Chapter 94, first published on Jinjiang Literature City 094 "The Khan has heard of the great undertaking of bestowing titles upon the people..."
On the day of Laba Festival, Xu Zhong announced that Ruan Yu had fully recovered.
After being confined to her quarters for over a month, the eldest princess was finally able to go out for some fresh air.
The snow has stopped, and the sun is shining brightly.
Qingguo got up early to sweep the snow, and the small courtyard gradually gained some New Year's atmosphere.
Xuan Niang then brought over new clothes. "Princess, these clothes were sent from the palace and were newly made to your size. It's almost the New Year, so wearing them will add to the festive atmosphere."
Ruan Yu glanced at it, smiled, and said, "Okay, keep it. I don't want to change it for now, and I'm not going out."
"Eh." They all knew Ruan Yu's personality; even though the girl had become a princess, her clothing and daily expenses were not extravagant.
However, since she recovered, she has received some sporadic messages.
Among them was Princess Warren.
The new emperor ascended the throne and changed the country's name to Qiankun.
Now it is the first year of the Great Qian Dynasty. After Emperor Qian Yuan ascended the throne, he did not purge all his relatives. For useless people like Prince Rong who surrendered immediately, as well as some relatives who had some sense, Prince Chen left them a way out.
However, real power is no longer possible, and their status has been greatly weakened.
Simply put, you have to be subservient to others to make a living.
Ruan Yu had quite a history with this Princess Hua Lun, no wonder she rushed to pay her respects as soon as she recovered.
Qingguo snorted: "The princess was previously given that damn title of princess, and she had quite a relationship with her. She benefited from it, but she still mocked you and gave you the cold shoulder a lot! Now she's come running over again. She really changes her tune faster than flipping through a book!"
Xuan Niang gave Qing Guo a look, signaling her not to talk nonsense. Qing Guo understood, but she really couldn't hold back her anger, so she muttered a few words.
Ruan Yu didn't seem to mind much: "People strive for higher positions and water flows downhill. I think highly of Hua Lun for being willing to lower herself to come to me at this time. It's better than some people who are awkward and don't dare to come. Please go to the front hall."
Xuan Niang: "Princess, you've just recovered, so let's go back and see each other again in a few days."
"No need, I'm fine now. Besides, I'm quite curious about why she's in such a hurry to see me. My father and brother have just ascended the throne, and sometimes the information they hear isn't complete. If I can hear some different perspectives, it might be useful. Go and invite her."
Qingguo and Xuanniang exchanged a glance. "Yes."
Ruan Yu is still living in the Chen Prince's Mansion. The Chen Prince gave his daughter the best small villa. To get to the reception hall from the side gate, one has to walk through a huge corridor. When Hua Lun arrived, Qing Guo went to meet him and was startled when she saw him.
This...this is Princess Warren?!
The woman in front of me had bruises under her eyes and an injury on her neck.
The maids glanced at it once, then lowered their heads, no longer daring to look directly at it, but they all began to have doubts.
Who dares to lay a hand on Warren?
Even though her status is not as high as before, Prince Rong still holds the title of prince, and she still holds the title of princess.
When Ruan Yu arrived at the reception room, she was surprised to see who it was.
When Warren saw her, he immediately knelt down before Ruan Yu.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Eldest Princess."
Ruan Yu was stunned for a moment before she came to her senses, her expression complicated: "I have not yet been officially appointed, you do not need to perform such a grand ceremony. Get up."
Warren slowly stood up, his eyes reddening: "Although the title of Princess has not yet been conferred, it is only a matter of time. Your Highness is worthy of it."
Ruan Yu didn't want to waste time and asked directly, "Speak, what do you want with me?"
She slowly sat down, while Warren remained standing.
Warren, his eyes red, composed himself: "I was disrespectful to Your Highness in the past because I was too tactless and arrogant. Now I have been punished. I hope Your Highness will not take the past to heart. From now on, I will definitely keep a low profile and never dare to be like before."
Princess Hua Lun used to be incredibly powerful and influential in Chang'an. Not to mention Ruan Yu, a mere concubine's daughter from a minor marquis's family, even a more noble legitimate daughter would be slapped by Hua Lun on the spot.
