mtl008 Chapter 262 The Emperor Grants Marriage
Chapter 262 The Emperor Grants Marriage
Chapter 262, Imperial Marriage
A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling the stray hairs at Tian Tian's temples. Ling Yao raised his hand, but then restrained himself and withdrew it.
“In my heart, you are more precious than any noblewoman. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Receiving no answer from Tian Tian, his voice trembled slightly, "Father and Mother both love you very much... Just as Father protected Mother, I will spend the rest of my life protecting you, ensuring you remain as bright, happy, and carefree as you are now..."
As he spoke, he took out a jade hairpin from his pocket, the head of which was carved with ears of rice. "This is a design I drew myself, and I had it made by a craftsman."
Tian Tian felt her cheeks burning, and even the roots of her ears turned bright red.
She lowered her head, her gaze falling on the jade hairpin in Ling Yao's hand. The rice ears on it gleamed with a warm luster, just like her throbbing heart at that moment.
"Your Highness..." she called softly, her voice barely audible.
Ling Yao's confession was so sincere that it made her realize that he had really put a lot of thought into it for her.
Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her skirt, creating tiny wrinkles in the fine brocade fabric.
At this moment, Ling Yao's usually calm and composed eyes were filled with anticipation and unease.
"His Highness has always been very good to me," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.
A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers, dispelling the last trace of hesitation in her heart.
She gently weighed her head. "I'm willing."
For a moment, it was as if time stood still.
Ling Yao stood frozen in place, nearly dropping the jade hairpin in her hand.
He only snapped out of his daze when Tian Tian blushed and reached out her hand.
"You...you agreed?" His voice trembled slightly, and his eyes shone with surprise.
Seeing Tian Tian nod again, he was so excited he almost jumped up, but he forced himself to restrain himself.
Tian Tian couldn't help but smile as she looked at him.
She reached out and gently took the jade hairpin.
Taking the opportunity, Ling Yao grasped her hand, feeling the slight coolness of her fingertips. "Sweetie, don't worry, I will treat you well and never let you down."
His voice was gentle yet firm, “Tomorrow I will inform my father and mother and ask them to grant us a marriage.”
Tian Tian's face turned even redder, and she tried to pull her hand away, but he gently held it.
His palms were warm and dry, radiating a reassuring strength.
She looked up and met his smiling eyes, which reflected the sunlight and her own reflection.
“I’ll put it on for you,” he said.
Tian Tian let go.
Ling Yao carefully brushed aside the stray hairs near her temples...
Tian Tian lowered her head and could feel his warm breath brushing against her ear.
His fingertips gently brushed through her hair, and he slowly inserted a jade hairpin carved with rice ears into her hair bun. The rice buds on the hairpin's head were just right beside her ear, making her even more beautiful and charming.
Ling Yao took a half step back, examining it carefully, his eyes filled with amazement. "It's really beautiful."
He sighed softly, unable to resist reaching out to gently stroke the jade-carved rice ears, "This rice ear hairpin, only you in the world are worthy of it."
Tian Tian raised her hand and touched the jade hairpin in her hair; it felt warm and smooth to the touch.
She looked up at Ling Yao and met his smiling eyes.
At that moment, she suddenly felt that perhaps this was a destiny ordained by fate.
"It's getting late, I should leave the palace," Tian Tian said softly, her voice tinged with shyness.
Seeing her shy appearance, Ling Yao felt even more tender.
He gently took her hand. "I'll take you there."
The two walked side by side on the path in the Imperial Garden, the sunlight casting long shadows of them.
Ling Yao walked beside her, glancing at her every now and then, his eyes full of tenderness.
*
Empress Li was adjusting the color of lip rouge with Lu Tao, Liu San Niang, Tian Xiang, and Qin Youyou, while Tian Jinghe yawned boredly beside them.
"My color seems a bit too dark."
"Your Majesty, the color you mixed is just right."
“Sister Lu, although your color is a bit dark, it is very suitable for the old ladies of high-ranking families. It can make their complexion look better without being too abrupt or gaudy.”
He doesn't understand...
The colors they mixed from various flowers were all clearly red, with no difference whatsoever, yet they studied them with great interest.
"Your Majesty is right."
"Your Majesty, what do you think of the color I mixed?" Liu San Niang seemed to have no talent; the color she mixed was extremely vibrant.
But Empress Li did not deny her, saying, "The colors that Sister Liu mixed are suitable for some... lively and unrestrained women."
"There are many women in the capital, and they all have different preferences."
"It's like choosing clothes; some people like plain clothes, while others like bright colors."
"This lip rouge is the same."
Tian Xiang didn't have much experience, but the color she mixed haphazardly turned out alright. Empress Li praised, "It looks like the color of a tomato, a bright red, so beautiful."
