Chapter 39
“You wanted me to let Song Ling go. I did. Now, will you come back to the palace with me?”
“Yes, I’ll go with you.”
Li Xinjun was escorted back to the palace by the imperial guards and Hongli. As she hadn’t committed any crime, they didn’t restrain her, simply helping her onto a horse and escorting her back.
At the grand hall, Li Xinjun stood in the center, her gaze fixed on Hongli, her expression defiant. The officials, unaware of what had transpired between them, only knew that the Emperor had issued a decree that morning, forbidding Li Xinjun from leaving the capital and ordering her immediate return to the palace.
They had seemed fine the previous night. Why had things suddenly changed? The officials, confused and afraid to speak, watched in silence as the two stared each other down. Finally, Hongli broke the silence.
“Prime Minister, issue a decree. I am taking Miss Li as my Empress. The wedding shall take place immediately!”
The officials gasped, their whispers filling the hall. They didn’t dare to question the Emperor’s decision but couldn’t help but discuss it amongst themselves. The Prime Minister stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, even if you wish to make Miss Li your Empress, the wedding cannot take place immediately. The Emperor’s wedding is a matter of national importance and must be announced with great fanfare. It cannot be done hastily.”
“Then issue my decree. Announce to the world that the wedding shall take place in three days!”
“As you command, Your Majesty. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Highness.”
“Hold on! I haven’t agreed to this!” Li Xinjun suddenly protested.
“You dare to defy me?!” Hongli, still fuming from witnessing Li Xinjun’s public display of affection for Song Ling, slammed his fist on the table.
“I wouldn’t dare, Your Majesty.”
“Then why are you protesting?” Hongli challenged her, his voice brooking no argument.
“Your Majesty, I have always been a free spirit. I don’t like being bound by palace rules and etiquette. Please don’t force me to marry you.”
“You! Countless women would do anything to enter the palace and become Empress, and I’m offering you this position, yet you claim I’m forcing you?!”
“I truly do not wish to be Empress, Your Majesty. I only want to live a peaceful life with the person I love.”
“The person you love? That… that… Hmph! Preposterous!”
Hongli couldn’t even bring himself to say Song Ling’s name. He pointed at Li Xinjun, his hand trembling with anger. He, the Emperor, had lost to a woman in a competition for another woman’s affections. It was humiliating.
“I don’t care who you love! I have spoken! You will obey! You will become my Empress in three days! Defy me, and I will execute everyone you care about!”
“You!”
“That’s final! Prime Minister, begin the wedding preparations immediately! The wedding will take place in three days!”
Hongli stood up abruptly and stormed out of the hall. The officials, afraid to speak, followed him. Li Xinjun was left standing alone. Eunuch Li, the head eunuch of the inner palace, approached her and escorted her to the East Palace, the traditional residence of the Empress.
Li Xinjun didn’t resist. She was still trying to figure out how to persuade the Emperor to change his mind and let her leave.
The next morning, Prince Anling, accompanied by Mark, went to court to bid farewell to the Emperor. He had been in the capital for many days, and the jiangshi problem seemed to be under control for now. After the Emperor’s wedding, it would be time for him to return to Yunnan.
Hongli wasn’t surprised by Prince Anling’s request. He granted his leave, allowing him to depart after the wedding feast in two days. Mark, having accepted General Henry’s invitation to go to Britain, planned to bid farewell to Prince Anling after the wedding and then sail back to England with the British merchant ships.
Prince Anling, seeing Mark’s determination, didn’t try to dissuade him. He wished him a safe journey and hoped they would meet again someday. The palace was abuzz with activity, preparing for the Emperor’s wedding. The unpleasantness between the Emperor and his future Empress at the previous court session was forgotten. Everyone was focused on the upcoming celebration.
Hongli hadn’t visited Li Xinjun in the past two days. She was confined to the East Palace, unable to leave. Anxiety gnawed at her. She sat there, fiddling with the crescent-shaped pendant around her neck, desperately trying to find a way out of this predicament. Lost in thought, she accidentally pulled too hard on the necklace, snapping the chain. She stared at the broken pendant, Song Ling’s gift, tears streaming down her face.
“Is this a sign from heaven?”
“Should I just accept my fate?”
“No! Never! I’d rather die than marry that tyrant!”
“I promised Sister Ling I would be with her forever! I can’t break my promise!”
Li Xinjun’s mind raced, her heart torn. She refused to give in. She would rather die than submit to this fate.
“Miss Li, we have been instructed to escort you to the bathhouse to prepare for your wedding.”
“Leave! I don’t want to bathe or dress up!”
“But Miss Li, we will be punished if you refuse! Please, let us serve you!”
“I said, get out! Did you hear me?!”
“Miss Li, please have mercy! Spare us!” The maids knelt, begging her to relent.
Li Xinjun, seeing the two young maids kowtowing before her, couldn’t bring herself to punish them. She sighed in defeat.
“Get up. Stop crying. I’ll go with you.”
“Thank you, Miss Li! Thank you! We will attend to you immediately.”
Li Xinjun was escorted to the bathhouse. It was customary for all potential consorts to undergo a ritual cleansing before meeting the Emperor, presenting themselves to him in a state of purity.
Li Xinjun removed her clothes and stepped into the bath. The surface of the water was covered in colorful flower petals. The water itself was natural spring water, piped in from the mountains, its temperature perfect, steam rising from its surface.
Li Xinjun had blossomed into a beautiful young woman, her body radiating feminine charm. She submerged herself in the water, her long hair swirling around her. As she emerged, she looked like a goddess rising from the water.
After bathing, she allowed the maids to dress her in an elaborate gown, befitting a future Empress. They treated her with the utmost respect, their every gesture deferential.
She was then escorted to another chamber, where a large table was laden with vegetarian dishes. A maid, holding a golden spoon, served her a bowl of hot soup.
Li Xinjun had no appetite, but she knew that if she refused, the maids would create a scene. She reluctantly lifted the spoon and took a small sip of the soup.
The maids, seeing her compliance, smiled and served her several dishes, placing them on her plate. Li Xinjun, unable to refuse, sampled each dish.
After she finished her meal, the maids escorted her back to her chambers. Li Xinjun dismissed them, finally having a moment of privacy.
For the next three days, she lived like a walking corpse, allowing the maids to dress her, feed her, and prepare her for the wedding, like a condemned prisoner awaiting her execution.
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