The concubine is soft and charming, and the prince is willing to seduce her

Chapter 238 Finale
The first heavy snow of the new year fell silently, covering the glazed tiles of the palace. The palace servants did not lose their joy because of the cold; after all, the news that the emperor was going to go through the wedding process again to marry the imperial concubine had long been spread among the people.

Half a month before her wedding, Shen Zhiyu was sent back to the Shen family. When the two parted, Wei Qingye held her tightly in his arms and whispered, "Zhizhi, wait for me to come and marry you."

After Shen Zhiyu left, Zhao Zhao saw that her father's eyes were red, as if he was secretly crying.

She pursed her lips, deciding to help her father hide this secret. Otherwise, her mother would probably be disgusted if she knew how clingy her father was and how he cried!
Sigh, she won't be able to see her mother for many more days.
"Achoo~" Shen Zhiyu rubbed the tip of her nose and continued looking at the long list of dowry items that seemed to stretch on forever.

"Could it be that someone is secretly eyeing this?" Mu Chang, heavily pregnant, slowly walked in with the help of her maid.

Seeing this, Shen Zhiyu quickly put down the list in her hand and came over to help her sit down.

"You're pregnant now, can't you be a little more conscious of your pregnancy and stop running around with this big belly?"

Shen Zhiyu quickly poured her a cup of hot tea, her gaze falling on her belly, which was larger than that of an average pregnant woman, and she couldn't help but feel that it was comparable to when she was pregnant with Sui Sui and Zhao Zhao.

Mu Chang pouted and muttered softly, "Your brother won't let me touch this or that. I'm so bored. I came here to visit my sister-in-law, and I have to listen to your nagging. Thank goodness!"

Shen Zhiyu hurriedly admitted her mistake, saying, "Okay, okay, it's all my fault. Dear sister-in-law, did the doctor say whether you're carrying one or twins this time?"

Wanxin replied, "The doctor said it was her first pregnancy. But I asked other pregnant women and none of them had such big bellies. So I would like to ask you to send a royal physician to examine my master."

Shen Zhiyu gave Qingdai a look, then turned and walked towards the door.

When the imperial physician was summoned and took Mu Chang's pulse, he said carefully, "Your Highness, Madam Shen is carrying twins, so the delivery will be particularly dangerous."

Mu Chang and Shen Zhiyu exchanged a glance; it truly was a case of "the wind may wish to be still, but the trees will not cease their movement."
Of course, these matters didn't require the two women to handle at all. As long as the news reached Shen Hongfeng and Wei Qingye, they would certainly take care of them properly.

Mu Chang grabbed Shen Zhiyu's arm, trying to calm her fear, and said, "Luckily you were here, otherwise..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Zhiyu covered his mouth with her hand, saying, "My dear sister-in-law, my wedding day is in a few days. Instead of saying something auspicious, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Mu Chang nodded and said, "Yes, yes, you're absolutely right. When I got married, your brother was stuck outside the door for quite a while. Now the tables have turned, let's see what His Majesty has up his sleeve to break down the door and snatch the bride!"

Seeing her excited expression, Shen Zhiyu knew that she and her brother must have come up with some wicked idea to make things difficult for the groom on their wedding day.

She also felt a little expectant, after all, she had never seen Wei Qingye being bullied and humiliated before.

March 18th: Auspicious for weddings, travel, and praying for offspring.

As dawn broke, Shen Zhiyu was woken up to bathe and change clothes, followed by makeup and hair styling—nothing could be skipped.

Shen Zhiyu sat in front of the dressing table, letting the makeup artist use the cool tip of her nose to apply rouge to draw a blooming peony pattern between her eyebrows.

"Your Majesty is truly a fairy with unparalleled beauty, every aspect of her is like a painting."

Shen Zhiyu's cheeks flushed slightly as she looked in the mirror at her reflection. She was dressed in a bright red robe, with lifelike pheasant embroidery, and cloud and dragon patterns outlined in gold thread on the cuffs and collar. She wore phoenix-head shoes, a hollowed-out phoenix crown, a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin, and phoenix and peony tassel earrings. She was truly radiant.

The lady who combed Shen Zhiyu's hair was the most famous and hardest-to-arrive-in-the-capital Lady Shiquan in the capital. Seeing the emperor's dedication to this bride, she couldn't help but say, "The bride probably doesn't know that this phoenix crown and headdress were designed by His Majesty himself and crafted by skilled artisans. The auspicious number is ninety-nine."

Throughout history, the most elaborate phoenix crowns worn by empresses have never exceeded ninety-nine. Wei Qingye is silently proclaiming to the world that the emperor and empress are equally revered.

Shen Zhiyu longed to see this man more and more; she wanted to hold him and tell him about the pain of missing him these past few days.

Dressed in a bright red wedding robe, Wei Qingye's eyes brimmed with the joy of March as he spurred his horse and galloped toward the Shen residence.

Before the palace servants, including Chai Hui, who were following behind, could even call out, they had already disappeared.

