At her coronation ceremony, she was given the title of "not his vassal."
On the way to Xianyang Palace, the frequency of each heartbeat was amplified. Banban and her cousin's hands were intertwined and clasped, unable to distinguish whose heartbeat it was.
The sounds of 'bang, bang, bang' echoed throughout the heavens and earth.
“Cousin,” Ying Zheng called to her. A few traces of bewilderment and unreality floated on her beautiful face as she turned around. “Your palms are sweaty.”
She didn't say anything, but snuggled up to him.
He parted his wide sleeves, his palm touching her slightly stiff ceremonial robes, the golden phoenix slightly protruding. As his fingertips brushed against her, the coolness penetrated her skin and flesh, reaching her heart.
Her makeup today was exceptionally solemn and strong, with her eyebrows and the corners of her eyes raised, making her round pupils appear slightly longer. Her lips were prominent and had a dark red hue, giving her a truly unapproachable air of dignity.
He was very satisfied and proud of it.
So as not to ruin her makeup, she gently brushed her dark hair across her forehead.
She did the same, raising her hand to brush over his crown. The Qin King's coronation ceremony was unlike any other, unprecedented in history. This crown had a resounding name: the Heavenly Crown.
In the early morning sunlight, Banban could see that the imperial robes worn by the two were not just simple gold thread; beneath the black and crimson skirts, twelve symbols, including the sun, moon, and stars, were embroidered, symbolizing that imperial power encompassed all things in heaven and earth.
The royal family used six as a unit of measurement, and there were also six horses. This royal carriage was twice as spacious as the one Banban had ridden in before. The Qin Dynasty was associated with the element of water, so the royal carriage was also black.
The carriage passed through Xianyang City three times, and the people along the street were all entitled to watch the ceremony. For the first time, they were allowed to make a lot of noise, but perhaps because of habit, no one spoke in a disorderly manner. They all shouted "Long live the Great Qin Dynasty!"
The powerful voice soared to the sky, and Banban's hands and feet were ice-cold, yet he dared not change his smiling demeanor.
"How is this different from our wedding?" Ying Zheng asked.
“It was a completely different experience.” Banban didn’t dare to turn her head, and spoke with barely perceptible opening of her mouth, “Although it was considered a ceremony for the investiture of the queen at the time, my mind was full of thoughts of marrying my cousin. This was our wedding ceremony.”
The wedding ceremony took place near dusk, hence it was called the "dusk ceremony".
He asked with a smile, "So which one do you like better?"
Their hands were clasped together beneath their wide sleeves, and he could sense that after asking the question, she suddenly tightened her grip on his hand.
I like them both. I can't choose.
One symbolizes love, the other symbolizes power.
The two never lied to each other on such serious matters.
Banban asked, "I've heard a saying that's usually used to ask the emperor."
What is it?
"Do you want the country or the beauty?"
Ying Zheng scoffed, "The person who raised this question has certainly never been an emperor. Are power and beauty things that can only be chosen one at a time?"
Banban explained, "It's because many women are unwilling to be confined to a square palace like the Qin Palace for their entire lives, but this place is the emperor's home and symbolizes his power. How could anyone give up power?"
"So, isn't this a question of whether the husband and wife can compromise together, or who should give in more to whom?"
"Emperors don't have to live in palaces their whole lives." Ying Zheng even reflected on himself. He had never stopped his cousin from going out of the palace to stroll around the streets. Not to mention the Qin Palace, the entire Xianyang was his cousin's home. As for leaving the city, that was not difficult. "Otherwise, it would be easy to be misled and deceived, wouldn't it?"
That's why he said that no one who comes up with such a question has ever been an emperor.
"..." She would make a hypothesis, and he would immediately shatter it, telling her that the hypothesis was unreasonable, "That's not what I meant!"
Ying Zheng knew what she was asking and his response was direct: "I want them all. I have never had to choose one over the other in my life."
"I knew you'd say that." Banban didn't think much of it when she heard that. Her cousin was just that kind of man; if he wanted something, he would get it. The concept of compromise didn't exist in his world.
She deliberately asked, "What if I don't love my cousin? What if the beauty doesn't want you to have her?"
He also jokingly said, "My cousin had better love me."
Even her tone was mimicking hers. She pinched his thumb and forefinger, pretending to break free from his grasp, but he held her tightly and she couldn't break free. "Where is the Empress's demeanor? People are about to see it."
She immediately behaved herself, sat up straight, and let him hold her hand.
After parading through the streets three times, she slowly returned to the Qin Palace.
The area in front of Xianyang Palace was packed with people. Apart from the civil and military officials, countless Qin soldiers were lined up below, each with an imposing presence. Banban, who had finally relaxed by chatting and laughing with her cousin, tensed up again.
Could the Qin palace hold so many Qin soldiers?
As they stepped off the carriage, solemn ceremonial music resounded throughout the heavens.
Ying Zheng slowed his pace, while Banban quickened his, so that the two walked side by side. Their lives were always like walking on a red carpet, accommodating each other, striving together, and hoping to resonate with each other.
