After Ji Cheng left, Shen Jia urged her to go as well and that she is tired and need to rest, so she left for Grandmother Shuren's chamber.

  ….

  In Grandmother Shuren's chamber

  " Empress Zhao Ming has arrived"

  Upon hearing the announcement, Shuren looked up and smiled when Zhao Ming entered the room and greeted her with a smile.

  Shuren waved her hand, asking her to come and sit beside her on the bed. Zhao Ming nodded and went to sit beside her.

  " Look, How is it? Is it beautiful? Do you like this bracelet? How about this necklace? Or this Anklet?"

  As soon as Zhao Ming sat down on the bed, Shuren started to show various kinds of jewelry that she had brought with her.

  Zhao Ming's dull mood suddenly brightened seeing all the various ornaments. " Grandmother, these are so beautiful. I am sure you are going to shine in tomorrow's banquet," she said while looking at the beautiful anklet in her hands.

  Shuren knitted her brows and said, " When did I say that it's for me? It's all for you. You are going to wear these ornaments."

  Zhao Ming was surprised to hear her words. Shuren has already gifted her a precious ring yesterday and now these ornaments? Her mother in law, Wen Xu has never given her a single pendant but Shuren was giving her so many ornaments.

  " Me? Grandmother, how can I take all these jewelry?"

  Shuren frowned and asked, " Why? You don't like these? Should I show something else?"

  " It's not that. I like everything, these ornaments are more precious and beautiful than mine but how can I take so much from you? It's yours after all." Zhao Ming felt a little bad taking all the ornaments from her.

  " Why? You're Ji Cheng's wife, it's my duty to give you such presents while you just have to gladly accept these gifts. Don't stand on ceremony. I know Wen Xu failed to be a good mother in law, that's why I want to fulfill the duties of a mother in law in her stead."

  " Wen Xu has always been greedy and selfish and judges people's feelings in wealth only. Zhao Ming, I might have come here after so long, but I know why Brother enthroned you and Ji Cheng." Shuren rubbed Zhao Ming's hair lovingly as she stared into her eyes.

  Zhao Ming raised her brows and waited for her to complete her words.

  " Brother always felt regretful for Ji Cheng because he was a cheerful boy but his mother's expectations and desire to take over the throne turned him into an insensitive man. However, he noticed that whenever Ji Cheng saw you in the palace, he had a smile on his emotionless face. Unlike Wen Xu, he wanted a partner for Ji Cheng rather than a beneficial matrimonial alliance."

  Shuren became emotional as she remembered about old times, " You know, your grandfather used to write me letters and in those letters, he always said that he has found a beautiful and fine girl for Ji Cheng. And he was right. It's only because of you that Ji Cheng has started to smile even more. I am so happy to see Ji Cheng smile brightly like this.

  Shuren smiled and caressed Zhao Ming's face and said, " So take all these ornaments. You don't need to wear all of these tomorrow but at least take them. It's all yours from now on."

  Zhao Ming nodded and she took the ornaments gladly. " I will definitely wear them tomorrow. Thank you so much."

  …..

  The next day,

  The Banquet was arranged to welcome Grandmother Shulan in the main hall of the Palace. All the nobles and ministers were invited to the feast.

  The Palace Hall was crowded with all the guests and other consorts were also waiting for His Highness and Grandmother Shuren to make her entry.

  " Consort Jia shi, don't you think Grandmother Shuren favors Sister Zhao Ming too much?" Xiao Mei who was sitting beside Jia shi asked in curiosity.

  Jia shi frowned and looked at Xiao Mei disappointedly. Generally, she doesn't talk like this but her words sounded a bit strange. Xiao Mei immediately explained herself, " I am just happy that Sister Zhao Ming has someone to support her. I feel bad thinking that by now, she has been bullied by mother and Consort Xiao Li. This way she can take revenge on them."

  Jia shi knitted her brows when she saw that Xiao Li was looking into their direction. She turned to Xiao Mei and said, " Consort Xiao Mei, the matter about Grandmother Shuren favors Sister Zhao Ming or not, it's not your concern. So please refrain from talking about it."

  Xiao Mei pursed her lips when Jia shi told her off. She pursed her lips and nodded wrongly.

  " His Majesty and Her Majesty have arrived." Just as the guard made this announcement, all the people stood from their seats and looked towards the door in anticipation.

  Everyone bowed in courtesy when Ji Cheng and Zhao Ming stepped in the Palace. Their eyes widened in surprise seeing the way they were all dressed up.

  Zhao Ming was wearing a beautiful yellow colored dress that has precious colorful gems embellished on it and a phoenix was embroidered on the dress with colorful threads. This gave her a strong aura and made her look more elegant and attractive.

  Her hair was neatly styled in a heavy bun which was adored by the jade hairpin given by Shuren. Today she was wearing almost all the accessories given by Grandmother Shuren which made her look more exquisite and royal.

  However, other than her, people were shocked by Ji Cheng's outfit. He was wearing the same colored robe as Zhao Ming which had a dragon which was considered as Ji Dynasty's emblem embroidered on it.

  Zhao Ming's lips curled upwards in a proud smile seeing others' shocked reactions. She had matched her outfit with Ji Cheng's outfit and spent almost the whole night just to embroider these dragons on their outfits. Even though it's just Grandmother Shuren's welcome banquet, in the palace, no banquet is a small banquet.

  Ji Cheng and she went to their royal chairs passing through all the people who were bowing in front of them. [ Read this novel on W e b n o v e l . c o m ( remove spaces). If you are reading this elsewhere, then this novel is pirated. Support the original author, not thieves. Regards Kamlyn]

  " Rise"

  Everyone stood from their bowing position and stared at Ji Cheng and Zhao Ming in awe. The aura emanating from Zhao Ming was strong, powerful and it made her look beautiful like a phoenix while Ji Cheng's dragon print made him look strong and powerful as ever.

  NOTE: The dragon and phoenix are the powerful symbols of love and perfect balance in married life according to Chinese mythology. Similarly, they considered a symbol of eternity as well.

  ##

  [ Read this novel on W e b n o v e l . c o m ( remove spaces). If you are reading this elsewhere, then this novel is pirated. Support the original author, not thieves. Regards Kamlyn]