The red candles on the gilded coiled dragon candlesticks were burning brightly, illuminating the Linde Hall like daylight.
Xuan Ling, dressed in a dragon robe, sat on the throne, with a bright light in his eyes.
Sheng Xiyan sat beside him, and the oriental pearl on the nine-tailed phoenix hairpin emitted a warm glow under the light.
"I have something important to announce." Xuan Ling suddenly spoke, his voice as cold and clear as the collision of jade.
The hall suddenly became quiet, and even the musicians stopped playing their instruments.
His slender fingers gently clasped the armrests of the dragon throne, and his gaze swept over the audience. "Noble Concubine Chen is virtuous and has painstakingly borne two princes and a princess. I wish to enthrone her as empress."
These words were like a huge rock dropped into a calm lake. All the officials below the stage looked at each other in bewilderment, and several veteran officials' beards stood up in shock.
At the concubines' seat, the glass cup in Concubine Jia's hand fell to the ground with a "bang" and broke into several pieces.
Grand Secretary Wang was the first to react, stepping out of the line and bowing. "Your Highness, during the plague, personally visited the people to treat them, earning their praise. Now, you have given the royal family a son, making you worthy of being made Empress!"
"We review the matter!" The Minister of War stepped forward and said in a resounding voice, "Appoint Consort Chen as Empress!"
"We await your review!"
"I second the motion!"
The noises grew louder and louder, and everyone in the hall knelt down.
Sheng Xiyan's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her fingertips unconsciously clenched her sleeves.
She had never expected Xuan Ling to suddenly announce this today. He hadn't mentioned it a single word during their lovemaking last night...
The emerald Buddhist beads in the Queen Mother's hand were broken with a "click", and several emerald green beads rolled to the ground.
Her sharp gaze shot towards Sheng Xiyan like a knife, "You damn girl, I actually let you get such a huge advantage!"
Xuan Ling suddenly held Sheng Xiyan's slightly trembling hand, pursed his thin lips, and revealed a beautiful smile that only she could see.
The look in his eyes clearly said: Yanyan, you deserve it. I have long wanted to give you the throne of Queen.
It was usually the eunuchs in front of the emperor who read the imperial edict, but today it was Xuan Ling himself.
"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims," Xuan Ling's clear voice echoed through the hall. "Noble Consort Chen, surnamed Sheng, is of a distinguished family, known for her kindness and generosity. She has provided relief to the common people and brought them relief from disasters; she has also given birth to an heir to the throne, and has rendered great service to the nation. She is now enthroned as Empress, taking the place of Empress. I decree this!"
"The enthronement ceremony will be held in a month." He added, lightly scratching Sheng Xiyan's palm with his fingertips.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!" The cheers echoed throughout the palace.
After the important matter was announced, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became much more relaxed.
Xuan Ling held up the gilded wine cup and said with Sheng Xiyan, "Mother, your son and the Queen toast you. May you live a long and healthy life."
The Queen Mother forced a smile, her gold and jade armor scraping against the wine glass making a harsh sound. "You and your wife are the winners today."
She drank it all, a cold glint in her eyes, "But I...will not admit defeat."
After saying this, she stood up and left the table, her phoenix robe dragging across the ground, bringing with it a whiff of cold fragrance.
Xuan Ling didn't care, and instead picked up a glass of crystal clear fruit wine and handed it to Sheng Xiyan's lips: "Empress, this is your favorite lychee wine."
He lowered his voice, with a hint of teasing, "Husband will have a drink with you, let's... go back and spend the night together?"
Sheng Xiyan's eyes flickered as she took a sip from his hand. Her bright red lips, stained with the wine, looked even more charming. "How can one glass be enough?"
She grabbed the wine jug and filled it for him herself, "Your Majesty and I will have a few more drinks to satisfy our pleasure."
After three rounds, Sheng Xiyan's cheeks were flushed, and the corners of her eyes and eyebrows were tinged with drunkenness.
Xuan Ling was not much better. His usually cold eyes were now sparkling with water as he stared at her without blinking.
"The children should all go back and rest." He suddenly stood up and took her hand. "How about I take the Queen to watch the moon?"
The moonlight in the imperial garden was like water, and the palace lanterns hanging under the nine-curve corridor swayed gently in the night breeze.
Sheng Xiyan staggered, and the tip of her shoe embroidered with a golden phoenix hit a pebble.
"Um...I can't walk anymore." She suddenly stopped, tugged at Xuan Ling's sleeve and said coquettishly, "Your Majesty, carry me."
Xuan Ling chuckled and reached out to pinch her blushing cheeks: "Spoiled."
But he still turned around and squatted, saying lovingly, "Come up."
Sheng Xiyan happily threw herself on his back and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Xuan Ling lifted her up easily, his palms firmly supporting her knees.
The faint scent of tuberose on her body mixed with the smell of alcohol lingered around his nose.
"Yanyan is too heavy." He said deliberately, feeling the person on his back twisting in dissatisfaction.
"Nonsense! I've already regained my shape!" Sheng Xiyan bit his ear angrily, "It's just that the Phoenix Coronet is too heavy..."
Xuan Ling chuckled, tilted his head and kissed her cheek stealthily: "Then I'll pick it for you when we get back."
"Just taking off the phoenix crown? I don't believe you would be so self-disciplined and respectful." She breathed sweetly into his ear, and her fingertips restlessly stroked his Adam's apple.
Xuan Ling paused, his eyes suddenly turning darker.
He suddenly pushed the person up, scaring Sheng Xiyan so much that she let out a cry and hugged him tightly.
"The Queen is playing with fire." His voice was hoarse as he strode towards the Yangxin Palace. "Don't cry and beg for mercy later. I won't show any mercy."
Sheng Xiyan leaned on his shoulder and smiled foolishly, the golden hairpin in her hair swaying gently with her steps, drawing streaks of light under the moonlight.
The shadows of the two people overlapped, stretched very long by the moonlight...
The palace maids bowed their heads in the distance, hearing only the fading laughter of the Emperor and Empress, and the gentle whispers drifting on the night wind: "Yanyan, I can finally, legitimately... spend the rest of my life with you."
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