svetikya Page 138
Page 138
Emperor Qing remained indifferent and led Hong Sixiang directly to the backyard of Taiping Villa.
This is where Ye Qingmei's grave is located.
Hong Sixiang had Linglong place offerings for the memorial ceremony in front of the tomb. Not far away, eunuchs were burning paper money.
What puzzled Hong Sixiang was...
Why did Emperor Qing suddenly decide to come to Taiping Villa to pay respects to Ye Qingmei so late at night?
"Is it because Chen Qingfeng is getting married tomorrow?"
Hong Sixiang secretly guessed.
As a confidant of Emperor Qing, he naturally knew Chen Qingfeng's true identity; he was not Chen Pingping's adopted son, but a prince.
After much thought, Hong Sixiang still couldn't figure it out, so he could only quietly stay by Emperor Qing's side.
At this moment, Emperor Qing stood before Ye Qingmei's grave. Under the waning moonlight, his body cast a long shadow on the grave.
In the silence, Emperor Qing suddenly smashed the ever-burning lamp he was holding onto the tombstone.
A shard of glass pierced his palm, and drops of blood fell, splattering onto the large characters "Tomb of Ye Qingmei" on the tombstone.
"Ye Qingmei!"
"I am the Son of Heaven."
Do you know what an emperor is?
"The Son of Heaven is ordained by Heaven, the supreme ruler!"
"By the mandate of Heaven, I shall govern the people on behalf of Heaven."
"Holding the sacred artifacts of the state, wielding the power of life and death."
"A single word from me can determine the life and death of countless people, and a single stroke can alter the course of the nation!"
"All power over the world rests in my hands, and all the lands within the four seas are my subjects."
Emperor Qing said coldly, exuding an aura of dominance.
Upon sensing this, Hong Sixiang and the others nearby all felt a chill run down their spines, experiencing a sense of dread.
At this moment, Emperor Qing sighed deeply over Ye Qingmei's grave, and then said:
"Of course."
"Even the emperor is a lonely man, the most solitary person in the world."
"There are some things I have to do!"
"If you could know this from beyond the grave, you would understand my good intentions."
Earlier in his bedchamber, Emperor Qing was awakened by a nightmare.
In the dream, Ye Qingmei seemed to be a returned soul.
They wanted to seize the emperor's power from him.
It was this dream that made Emperor Qing rush to Taiping Villa as soon as he woke up.
Here, a night sacrifice is held for the departed souls.
He believed in the absolute authority of the monarchy and would never tolerate any threat to equality and freedom.
For the sake of imperial power, Emperor Qing did not hesitate to slaughter meritorious officials, check the court, and control the world.
All for the sake of ensuring the eternal stability of the Li family's empire.
But he would still wake up in the middle of the night, feeling as if Ye Qingmei's ghost had never let him go.
I came here seeking solace for my soul.
After the ceremony, Emperor Qing took a deep breath, then turned his gaze to Hong Sixiang:
"Eunuch Hong!"
"How are the preparations for Chen Qingfeng's wedding going?"
Upon hearing this, Hong Sixiang immediately bowed to Emperor Qing and replied:
"Return to Your Majesty."
"The Imperial Household Department, the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Clan Court, the Imperial Guard, and the Court of Ceremonies have all prepared everything according to regulations."
"The Fan family and the Prime Minister's residence are also ready."
"We're just waiting for Young Master Chen to come and fetch the bride tomorrow."
Emperor Qing nodded; after this ceremony, his heart was at peace.
Thinking back, what happened in the palace earlier was nothing more than a nightmare.
How could there be a dead soul in this world? Nor could anyone come back to life!
For Emperor Qing, Ye Qingmei was already a thing of the past.
Of course, he still plans to go to the wedding venue in person tomorrow to see Chen Qingfeng's big day.
No matter what, Chen Qingfeng is still his son.
How could such an occasion be complete without him?
……
The morning light is dim.
The Liujing River shimmered, reflecting the red silk lanterns hanging high on both banks.
Earlier, Chen Pingping had prepared a large mansion for Chen Qingfeng.
This is where Chen Qingfeng, Fan Ruoruo, and Lin Wan'er are holding their wedding today.
