Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

The day Long Chengxun went to plead with the Empress Dowager was a sunny day.

He knelt before the Empress Dowager, behaving respectfully.

"My grandson wants to marry Xiao Zhaohua."

The Empress Dowager held the tea, remaining silent for a long time.

He just looked him up and down.

"Have you thought it through?"

"I've made up my mind."

"That girl has protected you since you were little. She has the same temper as her father, very fierce."

"If you marry her, don't come crying to me if you suffer any grievances in the future."

Long Chengxun blushed.

"My grandson will not suffer any injustice."

She has protected her grandson for so many years, and from now on... her grandson will want to protect her.

The Empress Dowager paused for a moment in her teacup.

She looked at her grandson, who had been slow-moving since childhood but was stubborn and inflexible.

After a long pause, he smiled.

"I saw it long ago."

You've been inseparable from her since you were little.

Wherever she is, your eyes will follow.

"Go then. I approve of this marriage."

The next day, at the imperial court.

Long Chengxun brought up the matter of establishing an empress in the palace.

As soon as he spoke, the entire hall erupted in uproar.

An elder of the clan stepped forward first.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

"The Prince of Zhenbei already wields immense power in the court. If he were to marry his daughter as empress, it would be a case of the maternal relatives seizing power."

"Wouldn't my Long family's empire then fall into the hands of the Xiao family?"

Another person stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

The empress is the foundation of the nation, and she must be chosen as a virtuous and kind woman from a respectable family.

Although Lady Xiao comes from a noble family, her temperament is too fiery; she is ill-suited to be the empress!

"Your Majesty is still young, so you may take many concubines instead of just one empress."

A chorus of agreement immediately arose in the hall.

Long Chengxun remained silent.

He just listened.

He waited until they finished speaking before slowly opening his own mouth.

"Have you all finished speaking?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a rare coldness.

"Throughout my life, I have been fortunate to be protected by the Prince of Zhenbei's family."

When I was a child, I was raised by the Princess Consort of Zhenbei.

When I was ridiculed by members of the imperial clan, it was Xiao Zhaohua who fought back for me.

She protected me for over a decade. It was only natural for me to marry her.

He raised his eyes and scanned the hall.

"I will only establish one empress, and will not take concubines or hold a selection of consorts."

This matter need not be discussed further.

The hall was deathly silent.

The old ministers opened their mouths, but ultimately dared not say anything more.

Xiao Fang stood to the side.

He didn't say a word from beginning to end.

He just looked at Long Chengxun.

This child was slow to react and spoke slowly from a young age.

Now, sitting on the dragon throne, he can decide the fate of the world with a single word.

Xiao Fang's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

I'm satisfied.

After the court session, at the Prince of Zhenbei's residence.

Yun Shuyao sat in the inner room, looking at Xiao Zhaohua.

"I'll just ask you one question."

Do you genuinely like him, or is it just that you've always been protective of him and can't let go?

Xiao Zhaohua didn't even think about it.

"Of course my daughter likes him, she really likes him."

His face is etched in my heart.

I also like and protect him.

Protecting him is no trouble for me.

Yun Shuyao looked at her for a while.

"You have a strong personality. If you marry someone with an equally strong personality, you'll probably be fighting every day."

"That's why I don't look for those kinds of people."

Xiao Zhaohua smiled.

"He's slow, I'm fast. He's gentle, I'm firm. We complement each other perfectly."

Besides, he's very stubborn. Once he's set his mind on me, he won't change his mind.

Yun Shuyao smiled too.

"Okay, I'm relieved as long as you've figured it out."

Xiao Fang sat outside and overheard the conversation.

He walked in carrying tea and said calmly.

"Daughter, if you like something, you should take the initiative to fight for it, so you won't regret it later."

In this respect, you are just like me.

Meanwhile, Long Chengxun was waiting in the front hall of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.

He couldn't sit still, nor could he stand still.

He paced back and forth.

Hearing footsteps, he went to meet them.

"Your Highness! Did the Princess Consort... mention Zhaohua?"

"The responsibility for last night's events lies entirely with me. If the Princess is angry, will she scold me?"

Xiao Fang glanced at him.

Why would I scold you?

"Then... about Zhaohua taking her place? Did you agree? Did the Princess approve?"

"Granted."

Long Chengxun let out a long sigh of relief.

It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"That's good, that's good."

His eyes crinkled with laughter.

Within a few days, the marriage was arranged.

The process of betrothal, name inquiry, auspicious date selection, and gift presentation proceeded smoothly and successfully.

Before her wedding, Xiao Zhaohua wore a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe for her makeup test.

Long Chengxun stood outside the door watching her.

The emperor was also trying on clothes today, which made him look even more handsome.

Even through the curtain, Xiao Zhaohua could see what he looked like now.

He muttered something under his breath.

"He's quite handsome."

On the day of the wedding, the entire capital was bathed in red.

From the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion to the Imperial Palace, the entire route was covered with red silk.

Red lanterns were hung on both sides of the Imperial Street.

The people crowded the roadside early in the morning, eager to watch the grand wedding of the emperor and empress.

The Ministry of Rites put in a tremendous effort to organize it.

