Huan Yue timed it perfectly, got dressed, and went out with the Crown Prince.
The journey from the East Palace to the Central Palace was quite far, and we traveled in a small carriage, also called a "lu che".
Similar to the sheep-drawn cart, this cart was small but very comfortable to ride in. It was pulled by two people in front and surrounded by a group of attendants.
The palace can be divided into two halves: the front is the outer court, and the back is the inner palace.
The Eastern Palace was located to the east of the outer court or to the southeast of the palace city.
The main gate of the East Palace is Jiafu Gate, the inner ceremonial gate is Jiade Gate, and behind it is the main hall, Jiade Hall. In front of Jiade Gate and to the right is Yongfu Gate, and then through Tongxun Gate to the front court, which is the route the Crown Prince usually takes.
The back gate of the Eastern Palace, Xuanfu Gate, leads to a main road that separates the outer court from the inner palace.
Huan Yue looked at the wide and straight road from inside the carriage, a road that prevented the imperial court from freely entering the inner palace, and the inner palace from freely entering the imperial court.
The main gate of the inner palace is Chang Le Gate, which leads directly to Chang Qiu Palace.
Changqiu is also used as a substitute for the empress, similar to Qing'e.
Changqiu Palace is twice the size of Qing'e Palace, and it contains Changqiu Temple. The Grand Changqiu is a third-rank official.
Huan Yue looked at the main hall, Jiaofang Hall, which had nine bays across the front, a double-eaved hip roof, and was tall and majestic. This was the place that every woman in the world wanted to live in.
Xie Zhou got out of the car and looked at her.
She had never been to the Jiaofang Palace, but Empress Mingde had lived there.
Xie Zhou roused himself and took another good look at this time many years ago.
The Jiaofang Palace was decorated with a solemn yet festive atmosphere. The Crown Prince taking a concubine was a major event for the country and a joyous occasion for the Empress.
Now, almost all the members of the current lineage have arrived, and the palace officials have also mostly arrived.
The emperor and empress were already inside, so there were many people inside and outside.
Xie Zhou didn't linger any longer. He glanced at Pei Shi and went inside.
Huan Yue battled his illness for several years, and although he lost, he had nothing to fear. He straightened his back and walked on.
Inside the hall, all eyes were on the onlookers.
Xie Yu, the current emperor, sat on his throne and watched.
Empress Dong sat next to him; she was the only one allowed to sit next to him.
Huan Yue glanced around; everyone in the world knew exactly who was in the palace.
The Empress Dowager passed away three years ago. There was an elderly concubine, but Huan Yue didn't see her. It's said that she doesn't go out much usually.
The current imperial robes are very formal and very handsome. Huan Yue dared not look at them closely.
Empress Dong's ceremonial robes were also very formal and dignified, even more so than those worn by the current emperor. Huan Yue felt a sense of unease about a concubine being elevated to the position of empress.
The one sitting on the left is a concubine; there aren't many concubines these days.
Consort Cui, who sat at the very front and was the most favored, but could never replace Empress Dong, gave birth to the eldest princess, Princess Huayang; the third princess, Princess Yongmu; the fourth prince, Xie Zhen, who was enfeoffed as Prince Zheng; and the sixth prince, Xie Zhu.
Consort Cui was extremely beautiful. Compared to her, Consort Shen, who was standing right next to her, looked like her mother or a maid.
Even the respectable female officials around Consort Cui had a greater presence than Consort Shen; this is the reality of the imperial harem.
Next was Consort Zhu, who gave birth to the fifth prince, Xie Ji, who had not yet been granted a title of prince.
Consort Li gave birth to the emperor's fourth daughter, Princess Changning.
Consort Fang gave birth to the fifth daughter of the emperor, Princess Guangning.
Consort Luo gave birth to the sixth daughter of the Emperor, Princess Yongning.
Those seated on the right are the princes and princesses.
Princess Huayang was truly favored and sat in front of the eldest prince, Prince Peng.
Empress Dong's eldest son, Xie Yu, the third son of the emperor, was enfeoffed as the Prince of Qi, but despite being the legitimate son, he was placed below the Prince of Peng.
Next were King Zheng Xie Zhen, Xie Ji (who had not yet been granted the title of king), and Xie Zhu.
There was an empty chair next to it; it belonged to Xie Chou, the seventh prince born to the Empress and the youngest child in the family. Because he was favored, his whereabouts were currently unknown.
Next is Princess Yongjia, the second daughter of the Empress.
Huan Yue glanced at her. This woman was twenty years old, yet she was arrogant and domineering! She was even more pretentious than the Empress!
However, it's understandable given her position. She is clearly the eldest legitimate son, but she has to be ranked behind Xie Chou, that little brat. How could she tolerate that?
Princess Yongmu was ranked after Princess Yongjia. She appeared to be a gentle and beautiful woman, even though she was compared to Princess Yongjia.
These princesses have already married, and their husbands have all come.
The three princes-in-law sat together, while Princess Huayang's four-year-old daughter sat steadily there.
Princess Huayang also had a one-year-old son and a son with Princess Yongjia, but neither of them were present at this time.
Xie Zhou has arrived before us.
Huan Yue followed.
The throne in the Jiaofang Hall was placed on a platform two feet and one inch high, with five steps.
The platform was surrounded by railings, creating a secluded and noble world.
Xie Zhou knelt down.
Huan Yue knelt down and bowed.
Although Xie Zhou had been emperor for more than a decade, he was no stranger to the proper etiquette and greeted his father and mother with great respect: "Your subject pays respects to the Emperor and Empress."
Huan Yue sang: "This concubine greets Your Majesty and Your Highness."
She thought to herself, "That bastard should call her his birth mother."
My son has finally gotten married, though not to his first love; Empress Mingde has been here, so maybe if he calls out, she'll hear him.
Xie Yu didn't think too much about it; he just thought Erlang and his wife were quite nice.
Especially today, which is different from yesterday, the young couple can also spend time together on their own.
The emperor was greatly pleased and bestowed a reward!
An eunuch chanted: "To the Qing'e Palace: a sandalwood ruyi inlaid with jade, a plate of agarwood prayer beads, a jade double-hole flower vase, a celadon begonia-shaped washer, a sky-blue glazed sunflower-shaped washer, a blue-and-white flared-mouth vase, six five-tael gold ingots, sixty fifty-tael silver ingots, silk..."
Huan Yue was a little confused. It seemed that the Crown Prince's reward was not as much as hers.
Is this somewhat similar to poverty alleviation?
Was it because the sage was particularly pleased with her, or was it compensation for her?
Regardless, with her saintly demeanor, her position became increasingly secure.
Everyone else's expressions changed!
Some people are insanely jealous!
Huan Yue is kneeling here, unable to look at Dong Hou in front or anyone else behind, so don't take it to heart.
Xie Zhou was also bewildered. However, his father's attitude towards him had always been alright.
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