I Was Forced To Marry The Phoenix Empress

Chapter 305: Leaving for the Imperial Ceremony

More than two weeks had elapsed by now, and in this period, Yi Chen had managed to refine two more meridians.

== Meridian Refinement Stage ==

Level: Eleventh [7 / 40]

Mortal Meridians: 360 / 360

Godly Meridians: 47 / 160

Progress: 407 / 520

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Glancing at his cultivation panel for a second, Yi Chen let out a deep breath before pushing himself off the floor.

The sunlight had started to seep in through the curtains, indicating that it was time for him to go and freshen up after pulling an all-nighter.

Yawning widely, he stretched his stiff body a little before finally making his way towards the bathroom.

In the previous days, nothing out of the ordinary had happened, and he had continued his schedule of cultivating almost the entire day and going out briefly for a change of pace.

A while later, when Yi Chen was done with changing into a new set of robes, he thought to himself, ’I’ll go and get a few Qi Nourishing Pills first, then...’

It was at that moment that a ringing sound came from the door.

’Is she finally here?’ Yi Chen thought to himself and went to attend the door. All these days he had been waiting to receive the Ceremony Schedule from Wei Ru, which she had promised earlier.

However, despite waiting for almost sixteen days, she hadn’t visited him at all.

With an expectant glint in his eyes, he soon opened the door, but instead of Wei Ru, two staff members were standing outside the door with a rollable cloth rack next to them.

A subtle frown appeared on Yi Chen’s face when he saw the eye-catching robe that was hanging on the rack. Although it was white in colour, silver embroidery that shone in the light had been stitched on it.

Just when he was about to ask them why they were here, one of the staff members stretched her hand that was holding onto an envelope towards Yi Chen, "Greetings, Sir. Manager Wei had asked us to deliver this to you along with this robe."

"I see..." Yi Chen nodded with a weird expression and took the envelope from her hand. While at it, he pointed inside and let the two of them place the rack inside his room.

"Sorry for the disturbance, Sir," the staff members bowed as they left a few seconds later.

It was only then that Yi Chen’s attention went to the envelope in his hand.

Opening the envelope, he soon found a card inside. It was the schedule for the Imperial Ceremony, and his eyes soon began scanning it.

The ceremony was to start by seven in the evening and would start with both the Emperor and Cao Li honouring the Cang Tian’s statue.

Glancing at Cao Li’s name, Yi Chen’s eyes narrowed subtly as he read further.

After the honouring ceremony, there was a banquet long enough for people to interact while eating before finally ending.

’That’s barely four hours,’ Yi Chen nodded after seeing through the schedule.

It wasn’t too out of what he had expected, so Yi Chen was fine with it. However, what he failed to understand was why Wei Ru had sent this robe along.

’I already have enough robes with me...’ he thought with a bitter smile.

What made him even more uncomfortable was just how eye-catching the robe was, something he wasn’t used to wearing at all.

It was just then that the Sound Transmission Stone inside his storage ring started vibrating.

Taking it out, he soon answered it.

"Greetings Young Master Chen, did you get the items which I sent to your room?" Wei Ru’s voice came from the stone the next instant.

"Yes, I just finished going through the Ceremony Schedule. Thank you for sending it to me," Yi Chen stated with a smile.

"Mhm," Wei Ru hummed from the other side and asked the next second, "You must have also received a new robe, right?"

"Y-Yes...I did." He said the next moment while turning to glance towards it.

"When I was buying a set for myself, I chanced upon this one and bought it without a second thought. It will definitely fit Young Master Chen’s disposition and is perfect for the occasion. Doesn’t Young Master Chen think the same?" Wei Ru stated with an expectant tone.

"...Yes, it’s really perfect. I was just thinking of buying a new set of robes so Madam Wei has my thanks." Yi Chen answered with a forced smile.

"Wonderful! Then see you in five days’ time."

With that said, she ended the transmission.

