After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

Inside the Yanhe Hall, the scent of ambergris was stirred and fluctuated by the wind blowing through the hall.

Xiao Chengyu sat high on the throne, his knuckles silently tapping the gilded armrests.

The Empress and the Empress Dowager sat at opposite ends of the table, both remaining silent.

Zhou Lianhai had just finished reporting the situation outside the palace in a low voice.

Xiao Mingyue and Shen Yan simply rode through the streets on white horses, prompting the entire city's residents to spontaneously shower them with flowers and praise the princess as "simple yet grand, a match made in heaven."

The grandeur of that scene still feels jarring to the eye.

His original plan was not to let Xiao Mingyue use a grand wedding procession to express his attitude towards the marriage.

Now, instead of suppressing her, it has earned her a great reputation.

This was even more disgusting to him than swallowing a fly.

"Princess Xiao Mingyue, the Grand Princess of the State, and Shen Yan, the Imperial Son-in-Law, hereby pay their respects—"

Xiao Chengyu slowly opened his eyes, quickly concealing the lingering malice within them, and replaced them with a gentle and benevolent mask.

The palace gates were wide open.

Two figures stepped in side by side.

The bright red wedding dress blazed like fire, and the pheasant embroidered with gold thread shimmered with a luxurious luster in the morning light.

Xiao Mingyue, with her phoenix crown standing tall and her beaded curtain swaying gently, showed no trace of timidity, but exuded an aura of dignified pride.

Shen Yan, standing beside her, also possessed a refined and elegant demeanor.

The two walked steadily to the front of the imperial steps, stopped, and bowed in greeting.

"Your subject Xiao Mingyue, accompanied by his son-in-law Shen Yan, pays his respects to Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, and Your Majesty the Empress."

His manners were impeccable, and there was not a single fault to be found.

This composed and side-by-side demeanor, in Xiao Chengyu's eyes, turned into a silent provocation.

He suppressed the surging displeasure in his heart and turned his gaze to Shen Yan.

Shen Yan stood with his hands at his sides and his back straight. Even in front of the majestic throne, his gentle and scholarly demeanor remained undiminished.

Instead, it exudes a peculiar purity.

Xiao Chengyu sneered inwardly.

A down-on-his-luck scholar, who was good for nothing but his looks, ruined his plans.

The emperor's voice, high above all others, was slow and deep, echoing throughout the empty hall.

"Shen Yan."

"Now that you have married the princess, you must behave yourself from now on."

"The eldest princess is of noble birth, so from now on, all matters concerning the household should naturally be handled with the eldest princess in mind."

He paused, then spoke again with a subtle hint of malice.

"The wife must be the head of the household; can you really do that?"

The palace maids standing by held their breath and lowered their heads, keeping their eyes down and not daring to make a sound.

Although marrying a princess was essentially the same as marrying into the family.

However, the prevailing social norms in the Dayong Dynasty still placed men at the top, and princesses and their husbands often lived like ordinary couples behind closed doors.

At this moment, Shen Yan was publicly ordered by the emperor to "be the head of the household," which was tantamount to throwing a man's face and dignity into the dust.

The people in the hall each harbored their own secrets and were all waiting.

Let's wait and see what kind of expression this gentle and handsome new prince consort will make.

Embarrassing?

humiliation?

resentment?

Xiao Chengyu would be very happy to see either outcome.

However, the expected emotions did not materialize.

Shen Yan's expression was surprisingly calm.

He deftly lifted the hem of his bright red wedding robe and knelt down in worship.

His eyes were clear and pure, without a trace of shame, anger, or resentment, only a clear and bright gaze.

"Your Majesty's decree shall be obeyed."

"Her Highness the Princess is a pillar of the Great Yong Kingdom. She has spent half her life on the battlefield, protecting the borders and making great contributions to the country."

"I am but a humble scholar, utterly powerless, yet to have gained Your Highness's favor is an immense honor!"

These words were spoken with conviction and passion.

Xiao Chengyu frowned slightly, trying to find resentment and bitterness on his face.

However, Shen Yan seemed oblivious, his gaze fixed on Xiao Mingyue beside him.

