Su Xuening and Xuan Yuanzhan carried Xiao Bao back into the imperial carriage.
Although the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven had ended, they still had to tour the imperial city according to custom.
As the imperial carriage circled the capital, officials, imperial relatives, soldiers, and commoners surrounded it almost completely.
Of course, in addition to these people, the Xuanwu and Zhuque divine beasts also circled and followed, making the scene more lively and magnificent than any previous new emperor's ascension to the throne in Eastern Chu.
Originally, there were already many people who came to watch the spectacle, but now that the Xuanwu divine beasts were facing each other, all the people in the capital came out to watch the excitement, and even people from other places rushed to the imperial city upon hearing the news.
The people of Dongchu have been longing for the Xuanwu divine beast for thousands of years. Now that the Xuanwu divine beast has really appeared in the world, how could they not rush to see it?
After all, it's not so easy to see the true form of a mythical beast!
"That's the Xuanwu Divine Beast! It's so big and magnificent, truly worthy of being called a divine beast!"
"Now it's great. We no longer need to envy Xiliang for having the Vermilion Bird divine beast. We in Dongchu also have the Black Tortoise divine beast."
"The Black Tortoise and the Vermilion Bird seem to have a good relationship!"
"Of course, our new empress is the crown princess of Western Liang. Eastern Chu and Western Liang have formed a marriage alliance, so it's natural that the Black Tortoise and Vermilion Bird have a good relationship."
"You guys say that the appearance of our Xuanwu divine beast in the world, could it also be related to the Zhuque divine beast?"
"That's possible, but I heard that the successful summoning of the Xuanwu Divine Beast this time was all thanks to our Crown Prince."
"What? Wasn't the Xuanwu divine beast summoned during the new emperor's ascension ceremony and sacrifice to heaven?"
"No, the new emperor's sacrificial ceremony to heaven has already ended. It was when the little prince was recognizing his ancestors and imprinting the Xuanwu mark that he summoned the Xuanwu divine beast. I heard that the Xuanwu divine beast even took the little prince to heaven, which terrified the new empress."
"I never imagined that it was the young prince who summoned the Xuanwu divine beast. No wonder the late emperor insisted on sending the young prince back to Eastern Chu!"
"Indeed! It's a good thing the little prince is back, otherwise we would never be able to summon the Xuanwu Divine Beast again. The little prince is the chosen one of Eastern Chu!"
The people were abuzz with discussion. For a time, the young prince Xiao Bao overshadowed the new emperor and empress, Xuan Yuanzhan and Su Xuening, and enjoyed unparalleled fame.
Inside the Imperial Carriage.
No matter how lively it was outside, Xuan Yuanzhan paid no attention to what was happening outside, his eyes fixed intently on Su Xuening breastfeeding.
Xiao Bao couldn't wait to drink milk at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, so as soon as Su Xuening got on the imperial carriage, she pulled down all the curtains and started feeding Xiao Bao.
Xiao Bao was really hungry. After all, it had been almost three hours since he was fed before dawn, so it would be strange if he wasn't hungry.
Xiao Bao ate with gusto, while Xuan Yuanzhan watched intently.
Feeling Xuan Yuanzhan's scorching gaze, which was as hot as molten lava, Su Xuening turned away, her face flushed.
Xuanyuan Zhan knew she was shy, so he tactfully withdrew his gaze.
After feeding the baby, the little one fell into a deep sleep again.
Looking at the baby sleeping soundly in her arms, Su Xuening couldn't help but laugh and cry: "Children are just children, carefree, all they do is eat and sleep."
Xuanyuan Zhan took the baby from her arms and hugged her tightly: "Are you tired? Rest on my shoulder for a while."
Today is the coronation ceremony, and this ceremony will last until evening. It must be even more tiring than their wedding day.
Thinking about getting married, Xuanyuan Zhan felt a little regretful.
He was in a coma when they got married, and he couldn't even complete the wedding ceremony, which was a real regret for him.
