Chapter 61 The Coronation Ceremony

As dawn approached, the entire palace was already brightly lit. The upcoming coronation ceremony, marking the beginning of a new dynasty, enveloped the Daming Palace in a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

Inside the Zichen Palace, palace maids stood with their hands at their sides, holding various formal dresses and jewelry, awaiting instructions. Members of the imperial family and noblewomen entered the palace early to help the Empress with her makeup.

The inner lining is a plain gauze undergarment, and the outer garment is a dark blue woven robe embroidered with colorful pheasant patterns, making it solemn, gorgeous, and radiant.

Her hair was piled high in a bun, towering and majestic. She wore a crown of twelve flowers and hairpins, with her temples adorned with pearls and gemstones. With every slight movement, her hair swayed gracefully. Gold and jade ornaments were pasted on her forehead and temples, her cheeks were painted with slanted red, and her lips were stained with sandalwood. Her makeup was rich and elegant.

Ling Zhenli looked at herself in the mirror, her heart filled with countless emotions. She had observed her appearance in the bronze mirror many times, but none of them could compare to her current beauty and majesty.

At the exact hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the main gate of the imperial city slowly opened, and civil and military officials lined up according to their rank to enter the palace.

Dressed in court robes and holding ivory tablets, they stood in the square of Hanyuan Hall, flanked by imperial guards standing solemnly on both sides of the steps, their ceremonial presence imposing.

Ling Zhenli walked out of the Zichen Palace, surrounded by noblewomen and palace maids.

The rising sun just emerged above the horizon, its golden rays bathing the entire palace and casting a sacred halo over it.

She looked up and saw that Pei Xuanlin was already waiting outside the hall.

He was dressed in a royal robe and a crown with jade tassels hanging down. He smiled and reached out his hand to Ling Zhenli, his palm warm and dry.

"From this day forward, you and I will share the world."

Without the slightest hesitation, Ling Zhenli placed her hand in Pei Xuanlin's palm, and the two walked hand in hand towards Hanyuan Palace.

The crisp chimes, the melodious sheng and xiao, and the solemn drumbeats created a dignified and sacred atmosphere.

By the time they reached the highest point, the sun had fully risen.

Ling Zhenli narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at the dark mass of court officials below.

Whether they were truly convinced or not, today they all knelt on the ground, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" to her and Pei Xuanlin.

Pei Xuanlin took her hand, faced the crowd, and declared loudly, his words resounding: "From this day forward, the Emperor and Empress shall be honored together, sharing the Mandate of Heaven, shining as brightly as the sun and moon, and our empire shall be forever secure!"

"Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live His Majesty the Empress!"

The sound was like a tidal wave, deafening.

Ling Zhenli's heart pounded with the shouts of encouragement. She stood in the most honorable position in the world. The past days flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern. At this moment, all her past experiences became insignificant.

As the grand ceremony concluded, the lingering sounds of bells and chimes echoed through the majestic palace.

The sunlight was perfect, bathing the two of them in a dazzling golden glow, making them appear as if they were deities descended to earth.

The sun shone brightly, illuminating the path to the throne and also shining on the new emperor and empress who stood hand in hand.

The magnificent palaces and the vast mountains and rivers were all beneath their feet.

...

The afterglow of the coronation ceremony had not yet faded, but the Xue family's glory was already at its zenith.

With the emergence of an empress in the Xue family, the emperor's father-in-law Xue Wenmian was granted the title of Duke of Qi, the emperor's brother-in-law Xue Haoting was granted the title of Duke of Bao, Cui Yuerong was granted the title of Lady of Anguo, and even Ling Zhenli's second uncle Xue Wenjie, whom she had never met, was promoted from marquis to duke. The Xue family's honor and prestige were unprecedented.

The saying "Xue is half the court" quickly spread throughout Chang'an. This was not an exaggeration, as many important positions in the court were related to Xue's students and old friends. Memorials from various places still had to be reviewed by Xue Wenmian before they could reach the emperor.

The noble families who were suppressed during the reigns of Emperors Gaozong, Shizong, and Renzong of the previous dynasty have risen again with the help of the Xue family.

