Chapter 137: The Coronation

Chapter 137: The Coronation

The remaining days of the fourth year of Jianzhao flew by under the emperor's urging.

On the second day of the second month of the fifth year of Jianzhao, the emperor established the empress, conducting the grand ceremony of enfeoffment.

After the Minister of the Ministry of Rites announced the emperor's decree to establish the empress in the Taiji Hall, he personally carried the sacred decree to the Yaohua Palace to proclaim it.

This was highly irregular, but neither the Ministry of Rites nor the Department of Music, both responsible for ceremonial matters, could dissuade the emperor. Thus, they had to carefully revise the coronation ceremony to ensure the satisfaction of both His Majesty and the new empress.

Early in the morning, Jiang Hui was awakened by Qiu Kui Wan Song, and after washing and dressing, she donned a deep cyan robe with large sleeves embroidered with colorful phoenixes, the hem edged in vermillion with woven gold dragon patterns, and wore deep cyan knee covers, a leather belt with double silk ribbons, and white jade ornaments... Just getting dressed took a considerable amount of time.

Then, Jiang Hui was helped to sit at the dressing table, her hair neatly tied up, wearing a crown adorned with nine dragons and four phoenixes, inserting twelve flowers, and applying pearl flower makeup. After all these preparations, she left the Yaohua Palace, listened to the proclamation of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and was escorted by the Prime Minister and the Deputy Envoy, Prince Rui, to ride in the magnificent carriage to the ancestral temple for offering sacrifices to the ancestors and the enfeoffment ceremony.

Xiao Sheng wore a red robe embroidered with the twelve chapter patterns, his head adorned with a crown with twelve strings, followed by officials in court dress, smiling and waiting in front of the ancestral temple.

Upon the arrival of the magnificent carriage, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, acting as the ceremonial officer, invited His Majesty to welcome the Empress Dowager into the hall.

With ceremonial music playing, the sound of the chimes seemed distant yet near. Xiao Sheng approached the magnificent carriage, lifted the curtain decorated with phoenix feathers, and helped Jiang Hui out of the carriage.

The crown concealed his expression, but the hand extended in the February chill was warm. Jiang Hui slowly placed her hand in Xiao Sheng's palm, letting him lead her shoulder to shoulder towards the ancestral temple.

As the ceremonial music reached its climax, officials on both sides knelt in homage. The short journey was taken slowly due to the heavy ceremonial robes and jewelry.

The interior of the ancestral temple was very quiet, enshrining the emperors and empresses of the Great Zhou dynasty, princes, and meritorious officials entitled to be worshipped in the temple.

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites, with a voice both high and solemn, invited the emperor and empress to worship the ancestors. After the ceremony, the senior Prince Rui, as the head of the clan's registry, presented the jade tablet, recording Jiang Hui's name behind Xiao Sheng's, as she had already been granted a title as the noble consort, now known as Empress Zhao of the Jiang clan.

In the future, after Xiao Sheng and Jiang Hui's passing, Jiang Hui would also receive a posthumous title, determined along with Xiao Sheng's, marking her for life with the imprint of Xiao Sheng.

Afterwards, Xiao Sheng personally placed a box, coated in vermilion lacquer with gold and silver decorations, into Jiang Hui's hands. The box was lined with mica, and atop it sat a seal carved with seal script, featuring a dragon-topped knob made of red gold.

This marked the official enthronement of the empress.

With this, the coronation ceremony concluded. The emperor and empress entered the palace through the Chaoyang Gate, performed the formal rites in the Ziji Hall, and hosted a banquet for the officials; the ministers entered the Ziji Hall through the Zhengyang Gate to witness the ceremony.

Jiang Hui was attended by palace maids like Qiu Kui and Wan Song, who helped her change out of her intricate ceremonial robe into a crimson dress. After redoing her hair and inserting twelve phoenix hairpins, she joined Xiao Sheng, now clad in a dark, red-edged dragon robe, to enter the Ziji Hall.

