A red curtain was hung over the Qianqing Gate, officially marking the end of Kangxi's funeral.
Minister of Rites Sun Jiacheng formally petitioned the Fourth Prince that everything was ready and that he could proceed with the coronation ceremony.
On this day, the entire Forbidden City was transformed, with red silk ribbons hanging everywhere, signifying the arrival of a new ruler.
Inside Changchun Palace, several maids, including Baoqin and Yuxiao, stood to Lanqin's left and right, while Xichun, Nianxia, Lianqiu, and Fodong stood on either side. They had all changed into palace attire and officially become first-class palace maids serving Lanqin. The dozen or so people sent by the Imperial Household Department were naturally subordinate to them. As for Cui Niang, she had not entered the palace. Now that Li Wei had become an official, Lanqin had persuaded her to be a good wife to Li Wei. As for Cui Da and Cui Er, the Fourth Prince had originally intended to promote them, but they had helped Lanqin manage the shops and had become accustomed to a relaxed life, so they refused to enter the palace. The Fourth Prince did not force them and let them continue to work for Lanqin's shops outside.
"Today is the Emperor's coronation ceremony. Baoqin, go to the side hall and see if the incense burner in front of the Bodhisattva has been set up. I will go and pray in a little while." Lanqin was also wearing a new silver-red dress, with a gilded gemstone headdress that she rarely wore.
“Everything is ready, please rest assured, Consort!” Baoqin said.
"Yuxiao, go and check on Wuxiha and Bechuk. Tell them to stay in their rooms today and not go anywhere. Today is their father's coronation ceremony. From today onwards, they are legitimate princesses of the Great Qing Dynasty," Lanqin added.
After saying this, Lanqin inwardly mocked herself. When did she become like a woman in the deep palace, needing to pray to Guanyin Bodhisattva? Yet, at this moment, she still couldn't help but do these things. Unconsciously, Lanqin had gradually become an ancient person.
Just past Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the entire Forbidden City began to resound with the loud tolling of bells, echoing throughout the inner palace. This was part of the emperor's enthronement ceremony: the ringing of bells and drums at the Meridian Gate.
The masters of each palace stood under the corridor in front of their main hall, looking out. Lanqin also held Yuxiao's hand and looked at the clear sky.
On this day, the Fourth Prince finally ascended the throne.
Lanqin silently recited this sentence in her heart, but then she thought of the historical Emperor Yongzheng, who died in the thirteenth year of his reign! This thought flashed through her mind like a thunderbolt, and Lanqin couldn't help but feel a deep sadness!
"Consort, what's wrong?" Baoqin asked with concern when she saw that Lanqin's expression was off.
"It's nothing, let's go, help me to the side hall!" Lanqin naturally couldn't tell the two maids beside her what was on her mind.
Lanqin had asked Baoqin to place a statue of Guanyin in the side hall because she foresaw that the Fourth Prince would suddenly pass away in thirteen years. She didn't know how to prevent the Fourth Prince from dying so young, but it seemed that everything was moving forward according to the wheels of history.
Lanqin was still afraid. What would happen to her if the Fourth Prince really died in the thirteenth year of Yongzheng's reign?
Therefore, Lanqin could only pray to Guanyin Bodhisattva, praying that she could prevent the Fourth Prince from dying so young, and praying that history could be changed even a little bit.
Surrounded by his ministers, the Fourth Prince exited through the Taihe Gate. The sound of whips cracking echoed throughout the palace. Upon returning to the Yangxin Hall, civil and military officials followed the imperial edict out through the Zhaode Gate and Zhendu Gate on either side of the Taihe Gate, placing the edict in the Dragon Pavilion before carrying it to the Tiananmen Gate for promulgation.
The Fourth Prince returned to the Duan Ning Palace and changed back into mourning clothes. The Grand Secretaries and others returned the "Emperor's Seal," which was stored in the Imperial Palace. The enthronement ceremony was officially completed.
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