Every morning, the area in front of the Prime Minister's mansion was bustling with carriages and horses, and officials lined up to pay their respects. For a time, the Xue family's power was overwhelming, and no one in the court could match it.

The Xue family's status rose accordingly, all thanks to Emperor Ming Pei Xuanlin's favor towards Empress Xue Yingyue, a fact known throughout the court and the country.

Pei Xuanlin, whose courtesy name was Ming, became Emperor Ming. To demonstrate the unprecedented favor he had ever shown Xue Yingyue, he not only bestowed upon her the title "Chen," but also emphasized on many occasions that the emperor and empress were treated equally. He even ordered a phoenix desk to be specially set up on the east side of the Zichen Hall, standing alongside the dragon desk, hoping that Xue Yingyue would review memorials with him and discuss state affairs together.

That morning at court, Pei Xuanlin proposed that the two emperors hold court together. The senior officials, seeing that it was inevitable, strongly dissuaded him, and the matter was dropped.

However, the news quickly reached the inner palace.

Ling Zhenli was playing with a cat and admiring the rare treasures presented as tribute from various places when she heard her trusted eunuch's report. The South China Sea pearl she was playing with immediately fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

Her beautiful eyes flashed with malice, her fingertips digging deep into her palms as she said viciously, "These old bastards who are tired of living dare to defy His Majesty's decree allowing me to rule as regent... Go, summon my brother to the palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

That afternoon, Xue Haoting arrived at the Zichen Palace.

Upon seeing Xue Haoting, Ling Zhenli abandoned her usual gentle demeanor, her eyes flashing with a cold light: "You went to court today, didn't you? Have you heard? Which old geezer dared to disobey me?"

Xue Haoting pondered and said, "Li Wenyuan is already a veteran of three reigns, with disciples and old friends all over the court and the country. He is indeed not easy to deal with. Moreover, I heard that Princess Wuyang has been frequently visiting him recently."

"It's actually Pei Shen'ai. I almost forgot about her since she wasn't around." Ling Zhenli sneered. "Wuyang and the Xue family have been at odds for a long time, and now they want to hinder my future. Didn't Father say anything?"

"Father didn't say anything in court today, what are your plans?" Xue Haoting asked.

Ling Zhenli picked up her teacup, gently blew away the foam, her movements elegant yet carrying a murderous intent: "Since they won't let me have an easy time, then don't blame me for being impolite. Go and investigate who is leading the opposition, especially Li Wenyuan and his cronies, and see if they have any dirt on them."

Xue Haoting understood immediately: "Okay."

In the days that followed, several major events occurred in the court.

First, Li Wenyuan's prized student, the Vice Minister of Revenue, was exposed for accepting bribes and buying and selling official positions, and was forced to resign.

Next, the sons of several senior officials who had voiced the strongest opposition got into legal trouble. In the end, even Li Wenyuan himself was implicated in an old case. It was revealed that he had shown favoritism when handling a case of cheating in the imperial examinations.

Although the evidence was insufficient, it was enough to humiliate this veteran of three reigns, forcing him to feign illness and stay home to avoid the limelight.

At the same time, Princess Wuyang's confidants were impeached one after another, some were dismissed, and some were exiled, greatly weakening her power in the court.

These changes came quickly and violently, and it was obvious to everyone that the Xue family was manipulating things behind the scenes, but no one dared to speak out.

The greeting letter that Xiao Chongheng handed to Ling Zhenli seemed to have sunk without a trace, never to be heard from again.

***

On this day, several highly respected senior officials finally couldn't resist and came to the Imperial Study to request an audience with Pei Xuanlin.

Leading the group was Pei Yun, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs. He was an elder member of the royal family, the younger brother of Emperor Gaozong, and a highly respected figure.

"Your Majesty, this old minister dares to speak frankly: the Xue family is now too powerful, forming cliques for personal gain and wantonly plotting against court officials. I hope Your Majesty will take heed!"

Another senior minister added, "Throughout history, the usurpation of power by maternal relatives has inevitably led to chaos. Your Majesty's favor towards the Empress should also be tempered."

