Before the wedding, Xu Miaoqing's nanny and others taught her some knowledge, which made her a little nervous and shy on her wedding night.
However, after helping Zhu Xiong Ying wash up, Xu Miao Qing didn't experience any nervousness or shyness. Zhu Xiong Ying simply collapsed into bed and quickly began snoring; he was genuinely tired and sleepy.
Zhu Xiong Ying felt there was no rush, as she needed to go to bed early and get up early, and there were many things to do the next day that couldn't be delayed.
It was the hour of Yin (3-5 AM) again. Wang Chengen carefully led his maids and eunuchs into the bedchamber. "Your Highness, it's time to get up."
Zhu Xiong Ying got up rather irritably, rubbed her eyes, and sat down. "Alright, you can all leave now."
Wang Chengen immediately waved his hand, and the maids and eunuchs left. At this moment, Xu Miaoqing also quickly got up and helped Zhu Xiong Ying get dressed. As soon as Zhu Xiong Ying coughed, Wang Chengen and the others immediately entered the palace.
Leading Xu Miaoqing, Zhu Xiong Ying slowly walked towards the Qianqing Palace, naturally to pay his respects to Old Zhu.
Old Zhu didn't set any rules. Just as Zhu Xiong Ying and Xu Miao Qing arrived, Shuang Quan came over. Xu Miao Qing, who seemed quite nervous, stood on the west side. Zhu Xiong Ying, seeing Xu Miao Qing's awkwardness, also went over, ignoring the winks from some people.
He gently held Xu Miaoqing's hand, but it had no effect; Xu Miaoqing seemed even more nervous.
At this moment, Old Zhu slowly walked out of the palace, intending to sit on the throne. But when he saw his beloved grandson holding Xu Miaoqing's hand, Old Zhu immediately smiled.
"Hey you, where are the dates and chestnuts?"
Shuangquan quickly carried the plate of dates and chestnuts, which Old Zhu took and strode over.
Xu Miaoqing quickly knelt down. Originally, she was supposed to kneel and pay her respects after His Majesty the Emperor ascended the throne. But now, Old Zhu came directly to her.
"Your Highness, the succession of our imperial lineage is of utmost importance!"
Xu Miaoqing knelt down, raised her hands above her head, and accepted the plate of dates and chestnuts.
Zhu Xiong Ying, standing to the side, chuckled and also complained, "Grandfather, you were unhappy when I changed the rites before. I only made minor adjustments, intending to make them for my wedding and set an example for the world. But you're not doing this right."
Xu Miaoqing trembled. Even though she had heard many stories of how favored the Crown Prince was, who could have imagined that the Crown Prince would dare to speak to the Emperor like that?
Old Zhu glared at Old Zhu and said irritably, "So those rules were made for us? If you really knew manners, you wouldn't be pulling and tugging at the Crown Princess here. What kind of behavior is this!"
Xu Miaoqing trembled and quickly begged for forgiveness, "Sun Chen knows his crime!"
Zhu Xiong Ying, seemingly unfazed, continued to complain, "Grandpa Emperor, please don't speak so harshly. I'm not afraid, but others are!"
"Get lost, get lost, your father must be getting impatient." Old Zhu said with a smile to Zhu Xiong Ying, "If you and the Crown Princess are filial, let us hold our great-grandson this year. Let's calculate the time, it will be just right during the New Year, so that our ancestors can also have some fun when we worship them."
This is truly Old Zhu's style, and it's also what he's hoping for. He genuinely hopes his beloved grandson will get married at the beginning of the year, so that he can hold his great-grandson by the end of the year.
Zhu Xiong Ying felt a little embarrassed and said, "This is a bit too much of a rush. Grandson, try your best. It's hard to say for sure. It might not happen this year, but next year or the year after, I'm sure Grandfather will be able to hold his great-grandson."
Old Zhu nodded with a smile, then his expression turned somber. "This year, this year is the best!"
Xu Miaoqing still seemed a little nervous, but she was also quite excited. The Crown Prince's position was indeed as secure as rumored, and he was indeed as favored as rumored.
Da Zhu wasn't in good health, so he only briefly met with Xu Miaoqing, offering some admonition and encouragement.
Since there was no Empress or Crown Princess in the palace at the moment, Xu Miaoqing did not need to pay her respects. Emperor Zhu also forbade his granddaughter-in-law from paying respects to the other concubines, because she was a formally married woman and had entered the ancestral temple.
Zhu Xiong Ying and Xu Miao Qing spent another busy day visiting the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices and receiving congratulations from the noblewomen at the Eastern Palace.
"We're going back to our parents' home tomorrow," Zhu Xiong Ying said to Xu Miao Qing, who was breathing heavily, as she lay on the couch. "We'll be busy again then, so be prepared. We definitely won't be able to rest for the next couple of days."
Xu Miaoqing nodded, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, "Your Majesty, I understand."
Zhu Xiong Ying, the woman with the groping hand, chuckled. She'd wait a couple more days; there was no rush to devour the little white rabbit now. Otherwise, there might be some inconvenience when she returned to her parents' home tomorrow.
The main gate of the Prince of Zhongshan's mansion was wide open to welcome the grandson and his consort.
Xu Yungong led his family to stand outside the Fu Gate, and immediately stood at attention upon seeing the ceremonial guard. Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and nodded, then slowly walked into the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion. Only then did Xu Yungong hurriedly follow.
Upon arriving at the main hall, Zhu Xiong Ying paid his respects to the memorial tablets of Xu Da and his wife. Xu Yun Gong then led his brothers to kneel and bow, as was customary.
Zhu Xiong Ying sat in the main seat, and the Xu family members immediately bowed four times. At this time, Zhu Xiong Ying naturally just sat down to receive the greetings.
Xu Miaoqing's eyes were also misty with tears at this moment, because her brothers, younger brothers, and younger sister were all kneeling before her. The moment she became the Crown Princess, her status was already established. Now, it wasn't just kinship, but also a relationship between ruler and subject.
Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and nodded, then said to Xu Miao Qing, "Go to your room first and chat with your family."
Xu Miaoqing immediately accepted the order, and her sisters naturally followed suit.
Zhu Xiong Ying picked up his teacup and took a sip, then said to Xu Yun Gong, "In a few days, the Crown Princess will also come to Beiping with me. Tonight, the Crown Princess and I will stay at the Prince's Mansion. If there are any female relatives, we should invite them so that she can meet them as well."
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