The Top Scholar's Wife in the Monarch-Minister Story 02

That evening, in the Imperial Study.

All the palace lanterns had long been lit, their flames leaping and flickering, casting the entire study in a brightness as clear as day.

Xiao Mingting stood before his desk, his long, elegant fingers gripping a brush, his gaze lowered in complete concentration as he painted on a sheet of rice paper.

Black ink soaked into the pristine white paper, and with each stroke of the brush, the silhouette of a young maiden gradually emerged from blurred lines into a clear and distinct form.

Eunuch De, who was carefully grinding ink beside him, stole a glance and then quickly averted his eyes.

He was genuinely taken aback. Since when had His Majesty, whose heart was devoted solely to the nation and its people, taken an interest in a woman?

Moreover, even after rummaging through all his memories, he couldn't recall any daughter or young lady from the households of the nobility who looked like this.

Xiao Mingting recalled the image of the maiden he had encountered during the day, and as he painted, it was as if a divine hand guided his brush. Almost in one fluid motion, he completed the painting.

Then he tossed his brush onto the inkstone, slowly straightened up, his gaze still fixed on the maiden in the painting.

"Dequan, do you know this young lady in the painting?" Xiao Mingting's tone was casual, as if he had merely asked on a whim.

At the sound of his name, Eunuch De felt every nerve in his body tighten.

Only then did he dare to cast a careful glance at the painting, then quickly look away, as if he dared not look too long.

"This..." he replied hesitantly, "Your Majesty, this young lady possesses beauty that could topple cities. She must be a celestial maiden who has descended to the mortal world. How could this servant possibly have seen her before?"

Xiao Mingting's voice was faint. "So you don't know her."

"This servant is foolish." Eunuch De quickly bowed in apology.

Xiao Mingting waved his hand. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze deepening, and his scrutinizing gaze traced every inch of the maiden's brows and eyes.

Since ascending the throne, his harem had long stood empty. No matter how the court officials urged him three times to hold a selection of consorts, he never paid much attention.

He had grown up amidst schemes and betrayals, so by nature, he harbored a sense of wariness toward everyone.

Moreover, in the moments of sleep, when one was most vulnerable, he couldn't fathom having someone by his side.

With that thought, a flicker of curiosity surfaced in Xiao Mingting's eyes.

A woman who suited his tastes so perfectly, who appeared right before him and was rescued by him at just the right moment—could such a coincidence truly exist in this world?

"Shuangren," he said, looking up, suddenly calling out to the seemingly empty roof beam.

As soon as the words left his mouth, a man clad entirely in black, even his face covered, instantly appeared in the Imperial Study.

"Go investigate this woman's identity," Xiao Mingting said, tapping the desk with his knuckles, his tone indifferent. "I want an answer by tomorrow night."

"Understood!" Shuangren acknowledged.

*

"Achoo."

Elsewhere, Chen Yao suddenly let out a small sneeze, covering her mouth.

"Have you been dressed too lightly recently because the weather is getting warmer, and caught a chill?"

Shen Yunxiu, who had been writing furiously at the desk under the bright candlelight, set down her brush and turned to look at her with concern.

Her hair, which she had tied up with a jade hairpin during the day, now hung loose, softening her features. Without any makeup, even though she still wore men's clothing, one could faintly discern her feminine identity.

Chen Yao blinked, quickly putting on an innocent air and shaking her head. "I'm wearing quite a lot of clothes, really."

"Then it's not enough," Shen Yunxiu sighed. She suddenly felt that this young maiden before her was still just a child in need of care.

Little Xie Chenyao had always been delicate and prone to tears since childhood. She couldn't help but wonder, after the Xie family's fortunes declined, if she didn't know how to take care of herself, how much hardship she must have endured before meeting her.

"Then I'll wear more from now on," Chen Yao said, the corners of her eyes drooping and her lips pursing slightly. "But tomorrow I'm marrying you, and the bride has to be beautiful. I want to wear less."