Pei Xuanlin was of course aware of what they were saying, but his expression was displeased: "You are overthinking it. The Duke of Qi is loyal to the country, and the Duke of Bao is young and promising. They are both pillars of the court."

"Your Majesty!" Pei Yun knelt and kowtowed. "The empress should be chosen based on virtue, not beauty. The Xue family now holds absolute power in the capital, largely due to the indulgence of Empress Chen. If this continues, we fear we will repeat the mistakes of Empress Wan of the previous dynasty."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Her Highness the Empress has been in the palace for a long time, but has yet to have an heir. For the sake of the country, Your Majesty should take in more concubines to enrich the harem, so that an imperial heir may be born as soon as possible!"

These words struck a chord with Pei Xuanlin.

He and Xue Yingyue had been together for almost a year, and they would sleep together whenever they were together, but they still had no children. He had even seen the imperial physicians, who said there was nothing wrong with them. With the throne in need of an heir and no suitable candidate in the imperial clan, having a child had become a major worry for him.

Seeing the emperor remain silent, the veteran ministers became even bolder: "Your Majesty is in the prime of life and should bestow your favor equally upon all, not just one person. Moreover, if the Empress is truly a virtuous empress, she should take the initiative to select concubines for Your Majesty, rather than monopolizing your imperial favor."

That's enough.

Pei Xuanlin interrupted them, "I have my own plan for this matter. You may all leave."

The old ministers looked at each other, knowing that this was the end of the matter, and had no choice but to bow and withdraw.

Unbeknownst to them, Ling Zhenli had already planted spies among the eunuchs in the Imperial Study.

Every word of this conversation would reach her ears.

...

"Hmph, take in many concubines, and have them produce an imperial heir as soon as possible..."

Ling Zhenli muttered these words repeatedly, and in anger, she tore the jade bracelet in her hand in half, the jade beads rolling all over the ground.

Although she knew this day would come sooner or later, hearing these words from those old ministers still broke her heart.

"Your Majesty!"

When the palace maid saw that she had torn the bracelet to pieces, she hurriedly went forward to check if she was injured.

"Get out of my way!"

Ling Zhenli shouted sharply, her voice carrying an unusual loss of control.

After all the palace servants had left, she finally couldn't hold back any longer and lay down on the phoenix bed, weeping silently.

Why, after doing so much, could she not even protect the only person she truly cherished?

In the past, she thought she only wanted the position of empress, but after actually becoming empress, she wanted Pei Xuanlin to belong to her alone.

Was she really too greedy?

All she wanted was for her man to love only her wholeheartedly.

Enough, stop deceiving yourself. Pei Xuanlin is an emperor, and he will have concubines sooner or later. He won't belong to her alone.

After an unknown amount of time, she raised her head, wiped away her tears, and her eyes were filled with silence.

"Summon the Duke of Bao to the palace."

Xue Haoting always arrived at the palace very quickly.

Seeing Ling Zhenli's red and swollen eyes from crying, and her resentful expression, Xue Haoting didn't comfort her. He just watched her quietly, his face expressionless.

"You've been doing fine in the palace, so why are you crying?"

Ling Zhenli stared at him intently: "...Can you change your attitude towards me? Can't you see how annoying I am?"

"Tell me how many happy times you have in a year, and what happened?"

Xue Haoting didn't care at all, and sat down in the chair opposite Ling Zhenli, and even started eating the fruit on the table.

Ling Zhenli recounted the old minister's advice regarding the selection of a concubine, her voice eerily calm.

"No wonder they brought this up in front of His Majesty. I have been infertile for a long time, and everyone in the court knows that it is only a matter of time before His Majesty chooses a concubine."

Xue Haoting frowned: "Didn't your mother find you a prescription last winter? Haven't you been taking it?"

"I took it all the time while I was at home. Didn't you and I even try it together until Pei Xuanlin came back? Did you see that I got pregnant during that time?"

During that time, Ling Zhenli's belly showed no signs of pregnancy, and her period came more punctually than a rooster crowing.

Xue Haoting remained silent for a long time before speaking.

"And what about His Majesty? What did His Majesty say?"

