114: Crazy Prince Forced Love 9

Three days later, in the Imperial Study of the palace.

"Your Majesty, the Regent requests an audience," the chief eunuch Li Dequan reported, bowing.

Xiao Yu immediately put down his vermillion brush, a youthful excitement in his eyes.

He adjusted the lapel of his bright yellow everyday robe, then touched the jade crown on his head. After confirming his appearance was in order, he lightly coughed: "Grant it."

The moment the palace doors opened, Xiao Yu had already risen to greet him: "Imperial Uncle!" His tone was so affectionate, not like an emperor's, but like a young man from an ordinary family seeing an elder.

Xiao Jin, in a dark blue brocade robe, stepped into the study, the jade pendant at his waist unmoving.

He was about to bow, but Xiao Yu quickly stepped forward to support him: "Imperial Uncle, there's no need for such formality."

The little emperor's eyes sparkled, "I heard you're getting married?"

"Yes." Xiao Jin's eyes deepened slightly. He took out a silk scroll from his sleeve, "I am here today to request Your Majesty bestow a marriage edict."

Xiao Yu's fingertips trembled as he took the marriage document.

Heaven knew how long he had waited for this day! Ever since the late emperor passed away, he, at ten years old, had hastily ascended the throne, relying entirely on his Imperial Uncle, ten years his senior, to stabilize the court.

Now that the world was at peace, his greatest hope was to see his cold-faced Imperial Uncle find a companion.

Xiao Yu unrolled the silk scroll, then suddenly lowered his voice, with a hint of mischief: "Imperial Uncle, I heard... that Miss Wen has you completely wrapped around her finger..."

Xiao Jin's ear tips subtly reddened: "......"

The emperor, seeing his silence, couldn't help but laugh aloud: "From childhood to now, this is the first time I've seen Imperial Uncle like this."

He counted on his fingers, "Back then, when you scolded me for being playful, you said, 'A prince of Da Zhou should prioritize the nation'; last year, when you dealt with the Minister of War, that line, 'Rebellious officials and traitors deserve to die,' still sends shivers down my spine when I think about it..."

Xiao Jin was expressionless: "If Your Majesty laughs again, I will have the Ministry of Rites move your imperial concubine selection forward by three years."

Xiao Yu immediately straightened his face: "I was wrong."

The little emperor pouted in a wronged manner, but as he turned, he secretly winked at Li Dequan, smiling.

A moment later, the emperor personally drafted the imperial edict.

As he held the brush, he suddenly remembered something. With a flick of his wrist, he not only bestowed the marriage between the Regent and the Wen family daughter but also specifically ennobled Wen Ci as a "First Rank Imperial Matron," honored with the title "Princess Consort."

"Imperial Uncle, how does this look?" Xiao Yu held up the imperial edict like offering a treasure, "This title is both noble and not constrained by the usual regulations for a princess consort."

Xiao Jin took the imperial edict, and a rare hint of a smile appeared on his stern face: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xiao Yu smiled brightly: "Imperial Uncle, I'm waiting for your wedding feast."

*

Soon the news spread, and many officials arrived at the Regent's Wang Residence.

Xiao Jin stood before the main hall of the Manor, clad in a black python robe with golden embroidery shimmering in the sunlight, making him appear even more imposing and stern.

He held a bright yellow imperial edict in his hand, his gaze sweeping over the old, stubborn civil and military officials gathered before the hall. His voice was deep and clear,

"From this day forward, Wen Ci is this Prince's Princess Consort. Does anyone have any objections?"

As his voice fell, everyone looked as if they wanted to speak but held back.

Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Rites turned pale, his lips trembling as he tried to say something, but he swallowed it back under Xiao Jin's icy gaze.

"Your Highness, this is not in accordance with the rules..." An old official finally dared to speak.

How could royal blood be defiled?

Xiao Jin sneered, his fingertips lightly tapping the imperial seal on the edict: "Not in accordance with the rules? Then this Prince shall establish a new rule today..."

He leaned slightly forward, his voice chilling: "Anyone who dares to speak ill of this Prince's Princess Consort again, this Prince will send their entire family to clean latrines until they die."

