Ascend the throne
A month later, in Mu Ning Palace, Fuyao leaned on the couch and watched Song Chenyu review the memorials.
The flowers outside the window are blooming and the fragrance fills the air.
"At this morning's court session, the Right Prime Minister made a proposal.
Although I am already an adult, in order to emphasize that "a new monarch marks the beginning of a new era", it is recommended that I be given a coming-of-age ceremony.
Song Chenyu put down his red brush,
"I agree. Three days later."
Fuyao lowered her head and arranged the baby's socks.
"You are about to become the monarch, why is it always me, mine?"
Song Chenyu lowered his eyes and sat beside her.
"No matter who I am, I am just your Song Chenyu.
So in front of you, it will always be just me."
He leaned over, took her hand and kissed it.
"After a few days, I will prepare a ceremony for your coronation.
The imperial physician said that you are severely deficient in qi and blood and need to rest for at least another two months.
When the time comes, I will let the whole world see how their queen protects the country through blood and fire."
Fuyao smiled, with light in the corners of her eyes.
"You know, I don't care."
She looked up at the gauze on his forehead, which had been carefully changed to a lighter color.
"Actually, I already knew that."
"Know what?"
He raised his eyebrows.
"Xu Jing said, 'To prevent me from worrying, you cut half of the battle flag to wrap your wound.'"
She stroked the wrinkles between his eyebrows with her fingertips.
"Isn't that stupid?
Since I married you, your pain is my pain."
Song Chenyu held her in his arms.
The fragrance of plum blossoms floats outside the window, and the laughter of the little prince can be heard in the distance.
He knew that some wounds would never heal, but because she was there, the pain became sweet.
Three days later, the morning mist had not yet dissipated, and a white silk banner was hung between the coiled dragon pillars in the Daqing Hall.
The mourning period for the emperor's father had not yet ended, but the new emperor's coronation ceremony was held in this half-sad, half-solemn atmosphere.
Song Chenyu stood in the east room and had his hair combed by the ceremonial officer.
The bronze mirror reflected a thin, slightly mature face.
The gauze on her forehead had been replaced with moon-white silk, hidden among her black hair.
Yesterday the Queen Mother sent a golden hairpin with a message:
"The coming-of-age ceremony requires the crown to be straightened. I prepared this hairpin after you were born. It's time to use it."
He stroked the two characters "Uphold the Righteousness" engraved on the hairpin, and his knuckles tightened slightly.
When he was still Feng Chenyu, the coming-of-age ceremony originally prepared for him was shelved due to the seal and the departure of Feng Chenlang. This ceremony could be considered as a compensation.
“The auspicious time has arrived!”
The singing of the celebrant pierced the morning mist.
Song Chenyu put on the black Yan crown, and the twelve-chapter patterns flowed under the candlelight, symbolizing the sun, moon and stars shining over the world.
The eggplant bag was still hanging around his waist because it was a gift from Fuyao.
He walked out of the east room and stepped onto the steps.
The three-fold ceremony has been arranged in the square outside the hall. The first is the black cloth crown (to show that one has the responsibility to govern people), the second is the leather cap (to show that one is serving in the military and protecting the country), and the third is the wine cap (to show that one is offering sacrifices to ancestors).
First put on the black cloth crown.
The ceremonial officer came forward holding the crown, and Song Chenyu leaned over.
The crown tassel fell, and he remembered the time when Feng Yin taught him calligraphy when he was young.
"The crown is the beginning of etiquette.
When you grow up, you should be like a crown, dignified and solemn."
At this moment, the crown on his head seems to weigh a thousand pounds.
He felt grateful and loved Feng Yin, the man who raised him.
"On an auspicious day, the Canadian dollars will be served.
Abandon your childish ambitions and cultivate virtue."
The praisers recited loudly.
Song Chenyu looked up and all the officials stood in silence.
Fuyao stood at the head of the female officials' team, wearing a moon-white phoenix robe with only a silver hairpin inserted diagonally in her hair.
