sbdcsierra Chapter 114 The First Beauty Who Became a Substitute Bride (30)
Chapter 114 The First Beauty Who Became a Substitute Bride (30)
Xie Siyuan chose to give up on Shen Chumo back then, so naturally he has no right to have her now.
Seeing Xie Siyuan lost in thought, he asked softly, "Your Highness, what are you thinking about?" Xie Siyuan then came back to his senses, shook his head, and said, "Nothing, I was just thinking about some things from the past."
A servant approached Xie Siyuan and said, "Your Highness, everything has been packed."
Xie Siyuan nodded, indicating that he understood.
As Xie Siyuan boarded the carriage, he glanced one last time in the direction of the palace, silently thinking, "Xie Yanhuai, you'd better never change back to your old self, and you must be good to Shen Chumo for the rest of your life, otherwise, I will definitely come back at any time."
Xu Kui, sitting on his horse, also sighed softly. He had always followed the King of Chu and knew his grand ambitions. He firmly believed that if the King of Chu ascended the throne, he would definitely be able to change the situation of the entire Xia Dynasty.
But now, under Shen Chumo's influence, Xie Yanhuai has gotten back on track, and the country is striding towards prosperity. The people live in peace and contentment, and all sectors of society are thriving, making Xie Siyuan's plan to seize the throne seem out of place.
Xu Kui knew that although the King of Chu had outstanding talent, going against the tide now would only cause internal strife and bring disaster to the country and its people.
After Xie Siyuan left Chang'an, Tuanzi told Shen Chumo about it, "Momo, the male lead has actually left. The female lead and the male lead can't even be considered friends. The original story has already ended."
Shen Chumo opened her arms, and the palace servants dressed her in the gorgeous uniforms one by one. Her expression was calm, as if she had expected this outcome.
"Tuanzi, things in this world are unpredictable. It's better for everyone that Xie Siyuan is leaving now. Ayan is now focused on governing the country, and the people are living in peace and happiness. This is the best outcome," Shen Chumo said softly as the palace servants adjusted her clothes.
Tuanzi bounced around, "But Momo, according to the usual story development, there should be more entanglement between the male and female leads. As it is now, it feels like something is missing."
Shen Chumo smiled gently, "We are now in a world that is not the original story. Reality does not need so many deliberate entanglements."
Although Xie Siyuan is a complete scumbag in relationships, it's undeniable that he's a wise ruler. The situation is clear now; if he doesn't leave, he'll face a terrible end.
Shen Chumo's eyes were deep. She could let Xie Siyuan go, but she would not let the general who killed the original owner of the body go easily.
A month later, Xie Siyuan returned to his fiefdom and found several of his generals hanged alive in their rooms, their genitals cut off. Enraged, Xie Siyuan ordered the murderers to be found.
Unexpectedly, the next day, the crimes of these people were laid out on Xie Siyuan's desk. Xie Siyuan remained silent for a long time before throwing them into a mass grave to be eaten by wild dogs.
At this moment, Xie Yanhuai walked in and saw Shen Chumo dressed in her finest attire, his eyes filled with amazement.
Xie Yanhuai waved for the palace servants to leave, then embraced Shen Chumo from behind, his warm breath spraying down her fair and slender neck.
"Mo Mo, you've finally become my queen." Xie Yanhuai whispered with a deep smile in Shen Chumo's ear. "I'm so happy."
Xie Yanhuai had proposed to make Shen Chumo empress more than once, but Shen Chumo always refused, saying that it was not the right time. He waited for a long time before this day finally came.
Shen Chumo smiled, grabbed Xie Yanhuai's hand, turned around, and nestled into his arms. She looked up at Xie Yanhuai, her face as beautiful as a peach blossom, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
Her voice was sweet and clear as she said, "Ayan, I'm very happy to be your empress."
The two embraced quietly, enjoying a moment of peace.
Xie Yanhuai held Shen Chumo tightly, feeling her warmth and softness. In that instant, all the hardships and difficulties of the past vanished.
Xie Yanhuai wanted to thank the gods for sending Momo to his side.
Xie Yanhuai gently kissed Shen Chumo's forehead and said magnetically, "Momo, do you know? From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were my destined one. I want to share this world with you and have you accompany me through every spring, summer, autumn and winter."
Just then, a gentle breeze blew in, bringing with it the fragrance of flowers outside the window. This refreshing scent filled the room, seemingly adding a touch of warmth to their happy moment.
The time for the investiture ceremony arrived. Xie Yanhuai took Shen Chumo's hand and walked together toward the gate of the Hall of Diligent Governance. Civil and military officials had already gathered in the square in front of the hall. They were dressed in court robes and looked solemn and dignified.
When the Emperor and Empress walked hand in hand, everyone knelt down and shouted in unison, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!" The sound resounded throughout the palace, conveying their respect and blessings for the Emperor and Empress.
Xie Yanhuai and Shen Chumo moved forward steadily, their gazes firm and composed.
Xie Yanhuai's dragon robe shimmered with golden light in the sunlight, displaying supreme majesty; Shen Chumo's phoenix coronet and wedding gown were even more magnificent, with various jewels sparkling and dazzling, highlighting her nobility and elegance.
Reaching the front of the hall, Xie Yanhuai turned around and faced the assembled officials. His voice was loud and powerful: "Today, I hereby appoint Shen Chumo as my Empress. She is intelligent, virtuous, and talented, and has made great contributions to the prosperity of our Great Xia Dynasty. I hope that under the joint rule of the Empress and myself, our Great Xia Dynasty will enjoy long-term peace and stability, and the people will live in peace and happiness."
The courtiers shouted again, "Your Majesty is wise, and Her Majesty the Empress is blessed with great fortune!"
Standing on this high platform symbolizing supreme status, receiving the homage of the courtiers, Shen Chumo was filled with mixed emotions. She had to admit that the taste of power was indeed quite wonderful.
Shen Han knelt on the cold, hard floor, a sharp pain shooting through his knees. He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze fixed on the radiant figure on the high platform—Shen Chumo.
She was dressed in gorgeous clothes and wore a dazzling phoenix crown, looking breathtakingly beautiful. However, in this glorious moment, Shen Han's heart was filled with endless bitterness and guilt.
He knew that as a father, he owed Shen Chumo too much; her talent far exceeded his imagination.
However, due to his own selfishness and prejudice, he had imprisoned her in the backyard for over a decade! For all those years, she had been restrained, unable to utilize her talents. Now, seeing her rise to a high position and become an object of admiration, Shen Han felt immense pain and self-reproach deep within his heart.
He realized that his past neglect and suppression of her had caused her to miss many precious opportunities. If he had treated both daughters fairly, if he hadn't been so selfish in hiding her away, perhaps everything would be different now.
However, time cannot be turned back, and past mistakes cannot be undone.
The investiture ceremony continued, with all the rituals unfolding in an orderly manner.
The priests performed a blessing ceremony, praying for the heavens to bless the emperor and empress with harmony and for the country to prosper. The musicians played solemn music, and the melodious tunes echoed in the air, as if telling the story of this great moment.
With the final ceremony completed, the investiture ceremony came to a successful conclusion. Xie Yanhuai and Shen Chumo returned to the palace, surrounded by the crowd. Along the way, palace maids and eunuchs scattered flower petals, creating a path of blossoms for the emperor and empress.