Today was already the Ghost Festival, the day Lan Yunxiao was to be married into the Prince Xu Manor. The streets were adorned with festive red ribbons and hung with bright red lanterns, creating an atmosphere of great celebration.
Although Lan Yunxiao was entering the manor only as a secondary consort, the Emperor's intention to win over the Lan Clan remained unmistakable, and no expense had been spared on the scale of the procession.
Before dawn, Lan Yunxiao had been pulled up to be dressed and made up. The heavy, intricate ceremonial robes weighed down on her not-yet-fully-recovered spine, making it stiff, and the red jade and bead-drip phoenix crown was so heavy that even lifting her head required effort.
Chapter 159