Chapter 3: The Enthronement

Chapter 3: The Enthronement

The mourning period required twenty-eight days. Since her 'fainting' incident, the Empress Dowager had decreed that she visit Jianzhang Palace for mourning rituals every three days.

Even so, the continuous days of mourning rituals took a toll on Jiang Hui.

Heavily pregnant and not particularly strong, her maids were anxious, fearing she might prematurely labor from the strain of the mourning.

Jiang Hui, however, was not worried. Lying in the warm pavilion of Yichun Palace, she pondered over the imperial decree of her new title just issued by the Emperor.

——By the decree of the Emperor, blessed by Heaven: The Jiang family, noble and esteemed, perpetuates virtuous traditions; distinguished and singular, gentle and gracious by nature. During my time as Crown Prince, I was graced by my father's favor to form this alliance. In adherence to maternal counsel, I hereby bestow upon you the title of Noble Consort, residing in Yaohua Palace. May you dutifully heed this command, illuminating the virtues within, with my highest esteem.

Though adorned with lavish praise, the newly titled Noble Consort was indifferent to these words, instead focusing on the status of others.

The eunuch who came to announce the decree was plump and endearing, one of Eunuch Sheng An’s disciples, Eunuch An Jing. He quietly informed Jiang Hui of the other appointees’ titles and then hurriedly left.

As expected, Wang shi, the Crown Princess, was to be the new Empress, residing in the Fengyi Palace.

Hu Chenghui, mother of the second princess Xiao Yan, was conferred the title of Consort Jia, residing in the Baoguang Hall of the Fuyang Palace.

Xu Liangdi was titled Xiuyuan, residing in the Huazhen Hall of the Guangyang Palace.

Shi Ruzi, the only palace maid left by the Empress Dowager, was appointed as a Beauty, residing in the Cunchu Hall of the Guangyang Palace’s western annex.

The enthronement ceremony and the Empress's coronation were to be held simultaneously, while the Consorts' coronation would follow after the enthronement. Jiang Hui calculated the dates; in three days, after the late Emperor's body was moved to the funeral palace and the Emperor finished his mourning period, it would occur.

The Ministry of Rites, in coordination with the Bureau of Imperial Attire, assigned a female official to guide the upcoming grand ceremonies. Considering Jiang Hui’s pregnancy, her part in the rituals was simplified as much as possible.

Jiang Hui listened calmly, her thoughts drifting to a family letter she had received the day before.

Her mother wrote that His Majesty had summoned her father back to the capital to pay respects to the late Emperor, possibly signaling a retrieval of his military command.

Jiang Hui didn’t see it that way. The Marquis of Ningyuan had always been a loyal guardian of the northern borders, instrumental in supporting His Majesty’s ascension. With the current political transition and the threat of Hun invasions, a hasty change of command would be unwise. Even if His Majesty intended to reclaim the military power of the northern borders, it would have to be a gradual process.

Jiang Hui reassured her mother in her reply, yet she understood her mother’s perspective. As the reigning Princess of Chengping, experienced and astute, her mother's reminder was that the man beside her had transformed from the Crown Prince into the sovereign Emperor, no longer the elder brother who used to tease her with a bamboo dragonfly.

Jiang Hui sighed softly. She had come to terms with this reality since receiving the imperial marriage decree.

In the afternoon, the Princess of Chengping, accompanied by Pomegranate and Hawthorn, began preparing for the move to the new palace, while Jiang Hui, supported by Lan Song, slowly walked around the table for exercise.

Her delivery was nearing, and amidst the mourning period, the Princess of Chengping had already arranged for a well-known midwife from the capital to be sent to Jiang Hui's palace through the Internal Affairs Department.

Today, she made an effort to walk a few extra rounds, following the midwife's advice for a smoother delivery. After counting to ten in her mind, Jiang Hui stopped and slowly sat back down in her armchair.

