"In seven days, Your Majesty and Ruxue will do a run-through to familiarize yourselves with the wedding ceremony proceedings. What does Your Majesty think?"
Empress Dowager Yan smiled as she looked at Xiao Mo.
Xiao Mo was momentarily taken aback, but then he nodded and agreed, "Of course. This is a matter of state, after all. I have no wish for any oversights, so a preliminary run-through is indeed necessary."
'Actually, Xiao Mo didn't really want to agree.'
'It was just a run-through, a single "rehearsal."'
'But even a "run-through" would take up some of his time.'
'But he had no choice. What could he do if he refused?'
'Empress Dowager Yan was only giving him face by asking; in reality, he had no choice at all.'
'If he refused, it would only make the Empress Dowager think he was starting to "rebel" again.'
Xiao Mo guessed that the Empress Dowager's request for a rehearsal was likely due to a recent incident in the Imperial Court.
