Chapter 57. Awaiting the Empress.

The emperor held a grand hunting ceremony to select brave warriors from the three armies for reward through hunting competitions. This large-scale mobilization of tens of thousands of people served as a training exercise for the troops in Luoyang. However, no one expected that the atmosphere would reach its climax with the emperor's edict to bestow the title of empress.

After the military ceremony concluded, civil and military officials flocked back to Luoyang like a tide, and soon the imperial edict appointing her as empress was delivered to the capital, causing a sensation in the city.

From kings and nobles to commoners, everyone was talking about the future empress. The sounds of conversation filled the teahouses and taverns: the empress's background, her appearance, and how she and His Majesty met...

In Luoyang, there stands a nine-story Buddhist pagoda, built by the imperial family. Its exquisite design and unparalleled beauty are unmatched in the world, visible to all the people of Luoyang. The grand hall at the very top of the pagoda is closed year-round, only opening for major events. Today, however, the Buddha ascended the high hall, and after reading the edict of the empress's investiture to the people, he rang the bell forty-nine times to celebrate this news.

The resounding bell of Nabao Temple rang out, its clanging sound blending with the wind, carrying for over ten miles and spreading to nearby cities.

This grand and spectacular event marked the beginning of the Empress Dowager's imminent ascension to the throne.

The Yuan family mansion was exquisite and small, nestled in the west of Luoyang's main market. They received the news later, and at this time, a heavy atmosphere hung over the entire mansion.

When the news reached the Yuan family, Li Qing'e was wringing out a wet cloth to wipe her dying husband's face on the bed.

Yuanli's face was ashen, his complexion gaunt and sickly, his face covered in bruises and welts. His eyes were tightly closed, and he couldn't utter a single word, only occasionally letting out a painful groan. The doctor said that his internal injuries were too severe, and he might not survive.

Li Qing'e felt bitter inside. She had pleaded for a long time at Hualin Garden before finally getting a job with Lu Changli to manage the materials for the unfinished pagoda. Yuan Li was overjoyed upon hearing the news and invited friends to celebrate that night. Little did he know that drunken revelry could easily lead to disaster. That night, in a restaurant, for some reason, he, who was usually free of trouble, got into a conflict with several noblemen's sons. By the time he was carried back to his mansion, he was in this ghostly state, barely alive.

Li Qing'e would occasionally recall the scene when Lu Changli shot an arrow at her from behind as she left Hualin Garden, and the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became.

Her once plump cheeks quickly became sunken in just a few days, making her look several years older.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside.

"Madam! Madam!" The butler stumbled in, nearly tripping over the threshold. "Great news! Great joy! The Emperor has issued an edict that Miss Yuan the Second has been made Empress!"

Li Qing'e's hand trembled, and the handkerchief fell to the bed with a "thud".

She stood there, stunned, her mind buzzing. She got up and asked a few more questions to confirm that it was Yuan Chaolu and no one else. When she looked up again, the outside was full of people, and the servants had smiles on their faces, unable to hide their joy.

The second son and daughter of the second wife walked in from outside the courtyard, and soon after, the third wife of the Yuan family arrived in a hurry.

That orphaned girl from the countryside, whom they had never paid any attention to, actually caught the eye of the imperial family and became not just a concubine or a mistress, but directly the Empress!

The news came out of nowhere, bringing an overwhelming wave of joy that quickly engulfed the entire Yuan family and swept away the gloom in the household.

Li Qing'e, clutching her heart which was pounding, sat down at the head of the main hall and was discussing the matter with everyone when a servant came to report that the Second Miss's carriage was already outside the Yuan residence.

This resulted in an extremely grand procession. Yuan Chaolu was still only of marriageable age, yet the Imperial Guards cleared the way for her. The Tiger Warriors, carrying halberds, were impeccably dressed and marched in perfect unison, clearing away the crowds on both sides of the road.

A magnificent carriage with a canopy and jade saddlebags slowly came into view.

Outside the mansion, crowds thronged and cars and horses streamed by, all there to offer their congratulations.

Li Qing'e straightened her clothes to greet them as they came out. She felt countless eyes on her, touched the beautiful jewelry in her hair, and walked towards the carriage with a smile.

A figure was vaguely visible behind the curtain, with a slender waist and graceful demeanor. The light from the shimmering beaded curtain shone on her, making her appear as if she were draped in pearls. She was clearly still Yuan Chaolu, yet no one dared to look directly at her.

"Second Miss," Li Qing'e said softly.

A palace maid lifted the curtain, and everyone around her kowtowed in unison. Li Qing'e took a step back and lowered her body. In the silence of the entire place, she saw the lotus-colored satin shoes slowly step down from the carriage, and the cloud-like dress swayed as it passed in front of her.

Miss Yuan Er did not say a word and went straight into the mansion.

