The Pingnan Marquis's Mansion married the Emperor's only sister, Princess Zhenyang. Even their family could not resist and paid out five thousand taels. Seeing this, others dared not pretend to be ignorant or even resisted.

There were also those who had a lucky mentality. Gao Xuance took the risk and sent the Jinyiwei directly into the field.

For a while, the court and the public were in an uproar, but Gao Xuance soon announced that he would start repairing river embankments and paving roads, and setting up a market. He also valued honest officials and did not use those who were good at writing but were completely incapable of getting things done.

When all this was going on gloriously, the time came for Yao Niang's canonization ceremony. According to custom, the empress would only make announcements in her own palace and would not go to the Funing Palace to receive visits from civil and military officials.

Although the Code of Conduct stated that the empress and the emperor could go to the Funing Hall together to be worshipped by all officials, emperors were generally self-centered and would not allow the empress to come out. Even the empress's rights were always reduced.

When Gao Xuance's grandfather was alive, the ladies of noble birth who came to the capital were limited in number and only a few came. During the reign of Empress Hong, the etiquette for ladies of noble birth was at least restored.

When he arrived at Yao Niang's place, Gao Xuance said, "I plan to accept the congratulations of the civil and military officials in the Funing Palace with you. We have been through thick and thin together. These days we have walked together have not been easy."

"Yes, it's true that it's not easy, but no matter what, I feel my life is complete when I'm with you. Although my last life was peaceful, I always felt that I had too many regrets. In this life, I finally have no regrets." Yao Niang was very happy.

In the second year of Xingyuan, Gao Xuance waited in the Funing Palace first, while Yao Niang changed into the queen's formal dress in the Kunning Palace. Yu and Wang both helped her tidy up her clothes. Fan was too sick to come, so Wang Song came on behalf of the first house, and she was very jealous.

“Your Majesty, apart from our Taizu’s empress who received congratulations from all officials, you are the only one here. The empresses of □□ conquered the empire together.” Wang Song said with a smile.

Yao Niang nodded: "This is the emperor's grace to me, I really appreciate it."

"Your Majesty, why do you have to say that? If you can't bear it, who else can?" Yu felt that her daughter could bear it. Although the emperor had his current status because of his own efforts on the battlefield, her daughter had played an indispensable role in the dispute with the eldest prince and the power struggle with the second prince.

"Mom, what are you talking about? I am not like what you say." After Yao Niang put on the phoenix crown, she felt like her neck was about to break, but she still had to keep it straight.

Bai Ying and Bai Zhi looked at Yao Niang after she put on her makeup and couldn't help but burst into tears: "Madam."

Yao Niang smiled and said, "I have been grateful for your service to me for so many years. Later, you will come with me to the Funing Palace."

"We dare not."

A female official came in and said, "Your Majesty, the Grand Scholar has come here with a ceremonial staff. Please get on the sedan chair."

Whenever Wang Song went outside, he saw new carpets all over the floor. He heard that the emperor had been very frugal since he took office, but the ceremony of conferring the title to the empress was so splendid and extravagant.

First, a layer of scarlet felt was laid on the lower part, and then the most expensive Persian carpet was laid on top. This Persian carpet was the most valuable carpet. Wherever the empress went, all the palace maids and eunuchs knelt down and kowtowed, not daring to raise their heads. Such a scene is simply every woman's dream.

How outsiders view the empress depends mainly on the emperor's attitude toward her.

Sitting in the bright yellow sedan, Yao Niang felt like she was getting married again, and Gao Xuance was waiting for her just like that time.

Yu and others followed immediately. Yu was a little old, so Wang didn't dare to support her. She was always worried that she would make a wrong move and lose face for the Luo family.

To be honest, this was the first time in her life that she had seen such a grand scene.

"Auntie, please watch your step," Wang Song reminded.

Wang immediately paid attention and looked towards Wang Song with gratitude. She actually knew that since the separation of the family, the Empress had been closer to their side, which was understandable because her husband was the Empress's younger brother and the Empress would definitely take better care of him.

The eldest brother of the eldest son's family was also a snob. Although he acted like an elder brother, he often came to their place. Wang, who was not a worrier, had now learned how to socialize. And Wang Song, who was originally the eldest daughter-in-law of the eldest son's family, was really considerate. It was said that she was just like her late mother, considerate and kind. It was true.

There are so many red tapes in the palace that they are afraid of making mistakes.

The sedan chair had already arrived at the main hall in a grand manner. Yao Niang was supported by female officials and came out. All the court officials stood below, as well as envoys from foreign vassal states and the wives and relatives of officials.

Gao Xuance, dressed in a black crown, was standing there waiting for her. Yao Niang took a deep breath and walked forward with a smile.

The chief minister of the inner cabinet read the text in person. After receiving the greetings, Yao Niang stood up and was led to Gao Xuance. Immediately, bells and drums sounded and all officials kowtowed.

"I wish our emperor a long and prosperous life, and the empress a long and healthy life. May the emperor and empress live in harmony and grow old together."

Yao Niang glanced at Gao Xuance, and Gao Xuance looked at her, and the couple smiled at each other.

The wife is the one who stands side by side, which really makes her feel that her efforts have not been in vain. Yao Niang saw the crowd cheering and wishing them a happy marriage, and she could still hear the echoes even after the ceremony.

