Chapter 39 Entering the sect
Early that morning, Madam Wei and Song Ge, along with the servants from the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion, waited at the main gate for the imperial concubine to arrive.
After the old marquis passed away, the Jing'an Marquisate had become deserted, with few guests visiting except during festivals. Today, in preparation for the imperial concubine's arrival, the residence had gone to great lengths to decorate, and Madam Wei had also donned her extravagant, brightly colored attire, a rare sight.
Unlike Song Ge's calm and composed demeanor, Madam Wei looked a bit haggard, clearly having been anxious and sleep deprived the previous night. Everyone waited eagerly at the door until they finally saw a gleaming carriage appear before them, slowly stopping at the entrance.
"Greetings to the Imperial Concubine!"
Madam Wei had just bent down when she heard a gentle female voice from inside the carriage: "Everyone, please stand up. From now on, we are family. No need for formalities."
The Imperial Concubine's gentle attitude somewhat reassured Madam Wei. She had heard before that His Majesty was very doting on the Imperial Concubine. Although Song Ge had personally assured her, she was still worried that the Imperial Concubine was too delicate and difficult to get along with.
She raised her head and saw a slender hand deftly lifting the door curtain. She was slightly startled because it didn't look like a woman's hand.
The next moment, a man in black stepped down from the phoenix carriage. Madam Wei had attended banquets at the palace many times when the old marquis was alive, so she naturally recognized him. Startled, she was about to kneel again to salute, but the man gently waved him away.
Why is His Majesty here? Madam Wei subconsciously looked at her son Song Ge, only to see that he too was surprised. He had not expected His Majesty to appear here.
Mrs. Wei had also had a time when she was deeply in love with her husband. She quickly realized that His Majesty was probably worried about the Imperial Concubine and came here specially to support her.
I never thought that His Majesty, such a tyrannical and cold person, could have such a deeply affectionate side.
Chen Dingyao stretched out a hand towards the carriage. This should have been done by a eunuch, but as an emperor he did not feel ashamed at all. Instead, he allowed people to look at him with ease.
Chan Zhen opened the door curtain and met his gentle gaze. In public, she couldn't help feeling a little shy. She pursed her lips and put a hand on him embarrassedly, using his strength to get off the carriage.
Chan Zhen noticed Madam Wei at first sight. She was wearing a purple dress, her hair was neatly combed, her eyebrows were slightly raised, and she looked very smart and sharp, but there was a warmth in her eyes, which did not make people feel unfamiliar.
"Mrs. Wei, my sworn brother." After all, it was the first time he met Mrs. Wei. Chan Zhen was not sure what she was thinking, so he did not rush forward to call her mother.
While she was greeting, Madam Wei also took the opportunity to look at the famous imperial concubine.
As Song Ge had said, she was a beauty unlike anything she had ever seen. Her gaze was gentle and amiable, without the usual arrogance of a favored concubine. Her lavish attire made her appear even more dazzling, making it impossible to look away. His Majesty's gaze never left the Imperial Concubine from beginning to end, a fact that made her teeth ache. She had never been so attached to him when she and her husband were first married. It truly opened her eyes.
Song Ge had long seen how much His Majesty valued the Imperial Concubine, and he immediately showed the most respectful attitude.
"Song Ge and the people from the Marquis of Jing'an's residence respectfully welcome His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine."
Chen Dingyao raised his hand and said, "I am here today just to accompany the Imperial Concubine. You don't have to be polite, Mr. Song."
Although His Majesty said so, Song Ge did not dare to make a big deal out of Qiao. He personally entertained His Majesty and the imperial concubine and walked to the ancestral hall in the backyard.
Along the way, Chan Zhen also gained a better understanding of the Jing'an Marquis's Mansion. Though the Jing'an Marquis' family was of noble descent, they were not fond of extravagance and ostentation. Their facilities emphasized natural simplicity, with every plant and tree left to grow naturally with only minor pruning, a truly open-minded experience.
