Chapter 816: Chapter 776: Empress’s Grand Wedding (Double Release)

After the grand ceremony was completed, the imperial eunuch said to the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, "Your Majesty needs to hasten to the coronation ceremony, please arrange for the Three Top Scholars to ride horses through the streets."

After speaking, he turned slightly towards Zhao Xi, his expression much more respectful, "Your Majesty, we should go prepare for the coronation ceremony now."

Zhao Xi slowly got up, walked down from the platform, and when he passed by Song Yuanbao, he paused for a moment and turned his head.

Song Yuanbao felt Zhao Xi was looking at him, slowly raised his head, and met his deep black eyes.

"Congratulations on your joyous marriage," Zhao Xi said.

Perhaps it was just a misconception, but Song Yuanbao felt that after he became emperor, his aura became deeper, making it somewhat hard to grasp.

Like now, he was clearly congratulating him, but those eyes made it hard to discern whether it was joy or anger.

This made Song Yuanbao involuntarily think of a saying — the majesty of the emperor is hard to fathom.

It’s said that emperors are often unpredictable in their moods.

Song Yuanbao rarely interacted with Emperor Guangxi and wasn’t sure of Emperor Guangxi’s temperament. He mostly interacted with Zhao Xi, but back then Zhao Xi was still a Prince, and the deepest impression he left on Song Yuanbao was severity.

Stern to others, even sterner to himself.

However, now, his impression of Zhao Xi had gained another layer: profound and unpredictable.

Before, he could somewhat read Zhao Xi’s eyes, but now he couldn’t. That Crown Prince of Cloud who occasionally showed youthful vigor was wrapped in a thick cocoon, unreachable and distant.

After Zhao Xi said those four words, he turned to leave.

"Your Highness—" Song Yuanbao called out impulsively, realizing his mistake, he quickly corrected himself, "Your Maj-, Your Majesty."

Zhao Xi didn’t turn his head, but his steps stopped slightly.

Song Yuanbao looked at his tall and graceful back, ignoring the surprised gazes of the new Advanced Scholars in the hall, directly asked, "Going forward, are we still friends?"

Zhao Xi’s sharp lips seemed to tug slightly, but he did not speak and directly left Taihe Palace.

Song Yuanbao stood there watching Zhao Xi board the Imperial Carriage and depart, lost in thought for a long time.

Xu Dengke walked over, shaking his head with a light sigh, "Why do you trouble yourself with this?"

Song Yuanbao lowered his gaze.

When Zhao Xi was appointed Crown Prince, the first thing he did was ask him to move out of Yutang Palace.

He fell seriously ill because of it.

Now Zhao Xi has become emperor, seemingly doing nothing, yet Song Yuanbao knew he had been removed from a certain place.

It would be false to say the years of friendship aren’t painful.

However, he wasn’t someone who liked to wear his heart on his sleeve, he quickly showed a smile and raised his eyebrow at Xu Dengke, "I was just casually asking, I initially wanted to borrow a few more guests from him to liven up my wedding, but since he ignored me, forget it."

Xu Dengke noticed the young man’s effort to hide his feelings, smiled, "I invited many classmates for you, today’s wedding feast will certainly be lively."

"Really?" Song Yuanbao’s eyes lit up slightly, "That’s wonderful."

The new Advanced Scholars gradually walked out of Taihe Palace.

Xu Dengke intentionally stayed behind, patted Song Yuanbao’s shoulder, and said warmly, "Today is a day of double celebration for you, be happy."

"Alright." Song Yuanbao smiled at him, then followed the Honglu Temple officials to the side hall to change into the Champion Scholar Robe, leading the horse bound with red flowers, to ride through the streets.

...

The coronation ceremony of the new emperor was also the ceremony for conferring the empress.

The Dong Family had already received the imperial decree. After Dong Han bathed and changed clothes, she went to the main courtyard accompanied by attendants to see her father, mother, brother, and sister-in-law.

Dong Wenbo had already retired, now leisurely at home, knowing his daughter was leaving, he arrived early at the main courtyard hall to wait.

When Dong Han entered, her mother Mrs. Cao was holding her four-year-old grandson sitting on the Arhat Bed, while Dong Wenbo sat on the other end.

On the circle chair below, were Dong Han’s brother Dong Zhe and sister-in-law Du Family.

"Father, Mother, Brother, Sister-in-law." After entering, Dong Han greeted them first. After the maid brought over a kneeling cushion, she slowly knelt down to kowtow to her parents.

Mrs. Cao was reluctant to part with her daughter, her eyes teary, "Hanhan, from now on you won’t be by our side, you must be extra careful."

Dong Zhe also spoke, "Father has retired, our family’s influence no longer reaches the court or the inner palace, with the palace walls between us, the path forward, little sister must walk it alone, be sure to take care!"

Dong Han replied, "I will remember mother and brother’s teachings in my heart."

Du Family secretly curled her lips, but still smiled, "I’ve heard, the women in the palace are very cunning, Han is the Empress, behind you there will likely be many women entering the palace, you must keep a broad mind, don’t get jealous over trivial matters, or else the Emperor might not favor you."