She's skilled in medicine, martial arts, and even understands animal language—the abandoned dau

Perhaps Shen Man reassured all the merchants in Biancheng Prefecture, because no one bothered them for the next two days, and Lanxiang was finally able to choose a suitable dowry for Shen Man with peace of mind.

On the eve of their departure, the mother and daughter had dinner and checked all the dowry items one last time. As they were about to return to their room to rest, a servant came to report that Zhu Jing was requesting an audience.

Shen Man didn't understand why he had come, but she still had someone invite him in.

The copper bells on the eaves jingled softly in the night breeze. When Zhu Jing stepped into the living room, his black robes were still damp with night dew.

Shen Man gazed at the long, narrow brocade box he held in his hands. The candlelight cast long shadows of the two of them, which intertwined and then separated on the blue brick floor.

"We're setting off first thing tomorrow morning?" Zhu Jing's voice sounded as if it had been broken by the night wind, carrying a barely perceptible hoarseness.

“Yes, let’s set off early so as not to miss the auspicious day,” Shen Man replied.

He gently placed the brocade box on the table, and where the brocade slipped down, a jade ruyi (a type of scepter) engraved with a lotus scroll pattern was revealed. "This was left to my future daughter-in-law by my mother before she passed away... Now I give it to you as a gift from your elder brother."

As Shen Man's fingertips touched the warm, smooth jade, she suddenly recalled all the little moments between the two of them.

“Brother Zhu,” Shen Man gently pushed the jade ruyi back, then took out a secret letter, “this gift is too valuable; I cannot accept it.”

The candlelight flickered suddenly, and she saw Zhu Jing's hand, which was tucked into her sleeve, trembling slightly.

"Man'er, have we really become this estranged?"

Zhu Jing's lips curled up slightly, revealing a relieved smile. The moonlight, like water, spilled through the window lattice, weaving dappled light and shadow under his eyelashes: "That day, I witnessed His Highness the Crown Prince walking side by side with you, and he gently reached out to brush the branches above your head."

At that moment, it dawned on me that he was the one most compatible with you...

These past few days, I've come to a realization: I know I am not worthy of you, and I will never cause you any more trouble.

The night watchman rang the bell outside the courtyard, and Shen Man, looking at the jade ruyi on the table, finally stopped refusing.

As Zhu Jing rose to take his leave, she followed him to the corridor and said, "Brother Zhu, I wish you a speedy marriage and that you find your soulmate soon. When we arrive in the capital, I will strongly recommend you to His Highness the Crown Prince as the new prefect of the border town. Your knowledge and abilities are more than sufficient for the position!"

Zhu Jing turned to look at her, her eyes sparkling.

"Man'er," he called her name again, his voice as clear as moonlight, "go be your Crown Princess. I will guard the lights of every household in the border town for you."

After finishing his sentence, Zhu Jing strode away, his figure quickly disappearing into the night.

The sound of a watchman's drum came from afar, mixed with the unique clapper opera tune of the border town. Shen Man suddenly understood that some feelings do not need to be spoken, just like in this long night, there is always a lamp burning for each other.

The following day, all the dowry was loaded onto the carriage again. Shen Man changed into a bright red wedding dress, bid farewell to Lanxiang, and embarked on her journey to the capital.

On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, auspicious golden-red clouds floated in the sky above the capital.

The palace walls on both sides of the palace gate were covered with nine-foot-long red silk, which billowed in the wind like burning flames.

The imperial road from the Meridian Gate to the East Palace was paved with gold-threaded brocade, and every ten steps there were palace servants holding ever-burning lanterns. The flickering lantern shadows made it seem as if a galaxy had fallen to earth.

Shen Man sat in the eight-bearer phoenix sedan chair, her fingertips unconsciously caressing the pearl necklace on her wedding dress.

This wedding dress, made by three hundred embroiderers in the palace's clothing bureau over three months, features a phoenix and a hundred birds embroidered in gold thread that rises and falls with her breath, while the jade tassels sway gently, making her face even more radiant and beautiful.

Her memory flashed back to the old camphor tree in the border town. Back then, she never imagined that one day she would walk down this long street, which was the focus of everyone's attention, as the Crown Princess.

