The Stand-In Empress's Wedding Night (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13
A concubine, you say?
The Lapion Imperial Family never fails to spring a new shock every single day.
Was the concubine matter something already decided before the state marriage?
Prince Tessler, you damned bastard.
But if Prince Tessler himself had no idea about this, how would things even unfold?
All the way to the reception room for tea with the young ladies, my shoulders felt crushed under the weight of tension.
This was a scenario I hadn’t anticipated at all.
I hadn’t even considered the possibility of concubines…
If Rinel had planned to take concubines, shouldn’t he have at least given me a hint last night?
There was plenty of time in bed for him to mention something about concubines.
No matter how absolute an emperor’s authority might be, taking concubines immediately after marriage?
And not just one—but several?
Even if the foreign empress from a state marriage seemed utterly inadequate, this was far too sudden and somehow felt off.
But Sharon’s source—a steward she’s close with—surely wouldn’t have given her false information.
Last night, that steward, who works in the chief priest’s secretarial office at the temple, said he personally overheard the chief priest and several nobles discussing the timing of the emperor’s wedding ceremony with the concubines.
So it couldn’t be wrong information.
“Oh… Could it be that’s why…?”
Did Grand Duke Martines request an audience with both Rinel and me simultaneously?
To discuss the matter of taking concubines?
Did Grand Duke Martines already know?
No, that couldn’t be.
If he had known beforehand, he would’ve given me some indication when we met in the audience chamber yesterday.
It was more likely that even he had only heard the news this morning.
Rulers of every nation keep numerous concubines and mistresses.
As merely a proxy empress, I had neither the justification nor the right to oppose this matter.
Yet it was certainly uncommon to bring in concubines so eagerly just days after a state marriage.
Something felt deeply suspicious.
I paused my steps toward the reception room and turned my head toward the main palace building visible through the tall arched window.
“Perhaps it’s not for discussion…”
It must be an announcement.
Maybe Rinel had simply accepted Grand Duke Martines’ audience to convey a decision already made—and summoned me to his office for the same reason?
Complex emotions, nebulous yet sharp, prickled at my nerves.
I hated to admit it, but right now I felt deeply let down by Emperor Rinel.
Perhaps it wasn’t just disappointment—maybe even jealousy…
No, snap out of it.
I consciously slowed my quickening pace and steadied my breathing.
If the emperor has decided this, I must comply.
Harboring resentment would only earn his disdain and serve no purpose.
After all, my sole duty was to quietly get divorced once Princess Resilia arrived at this imperial court.
I must not forget my place.
“Your Imperial Majesty? We’re here.”
Lost in thought, I turned at Sharon’s voice.
Only then did I realize I’d walked right past the reception room door.
“Oh, right.”
I gracefully stepped backward until I stood precisely before the door.
Sharon, too stunned to react, couldn’t stop me as I retreated.
Before meeting those young ladies inside, I wanted to see Rinel first.
But the emperor’s morning would surely be filled with meetings and official duties, while my morning… had to be spent laughing amiably among the very young ladies destined to become his concubines.
Please, let my hand holding the teacup not accidentally pour its contents onto someone’s dress.
Let me not, unknowingly, lower my gaze and shrink under their scrutiny.
I offered that brief, silent prayer in my heart.
“So they’re all in there together? The candidates to become His Majesty’s concubines?”
I asked Sharon, glaring at the intricate floral carving on the reception room’s doorknob.
“Yes, that is correct.”
Sharon replied carefully.
At that moment, the melodious laughter of noble young ladies seeped through the crack in the reception room door.
Young ladies who’d just heard the emperor would take concubines mere days after his marriage.
How delightful for them.
How full of anticipation.
Not a single one inside would fear the empress from the Shattonil Kingdom, a vassal state of the Lapion Empire.
Among them were surely those who’d once hoped for the empress’s throne themselves.
Even though the Empress’s Palace was my residence, I seemed to be the only one feeling nervous here.
I straightened my slumped shoulders.
I steadied my mind, imagining all my tension dissolving into the air with my next exhale.
I stood tall and said to Sharon,
“Open it.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”
[This is the timeline separator]Sharon entered the reception room ahead of me and announced to the young ladies,
“Her Imperial Majesty the Empress has arrived!”
As I stepped inside, sunlight streaming through the large windows struck my face directly.
The noisy chatter instantly ceased, and every gaze turned to me.
I slowly walked toward the group of noble young ladies, meeting each of their eyes one by one.
As expected, the young ladies whose eyes met mine didn’t immediately lower their gazes.
They stared back defiantly, only reluctantly glancing down when I drew closer.
Their tiny faces all wore smug, provoking expressions that made me want to clench my fists.
But I don’t hit women.
I released the tension from my clenched hand.
No matter how fiercely they glared, they were still in no position to avoid bowing and greeting me properly right now.
I stopped five paces away from the group of young ladies.
Not too close, not too far.
But close enough to clearly see their condescending looks.
If they thought I’d foolishly smile first and fawn over them, they were sorely mistaken.
I matched their orchestrated silence with my own.
I did, however, slightly raise an eyebrow to convey just how unpleasant I found the atmosphere.