The assembled officials: "......"

No one dared to speak again.

Because they suddenly remembered that if it weren't for Wen Ci, the words coming from the Regent's mouth right now would probably be to have them all dragged out and beheaded.

Thinking this way, they suddenly found it acceptable.

*

On the wedding day, the capital was deserted as everyone flocked to the streets.

All thirty-six vermillion-lacquered gates of the Regent's Wang Residence were wide open, and ten li of streets, from Zhengyang Gate to the Manor, were covered in red silk.

The common people crowded on both sides of the road, exclaiming in admiration from time to time.

"Look at the wedding sedan!" a child exclaimed, pointing at the slowly approaching gilded sedan chair.

The luminous pearls inlaid on the sedan's roof shimmered with a rainbow halo in the sunlight, and every feather of the golden phoenix embroidered on the sedan's curtain was adorned with tiny pearls.

On the second floor of a teahouse, several young ladies crowded by the window, discussing sourly: "I heard the Prince locked up the twelve best embroiderers from Jiangnan in the Manor for three months, just to embroider that wedding dress..."

Before she finished speaking, she was suddenly interrupted by a blare of horns.

Imperial guards cleared the way, and beneath a bright yellow imperial canopy, Emperor Xiao Yu himself arrived.

The little emperor had specially changed into a crimson everyday robe today, standing smiling at the entrance of the Manor, waiting to observe the ceremony.

"Auspicious time!"

The moment the wedding sedan touched the ground, the Manor, both inside and out, suddenly fell silent.

A pale hand gently lifted the sedan curtain, fingertips stained with a faint trace of balsam juice.

With the help of the matchmaker, the bride slowly emerged, the golden peonies embroidered on the hem of her wedding dress shining brightly in the sunlight.

Xiao Jin stood on the nine steps, his usually cold gaze now so 뜨거워서 it seemed to burn through the red veil.

"Your Highness..." Wen Ci softly called through the red veil, her voice carrying a mix of shyness and emotion.

Xiao Jin suddenly strode down the steps, his black python robe and her red wedding dress intertwining in the wind.

To everyone's astonished gaze, he directly scooped up the bride, causing Wen Ci to let out a small gasp and wrap her arms around his neck.

"Princess Consort," he whispered in her ear, his warm breath penetrating the red veil, "This Prince cannot wait."

All the guests were dumbfounded.

Several old ladies' round fans clattered to the ground, and officials from the Ministry of Rites pulled out several strands of their beards.

Emperor Xiao Yu covered his face, peeking through his fingers, and whispered to Li Dequan: "If the Western Liang envoys saw Imperial Uncle like this, they might suspect Da Zhou has a new Regent..."

*

That night, in the bridal chamber.

Red candles flickered, and the wedding curtains hung low.

Xiao Jin personally removed Wen Ci's phoenix crown, his fingertips gently brushing her cheek, his gaze deep and tender.

"Ci Ci." His voice was hoarse, "From now on, you are my wife."

Wen Ci's eyes welled up slightly, and she softly said: "Your Highness, I..."

Before she could finish, Xiao Jin lowered his head and kissed her, a lingering and passionate kiss.

After a long while, he finally pulled back slightly, resting his forehead against hers, and chuckled: "Now, it's time to change your address."

Wen Ci's cheeks were flushed, and she softly said: "...Husband."

Xiao Jin's eyes darkened, and he pulled her into his embrace, his voice hoarse: "Call me again."

"Husband."

"Call me again."

"Hus... Mmph!"

The red candles burned down, and the spring night was short.

That night, the sounds of joy from the Regent's Wang Residence did not cease for a long time.

*

From then on, it was known throughout the capital that the Regent, once decisive in killing and cold-blooded, had now become a doting husband, madly in love with his wife.

And Wen Ci, once slandered as a "femme fatale," was now the Regent's official wife, whom even the Emperor respectfully addressed as "Princess Consort."

No one dared to belittle her anymore.

Because behind her stood the most powerful man in this world.

And he was willing to bow down to her.