Chapter 588.1: Ceremony, Hand in Hand, Rising with the Tides
Ceremony, Hand in Hand, Rising with the Tides (1)
There was no one more suitable than her, and she was also that only suitable one.
Jing Wan turned around, smilingly looking at Li Hong Yuan. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed him on his lips, “There wasn’t any honey today.”
“But, as long as this husband is by Wan Wan’s side, then this heart is just filled with honey at all times. Since the heart is filled with sweetness, then naturally it’s sweet everywhere.”
Li Hong Yuan wantonly gave off a sweet and seducing air, his skills in sweet talk also long maxed out, evolving to the highest level.
Even though Jing Wan for the most part was immune, but how many people didn’t like hearing pleasant words. When the mood was sweet like honey, wasn’t it also good for the baby in her stomach?
When back at the qinwang manor, for the people serving Jing Wan, towards this kind of scene, that was having long gotten used to seeing. No matter how thin their face was, there still wasn’t any reaction. However, for the palace servants of Kunyi Palace, they weren’t that ‘experienced and knowledgable’. Even though it wasn’t their first time seeing similar scenes, they still couldn’t help but blush. A few palace maids couldn’t help but secretly glance at Li Hong Yuan. It couldn’t be helped. He was the esteemed emperor, born peerlessly handsome, and from the looks of it, also this gentle and affectionate. For amorous feelings to sprout, it was something that couldn’t be more normal.
Obviously, it was having certain rumors tossed beyond the clouds, probably believing what they see as true, and what they hear as false. His Majesty and the person in the rumors didn’t match in the slightest.
Speaking of which, these people’s thoughts naturally were taken in by others, just feeling that these young girls really were very naive. Regardless whether it was purely infatuation, or carrying strong ambitions, they just don’t know that all of the new emperor’s tenderness were all given to one person. If anyone else dares to have delusions, attempting to obtained a share, what they will face will be the cruelty that will make them regret coming to this world.
“Your Majesty, the auspicious time has come.” Eunuch Mu, who has already rose up to the position of the inner court’s number one chief eunuch, deferentially spoke at the door.
Li Hong Yuan didn’t even give him a glance, completely not having the intention of leaving.
He didn’t move, and Eunuch Mu also didn’t dare to urge, deferentially standing there.
Jing Wan looked at him. What was he up to now? “Still not going?” She reached out and pushed him.
“Come together with me.” Li Hong Yuan grasped her hand.
“It’s your ascension, what would I be going for? The ascension ceremony’s agenda is already arranged. If I get involved for no reason, then it would just be like adding a stroke onto a perfect painting, how much resentment would I attract?” In reality, Jing Wan actually quite wanted to go for a look, personally witnessing one of the most majestic moments of his life, but unfortunately, it wasn’t allowed.
“Let’s see who dares?” What was called tyrannical and aggressive, he was just the best portrayal.
“It’s me disliking it, alright? Besides, right now, my body is cumbersome, and later, there’s also the coronation ceremony. Can you bear seeing me that tired?”
“Oh you.” Li Hong Yuan pinched her cheeks. How could he not know her true intentions, “Then, wait for me.”
TN: All
“En.” Jing Wan nodded.
After they finished being lovey-dovey, when deciding to leave, Li Hong Yuan absolutely didn’t drag his feet at all.
Previously, they’d already sent the officials of the Ministry of Rites to offer sacrifices to the gods of the land, respectfully announcing the news to the heavens and ancestors.
Reasonably speaking, Li Hong Yuan personally doing it would be more fitting. The successive rulers of Qi Yuan previously had all done so, but tracing back through history, it didn’t necessarily need to be as such. Thus, when Li Hong Yuan made the final decision, the officials not only didn’t open their mouth to oppose, they even jointly helped him look for excuses.
Because Le Cheng Emperor was still ‘perfectly’ alive, Li Hong Yuan naturally didn’t need to wear mourning clothes. Donned in imperial robes, elegant and exquisite, in this very moment, he no longer concealed the imposing air on him. The auspicious time has come. Step by step, he scaled the Fengtian Gate[1]. The rites of the heavenly son, the prestige of an emperor, what was the ruler overlooking the land under the heavens, precisely this!
When Li Hong Yuan prayed to the heaven and earth, the civil and military officials got led into the palace, standing upon the square outside Fengtian Hall, dividing into two columns of civil and military, separately kneeling on the east and west side of the imperial pathway.
Once Li Hong Yuan finished praying, coming down from the Fengtian Gate, entering Fengtian Hall, the drums sounded. Inside the hall, everyone took to their positions. The officials were sorted by their official gowns[2], and according to their post’s rank, they entered in order from high to low.
The Black Clad Guards sounded the whip, the generals rolled up the blinds, and the Master of Ceremonies loudly shouted to salute. During this time, the music of the rite echoed, all the way until the civil and military officials shouted ‘long live the emperor’ three times, and the imperial musicians uniformly followed in the cry. Inside and outside of the hall, the voices resonated through the heaven and earth.
Upon the imperial seat, Li Hong Yuan was very tranquil. This kind of thing, he’d already experienced once in his past life. His state of mind at the time and at present were different. At the time, he resided in an insanity and madness that even he himself was unaware of. What was the same was that there all wasn’t any feelings of excitement from obtaining power over the world.