“His Majesty did not agree.” Ling Zhenli forced a bitter smile. “His Majesty only said that he had his own ideas.”

The hall fell silent.

Finally, Xue Haoting sighed: "You know your husband is the emperor, it's impossible for him to love only you wholeheartedly."

"What do you mean?"

“What I mean is, instead of waiting for those noble ladies to be selected to enter the palace and compete with you for favor, why don’t you arrange a few obedient palace maids for His Majesty first? If they are lucky enough to conceive a royal child, you can remove the mother and keep the child, raising the child under your name.”

Xue Haoting lowered his voice, "This way, the problem of having offspring is solved, and your position will not be threatened."

Ling Zhenli was struck dumb; the best solution presented to her was driving her almost insane.

"No! I will not give him to anyone! Never! I would rather die with him!"

Seeing that she was emotionally unstable, Xue Haoting calmly reminded her: "Otherwise, you will only be able to wait for those noble ladies to enter the palace, and then the Xue family's good days will be over, and your good days will be over too. Throughout history, how many empresses without children have had a good end? Think about it carefully."

She knew he was telling the truth.

In this deep palace, an empress without children is like a tree without roots, which may collapse at any time.

But she couldn't bring herself to push other women onto Pei Xuanlin.

After much thought, Ling Zhenli finally rubbed her forehead, frowned deeply, and said in a hoarse voice, "Let me think about it."

...

As night fell, the palace lanterns lit up one by one.

Ling Zhenli sat alone in front of the mirror, gazing at her elegantly dressed figure, but her heart was filled with desolation.

Xue Haoting's words still echoed in her ears. Her hand unconsciously stroked her flat stomach. Perhaps it was heaven's punishment for her. She had to pay the price for her willful and reckless behavior. So the court officials criticized her, and there were whispers in the palace. Sharp thorns were piercing her soft heart.

"All of you, step back."

Ling Zhenli waved her hand, dismissing the palace maids who were standing around her.

She first took advantage of the absence of everyone to write a letter and have a palace maid deliver it to Xie Daojian. Once the hall was empty, she got up and went to the inner room, opened a sandalwood chest, and took out a set of ordinary palace maid's clothes.

Her fingers trembled as she untied the magnificent empress's everyday robes, peeling away layer after layer of silk and satin that symbolized honor, as if she were also shedding her empress's identity and shackles.

She changed into a simple palace dress, removed all the jewels and ornaments from her head, and used only a simple wooden hairpin to tie up her black hair.

Looking at herself in the mirror, the person in the mirror still had the same eyebrows and eyes, but she had lost some of her majesty and gained more liveliness. At this moment, she seemed to have turned back into the carefree girl she used to be.

That's wonderful. I wish things could stay that way forever.

After instructing the palace maids not to reveal her whereabouts, she quietly left Zichen Palace through a side door. The night breeze brushed her face, bringing a slight chill.

Even though it's only the beginning of spring, the night wind is still quite biting.

She walked briskly through the palace alleys with her head down. When she occasionally encountered patrolling guards, they all lowered their heads and gave way. No one noticed her true identity as a palace maid.

The plum grove in the Imperial Garden exudes a subtle fragrance in the night.

Because it is the beginning of spring, the plum blossoms are in full bloom, and the coolness of the night dew is refreshing.

A figure had been waiting deep in the plum grove. Hearing footsteps, the figure turned around.

"You've come." Xie Daojian's voice sounded particularly deep in the night. "I thought you were angry with me and would never talk to me again."

Ling Zhenli kept three steps away from him, her expression downcast: "The court officials are all clamoring to select a concubine for His Majesty."

"So you came to see me tonight because of His Majesty?" Xie Daojian said gently. "You might as well speak frankly."

“I sent him a woman, Xie Daojian.”

"Um?"

Xie Daojian didn't react for a moment. By the time he realized what he had heard, Ling Zhenli had already begun to get agitated and break down.

She gripped her hands and frantically pinched the flesh of her arm, trying to calm herself down through the pain.