Banban bent his arms and placed his hands in front of his abdomen. Beneath the crimson carpet lay black basalt, and black banners fluttered in the wind, with the character 'Qin' floating among the palaces.
Armored soldiers stood in rows, each holding a long spear, forming an impregnable wall of armor, solemn and silent.
She smelled the scent of burning flames in the air, a mixture of power and solemnity.
As they drew nearer, outside the main hall of the palace gates, stood rows of civil and military officials of different ranks, dressed in brand-new court robes and holding various jade tablets.
Despite not looking to the side, Banban still saw Wang Wan, who was at the head of the group, holding a square jade seal. She had heard Ying Zheng say that this thing was made from the He Shi Bi jade.
Back then, the He Shi Bi jade passed through the hands of King Zhaoxiang, Ying Ji, and the story of returning the jade intact to Zhao unfolded. Now, after many years of delay, it has finally become the property of the Qin state.
Stepping onto the high platform, Banban and Ying Zheng turned around to face downwards.
He slightly raised his hand in gesture, and Li Si unfurled a black brocade, gracefully stepped forward, and stood to the side below, reading the imperial edict aloud:
"One day, the King of Han offered land and presented his seal as a sign of submission, requesting to become a vassal state, but later broke his promise..."
His voice was loud and clear, his pronunciation was precise and forceful, and his speech was slow yet resolute, making it easy for everyone to hear what he was saying.
These are reenactments of the Qin king's conquests of other states in the past.
The more solemn the occasion, the more often Banban's mind wandered, especially when reading such obscure imperial edicts. Every word went in one ear and out the other immediately, leaving her no time to think.
"...They rebelled against Taiyuan, so we raised troops against them and captured their king..."
Oh no, she felt like yawning. She bit her lower lip slightly, put on a straight face, and drifted off into her own thoughts.
"...The King of Yan was foolish and confused, and his crown prince secretly ordered Jing Ke to become a bandit. The soldiers and officials executed him, and the kingdom was destroyed..."
Why is it so long?
Banban's eyes twitched slightly.
"...I, in my humble state, raised an army to quell the tyranny and rebellion. Thanks to the blessings of the ancestral temples, the six kings all confessed their crimes, and the world was at peace..."
Um?
Her consciousness, which had been swimming away to the heavens, returned.
I, in my meowing form?
Unable to resist, Banban turned her head and quickly glanced at Ying Zheng. He was solemn and indifferent, facing countless Qin soldiers and ministers.
It's a really big cat.
Tigers are also cats, extra-large cats.
Then came the announcement to the world, immediately establishing the Qin Dynasty and changing its system and name.
The emperor changed his self-designation to "朕" (Zhen), his commands to "制" (Zhi), and his edicts to "诏" (Zhao). Qin was associated with the element of water and used six as a unit of time.
When Banban heard that he had made some changes, he perked up.
Actually, there is another sentence: water represents yin, and yin represents punishment and killing. According to this logic, Qin law should be even more severe.
When Ying Zheng wrote the edict, he revised it repeatedly and read it to her twice in vernacular Chinese. The phrase "寡人以睇睇之身" actually meant "I am of insignificant status." She even complained that this was probably the most humble thing he had ever said in his life, and he did not refute it.
Upon hearing the final lines, she said the phrase "water represents yin" was inappropriate. Ying Zheng deliberated repeatedly before agreeing to remove it. He was quite vain; after finishing the writing, he had several officials polish it for him before it was considered complete.
After reading it, Li Si bowed respectfully and returned to his seat.
The edict was sealed in a special box, while the remaining copies were sent by the officials of rites to all prefectures and counties across the country for simultaneous dissemination throughout the land.
Wang Wan shouted, "Your Majesty's virtue surpasses that of the Three Sovereigns and your achievements exceed those of the Five Emperors. You have unified the country by force and are ordained by Heaven!" His power was never divinely granted, but rather the result of his own hard work. Furthermore, he was of royal blood, making his position legitimate in every respect, which contradicted the previously believed 'divine right of kings'.
"He should rightfully inherit the imperial seal, rule the world, and command respect throughout the land!"
He knelt and raised the jade seal high on the tray. Ying Zheng smiled and said, "Good." He naturally picked up the jade seal, its semi-transparent jade refracting a brilliant light under the sunlight.
Banban noticed the seal script engraved above: "By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous."
While slightly lost in thought, he heard Ying Zheng proclaim, "I am the First Emperor, and future generations will be counted in order, from the Second Emperor to the Third Emperor, and so on to ten thousand generations, the lineage will be passed down without end."
"Abolish the system of posthumous titles that allows sons to comment on their fathers and ministers to comment on their rulers, and prohibit future generations from bestowing posthumous titles upon me."
Next, he personally bestowed large-scale rewards upon meritorious officials and granted a general amnesty to all except those guilty of the ten most heinous crimes, to demonstrate the benevolence and grace of the new dynasty.
