69novels Chapter 145 The Big Wedding
Chapter 145 The Big Wedding
On the wedding day, the entire city of Lin'an was bathed in a festive red hue.
In the Wende Hall, Zhao Yu, wearing a Tongtian crown and a crimson gauze robe, sat upright on the throne.
The tassels of his crown hung down, obscuring most of his expression, revealing his imperial majesty.
The prince and his civil and military officials, dressed in court attire, stood in rows according to their ranks, completely silent except for the gentle, resonant sounds of bells, drums, and elegant music.
The ceremonial official stepped forward slowly: "Your Majesty, I request the issuance of the Empress's imperial edict and seal."
The Chamberlain loudly proclaimed the imperial edict: "You, Lin, are from a distinguished family, blessed with beauty and talent, and are destined for the inner palace. You are fit to ascend the throne and rule the six palaces. I hereby dispatch an envoy with imperial credentials to bestow upon you the title of Empress. Go and obey with reverence."
After speaking, the eunuch presented the Empress's jade book and golden seal to the envoy with great solemnity.
The envoy, holding the imperial edict, bid farewell to Zhao Yu, presented the imperial edict and seal, and led a large entourage of musicians and drummers out of the palace in a grand procession.
People lined the streets to watch, eager to witness the grand spectacle of the empress's investiture.
Since the establishment of the Southern Song Dynasty, most empresses were promoted from concubines in the imperial harem. This is the first time that an empress has been married from among commoners.
The people of Lin'an were witnessing such a grand event for the first time, and naturally, they flocked to the streets to participate.
By this time, the Lin family home was already brightly decorated.
Lin Chaoying, dressed in a ceremonial robe and wearing a phoenix crown, sat regally in the main hall.
The formal gown made her originally aloof expression appear even more elegant, but there was still a hint of nervousness in her eyes.
The imperial envoy arrived at the residence and proclaimed the imperial edict in court.
"The Empress is officially appointed!"
Lin Chaoying bowed gracefully and solemnly accepted the imperial edict and seal. Only then was her status as empress officially proclaimed to the world.
According to the established etiquette, the next step is the ceremony of parental instruction.
Lin's father sat at the head of the table, looking at his daughter dressed in a phoenix coronet and wedding gown. His eyes were slightly red, and he said in a deep voice, "Serve the Emperor well."
Lin's mother stepped forward and tidied the jewels in her daughter's hair, her voice choked with emotion: "The palace is not like home. Don't be so childish anymore, okay?"
These two simple sentences fully express the parents' words of advice and reluctance to part with their daughter.
Lin Chaoying felt a lump in her throat, and, fighting back tears, bowed deeply to her parents.
After the admonition ceremony, Lin Chaoying boarded the carriage, and the curtains were drawn, separating the inside from the outside.
Outside the carriage, drums and music resounded as the ceremonial guard slowly moved forward.
Mr. and Mrs. Lin stood at the gate of their mansion, watching the departing motorcade, unable to come to their senses for a long time.
The two looked at each other, both seeing a sense of bewilderment in each other's eyes.
Their daughter, who loved swordsmanship since childhood, eventually became the Empress of the Song Dynasty. To this day, it still feels like a dream.
When the motorcade arrived at Xuande Gate, the scene was even more grand.
Civil and military officials, as well as members of the imperial family and their relatives, had already lined up to greet and pay homage to the emperor, shouting "Long live the emperor!"
The bells and drums rang out in unison, their sound shaking the heavens.
Lin Chaoying alighted from her carriage and boarded a palanquin. She passed through the Duanli Gate and Wende Hall, entered the Inner East Gate, and finally stopped outside the Funing Hall to await the grand wedding ceremony.
The elaborate ceremonies proceeded one by one: bowing to heaven and earth, bowing to the emperor and empress, and performing the nuptial ceremony...
The entire wedding ceremony was not considered complete until dusk.
Zhao Yu changed out of his heavy imperial robes and into casual clothes, while Lin Chaoying also changed out of her formal attire and went inside to rest for a while.
However, the emperor's wedding was different from that of ordinary people. The ceremony had only just begun, and there was still much to do on the second day.
The next morning, civil and military officials rushed to the East Upper Gate to present a congratulatory memorial to the emperor, and then went to the Inner East Gate to present a congratulatory letter to the empress.
