 The Grand Wedding

The Yue Dynasty, the seventh year of Emperor Qirui, early spring.

The boisterous sound of gongs and drums finally began to fade as night fell, yet the excitement continued to spread through every corner of the Imperial Palace.

Today was the day of her grand wedding to Bai Yuchen. Even though she and he were both a thousand times unwilling, it did not affect the progress of the ceremony in the slightest. Everywhere within the palace, large red "Double Happiness" characters were posted, and crimson lanterns could be seen at every turn.

She, Xiahou Shangle, the most favored princess of the Mu Dynasty, had become the Empress of the Yue Dynasty in unparalleled splendor today.

A dowry stretching across ten miles of streets, a wedding procession of a hundred people, and a bridal sedan carried by sixteen attendants—all of it served to demonstrate the Emperor of the Mu Dynasty's immense affection for her.

Because of today's marriage, the solemn Imperial Palace possessed a rare touch of joy and festivity.

However, within this Phoenix Pavilion, there was not a single trace of such merriment to be found.

It was quiet—exceptionally quiet. There was not a sound in the sleeping quarters; even her own slight breathing seemed to drift ethereally through the air.

Xiahou Shangle, dressed in wedding robes embroidered with golden phoenixes, sat upright and still on the edge of the bed. The festive atmosphere of the entire room seemed to have nothing to do with her. The large red bridal veil covered her exquisite face, concealing the mockery in her eyes.

This wedding should never have happened, yet it had been completed with unexpected smoothness.

The palace maids and eunuchs had long since quietly withdrawn. In the sleeping quarters, there was only the sound of Xiahou Shangle's faint breathing and the flickering candlelight.

Time passed bit by bit.

The night grew deeper and deeper.

Outside the window, a cold wind suddenly rose, and the flickering candlelight nearly went out.

Xiahou Shangle wrapped her thin wedding robes tighter around herself, trying to ward off the chill.

*Creak...*

The tightly closed doors of the sleeping quarters were pushed open. Xiahou Shangle clenched her hands tightly; under the dimming, flickering candlelight, her entire figure appeared even more fragile.

The sound of light footsteps slowly approached. She held her breath and lowered her gaze as a pair of golden boots entered her field of vision.

Another bout of silence followed. Xiahou Shangle felt a sense of unease, wondering what this person intended to do.

Just as she felt she was about to suffocate, the footsteps moved to one side and then approached again.

She could not see, but based on the instructions given by the old palace matrons before she arrived, she knew he was likely going to fetch the bridal veil lifter.

Sure enough, the lifter tied with red silk hooked and lifted the large red veil from her head.

A peerless, breathtaking face was reflected in Bai Yuchen's eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and a flash of surprise crossed his gaze.

The woman before him wore a phoenix crown and ceremonial robes, sitting poised on the edge of the bed. Her hair was as black as ink, styled in an exquisite flowing cloud bun, adorned with long tassels and phoenix hairpins. As a slight breeze blew, the tassels swayed gently, creating a perfect, undulating arc.

Her fair face was lightly powdered, appearing slightly flushed under the candlelight. Her eyes were like autumn waters, her nose was straight and carried an air of pride, and her lips were slightly pursed.

She possessed a charm that carried elegance, and a seductive beauty that held a sense of indifference!

Bai Yuchen had not expected the Yuefeng Princess of the Mu Dynasty to be so country-toppling in her beauty. Though he was stunned, the moment he thought of the purpose of this marriage and her identity, all the beauty in his heart vanished like smoke!

Xiahou Shangle felt Bai Yuchen's staring gaze and unceremoniously looked back at her husband.

Dressed in golden dragon robes with a red silk sash at his waist, Bai Yuchen was an exceptionally handsome man. His cold features were as deep as if carved by a knife, his pitch-black eyes shone with the light of stars, and his thin lips were pressed together indifferently. He exuded an innate aura of royalty.

Only at this moment did a hint of languor appear between his brows.

Looking at Xiahou Shangle, his brows rose slightly, his eyes carrying a hint of casualness, yet his majesty was evident in every way.

"What a peerless beauty!"

A smile played on Bai Yuchen's handsome face, yet one could not tell how much truth lay behind those words.

Withdrawing her gaze from him, Xiahou Shangle lowered her eyes. A soft light rose within them as she placed her hands at her waist and slowly bent her body to perform the imperial salute.

"This concubine pays her respects to the Emperor!"

Her etiquette was measured, her movements graceful and appropriate. As a princess of a nation, Xiahou Shangle did not err in the slightest.

The sleeping quarters fell back into a suffocating silence, the candlelight continuing to flicker.

Looking at the composed woman before him, Bai Yuchen felt a moment of trance, but it lasted only an instant.

"Rise. The Princess certainly had quite a grand display today. That hundred-person wedding procession even opened my eyes!"

As he spoke, Bai Yuchen's eyes held mockery. Had the Yue Dynasty not suffered consecutive natural disasters in recent years, he would not have fallen to the point of needing to marry the princess of a former enemy state to be his Empress.

How could Xiahou Shangle fail to hear the sarcasm in his words? She did not speak; she merely allowed her expression to grow even colder.

For the peace and prosperity of the millions of people in the Mu Dynasty, she could only swallow all her grievances.

She knew this marriage alliance between the two nations was not his wish, but was she any more willing?

Years ago, her father had personally killed his father in war, and the two nations had once been as incompatible as fire and water.

Now, she had become his Empress. Needless to say, Bai Yuchen was unwilling; if there had been a choice, Xiahou Shangle would not have been willing either.

It was just that both she and he were members of the imperial family, burdened by too much helplessness and too few choices.

"Does the Yuefeng Princess not wish to speak to me? Or does she deem herself too noble to speak to me?"

Bai Yuchen's words were thick with provocation. Even though her arrival had averted war between the Yue and Mu Dynasties and allowed the Yue Dynasty to establish a firmer foothold in the Nine Provinces Continent, he felt no gratitude toward her; instead, the hatred in his heart grew even stronger.

"This concubine would not dare!"

Xiahou Shangle lowered her eyes and replied softly. All he wanted was for her to bow her head, so she would give it to him!

"Would not dare? Did I hear correctly? Is there anything the Yuefeng Princess would not dare to do? Your father was always someone who could turn the clouds and rain with a flip of his hand; is there truly something you would not dare?"

A smile remained on Bai Yuchen's face, but the profound meaning within that smile was inscrutable. Xiahou Shangle did not understand what he was thinking. If he merely wanted to use a nation to stabilize his position in the Nine Provinces, he didn't necessarily have to choose the Mu Dynasty!

Or was he using her to avenge his father?

When two nations clash, casualties are inevitable. In that battle years ago, he was not the only one who lost kin; her own imperial brother had also passed away in that war.

If Bai Yuchen truly intended to use her as a tool to take revenge on her father, then she truly looked down on such a man—especially since this man was the Emperor of the Yue Dynasty!

"Xiahou Shangle, remember this: I married you merely to follow the wishes of the Grand Empress Dowager. If you intend to use your status as the Empress of the Yue Dynasty to stir up trouble in the inner palace, I will never show you mercy! No matter how much you were favored in the Mu Dynasty, once you marry into the Yue Imperial Family, everything shall be handled according to the rules of the Yue Dynasty!"

Bai Yuchen's words were extremely cold. The smile that had been hanging on his face vanished, replaced by an expression as cold as frost, and a faint killing intent flashed in his eyes.

"This concubine will keep the Emperor's teachings in mind!"