Shi Mei looked at her and felt sorry for her mistress: "Miss, it's getting late. Let the nanny do your makeup. The Emperor will be here soon. You mustn't think about anything else."
Hailin didn't say anything, just nodded, but her heart still ached.
Shi Mei instructed someone to bring in two kinds of snacks to fill Hai Ling's stomach. Although one is not allowed to eat on the wedding day and can only eat on the wedding night, the young lady was poisoned last night and is very weak, so it is good for her to eat something to boost her spirits.
Hailing had no appetite, partly because she was weak from the poisoning, and partly because Yanzhi's actions had deeply hurt her.
However, not wanting to disappoint Shi Mei, I ate a small piece.
The palace maids began to do her makeup. The room was quiet, and Shi Mei, Shi Lan, and Fu Yue were by her side, doing whatever the maids asked for.
The Ji residence was bustling with guests, a lively scene of comings and goings.
When Ji Cong, a general of Beilu, married off his daughter, the ministers of the court naturally could not refuse him, especially since his daughter was marrying the current emperor. Therefore, many people rushed to the Ji residence to offer their congratulations. Not only officials, but also prominent merchants and wealthy people in Bianliang City, as well as some chivalrous figures from the martial arts world, all came to the Ji residence to offer their congratulations.
Therefore, the entire Ji residence became the most bustling place in Biancheng, while other places were neglected.
Dozens of people stormed into the prison of the Ministry of Justice, where Ruan Jingyue was imprisoned. They injured the guards and swiftly and fiercely rescued the seriously injured and unconscious Ruan Jingyue from the cell.
The guards at the Ministry of Justice immediately reported the matter to the Minister of Justice, but since it was still the Emperor's wedding day, the Ministry of Justice suppressed the report.
An hour passed.
Inside Xiangwu Courtyard, the palace maids had already performed facial makeup on Hailing, applied makeup, styled her hair into an elegant and sophisticated updo, and started changing her clothes.
The bright red wedding dress was still the phoenix robe reserved for the empress, embroidered with a phoenix in flight, dazzling and eye-catching. When worn by Hailing, it was breathtakingly beautiful, radiant and irresistible.
Shi Mei, Shi Lan, and the others were already used to Hai Ling's beauty, but even so, they couldn't help but stare in amazement.
It turns out that Miss is very suitable for wearing bright red clothes, exuding a domineering and arrogant aura, and her every move easily conveys a strength that is no less than that of the master.
"Miss, you are so beautiful."
Fu Yue murmured softly, gazing intently at her mistress.
The young lady and the emperor are a match made in heaven. No matter how you look at it, there is no couple more compatible than them.
Not only were Shi Mei and the others stunned, but even the palace maids were stunned. To be honest, these maids had been in the palace for many years. The late emperor's harem had many concubines, and every one of them was exceptionally beautiful. However, compared to the woman in front of them, they all seemed vulgar. Miss Ji's beauty not only had a spiritual quality, but also a domineering aura that made people submit.
"Miss Ji, it's time to put on the phoenix crown."
One of the maids brought out the Empress's phoenix crown. This magnificent phoenix crown, though breathtakingly beautiful, was incredibly heavy. Hai Ling had just been poisoned last night and was still very weak. How could she wear such a heavy phoenix crown? What if she fainted before the wedding ceremony?
"Wait a minute, is this really going to be put on the young lady's head?"
Shi Mei couldn't help but step in to stop her. The four old women's expressions changed slightly, and they couldn't help but speak in unison: "What are you saying, young lady? This is the Empress's exclusive phoenix crown. Others can't even wear it if they want to. Do you know how many precious things are inlaid on this phoenix crown? In the very center is a luminous pearl worth a thousand gold pieces, surrounded by six top-grade white pearls, and the rest are smaller pearls, totaling one hundred and two. And look at the phoenix on it, which was crafted by skilled artisans in the palace with gold wire and then inlaid. In short, this phoenix crown is priceless. Ordinary people can't wear it even if they want to. Moreover, this phoenix crown has a metaphor. The luminous pearl in the very center is a metaphor for the current Empress. The Empress is extremely precious, and her brilliance is comparable to the sun and moon. No other hairpin or pearl can overshadow her excellence."