Madam Wei is also a good housekeeper. Even when the current emperor and the imperial concubine came in person, the servants did not show any panic and behaved very politely and calmly.
When they reached a part of the garden, Chan Zhen saw some servants continuously planting flower seeds in the newly turned soil. He asked curiously, "What are they doing?"
Madam Wei smiled and replied, "I heard that the Imperial Concubine loved crabapple blossoms, so I had some transplanted here."
It's no secret that the Imperial Concubine loves crabapples. It's said that upon her arrival at the palace, His Majesty planted a vast sea of crabapples for her in Fengqi Palace. Previously, the nobles of Daliang valued peonies, but now, influenced by the Imperial Concubine, crabapples have also gradually become popular.
The Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion and the Imperial Concubine are now one in honor and disgrace, so she naturally wants to keep some distance from the Imperial Concubine. Not to say that they are as close as real mother and daughter, but at least she can't make the Imperial Concubine displeased.
"I'm so sorry to trouble you, Madam, to mobilize so many troops for me."
A warm feeling welled up in Chanzhen's heart. Even her biological mother had never been so attentive to her. The family His Majesty had chosen for her was very good.
Mrs. Wei felt a little relieved when she saw that the imperial concubine accepted her intention to make friends.
Chen Dingyao glanced at Mrs. Wei out of the corner of his eye, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly in satisfaction.
Everyone stopped at the ancestral hall. As the current people in charge of the Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion, Song Ge and Madam Wei naturally had to personally perform the ceremony of entering the clan for the imperial concubine.
Zen Zhen understood what he meant and nodded to His Majesty: "Your Majesty, I will leave now."
"I'll go with you." Chen Dingyao held her hand and smiled slightly amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd. "As Chan Zhen's husband, shouldn't I participate in this initiation ceremony with Chan Zhen?"
Before Chan Zhen could respond, Song Ge was the first to question, "Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven..."
"Song Qing," Chen Dingyao said calmly, "Today I am only Chan Zhen's husband. What's wrong with attending the ceremony with my wife?"
Song Ge looked at the imperial concubine for help.
Chan Zhen didn't want to spoil the emperor's fun, so he shook his head to Song Ge to indicate that he didn't need to worry.
Seeing that the two of them were determined, Song Ge stopped trying to stop them.
The ancestral hall is filled with tablets of successive Marquises of Jing'an. Sandalwood and green smoke fill the entire room. As soon as you step through the door, everyone's expressions become serious.
Chen Dingyao stood with his hands behind his back and looked at the tablet of the first Marquis of Jing'an at the top. This was the man who had conquered the country together with Taizu, and even he had to treat him with respect.
Chan Zhen took the lit incense stick from Song Ge and bowed three times respectfully towards the tablet.
My daughter is fortunate to become a relative of the Jing'an Marquis' Mansion. In the future, I will share the honor and disgrace with the Marquis' Mansion. I hope that all ancestors will be magnanimous and accept me.
Zen Zhen opened his eyes and inserted the incense stick into the altar. A wisp of green smoke rose slowly, and a breeze blew from somewhere, refreshing the ears and ears.
Song Ge took out the family tree and solemnly added the imperial concubine's name under the branch of Jing'an Marquis Mansion. Then, before offering sacrifices to the tablet, he sincerely lit three incense sticks.
In this way, the imperial concubine became the daughter of the Marquis of Jing'an and no longer had any connection with the Song family of Yuezhou.
Chan Zhen turned to Song Ge and called him "Brother." Then he looked at Madam Wei and hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Mother."
Seeing her nervous and expectant gaze, Madam Wei suddenly remembered that she had once conceived another child after giving birth to Yue Ming. However, her husband had just passed away at that time, and she was too busy with the funeral rites to carry the child. If that child had been born smoothly, it would be the same age as the imperial concubine by now.
Perhaps the Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion was destined to have such a relationship with the imperial concubine.
She finally let go of her worries and looked at the imperial concubine as if she saw the child she had lost.
"Your Highness, may I be so bold as to call you by your maiden name?"