The Ziji Hall had been redecorated by the Imperial Household Department, balancing festivity and solemnity to cater to the emperor's preferences, a task that greatly challenged the head eunuch Quan Fu.

On the jade steps lay a crimson carpet embroidered with auspicious patterns, and the imperial desk was adorned with delicate dishes of meat and two jars of fine wine. Jiang Hui and Xiao Sheng sat side by side behind the desk.

Sheng An picked up jade chopsticks, placing a slice of meat into the green-glazed bat-patterned bowls before Xiao Sheng and Jiang Hui, as the head of the Ministry of Rites once again loudly invited the imperial couple to perform the ritual of eating together.

This ritual, typically reserved for weddings, was an extraordinary inclusion.

Jiang Hui glanced at Xiao Sheng, who was wearing a dragon-shaped gold crown instead of his formal headwear, revealing the smile on his face.

Jiang Hui also smiled tenderly at him, then lowered her eyes, her long lashes concealing her expression, as she picked up a piece of meat with her jade chopsticks and delicately ate it.

Sheng An and Qiu Kui, standing on either side, presented golden goblets to Xiao Sheng and Jiang Hui, as the head of the Ministry of Rites continued, "May His Majesty and the Empress perform the cup-joining ceremony!"

It was a remarkable feat to have arranged both the shared meal and cup-joining ceremonies.

Jiang Hui lifted her golden goblet, linking arms with Xiao Sheng to drink from their cups.

After completing these rituals, all formalities finally came to an end. Jiang Hui, assisted by Qiu Kui, left the Ziji Hall to rest in the Phoenix Pavilion, while the ministers commenced their banquet.

However, these ministers were well aware of the emperor's intentions. As the appropriate time approached, they collectively offered congratulations for the emperor's new joy, giving him a graceful exit from the event.

And what was this new joy? Naturally, it was the celebration of the empress's coronation.

In the hour of Xu, at Fengyi Palace.

Fengyi Palace had been redecorated according to Jiang Hui's preferences. The arrangement of furnishings had not changed much, still resembling those in Yaohua Palace.

As Xiao Sheng entered the Mingluan Hall, he intended to go straight to the main house, but was informed by a servant that the Empress was putting Princess Huayang to sleep.

Huayang had barely seen her mother today. After tiring herself out playing, she couldn't find her mother and was uneasy in a strange bed, throwing a princess tantrum. She refused to sleep, not even pacified by her brother's efforts, relenting only when Jiang Hui held her.

Xiao Sheng, having no choice, headed towards the eastern annex. Before entering, he heard Jiang Hui's soft humming.

The sound was gentle and graceful, deepening the smile on Xiao Sheng's face. He waited by the curtain for a moment, then quietly approached Jiang Hui from behind, glanced at his plump little daughter, and whispered, "Is Huayang asleep?"

"Your Majesty?" Jiang Hui, sitting by the bed, seemed surprised by the Emperor's arrival, then smiled at Xiao Sheng, "Yes, she's asleep. I was just about to put her in bed."

She gently laid Huayang on the soft mattress, covered her with a brocade quilt, removed the silver hook, and lowered the curtain. Holding the quiet Nian'er, she and Xiao Sheng stepped out.

"Is Nian'er sleepy?" Xiao Sheng asked his son.

"No..." Nian'er looked up at Xiao Sheng and then corrected himself, "Nian'er is sleepy."

Jiang Hui shot Xiao Sheng a glance, crouched down, and softly told Nian'er, "You're still young, Nian'er. Go to sleep early. If you can't sleep in Fengyi Palace, tell Pomegranate and Hongying, and come to the main house to find your mother and father."

Worried that Nian'er, too, would be uneasy in a strange bed.

"Yes," Nian'er nodded obediently, performing a courteous bow and saying, "Father, Mother, your son takes his leave."