Their smiles gradually faded.
As time passed, they began glancing at each other nervously.
Ah, so they’d all collectively agreed not to greet me until I showed signs of fluster and spoke first?
If that’s the childish game they wanted, I could play along just fine.
I pressed my lips tighter, lifted my chin higher, and stared down at them with lowered eyes.
The young ladies grew increasingly uncomfortable under my gaze, and one by one, they started avoiding my eyes—unlike at first.
A few, however, still met my stare unflinchingly, even wearing faint smiles as if savoring the tension.
Ah, I see.
So among them were indeed concubine candidates.
“Y-your Imperial Majesty! We humbly greet you!”
Amidst the collective silence, the young lady closest to me finally broke under the pressure and bowed first.
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
“I’m truly honored… to see up close the faces of such… re. fined… young ladies of the Lapion Empire. Which house do you belong to, and what’s your name?”
As I scanned the group, I returned my gaze to the one who’d spoken first.
“I am Elly Josephine of House Count Josephine…”
Starting with Lady Elly, the young ladies beside her began introducing themselves in turn.
Some even stepped forward and knelt halfway in respectful greeting.
With deliberate calm, I repeated each name and house aloud, as if memorizing them.
Most of the noble young ladies, sensing my demeanor, outwardly lowered their heads and feigned sweetness.
I also made eye contact with the four young ladies who’d intruded into my bedroom yesterday, claiming to be my maids.
Predictably, the most audacious among them boldly stepped forward.
“I am Melanie of House Duke Hetzros.”
“Oh, Lady Melanie.”
So she’d been cut from being my maid and immediately named a concubine candidate?
Lady Melanie carried herself even more confidently than yesterday.
As I received greetings from the young ladies, my eyes met the last one in line.
Her gaze was far colder than the others’.
She didn’t even bend her knees—just gave a slight nod of her head as greeting.
“I am Catherine of House Duke Kalios. I’ve truly been… eager to meet you, Your Imperial Majesty.”
Her voice carried clear hostility toward me.
Lady Catherine seemed intent on showing, through her expression and tone, that she held a higher status than I did.
“I wonder if I’ve lived up to Lady Catherine’s expectations. Shall we all sit and chat?”
At my reply, a faintly arrogant smile flickered across Lady Catherine’s face.
It was the kind of smile that made me want to slap her across the back.
Once I took my seat, the young ladies followed one by one.
“Forgive my impertinence, Your Imperial Majesty—but have you heard the rumor that one of us may become your concubine?”
Lady Catherine asked, slowly fanning herself with an ornate golden fan.
“…I heard on my way here.”
I replied in the most neutral tone I could manage.
“You must be terribly upset. His Majesty seems rather hasty—how could he take concubines so soon after welcoming an empress…?”
Lady Melanie leaned forward with a mock-sympathetic frown, pretending to comfort me—but her eyes gleamed with amusement.
I didn’t bother responding to her false sympathy; I merely lifted and lowered the corner of my lips slightly.
“Oh, by the way, Lady Catherine—I always thought you were proud and aloof, but this news surprised me even more!”
This time, Lady Melanie casually addressed Lady Catherine.
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
Lady Catherine glanced sideways at Lady Melanie as if looking down at a servant.
“Well… it’s not something I should mention in front of Her Imperial Majesty…”
Lady Melanie cast a glance at me, as if asking permission to proceed.
Since it was about Lady Catherine but she checked my reaction first, it must be something uncomfortable for me to hear.
The young ladies were already exchanging curious glances between Lady Melanie, Lady Catherine, and me.
“Please, speak freely, Lady Melanie.”
Even I grew curious—what could Lady Melanie be so gleefully teasing about?
“Well, the fact that proud Lady Catherine accepted this arrangement must mean she still holds deep… Ah, Lady Catherine here was originally engaged to His Imperial Majesty…”
Lady Melanie built everyone’s suspense, then dramatically trailed off at the crucial moment.
I turned my gaze to Lady Catherine.
She seemed to already know what Lady Melanie was about to reveal.
Yet despite her exaggerated look of discomfort, she didn’t actively stop Lady Melanie—who clearly relished the dramatic buildup.
If it were a truly sensitive secret, she would’ve twisted Lady Melanie’s arm to silence her. The fact she didn’t meant it wasn’t that grave.
As I kept watching Lady Catherine, she noticed my gaze and raised her voice toward Lady Melanie.
“Lady Melanie! It’s hardly proper etiquette to speak of such things before Her Imperial Majesty!”
And yet, you think shouting in front of me is proper?
Unconsciously, my hand tightened around the teacup I was lifting—making the black tea inside ripple.
“It’s fine—please go on.”
I shrugged nonchalantly, feigning calm for Lady Melanie’s benefit.
Whether I truly appeared composed, I didn’t know—but Lady Melanie nodded.
“Yes—His Imperial Majesty and Lady Catherine were…”
Leaning forward, Lady Melanie watched Lady Catherine’s expression closely as she continued.
“Betrothed.”
A short sigh escaped my lips as they barely touched the teacup.
“…Ah!”
I was startled by the hot tea—
but even more shocked by the unexpected revelation.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
_____
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