Chapter 154: The New Empress

Chapter 154: The New Empress

The preparations for the grand ceremony for the enthronement of the new empress had been underway for several months. Initially, some ministers suggested that the ceremony be kept simple, given the new empress’s involvement in the recent witchcraft scandal. To everyone's surprise, Chu Nan rejected the suggestion.

Subsequently, he ordered the appropriate officials to create the empress's crown and attire. All the ceremonial items and protocols for the empress’s enthronement were to be grand and solemn. When the ceremonial items were presented, Chu Nan replaced the six dark horses in the honor guard with imperial horses. He changed the blue silk net on the ornate carriage to one adorned with seven treasures and replaced the droplets with pearls.

In the design of the crown, he changed the side panels from two to six and added a group of Queen Mother immortals on the crown's edge. Finding the pearls insufficient, he ordered them to be replaced with top-quality pearls.

He even personally approved the ceremonial attire of the guards.

Every detail highlighted the importance placed on the new empress.

As Fan Xueyao had recently recovered from a severe illness, the ceremonial items for her investiture were grand, but the formalities were streamlined. She felt relieved not to be guided around by palace officials, ministers, and eunuchs, which would have exhausted her.

Even with the streamlined formalities, it was still a grand ceremony, and after the investiture, she was quite tired.

Returning to the newly refurbished Pepper House Palace, Chu Nan helped her remove the Nine-Dragon Four-Phoenix Crown and said with a smile, "Is your neck sore?"

Fan Xueyao rubbed her stiff neck and said with a wry smile, "Indeed, this crown is likely heavier than all my other headdresses. Fortunately, I don’t have to wear it daily, or my neck would become shorter."

"Come, let me rub your neck." Chu Nan casually handed the phoenix crown, which made all the ladies jealous, to Hua Ping and guided Fan Xueyao to sit on the bed. He then began to gently massage her pale, slender neck.

Chu Nan had always treated her gently, and after her illness, he became even more considerate. Previously, she often combed his hair and massaged him. Now, he often massages her waist, rubs her shoulders, draws her eyebrows, and arranges her hair.

Initially, Fan Xueyao was hesitant, but she eventually grew accustomed to it.

"You’ve just recovered from a severe illness, and your body has weakened, often feeling dizzy. It’s freezing, yet you’re still sweating. You must take the Imperial Physician's recovery soup properly; otherwise, if you end up with a chronic illness, you'll suffer in the future."

Hearing this, Fan Xueyao couldn't help but smile wryly. "A few days ago, Baoge said there was a bitter odor in the hall. The ladies were decocting medicine in the imperial kitchen, which is quite far from here, so how could we smell it? It must be coming from me. I think this bitter medicinal smell has permeated into my bones, and it won't go away for a year or so."

Chu Nan leaned close and sniffed her neck, then said seriously, "What's bitter? You still smell as good as before."

Fan Xueyao gave him a playful glance. Before they could exchange more than a few words, they saw Chu Xi approaching.

"Mom, where were you? I looked everywhere for you," Chu Xi ran over and threw himself at her.

Chu Nan quickly reached out to stop him, scowling, "Slow down, don't bump into your mother."

Chu Xi ducked under his arm, wrapped his arms around Fan Xueyao's waist, and complained, "I couldn't find you. Where did you go? Why didn’t you take me along?"

Fan Xueyao nearly lost her balance from Chu Xi's sudden lunge, but Chu Nan managed to support her in time so she didn't fall. Chu Xi then buried himself in her arms and continued, "Where did you and Dad secretly go to play?"

"We weren’t playing secretly," Fan Xueyao replied, "Do you remember? I told you yesterday that I had important business to attend to and asked you to behave and not cause trouble. You forgot?"

Chu Xi neither nodded nor shook his head, only asking, "Why didn’t you take me along? I wouldn't have caused any trouble."

In fact, he had asked about Fan Xueyao's whereabouts several times throughout the day. The wet nurses and attendants had explained each time, but he would ask again as if a different answer might come.