“I knew he would come to my palace tonight. I left a woman for him, and now I’m giving up my bed with him to him and another woman… It was bound to happen sooner or later. He’ll sleep with another woman sooner or later. Rather than letting another woman seduce him, I’d rather arrange it for him. At least that way I’ll know who he’s with, instead of living in constant fear… Xie Daojian, do you know I’m going crazy? I’ve pushed my own man into another woman’s arms!”

"Ah Li, Ah Li, calm down, don't hurt yourself."

Xie Daojian quickly separated Ling Zhenli's hands and arms, then tightly grasped her hand, his gentle gaze revealing worry.

"I know you're very sad right now. Wake up. I'm here for you. I'll always belong to you. My dear Ahri, I'll always be by your side."

Amidst the fragrant plum blossoms, the two stood close enough to be intimately intimate.

Ling Zhenli could feel his breath brushing against her cheek. Knowing she had overstepped her bounds, she involuntarily took a step back, only to have her wrist grabbed by Xie Daojian again.

"you……"

Xie Daojian's fingers caressed her wrist, warming it for her.

His warm, strong hand contrasted sharply with her cold skin. Ling Zhenli struggled for a moment but couldn't break free, so she had to give up. However, this ambiguous gesture made her both ashamed and angry. If she weren't afraid of attracting attention, she would have scolded Xie Daojian.

"Xie Daojian, you are being insolent."

"Yes, I was presumptuous." He chuckled, his breath brushing against her ear. "But if you didn't still have feelings for me, why did you come looking for me?"

Ling Zhenli stubbornly replied, "I already saw my brother this afternoon."

Xie Daojian smiled and asked, "Is he good to you?"

Ling Zhenli was speechless for a moment.

Yes, why did she specifically come to him? It's because Xie Daojian has the best temper and will always indulge her in such a crucial moment.

...

Meanwhile, after finishing his official duties, Pei Xuanlin recalled the advice of the senior officials he had received during the day. Feeling troubled, he longed to see his beloved as soon as possible so he could tell her about the grievances he had suffered that day.

"Let's proceed to the Zichen Palace," he instructed the eunuch, quickening his pace.

The Zichen Palace was brightly lit, yet unusually quiet.

Pei Xuanlin walked straight into the inner hall, but Xue Yingyue was nowhere to be seen.

Just as he thought this was Xue Yingyue's latest idea for a game and stepped into the bedroom with a smile, he saw a woman dressed in a thin palace dress kneeling on the ground.

He was most familiar with Xue Yingyue's body; he could draw it with his eyes closed, and he wouldn't even miss a single mole. So he immediately recognized that the scantily clad woman on the ground was definitely not Xue Yingyue.

"Where is the Empress?" Pei Xuanlin asked, frowning.

The woman looked up and saw a beautiful but unfamiliar face.

She wore a light, sheer dress, half-undone, revealing glimpses of her skin, and sported pretty makeup, clearly having put on a meticulous makeover.

"Your Majesty, the Empress says that I will serve you tonight."

The woman's voice was soft and sweet, with a deliberate seduction. After replying, she stood up and boldly stepped forward, reaching out to undress Pei Xuanlin.

Pei Xuanlin took a step back, avoiding her touch, his expression darkening: "I'm asking you, where is the Empress?"

The woman was frightened by his stern tone and knelt down, trembling as she said, "His Highness said he had something to do and went out. He only told me to serve His Majesty well tonight. I know nothing else."

Pei Xuanlin looked around the hall. The surroundings were spotless, and even the beds had been specially arranged. His heart sank.

"Step back!" he said coldly. "No one is allowed to enter without my order!"

After the woman retreated in a panic, Pei Xuanlin immediately summoned the palace maids who were standing outside the hall.

"When did the Empress leave, and where did she go?"

The palace maids looked at each other, shaking their heads and saying they didn't know.

"Why won't you say? Is it because the Empress forbade you to say it?" Pei Xuanlin frowned.

"Yes, Her Majesty forbade us to speak. She only told us to serve His Majesty and that palace maid well, and that once His Majesty was satisfied, we should mention the appointment of that palace maid as a concubine."

Pei Xuanlin frowned even more deeply: "The Empress said that? The Empress really said that?"

