The news that the queen was pregnant quickly spread throughout the court and the harem.
As soon as the new emperor ascended the throne, the empress became pregnant. This shows that God is blessing the Dayuan Dynasty and is a very auspicious sign.
The day after the good news came was the fifth day of February, the ceremony of crowning the queen.
The ceremony began at the beginning of the day. Amid the festive and solemn music, the grand carriage passed through the main gate of the palace and slowly drove along the long red lichen to the Taiji Palace Square. On both sides of the square were civil and military officials, princes and nobles, and women of the fifth rank and above in Chang'an who had imperial edicts. Looking from a high place, it was a huge crowd, really a grand scene.
The Yan Zhai chariot, which only the empress could use, was magnificent and golden, with red-tooth painted wheels and bright Zhai feathers adorning the sides of the chariot, which sparkled brightly under the pure and bright sunlight.
The carriage stopped and Tao Ti, who was dressed in a gorgeous dress, got out with the help of two palace maids.
When she first sat in the car, she was still a little nervous, but when her feet stepped steadily on the soft lichen, her heart inexplicably calmed down. She even thought distractedly that it was a good thing that she was crowned queen in February. If it were summer, she would have been suffocated by the gorgeous phoenix robe with three layers inside and three layers outside.
After complaining in her heart, she raised her head and saw a man in a scarlet dress with a golden dragon pattern sitting on the high white jade steps. His charming peach blossom eyes were smiling, looking straight at her affectionately and intently.
Her heart was pounding.
Pei Yan said that the wedding in the East Palace did not count, and this ceremony of coronation was their real wedding.
When he said this, he was serious and solemn, staring straight into her eyes, as if he could see through her body and into the depths of her soul.
At that moment, she felt her soul burning.
The sound of ceremonial music continued as the ceremonial officer held the imperial edict and read out the inscription for the queen's coronation in a strident voice.
As for what was being recited, Tao Ti did not hear a single word. She focused on meeting Pei Yan's gaze and stepped onto the white jade steps one step at a time, with her skirt embroidered with a phoenix and the rising sun lingering behind her.
When she stepped onto the last step, Pei Yan extended his hand to her with a gentle smile on his thin lips.
Tao Ti also smiled at him, walked forward confidently and put her hand in his palm.
He held her hand tightly and led her to face the audience.
At the same time, the ceremony ended, and a loud and orderly cheer rang out from the audience:
"Long live the emperor, long live the queen!"
Tao Ti looked at the people kneeling in unison below the stage. This strong sense of ceremony was shocking and unforgettable. She felt as if the blood in her body was boiling and her heart seemed to be in the clouds.
She glanced sideways, and unexpectedly met the man's gaze.
Unlike her shock, his handsome face showed a hint of surprise, which surprised Tao Ti.
He squeezed her hand tightly and said with his thin lips, "I'll ask them to change it later. If I live forever, you should be like me."
Tao Ti was startled. She obviously didn't expect him to be upset about such a small matter. She couldn't help laughing and said, "It's just a slogan. It's no big deal."
Pei Yan insisted, his dark eyes blazing, and said in a deep voice, "No, I want the same one."
Long live him, a thousand years for her, what nonsense is this.
Without her by his side, the extra nine thousand years would be nothing but a long and unbearable torture for him.
He was of course aware that human life span was no more than a hundred years, but he became superstitious when it came to her. Even though he knew it was just a common phrase used in an audience, he still insisted.
Tao Ti chuckled and pinched his fingers as a comfort.
But when she lowered her eyes, the smile in her eyes faded, and a hint of sadness flashed across them.
After everyone finished kneeling and worshipping, they stood up and saw the emperor and empress on the platform, holding hands tightly, looking very intimate.
The emperor, who was usually cold and stern, was gentle and extremely gentle in front of the empress. He was completely different from the decisive and ruthless emperor in the court.
The ceremony went on in an orderly manner. Even though Pei Yan Gu and Tao Ti were pregnant, they asked the Ministry of Rites to simplify the process again and again for fear that she would be tired, and the ceremony was still complicated.