Glancing at the white robe that glittered with silver light at various places, Yi Chen sighed.

’Whatever...it’s not like anyone else knows me in this Kingdom,’ he consoled himself before leaving the room to grab a warm breakfast.

Days passed uneventfully with Yi Chen following the same routine he had been following, and finally, it was the day of the ceremony.

"I can’t afford to make any mistakes tonight..." Yi Chen muttered while looking at himself in the mirror.

He was dressed in a white robe that had beautifully designed silver tendril-like designs that shone when looked upon.

If one were to look at him after hearing Wei Ru’s words, they would agree that the robe suited Yi Chen very well.

After adjusting his hair for a few more seconds, he let out a deep breath to control his breathing, which had fastened due to overthinking.

’It will be alright...I’ll definitely be able to find the required proof tonight,’ Yi Chen kept repeating to himself in order to calm his mind as he made his way to the living room.

Glancing outside the window, he could see that the evening fog was about to set in. However, unlike usual, underneath the fog were countless lights that had lit the entire city in light by now.

"...Well, it does look beautiful," Yi Chen muttered while making his way towards the window pane and sliding it open.

A familiar smoky smell invaded his nose the very next moment, making him let out a bitter smile.

"If only it didn’t smell like that..."

Buzz Buzz

Feeling the buzz in his storage ring, Yi Chen immediately took out the sound transmission stone.

"Young Master Chen, I’m waiting for you downstairs," Wei Ru’s voice came from the stone the next instant.

"Understood. I’m heading down," Yi Chen replied the very next moment and soon left his room.

When he arrived downstairs, he was expecting to meet Madam Wei but was instead called by a coach driver who soon guided him to a closed carriage.

"Please, Young Master Chen," The driver gestured and opened the door for him.

"Thanks." Yi Chen nodded and entered the carriage the next moment, only to pause in his steps the very next moment.

"Greetings, Young Master Chen," Wei Ru greeted with a smile.

"This..."

He couldn’t help but be dumbstruck when his eyes fell on Wei Ru, who was sitting on one side of the carriage.

Her white hair that was normally left hanging was tied to a neat bun. Her ears displayed a beautiful black earring whose intensity was enhanced by her jade white skin.

Everything, including the clothes she was wearing, complemented her so much that the brown discolouration on her face didn’t seem to affect her beauty at all.

Just looking at her, one couldn’t help but develop a subtle admiration and respect in their hearts.

However, the reason for Yi Chen’s reaction wasn’t the disposition she carried but the clothes she was wearing.

"M-Madam Wei...w-why do our robes look so similar...?" Yi Chen couldn’t help but mutter while glancing at the white hanfu she was wearing.

Just like Yi Chen’s robes, her hanfu also had tendrils of silver embroidery that looked similar, if not identical, to those on Yi Chen’s robes.

Seeing his reaction, Wei Ru chuckled the next moment, "That’s because they are identical, Young Master Chen...isn’t that obvious?"

As she said that, Wei Ru glanced towards the coach driver, who, understanding her gaze, closed the door from outside before taking his seat and whipping at the horses the next moment.

THAK!

Feeling the sudden momentum, Yi Chen was almost pushed towards the seat to his side but managed to stabilise himself.

Gesturing towards the seat in front of her, Wei Ru said with a smile, "Please take a seat, Young Master Chen. It will take us about an hour or so to reach the Imperial Palace."

However, instead of following her advice, he glanced towards her with an uncomfortable expression and asked, "W-won’t it look abnormal if Madam Wei and I are dressed in similar outfits?"

Hearing his question, Wei Ru smiled brightly and said, "That’s exactly what we want to appear like."

"...What do you mean?" Yi Chen couldn’t help but ask in confusion.

"Well, that’s something Young Master Chen will find out himself when we arrive there. It isn’t fun to know everything at once now, isn’t it?" Wei Ru asked with a smirk on her face.

"..."