The opposition from the court nobles was not firm.

If even the emperor doesn't care, what's the use of them caring?

The emperor refused to hold a selection of concubines, so where would the noble women of the Manchu people go to give birth?

Besides, the Emperor is already forty-seven years old. Although he looks about thirty-seven or thirty-eight, it will still take twenty years to raise his child to be his heir.

Even if this generation has Manchu ancestry, what about the next generation? And the generation after that? Who cares about all that?

Forget it, I'd better focus on making money in this lifetime and leaving more wealth for my descendants.

Since the Emperor ascended the throne, after deposing Empress Ulanara in the fourth year of Yongzheng's reign, he never established an Empress.

Now, Imperial Noble Consort Linjia is finally going to be named Empress.

However, when the imperial edict was actually proclaimed to the world, it still caused a huge uproar.

"--A Han woman becoming empress is unprecedented since the founding of the Qing Dynasty!"

The imperial edict sparked widespread discussion both inside and outside the capital.

In the teahouse, several scholars slammed their fists on the table, their faces flushed with excitement: "The Emperor has actually made a Han woman his Empress? This...this is a violation of ancestral rules!"

Another person shook his head and retorted, "The Imperial Concubine is virtuous, she has compiled books, promoted education, and established girls' colleges. Even Westerners respect her. How could such a woman not be worthy of the Empress's position?"

The literati in Jiangnan reacted even more strongly.

The former anti-Qing and pro-Ming activists looked at each other in bewilderment. One of them sighed softly, "If the Emperor were truly so enlightened, the Han people might not be unable to live in peace and prosperity..."

Inside the Forbidden City, upon hearing the news, Daiyu's eyes reddened, and she murmured softly, "Her Majesty is finally..."

She recalled Lin Yun's guidance and protection over the years, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She quickly got up to find a newly made congratulatory gift.

Meanwhile, Li Mama, a former servant of Yanxi Palace, stood under the corridor, gazing in the direction of Kunning Palace, tears streaming down her face.

"This old servant still remembers what Your Majesty looked like when you first entered the palace. Now... you are truly going to be the mother of the nation."

Chunlan and Xiahe had long since shed their youthful naiveté. Now, one was in charge of internal affairs, and the other assisted in managing palace affairs. Upon hearing the imperial decree, they looked at each other and smiled: "Our Empress has finally come to this."

Things are progressing at an unimaginable speed.

The investiture ceremony was prepared in less than half a month.

Although all the necessary preparations for the empress's investiture had been completed several years ago.

However, if the emperor wanted to hold the ceremony as quickly as possible, he had to recalculate the date and prepare the rituals.

The Imperial Observatory and the Ministry of Rites were extremely busy.

Finally, the day before the investiture ceremony,

The emperor was going to the Temple of Heaven to offer sacrifices.

For the first time ever, Emperor Yongzheng took Lin Yun to the Temple of Heaven, something only an emperor was entitled to do.

Those old fogies in the Ministry of Rites almost made his beard twist with anger.

But the emperor lifted his eyelids and said, "My empress will naturally share the mandate of heaven with me."

On the altar, Lin Yun was dressed in a bright yellow dress embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, wearing a court hat, and her pearl pendants were dazzling.

The kneeling civil and military officials stole a glance and muttered to themselves, "This Han Chinese empress has an even stronger presence than the previous Manchu empress!"

Incense smoke curled around the altar, and the ritual music was solemn.

Emperor Yongzheng held incense and bowed three times, proclaiming in a loud voice: "Your subject, Yinzhen, respectfully leads Empress Linjia in offering this prayer to the Heavenly Emperor..."

"Now we establish the Central Palace to rectify internal affairs, and pray for national prosperity, peace and tranquility throughout the land!"

After the eulogy was read, Yongzheng personally placed the incense sticks into the burner, turned to Lin Yun and whispered, "From tomorrow onwards, the whole world will remember your name."

Lin Yun lowered her head and smiled faintly.

That evening, Lin Yun sat alone in front of the mirror, her phoenix coronet and wedding gown shimmering in the candlelight.

Yongzheng embraced her from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head: "Are you scared?"

Lin Yun shook her head, her fingertips tracing the four vermilion characters "Heaven's Mandate" on the imperial edict: "Your Majesty, I just didn't expect that Your Majesty would use the navy as a bargaining chip..."