Ruan Yu was genuinely surprised that someone with such a personality would actually be willing to lower himself and say such things to her.
One can't help but wonder what Warren went through.
“The Rong Prince’s Mansion is still here, and you still hold your position as a princess. Although you are a bit arrogant, you are willing to replenish the national treasury. My father and brother are not the kind of people who would kill someone outright. Now that there is no reckoning, there is no way we will bring up old grievances later. Why are you so worried? Or do you think I would be petty and leave you no way out?” Although Ruan Yu was curious, she could not forget all the things Hua Lun had done to her in the past just because of a few words from Hua Lun, so she spoke quite directly.
Warren was shocked!
"No, of course not! Your Highness, let me tell you the truth... You see."
Warren slowly pulled up his arm, revealing bruises all over it, a truly shocking sight.
Everyone gasped.
"I'm like this...because of the prince consort..."
Ruan Yu frowned: "You mean Liao Jun?"
"right……"
After Ruan Yu's marriage was arranged, Prince Rong immediately arranged a marriage for Hua Lun with Liao Jun, the third-ranked scholar of that year. Liao Jun had captivated many noble ladies at the Qionglin Banquet. If the princess hadn't already had a husband, perhaps...
The old emperor also favored Warren at the time, so he gave her to him.
"Liao Jun looks very respectable, why would he hit you?"
Warren wept: "He never used to do that, but ever since we started the rebellion, he's changed. He's constantly beating and scolding me. Now that my father has lost power, he feels he can bully me even more..."
They're all waiting to see me make a fool of myself. I've come today... hoping the Princess will show me some respect in the future, otherwise my life... will truly be unbearable.
Ruan Yu understood.
In Chang'an, it's common to fawn over the powerful and belittle the weak. Now that she's in power, Hua Lun has been reduced to the dust. There are probably quite a few people waiting to see Hua Lun make a fool of himself.
Ruan Yu smiled and said, "They're laughing at you, but aren't they also hoping to laugh at me and get revenge on you? What, do you think I'm some kind of monkey performing magic tricks? Do you have to do what they want?"
Warren's eyes lit up, and he looked at her nervously.
“Go back. I have no interest in revenge, but I won’t repay evil with kindness either. As long as you behave yourself and don’t cause trouble in the future, I’m not completely intolerant.”
Warren was overjoyed.
"Thank you, Princess... Your Highness's magnanimity... is indeed beyond my reach... I heard that the Princess has just recovered. I am sorry to have troubled you so much today. Please accept these tonics... I will take my leave now."
Ruan Yu gave a casual reply.
She didn't say or give anything, but Warren left as if he had received a treasure.
After everyone left, Qingguo sighed.
"Look at her, she's gone from a peacock to a quail. What on earth did Liao Jun do to her?"
Ruan Yu pondered for a moment: "This Liao Jun, he has betrayed my brother, right?"
"That's right, he's currently working in the Ministry of Works. He holds a pretty high position."
“But judging from what Warren said, he is also a two-faced villain. I will tell my father this news and tell him to be careful. Such people are the most ruthless.”
Qingguo suddenly realized: "This servant understands. Then these things..."
The supplements Warren gave us were actually just the most ordinary things; Qingguo wouldn't even look at them...
Ruan Yu looked out the window and said calmly, "Keep it. Everyone knows I accepted her gift, so it's a favor to her."
Xuan Niang and Qing Guo exchanged a glance and both understood.
Qingguo took the things to the storeroom, and Xuanniang stepped forward to put a cloak on Ruanyu. Ruanyu was stunned for a moment and glanced down at it.
It belongs to that snow wolf.
"The princess is now acting with great discretion," Xuan Niang said softly.
Ruan Yu smiled and said, "Perhaps it's just from training."
Xuan Niang lowered her eyes, but still couldn't help telling her some news—
"I've heard that there are now several shops in Chang'an that do fur business with the grasslands, and they've made a lot of money this winter..."
Ruan Yu's eyes lit up.
I want to ask something, but I don't know how to start.
For more than two months, she had not received any news from Chaolu.
I didn't even get to see him before I left.
