Chapter 70 p2
A month later, at the end of summer, the young emperor’s abdication ceremony and the new emperor’s accession ceremony were held at the same time.
Xie Yao had reserved the best viewing position for Yuli and had her disguise herself as a servant to watch from the side.
Actually, Yuli didn’t really want to watch. The ceremony was too long. There were three refusals and three acceptances, and many official words were said. There were also sacrifices and the reading of edicts. She was almost asleep.
It was only when Xie Yao ascended the imperial platform and reached the highest point of Hanyuan Hall that she felt a little excited. She was standing by the palace gate, and he was walking up the steps, as if he were coming towards her.
A crack appeared in his solemn and cold expression. He curled his lips and even raised an eyebrow.
Yuli’s heart pounded. She pretended to be calm and looked around. It seemed that besides her, no one was looking up at him directly.
Her ears turned red, and she also lowered her head.
Then came the acceptance of the court officials’ bows. In the vast square, the shouts of “long live” were mighty. Only then did Yuli have a real sense that the person before her was her husband, and in the future, he would also be the ruler of a country.
He was shouldering the livelihood of the common people and also held the power to punish the bullies and the powerful. From being an illegitimate son who was bullied by everyone to now, he was indeed the man of destiny.
He had to be strong and ruthless to sit on this position, and in the future, he had to be even more benevolent to sit on it firmly.
Although she was not as strong as him at all, Yuli inexplicably believed that he would consider her thoughts on how to govern his country. Even if she couldn’t help him, she was a member of the common people. As long as she did her part, she could have some influence on him.
After the accession ceremony, in less than half a month, it was the ceremony of enfeoffing the empress.
This time, it was Yuli herself who was under the watchful eyes of the public. She was inevitably a little nervous. Although Xie Yao had told her not to care too much about the etiquette and procedures, she still studied them seriously.
She found that every item had its deep meaning and blessing, so Yuli treated it with care.
She also discovered that there was the participation of parents and relatives, but since her parents had come to her door, she had not heard any news of them.
Only then did Yuli ask Xie Yao.
Xie Yao casually told her, “Your brother committed a crime and died on the way to exile. The gambling den that that father of yours opened was smashed by someone. He burned down the house and committed suicide in a fit of anger. As for your mother, she remarried after that and went to a very far place, and can’t come back.”
Yuli was a little surprised.
But Xie Yao treated it as normal, as if it were just a trivial matter not worth mentioning.
Yuli couldn’t say what she felt. She didn’t feel happy, but she wasn’t very sorry either, so she didn’t think about it.
Yuli then thought of Xie Yao’s relatives and wanted to ask, but no one had appeared when he had ascended the throne, and none of them truly treated him as a relative. It was good that they didn’t come.
But Xie Yao casually mentioned to her, “Those few in the Duke’s Residence were not in good health to begin with and passed away from illness some time ago. They were also unlucky and could not enjoy my good fortune.”
He said it calmly. Yuli really couldn’t tell if he was telling the truth or not. Anyway, they were all gone. There was no need for her to get to the bottom of it, so she turned a blind eye.
The wedding of the two of them had no parents or relatives, but it was the most grand in the world. Xie Yao’s subjects kowtowed in loyalty, for his diligent governance, and also for his marrying a commoner woman without any maternal relatives.
Yuli’s side was much simpler. It was just Jingyu and Xiyun and the others.
Lizhen and Zhile were dumbfounded all the way. They had not expected Yuli to become the empress.
Jingyu was very nervous and excited, but she maintained her composure, not showing any emotion, and held up the empress’s dignity.
As for Xiyun, in the palace a few days ago, the servants had been very respectful to her, and she had been a little carried away. She had never dreamed that there would be a day when she would become the empress’s personal maid.
On the contrary, she was a little at a loss. She was just a commoner and only wanted to do some small business with Yuli, earn a little money, marry a man into her family, and live a free and comfortable life as a little maid.
How had she become the empress’s maid? According to what Jingyu had said, in the future, she would also be granted a rank and become a female official, and would manage the rear palace with her.
Xiyun’s head was about to explode. Fortunately, Yuli was in the same mood as her. The two of them talked in private and agreed that even in the palace, they would live a simpler life, not seeking luxury and ostentation, just like in Mingyue Residence.
However, the ostentation of the ceremony of enfeoffing the empress and the imperial wedding still startled the two of them.
The bows of the highly respected court officials, the countless ritual officials, the fluttering flags, and the complicated etiquette from morning to night. They even ascended the Danfeng Gate and accepted the congratulations of the common people.
What Yuli thought of was not how noble her status was or how boundless her power was, but the expectations and burdens on her shoulders.
How had she, a modern worker who wanted to lie flat, become the empress of a country?
After the ceremony, they returned to the bedchamber. After nightfall, it was finally quiet.