A hundred-foot-long red carpet was laid in front of the vermilion gate, and golden nanmu lamp stands stood on both sides. Under the candlelight, the entire mansion looked like a palace in the sky.
On the courtyard wall, a mechanical wooden kite carrying a string of glass beads swayed gently in the wind, scattering tiny specks of light like a cascading galaxy.
The courtyard is beautiful, and joy fills the door!
In the main courtyard, the winding corridors are decorated with gold-embroidered curtains, and thousands of glass lanterns hang under the corridors.
The lamp wick burned with special lamp oil, its flame never going out, illuminating the entire courtyard.
In the central hall, a golden plate with dragons and phoenixes is placed on a sandalwood table. The plate is filled with pearls from the East China Sea and jade from the Western Regions, symbolizing both wealth and honor.
The east wing was Fan Ruoruo's bridal chamber, and its furnishings were elegant.
The bed is covered with a Suzhou-embroidered quilt with a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons, and a glass mirror is placed on the dressing table with a frame inlaid with seven-treasure necklace.
The west wing served as Lin Wan'er's bridal chamber, and was luxurious and elegant.
The gauze curtain was woven from silkworm silk from the northern frontier, and the candlelight shone through, making it appear like the morning glow spreading out.
A gilded incense burner was placed on the table, burning imperial ambergris incense, with wisps of smoke rising, creating a dreamlike scene.
Morning light streamed through the carved window lattices, casting dappled gold spots into the warm chamber.
Si Lili stood in front of the bronze mirror, her fingertips holding a gold-painting brush, and gently touched Chen Qingfeng's eyebrows.
"Young master, today is your wedding day."
"I'll make you, the groom, even more dazzling than the waters of the Crystal River."
As she spoke, Si Lili's red lips curved slightly, and her eyes sparkled with charm.
Then, she dipped her fingertip in vermilion rouge and lightly touched Chen Qingfeng's lips, spreading a faint red hue.
"This color... is even more vibrant than blood."
Si Lili chuckled softly, her fingertips tracing Chen Qingfeng's lips, a gesture that seemed both teasing and savoring.
Chen Qingfeng looked up and saw their reflections in the mirror.
Si Lili's crimson robes were like fire, while his black robes were like night, resembling a dance between a demon and a fairy.
Then, Si Lili picked up the purple-gold crown, ran her fingertips through his hair, and slowly tied it up.
"From this day forward, you will be Fan Ruoruo and Lin Wan'er's husband..."
Si Lili's voice was soft, yet it contained a hint of resentment.
Chen Qingfeng didn't speak, but closed his eyes slightly, letting Si Lili's fingertips linger in his hair, as if enjoying this last bit of tenderness.
Soon, Si Lili draped Chen Qingfeng in a black wedding gown, the dark gold dragon on the hem appearing and disappearing in the morning light.
"This dragon pattern... is even more imposing than His Majesty's dragon robe."
Si Lili smiled gently, her fingertips tracing across Chen Qingfeng's chest, and then said:
"Tonight, in the bridal chamber, I wonder if the two brides can withstand your imposing manner, young master?"
Upon hearing Si Lili's words, Chen Qingfeng suddenly grabbed her wrist, his eyes darkening.
"Miss Lili!"
"After saying all that, it all sounds like you're jealous?"
"How about... I marry you too?"
Upon hearing this, Si Lili appeared somewhat flustered.
She knew that she was of humble appearance, and it was already quite an achievement that she had gained Chen Qingfeng's favor and assistance.
Not to mention, after the assassination attempt on Niulan Street, her identity as a spy from Northern Qi had already been exposed.
If Chen Qingfeng were to marry her, wouldn't he be asking for trouble?
At that time, not to mention whether he can protect her, Chen Qingfeng himself will probably be accused of colluding with an enemy country.
Moreover, she is still hesitating about what choice to make.
Chen Qingfeng had previously said that when the time was right, he would give her an active choice.
Not long ago, Chen Qingfeng had already asked him about it.
The question is whether to return to Northern Qi or stay by his side.
Si Lili did not give a definite answer; she was hesitant and unsure of what to do.