Qin Youyou, being young, felt embarrassed by overly bright colors, so she mixed very subtle shades.
"The color that Youyou mixed is perfect for a young girl," Empress Li said after looking at it. "The young girl has the best complexion; adding a little more of the solid color will make her look beautiful."
She concluded, "Therefore, the lipsticks at our Jiaoyan Pavilion must come in a variety of colors so that women of different ages can choose the right one."
She clicked her tongue and said, "Since I'm going to open a shop, I have to make it a success."
"Come on, let's try again."
The group smiled wearily.
"Mother."
"Miss."
The arrival of Ling Yao and Tian Tian immediately excited everyone.
"Sweetie, you're awake."
"Sweetie, have you eaten?"
"Sweet..."
Unlike the others who were concerned about Tian Tian, Empress Li stared intently at Tian Tian's hair.
That thing...
That thing looks like...
She turned to Ling Yao, then looked at Tian Tian...
"Yao'er, come here..."
Empress Li pulled Ling Yao aside, "Yao'er, wasn't the hairpin in Tian Tian's hair made by you?"
"Sweetie, she..."
"and you...?"
Empress Li raised her eyebrows suggestively, her meaning quite clear.
Ling Yao glanced shyly at Tian Tian not far away, then nodded.
"Mother, Tian Tian has agreed to be my Crown Princess."
Empress Li's eyes widened. "Really?!"
Ling Yao nodded firmly, "Really."
"That's wonderful!!" Empress Li clapped her hands in delight.
Everyone else was startled and looked over.
Seeing how happy Empress Li was, Tian Tian knew that Ling Yao had told her about their affair.
Instantly, her face turned bright red.
Empress Li knew immediately that this matter was indeed true.
"Great, great!!"
Lu Tao and Liu San Niang were bewildered, "Your Majesty?"
Empress Li came before them and grabbed Tian Tian's hand, exclaiming, "Tian Tian, that's wonderful!!"
The others remained bewildered...
"I have finally gotten what I wanted."
"I will go to the Emperor in a moment and ask him to grant you a marriage."
Arranged marriage?!
Lu Tao and Liu San Niang were shocked!
"Tiantian?"
Tian Tian nodded to them.
Lu Tao felt as if struck by lightning!
Sweetie agreed to be the Crown Princess, so does that mean her whole family... will have to live in the capital?!
But the next second, she was immediately happy for her daughter.
These two kids have finally taken that ambiguous step.
Tian Xiang and Qin Youyou couldn't help but be happy for Tian Tian, but Tian Jinghe was still puzzled. Wasn't this just a matter of time? What were they all so happy about?
"Your Majesty, it's getting late. I'll escort Tian Tian and the two ladies out of the palace first."
"When I return, I will go with Mother to ask Father for permission."
"Very well." Empress Li nodded repeatedly. "Then go and come back quickly."
*
When Tian Tian returned home, she was surrounded by her family, who asked her all sorts of questions.
"Sweetie, what did His Highness say to you? Why did you agree?"
"Yeah, why did you suddenly agree?" Tian Xiang asked curiously.
Tian Tian hesitated, then took the jade hairpin off her head. "He made this for me..."
Tian Xiang carefully took it and held it up to read with her family.
"Are these rice ears?" Tian Xiang looked closely and finally recognized them.
"Your Highness is truly imaginative, having actually carved rice ears onto a jade hairpin."
Tian Tian's fingertips gently traced the delicate rice stalk pattern on the jade hairpin, her eyes slightly warming.
She agreed to Ling Yao's request because of the pattern of the rice ears.
He said that he drew the design on the hairpin himself.
This shows that he admires her.
He was attracted to her because of the real her, the one who cared for the world.
“I’m just worried that Your Highness is doing this because of the rice…” Lu Tao finally voiced her concern.
In fact, she had had this worry ever since she learned Ling Yao's identity.
Before she knew Ling Yao's true identity, she thought highly of him.
After all, such a refined gentleman is also polite and courteous in his dealings with others.
But he's the crown prince... Tian Tian is just a merchant's daughter...
“Sister,” Liu San Niang disagreed with Lu Tao, “If His Highness is only after the rice, there is really no need for him to marry Tian Tian as the Crown Princess.”
That's the crown prince.
It is the Emperor and Empress.
They want rice seeds, do you think Tian Tian would refuse them?
The rice seeds were presented as an offering to the imperial court, but in reality, it was the people of the land who were truly fed.
Even if the Crown Prince doesn't marry Tian Tian, Tian Tian will still offer him the rice seeds.
If that's the case, why does Your Highness need to go to all this trouble?
After Liu San Niang's reminder, Lu Tao felt somewhat relieved. "That would be best."
All she wanted was for Tian Tian to marry a husband who truly loved her...
And Your Highness...