Luo Chen never expected that His Majesty would be so impulsive, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Wei Qingye arrived at the gate of the Shen residence alone, where he happened to meet Shen Hongfeng, who was blocking the gate with Qi Jingshan, the young master of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion, and other members of the Shen family's collateral branches.

Seeing this, Wei Qingye couldn't help but sneer. It really is true... the wheel of fortune turns!
"Brother Wei, please don't blame me for being rude today." Shen Hongfeng smiled so sweetly that if the person standing in front of him wasn't a man, one might think he had met his sweetheart!

Wei Qingye dismounted, lowered his eyes, and smiled, "It's alright."

Qi Jingshan never expected that he would be able to block the emperor's door; it was quite a rare occurrence.

Shen Hongfeng patted him on the shoulder and said, "Brother, it's all up to you. We absolutely cannot let that bastard marry my sister so easily!"

A gentle breeze blew by, causing fallen petals to rise from the branches. Qi Jingshan drew his long sword, moving with the wind, each strike seemingly casual yet continuous.

A long sword hangs horizontally in mid-air, with ten petals steadily falling on its blade.

"Brother Wei, I've made a fool of myself!"

Wei Qingye arrived empty-handed, without any weapon. Shen Hongfeng was waiting for him to speak before lending him the prepared sword.

Suddenly, Shuyan appeared and said, "Master, this is your Long Moon Sword."

Wei Qingye drew his longsword, his figure moving with incredible speed, like a flash of light. As he unleashed his final strike, layers of invisible air currents spread out like ripples on water, and the fallen petals once again danced in the air.

When Shen Hongfeng and the others came to their senses, they found twelve petals falling on Wei Qingye's longsword.

“This…” Shen Hongfeng turned to look at Qi Jingshan, who shrugged helplessly.

Wei Qingye walked up to him, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Have you passed this door yet?"

Shen Hongfeng took a step back. "If you're so eager to marry my sister, then first serve your brother-in-law tea."

He holds grudges very well!

Wei Qingye glanced at him casually and teased, "Is that all?"

What's wrong with offering tea to your brother-in-law?!
He's not incapable of settling scores later; let's see if his brother-in-law can still be so arrogant then.

The butler personally brought forward a tea tray, and Wei Qingye picked up the teacup and offered it to him, saying, "Brother-in-law, please!"

Shen Hongfeng felt a chill run down his spine. Could this bastard be planning how to trick him later?
He immediately abandoned his idea of ​​causing trouble, took the teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.

Wei Qingye slowly wiped his fingers and asked, "Brother-in-law, are you satisfied now?"

Upon entering, Wei Qingye walked into the courtyard and found Jiang Xu sitting in a chair, with a table next to her covered with handkerchiefs.

"Your Majesty, I will not make things difficult for you today. Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, if you can find the one embroidered by Zhizhi among these handkerchiefs without touching it, you will pass the test."

Shen Hongfeng couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed, and secretly gave Jiang Xu a thumbs up.

Half an incense stick later, Wei Qingye pointed to a handkerchief, "This was embroidered by Zhizhi."

Jiang Xu picked it up and looked at it, and sure enough... she was right.

When the door opened, Shen Zhiyu's face was already covered by a red silk veil, so she couldn't see what was happening outside, but could hear the noise.

"Zhizhi, I've come to marry you." Wei Qingye had just walked up to her when he was stopped.

"The groom must find the bride's embroidered shoes before he can take her away," the matchmaker reminded him with a smile.

Wei Qingye couldn't wait any longer. If Shen Hongfeng and the others hadn't been waiting outside, he probably would have already scaled the wall and snatched her away. Under everyone's watchful eyes, who would believe that the emperor of the Southern Qin Kingdom would actually abduct his bride and escape through the window?

Shen Zhiyu was held in Wei Qingye's arms around the waist, and she didn't feel the bumps at all.

"Zhizhi, are you scared?" Wei Qingye asked in a low voice as he ran outside.

The voice was loud and clear, filled with joy.

"With you here, what do I have to be afraid of?" Shen Zhiyu said with a smile.

Wei Qingye carried her onto the horse and rode towards the palace. The road had already been cleared to ensure that innocent civilians would not be harmed.

Shen Hongfeng rode after him on his warhorse, shouting, "Wei Qingye, stop right there and give my sister back—"

Wei Qingye, like a spirited young man, his red robe fluttering in the wind, said confidently, "Impossible."

Having finally managed to snatch someone away, why would they easily give them back?

Wei Qingye ripped off Shen Zhiyu's red silk veil so that she could see the comical scene of her brother chasing after her.

Wei Qingye reined in his horse and stopped near the altar. He personally led Shen Zhiyu step by step up to the higher ground.

The officials of the Ministry of Rites had long been numb to these numerous exceptions and breaches of etiquette; they didn't care about making a little difference.

The Empress Dowager had no objection, and the Emperor Emeritus was even more pleased with the prejudice.