"The hearts of men are as vast as the sea; I am merely going with the flow." Yongzheng turned her shoulder, his gaze deep. "Manchus value profit, while Han people value reputation."

I'll let them know that those who follow your warships will get meat to eat, while those shabby ships built with ancestral rules will only get the northwest wind to drink!

Lin Yun suddenly laughed, never expecting the Emperor to become so mischievous.

----------

The sixth day of the third month in the twelfth year of the Yongzheng reign was an auspicious day according to the calculations of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

The red walls and golden tiles of the Forbidden City gleamed in the morning light. In the square in front of the Qianqing Palace, officials from the Ministry of Rites were already lined up in neat rows, waiting for the start of the investiture ceremony.

Before dawn, Emperor Yongzheng had already led his civil and military officials to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices to their ancestors.

The Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices shouted: "Kneel—!"

All the officials knelt down in unison, and Yongzheng burned incense and prayed, reporting the matter of establishing an empress to his ancestors.

At Chenshi (7-9 AM), bells and drums sounded in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Emperor Yongzheng sat upright on the dragon throne, and Su Peisheng held the imperial edict in his hands, reading it aloud:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Imperial Noble Consort Linjia, virtuous and wise, whose talent surpasses all others in the palace... is hereby established as Empress, to occupy the central position. This is the imperial decree!"

The edict was written in four languages: Han, Manchu, Mongolian, and Tibetan, symbolizing the unification of the world.

The officials prostrated themselves and shouted, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"

Lin Yun, dressed in the bright yellow imperial court robes and wearing a nine-dragon, four-phoenix crown, sat upright in the main hall of Kunning Palace.

A female official from the inner court knelt before the Empress, presenting her with a golden book and a golden seal: "We respectfully request Your Majesty the Empress to accept the book and the seal!"

Lin Yun accepted it with both hands, her fingertips trembling slightly.

—Her name was engraved on the golden book, and the golden seal was the Empress's seal.

From then on, she became the rightful Empress of the Qing Dynasty.

At noon, Lin Yun, supported by a female official, slowly walked into the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Emperor Yongzheng sat high on his throne, gazing at her with gentle eyes.

The master of ceremonies announced loudly: "The Empress shall perform the six-fold obeisance, three kneelings, and three prostrations—"

Lin Yun stood solemnly and knelt in worship, her movements dignified and elegant, causing all the civil and military officials to hold their breath in awe.

After the ceremony, Emperor Yongzheng personally rose and helped her to her seat, where the two of them received the congratulations of the officials.

When Lin Yun, dressed in a bright yellow court robe, sat with the Emperor, His Majesty's Manchu officials lowered their heads and stared at the tips of their boots.

They thought of the warehouses filled with goods from Southeast Asia, and of the merchant ships escorted by the navy cutting through the waves...

Finally, led by Neqin, everyone slowly knelt down in worship:

"Long live the Empress!"

The roar of the waves dispersed the clouds on the horizon, and the fifty warships anchored in Tianjin Port were raising their dragon flags, which gleamed in the morning sun.

After the grand ceremony, a banquet was held in the Qianqing Palace to celebrate.

Nobles, nobles, and ladies of high rank stepped forward in turn to present their gifts.

Daiyu, holding the "Long Live the Emperor" scroll she had embroidered herself, bowed gracefully and said, "This humble woman congratulates Your Majesty the Empress on your glorious reign."

Lin Yun nodded with a smile, her eyes filled with emotion.

She needed to be dignified and composed today, and not show too much excitement, but she was truly warmed by the Emperor's and those around her's actions.

Hongyao, Zhaohua, Hongxi, and Hongsheng, the children, surrounded her, chattering excitedly: "Your Majesty looks so beautiful today!"

...

As night deepened, red candles burned brightly inside the Kunning Palace.

Emperor Yongzheng took Lin Yun's hand and admired the bright moon together, sighing, "Yun'er and I can finally stand side by side with dignity."

Then he lowered his head and kissed the top of her head: "Yun'er, all these years... you've suffered."

Lin Yun shook her head and leaned gently on his shoulder: "It is my honor to be able to stay by Your Majesty's side."

Outside the window, the bright moon hangs high, its light reflecting off the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City, as if silently blessing the emperor and empress.