A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 1006: The Ceremony Complete (Part 2)
The most unforgettable thing for him was that time she feigned illness to avoid favor.
Growing up in the imperial palace, he had never seen a woman dare to do such a thing.
But she did, and even straightforwardly admitted it!
At that moment, he thought this woman was incredibly foolish.
Does she really understand what the imperial palace is?
Does she know that if it were another emperor, her actions would be a crime against the ruler, and she would have been dead with weeds growing on her grave?
However.
Since then, he inexplicably always wanted to come to her place.
No matter how busy or tired he was outside.
As long as he entered the harem and chatted with her, ate a simple meal, and took a hot bath.
He could sleep soundly and wake up refreshed to attend court the next day.
Because he subconsciously knew that with Qingqing, he always heard the truth (although it often made one drop their jaw).
But when he went to other women.
Not only could he not be refreshed, but he became even more exhausted because he had to expend energy to deal with their flowery words and tricks.
Even he felt tired!
Born into the royal family, as someone favored by the heavens, he was surrounded by too many people.
Yet, few told the truth, and there were none in the harem!
That made it all the more precious!
That was why, back then, even if her words were too blunt and unpleasant, he was reluctant to blame her.
The truth is inherently unpleasant!
...
In front of the crowd.
He just stared at her.
Xia Ruqing quickly became embarrassed and secretly nudged his arm.
"Emperor, you should let them rise!"
Only then did Zhao Junyao come to his senses, smiling broadly.
"Qingqing, you look so beautiful today!"
If following folk customs, today could be considered their grand wedding day.
He had cherished her for so many years, finally giving her a rightful status.
Now, he could exclusively favor her, and no one would criticize him for this; it was called the harmony between emperor and empress, deep affection between husband and wife!
Favoring a concubine at the expense of the main wife was called neglecting the wife.
Favoring the main wife wasn’t called favor; it was called marital harmony.
Whether emperors or common folk.
Is marital harmony wrong? No, everyone loves it!
The more Zhao Junyao thought, the happier he became.
The smile on his face couldn’t be restrained, like a ray of sunlight in winter, brightening everyone’s hearts.
For the first time, the officials saw the Emperor smile, quickly rubbing their eyes.
Thinking they might be mistaken.
But after several checks, everyone looked at each other.
"No mistake!"
"The Emperor indeed seemed to have smiled!"
"Yes!"
It turns out the Emperor can smile, and so radiantly!
They all assumed the Emperor couldn’t smile!
If only the Emperor could smile during court sessions, everyone wouldn’t be so anxious all the time!
How wonderful, why keep a stern face every day!
Regarding this, Zhao Junyao was indifferent, thinking:
’With a stern face, you all still don’t behave!’
’If I showed you a kind face, you’d all be jumping for joy!’
...
After the officials paid their respects, the ceremony of conferring the title of Empress concluded smoothly.
Next, Zhao Junyao was to take her to Fengxian Hall at the back of Zhaochen Palace to worship the ancestors.
This was also to inform the ancestors that the royal family had added another daughter-in-law.
After performing three kneelings and nine kowtows at Fengxian Hall.
Xia Ruqing was already feeling a bit dazed.
Zhao Junyao personally helped her up.
"Qingqing, are you okay?"
Xia Ruqing was somewhat dizzy, seeing stars.
"Emperor, my head feels heavy, pressing on my neck!"
As she spoke, she gasped, her face turning pale.
Zhao Junyao was taken aback.
He immediately picked her up, striding towards Duanning Palace.
Ordering loudly as he walked.
"Quick, call the Imperial Physician!"
Someone beside him instinctively reminded.
"Emperor, there’s still one more procedure..."
"What nonsense, hurry and clear all these things!"
Li Shengan pulled the person aside and reprimanded quietly.
The person realized they had misspoken.
Awakening, they quickly nodded and thanked him, then swiftly led people to tidy up.
Li Shengan nodded, then walked towards the kneeling empresses of the harem, respectfully saying.
"Ladies, the Empress is unwell, please rise!"
"All arrangements will have to wait until the Emperor is free to decide!"
Actually, it’s not much.
The last procedure was for the new Empress to lead the concubines of the harem, to bow to the Emperor.
Then hold a family feast at Duanning Palace, inviting the Emperor and all concubines of the harem.
This signified that the Empress would undertake the responsibility and duty of overseeing the harem, serving the monarch, setting an example for the harem, and helping the royal family flourish.
However...
There’s always a ’but’.
Rules are dead, people are alive.
The Empress is unwell, the ceremony can’t continue, the feast can’t be held, it could only end here.
No one could say it was incomplete.
But, kneeling there, the people of the harem felt a chill in their hearts.
When the Empress was still a Noble Consort, the Emperor could restrain a little, not exclusively favor.
Now that she became Empress, the Emperor was even less restrained.
Would there still be a place for them in this harem?
Take today for example.
They knelt here as a group.
When the Emperor passed by with the Empress in his arms, he didn’t even glance sideways.
Treating them as a bunch of lifeless objects.
How could it not make one feel cold inside?
Even a pet cat or dog wouldn’t be ignored like this.
They were his women!
Furthermore, some women hadn’t seen the Emperor in a year or two and were finally hoping to catch a glimpse during the noon banquet.
Yet now, there wasn’t even a banquet.
Their carefully applied makeup and eager anticipation all went to waste.
Thinking about this made their hearts feel colder.
Summoned by Li Shengan, they barely moved.
Seeing them unmoved, Li Shengan advised again.
"Ladies, please return first!"
"The Emperor will make the final decision!"
Silence enveloped the area again.
Not sure how long before something broke the silence as Li Shengan was at wit’s end.
Suddenly Consort Hui stood up.
She leisurely smoothed the wrinkles on her clothing, her expression indifferent.
"Thank you, Eunuch Li!"
"It’s getting late; I will return first!"
Saying this, she gracefully left with her palace maid.
With Consort Hui taking the lead.
Consort Cheng also rose and left.
Then Consort Zheng and Consort Yun followed suit.
Eventually, seeing no chance to change the situation, all others gathered their skirts and departed.
However...
The issue was resolved.
Yet everyone held resentment inside.
Especially those women who hadn’t seen the Emperor in years.
Finally catching a distant glimpse of the Emperor, yet they were sent back before getting a closer look.
They were almost forgetting what the Emperor looked like!
Being a concubine to this extent was quite humiliating.
On the way, some good friends whispered together.
"Hmph!"
"Even as an Empress, her heart is so narrow, using such tricks to lure the Emperor!"