Su Xuening was indeed a little tired. She leaned against him and gently stroked Xiao Bao's chubby face: "He's only been back for two days, and he seems to have gained all that weight back."
Looking at his chubby son, Xuan Yuanzhan couldn't help but soften his expression: "This shows that breast milk is more nutritious than goat milk."
Su Xuening blushed after Xuan Yuanzhan's words.
However, he is right; breast milk is indeed more nutritious than goat milk.
Thankfully, they went back and brought Xiaobao back. Otherwise, Xiaobao would have refused to drink the milk from other wet nurses and would have only been able to drink goat's milk, which would have been too pitiful.
Looking at her rosy cheeks and smelling the milky scent on her body, Xuan Yuanzhan felt a surge of heat rising within him.
He tightened his grip on Su Xuening's arm and said in a hoarse voice, "Let's leave Xiaobao with the two mothers tonight."
Su Xuening raised an eyebrow at him suspiciously.
Seeing this, Xuan Yuanzhan felt a little guilty and coughed lightly, saying, "Today is the day I ascend the throne, and I hope you can accompany me wholeheartedly."
Looking at the burning desire in Xuan Yuanzhan's eyes, Su Xuening knew exactly what he was thinking, and her face flushed again.
However, thinking about it, they haven't had a proper consummation of their marriage even once since they got married. Their baby is already two months old. If he's thinking about it, it's not impossible.
Today is the day he ascends the throne, and indeed it is an opportune moment.
Su Xuening didn't speak, so Xuan Yuanzhan took it as her agreement and was so excited that his heart felt like it was about to take flight.
After circling the imperial city, Xuan Yuanzhan and Su Xuening's imperial carriage finally returned to the palace.
After returning to the palace, the group went directly to the main hall.
The officials also went to the main hall early to wait.
"The new emperor has arrived! The empress has arrived! The crown prince has arrived! The empress dowager has arrived! The Empress of Western Liang has arrived..."
After a series of announcements, Xuan Yuanzhan carried Xiao Bao in one arm and led Su Xuening into the main hall with the other.
Duanmu Junyu and Bai Fuya followed behind them.
Xuanyuan Zhan and Su Xuening ascended the jade steps together.
On the jade steps, Xuan Yuanzhan had already arranged for a phoenix chair to be placed side by side with the dragon throne, and two other chairs were placed a little in front of the dragon throne and the phoenix chair, obviously for Duanmu Junyu and Bai Fuya to sit on.
After everyone sat down, Zong Jiu took out a scroll of imperial edict and began to read it aloud.
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The late Emperor has suddenly passed away and returned to the Five Elements. I, by the grace of Heaven and the blessings of past sages, and in accordance with the late Emperor's will, have entered into the ancestral temple to uphold the proper order. All civil and military officials, elders, soldiers, and civilians have repeatedly urged me to ascend the throne, but I have been refused. Therefore, I respectfully inform Heaven and Earth today that I have assumed the throne..."
After the long imperial edict was read aloud, the officials knelt down in unison and shouted, "Congratulations on the new emperor's ascension to the throne! Long live the emperor!"
This was Xuanyuan Zhan's first court assembly after ascending the throne, and naturally, various rewards and honors were bestowed.
Without waiting for Xuan Yuanzhan's instructions, Zong Jiu continued to read out the other imperial edicts.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: My beloved wife, Su Xuening, also known as Duanmu Xuening, is the Crown Princess of Western Liang. She is virtuous and intelligent, and has always been a pillar of my state, helping me in times of difficulty. I deeply love her and hereby bestow upon her the title of Empress of Eastern Chu, with the honorific title of Xiaohe. She is granted the Ruian Palace to accompany me. From this day forward, my harem shall contain only the Empress, and I shall never take any more concubines. In Eastern Chu, the Empress's position is equal to mine! She may handle the affairs of the state, government, and military with me! The Empress's will is my will! In any situation, the Empress may fully represent me!"
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