Lastly, it was promulgating the imperial edict. The edict went from the inside to the outside of the Meridian Gates[3], and then went around in a circle in Fengtian Hall, getting read out loud. From hereon, announcing to the world, the new emperor has ascended the throne, the title as Yuan Qi[4], hereby becoming Yuan Qi year one.
(T/N: Referring to the edict Le Cheng Emperor got forced to stamp.)
This reign title was set by Li Hong Yuan himself. In a certain sense, it practically couldn’t be more arrogant.
At this time, it was the empress’s coronation ceremony.
Because Jing Wan’s situation right now was special, some tedious agendas for the most part were all omitted, but the honor it should have, it didn’t have any less of in the slightest.
Previously, during Li Hong Yuan’s ascension, when the officials made sacrifices to the heaven and earth, as well as to the ancestral shrine, they already had the empress’s part included, so this step was directly left out.
And because it was also held in Fengtian Hall——-originally, it should be the Department of Ceremony setting up the table for the books, treasures and other necessary items before the imperial seat in Fengtian Hall the day before——now, they can only have all the things originally used in the ascension ceremony swiftly taken down and replaced.
As for Li Hong Yuan, he has already led the officials out of Fengtian Hall.
Compared to the ascension ceremony, Li Hong Yuan seemingly further cared about Jing Wan’s coronation ceremony. From the moment he stood up from the imperial seat, his look was just even more solemn and dignified.
The armored guards and the ceremonial attendants just separately lined up on the two sides of the palace gate. Inside the palace, the ceremonial music began playing. The incense burner table, as well as all the necessary goods for the ceremony, the dancers and performers arranged by the two sides of the red steps to the throne, everything was all in order. The Master of Ceremonies for conferring the empress sounded the bell and drum three times. The court officials and Li Hong Yuan soon after enter Fengtian Hall. The Ministry of Rites’ official offered up the treasured book as well as the empress’s treasured seal for the coronation, placing it on the table prepared in advance. The court officials stood according to their positions previously, standing in their respective positions upon the hall.
Shortly after, the music sounded, the ministers bowed to the ruler four times, and after the officials got up, the music stopped.
The Bearer of Order went forward, “Asking your Majesty, shall the empress’s coronation ceremony begin?”
Li Hong Yuan lifted his hand, “Granted.”
The Bearer of Order walked out from the center gate, walking down the steps, reaching the place for announcing the imperial order, loudly shouting: ‘There’s order.’
The main and assistant conferment envoy roll down the imperial order, and the Bearer of Order read out loud the imperial order: “Conferring Luo-shi as Empress, ordering you all to carry out the etiquette.”
The main and assistant conferment envoy laid prostrate and got up. The Bearer of Order entered the hall from the west hall gate.
The attendants held up the treasured book and seal, and after going through numerous rites, the book and seal returned to the table. At this time, the ceremonial music began playing.
The ceremonial sounded again, with the Observer of Seasons leading in front, and the Holder of Records closely following behind. After exiting Fengtian Gate, the ceremonial music stopped.
The Master of Ceremonies loudly shouted: “The rites have ended.”
Li Hong Yuan got up. The court officials retreated.
The Observer of Seasons watched over the events of the solar term[5], the officials for issuing the conferment documents stood waiting by the dragon pavilion where the books and documents were placed. The guards of honor as well as the musicians were leading in front. Outside the central palace, the music sounded.
Jing Wan although didn’t participate in the whole process, but the details of each segment were all reported to her one by one.
Sitting inside the hall, Jing Wan’s thoughts were somewhat fleeting, seemingly thinking of a lot, yet seemingly thinking of nothing.
“Your Highness, his Majesty has led the procession over.”
Upon hearing, Jing Wan finally returned to her senses. He shouldn’t have come personally, but he wanted to personally confer her. Her gaze landed on the nine dragon and four phoenix crown, appearing exquisite and magnificent, and also heavy. Even though she’d long prepared, when it came time, she seemingly still felt a bit strange inside. As for the specifics, she still wasn’t able to describe, “Mama, put it on for me.”
Upon hearing, Gong mama swiftly and carefully put it on for Jing Wan, “His Majesty is right. There’s no one more fitting of this attire than your Highness.” A true and sincere praise.
Jing Wan smiled, but didn’t say anything. Everything else was hard to say, but this phoenix crown truly was heavy.
[1] Originally, this gate was named Fengtian Gate (Gate of Heavenly Order—-fengtian means under heavens order, because the emperor was believed to be the heaven’s proxy), but later renamed as the Gates of Supreme Harmony, and currently still named as such, after the Manchu’s conquest of China. It’s basically the entrance to the main hall of the court.
[2] Court officials have different color gowns with different patterns and embroidery to show their rank and position.
[3] The southmost and largest gates of the imperial palace.
[4] Yuan Qi is literally just Qi Yuan backwards. However, it’s vague enough that there’s still plenty of interpretations. Yuan can mean the first, original, primary, or era (this one mostly when used as a suffix). And Qi means to start, initiate, or enlighten
[5] Solar term (节气) – Any of twenty-four periods in traditional Chinese lunisolar calendars that matches a particular astronomical event or signifies some natural phenomenon.
T/N: Majority of the details are all pretty accurate to what takes places during an emperor’s ascension ceremony in history. And how do I know? I had to look up so many phrases and lines in this part, cause so many of it was so confusing. I have a love-hate relationship with the author’s in-depth research on ancient topics. These last few chapters are killing me. Sometimes, I’m not even sure if the author even knows what they are writing in some parts.
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