Seeing her daughter standing at the highest point, like a phoenix, Yu was extremely delighted. Wang was also envious, and Wang Song pinched his handkerchief.

During these years of mourning, she has grown three years older and can no longer think of herself as a little girl. There are many more young girls in the palace than her, and she probably only has her last chance.

Especially after the Luo family split up, the Luo family members who entered the palace changed from the former Yu and Fan to the current Wang. Unless it was a major event, she could not enter the palace.

Yao Niang looked down and saw her mother crying with joy, and her father standing in the front row. Although Luo Zhizheng was older, he still had a straight back. He had cultivated himself in the past few years and looked like a Taoist priest. He looked at her with a smile on his face.

…

After extreme joy, people will feel extreme emptiness. Yao Niang could probably understand how Gao Xuance felt when he was named the crown prince. The couple held candles and chatted with each other at night, showing great intimacy.

"Your Majesty, you have brought me great honor. I have always been very respectable to my family, civil officials and military officials. This is all because you have been kind to me." Yao Niang said.

Gao Xuance shook his head: "Don't say that. You don't know how much you have helped me. Now the country is in a state of disrepair, but your enthronement ceremony cannot be neglected. I work so hard, at least I want to let the people closest to me share the honor."

Yao Niang nodded: "You are right."

"Stop calling me 'you' all the time. It's the same now as it was before. Let's not change anything and remain the same as before, okay?" Gao Xuance didn't want Yao Niang to be estranged from him.

After so many years, how could Yao Niang not know what he was thinking? He was truly a simple and honest person who did things based on his heart. If she still didn't understand such a deep sense of friendship, she would be truly made of stone.

She held his hand: "Okay, I promise you."

After the empress was enthroned, the next thing was the prince's wedding. Gao Xuance did not select a beauty. It happened that the eldest princess, Tamamo, was old enough to go to the study, and the third princess was also old enough. Therefore, he took the opportunity to select a study partner and then select the crown princess.

As there are fewer princesses in the palace, the last time a reading companion was chosen was the year when Yao Niang and her friends did it, which was more than 20 years ago.

The third princess was the daughter of the previous emperor. After Gao Xuance ascended the throne, she was named Princess Chang'an. She was young but older. When she was young, she had a fight with Xun Ge'er. She was still passionate when she grew up, but she was very measured in her passion.

"Sister-in-law, does the emperor really want to choose a reading partner for us?"

"Yes." How could Yao Niang say that Gao Xuance had originally chosen a family for the prince and was planning to hold the wedding after enthroning the queen, but the girl died the day before her coming of age.

However, this matter is probably only known by a small group of people, and no one else knows about it. Therefore, if I choose a partner again now, I also want to stay in the palace and see how it goes. I can't be too weak, otherwise I won't be able to survive in the palace.

As the Crown Princess, she is not only the wife of the Crown Prince, but also has to give birth to children and be the mother of the world. The requirements are very high and not something that ordinary people can achieve. Yao Niang originally had a bad temper, but because she was the Crown Princess, she endured it for many years.

Yumao smiled and said, "Mother, does my daughter need two study companions?"

"Yes, of course. Before, most of the companions of your princess were brought into the palace by their families. The emperor never selected them personally. He just summoned them into the palace based on who recommended them. But now, it is based on real ability. My mother was only eight years old at that time, and she was also admitted to the palace. I remember that I was third or something. As time went by, I have forgotten it." When Yao Niang thought of the past, she could only remember a shadow.

However, she still remembers that she was beaten for Princess Zhenyang.

So he said, "Tamamo, you must study hard. Otherwise, you will fail and it will be your companions who will be beaten. They were chosen by you after careful selection, but they are beaten for you as soon as they enter the door. Isn't this disappointing to them?"

Tamamo remembered the slapping of the palm and immediately said, "My daughter will definitely study hard."

Yao Niang smiled and nodded: "That's good."

After the princesses finished talking, they were summoned by the Queen Mother to have lunch at Shoukang Palace. Yao Niang saw Bai Ying walking towards her quickly and said, "Your Majesty, there is a secret letter here."

The secret letter was a report letter in the palace, especially to the palace gates of the people in charge of the harem, and people would often secretly send such secret letters. Especially in the Dalin Palace, there was a special program to train the eunuchs and palace maids, and most of them could still read.

During the period of Empress Hong, she was not very favored in her later years. She relied on these to grasp the palace trends. After Yao Niang came to power, she redressed many unjust, false and wrong cases, and sorted out palace affairs. The remaining money was used to improve the food and wages of the employees. Her prestige increased greatly, and she was respected by everyone in the palace. Therefore, she received more secret letters.

Therefore, Yao Niang said indifferently: "You receive secret letters like this every day, so it's not worth your haste."

"Your Majesty, here is a letter from a maid in the tea house, saying that Ying'er in the tea house seems to have been bought by someone, and valuables are often found in her room. Her parents have also been brought to Beijing from their hometown in Shandong."

Generally, if a palace maid or eunuch suddenly becomes rich, there is no doubt that they have been bribed.

Who could come to her palace, have contact with her servants in the teahouse, and remember this person to bribe him? What did this person want to do?

Yao Niang's face darkened: "Don't make a fuss yet, I want to see who is so brave."