"Sweetie, has His Highness ever said... about his future harem...?" Tian Xiang knew Lu Tao's worries, so she asked on Lu Tao's behalf.
Tian Tian smiled and said, "He said he would be like his father, the emperor."
The emperor's harem consisted of only one empress.
"Sweetie, does His Highness really say that?!" Lu Tao asked her to confirm.
Tian Tian nodded with absolute certainty.
Lu Tao finally smiled. "That's more like it."
The family was talking and hadn't even returned to the backyard when the gatekeeper came to inform them that Eunuch Yin had come to deliver an imperial edict.
Emperor Fengtian Chengyun issued an edict:
The universe is defined by its order, and yin and yang are in harmony. Marriage is a fundamental human relationship and the foundation of family and nation.
Now there is Crown Prince Ling Yao, who possesses both virtue and talent, and is unparalleled in benevolence and filial piety!
Princess Fufeng is virtuous, dignified, talented, and of noble character. She cares deeply for the people and her high moral standards make her a role model for women everywhere.
The two were deeply in love, a truly blessed match.
The Emperor and Empress were delighted with the news and hereby grant the two a marriage to be held on an auspicious day.
The Ministry of Rites was instructed to select an auspicious day and prepare the six rites to welcome Princess Fufeng with the rites due to a Crown Princess.
He was also bestowed with a thousand taels of gold, a hundred bolts of brocade, and ten bushels of pearls as a dowry.
The title of Princess Qingping was bestowed upon Tian Xiang, the sister of Princess Fufeng, and the title of Princess Anping upon Qin Youyou, to facilitate the marriage of the Crown Princess...
Tian Xiang and Qin Youyou lowered their heads, looking at their shadows, and then secretly looked up to meet each other's equally shocked gazes.
"Princess Qingping and Princess Anping have served the Crown Princess well in their daily assistance; therefore, they are hereby bestowed with one hundred taels of gold, ten bolts of brocade, and a pair of jade ruyi scepters..." Eunuch Yin's voice continued...
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great favor." Tian Xiang and Qin Youyou bowed together.
"Please get up, Your Highnesses," said Eunuch Yin kindly.
Congratulations to the two county princesses!
He approached Lu Tao and Liu San Niang, saying, "This old servant also wishes you both well."
Lu Tao and Liu San Niang each handed a purse to Eunuch Yin, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Steward."
Over there, Qin Youyou almost tripped over her own skirt when she got up, but fortunately Tian Xiang caught her in time.
The two looked at each other and smiled, their eyes glistening with tears.
Eunuchs filed in carrying the rewards. The gold shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, the patterns on the brocade were so exquisite that one could not look away, and the pair of jade ruyi were so warm and translucent that they seemed to reflect one's image.
"Ladies, the Ministry of Rites will take full responsibility for the Princess's marriage. You need not worry about it."
"Yes, yes," Lu Tao replied repeatedly, but in her heart she was thinking that she could ignore everything else, but she still had to prepare the dowry.
Originally, all these businesses in the family were acquired by Tian Tian, and now that Tian Tian is getting married, they certainly can't be too shabby.
After seeing Eunuch Yin off, Lu Tao began to ponder...
Ever since the family started earning money, Tian Tian would occasionally slip her banknotes.
She now has tens of thousands of taels of silver notes on her.
Liu San Niang also took out the silver notes she had on her...
"Huh?" Lu Tao was counting her silver notes when she looked up in surprise. "What are you doing?"
“Since Tian Tian is getting married, I, as her aunt, should naturally prepare a dowry.” Liu San Niang said matter-of-factly, and stuffed the silver notes in her hand into Lu Tao’s hand.
Lu Tao clutched her silver notes tightly, trying to separate from her, saying, "That won't do."
"As her aunt, a token donation is enough. How could you possibly give me all your banknotes?"
"When Youyou gets married, you're not going to give her a dowry?"
This thick stack... must be worth at least tens of thousands of taels.
Liu San Niang gathered the scattered silver notes on the table and insisted on giving them to Lu Tao, saying, "Don't I get a share of the profits from Baishi Teahouse?"
“Youyou also receives a share of the profits from Baishi Hot Pot Shop.”
"Before long, the money was back."
Liu San Niang: "Our Tian Tian is marrying into the royal family, so we can't be stingy."
"We need to let everyone know that it's not that our Sweetie is marrying above her station, but that the royal family is marrying above their station."
Outside, Tian Tian, Tian Xiang, and Qin Youyou overheard the conversation between the two.
Tian Tian shook her head helplessly and gently pushed open the door. "Mother, Aunt Liu, you're carrying so many silver notes, why didn't you close the door properly?"
She immediately noticed the table full of silver notes...
"Mother, Aunt Liu, these silver notes...you should put them away."
"My dowry, you don't need to take any of your private savings."