Chapter 142 Ascension
After the twenty-seven-day mourning period ended, the day of the emperor's funeral finally arrived.
At three quarters past midnight, candles were lit in the Taiji Palace.
The emperor's coffin was placed on a treasure bed, and the gold-painted nanmu coffin was covered with black satin.
It is surrounded by ritual objects such as jade gui and jade bi.
The Crown Prince led all the civil and military officials in kneeling before the coffin. During the three kneelings and nine kowtows, the sounds of mourning music and chanting of scriptures were heard.
The palace maids and eunuchs held incense burners, candlesticks, vases and other items to add incense in turn.
A monk was specially invited into the palace to ring the bell and recite the "Nirvana Mantra".
Amidst the curling green smoke, the palace lanterns cast mottled light and shadows on the glazed tiles, heavy and solemn.
The Imperial Astronomical Observatory chose an auspicious time, and the coffin was carried out by 72 pallbearers.
When passing by the Taihe Hall Square, the people knelt down in worship, and the shouts of "Long live" shook the palace walls.
On the 18th of the same month.
Crown Prince Yan Shixu held a grand coronation ceremony.
The new emperor led the clan members to the Taimiao at midnight to kneel and worship, and comforted the ancestors with the ceremony of Tailao.
The sound of bronze chimes rang out, interweaving with the music and dance of "Da Wu", and the incense smoke reached the sky.
Nine layers of vermilion carpet were laid in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and a crown with twelve tassels was placed on a nanmu table with golden silk.
The jade sceptre, jade bi disk, and pictures of mountains, rivers, and the state are placed on both sides, symbolizing the will of heaven, the virtue of the earth, and the harmony of people.
Minister of Rites Ge Yongtai ascended the hall holding the "Secretary of State" in both hands, and recited the "Enthronement Edict" aloud as he walked.
Although he is old, his voice is as loud as a bell.
All officials bowed their heads, and the people knelt outside the red steps to listen.
The cry of "Long live" shook the imperial court.
Yan Shixu walked slowly from Longzong Gate to the throne.
The nine-dragon golden crown with tassels covers the face, and the black dragon robe is embroidered with twelve chapter patterns.
Every time he climbed a jade step, a bell rang out loudly to the sky, ringing nine times simultaneously, symbolizing the "highest authority".
As he slowly sat down on the dragon throne, green smoke suddenly rose from the incense burner, echoing the "movement of the Purple Star" observed by the Imperial Astronomical Observatory last night.
Yan Shixu glanced at everyone and felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.
From now on.
He will support this country.
The dragon robe he wears carries the destiny of the Dayan Dynasty and is also the chain that binds the fate of tens of millions of people.
Civil and military officials all knelt and kowtowed in tribute.
"Long live the emperor."
Yan Shixu glanced at everyone and slowly raised his head.
"My dear ministers, please stand."
…
Wen Li'er was talking to the Empress Dowager in the Cining Palace at this time.
She listened to the sound of drums and music outside, and the Queen Mother, who was lying on the same bed with her, laughed.
"Empress Dowager, it would be great if you were awake right now."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince... Oh no, the Emperor certainly hopes that you can witness his coronation ceremony in person."
"Are you really not going to wake up? It's so lively outside. I actually wanted to sneak a peek, but I didn't dare."
"If you get caught, you'll be punished. Oh... what a pity."
"Empress Dowager, what do you think... His Majesty ascends the throne today? Should I give him a gift to express my congratulations?"
"But all the valuables I have are what I acquired after entering the palace. Your Highness has everything he needs, and I'm really troubled."
"How about I dig out two jars of the locust flower wine buried under the jujube tree and send them over?"
"This Sophora japonica wine was brewed by me this year. Your Majesty has already finished the one brewed last year."
"I was worried he wouldn't have enough to drink, so I brewed a few extra jars this year."
"Your Highness, would you like some wine? Would you please wake up soon so I can give you two jars?"
After saying that, Wen Li'er shook her head to herself.
"No, no, the old man should drink less."
"I'm telling you something in secret. My grandmother loved drinking and often drank secretly without telling my uncles."
"My grandmother opened a tavern in town, and it's doing very well."
"She brewed all those wines herself, including locust flower wine, plum flower wine, osmanthus flower wine, apricot flower wine, etc. She would brew any wine that had flowers in it."
"In the past, she liked to secretly send wine to my father. Because my father was the poorest family in town."
"My father wanted to study, but our family was poor, we didn't have enough to eat, and we couldn't afford charcoal. In the winter, we relied on the wine my grandmother gave us to keep warm."
"So, after my father became an official, he treated my grandmother very well and even wanted to bring her to the capital to enjoy a good life."
"But my grandmother wouldn't allow it. I'll teach you her exact words."
Wen Li'er cleared her throat and began to imitate on her own.
"Oh my... I have three sons anyway. How can I go and live with my daughter and son-in-law? I'm just going to get stabbed in the back!"
After Wen Li'er finished learning, she started laughing to herself again.
"My grandmother was so proud of having a son-in-law who was an official. Every time she chatted with her older sisters, she would brag about her ability to discern talent."
"Oh... why am I rambling on about all this again? Empress Dowager, are you tired of hearing all this?"
"Why don't you wake up and go outside to get some sunshine?"
"Today, the sun is shining brightly outside. The warm yellow light shines on the bluestone slabs. It's so beautiful that it's hard to describe."
"It's a pity you can't see it from your bed."
"But I can draw it for you. You can see it when you wake up."
"I have always thought that my painting skills are quite good. My brothers all praised my paintings for their unique characteristics."
"But His Highness disliked the ugly appearance of my paintings, so he specially arranged for Madam Xu to teach me."
"I was initially unconvinced, but after seeing the painting Your Highness created, I realized that what I painted was truly ugly!"
"But now, my painting skills have improved a lot. How about I draw two pictures for you?"
Wen Li'er kept chattering until her throat was about to smoke.
She felt that if she kept talking like this every day, the empress dowager would definitely be annoyed and wake up, right?
But... no.
She frowned, wondering if this trick might not work.
Wen Li'er's mind was full of thoughts, wondering if there were any other good ideas.
Therefore, she didn't even notice that the old figure lying on the bed had slowly opened his eyes.
"Okay..." said the Queen Mother.
Wen Li'er replied subconsciously.
"Your Majesty the Queen, since you wish to see it, I will go and draw that scene..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Wen Li'er suddenly looked up.
Eyes meeting...
The air was silent for a few moments.
Wen Li'er took a long time to react, then rubbed her eyes in disbelief, worried that she was hallucinating.
When she opened her eyes again, she let out a roar of surprise.
"Empress Dowager, you are finally awake!!!"
Her roar called in Nanny Zhong and others.
The Queen had just finished her meal in the side hall when she heard Wen Li'er's roar. She paused for a moment and then ran towards the Queen Mother's bedroom.
This was the first time that the usually cold and dignified Empress lost control like this.
As she ran, tears fell from her eyes.
When she ran to the Queen Mother's bedside and saw that she had really woken up, she was already in tears.
"aunt……"
She murmured, and for a moment she wondered if she was dreaming.
The Queen Mother looked up at her and sighed weakly.
"I'm not dead, why are you crying?"
"Aunt, I...I'm just too happy and can't help it."
She lay on the Queen Mother, unable to stop crying.
The Queen Mother raised her old hand and gently stroked her head, her cloudy eyes filled with tears.
Wen Li'er consciously retreated to the side hall, leaving the space to the aunt and nephew.
Then he arranged Qingzhu to inform Eunuch Yongtai about this matter.
…
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