Li Qing'e lifted her skirt and rose to greet the young lady with a smile on her face: "This humble woman greets the Second Miss. Congratulations, Second Miss. The entire Yuan family is waiting for your arrival. During the time you were away from the Yuan residence, your original courtyard was still kept at home. This humble woman has just sent someone to clean it. The courtyard next door has also been cleared out so that Miss can put her things there."

Unexpectedly, Yuan Chaolu softly said, "No need."

She walked forward without stopping, her grand procession heading towards the backyard, leaving Li Qing'e frozen in place at the flower gate.

The Yuan family members stepped forward to follow, and a long sword blocked Li Qing'e's path.

The man before them was the commander of the Tiger Warriors, with tiger-like eyes and a bear-like body. His fierce gaze and imposing presence made the Yuan family members hesitant to confront him, and their aura instantly dissipated.

Not only him, but also Zhong Changjun, the emperor's eunuch, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices in charge of ancestral temple rites, and female officials from the palace...

Each of them would be a prominent figure outside. These people, whom the Yuan government had previously tried to curry favor with but could not find a way to do so, now clung to Yuan Chaolu like wings.

The people of the Yuan family were both excited and extremely bewildered. They felt that wealth and glory were within reach, yet there seemed to be a layer separating them, and they dared not touch them with trepidation.

Li Qing'e anxiously looked into the courtyard and saw people coming and going, carrying boxes out.

Li Qing'e asked, "May I ask, sir, what is the meaning of this?"

The Tiger Legion Commander said, "The Second Miss is about to take over the Empress's Palace. She will no longer live in the Yuan Mansion before the wedding. She has set up a separate residence in the capital and will move her things out today."

Li Qing'e's face was pale and her forehead was covered in sweat. When she returned to the Yuan family, she was urged by them to ask her questions again.

“This is the second young lady of the Yuan family. If she doesn’t stay in the mansion, where will she go?” the third branch of the family clapped their hands and said.

The third wife said, "Second sister-in-law went too far in the past. Has my niece developed a grudge against us?"

Her son whispered, "Mother, it's time to ask Second Sister to retract her order."

Li Qing'e clutched her chest, her heart filled with a myriad of emotions. First, she felt lingering fear and regret for her past harsh treatment of her. Second, the news of Yuan Chaolu's investiture as empress had indeed given the desperate Yuan family a glimmer of hope for a turnaround, like rain after a long drought. Third, Yuan Chaolu was a woman who kept a low profile, and there were plenty of good women in the world, so why was it her turn to be chosen by the emperor?

Furthermore, how could the Lu family agree to accept a descendant of the Yuan family's eldest branch as their heir? The situation was complicated, and Li Qing'e was unsure which side to take, truly caught between the two forces.

While Li Qing'e was in a daze, the soldiers had already begun to move the belongings out of the mansion.

Yuan Chaolu stands quietly in the former courtyard.

This was where my elder sister first lived when she arrived in Luoyang. Later, after she entered the capital, she lived in this corner of the city as a dependent.

She looked down at the hydrangeas and crabapple blossoms in the flowerbed. Although no one tended to the flowers left by her elder sister, they grew lush and verdant, spilling over the edge of the flowerbed and swaying gently in the wind.

"Let's move these flowers as well," she said softly.

As she walked out of the courtyard and along the corridor, she noticed a hidden gaze—it was Huli Lan. She stood in a secluded spot, quietly peeking at him.

Yuan Chaolu dismissed everyone and went to a secluded place, where Huli Lan then emerged from the shadows.

"Thank you for your help before, Mother." Yuan Chaolu bowed to her.

Huli Lanpo stepped forward and hurriedly told her to get up, but she dared not accept.

Yuan Chaolu knew that what she had always longed for was her adoptive mother, so she nodded slightly and said, "Wait a little longer. When the time is right, I will tell you everything about Chi Luoying."

The woman's gaze softened, falling on Yuan Chaolu's face like warm sunshine. "The Second Miss is about to enter the palace. If the First Madam were still alive, she would surely be pleased to know. As for Chi Luoying... she was ordered to get rid of the Miss back then, but the Miss is safe and sound now. She must have done something to help her."

"If the Second Miss is safe and well in the future, and enjoys lasting happiness and peace, then I will have fulfilled Chi Luoying's wish, and I will feel that is enough."

Like an invisible drop of water, it fell into Yuan Chaolu's heart. Yuan Chaolu paused slightly, subtly touched by these words, and said, "I will be alright."

"After some time, Mother will no longer need to work at the Yuan residence. She can then enjoy her retirement in Luoyang. I will prepare a fine house for her."

After Yuan Chaolu finished dealing with everything, she turned and left. After getting into her carriage, she didn't look at the Yuan residence again.