Banban couldn't help but jump for joy, revealing a big smile.
Then she must be the First Empress.
No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than Ying Zheng abruptly changed the subject, saying, "The Empress Dowager bestows upon him the title of Emperor."
Ji Changyue below didn't react at all, letting out a soft "Hmm?" The Emperor? Which Emperor? She was dumbfounded.
The Qin soldiers and officials below were also stunned.
emperor?
Is this the emperor we're thinking of?
The character "帝" in "皇帝" (emperor)?
Wow, I know you love your mom, but this title...
Before anyone could speak, his next sentence came out: "The Empress bestows upon him the title of Haotian Emperor."
"...?"
"!!!!"
"—??"
This is even more significant.
Haotian means the vast and boundless sky, the highest heaven. The Book of Songs contains the phrase "Haotian has made a will," which means that the empress's nobility is bestowed by heaven, perfectly echoing the title of the emperor, Huangtian Shangdi.
The imperial title represents the highest standard of imperial rule, implying that the empress is the model for the world and cannot be violated or questioned.
The combination of the two is both cheesy and shocking.
This is praising his wife as the sky, covering all things, the pillar and law of his life. He deifies her, pouring extraordinary and ultimate worship and love into this affection between husband and wife.
Everyone below was stunned and fell silent.
Even Banban herself was dumbfounded; she was completely bewildered.
She was unaware of this matter, and he had never mentioned it.
She was already quite content with the title of Empress Dowager, never expecting that he would never consider giving her a title that was essentially that of his vassal.
The Empress, of the highest rank of the Heavenly Emperor, had no idea that titles could be so long! It was almost like a posthumous title! Help!
"The Crown Prince bestowed upon him the title Yuanzhao."
The character "元" (Yuan) shares a similar aesthetic with "始" (Shi).
"The eldest daughter of the emperor was bestowed the title Chenhua."
"宸" can be understood as the throne.
With the Empress Dowager and the Empress of the Heavenly Emperor preceding them, the fact that the Crown Prince and the Princess held indistinguishable titles of higher rank no longer astonished the courtiers.
The crowd was somewhat numb.
The First Emperor gave himself a simple title, summed up in a single character, "Shi" (始), while the titles given to those he cherished were as exaggerated and ornate as possible.
Fortunately, he was the first emperor in the world, and there were no fixed rules or regulations. Whatever Ying Zheng said was law, and no one could refute it.
After announcing everything, the next step was to perform a sacrificial ceremony to the four emperors—white, blue, yellow, and red—who were being worshipped, to proclaim Ying Zheng's great achievements to the ancestors and deities of the Qin people.
Banban, like a weakling, always stayed by her cousin's side.
She still remembers when her cousin came of age and took power, she was like an observer, at most joining him in offering sacrifices to heaven and praying for blessings. But now she can walk alongside him at all times.
Arriving before the altar, she imitated his manner, picking up the jade disc that resembled auspicious clouds, placing her hands together in front of her chest, respectfully closing her eyes, and earnestly reciting: "Heaven and Earth, bless my Great Qin."
Ying Zheng did not close his eyes; he stared at the divine throne with his eyes open and said, "May Heaven and Earth bless my Great Qin."
If we say that Banban prays to the gods with hope and joy, in a peaceful and gentle manner.
Ying Zheng's tone was completely calm, which even gave the illusion that he was giving orders to someone. It was hard to imagine that anyone could speak in such a tone or show such imposing manner.
A strong wind swept through his dark imperial robes, ruffling the tassels of his crown, but he remained unmoved. The dragon head of the Qin King's sword at his waist roared to the sky, its sharp teeth proclaiming to the world that there was once another human emperor.
Even if there truly are gods in the world, he might not necessarily feel much reverence for them.
Ying Zheng took off his sword. "From this day forward, the Qin King's Sword will be officially renamed the Human Emperor's Sword. Do any of you gods and ancestors have any objections?"
There was not a ripple inside the hall, and the candles burned silently.
“Very good, no one has any objections.” He readily agreed and picked up his sword again.
"..." Banban suppressed a laugh and secretly glanced at him. He was serious and didn't seem to have any bad intentions.
He deliberately asked, "Why is the Empress laughing?"
Banban opened her mouth and said, "I admire my husband and am delighted to see him."
"Before the altar, I hope the Empress will treat you with utmost respect and refrain from any disrespectful behavior."
"..." Are you really that dignified?
Banban raised her foot to step on him, but he moved aside nimbly to avoid it. "How old are you? You're still imitating a child stepping on someone's foot."
Why does Your Majesty place your feet at my feet?
"..." He chuckled twice, grasped her wrist, "Since there are gods, why not pray that they lock our souls together? It would be better than us not remembering each other after we are reincarnated."
"Reincarnation? Cousin, do you mean you want to be with me for all eternity? Aren't you getting tired of that?"
"Are you bored?" he asked back.
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Author's note: Here I am, it's late tonight.
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