"The auspicious time has arrived—"

The eunuch's shrill voice pierced the air. The sedan curtain was slightly lifted, and the silver thread patterns on Chu Zhiyi's red auspicious robe flowed in the sunlight. When he reached out, the sachet embroidered by Shen Man herself on his wrist was faintly visible.

The moment their eyes met, Shen Man saw the deep affection surging in his eyes, as if she had returned to the height of summer when he shielded her from the scorching sun.

"Watch your step." Chu Zhiyi's voice was only audible to her. His warm hands steadily supported the hem of her dress, which was adorned with pearls.

As Shen Man passed through the vermilion palace gate, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure standing in the shadows of the palace wall—it was Cui Jinrong.

He was dressed in brand-new official robes and was bowing to her from afar.

In front of the Qianqing Palace, the shouts of officials paying homage shook the heavens.

Shen Man knelt on the cushion, looking at the Emperor and the newly appointed Empress Li Muyun sitting on the high platform. Suddenly, she thought of the old camphor tree in Xiaoyao Village and the fragrance of medicine in Qiufeng Town.

When Chu Zhiyi placed the golden seal with dragon patterns, symbolizing her status as the Crown Princess, into her palm, she finally understood that her fate was already inextricably linked with that of all the people in the world.

Suddenly, the sky was shrouded in dark clouds. Everyone looked up at the sky, and the moment the dark clouds pressed down on the city, the originally noisy court congratulations came to an abrupt halt.

The golden seal with dragon patterns in Shen Man's hand emanated a slight coolness. She subconsciously looked at Chu Zhiyi, only to see him holding her hand tightly, his gaze fixed firmly on the sky.

Just as everyone was filled with doubt and surprise, a clear phoenix cry pierced through the clouds, like a heavenly sound, startling everyone present into looking up.

Immediately afterwards, the dark clouds seemed to be torn apart by a giant hand, and a torrent of golden light poured down.

First, a colorful phoenix phantom appeared and disappeared in the clouds, surrounded by a flame-like halo. The dazzling light flowing between its feathers seemed to have gathered all the beautiful colors in the world.

Then, the chirping of birds came from all directions, growing louder as they approached, making the bronze bells on the eaves of the palace ring.

Flocks of birds of all colors, including white doves, magpies, and thrushes, flew in from all over the capital. They circled and danced in the air, forming a huge bird formation that was arranged in an orderly manner around the phoenix's phantom image.

Among them are many extremely rare species. The red-crowned cranes gracefully stretch their long necks, and the peacocks proudly display their plumage, with the eye-like markings on their tail feathers shimmering mysteriously in the sunlight.

As if summoned by some divine power, they all converged towards the Qianqing Palace.

The wings of hundreds of birds, illuminated by the sunlight, refracted countless colors, adorning the entire sky above the palace in a dreamlike and enchanting way.

The phoenix phantom slowly descended and stopped above Shen Man's head. Its scorching yet gentle aura brushed through her hair, and the pearls on her phoenix crown seemed to come alive, shining brightly.

The officials were so shocked by this strange sight that they all knelt down and kowtowed, shouting, "Auspicious omens have descended from heaven!" and "The Crown Princess is the chosen one of destiny!"

The Emperor and Empress were also filled with astonishment and joy, their eyes brimming with excitement.

This spectacular sight of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix is ​​undoubtedly Heaven's approval of this grand wedding, and it also foreshadows that the union of Shen Man and Chu Zhiyi will bring endless blessings to Chi Yan.

Chu Zhiyi looked at Shen Man, his eyes filled with pride and love: "Man'er, look, even the heavens are celebrating for us."

Shen Man's eyes reddened, her heart filled with countless emotions.

Back in that small village in the border town, she never imagined that her life would be connected with such a grand scene, but now she understands that this may be a gift from fate.

As the phoenix's phantom gradually faded, the birds also began to slowly disperse, but their cries as they departed still echoed above the palace for a long time.

This unexpected phenomenon not only added a vibrant touch to the wedding but also elevated Shen Man's status in everyone's eyes, casting a legendary hue over her upcoming career as the Crown Princess.