The imperial wedding procession
829 Words
Chapter 4: The Imperial Wedding Procession (Part 1)
The morning sun had barely risen when the sound of drums echoed throughout the capital.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
One deep beat after another rolled across the streets, drawing people from their homes. Merchants abandoned their stalls, children ran to the roadside, and nobles leaned out from their carriages.
"The Imperial Wedding Procession!"
"It's coming!"
"I heard the Emperor is personally sending the bridal procession!"
"What? His Majesty has never done that before!"
The streets buzzed with excitement.
Long rows of imperial guards dressed in black armor marched in perfect formation. Their polished spears reflected the morning sunlight like waves of silver.
Behind them came musicians playing flutes and drums, followed by servants carrying priceless gifts.
Silk.
Jade.
Gold.
Rare medicinal herbs.
Pearls the size of dove eggs.
Boxes of embroidered brocade from the southern provinces.
The endless procession stretched so far that people could not see its end.
An elderly man stroked his beard in amazement.
"The Emperor truly values this marriage."
A woman shook her head.
"Or perhaps... this is only to preserve the dignity of the imperial family."
No one knew the truth.
...
Inside the Lin Manor, every servant was rushing about.
Even the usually arrogant servants walked with lowered heads today.
No one dared make a mistake when the imperial household was expected to arrive.
Lady Su Meilan stood in the front courtyard, directing everyone with a smile.
"Polish those lanterns."
"Arrange the flowers again."
"The reception hall must be spotless."
She looked every bit the loving mother preparing to send her daughter into marriage.
Only those closest to her knew that her smile hid a heart colder than winter.
She turned toward Auntie Rong.
"Is everything prepared?"
Auntie Rong bowed discreetly.
"Yes, My Lady."
"The embroidered sachet has already been placed among the bridal gifts."
Lady Su's lips curved slightly.
"No one will suspect a wedding gift."
Inside the sachet was a slow-acting poison.
It would not kill immediately.
Instead, it would weaken the body little by little until even the finest physicians believed it was an incurable illness.
Lady Su had waited years to remove Lin Qingyue.
She would not allow fate to ruin her plans now.
...
Meanwhile...
In the quiet eastern courtyard...
Lin Qingyue sat before a bronze mirror while Xia He carefully combed her long black hair.
The room was silent except for the soft sound of the wooden comb.
"Miss..."
Xia He hesitated.
"Do you regret it?"
Qingyue looked at her reflection.
Her face remained calm, but her eyes held a sadness that words could not express.
"Regret what?"
"The engagement... everything."
Qingyue smiled faintly.
"If someone can so easily abandon a promise made years ago..."
"Then he was never meant to stand beside me."
Xia He bit her lip.
"But His Majesty..."
"The rumors..."
Before she could finish, Qingyue gently took her hand.
"Rumors are carried by the wind."
"I would rather judge someone with my own eyes."
Xia He stared at her mistress in admiration.
Despite everything she had suffered, Qingyue's heart had not become bitter.
...
Just then—
A knock sounded at the door.
"My Lady."
It was Lord Lin Jian.
Qingyue immediately stood and bowed.
"Father."
For a long moment, Lord Lin simply looked at his daughter.
The little girl who used to hide behind her mother's skirts had become a graceful young woman.
A wave of guilt washed over him.
He had been absent for so many years that he had failed to notice how lonely she had become.
"I heard..." he said quietly, "that you have accepted the marriage without complaint."
Qingyue lowered her gaze.
"An imperial decree cannot be disobeyed."
Lord Lin sighed deeply.
"I have failed you."
"You lost your mother..."
"And I was never here."
Qingyue's eyes trembled.
These were words she had waited years to hear.
But instead of blaming him, she simply smiled.
"You have always protected the empire, Father."
"I understand."
Lord Lin's chest tightened.
His daughter was still trying to comfort him.
How much pain had she hidden all these years?
He reached into his sleeve and carefully removed a small wooden box.
"This belonged to your mother."
Qingyue froze.
"My... mother?"
Lord Lin nodded.
"I intended to give it to you when you came of age."
"But perhaps today is the right day."
With trembling hands, Qingyue opened the box.
Inside lay a delicate white jade hairpin carved into the shape of a blooming lotus.
It was simple.
Elegant.
And strangely warm to the touch.
The moment her fingers brushed against it—
The jade pendant around her neck gave off another faint pulse of silver light.
So brief that neither she nor her father noticed.
But far away, inside the Imperial Palace...
Emperor Xiao Liwei suddenly looked up from the memorials spread across his desk.
The pain in his chest eased for the first time in days.
His golden eyes narrowed.
"What... was that feeling?"
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