Apart from the Empress, no other woman in the palace was allowed to wear this phoenix crown, not even to touch it.
The old women who were speaking were very envious, and their faces were filled with joy. They were fortunate to be able to touch this phoenix crown and serve the Empress.
Although the nanny had described how magnificent and precious the phoenix crown was, Hailing's head was slightly sore. With so many things embedded in it, it was clear that the crown was much heavier than she had imagined. She had seen people wearing such crowns for weddings on television before, and they seemed to have little weight. Now, she lifted it in her hand and realized it weighed at least several tens of kilograms. Wearing such a heavy crown on her head all day, she was afraid she would collapse from exhaustion and felt no joy at all.
But today is still her wedding day, and she is marrying the person she loves, so Hailing gritted her teeth and decided to go all out.
"Wear it."
The old woman was pleased to hear this and brought it over, preparing to put it on Hailing's head.
Suddenly, the sound of orderly footsteps rang out outside, followed by the announcement from a eunuch: "His Majesty has arrived."
The maids and servants outside the door all knelt down: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Ye Lingfeng didn't say anything or pay any attention, and went straight into the room.
Inside the room, the four palace maids were somewhat stunned. They had never encountered such a situation before. The auspicious time had not yet arrived, but the Emperor had come in person.
Shi Mei reacted quickly, waving her hand to instruct everyone in the room to kneel down.
Only Hailing sat upright in front of the bronze mirror, smiling as she watched the man walk in from outside. He was tall and imposing, dressed in a bright yellow brocade robe with a purple-red robe trimmed with gold. His hair was tied up with a golden crown, and his handsome features were radiant with eyes that shone like the sun and moon. He could not hide his joy at this moment, yet he also subtly held a hint of reluctance.
When I first saw the sea lily, my smile deepened; it was dazzlingly beautiful.
He walked slowly over, holding a magnificent brocade box in his long, slender hands. He stopped in front of Hailing, and his deep, magnetic voice rang out: "Ling'er, this is a gift for you. Open it and take a look."
Hai Ling looked down at the brocade box in his hand. It didn't look very big. Was this the gift he had given her? She was very curious about what it was. She slowly reached out and opened the box. A light shone out of the box. It was a small and exquisite golden crown. Apart from a large luminous pearl in the center, there was nothing else around it. The tassels in front hung down lightly. Although it was simple, it was very noble. Hai Ling liked it at first sight. She couldn't help but reach out and take it out. She held it in her hand and admired it carefully.
"Did you give this to me? It's so beautiful."
The people kneeling inside the room couldn't help but look up when they heard Hai Ling's happy words. They were all attracted by the phoenix crown. Although it was small and simple, the luminous pearl in the middle was precious and unique, making it even more magnificent and grand.
Ye Lingfeng reached out and took the pearl from Hai Ling's hand, then slowly placed it on her head, instantly adding to Hai Ling's mystique. The luminous pearl on her head shone brilliantly, and the tassels, while covering Hai Ling's face, were still faintly visible, making her even more captivating than before.
"This is something I made myself, a gift for you. It's unique to you, and there's no one else like it."
It turns out that Ye Lingfeng had put a lot of thought into this phoenix crown, setting it with only one luminous pearl, signifying that she was the only person in the palace.
Hai Ling couldn't help but smile. Her heart, which had been hurt last night, slowly began to heal. Today was still Ye Lingfeng's wedding day. This man loved her very much, and she was also attracted to him, so she put everything else aside.
"Thanks."
This is a heartfelt thank you, not for making the phoenix crown, but for persevering all the way.
Ye Lingfeng knew exactly what she meant. With a smile playing on his lips, he reached out and tightly grasped Hai Ling's hand. The two gazed at each other.
The heat inside the room made everyone's cheeks burn. Just as Shi Mei, Shi Lan, and the others were about to leave, they heard the voice of the Imperial Observatory outside: "The auspicious time has arrived. We respectfully invite Her Majesty the Empress to ascend the Phoenix Carriage."
The people inside the room also spoke in unison: "We respectfully invite Her Majesty the Empress to ascend the Phoenix Carriage."