When Xiao Jiaojiao got married, the crippled king stood up and pampered her.

The palace is located in a secluded bamboo forest.

No one was around.

The bamboo forest in winter is more profound and quiet.

Long scrolls are hung among the bamboo forests, filled with the air of books.

The imperial platform was hidden. A noble and cold figure in a golden dragon robe was standing in the bamboo forest, holding a brush and writing lines of poetry on the scroll:

"The bright moon shines among the pines, and the clear spring stones flow upwards."

"The mountains are colorful when you look far away, and the water is silent when you listen closely."

"Walking to a waterless place, sit and watch the clouds rise."

"No one in the deep forest knows that the bright moon is shining upon us."

……

The elegant and beautiful font, although it has the power to swallow up mountains and rivers, also has a natural sense of leisure in the mountains.

Xinhuan walked in and bowed respectfully:

"Your Majesty, the ceremony of selecting a concubine has been prepared, and everyone is waiting."

The brush in Di Taiyin's hand suddenly froze, and a hint of heaviness flashed across his originally handsome face.

Ever since Yun Jinghuang and Di Yi left, everyone has been preparing for the ceremony of selecting a concubine for him.

He is not in a hurry and has no such intention.

But a country cannot be without a king for a day, nor can it be without a successor for a day.

Di Taiyin finally put down the brush in his hand and walked out.

Imperial Garden, Xiuyuan Palace.

When the figure of Emperor Taiyin sat on the high platform, all the gentleness around him was restrained, replaced by the majesty that a king should have.

Selecting concubines is a matter for the harem, but Ming Fei is not here. Now there is no empress dowager in the harem, so it can only be handled by Prime Minister Chu Jiangling and the Ministry of Rites.

At this moment, Chu Jiangling was sitting in front of the seat on the right side of the imperial platform, and whispered to him:

“The Prince Regent and Princess Regent have told the Emperor that if he can’t choose a candidate, he shouldn’t force it.

If you are interested, just leave your card."

Di Taiyin hummed lightly and watched row after row of women enter.

Perhaps they knew his interests and hobbies, and those who stayed in the preliminary selection were all ladies from prominent families, well-educated, and fond of poetry and songs.

But those dignified and graceful postures are like pieces of white paper blown by the breeze.

It seemed that no one else could stir up the waves in his heart.

The last row of women that came in were all daughters of powerful officials in the court.

Di Taiyin actually couldn't choose, but he knew in his heart that Di Yi and Yun Jinghuang didn't want to force him, but many matters in the harem had to be taken care of by someone.

They understand him, and he should not just care about his own emotions.

Di Taiyin's eyes wandered among the women.

The daughter of Ji Tieyan, the Minister of Dali Temple, was a stubborn and conservative person. She once supported Emperor Gao Qi and was not conducive to the implementation of the new policy.

Feng Ting, the daughter of Grand Tutor Feng He, has a bad relationship with Feng Ling'er.

Feng Ling'er is Yun Jinghuang's best friend. If Feng Ting becomes the queen, she may become hostile to Feng Ling'er and implicate the Fu family.

The daughter of the Minister of Industry...

With just a glance at each woman, he weighed everything in his mind.

Those who used to only know how to enjoy the scenery and drink tea have already taken control of all the situations in the court meticulously.

Finally, his eyes fell on a woman.

The daughter of the Minister of Rites, Chen Yuanzhen.

Zhen is taken from the poem "Zhen" in the Book of Songs: Zhou Nan, "The peach tree is young and lush, and its leaves are dense and lush."

Several generations of the Chen family had served in the Ministry of Rites, and they were very considerate of every detail and etiquette. Even their name came from ancient books.

No matter how the political situation changed this year, the Minister of Rites always fulfilled his duties.

The wedding of Yun Jinghuang and Di Yi was organized by the Minister of Rites.

Chen Yuanzhen stood there, wearing a light purple brocade dress. Her face was not stunning, but she had an inherent elegance and dignity.

Standing there, she was the most classical, picturesque woman, yet so ordinary.

Di Taiyin didn't look at it any more, picked up the sign of Chen Yuanzhen on the tray from the table, and ordered:

"The Prime Minister and the Ministry of Rites will select an auspicious day to hold the ceremony of enthroning the Queen."

Chu Jiangling Qingchen frowned slightly and glanced at everyone.

Those people immediately took away all the daughters and maids.

There were only two people left in the hall.

Chu Jiangling said: "Your Majesty, there is no need to be so anxious. Although the country cannot be without a queen for a day, marriage is not a joke."

"It's no joke. This is a choice I made after careful consideration."

Di Taiyin looked at Chu Jiangling and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Chu, you should understand the meaning of my choice.

You, won't you be the same?"

Chu Jiangling looked into his deep eyes and remained silent for a while.

In fact, after seeing pearls and jade, how could he still be attracted by other women?

There is no other woman in the world who can be both a master strategist and as bright as the morning sun.

The wedding ceremony and the ceremony of enthroning the queen were held at the same time, with great grandness.

The entire palace was hung with red lanterns, creating an extremely festive atmosphere.

Fengchao Palace.

Chen Yuanzhen sat upright on the edge of the bed, with a red gauze veil covering her head, and candlelight flickered in the room.