She suddenly stood up and took off the snow wolf cloak: "I'm tired, let's go back and get some sleep."
Xuan Niang: "Eh..."
-
The eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month is the grand ceremony for the investiture of the eldest princess. Emperor Qianyuan bestowed upon her the title "Anhe" and held a grand investiture ceremony.
The Princess's Mansion is located in the best neighborhood in Chang'an, right next to the imperial city, and is expected to be completed in March.
Ruan Yu was to attend the investiture ceremony.
The entire city of Chang'an was curious about the princess who had been recuperating since her return, and at the same time, felt quite sorry for her.
Who could have imagined? Life is truly unpredictable.
Ruan Yu got up early in the morning and began to do her makeup.
Ruan Ziyan rushed in: "Sister! A lot of congratulatory gifts have been delivered from outside!"
Ever since Ruan Yu recovered and accepted Hua Lun's gift, the congratulatory gifts sent to the Chen Prince's Mansion have been nonstop.
However, Ruan Yu never read any of these afterwards.
"When I came back from martial arts practice, I heard that the Pei family sent my sister a lot of gifts, but why didn't she look at them?"
Speaking of the Pei family, Ruan Yu thought of the news she heard after waking up.
The Pei family of Hedong truly lived up to its reputation as a powerful clan; Pei Du's month-long stay on the grasslands, when he was practically under house arrest, was definitely worthwhile.
They quickly grasped the situation and found their new position.
Today, the Pei family not only remains as prestigious as ever, but has also quickly gained the favor of the new emperor.
Pei Du remained in the important position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
Ruan Yu smiled and said, "There are too many gifts. I can't take them all in, and I'm not interested. But you, did you wash up after practicing martial arts? You smell awful."
"Not yet, I'm coming right away! I practiced shooting today and wrestled with them a few times, that's why I'm so dirty."
"Wrestling? How old are you? Don't practice such barbaric things."
"Barbaric? They say it's very popular in Chang'an now, and many people from the grasslands have come!"
Ruan Yu was taken aback: "Chang'an City, many grassland people?"
"Yes! Quite a few have come in the last month or two. Now that the Protectorate General's Office and the Trade Market Supervision Bureau are well-established, there are quite a few merchants here!"
Ruan Yu tightened her grip on the comb: "I know, but don't try to imitate that. Right now, you need to grow tall and strong, so focus on exercising."
"Understood, elder sister!"
Ruan Yu smiled and continued to do her makeup. As the time approached, the ceremonial guards outside the door were all in place.
Cheers and applause filled the palace and the city of Chang'an.
Bright yellow dragon flags and crimson phoenix flags lined both sides, with twelve pairs of gilded palace lanterns hanging at the top of the procession. Six pure white horses pulled a carved and gilded chariot, its wheels rolling over the melted bluestone slabs, leaving two neat tracks, as the procession headed towards the imperial city.
Ruan Yu was dressed in a custom-made gown, with a crimson knee-length apron that reached her ankles, a jade belt inlaid with pearls tied around her waist, and a seven-tailed phoenix hairpin in her hair, the pearl strings swaying gently.
"Princess, we have arrived."
The master of ceremonies' voice came through the beaded curtain, carrying a solemn sense of ceremony.
Ruan Yu took a deep breath and, with the help of two eunuchs, stepped down from the imperial carriage.
The main gate of the imperial city, Chengtian Gate, was already open. The new emperor, Emperor Qianyuan, and Prince Chen stood on the high platform inside the gate. Civil and military officials were arranged on both sides according to their rank, while the princes of the imperial clan stood on the east side. Although Prince Rong and others were among them, they deliberately hunched their shoulders and dared not make eye contact with the eldest princess in the ceremonial procession.
When Ruan Yu reached the top, Emperor Qian Yuan smiled at her.
Ruan Yu performed a grand salute.
Emperor Qianyuan personally stepped forward to help him up, and then the chief eunuch, holding a bright yellow imperial edict, loudly proclaimed the decree—
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: You, Chen Ruanyu, are gentle and virtuous, intelligent and quick-witted. In the past, when the dynasty changed, you were respectful and diligent. Now you are hereby conferred the title of Princess, with the name 'Anhe'. You are granted a golden book and a golden seal, a fief of three thousand households, and permission is granted to build a Princess's residence. This is the imperial decree!"