From the initial betrothal to the presentation of gifts, not a single step was ambiguous.

At the Prince of Zhenbei's residence, Yun Shuyao personally took care of Xiao Zhaohua's dowry.

Xiao Fang unusually refrained from interfering.

He just stood at the door and glanced at his daughter.

Go ahead.

"Once you're married, don't mistreat her."

Xiao Zhaohua smiled.

"When have I ever bullied him?"

On the day of the wedding, Long Chengxun came in person.

He was dressed in a bright red wedding robe with a five-clawed golden dragon embroidered on his chest.

He was already extremely handsome, and this red outfit made his features appear even more striking, like jade and a painting.

The guests at the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion filled the entire courtyard.

Lin Huiyin and Ye Zhaozhao's son, Lu Zhao's son, and a bunch of other spoiled brats who used to hang out with Xiao Fang all came.

Long Chengxun walked through the halls and courtyards, his pace quickening compared to before.

Upon entering the main hall, he first paid his respects to Xiao Fang and Yun Shuyao.

Xiao Fang remained indifferent.

"Treat her well."

Long Chengxun, however, took it very seriously.

"Definitely, definitely."

Yun Shuyao placed her daughter's hand in his.

Xiao Zhaohua was wearing a veil.

No one could see her face under the veil.

But the hand she was holding in Long Chengxun's was gripped extremely tightly.

Afterwards, the newlyweds went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices to their ancestors.

The official in charge of rites sang in a voice that shook the heavens.

"Now we have Empress Xiao, who is virtuous, wise, and a model for the nation—"

"With the Emperor and Empress united in heart, the empire will be forever secure—"

After the sacrificial ceremony, they returned to the palace and a banquet was held.

The entire court, including civil and military officials, members of the imperial family, and nobles, gathered together in one hall.

Elders like Xiao Fang, Lu Zhao, and Lin Hui all came.

Long Chengxun toasted each person.

When he reached Xiao Fang, he stopped and gave a proper bow.

"Your Highness, this cup is my way of thanking you."

Xiao Fang accepted it.

"Why thank me?"

"Thank you for promising Zhaohua to me."

Xiao Fang glanced at him and smiled.

"Save those words for when you go inside and tell her."

The room was filled with laughter.

The wedding banquet continued until late at night before gradually coming to an end.

Inside the bridal chamber, red candles burned brightly.

Xiao Zhaohua sat upright on the edge of the bed.

The veil on her head had already been lifted off.

Long Chengxun stood right in front of her.

Wearing a bright red wedding robe, his face looked exceptionally handsome.

Xiao Zhaohua glanced at him, then glanced at him again.

He muttered to himself.

This person usually wears bright yellow, which is one thing.

Wearing this red outfit adds even more color to her look.

"What are you looking at?"

Long Chengxun's ears turned slightly red from her gaze.

Xiao Zhaohua did not dodge.

She straightened up and moved closer to him.

Just as I leaned closer, a pair of large hands grabbed my shoulders.

Long Chengxun held her shoulders, as if to gently press her back to her original position.

Xiao Zhaohua frowned.

"What are you doing?"

Long Chengxun looked at her.

He was usually slow and deliberate, but now his gaze was fixed.

He pursed his lips before slowly speaking.

"This time, it's my turn to take the initiative."

Xiao Zhaohua was taken aback.

Then, a smile gradually spread across his eyes.

She didn't move.

He simply let her, holding her shoulders, and slowly lowered his head.

The red candle flickered gently.

The curtains were lowered.

That night was exceptionally long.

Day two.

As dawn broke, the palace gates were opened wide.

As usual, all officials went to court.

In the Golden Palace, civil and military officials stood in rows.

Everyone was waiting for the eunuch to announce, "His Majesty will hold court."

But then, two figures walked in together at the entrance of the hall.

Long Chengxun was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe.

Beside him was Hsiao Chao-hua.

Today she wore a bright red palace dress, adorned with a phoenix crown and jewels, which made her even more radiant and dignified.

Xiao Zhaohua looks like her father.

His eyebrows were prominent and his aura imposing.

But she also looks like Yun Shuyao.

There was a calmness in his eyes and brows, a dignified and imposing presence that commanded the scene.

With such a face and such an outfit, they looked remarkably well-matched standing next to Long Chengxun.

The entire court was taken aback.

No one expected that the Empress would attend court with the Emperor.

The crowd knelt down and cheered.

Long Chengxun took Xiao Zhaohua's hand and walked up the jade steps one by one.

When he arrived at the dragon throne, he did not sit down immediately.

He turned his head and glanced at Xiao Zhaohua.

Xiao Zhaohua nodded at him.

The two of them sat together on the dragon throne.

Below the steps, everyone looked up.

That one glance almost made me hold my breath.

One of them was a composed and handsome young emperor.

One of them was a bright and sharp empress.

The emperor and empress sat side by side on the dragon throne.

This is the first time since the beginning of the new dynasty.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Even the most steadfast and experienced ministers were stunned into silence.

After Long Chengxun sat down, he spoke only calmly.

"From this day forward, the Empress will attend court with me."