Chan Zhen's eyes lit up and he said excitedly, "Of course you can."
Mrs. Wei has always been decisive in her dealings with people. Once she made up her mind to treat the imperial concubine as her own daughter, she did not hesitate.
"Zen Zhen."
Her eyes were so kind and warm, looking at him like a real mother, that Zenzhen could hardly hold back his tears.
So this is what it feels like to be cared for and loved by her mother. She unconsciously touched her chest, feeling that the part of her heart that had been missing since childhood was suddenly filled at this moment.
At this moment, she felt a warmth in her palm. She turned her head and saw that it was His Majesty holding her hand tightly and looking at her tenderly.
Her heart warmed, and she held His Majesty's hand.
It was His Majesty who made amends for her, rescued her from that dark home, and found such a good home for her. How could she have deserved such affection from His Majesty?
After the initiation ceremony, His Majesty seemed to have important matters to discuss with Song Ge, so Chan Zhen followed Madam Wei to her courtyard to cultivate their relationship.
Sitting in an unfamiliar place, Chan Zhen felt a little uneasy. Seeing this, Madam Wei poured her a cup of hot tea and handed it to her. Chan Zhen stood up, feeling somewhat flattered. She took the tea with both hands and thanked her softly, "Thank you, Madam... Mother."
Madam Wei smiled generously and comforted her, "Didn't Her Majesty say that we are family from now on? Since we are family, why should we be polite?"
Zen Zhen relaxed a little upon hearing this, "You can just call me Zen Zhen."
Mrs. Wei noticed her nervousness and started a conversation: "I heard that Chan Zhen originally grew up in Jiangnan. The customs in Jiangnan are very different from those in the capital. I wonder if you have been able to adapt since arriving in Beijing?"
"Thank you for your concern, mother." Chan Zhen lowered his eyes to look at the tea in his cup, the corners of his mouth slightly raised. "Your Majesty treats me very well. I have never felt uncomfortable."
Be it food, clothing, housing, transportation, or interpersonal relationships, His Majesty has made proper arrangements for her even in the most minute details. Even if Chan Zhen is pampered, she cannot complain at all.
Madam Wei had just witnessed firsthand how lovingly and lovingly His Majesty treated the Imperial Concubine. He truly held her in his palms, fearing she would melt away. She sighed inwardly, realizing how wonderful fate was.
His Majesty was so cold and heartless towards the concubines in the harem before. Even his first wife, Xiao, would never tolerate her if she touched his bottom line. Who could have expected that he would become such a devoted person after meeting the imperial concubine?
The same was true of the Jing'an Marquisate and the Imperial Concubine. There were far more nobles with the surname Song than just his own in the capital, yet His Majesty had chosen the Jing'an Marquisate. The Imperial Concubine's appearance and temperament were identical to the daughter she had longed for, and she was drawn to her in every way.
"That's good. If you encounter any grievances, you can tell me."
She had heard that at the Tianshou Festival banquet, Princess Yu had publicly disgraced the Imperial Concubine, and that the rumors attacking the Imperial Concubine were also closely linked to the virtuous concubine in the palace. Although His Majesty protected the Imperial Concubine, there was always competition in the harem, and even His Majesty was bound to make mistakes.
If the imperial concubine was her biological daughter and grew up in the Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion, she would never be willing to send her to the cannibalistic harem.
Zenzhen smiled at her and nodded, "I hope Mother doesn't find me annoying then."
Mrs. Wei couldn't help but laugh: "What mother would dislike her own daughter?"
Zen Zhen lowered his eyes to hide the complex emotions in his heart.
How could there not be one? Her biological mother despised her because she was a girl and could not allow her to marry into the Song family because of her status as a son.
On the other hand, the atmosphere between His Majesty and Song Ge was not as gentle and intimate as that between her and her son.
Chen Dingyao sat upright and looked at Song Ge intently.
"From now on, my throne will only be passed on to the prince born to the concubine. Do you know what to do?"
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