Ruan Yu has not changed her name, but she has taken on the surname Chen. The Zhenbei Marquis's mansion is now a thing of the past, and she has let it go and doesn't care about these trivial matters.
Chen Wang smiled gently at his daughter.
Ruan Yu knelt down, raised her hands above her head, and accepted the golden book and golden seal personally handed over by Emperor Qian Yuan. The golden book was made of pure gold, with her title and fiefdom engraved on it in seal script, and it was cool to the touch. The golden seal was engraved with the six characters "Treasure of Princess Anhe", and the seal knob was in the shape of a phoenix, exquisite and luxurious.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace. May Your Majesty enjoy good health and may your empire be forever secure."
"No need for such formalities, Imperial Sister." Emperor Qianyuan's gaze was also full of affection and tenderness.
After the investiture ceremony, the next step was to pay homage and present gifts.
Civil and military officials stepped forward in order. The Minister of Revenue presented the household registers symbolizing the fiefdoms, while the Ministry of Rites presented custom-made ceremonial guards and robes. Each item was announced aloud by an eunuch and displayed to the crowd.
The gifts presented by the princes of the imperial family were mostly precious treasures and antiques. Although the white jade Guanyin statue presented by Prince Rong was exquisitely carved, it seemed somewhat awkward in the eyes of everyone. He put down the gift and hurriedly returned to the queue.
Ruan Yu's expression remained largely unchanged until—
Suddenly, an unusual noise came from outside Chengtian Gate—not the music of the Central Plains, but a bugle call with a desolate feel of the grasslands, deep and long, instantly silencing the noise in the square.
Ruan Yu's eyes narrowed sharply, and everyone turned to look.
A group of grassland people dressed in animal skin robes and wearing curved knives walked in slowly. The leader was an old man of about fifty years old, wearing a fox fur hat and a silver belt hook inlaid with turquoise hanging from his waist. Behind him were four servants, each carrying a tray covered with a red cloth.
Ruan Yu recognized this person.
Envoy holding the imperial staff.
He's here, so...
"Upon hearing that Daqian had conferred the title of Princess, the Khan of the Chaha tribe specially ordered his subordinates to come and present gifts!"
His voice was loud and clear, and everyone heard him.
At the same time, it felt incredible.
It's only December now, and it's been at least a month since they came from Chaha. They actually presented their congratulatory gifts on time. So, were these people on the road all winter?
Ruan Yu's eyes were a little unsteady, and she realized that the people from Chaha had appeared here at this moment, almost at the same time as her.
Emperor Qianyuan was also quite surprised: "Your news travels very fast... and your speed is impressive too..."
The old man didn't respond, but continued to shout loudly, "May Princess Anhe enjoy a long and healthy life, and may the friendship between the grasslands and Daqian be as enduring and stable as this gift!"
After saying that, he began to present the gifts—
Nine white horses and nine white camels, all with pure white coats.
White is considered sacred in grasslands, and the "Nine Whites Grand Gift" is the highest honor.
Then came ten boxes of fox fur, mink fur, sheepskin, and other items, along with a considerable number of bear bones and wolf teeth.
Finally, there were also agate and jade, all delivered in boxes.
One minister couldn't help but mutter, "Even when the Chahar people paid homage to the emperor in the past, it wasn't always like this..."
Ruan Yu's fingers tightened slightly as she held the golden book, her fingertips turning white.
Emperor Qianyuan pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "The Chaha tribe is very kind. The envoy has come from afar and must be tired. After the ceremony, you can go to the post station to rest."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Your Highness, it's time to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pay respects to our ancestors."
Ruan Yu came back to her senses, concealing the emotions in her eyes. Sunlight shone through the clouds, falling on her phoenix crown and beaded necklace, refracting into tiny sparkles. But within that light, there seemed to be a trace of melancholy that no one noticed.
The wind from the grasslands seems to have reached Chang'an, but the person who brought the wind is still far away on the horizon.
-----------------------
Author's note: The next chapter will be here.
[Laughing and crying while covering face]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
