CHAPTER 42: 42. AN (ARRANGED) CEREMONY?

IN A BIT

MEI SHEN’S POINT OF VIEW:

It had been only a handful of days since the rain began to fall. Not the violent, terrifying downpour that had once ripped through the palace gardens, but a softer, patient rain, one that seeped deep into the cracked ground as if it understood how thirsty the earth had been. The scent of wet soil clung to the air, heavy and sweet, and everywhere I went, I could see the land slowly breathing again.

The people were smiling more. The lines on the farmer’s faces had softened. I saw children splashing barefoot in puddles, their thin legs splattered with mud as they laughed, a sound I hadn’t heard in weeks. And though I was grateful, I could not ignore the truth that lay under all that joy. The famine was easing... but it was not over. And somewhere beyond the veil of this world, danger was still moving toward us. It was on the fourth morning that the whispers began. At first, they were just casual, harmless remarks.

"You and His majesty should marry soon." An old woman told me in the marketplace, pressing a wrinkled hand over mine. "It will bless the kingdom."

I thought she was simply sentimental. I smiled politely, gave a small laugh, and thought nothing of it. But then another came. A middle aged farmer stopped me on the road, bowing low.

"A royal wedding now would give the people something to hope for, my lady. Hope feeds the heart as bread feeds the body."She said.

And then it came from the palace ministers.

"Your highness." One of them said with practiced politeness. "If there was ever a time to bind our Emperor and his chosen Empress before the eyes of the people... it is now. A grand celebration would reassure the provinces that peace and stability have returned."

It was no longer just a whisper. It was an expectation. They wanted me and Lianwei married, not someday, not after the famine had fully passed, but now. Before trouble returned. At first, I told myself they were being foolish.

"There’s still too much to do." I argued in the council chamber. "The granaries aren’t full. The outer provinces still struggle. We should focus on relief, not festivities."

But they didn’t relent. It was as if it wasn’t my option anymore.

"Relief without morale is wasted effort." One minister said flatly. "Let the people believe their Emperor has secured heaven’s blessing. The rains have come. Now let them see a marriage to seal the fortune."

They made it sound like our union would hold the kingdom together. And maybe... in some way... it could. Still, I couldn’t quiet the unease inside me. Every time I looked at Lianwei, my heart swelled, not because of duty, but because of love. And yet, there was that whisper from the gods still lodged in my mind. The famine is only the beginning. What if we gave them a wedding now, only to have disaster strike again in a few months? Would they see me as a blessing still, or would they turn on me as a cursed omen?

That night, I lay awake in my chambers, staring at the canopy overhead. Rain tapped gently against the window, almost soothing. I could hear Lianwei’s footsteps pacing in the next room, as if he too could feel the weight of the people’s desire pressing against the palace walls. I thought of Huan. Of the baby growing inside me. Of the kingdom that now looked to me as if my happiness could save them. And I thought of the truth, I couldn’t tell them that no wedding, no celebration, no sweet words could stop what might be coming.

And yet... I could not deny what their faces had looked like when they spoke of it. The longing in their voices. The hunger not just for food, but for hope. The rain had given them the first. Perhaps the wedding could give them the second. Even if my heart feared it was only a fragile light before the next storm.

AROUND THE SAME TIME

EMPEROR LIANWEI POINT OF VIEW:

It started with whispers in the hallway. Not the usual hushed talk about political rivals or grain shipments, this was softer, more musical. I could hear the servants giggling as they passed one another little scraps of news. Even some of my ministers were smiling more than usual. That alone should’ve been my first warning. When I finally asked one of the stewards what was going on, he had the audacity to blush.

"Your Majesty... there is a sentiment among the people." He said carefully.

"A sentiment?" I raised a brow. "What kind of sentiment?"

He shuffled his feet like a boy caught stealing pastries.

"They... would like to see you and lady Mei Shen married soon. Very soon. They believe a royal wedding would lift everyone’s spirits in these difficult times."He explained.

I actually laughed, a short, sharp bark of disbelief.

"We’re fighting famine, rationing grain, repairing irrigation channels... and the people want a wedding?"I asked.

The steward hesitated, then smiled faintly.

"Yes, Your Majesty. They say it would be a sign of hope."He said.

That was when I realized this was less about me and more about her. Mei Shen. The people adored her already, she went to the villages herself, spoke to farmers as if they were old friends, and somehow managed to make each person feel seen. The thought of her walking through the capital in wedding robes... yes, I could see how the people would cling to that image in dark times.

Still, I found her in the gardens later that day and leaned casually against the railing beside her. She was staring at the koi pond, lost in thought.

"Tell me." I said with mock seriousness. "Are you planning a secret wedding without informing your future husband?"

Her head snapped toward me, eyes wide.

"What? No! Why would you-"She muttered nervously.

I grinned. It seems that everyone except her wants us to get married. Honestly I couldn’t wait to have Mei Shen as my empress.

"Because apparently, half the palace thinks it’s happening tomorrow. Maybe even today. Should I be worried you’re hiding wedding robes somewhere?" I asked.Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink.

"That’s ridiculous," she muttered.

"Yes," I agreed solemnly. "But if you were hiding wedding robes, I’d like to at least choose the color."She said.

She swatted my arm, but her lips curved in a reluctant smile.

"You’re impossible."She muttered.

"And you’re adorable when you’re embarrassed," I countered.

Of course, that was when my mother arrived, as if she could sense the perfect moment to corner us.

"My, my." She said, gliding over with the elegance of a woman who had already decided the outcome of this conversation. "Are we talking about the wedding at last?"

Mei Shen nearly choked.

"We are not-"She asked.

"Yes, we are." My mother interrupted smoothly. "It’s the perfect time. The people need joy. And a royal wedding will remind them that even in hardship, life goes on."

Before Mei Shen could escape, my grandmother appeared too, leaning on her cane but with a grin sharp enough to cut glass.

"Oh, stop protesting, child. I’ve been waiting to see my grandson properly married for years. And I want to hold that second baby in my arms knowing it was conceived in wedlock."She added.

Mei Shen covered her face with both hands.

"Why are you all like this?"Mei Shen asked.

"Because." My grandmother said cheerfully. "We’ve decided you’re not getting a choice."

I laughed outright at that, draping an arm over Mei Shen’s shoulders and pulling her closer before she could retreat.

"You see, my love? The tide of public opinion is against you. Resistance is futile."I grinned.

She peeked up at me through her fingers, her eyes somewhere between exasperation and fondness.

"You’re enjoying this far too much."Mei Shen said.

"Absolutely." I admitted without shame. "It’s not every day I get to see the unflappable Mei Shen cornered by two generations of my family."

My mother sighed happily.

"We’ll start with a modest ceremony in the palace gardens. Simple, but beautiful. The people will adore it."She said in approval.

"And don’t you dare wear anything plain. I expect silk. And gold. And flowers in your hair."My grandmother added.

Mei Shen groaned softly. I kissed the top of her head.

"Don’t worry." I murmured, so only she could hear. "We’ll make it ours. Not theirs. And if it brings hope to the kingdom... maybe it’s worth it."

She tilted her head just enough to meet my gaze.

"Only if you promise to dance with me."Mei Shen whispered.

I grinned.

"Always."I said.

And just like that, it was decided, though Mei Shen would never admit it out loud. The kingdom would have its wedding. And I would have the joy of marrying the woman who had somehow become the heartbeat of my reign.