The people outside kept coming with news, making everyone in the courtyard tense and excited.
"They're almost here, almost here."
"I heard quite a few young officials have arrived this time."
"Yes, yes. They say the wedding escort procession attracted a lot of onlookers along the way."
Listening to their chatter, Zhao Hao also became curious. He knew his Yan Ge had always been rather low-key, and he wondered how she had managed to summon so many people.
It was just that this lively occasion was something he was destined to miss. Once his identity was restored, he would definitely gather a similar group to welcome Yan Ge.
After Lin Yan and his party reached the entrance, and after undergoing tests like the Flower Throwing Game, couplets, chess, painting, and even playing the zither, they finally paused at the urging of bystanders that the auspicious time was fast approaching.
However, the pre-nuptial poem still had to be composed. Lin Yan took the paper and brush from before and wrote many such poems, sending them in one by one.
After the papers with the pre-nuptial poems had passed through several hands, they finally reached Zhao Hao.
After reading them, Zhao Hao instructed someone to collect the poems.
"County Princess Fu'an, may Master Lin enter?"
"Yes, Your Highness, are you satisfied with these poems?"
Zhao Hao felt a bit flustered by their questions, only managing a slight nod. He felt his face grow hot, certain it must have turned bright red.
However, he worried unnecessarily. With several layers of makeup on, even if his face reddened, it wouldn't show.
Seeing Zhao Hao nod, the wedding officiant immediately notified those outside and then completely obscured Zhao Hao's vision with a veil.
Lin Yan, amidst the crowd, finally entered Zhao Hao's chambers. Although she had been to this chamber many times before, she still had to feign a nervous and flustered demeanor.
However, he could only stay in the outer room. Since there were many female guests inside, it was impossible for him, a man, to enter.
After exchanging a few words with Zhao Hao from outside the screen, a matron carried Zhao Hao out.
The wedding officiant placed one end of the red silk ribbon into Lin Yan's hand. Lin Yan, holding the ribbon, walked out with him. Before leaving, she draped a thick cloak over Zhao Hao.
"It's cold outside, Your Highness, please stay warm."
This action caused many noble ladies inside to look on with envy.
Although Zhao Hao was no longer as sensitive to the cold, he still cherished his Yan Ge's thoughtfulness.
The wedding officiant wanted to say something about it being against the rules, but she had no standing to speak here, so she wisely kept silent.
They first went to the main hall to bid farewell to the Princess Consort. After hearing a few admonishments from the Princess Consort, they heard an imperial edict arriving from outside.
Immediately, an incense table was prepared to receive the decree.
Lin Yan did not let anyone else help Zhao Hao. Instead, she supported him herself, carefully wrapping him with the cloak to prevent any chill from entering.
This imperial edict was to ennoble Zhao Hao as a Princess. Changing Zhao Hao's title from County Princess to Princess before the wedding showed the Emperor's affection and regard for her.
However, her title remained Fu'an, and from then on, she was Princess Fu'an, while Lin Yan became the consort of Princess Fu'an.
Although they did not go to the palace to thank the Emperor due to Zhao Hao's frailty, they would have to make a trip to the palace for the customary visit on the third day after the wedding.
"Thank you, Eunuch. If you are not in a hurry, please accompany me to the Lin manor for a glass of wedding wine," Lin Yan said to the eunuch who delivered the edict after the Princess Consort accepted it.
"Then I shall respectfully accept your kind invitation."
The eunuch who delivered the edict was one of the Emperor's trusted confidantes. He had already been assigned by the Emperor to observe this wedding. Naturally, he was to follow through to the end. Now that Lin Yan had invited him, he could conveniently accept.