Chapter 158 The Grand Wedding of the Ming King
The Ministry of Rites quickly presented the imperial edict to the new emperor for selection. After reviewing it, Yan Cang chose "Chongwu".
A strong nation cannot exist without a strong military.
Prioritizing literature over military affairs will only make Yong a target for other countries; the weakness of the weak is an age-old truth.
Yan Cang led troops for several years and earned the title of God of War, so this imperial title was well-deserved.
The retired emperor abdicated, and the new emperor ascended the throne.
For the next few days, the new emperor presided over the morning court sessions, and the shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" from the civil and military officials sounded louder and more imposing than usual.
Whether out of fear of the war god prince's past achievements or not, the ministers are all demonstrating their loyalty through practical actions.
Even before the coronation ceremony was held, the atmosphere in the court had already been completely transformed, and the ministers were visibly much more diligent.
Of course, the presence of Prince Chen and Shen Jingbai in the court also put a tight rein on the ministers, making them dare not be lazy in their duties, let alone harbor any improper thoughts.
On the second day of the eighth lunar month, King Ming held his wedding.
Xue Ziying, who was originally scheduled to get married at the post station, had her wedding residence temporarily changed to the Prince of Yan's residence, which was considered a great honor—after all, it was the emperor's former residence.
On the night of the first day of the eighth lunar month, Xue Ziying stayed overnight at the Prince of Yan's residence.
She got up before dawn to dress and groom herself. The Empress Dowager handled all the arrangements. Chu Yunjin was only responsible for things behind the scenes and did not appear in front of Xue Ziying herself.
She is currently pregnant, and by rights she should not appear at the wedding, let alone directly face the newlyweds, especially since it involves a marriage alliance between two countries. As the empress, she must be careful in everything she does to prevent any mistakes from happening to the newlyweds.
She was only responsible for applying makeup to Xue Ziying.
The Prince of Huaibei and his wife, along with the Empress Dowager, sat in the main seats of the hall. The couple's faces showed both joy and reluctance.
Today she marries, and from now on she will be someone else's wife. They will be separated by thousands of miles, and it will be difficult for them to see each other again. Just thinking about it makes me sad.
However, this sadness was quickly overshadowed when their daughter arrived, and the couple both put on smiles.
Xue Ziying, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, walked slowly towards the stage. Her face was radiant and dazzling, and her crimson phoenix crown reflected a noble and glorious light in the distance.
The sound of gongs and drums could be heard outside.
When the groom arrived with a group of young gentlemen to fetch the bride, Xue Ziying gracefully walked to the Empress Dowager, bowed to her, and then bid farewell to her parents.
The Princess Consort of Huaibei said some polite words as required by custom, which were nothing more than telling her daughter to be a good wife and mother, to be gentle and virtuous, and not to be petty, etc. As she spoke, she couldn't help but tear up.
Xue Ziying stepped forward to offer a few words of comfort before reluctantly bidding farewell.
Dressed in wedding attire, Prince Fuming strode in, stepped into the hall, and respectfully bowed to the Empress Dowager. Then he bowed to the Prince of Huaibei and his wife, saying, "Your son-in-law is about to take the bride away. Thank you, Your Majesty, and thank you, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law."
"I will definitely cherish and respect Ziying in the future, and I will never let her suffer any grievances. Please rest assured, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law."
The Empress Dowager sat in the main seat with a smile on her face and said to the Prince of Huaibei and his wife, "Prince Ming has always been reliable, and his words can be trusted."
The palace hasn't been this lively in a long time.
She enjoyed the lively atmosphere; it was much more interesting than the intrigue and power struggles in the imperial harem.
Holding Xue Ziying's hand, Yan Yang bid farewell to the Empress Dowager and his parents-in-law, turned around and walked out of the inner hall. He picked up Xue Ziying and strode towards the outside of the Prince's Mansion.
The King of Huaibei and his wife came to Yong Kingdom, bringing a large dowry for their daughter.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress each added a lot more to her collection.
The wedding procession picked up the bride and left in a grand procession, accompanied by gongs and drums, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
Only after the newlyweds left did Chu Yunjin emerge from behind, saying, "Mother."
The Prince of Huaibei and his wife rose and bowed to Chu Yunjin, saying, "Your Majesty the Empress."
Chu Yunjin returned the greeting: "You two are elders today, there is no need for such formalities, please sit down."
The Prince of Huaibei cupped his hands and said, "Now that the marriage ceremony is complete, we cannot stay any longer and will return to our guesthouse first. Thank you for your trouble today, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty the Empress."
The Empress Dowager and Chu Yunjin saw them off.
The other envoys from Nanzhao were still waiting for the King and Queen of Huaibei.
The Empress Dowager sighed, looking at the brightly decorated Prince Yan's residence. Her gaze shifted slightly to Chu Yunjin's slightly protruding belly, and she said with emotion, "Seeing you all get married and have children, I finally realize that I am getting old... Time really waits for no one."
Chu Yunjin frowned, stepped forward and took her arm, her voice soft and gentle: "Mother, where are you old? This is the most beautiful time for a woman. With the passage of time, your features and demeanor are graceful and elegant, making you stunning at first glance."
As she spoke, she smiled sheepishly: "When I went to the palace to see my mother last time, I was stunned. Before, when I was arguing with Yan Cang, I wouldn't even look at anyone. I had never paid attention to my mother's appearance before, but I didn't expect that when I calmed down, I would find that my mother's appearance was so bright and beautiful that even I, her daughter-in-law, was envious."
The Empress Dowager glanced at her sideways: "You're becoming more and more sensible these days."
Chu Yunjin's cheeks flushed slightly, and she smiled shyly.
I was really immature before.
But she couldn't explain to the Empress Dowager that the person who always caused trouble wasn't her.
But now that everything is looking up, it doesn't really matter whether we explain or not.
Life is so beautiful it feels unreal, like living in a dream.
Yan Cang ascended the throne so easily, and she became empress so easily.
There was no hardship at all.
After the Prince of Jin was imprisoned, the other princes of the royal family got along well, unlike the brothers who fought and killed each other as described in the book.
They were clearly very harmonious.
Chu Yunjin turned her head and gazed at the royal palace.
She had only lived in her first home here for a total of six months, and she hadn't even explored every nook and cranny of the Prince's Mansion yet.
Now she has moved into the Phoenix Palace, just waiting for Yan Cang's coronation ceremony, when the Yong Kingdom will officially enter a new dynasty—in fact, it already has.
However, a sense of ritual is obviously important at all times.
It was a legitimate ascension to the throne, a ceremony witnessed by civil and military officials and all subjects, a process to announce to the world and the imperial ancestors.
The ceremony was solemn and the procedures were complex, allowing no room for error.
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