Most of the jewelry and ornaments in the inner chamber had been put away, and the rosewood multi-tiered curio shelf was now bare, except for a lotus leaf plate still holding fragrant citron. It was inconvenient now to ask for books from the packed items.

Jiang Hui’s gaze swept over the shelf, landing on a few pieces of thin paper stitched together, covered in small script. She picked them up – a list of items from the storeroom, likely for Ping Auntie to check later.

“Who gifted this green-glazed lion-shaped incense burner?” Jiang Hui asked softly after looking at it for a while.

Wan Song pondered for a moment before confirming, “In June, the late Emperor bestowed fine fragrances upon the princes. His Majesty gifted the agarwood he received to my lady. It was directly brought from the palace storehouse. To curry favor, they also sent over a green-glazed Suanni incense burner.”

Seeing Jiang Hui deep in thought, Wan Song continued, "At the time, my lady, you were pregnant. Although Imperial Physician Liu mentioned that agarwood could help alleviate your nausea and vomiting, your reaction was severe and the weather was hot. You couldn’t stand the smell of spices, so it was stored away in the warehouse and never used."

Jiang Hui remembered; back in June, the late Emperor was still in good health. The Emperor received additional rewards for successfully overseeing the Yellow River water conservancy project. Knowing her fondness for fragrances, he directly sent the agarwood to her.

"My lady, is there a problem?" Wan Song asked, somewhat worried.

Jiang Hui shook her head; it was just that she was unfamiliar with the item. However, she pondered, for it to be delivered to her, it should have first gone through the Palace Warehousing Bureau to the Eastern Palace, and then from the Crown Prince or the Crown Princess to Yichun Palace. Why was it sent directly from the Palace Warehousing Bureau, and with an incense burner attached?

Jiang Hui frowned and instructed Wan Song to fetch the incense burner.

When Wan Song returned, she brought not only the incense burner but also the tin box that originally contained the agarwood.

Jiang Hui didn’t touch it directly. She had Wan Song open the tin box and take out the agarwood, tightly wrapped in silk. After examining it for a while, she placed the spice in a bowl of clear water, where the brown agarwood quickly sank to the bottom.

It seemed unproblematic. Jiang Hui’s gaze shifted to the accompanying small incense burner. Noticing the artisan’s mark on the bottom was blurred and hard to discern, her eyes darkened slightly.

"Wan Song, go outside and call Qingfeng over to smash this incense burner."

Wan Song complied, and soon Qingfeng, dressed as a eunuch, arrived, wielding an iron shovel he found somewhere, and smashed the Suanni burner heavily.

The incense burner split in two, revealing the copper interior beneath the green glaze, still seemingly normal.

Jiang Hui examined the broken edges carefully and suddenly said, "Wan Song, scrape off some of the powder with a small knife, wrap it in a handkerchief, place it in the tin box, and discreetly take it to Imperial Physician Liu for inspection."

After a pause, she added, "If you encounter anyone, just pretend you’re fetching medicine for pregnancy."

Wan Song acknowledged the order. Qingfeng, having only heard the latter part, roughly understood the situation. His eyes shifted slightly as he asked for further instructions:

"My lady, I remember this incense burner. The person who delivered it was Xiaolinzi from the Palace Warehousing Bureau. Should I try to probe him?"

"No need," Jiang Hui stopped him, then said, "Go to the Internal Affairs Department and explain that we are short-handed for tomorrow's palace relocation. Ask them to lend us a few people."

The Internal Affairs Department always managed palace affairs. Qingfeng quickly understood Jiang Hui's intention and left promptly.

"My lady, should we recheck the other items in the storeroom?" Qiu Kui, standing by her side, asked softly after noticing no further instructions from Jiang Hui.

Jiang Hui nodded. Although everything that entered her palace, from food to other items, was always thoroughly inspected, they couldn’t be too cautious with hidden dangers like the incense burner.

"While we’re preparing for the palace move, you and Aunt Ping should re-examine everything carefully."

"Understood." Knowing the urgency of the matter, Qiu Kui hurried off.