Facing the officials' congratulations, Lin Chaoying sat calmly in the inner palace, responding with composure and without the slightest hesitation, displaying the demeanor of an empress.
Indeed, having impersonated Zhao Yu these past few days, she had met many of these court officials, so naturally she wasn't nervous.
After the morning greetings, the ceremony of paying homage at the temple begins.
Zhao Yu and Lin Chaoying went to Jingling Palace to pay homage to the portraits of the past emperors of the Song Dynasty.
The hall was filled with the smoke of incense and housed portraits of emperors from various dynasties, including Taizu and Taizong.
When they arrived at Zhao Ji's memorial tablet, Zhao Yu paused and then said, "Let's skip this one."
Lin Chaoying was slightly taken aback, but then she understood.
There was no need to pay respects to the memorial tablets of Emperor Qinzong and Emperor Gaozong of Song after that.
As a transmigrator, Zhao Yu hated these people more than he could bear to worship them.
Since it was just the two of them in the ancestral temple, no one would know if they overstepped their bounds.
After paying their respects, Zhao Yu, hand in hand with Lin Chaoying, returned to Zhao Kuangyin's memorial tablet.
He straightened his clothes, his expression solemn: "With our ancestors above, I, Zhao Yu, respectfully declare: I will lead the three armies on a northern expedition to recover our lost territories, return to the old capital, and avenge the humiliation of Jingkang. If I break this oath, may Heaven and Earth bear witness."
Lin Chaoying turned her head to look at Zhao Yu, grasped his hand tightly, and bowed with him.
The two left Jingling Palace, where a banquet had already been prepared.
The Empress's family members and civil and military officials all attended the banquet. During the banquet, music, dance, and various performances were staged in turn, and the atmosphere was lively and festive.
The entire wedding ceremony was now officially concluded.
Late at night, red candles burned brightly in the bedroom.
Slightly tipsy, Zhao Yu slowly walked into the inner hall.
Lin Chaoying, dressed in a bright red auspicious robe, was sitting upright by the couch.
The phoenix crown had been removed, and her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Her usually aloof face was softened by the candlelight, and her eyes held a rare hint of shyness.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up, their eyes met, and then she hurriedly lowered her gaze.
Zhao Yu felt a warmth in his heart and quickly walked over to sit down beside her: "Are you tired? These past two days of going around to pay respects to everyone has really worn my Sister Lin out."
"It's alright," Lin Chaoying said softly, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Sister Lin may have to work hard for a while longer."
Zhao Yu carefully instructed, "After I leave, I have given instructions to the palace's secret guards and the Eastern Depot's spies. They are all at your disposal. With Brother Huang providing support outside the palace, if anyone in the court dares to cause trouble, you can make your own decision."
A murderous glint flashed in Lin Chaoying's eyes: "Don't worry, if anyone dares to cause trouble, my sword is not to be trifled with."
"Of course I trust you." Zhao Yu smiled and squeezed her hand. "It's just that I'm sorry to trouble you; we've just gotten married, and I have to go north now."
Lin Chaoying shook her head: "National affairs are of utmost importance. How could I be the kind of woman who doesn't understand the bigger picture?"
She paused, then asked seemingly casually, "Are you taking Smurfette with you on this trip north?"
"Yes." Zhao Yu nodded. "She's skilled in poisons, and I need her help with something."
Lin Chaoying responded, but her tone carried a hint of barely perceptible jealousy.
"That's good. I feel more at ease knowing someone is there to look after you. Just be careful in everything you do."
Zhao Yu couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at her feigned indifference.
He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "A moment of blissful night is worth a thousand pieces of gold, Your Majesty, shouldn't we retire for the night?"
Lin Chaoying's cheeks instantly turned bright red.
She gave a barely audible "hmm," as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
Zhao Yu got up, raised his hand and lowered the layers of bed curtains, the red candles flickered, and the shadows of the curtains were hazy.
"Blow out the light..."
Lin Chaoying's voice, tinged with shyness, came from inside the tent.
"No, I'm not bragging." Zhao Yu's voice was tinged with laughter. "I just want to see Sister Lin more."
The whispers inside the tent gradually faded, leaving only a room full of tenderness.
The beauty of spring in one night needs no further explanation.