"Mm, whatever you wish," Shen Yunxiu said with a soft laugh, then turned serious. "But before tomorrow, Yao Yao, I want to ask you one last time. Are you—"

"Even if you ask me a hundred times, I'll still say it: I'm truly willing to cover for you," Chen Yao interrupted, pouting.

Shen Yunxiu had asked her this question many times before, especially as the wedding day drew closer. She seemed increasingly worried about hindering Chen Yao's future, and always seemed to regret their current decision.

"Anyway, even if I married someone else, I couldn't be sure he'd be a good match. But I know Sister Yunxiu won't treat me badly," Chen Yao said, her brows curving into a smile. Her already beautiful eyes sparkled even brighter with mirth.

"Alright," Shen Yunxiu couldn't help but smile. "From now on, this household will be run by you."

But at the same time, she made a silent vow that if the chance ever arose, she would never let Chen Yao be trapped with her like this for life.

Though she was getting married the next day, the wedding ceremony was not grand. After all, both the Shen and Xie families had fallen on hard times, and now it was just the two of them.

Thus, they didn't observe the custom of not seeing each other for three days before the wedding, and the next day's ceremony was planned to be attended only by close acquaintances.

Shen Yunxiu's only wish in life was to make a name for herself in the court and bring glory back to the Shen family, and to live her entire life presenting herself as a man.

She didn't care much about her own wedding, especially since it was merely a sham marriage. But even so, such a simple ceremony was still a disservice to Chen Yao, the bride.

"Of course, I'll be the one in charge," Chen Yao deliberately let out a light snort, but her tone remained soft and gentle. "From now on, I'll be the top scholar's wife."

"Yes, the top scholar's wife," Shen Yunxiu said, her eyes full of laughter.

*

April nineteenth was the auspicious day that Shen Yunxiu had asked a fortune-teller to calculate, a day suitable for marriage.

Chen Yao was awakened early by the maidservant, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, and after a series of grooming and makeup, a red veil was placed over her head.

Then, at the auspicious hour, she was helped into the bridal sedan chair, which was carried through the streets with gongs and drums, taking a circuitous route before returning to the front of the top scholar's mansion.

Since the number of guests invited was small, the wedding ceremony was not elaborate. After performing the simple bowing rituals in the front hall, she was led, half-dazed, into the bridal chamber.

Chen Yao clutched the red handkerchief embroidered with mandarin ducks, sitting quietly on the wedding bed in the center of the room. The red veil before her eyes obscured almost everything.

The red candles on the candlesticks burned quietly, occasionally making a soft crackling sound.

"Congratulations, Host. You are now officially married to the female lead, as her lawfully wedded wife," System 04 teased.

Chen Yao pondered for a moment. "The female lead is quite lucky, then. Considering the later plotline, she's managed to achieve monogamy in ancient times."

System 04 burst into laughter in her mind.

She didn't have to wait long before she heard several sets of footsteps approaching from outside the door, coming to a stop right in front of her.

Then came a jesting voice, "I say, just how beautiful must my sister-in-law be to make you so eager? You've barely passed the imperial examinations, and you're already rushing to marry her. Today, I must see her for myself."

"Brother Yuan, mind your words."

A familiar, clear, and clean voice followed, like mountain spring water gently flowing, Shen Yunxiu's voice.

Chen Yao lowered her gaze. Through the gap beneath the red veil, she could see three pairs of black boots, though the materials differed.

One pair looked especially luxurious, with silk uppers and intricate patterns of flowers and birds embroidered in gold thread.

Yuan Fuju looked at his friend, who was dressed in a bright red wedding robe, his hair bound with a jade crown, glaring at him with anger, yet his features somehow looked even more handsome and spirited.

He swallowed quietly, not knowing why he suddenly felt a bit weak.

"It's my fault, my mouth is rotten," Yuan Fuju quickly recovered and immediately performed an apologetic bow, "I hope Xilan and my sister-in-law won't mind."

Shen Yunxiu sighed. She knew Yuan Fuju well and knew he meant no harm, but he could indeed be loose-tongued at times.