When the future Empress's entourage arrived at the Yuan residence, they stayed for a short while, taking away only a few old items and the flower seedlings from the garden. It was like a silent slap in the face to everyone in the Yuan family.

After the gates of the Yuan family mansion were closed, preventing outsiders from peeping, the expressions of the Yuan family members varied. Although they harbored resentment towards Li Qing'e for her previous mistreatment of Yuan Chaolu, no one dared to say anything because the head of the family had recently suffered a major change.

Regardless, Her Majesty the Empress needs her blood relatives to assist her in court; how can she classify them as outsiders? There will be plenty of opportunities to use them in the future.

The thought had barely formed when the Yuan family noticed that Li Qing'e's gaze was unfocused and her face was deathly pale. The sudden changes of the past few days, the mix of great sorrow and great joy, had exhausted her strength.

She swayed and fell straight to the side.

**

The Empress's residence, where she was to be married, was located on the most valuable piece of land in Luoyang, adjacent to wealthy and noble families.

The head maid of the Shanggong Bureau, named Qin Hui, respectfully led the way, saying, "Second Miss, this is your residence before your wedding. It's kind of you to stay here for over two months. Everything is ready; please take a look—"

The carved vermilion gate was wide open, the garden was full of lush plants, and palace maids and eunuchs came and went in the courtyard, carrying boxes and baskets in single file. Everyone bowed to Yuan Chaolu, and the sound of greetings rose and fell.

Upon entering a cabinet, Shanggong Qin Hui raised her hand to signal, and ten female officials stood with their heads bowed inside.

Qin Hui smiled and said, "Second Miss, these are all embroiderers and maids from the palace, sent from all over the country. Their skills are all first-class and outstanding."

Yuan Chaolu asked, "Do we need so many maids?"

The head maid explained with a smile: "Miss will need different robes for many occasions in the future. These maids each have their own duties. These few are in charge of the wedding dress, and others are in charge of the everyday clothes for all seasons, the winter fox fur coat, the ceremonial dress for the future... There are also female officials who need to remember the Second Miss's various preferences so that they can serve Her Highness in the future."

On the table in front of her were a dazzling array of brocades and silks, magnificent and radiant, which Yuan Chaolu, who had been a slave girl before, had never seen before.

This was just the beginning. After the people from the Shanggong Bureau left, the Taichang Shaoqing, who was in charge of the wedding ceremony, came in to coordinate the wedding procedures with Yuan Chaolu.

He recounted the complex process in detail, and then told Yuan Chaolu that the palace had prepared many lessons for her during this period.

By the time everything was finished, it was almost evening.

"By the way, there is one more thing that requires your cooperation, Miss. May I ask if your maternal family is still in Lintao, Longxi?"

Yuan Chaolu was slightly taken aback.

The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices said, "The former Minister of Works and his wife have passed away. According to the rites, the second young lady's maternal relatives should be present during the wedding ceremony. The family that took in the young lady should be summoned to Luoyang to observe the ceremony."

Yuan Chaolu sat upright with a smile, her hands clenched tightly beneath her sleeves. "Naturally, I will send someone to invite them to the capital."

The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices opened his mouth to speak, but Yuan Chaolu said, "I can handle this matter myself. There is no need to trouble you and His Majesty."

Yuan Chaolu had been busy all day, and only after the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices left did she finally get a moment's respite.

Are they your family members?

She sat in the setting sun, her thick eyelids lowered, her fair cheeks illuminated by the sunset, gazing quietly and absentmindedly at her palm.

My elder sister is far away in the Northwest, and we don't know if she is alive or dead. Going to the capital is too dangerous. Even if my elder sister can wake up, Yuan Chaolu doesn't want her elder sister and Heyi to take risks for her.

The wedding of the emperor and empress was the grandest in the world, and all the glory came rushing in like a tide, but she had no family members by her side.

Not a single one.

The setting sun slowly lengthened the girl's shadow. She forced a smile and looked out the window at the hydrangeas blooming profusely in the flowerbed.

**

Before Yuan Chaolu heard the emperor casually mention that "the court will summon Helan Yi to the capital and send another general to the border to temporarily take over military affairs."

Many spies gradually gathered around her, and soon discovered that the general who had been sent was none other than General Xianwu.

General Xianwu had distinguished himself in battle in his early years and governed the army and people effectively, which won him the emperor's favor. However, he was getting old and had developed a serious back ailment after many years of fighting. When it flared up, the pain was excruciating, and even mounting a horse became a problem.

The medical records were handled by the Imperial Medical Bureau, so Yuan Chaolu privately asked Qi Yu for help.

