Lin Qinghe smiled and said, "It's nothing. Miss Xu has come to the palace today to thank me for saving her during the autumn hunt at Jade Spirit Mountain."
You Rong replied, "So that's how it is."
"Mm..." Lin Qinghe continued, "But Miss Xu is too kind. When I saved her, it was actually..."
Lin Qinghe trailed off, not finishing her sentence. Recalling Xu Ling'er's sincere apology earlier, Lin Qinghe felt a bit embarrassed. At the time, saving her was for the sake of increasing the progress bar, and she had even considered pushing Xu Ling'er to shield You Rong from a sword for the sake of the progress bar.
You Rong raised an eyebrow, "What was it?"
Lin Qinghe vaguely brushed it off, "...Nothing." Then, she playfully teased You Rong, "Looking at her today, Miss Xu is truly a beauty who could topple kingdoms, and the foremost talented woman in the capital. No wonder some people said Miss Xu and you, Your Majesty, were a match made in heaven..."
Before she could finish, You Rong's face darkened, "Who dares to spout nonsense in front of you? Is it Wang Gongyang? I'll have his tongue ripped out!"
Wang Gongyang, who was behind them, trembled and cried out, "Your Majesty, you've wronged me! How could I dare to spout such nonsense in front of Miss Lin? Even with ten times my courage, I wouldn't dare! I swear to heaven, I never said such a thing! If I did, I... I... may I die a terrible death!"
You Rong remained silent, his gaze fixed on Lin Qinghe, questioning whether Wang Gongyang was telling the truth.
Wang Gongyang was on the verge of tears. He had only spoken a few ill words about Lin Qinghe in front of the Emperor out of concern. Why was His Majesty so resentful? The moment Lin Qinghe showed any hint of displeasure, he was suspected. He was truly innocent!
Lin Qinghe couldn't help but chuckle at Wang Gongyang's tearful face. "Your Majesty, I heard it from someone else. It wasn't Eunuch Wang. Please stop frightening him. Eunuch Wang has served you for many years and is getting old; he cannot withstand such scares."
Wang Gongyang nodded repeatedly in agreement.
You Rong ignored Wang Gongyang's plight and said earnestly, "Qinghe, listen to me. No matter what others say, I will only have you, my woman. You are the only Empress of Western Chu!"
Lin Qinghe felt a moment of unease under You Rong's affectionate gaze. She lowered her eyes slightly and whispered, "Your Majesty, I know. I won't believe others. I believe you!"
You Rong took Lin Qinghe's response as shyness and was pleased. "Mm."
Time passed, and half a month later, it was the wedding day of the Emperor and Empress.
Since Lin Qinghe had entered the palace as a servant from a young age, she had no other family besides her elderly grandfather. Therefore, the wedding ceremony was arranged for her to depart from the Eastern Palace, where You Rong would come to escort her. The welcoming procession would then parade around the Imperial City before entering the palace.
Before dawn, Lin Qinghe was woken up. With the help of Zhu Hong and numerous palace maids, she bathed, changed, and was dressed. Finally, she donned the phoenix coronet and robes.
Zhu Hong announced, "Empress, the auspicious hour is approaching. This servant will now place the red veil upon you."
Lin Qinghe looked at her radiant reflection in the bronze mirror and smiled faintly, "Mm, place it then."
With the red veil covering her face, Zhu Hong helped Lin Qinghe out of the chamber and handed her over to You Rong.
You Rong grasped Lin Qinghe's hand. Dressed in a red wedding robe, he looked even more handsome. He whispered, "Qinghe, I will help you into the sedan chair."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
With their fingers intertwined, You Rong helped Lin Qinghe into the sedan chair. As he mounted his horse, he heard Wang Gongyang's sharp voice announce, "Auspicious hour has arrived! Let the procession depart!"
The welcoming procession was a magnificent dragon, with You Rong leading the way on his horse. They circled the Imperial City once, receiving the obeisance of the people, before returning to the palace.
Upon arriving at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Lin Qinghe and You Rong paid their respects before the imperial ancestors. Then, in the presence of all civil and military officials, the ceremony to establish Lin Qinghe as Empress was held.
Wang Gongyang declared, "By imperial decree: Heaven and Earth are in harmony, Yin and Yang are balanced, the origin of all things. Therefore, the Lin clan's Qinghe, gentle and virtuous, dignified and graceful, intelligent and benevolent, is by the rites of Western Chu, hereby established as Empress, to rule the realm and begin anew with the people. Respect this!"
After the imperial edict was read, the officials knelt and bowed, "Long live His Majesty, ten thousand years! Long live Empress, ten thousand years!"
"All my ministers, rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Empress."
You Rong took Lin Qinghe's hand and glanced at her, his deep eyes overflowing with affection, as if she were the only one in his world.
After receiving the respects, Lin Qinghe was escorted back to Qianqing Palace by the palace maids, while You Rong, as the Emperor, naturally remained for the ensuing banquet.
Upon returning to Qianqing Palace, Lin Qinghe, who had been hungry all day, was about to lift her veil. Zhu Hong quickly held her hand, "Empress, the veil cannot be lifted by oneself. Only His Majesty can do it."
"But I'm starving! Can't I even do that?"
"This servant will bring some pastries for you to secretly eat. The veil must not be lifted, as it is considered bad luck."
Lin Qinghe had no choice but to comply. She patiently waited for Zhu Hong to bring the pastries and fed them to her under the veil.
After satisfying her hunger, Lin Qinghe sat on the bed waiting for You Rong. She had expected him to return only in the middle of the night. To her surprise, he returned not long after. She heard the sounds of Zhu Hong and the others paying their respects.
"This servant greets Your Majesty."
"You may all withdraw."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Zhu Hong and the other palace maids withdrew, and the door closed again. Lin Qinghe heard footsteps approaching, and her hands began to tremble with nervousness.
You Rong stopped before her. Composing himself, he reached out and slowly lifted the red veil. In the bright candlelight, Lin Qinghe's beautiful face was revealed to him. A flicker of astonishment crossed his eyes.
"Qinghe, you are... truly beautiful today."
Lin Qinghe's cheeks flushed, unsure if it was embarrassment or shyness. She didn't know what to say.
You Rong reached out and gently stroked her cheek, saying tenderly, "Wait for me."
You Rong then fetched a pair of scissors, took a lock of hair from each of them, tied them together, cut them off, and placed them in a red pouch. He then brought two cups of wine, handing one to Lin Qinghe.
You Rong gazed at her affectionately. "As husband and wife, our love will never waver. Together, for a lifetime, a single pair. Drink this wedding wine, and we shall share a life and a death, never to be separated."
Lin Qinghe's eyelashes fluttered. She nodded and drank the wedding wine with You Rong.
As soon as the wine cups were set down, she was pushed onto the bed. Before she could exclaim, You Rong's lips met hers. He kissed her passionately and tenderly, murmuring, "Qinghe, I love you. The one I love the most... is you."
The candlelight flickered within the room, and the atmosphere was charged with passion.
Lin Qinghe opened her eyes and glanced at You Rong, who was sleeping soundly beside her. A complex emotion flashed in her eyes.
The system's voice echoed in her mind once more: "Progress bar increased by one percent, total progress bar at one hundred percent. Congratulations, tasker Lin Qinghe, on completing the auxiliary mission in this world! Entering the next world."
Lin Qinghe slowly closed her eyes. As her soul was being withdrawn, she silently said in her heart.
You Rong, farewell.