His wife was standing a few steps away, her eyebrows curved, and her bright eyes brimming with an irrepressible, soft smile.

Like a spring breeze, it stirred his heart and soul.

Shen Yan withdrew his gaze and looked back at the throne, his tone becoming increasingly earnest, each word resounding.

"From now on, Shen Yan will certainly respect the Eldest Princess, manage the household affairs, wholeheartedly assist Her Highness, and be loyal to the country!"

This vow, which was almost a "confession," echoed repeatedly within the solemn and dignified Yanhe Hall.

Xiao Chengyu felt his blood surging and rushing to his head.

Does Shen Yan have no dignity?

Doesn't he feel embarrassed?

Doesn't he feel ashamed and indignant to be subordinate to a woman?

This man actually turned his humiliation into a vow of unwavering loyalty, using such ease to deflect the blow.

Xiao Mingyue had been standing silently to the side, but now she quietly approached and took Shen Yan's hand tightly.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Xiao Chengyu's chest heaved a few times, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything more sarcastic.

He forced out a few words through gritted teeth: "...Get up, and from now on, serve the Princess well."

Next, in a somber atmosphere, the couple paid their respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress, and then left Yanhe Hall.

As the palace doors opened and closed, that dazzling red finally disappeared from sight.

Xiao Chengyu sat alone on the dragon throne, his face ashen. He suddenly raised his hand and knocked a small teacup off the imperial desk.

The sound of shattering porcelain was sharp and piercing, startling the palace eunuchs into kneeling down.

"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

His chest heaved violently as he pointed toward the palace gate, his voice trembling slightly with anger.

"How can there be such a shameless man in this world, so willing to be a subservient follower! Is he even a scholar? Have all those classic texts he read gone to waste?!"

The Empress, who had been sitting silently at the lower end of the table, picked up her teacup and glanced sideways at the furious man on the throne.

The rising steam concealed the fleeting disdain in his eyes, which he quickly concealed.

The Empress Dowager, her fingers twirling prayer beads, lowered her eyes and spoke slowly after a long while: "Emperor, anger harms your health."

Xiao Chengyu closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, the surging ferocity had subsided, leaving only a deep, somber atmosphere.

"What Mother says is true."

After all, their resentment was useless; in the matter of choosing a consort, they ultimately made a mistake.

Outside the palace, the palace road stretches long.

Xiao Mingyue and Shen Yan walked side by side.

"Don't you feel humiliated?"

Shen Yan shook his head frankly, his eyes sincere.

"From the first time I saw you, I felt as if you were a god descended to earth, and I felt admiration and adoration for you."

His words, which were originally straightforward and exaggerated, did not sound frivolous when they came out of his mouth.

All that remains is honesty and openness.

Shen Yan stopped and took Xiao Mingyue's hands in his.

"Moreover, I have never believed that the head of a household must be a man; women can also be pillars of the family."

"If I can pass the imperial examination, I will definitely pass it and become an assistant to you in court, sharing your burdens and relieving your worries."

He paused, a faint regret flashing across his eyes, which was quickly replaced by a warmer glow.

"Even if I have no hope of passing the imperial examinations in this life, I will stay behind you and take care of everything so that you have no worries."

The wind swept through the palace path, lifting the hem of his bright red wedding robe and gently brushing against the hem of her skirt.

Xiao Mingyue stood silently, staring blankly at Shen Yan in front of her.

People admired her military achievements, but due to societal prejudices, they secretly criticized her for leading troops, deeming it against propriety.

Later, she lost one husband after another, and thought that all she had left in this life was her family and country, and that she would find it difficult to find a soulmate.

But I didn't expect...

Having endured countless hardships and traveled thousands of miles, I am fortunate to have met a kindred spirit at my humble gate.

Even when facing a thousand troops, I remained unmoved; now, I am filled with warmth.

The grievances of being rejected by the world for many years have all dissipated.

She finally met someone who understood her aspirations, cherished her true self, and stood by her side.

Xiao Mingyue's eyes welled up with tears, and her slender fingers slipped between Shen Yan's fingers, interlocking with his.

"I will guard the vast land, and you will protect my peace of mind for a lifetime."