After the ceremony of crowning the queen ended, there was another palace banquet.
When the lively palace banquet ended, the bright moon was already hanging high in the tree branches.
On the way back, the women couldn't help but sigh--
"Your Majesty really dotes on the Empress to the core. At the palace banquet, he served her food, water, and handkerchiefs. This thoughtfulness is really enviable!"
"Who said it wasn't? I saw the Empress seemed to be choked by the water, and His Majesty's expression changed instantly. Tsk tsk, she was so nervous."
"I heard that the Queen's belly is only one month old, and we don't know if it's a prince or a princess. If it's a boy, it will be a great joy."
"Whether it's a prince or a princess, this is your Majesty's first child, and it's born to the Queen, so the meaning is definitely different."
"That's true. But then again, your majesty only has one queen in the harem, and now the queen is pregnant again. She won't be able to serve your majesty for at least a year... So, does your majesty have to choose a beauty?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the ladies who had daughters of marriageable age became interested.
The new emperor is handsome and graceful, like a god, making people feel awed and attracted. Moreover, such an excellent man is so considerate and caring, it is hard not to be moved.
Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, there are so many vacant positions in the harem, and the empress is pregnant. Isn't this a good time to fill the harem?
Not only the women in the family were concerned about this matter, but the court officials were also concerned about it.
On a spring day in March when the ice and snow melted and everything came back to life, the ministers wrote to the emperor in unison, requesting him to select beauties to fill his harem.
The emperor stroked the delicate dragon pattern on the armrest, looked down upon the courtiers coldly, and refused with an expressionless face.
As for the reason, it was only said that the empress was pregnant, and the new concubine's entry into the palace caused chaos and disturbed the empress's pregnancy.
He also advised the officials that being pregnant is already hard for a woman, and if a husband is not considerate and instead takes a concubine for pleasure, wouldn't that be disappointing to his wife?
These words left all the ministers speechless and ashamed.
But there were still a few who were unwilling to give up and still advised against the selection. The emperor did not say much, but instead picked out a troublemaker, found a fault, and directly demoted him from office and expelled him from Chang'an.
This move of killing the chicken to scare the monkey had a significant effect. Those who knew the current situation kept their mouths shut, while those who didn't... rolled up their covers and scattered around the world in shame.
Outside the palace, the noble ladies in Chang'an complained that the empress was jealous, that they could not serve His Majesty, and that they did not persuade the emperor to take a concubine, and that they were not virtuous at all. But privately, they were envious and jealous, and thought that the empress was the most fortunate woman in the world.
No matter what, no one dared to mention the show selection for a while.
——
Spring goes and autumn comes, and in the blink of an eye it is August. The weather is clear and the sweet osmanthus is fragrant.
On the third day of August in the first year of Yongning, a very grand wedding was held in Chang'an City - Princess Qingping, the legitimate daughter of Duke Xie of Longxi, and Xu Guangji, the legitimate youngest son of Marquis Dingbei, became a couple.
That day, brocade banners were flying and the place was filled with red makeup.
Duke Xie and Princess Jingyang came in person to see the bride off, while Marquis Dingbei and his wife came to greet her at the door in person. Both families treated this marriage with complete sincerity.
As for how lively that day was, Taoti was not able to see it with her own eyes.
Her belly was more than eight months old and was bulging. Doctor Yu said that she was pregnant with twins. Everyone in the palace was very cautious. Pei Yan wanted to be with her all the time and would not let her go out of the palace to join in the fun.
Although they could not be present in person, Tao Ti and Pei Yan prepared a generous gift and sent it to the Dingbei Marquis Mansion.
The honor of this gift from the Emperor and Empress added icing on the cake to the wedding.
Early the next morning, Qinghe and Xu Guangji went to the palace together to thank her.
Seeing Qing He wearing a hibiscus-colored long dress and her hair tied up like a woman, with affectionate eyes and a rosy face, looking happy and sweet, Tao Ti couldn't help but feel happy for her, "It seems that Brother Xu Qi treats you very well."