"It was a very formal event with many people present. At such events, you must be well-behaved and can’t run around or speak freely. There are many rules, and you would have found it dull," Fan Xueyao explained.

Chu Xi seemed to understand somewhat and was about to ask more when Chu Nan lifted him and moved him aside, saying, "Your mother needs to change, don’t bother her."

Though young, Chu Xi already knew that one shouldn’t be around when someone is changing clothes. He pouted and glared at Chu Nan, dissatisfied, but Chu Nan remained unmoved.

Fan Xueyao removed her leather belt, jade pendant, and various ribbons, and changed out of her ceremonial robe, putting on a light, casual jacket and skirt.

Fan Xueyao couldn’t help but sigh in relief, "Finally, I can breathe again."

Chu Nan then sat behind her and began massaging her shoulders. She closed her eyes and enjoyed it, saying casually, "There'll probably be a lot to deal with from now on."

Chu Nan frowned, advising, "Don’t overexert yourself. Your health comes first. If the people in the harem don’t know their place, don’t just indulge them. Now that your position has changed, assert your authority when necessary, don’t be afraid."

Fan Xueyao turned her head and smiled at him, "With your and the Empress Dowager’s favor, what do I have to fear?" Her expression was relaxed and carefree, free from her former timidity, looking very beautiful.

Chu Nan finally smiled in relief.

**

After the investiture ceremony, both the inner and outer court ladies had to congratulate Fan Xueyao. This was also the first time most of the outer court ladies had seen the new Empress. She entered the palace as a Beauty and was showered with the emperor’s endless favor. None of the other consorts could compete with her for the emperor’s favor. Soon, she became the most favored in the harem.

From the position of Beauty, she was first promoted to Jie Yu, then to Zhaoyi, and later to Imperial Consort. Now, she was the master of the harem, with the dignity of Empress, mothering the nation.

All of this occurred in just seven short years. And this year, she is only twenty.

Not to mention the inner court ladies, even these outer court ladies, after learning of her experiences, couldn’t help but be filled with envy. What kind of good fortune did this woman accumulate over several lifetimes to be so lucky?

Fan Xueyao sat high on her beautifully decorated throne, looking down at the crowd of inner and outer court ladies.

There were so many people that at a glance, all that could be seen were the gleaming gold, silver, pearls, and jade ornaments, and the brocade and embroidered robes, all dressed similarly, making it impossible to distinguish one from another. After the court ladies withdrew, Fan Xueyao changed into casual clothes and went to thank Chu Nan and Empress Dowager Wei.

Officials congratulated her, and various departments came to pay their respects. After several busy days, Fan Xueyao finally had some free time. She then began selecting the palace maids and eunuchs to serve her. Previously, she had to accept the palace’s assignments, and unless Chu Nan intervened, she had no say in the selection. But now, she could choose whomever she wanted.

As the new Empress, who wouldn’t rush to Chonghua Palace to serve when they heard the news?

As Empress, she had fifty maids and fifteen eunuchs at her disposal. There were also twenty maids responsible for the kitchen. With so many positions available, although it seemed like a lot, there were too many people competing for them, each using all their wits. But regardless of who recommended them, Fan Xueyao still had to personally select them.

This time, unlike when she was promoted to Imperial Consort, when she deliberately took in two who were greedy for money, she now stuck strictly to the criterion of loyalty. Even if they were a bit slow, loyalty was the most important thing.

After selecting the servants, she also needed to choose and promote female officials to assist her in governing the harem and managing the palace affairs.

Old servants like Wang Sizhen, Rong'er, and Xu Guigui were all elevated. Rong'er had just been promoted to Female Historian and was now further promoted to Head of the Treasury, while Xu Guigui was promoted from Female Historian to Head of the Kitchen. However, Xu Guigui thought that being selected as the Head of the Kitchen in Chonghua Palace would be even better.

Previously, the emperor preferred the dishes from the imperial kitchen of Spreading Fragrance Hall, and now that the Imperial Consort has become Empress, with the larger imperial kitchen and more staff, wouldn’t they be even less likely to use the kitchen’s cuisine?