The empress did not need to wear a veil, but just to cover her face with a fan. Yuli had long put down the fan inlaid with gold and jade and almost wanted to lie down to rest.
She held on until Xie Yao came. She couldn’t wait to take off the heavy jewelry and ceremonial robes, and take a bath and lie down properly.
Xie Yao was in a bright red imperial robe. He looked very well and very human. She looked at him a few times. Xie Yao smiled and held her and kissed her for a long time.
But Yuli was really tired. Xie Yao did not torment her either. He dismissed the extra palace servants and personally served Yuli to change her clothes and bathe. Only the two of them were in the huge bath.
Before they had finished washing, Xie Yao became restless. Yuli was so tired she had no strength and was teased by him for a while, and was even more unable to move.
Xie Yao carried Yuli out and to the bed. Yuli also went along with him.
However, he took out a red belt from somewhere and slowly wrapped it around Yuli’s wrist.
Yuli struggled a little. “Don’t tie it. I’m not moving.”
Xie Yao lowered his eyes to look at her. “I always feel that today is like a dream. I’m afraid you will suddenly disappear.”
Yuli smiled, grabbed the belt, and stood up. “How about this? I’ll tie you.”
Yuli was full of enthusiasm and looked as if she wanted to play something interesting.
Xie Yao smiled dotingly and agreed.
He lay down, his hands clasped in front of Yuli. Yuli focused on his hands. The blue veins were slightly raised, and they looked very strong.
She used all her strength, wrapped the belt tightly, and wrapped it several times, so that the firm muscles of his forearm were a little deformed.
In the end, in his calm and composed gaze, she tied a dead knot.
Then, she turned over, lay on the inner side, and did not move.
“…Yuli,” Xie Yao called her, speechless.
“I’m asleep,” Yuli said vaguely. She turned to the inside, letting him be tied and not wanting to pay attention to him.
She had thought that he would beg her in a low voice to untie him. Listening to his movements, she heard a rustling sound, and then with a rip, he was pressing down on her.
Yuli let out a cry of surprise. Xie Yao pressed her down heavily, not relaxing in the slightest.
Xie Yao rubbed against the side of her neck. “On your wedding night, you can actually fall asleep.”
Yuli hummed twice, indicating that she was extremely sleepy.
Xie Yao smiled. “Then you don’t have to move.”
Yuli was speechless. She really didn’t need to move, but she couldn’t sleep either.
At the end, Yuli’s eyes were misty with tears, and she was drowsy.
Xie Yao held her and sighed for no reason. “Yuli. I always feel that you are not a person that this world can nurture. You are a gift from heaven to me. I’m so afraid that one day you will be suddenly taken back.”
Yuli came to her senses a little, turned back to hold him. “How am I not like a person from here?”
She asked this, clearly admitting it.
Xie Yao held her a little tighter. “Your background and your speech and vision are completely inconsistent. You don’t understand power struggles, but you understand how to govern a country. You had a hard life in your youth, but you are not cynical, but are peaceful and kind. And your strange recipes, the flowers you make, and some of your words are completely like a soul from another world.”
Yuli chuckled and said softly, “But in that world, I was just the most ordinary person.”
Xie Yao’s breath hitched. “How did you come here? Will you leave one day?”
Yuli also held him tightly. “I don’t know.”
“Then do you want to go back?”
Yuli thought for a long time. Modern society had its pros and cons, but her parents were there. And now there were still pros and cons. Xie Yao was here. She could not come up with an accurate answer.
Yuli still replied, “I don’t know.”
Xie Yao’s body stiffened for a moment. He pretended to be relaxed. “What kind of world is that?”
Yuli picked some good things to say. “There is no famine, and everyone can eat delicacies from the mountains and seas. Human trafficking is a serious crime, and domestic abuse is a criminal offense. Every child receives education from birth, regardless of gender, at least until the age of fifteen or sixteen. After that, they all have to find a career to be self-reliant. The social order is orderly, and the laws are strict. Regardless of status, those who commit crimes will be punished…”
Just hearing the four words “no famine,” Xie Yao was already very shaken.
After Yuli finished speaking, he said, “That must be the best world.”
Yuli was taken aback for a moment. Was it? But why was it that in those days in the modern era, she was rarely as happy as she was in Mingyue Residence?
Xie Yao said again, “Now that I am in power, I will do my best to move in that direction. If one day you can choose to leave or stay, can you, for my sake, stay?”
He said it solemnly, his chest trembling, very apprehensive.
Yuli already had an answer in her heart but decided to tease him.
“Can you prohibit human trafficking?”
“I can.”
“Can you let women also have the opportunity to start businesses?”
“I can.”
“Can you rule by law, regardless of poverty or wealth?”
“I can.”
“Can you let me go out of the palace to play occasionally?”
“…You must be home before it gets dark.”
Yuli laughed.
“Alright.”
(End of the Main Story)