Qing He's pink face turned red with embarrassment, and she lowered her head and said, "Well, he...he is very good."
After that, she looked at Tao Ti's round belly, her eyes full of curiosity and envy, "Cousin, you're going to give birth soon, right?"
Tao Ti touched her belly and smiled, "Yes, Your Majesty and I are counting the days until the baby is unloaded."
"I heard that the emperor comes to your place every day after court, and even leaves memorials in your palace for review."
"The bigger my belly gets, the more nervous he gets." Tao Ti laughed. Sometimes she even worried that Pei Yan was suffering from prenatal anxiety.
"You and your brother the Emperor are both so good-looking, your baby will surely be very beautiful too. When they are born, I will make a pair of pure gold bracelets for each of them."
"Then I would like to thank you as their aunt first."
The two chatted happily for the whole morning, and then Qinghe left the palace with Xu Guangji.
A few days later, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15th.
A palace banquet was held in the palace, and Tao Ti also met Duke Xie, whose name she had heard of for a long time.
Duke Xie was tall, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. Judging from their appearance, Qinghe and Young Master Xie looked more like Princess Jingyang. But in terms of personality, Young Master Xie looked more like Duke Xie.
I heard that when Princess Jingyang was young, she was not willing to marry Duke Xie. Now the couple treat each other with respect and love, which shows the importance of managing a marriage well.
In the blink of an eye, more than a month passed. On the evening of the first day of October, Tao Ti was eating spicy pickled fish, and Pei Yan was beside her, carefully picking out fish bones for her.
Suddenly, Tao Ti put down her chopsticks and let out a "ouch".
Pei Yan's eyebrows jumped, "What's wrong?"
Tao Ti frowned, "My stomach hurts a little, it's the kind of pain that contracts... Your Majesty, is this the beginning of the birth?"
Since Tao Ti became pregnant, Pei Yan has read the books about women's childbirth in the library over and over again. After hearing her description, he immediately perked up and supported her, "It should be. Don't be nervous, I will arrange everything."
In conclusion, he calmly commanded the palace maids in Weiyang Palace.
The four midwives had settled down in the back hall of Weiyang Palace long ago. When they heard the news of the empress's move, they dropped their bowls and hurried to the front hall. Linglong also sent a young eunuch to the Imperial Hospital to ask for a doctor. For a while, some were boiling water, some were preparing ginseng soup, everything was in order, busy and orderly.
Pei Yan stayed by the bed, holding Tao Ti's hand tightly, and comforted her gently, "Don't be afraid, I'm here with you."
Tao Ti bit her lip, pressed one hand on her stomach, frowned and said, "It hurts."
Pei Yan frowned when he heard this and put his hand to her mouth. "If it hurts, don't bite your lips. Bite me."
Tao Ti shook her head, "I can't let you feel pain for nothing."
The midwife carefully examined Tao Ti and said with courage, "Your Majesty, the queen is about to give birth. Why don't you go out and wait?"
How can a woman give birth to a child while a man is standing by? What's more, he is the emperor and should avoid such things.
Pei Yan said calmly, "You guys can deliver the baby, it won't be a problem for me to accompany her."
The midwife choked and turned to look at Tao Ti expectantly, "Empress, look at this?"
Tao Ti looked at Pei Yan, "Your Majesty, please go out. It won't look good when you give birth..."
Pei Yan wiped the sweat off her forehead with a handkerchief and said softly, "You look good no matter what."
"Well, I don't want you to see me like this. Your Majesty, please go out. It's the same if you stay with me outside?"
Seeing that she insisted, Pei Yan was afraid of upsetting her, so he gave up, "Then I'll be outside the palace. If you get scared, call me and I'll come to accompany you right away."
Taoti nodded, "Okay."
Pei Yan got up and left. The midwife also breathed a sigh of relief and said to Tao Ti with a smile, "Your Majesty values ​​you so much. God bless you, you will definitely have a smooth delivery."
Tao Ti forced a smile with great difficulty, touched her belly, and thought to herself: My babies, my babies, please be good and come out quickly, so that your mother will feel less pain.