"Just talk less," she said, shaking her head.

Xiao Mingting, who had also come with Yuan Fuju to crash the bridal chamber, remained quiet, hardly saying a word.

He was naturally cold by nature, and detested noisy, boisterous occasions, so he rarely partook in such gatherings.

Had Shen Yunxiu not been both a highly esteemed official and a close friend with whom he shared a private bond, and had Yuan Fuju not kept urging him with his restless energy, he would not have bothered to come at all.

"Lord Shen, it's time to lift the veil," the matchmaker, standing at a distance, said softly.

The people before her were influential figures of high rank. For someone like her, a mere commoner, encountering even one on a regular day would be terrifying, so she was trembling with fear and dared not speak more than necessary.

Shen Yunxiu took the weighing scale handed to her by the matchmaker. Although it was her wedding day, her expression remained calm and composed.

Until she lifted the red veil, she felt her eyes brighten.

She had always known that Chen Yao was beautiful, but she never imagined that once dressed in bridal attire, she could be so stunning that one couldn't look away. Even though she was also a woman, she couldn't help but be deeply captivated by her beauty.

"Husband," Chen Yao murmured softly as the veil was lifted. Her eyes flickered upward, filled with the glimmer of tears, her lips gently pressed together.

Yuan Fuju also took a look and silently sighed, thinking she was indeed a peerless beauty.

But seeing his friend looking so entranced, he felt a strange, awkward sense of displeasure in his heart.

Xiao Mingting, standing slightly behind, was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. When the bride's veil was lifted, he raised his eyes and cast a casual glance over.

Under the bright candlelight, the bride beneath the veil was indeed stunningly beautiful—black hair, fair skin, brows like distant hills, and lips so red they seemed to drip with color, a peerless beauty who seemed to have stepped out of a painting.

Especially the small brown mole on the tip of her nose, which caught the light and made her look even more pitiable and captivating.

He felt his breath catch, and his entire body froze instinctively.

It was her! How could it be her!

Xiao Mingting's gaze fixed fiercely on the young woman before him. He felt as if something was blocking his chest, preventing him from breathing, and even his heart ached with every beat.

The overly intense gaze on her made Chen Yao feel uneasy, and she instinctively clutched her small hands.

Only then did she shift her gaze from Shen Yunxiu and looked timidly in the other direction.

Xiao Mingting quickly realized that his gaze had been too intense. Having learned to read others' expressions in the palace, he was adept at controlling his emotions.

Before the other two present could notice anything, his dark eyes flickered, and his handsome face once again returned to its usual expressionless state.

"Yao Yao, I haven't introduced you yet," Shen Yunxiu said, not noticing the tension between them. Seeing Chen Yao look up, she thought she was curious, so she said gently, "These two are my closest friends."

The matchmaker and the others had already left, so only these few remained in the room. Thus, Shen Yunxiu introduced them specifically. "This is Yuan Fuju, the son of Grand Tutor Yuan. And this is... Young Master Jingyao, who is actually His Majesty."

Her voice paused. Xiao Mingting, courtesy name Jingyao, was usually referred to by his courtesy name when they were outside to hide his identity.

Chen Yao looked blankly at Shen Yunxiu, then cautiously raised her eyes to glance at Xiao Mingting, who was standing right beside her.

...It was the man who had saved her yesterday.

She quickly lowered her eyes as if pricked by a needle, and her full, red lips were gently bitten by her teeth as she prepared to rise and pay her respects.

Xiao Mingting curved his lips. "No need for formalities."

"It's fine, we don't need to be so reserved in private," Shen Yunxiu said, patting her shoulder reassuringly, then continued, "This is my newly wedded wife, Xie Chenyao."

Almost instantly, two gazes drifted over unnoticed, landing on her hand resting on the young woman's shoulder.

Noticing that Chen Yao seemed quite shy, Shen Yunxiu looked up and began to usher them out, "Alright, it's getting late. Will you two brothers leave the wedding night to me alone?"