Reborn as a Sickly Child: The Emperor's Beloved

October 8, autumn of the third year of Yonghe.

It was an auspicious day, as it was the day when the Imperial Noble Consort was crowned Queen, and everyone in the palace was busy.

Before dawn, Shen Yanyan was pulled out of the hall by Xia Zhu, Dong Xue and a group of maids. There were still many ceremonies to be done today. If they didn't prepare early and missed the auspicious day, His Majesty would not let them go.

"Empress, please get up quickly. Today is an important day and we can't miss the auspicious time." Dongxue looked at the dazed Empress and quickly spoke to wake her up.

Shen Yanyan looked at the sky outside. It was pitch dark. It was too early.

Everyone dragged Shen Yanyan to the side hall and gave her a bath.

Looking at the clothes hanging in front of her, Shen Yanyan was a little confused. She looked at the nanny next to her and asked, "Why does this look like a wedding dress?"

The queen's wedding dress is extremely luxurious and dignified. It is mainly red, which symbolizes auspiciousness and happiness. The fabric of the wedding dress is the finest silk, which is soft, smooth and has an excellent touch.

The collar and cuffs of the wedding dress were trimmed with exquisite gold edges, and embroidered with lifelike phoenix patterns, which symbolized the queen's nobility and auspiciousness. The phoenix's feathers were embroidered with gold thread, shining with dazzling light, as if it would spread its wings and fly high at any time.

The skirt of the wedding dress is several meters long and is embroidered with phoenixes. The edge of the skirt is also inlaid with a circle of pearls, which adds to the gorgeousness of the wedding dress.

The maid smiled and replied, "Isn't this the wedding dress, Your Majesty? Normally, today is your coronation ceremony, and you should wear a phoenix robe. And there is no grand wedding for Your Majesty who has entered the palace. But His Majesty is so good to Your Majesty that he holds the coronation ceremony and the wedding on the same day. This is the first time in history." The maid looked at the precious phoenix coronet and bridal robe. They all said that His Majesty was so good to Your Majesty. This was more than just good!

The wedding of the emperor and empress? Shen Yanyan was stunned for a moment. She had entered the palace a long time ago. Logically speaking, there would be no wedding ceremony even if she was crowned as the empress today. The girl didn't want to have a wedding and marry the person she loved in a dignified manner. However, she entered the palace as a concubine and thought that she would not have this opportunity. Unexpectedly, Xiao Jingzhan was quite attentive.

"Okay, help me change my clothes." Shen Yanyan's eyes were slightly red and her voice was a little hoarse.

Even though it was still dark, the palace was decorated with lights and was filled with joy. Today was the day of the empress's coronation and the emperor's wedding, and the entire palace was immersed in a joyous and solemn atmosphere.

Shen Yanyan, wearing a phoenix coronet and bridal robe, was supported by her nanny as she went to the Golden Palace. There were many ceremonies today and they would start early.

Following an order, drums and music sounded, and Shen Yanyan, surrounded by the crowd, stepped out of Yaohua Palace and slowly walked towards the main hall.

Looking at the lofty Golden Palace, Shen Yanyan stepped onto the steps leading to the Supreme Road step by step, and walked up step by step.

Outside the main hall. Xiao Jingzhan was dressed in wedding clothes, looking dignified and imposing. He looked at Shen Yanyan, who was slowly approaching in red, with tenderness in his eyes. He had been standing at the entrance of the main hall waiting for her. He looked at the person in front of him, holding her hand and walking into the hall. The two figures looked particularly dazzling in the sun.

Every step seemed extremely heavy.

In the hall, civil and military officials lined up neatly to pay respect to the emperor and the empress. Xiao Jingzhan personally helped Shen Yanyan onto the high platform, and Li Defu on the side began to read the imperial edict, officially announcing Shen Yanyan's status.

Shen Yanyan took the imperial edict and looked down at the officials and envoys from other countries with Xiao Jingzhan.

"Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, and a thousand years and a thousand years and a thousand years of long live the empress!" The shouts from inside and outside the palace resounded throughout the palace.

The ceremony lasted until late at night. There were so many different rituals in between that Shen Yanyan felt dizzy just from kowtowing.

Night fell over the palace, and the evening lights illuminated the entire palace. Shen Yanyan and Xiao Jingzhan, dressed in gorgeous wedding clothes, solemnly performed the ceremony. They bowed again to the heaven and earth and to the ancestral temple, and finally completed the ceremony of husband and wife worshipping each other, symbolizing that they would be married from now on, shouldering the responsibilities and missions of the royal family together, and she officially became the queen of the country.

After the last ceremony, Shen Yanyan was welcomed to the Weiyang Palace where the queen was. The palace was decorated beautifully and magnificently, with flickering candlelight, reflecting her beautiful face. Shen Yanyan collapsed directly on the wedding bed. It was too tiring. The endless rituals made her unable to tell east from west and north from south. She was numb.

No one said that there were so many etiquettes for the emperor and empress to get married.

Shen Yanyan wanted to cry but had no tears. She was so tired that even her fingertips felt weak.

Seeing the empress collapsed on the bed, the nanny and Xia Zhu Dongxue rushed forward to help her up.

"Oh, my queen, you can't just lie down like this. His Majesty hasn't come yet!" The nanny quickly helped her up and said in surprise.

His Majesty has not arrived yet, so Your Majesty has to cover her veil and wait for His Majesty to come and lift it up.

"I'm too tired. Let me take a rest and prepare some food. I'm hungry and tired. You don't let me eat anything. I really don't have any strength left." Shen Yanyan leaned weakly on Xia Zhu. She didn't know what the rule was, but the bride couldn't eat on the wedding day. She didn't drink a drop of water from morning to night. She really didn't have any strength left.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. His Majesty has already had the meal prepared and it will be delivered soon." The nanny comforted her, thinking that the bride shouldn't have eaten today, but His Majesty doted on Her Majesty and insisted on preparing a table of meal.

Shen Yanyan sat on the bed helplessly, with the veil on her head tightly covered. The nanny wouldn't let her take it off at all. Why were the people in the palace so stubborn? She couldn't even lift it up for a moment.

"Your Majesty, please be patient for a moment. His Majesty will be here soon." Dong Xue looked at the limp and boneless Empress and felt a little anxious. This nanny was really something. She kept looking at the Empress and said that she was the Queen and should observe these etiquettes. She refused to give in at all.

Shen Yanyan vaguely smelled the fragrance of the food and wanted to take off her veil to eat, but when she stretched out her hand, she was held down by the nanny.

"Your Majesty, please wait a moment. His Majesty will be here soon. It is unlucky for Your Majesty to lift the veil without permission before it is lifted." The nanny held Shen Yanyan's hand tightly to prevent her from pulling off the veil.

Shen Yanyan was filled with rage, but because of this broken rule, she said bitterly: "Xia Zhu, go and see where His Majesty is. I'm starving to death." Just as Shen Yanyan finished her words, the sound of a door being pushed open was heard from outside.

The three of them saw the visitor and hurried forward to salute.

"See Your Majesty."

Xiao Jingzhan looked at Shen Yanyan who was sitting upright on the bed, waved his hand, and the others tactfully withdrew.