Before long, the doors of Chenghui Hall slowly opened.
Li Lingyue emerged from within, walking with measured grace in full ceremonial dress.
Today she wore a princess's court robes: a deep blue-green gown woven with golden pheasants, its collar and cuffs embroidered with intricate cloud patterns. A jade belt encircled her waist, clearly outlining the swell of her six-month pregnancy.
She made no attempt to conceal her pregnancy, nor did she need to.
The Nine-Tailed Phoenix Hairpin held her dark hair high, revealing her long, fair neck. Two strings of Eastern Pearls swayed beside her ears, catching the lamplight beneath the eaves in a shimmer of color.
Her carriage was already waiting.
Four snow-white horses drew the vermilion-wheeled carriage, adorned with carved gold and phoenixes. Its curtains hung low, shutting out the curious gazes outside.
Jinghong helped her into the carriage. At the instant the curtain fell,
she turned her head slightly and exchanged a look with Jinghong that only the two of them understood.
"Let's go."
Her voice was calm and unruffled.
The carriage rolled smoothly out of the Princess's Residence, along the broad street of the Eastern Market, and past Vermilion Bird Avenue, making its slow way toward the imposing Taiji Palace.
Night had fully fallen, and the splendid lights of Chang'an City had just come on.
Lanterns on either side of the streets cast a patchwork of light and shadow across the bluestone paving. Occasionally, passersby stopped, but upon seeing the phoenix emblem on the vermilion-wheeled carriage, they quickly lowered their heads and moved aside.
Nothing obstructed her passage.
When the carriage reached the northern gate of Taiji Palace, the Imperial Guards on duty had already received their orders. After checking the fish tally and documents, they respectfully cleared the way.
The palace gates slowly opened with