The Emperor, with more men than women, made me his mistress.

Tian Dong and Chuan Bai, who were following behind him, exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock and confusion.

They were certain they weren't seeing things; the Princess Consort of Prince Chen had indeed been riding in the Emperor's carriage.

The two glanced at the Crown Prince walking ahead, and at the same time remembered that yesterday afternoon when Prince Chen spoke with the Crown Prince, he had deliberately sent away those who were personally taking care of the Crown Prince.

I suppose what Prince Chen and the Crown Prince were talking about was what happened today.

However, no matter how turbulent their hearts were, they had no intention of asking the prince about it. After all, as the prince's personal servants, they would naturally find out sooner as time went on.

"Young Master, shall we return to the manor?" Chuanbai asked.

Princess Consort Chen has left, so there's no need for the Heir Apparent to stay and guard this mansion anymore, right?

"Well, I'll give you a few more instructions later, then we'll head back to the manor." Knowing that Yue Li wouldn't be returning tonight, Shao Qi planned to go back to the Duke of Yi's manor to discuss the marriage arrangements with his father.

After this incident, he was eager to hold a wedding banquet with Yue Li as well. After all, with the Emperor's involvement, he felt that he should first obtain a formal status for himself.

Sitting in this magnificent, high-class, and luxurious carriage, Yue Li appeared calm and composed, but in reality, many questions arose in her mind.

She didn't know what the emperor was thinking, that he would use such a carriage, reserved only for emperors, to pick her up.

Shouldn't they be keeping a low profile and acting discreetly in their situation?

Why is the Emperor making such a big fuss?

Does he want to announce this to everyone in Kyoto?

Filled with questions, Yue Li alighted from the imperial carriage at the palace gate.

But then, what came into view was the wide-open palace gate and a bright yellow sedan chair placed in front of it. From Yue Li's position, she could clearly see the gold, silver, jade, gemstones, and pearls inlaid on the sedan chair, as well as the lifelike dragon and phoenix patterns carved on it.

Yue Li: ……

All those questions I had just had were instantly answered.

It seems the Emperor has no intention of hiding their relationship; in fact, this is a blatant hint to everyone.

After all, she was to be picked up in a carriage reserved for emperors, and now, the palace gates were wide open, with a palanquin carried by sixteen men, a carriage reserved only for the empress, placed in front of the gates.

Even if the Emperor can't marry her and make her Empress, he still wants her to enjoy the treatment of an Empress!

Is this too exaggerated?

Yue Li felt that, judging from the current situation, it would probably take more than a day for everyone, whether they paid attention to the palace or not, to know about this matter.

Won't that cause her a lot of trouble later?

Just as Yue Li was lost in thought, Fu Quan's respectful voice came from beside her: "Master, this servant will help you get into the sedan chair."

Clearly, once they arrived at the palace gates, Fuquan changed how he addressed Yue Li.

If this wasn't specifically instructed by the Emperor, who would believe it?

Upon hearing this title, Yue Li glanced at Fu Quan in surprise. This person changed his name quite quickly!

Just now at the Yue residence, he called himself Princess Consort Chen, but now that we're in the palace, he's calling me master.

Without thinking too much about it, she realized that things had already come to this point, so could she really go back now?

Yue Li stepped forward and entered the bright yellow sedan chair, whose curtain had already been lifted by Fu Quan.

After seeing that Yue Li was already seated, Fu Quan lowered the sedan curtain and called out, "Lift the sedan chair."

Then, Yue Li felt the sedan chair she was sitting in being slowly lifted up. The sedan chair, carried by sixteen people, didn't even shake at all.

Without having to walk, time flew by. Yue Li felt like she had just finished observing the furnishings inside the sedan chair when she heard Fu Quan's voice outside, "Lower the sedan chair."

Then came the feeling of the sedan chair slowly descending, until a soft thud was heard. This time, there was no sound from Fuquan, but a large hand wearing an emerald thumb ring lifted the curtain. Yue Li then saw the Emperor, dressed in a red robe embroidered with dragon patterns, standing outside the sedan chair. The Emperor reached out his other hand to her, his eyes filled with endless love, and he smiled as he said, "Li'er, you've finally come. I've come to take you down from the sedan chair."

Upon seeing this, Yue Li also smiled. Her smile bloomed like spring flowers, dazzling and captivating, instantly stealing the Emperor's heart.

"Okay." Yue Li responded, placing her soft, boneless little hand in the Emperor's large hand.

Gently holding Yue Li's hand, the Emperor led her into the Zichen Palace. At this moment, his eyes were so tender they could melt water. He looked at Yue Li and said, "Li'er, shall we go into the inner room first and help you change into a red wedding dress?"

"What does Your Majesty mean?" Yue Li asked in surprise.

"Li'er, please don't call me Your Majesty today, okay?" the Emperor pleaded.

"Oh, right, I forgot, I should call you Jinxuan." At this moment, Yue Li also remembered the name they had agreed on yesterday.

"Yes, just call me Jinxuan."

"Jin Xuan, what's this?" Yue Li asked, looking at the Emperor's red robe embroidered with dragon patterns.

"Although I cannot openly marry you as my empress, I would like to have a private wedding ceremony with you according to folk customs. Li'er, what do you say?" The emperor looked at Yue Li with bright eyes, anticipating her answer.

Looking at the Emperor's expression and listening to his words, Yue Li had no reason to refuse!

"Um, okay."

Anyway, since the emperor has already ridden in his carriage and the phoenix palanquin today, I'm afraid that by now everyone in the capital who should know about it should know by now, right?

Where is this final step still missing?

Upon hearing Yue Li's agreement, the Emperor's gentle smile instantly transformed into a hearty grin. He smiled and led Yue Li towards the inner palace of the Zi Chen Palace.

The inner hall of the Zichen Palace is where the emperor rests, so most of the things inside are bright yellow: bright yellow bed curtains, bright yellow bed sheets, bright yellow pillows, bright yellow quilts embroidered with dragon patterns, bright yellow tablecloths on the round table, and bright yellow cushions on the stools.

Yue Li: ……

She suddenly felt that the bright yellow color was a bit dazzling. What was that?

And this person really loves bright yellow!

Surrounded by so much bright yellow, a splash of red on the tray on the round table instantly caught Yue Li's attention.

Sure enough, after the emperor led her to the round table, he picked up the red dress from the tray.

The bright red dress was opened, revealing an exquisite and intricate phoenix embroidered with colorful threads, its edges outlined in gold.

Not only the front of the red dress, but also the back was embroidered with the same phoenix. The lifelike phoenixes on the gorgeous fabric, combined with the emperor's movements, made the phoenixes seem to be about to take flight.

"Li'er, look, do you like this dress?" The Emperor unfolded the red dress and showed it off to Yue Li.

This was a design he personally drew after Yue Li left yesterday, and all the skilled embroiderers in the clothing workshop worked overnight to complete it.