Huaping, after admonishing the new maids outside the palace, returned to the hall and saw Fan Xueyao organizing the congratulatory notes from the outer court ladies. She went to help Zhuzhu add water to the inkstone.

Huaping complained, "When there are too many people, things become messy. The newly arrived ones are not as easy to manage as before."

Zhuzhu replied, "They think because they are now serving the Empress, they are superior and more dignified than us who rose through seniority. How could they be convinced?"

Fan Xueyao, while registering the imperial family ladies and official outer court ladies separately, smiled and said, "You are the senior maids by my side. How are they more dignified than you? Don’t tell me you can’t manage those little girls. Then all the training I’ve given you over the years would be for nothing."

Huaping, grinning, said, "How could I not manage them? Even if we get ten or eight more of those girls with uncombed hair, I can handle them perfectly. They are just a bit wild when they first arrive, but after a few days, they become obedient."

Fan Xueyao smiled and said, "You should have this confidence. In the future, it won’t just be maids coming and going in the palace. There will also be high-ranking female officials and eunuchs frequently visiting. If you don’t have this kind of presence, you won’t be able to hold your ground."

Hearing this, Huaping’s eyes lit up, revealing a smile that showed her silver teeth.

The attendants standing in the hall all showed expressions of joy. Most of them had been serving her since she was a Beauty, and they had come this far together. These years, although she was the most favored in the harem, she was still constrained by Empress Xu. These maids had both flatterers and saboteurs. Now that she was the master of the harem, they also rose with her, their bitter days finally turning sweet. They couldn’t help but be overjoyed.

After dealing with these miscellaneous matters, Fan Xueyao began summoning some outer court ladies to the palace for conversations according to the list.

Naturally, she first met the imperial family ladies, such as princesses and grand princesses. They were all very old and, relying on their seniority and age, didn’t hold much respect for Fan Xueyao as the new Empress. Although the etiquette was correct, they didn’t truly respect her in their hearts.

Fan Xueyao understood this well and patiently went through the formalities, expressing the emperor’s and Empress Dowager’s concern for the imperial relatives. Whether they truly respected her didn’t matter to her. After all, she didn’t even know who they were before, and they weren’t the ones she truly wanted to meet.

It was appropriate to go through the formalities with these old court ladies. As for the rest, it wasn’t necessary.

It was only appropriate now to summon the titled ladies of officials' wives and mothers.

These were the ones Fan Xueyao truly wanted to meet.

This day, Fan Xueyao summoned a group of Shuren into the palace.

The titles of external noblewomen include Grand Princess, Imperial Princess, Princess, Duchess, County Princess, State Lady, Prefectural Lady, Shuren, Lingren, Gongren, Yiren, and Ruren.

Shuren is the ninth rank among the fourteen levels of external noblewomen. Their husbands or sons hold at least the position of a fourth-rank deputy minister.

Officials who reach the fourth-rank deputy minister level are typically middle-aged. However, many of these Shuren were surprisingly young.

The garden was a profusion of colorful flowers, and tables and chairs were arranged around the area. The attendants moved about with wine pots, while on the stage in the distance, songs and music were being performed.

Fan Xueyao, dressed in casual attire, sat among the Shuren, enjoying the performances and chatting about daily life. By her throne, there were several rose chairs where some external noblewomen sat, some middle-aged, others in their prime, fresh and tender as if water could be pinched from their skin.

"So, your eldest lady is of marriageable age now. Have you found a suitable family?"

A noblewoman who looked to be less than twenty lowered her eyes slightly, her demeanor exuding respect from deep within: "It is indeed the time to consider potential matches. However, we haven't found a suitable family yet." Looking closely at her downcast, makeup-concealed face, it was easy to see she was a beautiful woman with apricot eyes and peachy cheeks.

Fan Xueyao smiled. "Your eldest lady must be an excellent match. She will surely find a suitable husband."

