October 15th is an auspicious day for all activities!

At 3:45 AM (寅时三刻).

On the square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, the white marble steps are polished to a shine, reflecting a dazzling silver light.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites had already led hundreds of eunuchs and palace maids to stand in solemn formation.

The vermilion palace gates opened one after another, revealing the imperial road covered with red carpet.

On both sides of the imperial road, guards dressed in brocade robes with pheasant-patterned embroidered robes stood holding halberds, their sharp blades gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

Yanxi Palace

Lin Yun, dressed in a bright yellow imperial concubine's auspicious robe, sat regally in front of her dressing table.

Her auspicious robe was embroidered with a pattern of nine phoenixes facing the sun, and every gold thread shimmered with light, as if it were alive and trembled slightly with her breath.

The neckline is adorned with eighteen pearls, each about the size of a thumb.

Her round, lustrous neck made her neck appear as long and slender as a swan's.

"Your Majesty, are you satisfied with today's makeup?" Chunlan asked, holding a bronze mirror, her voice filled with barely concealed excitement.

She had never seen such luxurious makeup.

Her eyebrows, drawn with incense sticks, slanted upwards towards her temples; her cheeks, flushed with rouge, resembled peach blossoms in March; and a touch of vermilion flower on her forehead added to her lively charm.

Lin Yun gently stroked the cloud pattern on her sleeve, her fingertips trembling slightly.

The woman in the mirror wore a gold phoenix crown inlaid with kingfisher feathers and jewels, with three strings of pearl tassels hanging down on both sides, making a crisp clinking sound with each step she took.

This outfit weighed a good twenty pounds, yet it made her feel light as if she were walking on clouds.

"Your Highness, it's time to depart." With reddened eyes, Granny Li stepped forward and placed a Hetian jade ruyi scepter into her hand.

"This old servant has lived for fifty years and has never seen such a dignified investiture ceremony."

The Emperor specially decreed that you ride in the phoenix palanquin through the Qianqing Gate to the Hall of Supreme Harmony—a privilege reserved only for the Empress!

Lin Yun was filled with mixed emotions. Having transmigrated to the Qing Dynasty less than two years ago, she had become the most honored woman in the entire country.

Everything felt unreal, like a dream.

At dawn, outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, in the ranks of officials

Xie Yu was placed among the fourth-rank officials, and his dark robes made his face appear even thinner.

When the sound of ceremonial music came from afar, he involuntarily straightened his back.

Thirty-six eunuchs carried the gilded phoenix palanquin slowly in, the gilded phoenix on the palanquin's top spreading its wings as if about to take flight in the morning light.

Through the swaying beaded curtain, he saw the woman who had once haggled with him sitting inside.

The sea and cliff patterns on the bright yellow auspicious robe stung his eyes.

"It seems that Young Master Xie has a past relationship with the Imperial Concubine?" the official beside him suddenly whispered.

Xie Yu's Adam's apple bobbed, and he forced a stiff smile: "It's just business dealings."

He spoke lightly, but his hand clenched tightly in his sleeve, his nails digging deep into his palm.

As the imperial carriage passed by, a bead of sweat slid down his forehead.

She ultimately became the moon he could never reach.

---

At the banquet for royal wives, Consort Yu dug her nail guards into her palms.

She looked at the phoenix crown, which was comparable to that of an empress, and a bitter smile appeared on her lips.

Once upon a time, she was also the emperor's bedmate, but now she has to kneel and greet this woman who has only been in the palace for a year.

"Sister, please do your makeup carefully." Consort Mao chuckled softly in her ear, but her eyes were icy cold.

Their eyes met, and they both saw the same despair in each other's eyes.

This harem ultimately belongs to the Lin family.

Consort Qi glanced at the twins, a boy and a girl, being held by the nanny behind Lin Yun.

Thinking of Hongshi, who was already 15 years old, and Hongli, who was still in the imperial mausoleum,

Suddenly, I realized how ridiculous it was to compete for favor.

"She is, after all, the Emperor's most beloved..." she murmured to herself.

She turned to her trusted nanny and said, "Go and add my pair of jade unicorns to the congratulatory gift."

Just live like this, it's better than anything else!

On the imperial steps, Emperor Yongzheng, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, gazed intently at the end of the imperial road.

The twelve symbols gleamed in the sunlight, and the Hetian jade belt around his waist rose and fell slightly with his breath.

When Lin Yun's figure came into view

He instinctively took a half-step forward, but Su Peisheng hurriedly stopped him: "Your Majesty, etiquette..."

He watched her ascend the jade steps, one step at a time, the pearl tassels swaying gently on her forehead.

He suddenly remembered how happy he was when she agreed to enter the palace on this day last year.

She walked into his life in the same way, bathed in moonlight, and from then on, the world lost its color.

In his previous life, he walked on thin ice, exhausting himself yet rarely finding a moment of joy;

In this life, he was determined to live recklessly just this once.

Present her with the most honorable glory in the world.

"Your Majesty, I, Lin Yun, respectfully wish you good health." A clear and melodious voice rang out in front of the palace.

Only then did Yongzheng realize that she was kneeling before him.

The pearl curtains on her phoenix crown obscured her eyebrows and eyes, revealing only a hint of her red lips.

He reached out to help her up, his heart skipping a beat as he touched the coldness of her fingertips. "My beloved concubine, rise."

The Minister of Rites loudly recited the edict: "...Gentle and virtuous by nature, and cautious and prudent in conduct. She excels in assisting in the proper rites, thus illuminating the admonitions of the female historian..."

The deep voice echoed across the square, startling a flock of white doves.

Lin's mother wept uncontrollably at the banquet for noblewomen, her handkerchief already soaked through.

Xiao Tao covered her mouth, her tears washing away her rouge.

Her mistress truly became the most distinguished woman in the world.

---

Just as Lin Yun received the golden book and seal, the rising sun leaped onto the eaves of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

A canopy adorned with nine dragons and nine phoenixes unfurled above her head, accompanied by the booming of thirty-six cannons amidst the sounds of ceremonial music.

Yongzheng took her hand and led her to the high platform, then suddenly whispered, "Yun'er, look."

Following his gaze, the entire Forbidden City came into view, with its flying eaves and brackets stretching towards the sky like waves.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!