She clenched her fingers tightly, seeming to be quite nervous.

Everything happened so suddenly, like a dream.

She sat there for a long, long time, until three o'clock in the morning, when the door creaked and was pushed open from the outside.

A distinguished figure in a red dragon robe walked out from outside the imperial platform.

When he saw the woman beside the bed, his long and noble eyebrows frowned slightly.

The door was closed and no one was around.

Di Taiyin stood there for a long time before he seemed ready and walked towards the bed.

But before he arrived, the woman sitting beside the bed suddenly stood up and knelt down to greet him:

"I, my concubine, see you, Your Majesty."

Di Taiyin frowned slightly, wanting to remind her that she should not move before the ceremony of removing the veil was performed.

But Chen Yuanzhen had already raised her hand to pull down her veil, lowered her head and said:

“Your Majesty, I know you are unhappy because you are forced by the political situation.

Therefore, I boldly acted on my own, without the need for Your Majesty to lift the veil or to hold a wedding wine ceremony.

Tonight, please sleep separately."

A hint of excitement and relief as if one had escaped a disaster flashed across Di Taiyin's dignified face.

Although he was willing to make her his queen, he had no feelings for her at all. To him, the wedding night was like torture.

I never thought of her...

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Chen Yuanzhen took the initiative to go over and carefully separated the two quilts on the bed.

It's cold in winter, so two thick quilts, one for each person, are just right.

Hers was placed very innermost, keeping a very wide distance from the outside.

Then, he lowered his head and said, "In this way, Your Majesty can rest assured and sleep well."

Her voice is also gentle and dignified.

Her graceful figure has the elegance of a lady from a wealthy family, yet she is also calm and composed, without losing the demeanor of a lady from a noble family.

Di Taiyin opened his eyes and looked at her for the first time, his eyes darkened again:

"So, you don't feel wronged?"

Since he had agreed to marry her, it was his responsibility.

A gentleman should be consistent in what he says and what he does, and integrate knowledge and action.

Moreover, he was already the emperor, trapped in the deep palace, and could no longer make simple decisions about his own marriage.

Di Taiyin thought that even if he suffered, he would not let the woman down.

Chen Yuanzhen lowered her eyes and replied: "To be honest, I know very little about the emperor. Suddenly... I will also be very uncomfortable..."

Only then did the emperor's expression completely relax.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

That night, although the two slept in the same bed, there was a distance of nearly one meter between them.

Di Taiyin had learned the ways of a gentleman since he was young. He closed his eyes and fell asleep quickly, and carefully followed the gentleman's rules such as not looking at anything inappropriate.

The woman inside slept on the innermost side of the wall to minimize contact with him.

Early morning hours.

A maid came in and helped them change their clothes.

When the palace maid was about to take the red handkerchief off the bed, the emperor's long eyes suddenly narrowed.

The bed had already been made smooth by Chen Yuanzhen, and her arm, covered by her clothes, was cut by a dagger.

When the nanny took out the thing, the two inexperienced people looked unnatural.

A hint of red appeared at the emperor's ears.

Chen Yuanzhen even lowered his head, with his fingers tangled together in his sleeves.

After the nanny left, Di Taiyin ordered: "Remember to let the maid treat your injuries."

"Yes." Chen Yuanzhen bowed gracefully, suppressing his pounding heart.

After Di Taiyin left, her personal maid Xiao Tao came in and whispered:

"Miss, why don't you tell the emperor that you..."

"Xiao Tao." Chen Yuanzhen interrupted her.

No one knows...

As early as when she was twelve years old, she saw Di Taiyin giving out porridge on the street.

He is like the bright moon, like jade, like the purest white in the world.

From then on, I fell in love with her.

Knowing that Di Taiyin likes to drink tea, she has studied the art of tea in depth.

Knowing that Di Taiyin liked to make wine, she ignored her father's opposition and scolding, and went to the outdoor farm to pick wild fruits and make fruit wine.

Knowing that Emperor Taiyin liked the countryside, she also went there to learn about growing mulberry and hemp and raising silkworms.

Originally a lady from a prominent family, she often returned home covered in mud, which resulted in her father, the Minister of Rites, beating and scolding her countless times, and forcing her to kneel in the ancestral hall.

Later, knowing that Emperor Taiyin had become the emperor, she understood clearly that the distance between her and him was growing farther and farther and there was no possibility for them to be together anymore.

But she still couldn't help but secretly practice the etiquette that she had once abandoned again and again.

Abandoned because of him, picked up because of him.

She thought, if she could enter the palace and become one of his three thousand beauties, it would be nice to be able to see him from afar.

If you want to become his concubine, you naturally have to be dignified and elegant enough.

She was just dreaming unrealistic dreams in private, often laughing bitterly at her own wild imagination, but she never thought... fate would favor her like this...

But on the day of the imperial concubine selection ceremony, he only glanced at her once. How could she not understand that official and thoughtful look?

How could she not know the hesitation and torment he was experiencing today?

How could she bear to make things difficult for the man whom she had admired and secretly loved for seven years?

Chen Yuanzhen stood dignified and told Xiaotao:

"This matter must not be known to outsiders!"