"Thanks to your majesty's kind words," the noblewoman replied cautiously. On her meticulously styled hair, a gold plum blossom hairpin was inconspicuously hidden among many golden flowers and green jade. She had received it from Yan Ran just two days before entering the palace, as instructed to wear it on her head. She didn't know why, but since Yan Ran had ordered it, she obeyed.

Fan Xueyao's gaze passed over the plum blossom hairpin on her coiffure.

Red Jade?

She remembered the name Hongyu.

Hongyu was bought by Li Si from a brothel in another prefecture. Because of her outstanding beauty, composure, and gratitude, she was specially cultivated by Yan Ran. Great efforts were made to arrange a background as a minor official's daughter for Hongyu. This minor official was naturally one of Yan Ran's connections.

Thus, Hongyu was able to change her name and identity, transforming from a courtesan awaiting sale into the daughter of an official. Soon after, she was married as a second wife to a widowed deputy minister in a proper marriage ceremony. Her beautiful appearance, knowledge of music and chess, and literary skills quickly won her husband's heart, who requested an imperial decree for her title from the emperor. This allowed her to step into the palace, a place she had never dared to dream of before.

Hongyu was deeply grateful to her unseen benefactor, who had rescued her from the fire pit. From a lowly courtesan, she had transformed into a noble titled lady. For this kindness, she would not hesitate to endure any hardship.

She did not know that the person she was deeply grateful to was sitting above her, smiling warmly at her.

**

Many noblewomen could not understand why, among so many external noblewomen, only a few from humble backgrounds gained the favor and trust of the new empress.

Not only did the new empress frequently summon them to the palace for conversations, but she also entrusted them with managing affairs such as the establishment of the Charity Nursery in her name.

Hongyu sat in front of the dressing table, carefully touching the inconspicuous plum blossom, her eyes glistening with moisture.

A middle-aged man in a round-neck robe entered the room, removed his hat, placed it on the table, and then walked over to put his hands on her shoulders. "What's wrong? Did you encounter any unpleasantness in the palace?"

Hongyu shook her head and looked up at him with a graceful smile. "The Empress treats me with great kindness and leniency." She discreetly placed the plum blossom hairpin into the makeup box.

The man said, "Is something wrong with Yangu again? She has been a bit disrespectful lately, but since she is getting older, I can't scold her as I did when she was younger. I have already asked my mother to keep an eye on her more. It will be better after she marries. For now, please bear with her."

Hongyu lowered her eyes. "I am only two or three years older than the eldest lady, so I can't really act as a stepmother. If she doesn't respect me, there's nothing I can do. However, I shouldn't make the decision about her marriage. It's better for you to handle it."

The man, feeling sorry for his young wife, hugged her. "No matter how young you are, you are still her mother. There's nothing you can't handle. If she disrespects you, you should scold her. It’s not right for a junior to defy a senior... Today in the palace, how did the new empress treat you? What kind of person is she?"

Leaning in her husband's arms, Hongyu looked distant. What kind of person was the empress?

She was the best person.

"The Empress likes me very much and has asked me to assist her in establishing the Charity Nursery. I thought I was too young and inexperienced to take on such a heavy responsibility, but since the Empress trusts me, I couldn't decline."

Though my wife hasn't complained, she still feels aggrieved. When socializing with noblewomen and the inner circles of official households, she always has to play a subordinate role. She often cries alone. I can't bear to see her suffer.

Managing a charitable nursery is no easy task; there are many trivial matters to handle. However, the Empress was recently appointed and is eager to cultivate a virtuous reputation. She will definitely exert every effort to manage this task well. If my wife handles this task and earns the Empress’s favor, her position will naturally improve, and others will respect her.

So he said to his beloved wife, "Since the Empress has instructed you to take charge of this, you should agree. If you manage it well, it will be a significant achievement for you."

"But I am entirely unfamiliar with these tasks. What if something goes wrong and I embarrass myself?"

"Don’t worry. I will fully support you in managing it. Just keep it confidential and don’t let anyone else know."

"My love, you are so kind to me..."

Hongyu smiled sweetly, resting in her husband’s embrace.