Many factors were linked together. In the late summer and early autumn of that year, first, Miss Yuan Er secretly submitted a request to the emperor that she did not want the Helan family to appear in the wedding ceremony; then, Empress Dowager Lu personally came to the emperor to try to bring forward Lu Runlan's marriage; then, General Xianwu's old injury relapsed, forcing him to resign; then, the situation on the northwestern border in autumn was so dire that it affected the whole situation; and the ministers advised the emperor to reconsider... Many seemingly insignificant factors accumulated from the beginning, all of which pushed for delaying the journey of General Zhenxi to the capital.

The memorial submitted by General Xianwu was delivered to the emperor's desk and lay quietly on it.

Xiao Zhuo rested his forehead on his hand, his gaze falling casually on it.

So many forces are urging the Emperor to postpone Helan Yi's entry into Luoyang. These seemingly unrelated people are gathering together like waves, moving towards a common goal.

Although it seemed completely unrelated, to Xiao Zhuo, who had been manipulating power for years and using the world as a chessboard, this ingenious situation was by no means accidental; it seemed as if a hand was controlling everything.

This seemingly insurmountable game of chess, where victory was guaranteed, had become utterly boring to him. Now, an undercurrent had sprung up out of nowhere, audacious and reckless, attempting to encroach upon his territory and subtly influence his thoughts.

Xiao Zhuo gazed lazily at the memorial, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

**

Autumn always arrives earlier in the Northwest than in Luoyang.

As night fell, the evening breeze, carrying a chill, crept straight into the seams of people's clothes.

The military camp under the command of General Zhenxi resembled a wild beast, lurking in the shadows beneath the mountains.

On the grass outside the military camp, a young man was adjusting his saddle. The moonlight, as white as frost, shone on his upright back and swept over his angular face. He slowly and methodically adjusted the horse's leather strap, just like an ordinary soldier.

However, the solemn generals standing respectfully beside him, their calm and unhurried expressions, and their composed demeanor all indicated his different status.

He was making final preparations for setting off for Luoyang the next morning.

This young man was none other than General Helan Yi, the General Who Guards the West.

The general asked, "Why is the general leaving in such a hurry?"

The young man said, "Many things have happened in Luoyang, and I have to go. During my absence, you will be in full charge of the remaining military affairs in the camp."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the road outside the military camp.

The sound was rapid, like the beat of drums, and the hoofbeats kicked up dust. Under the bright moonlight, a cavalry figure with a flag flew down from the foot of the mountains.

Several days ago, the envoy sent an urgent message, carrying news that Helan Yi was to be summoned to the capital, as well as the emperor's edict to establish the empress dowager.

Now, another imperial edict has arrived from the capital: "Is General Helan present?"

Helan Yi raised his eyes, his brows and eyes sharp, like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, watching the horse get closer and closer until dust billowed up in his face and the horse came to a stop a short distance in front of him.

"Reveal His Majesty's decree—" the envoy shouted.

Helan Yi knelt down, cupped his hands, and accepted the imperial decree, saying, "Your subject is here."

"The border is fraught with trouble in autumn. To guard against unforeseen circumstances, His Majesty has ordered the General of the Western Garrison to remain at his post and not to come to the capital. He will await His Majesty's summons in winter."

Helan Yi raised his head: "No need to go to the capital?"

“No need!” The voice was crystal clear in the biting autumn wind of the northwest.

The envoy handed over the letter, which Helan Yi took and quickly scanned.

The envoy said gently, "In addition, there is the matter of the Emperor and Empress's wedding. It is hereby announced to the world that the auspicious date for the wedding will be moved forward."

Helan Yi lowered his eyes, staring at the contents of the letter. A faint old scar at the corner of his eye added a touch of sharpness to his smiling eyes.

Helan Yi gripped the letter tightly in his fingers and said, "Your Majesty and the Empress have just married. I originally intended to go to the capital to pay my respects and offer my congratulations, but now I am unable to see Your Majesty's face. It is truly a pity."

The envoy had been traveling for several days, and was exhausted. His face showed helplessness, and he sighed.

Helan Yi said, "But I have already prepared a congratulatory gift for Your Majesty. Although I am not fortunate enough to witness the ceremony, I would like to ask the envoy to present the gift to Your Majesty on my behalf."

He clapped his hands, and the generals behind him went into the tent. Soon they brought out a white jade box. When the box was opened, a lifelike painting was displayed inside. It depicted flying goddesses, precious trees and silver flowers, a scene from the Buddhist kingdom of the Western Regions. Because of the bold and bright colors, the moment the painting was unfurled, the envoy's eyes were captivated.

"This painting was created by a highly skilled artist from the Northwest. His technique is extraordinary and his work is exquisite. I have heard that Your Majesty is fond of Buddhism, so I believe you will appreciate it."

"In addition, I have prepared a congratulatory gift for Her Majesty the Empress as a token of my appreciation," he paused, a deep smile on his face.

"I hope Your Excellency will take this opportunity to convey my message."

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Author's Note: Who painted Helan Yi's picture? [shy]