Chapter ninety-three: Wedding day

When duty lies straight before a human, he or she can accomplish it. Eun-hye could see her way through the duty laid upon her.

Her wedding is a duty not only to her family, but to the common people who prayed in anticipation of this auspicious ceremony.

Courteous invitations had been sent to nobles whose status march, or is second in command to imperial power. You could say it will be the gathering of the most powerful men in the society, which is to say , if there is an irrational massacre in the palace, the whole of Shu will lose the backbone of the nation and become paralyzed.

Outside the room, her prince charming stood waiting for her as custom demands. This wedding, she vows will be the most memorable day of her entire life. The wedding trains also awaits her.

Eun-hye, exquisitely dressed in her Wonsam, came out from her room , an adorable smile gracing her fair face, dazzling all and sundry. The palace maids whose duty is to serve her from now henceforth helped their lady wear her shoes made of animal hide and designed with a lotus flower.

The crown prince was grave at heart, though he was seemed struck with the girl's glowing beauty, enhanced by a grace of manner beyond all description and her robe exquisite in it's elaborate simplicity. He extended his hands in a gentlemanly posture and brought her down.

She flashed her cutest smile, though laced with nonchalance no doubt warmed the heart of the spectators. All conquests came alike to Eun-hye. In her heart, there is one deep passionate love... a love so intense that it had become fire and had destroyed all things before it; yet despite this one great love, the young lady was not by any means averse to minor conquest.

Her new mission, 'Make the crown prince fall in love with her', and this starts from this wedding night.

A man who stood outside the gates to get a glimpse of the new crown princess was dumbfounded by her beauty. "This lady could win or lose a kingdom", he said to himself, "She's irresistible".

Yet Prince Soon had preferred the star-like beauty of Kim Yoona.

The red palanquin entitled to only royal family members of the highest rank with it bearers waited patiently for the bride. As she made her entrance with the crown prince by her side, no fairer picture could describe the harmony and peace that existed between them.

The princess Wosam of green colour matched the dark robe of the prince without outshining the other. Lady Sora watched this scenery with mixed feelings but no doubt was charmed by her daughter.

At the palace, the ministers had already arrived. Their whole discussion was filled with the upcoming ceremony but hush fell on them with the imperial announcement of the emperor's arrival followed by his empress.

Alas, the long awaited announcement of the bride and groom came rendering them speechless. While the crown prince's face was devoid of smiles as they marched to the wedding hall, shred of gloom couldn't be found either. His princess's smile complemented what he lacked in emotions creating wonderful feelings in the hearts of the guests.

The wedding rituals and bows were taken following the thousand years wishes of long live, blessings and fruitful future.

Soon, it was time for the wedding banquet in celebration of the marriage.

The beautiful Wosam was replaced with an off white embroidered long sleeves covering the torso, and a wide long skirt in purple colour. The accessories were of excellent craft in total agreement with the dress. Her hairs were pinned up and a golden hairpin was used to hold it up. Finally, she's a married woman.

At the banquet, she delighted in the homage of the nobles, she was at her best before them... witty, brilliant and versatile, sarcastic yet not unkind. All she did was for him yet she never looked him straight in the eyes, pretending he was invincible.

The emperor was charmed by this daughter-in-law, he never remembered to have seen such brilliant combination of beauty and talent. He thought his consort was the last of such generation.

When food was served, she sang to them; her rich, clear contralto voice seemed to echo down the hall. The emperor listened until his eyes grew dim with tears.

"You renew my youth", he said to her, "When listening to you, I forget I'm toil-worn."

"Your toil has been in noble cause, your Majesty", she said in that gracious, winning manner of hers. "The world will be better for having you lived in it, you have done good to your people, your Majesty".

"It has pleased heaven to allow me to be of little service", said the emperor, "Call me father, silly child".

"Yes Father".

All through the conversation, the crown prince kept company to his wines absent-mindedly. He raised his goblet to down the remaining content but was stopped by his mother.

"Seja! are you trying to make our crown princess wait on a drunk groom?... Remember you still have a duty tonight", she admonished. At the mention of duty, Eun-hye's face burned red making her extremely hot . The empress smiled at the girl's discomfort but didn't rat her out.

She was charmed with her. She reminded her of Seo-yun, a brilliant and beautiful woman who live in the pages of history.

"What brilliant talents", she thought. "What a strongly marked resolute character. If she became what is called 'religious' , she would be earnest and fervent as an apostle. If she should ever fall, she would be the queen of sinners. She has character and strength of will enough for dozen of women, and each of them would be difficult to manage".

The remembrance of her force of will during the selection process chilled her spine.

They did not remain long in the banquet hall to help the couple reserve strength for the next program.

Eun-hye was more anxious about the wedding night than she cared to show. Her mother educated her thoroughly with diagrammatic illustrations but the scary part is of the hurt she was told to endure. Will it be that painful?

Soon came the wedding night and the sacred ritual of consummation.

"Dear Lord", she cried in her heart, "make me conceive tonight". More petals were added to her bathtub , obscuring the clear water.