"I believe that the harmony of Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, is crucial for internal governance, and this is where virtuous women are truly needed. Lady Shen Zhiyu, born into a distinguished family, is known for her gentleness, respect, and outstanding virtues, and is naturally compliant and obedient. Now, in accordance with the established laws of our ancestors and the wishes of the people, I hereby issue this imperial decree to confer upon her the title of Empress Yueying, bestow upon her a golden book and golden seal, and grant her the title of Empress of the Phoenix Palace."

"You shall further cultivate inner virtues, assist me in spreading my teachings, maintain harmony within the palace, and set an example for the world. Above, you shall honor the ancestral temples; below, you shall care for the common people, ensuring lasting peace and prosperity, and together we shall receive Heaven's blessings!"

As the master of ceremonies read the announcement, Shen Zhiyu unconsciously turned her gaze to Wei Qingye and winked at him playfully.

Wei Qingye asked in a low voice, "Do you want to go back to Fengju Palace?"

Shen Zhiyu shook her head, her mind involuntarily recalling the unrestrained and carefree joy she felt when Wei Qingye had led her on horseback through the long street.

As the court officials below kowtowed, Wei Qingye, holding Shen Zhiyu's hand, leaped off the altar.

"Your Majesty, Empress, what are you doing?" The courtiers' voices were filled with panic and unease.

"On this joyous day, let us celebrate together with the people!"

Wei Qingye, along with Shen Zhiyu, galloped away on horseback, just as they had come.

Seeing this, Shen Hongfeng and the others couldn't help but feel a bit of a headache. They hurriedly rode their horses to catch up and guarded the left and right flanks.

After delivering the betrothal gifts to the Shen residence, Chai Hui, accompanied by a group of palace servants, scattered copper coins and wedding candies along both sides of the road.

Seeing this, Shen Zhiyu smiled even more brightly.

The toddler, carried on his father's shoulders, shouted, "Fairy sister, I want to marry you someday!"

Wei Qingye pulled her into his arms and declared his ownership: "You will meet your fairy sister in the future, and she will be my wife."

Seeing that the emperor did not blame him, the young and strong man boldly said, "I wish Your Majesty and the Empress a long and loving marriage."

Seeing the emperor and empress so affectionate, the surrounding people showered them with congratulatory words.

Seeing that Shen Zhiyu liked the scene, Wei Qingye took her horseback riding through the streets, while Chai Hui and the others followed behind, throwing candy and money, their smiles wide and their eyes narrowed.

The entire city of Jingzhou was filled with a joyous atmosphere because of the Emperor and Empress's wedding.

As night fell and the lanterns were lit, Wei Qingye rode his horse back to the palace with Shen Zhiyu.

Such an outrageous wedding between the emperor and empress is probably unique in the entire Southern Qin Dynasty.

After the matchmaker waited for them to return, she ordered someone to bring them a wedding feast. The two of them intertwined their arms and drank the wine together.

The matchmaker, with great shrewdness, led her entourage away and closed the palace doors behind them.

Shen Zhiyu leaned against Wei Qingye's chest, looking delicate and boneless. "Why does it always feel so unreal?"

Wei Qingye took her hand, kissed it, and asked in a clear, gentle voice, "What's unreal about it?"

Shen Zhiyu tugged at a strand of his black hair and murmured, "I was just an unknown concubine's daughter of the Southern Prime Minister, but now I've transformed into the Empress of the Southern Qin Empire, just like a sparrow flying to the top of a branch and becoming a phoenix."

Wei Qingye shook his head and said, "You were originally a phoenix in the sky. It was those people who forcibly dragged you into the mud. Even if you hadn't met me, you would have been able to fly to the top of the tree on your own."

Shen Zhiyu never expected to hear such unique insights from Wei Qingye. Her heart seemed to resonate with these ideas, and it beat rapidly.

The dragon and phoenix candles burned continuously, and Wei Qingye stroked her chin and whispered, "Zhizhi, tonight is our wedding night."

Shen Zhiyu swallowed hard. She tried to get up, but was pinned down on the dragon and phoenix red quilt and couldn't move.

"Let me remove these hairpins from my head first..."

"Don't move, Zhizhi, I'll take care of you."

Wei Qingye lowered his head and kissed her red lips, his long, slender fingers helping her remove the hairpins one by one, then casually tossing them onto the carpet.

Just then, the palace door was suddenly pushed open, and Sui Sui and Zhao Zhao ran in.

"Father, Mother~~"

Wei Qingye's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Who let these two little bastards in?"

Shen Zhiyu couldn't help but burst out laughing.

This wedding night was transformed into a warm and cozy night for the family of four.

All regrets and shortcomings will be fulfilled after tonight.

April 7, 2025

End of the book

The story of Shen Zhiyu and Wei Qingye has come to an end. Although it's hard to say goodbye, every story has to come to a close.

Thank you all for being with us for over 120 days. Thank you!

May all the shortcomings and regrets that you children experience in real life find fulfillment or resolution.

Finally, I wish all the children good health, peace and joy, and a long and worry-free life.