"Yes, we servants would not dare to utter a single falsehood."

"Go and summon the Empress back to me! Go now! I'm waiting for her in the main hall of the Zichen Palace. Tell her to come to the main hall to see me," he ordered, his voice filled with an anxiety he himself was unaware of.

...

In the plum garden, a trusted palace maid rushed over, her face filled with panic. The maid's appearance interrupted Ling Zhenli and Xie Daojian's continued ambiguous relationship.

"Your Majesty, you should go back immediately, His Majesty is looking for you!"

Ling Zhenli hurried back to the palace, her mind in turmoil.

Her close contact with Xie Daojian just now left her feeling uneasy, guilty yet also with a strange flutter in her heart. And now, she had to face Pei Xuanlin. She really didn't know how to face him.

Especially since she was wearing a palace maid's clothes.

As she quietly slipped into the bedchamber through the side door, preparing to change back into her everyday clothes, the door was suddenly pushed open.

Pei Xuanlin stood at the door, looking at her in her palace maid attire with a gloomy expression.

"His Majesty……"

Ling Zhenli panicked and dropped the wooden hairpin in her hand.

Pei Xuanlin entered the hall, his piercing gaze sweeping over her entire body.

"Where did you go? I asked your maids, but they wouldn't tell me. I told them to take you to the main hall, but why did you end up in the bedchamber? And why are you dressed like that?"

His voice was calm, but to Ling Zhenli, it carried a sense of impending danger.

In a moment of quick thinking, Ling Zhenli knelt down, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! I had no choice!"

Pei Xuanlin was taken aback. His initial suspicion and anger were somewhat dispelled by the sudden tears. In the past, apart from flirting, he and Xue Yingyue never used such formal terms of address. He quickly stepped forward to help her up.

"What are you doing? Get up and speak properly."

Ling Zhenli leaned against him, tears streaming down her face.

"I've heard that the court officials are pressuring Your Majesty to choose concubines. Knowing that I haven't conceived in a long time, I feel I've failed Your Majesty's grace. I think that sooner or later new concubines will enter the palace, so perhaps... perhaps I should personally select a few suitable women for Your Majesty..."

She raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears, and observed Pei Xuanlin's expression. She continued to sob, "But I am heartbroken, thinking that Your Majesty will favor other women in the future... That's why I disguised myself as a palace maid and went to the plum garden to clear my mind..."

Upon hearing this, Pei Xuanlin felt both heartache and guilt.

He gently wiped away her tears: "Ah Li, when did I ever say I would choose a concubine? I promised that there would only be you, and I will not break my promise."

“But what about having an heir?” Ling Zhenli choked up. “I haven’t conceived for a long time, and the court officials are all talking about me…”

“The matter of having children cannot be rushed,” Pei Xuanlin comforted. “You can’t just get pregnant whenever you want. Perhaps you’re under too much pressure in the palace. How about this, I’ll take you to Jiangnan to relax. Didn’t I promise you before that I would take you to Jiangnan for a trip in the future? Let’s go now.”

Ling Zhenli stopped crying and looked up at him with a confused expression: "Are you serious?"

“A king’s word is his bond.” He smiled. “I’ll leave the government affairs to my father-in-law for now. I’ll take you on a good trip. Maybe if you’re in a good mood, the baby will come.”

Ling Zhenli finally stopped crying and smiled, nestling in his arms: "Okay, then let's go to Jiangnan."

However, from an angle she couldn't see, a complex expression flashed in Pei Xuanlin's eyes.

He knew about Xie Daojian's nighttime visit to the palace. What could a courtier be doing entering the palace with the Empress's token and not even paying respects to the Emperor?

But he chose not to ask.

Some things are better left unknown.

The warmth of the person in his arms felt so real at that moment that he preferred to believe her story, to believe that it all stemmed from her unease and love.

"So let's not cry anymore." He gently patted her back. "Go change out of this outfit. Don't cry anymore, it breaks my heart."

Ling Zhenli nodded obediently, secretly relieved.

As night deepened, the lights in the Zichen Palace gradually went out.