Chapter 59 Will Be His Queen

The border of this newly delivered 翟衣 is decorated with a five-clawed golden dragon pattern, which is the standard for the empress's 袆衣.

The other female official was holding a red gold, pearl and jade crown with nine dragons and nine phoenixes in her hand, which was also the phoenix crown ordered by the empress.

Even Yang Manyan, who was half asleep in front of the dressing table, suddenly woke up and turned to look over. "Did you make a mistake with your crown and clothes?"

She should go to Kunning Palace to receive the rites as a lady of honor at three quarters past noon. It would be troublesome if the inner court sent the wrong crown and clothes.

The female official who presented the dress remained calm and said, "To Yang Shangyi, there is no mistake. His Majesty has ordered that today's birthday banquet be held according to the regulations for the Queen's Thousand Years' Day. His Majesty has also specifically ordered that the dresses must follow the Queen's regulations."

Yang Manyan and Xingyun looked at each other in shock.

Originally, celebrating her birthday according to the Queen's Centenary Day was already beyond the custom, but unexpectedly, there was something even more beyond the custom, which was to make her wear the Queen's ceremonial robes to receive the salute of the ladies of honor.

But there was no other alternative clothing at the moment, so she had no choice but to bite the bullet and put on this solemn and gorgeous queen's attire.

The prince, who had finished his morning lessons early, returned to the East Palace and happened to see this scene. He was slightly stunned.

"Is this the crown and clothes sent by the inner court?" Xiao Yan asked in a gentle voice.

Yang Manyan nodded with a red face, and the long string of beads held by the phoenix crown on her head also swayed.

Xiao Yan suppressed the complicated emotions surging in his heart, held Yang Manyan's hand and squeezed it, "This outfit suits you very well, Yuanyuan, just think of it as putting it on in advance."

Yuanyuan will be his queen, so naturally she deserves to wear the queen's crown and clothes.

Seeing that he was not unhappy, Yang Manyan felt relieved and smiled as she shook his big, bony hand.

All the ladies of the third rank and above had been dressed up according to their rank and were already waiting in the main hall of Kunning Palace, waiting for Yang Shangyi to arrive and receive them.

The wife of Duke Wei, Guo, who was standing in the front row, was wearing a first-class lady's dress and a five-pheasant pearl crown on her head. Her face was gloomy and difficult to read.

Aunt Xue beside her was wearing the crown and clothes of a third-rank lady, and was talking and laughing with her younger sister, Xue Shulan, the mother of Yang Shangyi, with a cheerful look on her face.

For this birthday banquet, the emperor issued an additional decree to promote Yang Shangyi's mother to the rank of first-rank lady, and Yang Shangyi's aunt, Xue, the concubine of Duke Wei, was also specially granted the rank of third-rank lady.

Ever since Yang Manyan took charge of the six palaces, Aunt Xue, her aunt, has risen in status and is treated with courtesy in the Duke of Wei's Mansion and even in the circle of noble ladies in the capital.

Now that she had the imperial edict specially granted by the emperor, she was already on par with Guo, the wife of the Duke of Wei. How could Guo be willing to accept this?

When the grand ceremonial procession arrived at Kunning Palace, Yang Manyan walked into the main hall surrounded by dozens of palace servants and eunuchs, and sat leisurely on the golden phoenix throne in the center.

All the ladies present were stunned for a moment because of the queen's crown and clothes she was wearing, and then they knelt down in kowtow.

Yang Manyan felt uncomfortable when she saw her mother and aunt also kneeling and bowing to her, so she quickly said "no need to bow".

All the ladies stood up and presented gifts to Yang Shangyi who was sitting on the Phoenix Throne according to their rank.

Some of them had more or less heard the rumor from half a month ago that Yang Shangyi had attempted to seduce the emperor and was about to be deposed, but today's incident had dispelled the rumor in one fell swoop.

If Yang Shangyi really did something that would bring shame upon the royal family, how could His Majesty and the Crown Prince allow her to hold such a grand birthday?

Moreover, the empress's robe worn by Yang Shangyi was not something she could wear casually. It must have been approved by the emperor. It can be seen that the emperor was very satisfied with this first-rank Shangyi.

These ladies of noble titles had originally looked down on Yang Shangyi, who came from a humble background, but now they couldn't help but feel a little more respect for her.

After the gifts were presented, the ladies of honor took their leave one after another and headed to Yanchun Pavilion on the other side of the imperial palace to wait for the formal birthday banquet tonight.

The Xue sisters stayed, and another palace maid brought Yang Shangyi's sister Yang Jingzhen from the side hall.

Yang Jingzhen had no rank and was not yet of marriageable age. She only wore a lake blue jacket and skirt with a Ruyi cloud pattern.

"Sister!" She lifted her skirt and rushed forward.

Xue Shulan stopped her and warned her sternly, "Be steady, this is Yang Shangyi."

Yang Manyan smiled and waved to his sister, "Come here, Zhenzhen. Last time when mother celebrated her birthday, I didn't show you much affection."

Yang Jingzhen stuck out her tongue at her mother comically, then moved forward, grabbed her eldest sister's hand and shook it.

"What a crazy girl." Xue Shulan laughed helplessly, "Ever since Shangyi entered the palace, the threshold of our house has been trampled down by people who come to propose marriage to her."

Regardless of the Yang family's status, they did have a first-rank lady who was in charge of the affairs of the six palaces. Who wouldn't want to marry into this family?

Moreover, Yang Shangyi was a beautiful woman with an unparalleled appearance, so her sister would naturally not be much worse. From royal princes to civil and military officials, everyone wanted to marry her.

Yang Manyan was surprised. "Zhenzhen is still young. Mother wouldn't have chosen one already, right? I think it won't be too late in a few years."

Aunt Xue then interjected quietly, "In my opinion, it is better to settle it sooner rather than later. The selection will be held in the next two years at the latest. Even if the Crown Prince is married, there is still a King of Han."

Xue Shulan also nodded in agreement and said in a low voice: "Although it is unlikely that one family can have two imperial concubines, King Han is like that... and Zhenzhen is such a naughty person, so naturally he is out of reach."

Yang Manyan then remembered that he had a younger uncle, the King of Han, whom he had never met, who was recuperating in Beigong.

Prince of Han Xiao Min was the half-brother of Crown Prince Xiao Qin. He was one year younger than him. Born weak and sickly, he had always lived with his biological mother, Concubine Zhang, in a palace in the northern suburbs.

Yang Manyan thought about it and it made sense. He heard that the King of Han was a sickly person who had been bedridden for many years, and his sister was lively and playful.

Yang Jingzhen curled her lips, "You are biased. My sister can be in charge of the inner court, so why can't I be the princess?"

Although the King of Han was sickly and weak, he was the closest relative to the direct lineage, and was much better than the distant relatives who usually came to the Yang family to propose marriage.

She had always secretly compared herself with her elder sister in her heart. Recently, her mother and aunt kept mentioning the King of Han, and she gradually began to take him to heart.

But she was young and spoke in a childish manner, so no one responded to her.

At the same time, the emperor was meeting with cabinet ministers in the Qianqing Palace to discuss confidential government affairs.

Chang Ying suddenly came up and whispered, "Your Majesty, I just gave instructions to let Yang Shangyi stay in Kunning Palace tonight."

After saying that, he blinked meaningfully again.