She was weak after giving birth and the imperial physician had told her not to overwork, but she insisted on coming to watch the ceremony.
Her eyes were blazing, and he suddenly remembered how she beat the drum while defending the city, and his throat tightened.
Add a leather cap.
After the second crown was added, the ceremonial officer handed over a jade cup filled with light wine.
Song Chenyu took it and drank it all.
The wine tasted slightly bitter, just like the tossing and turning of the past ten days.
The stray arrows when Xindong set the fire, the blood that surged when he received the bad news from his father, and the shock when he heard that the Crown Princess was bleeding, all turned into warmth in his throat at this moment.
"While wearing it in old age, I will never forget it."
When the praises stopped, he looked up at Fuyao.
The corners of her eyes were red, but there was a smile on her lips, a proud smile that he was familiar with.
Just like when he said before, "I want to be the most heroic emperor", she grabbed the corner of his clothes and said,
"I believe you."
Three additional glasses and hats.
After putting on the last crown, Song Chenyu has become an "adult".
The ceremonial officer brought over the crown plate and placed it on the crown.
The gold ornaments covered his eyes, but he was more awake than ever.
"From today on, I am no longer Crown Prince Chenyu, but the Emperor of Lan Kingdom, who guards this country and protects the people."
"The word destiny!"
The ceremonial officer sang loudly.
Song Chenyu had already thought about it and turned to the east steps.
"How about 'Ningyuan' for my name?"
Fuyao looked at him, tears flickering in her eyes.
He knew that she understood, Ning Yuan, and hoped that the prince would be smart and long-lasting, and also hoped that he would have a clear mind.
Live up to this vast land, live up to her protection in blood and fire, and enjoy eternal peace.
After the ceremony, all the ministers congratulated him.
Song Chenyu walked down the steps and took Fu Yao's hand.
Her palms were still soft from childbirth, but she shook hands firmly.
"I congratulate Your Majesty on the successful completion of the coming-of-age ceremony."
He led her to the side hall and took out the golden hairpin.
"The Queen Mother gave it to me. I'm wearing it today."
Pinned on her temples, silver and gold hairpins side by side,
"From now on, you and I will rule this country together."
Seeing this, Fuyao's eyes flickered slightly, and he seemed to want to say something but stopped.
Ning'er's wet nurse came in carrying the child. The little prince clutched the corner of Song Chenyu's clothes and laughed.
He suddenly felt that although the crown was heavy, it was not as heavy as the kingdom behind him.
Although this dragon throne is cold, it is not as cold as the years we spent together.
He lowered his head.
"I have ordered the Ministry of Rites to draft an edict to hold the "Zhuazhou" ceremony when Ning'er turns one.
When the time comes, I will sit with him at the Dragon Table and teach him to recognize every blade of grass and every tree in this land."
The fog outside the window dissipated, and the sunlight filtered through, shining on the two people's clasped hands.
The sound of ceremonial music came from outside the hall, and the new emperor's crown tassels swayed gently in the wind, like a rustling flag.
The sky of Lan Kingdom finally brightened.
After Song Chenyu's coming-of-age ceremony, all the people who defended the city that day were rewarded for their merits.
Zhao Ququ was appointed as the left servant and privy councilor, Li Xian was appointed as the right servant, Xu Jing was appointed as the deputy privy councilor, and Shao Hansu was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the palace.
Ma Chong and Wu Yue were also rewarded with large sums of money.
Yang Dianshuai, who died in battle, and Qing Ning, who died protecting his master, were both posthumously honored.
Outside the Daqing Palace, Fuyao just came out and saw Ma Chong around the corner. She suddenly felt sad.
He walked away slowly, "Ma Chong."
"Greetings, Madam."
Ma Chong turned around.
Fuyao raised her head and forced a smile on her face, then raised her hand and took out a sachet made of Shu brocade from her sleeve.
It is embroidered with Qingning's favorite pattern when she was alive, and contains a lock of her hair, which Shao Hansu took out specially to leave as a memory for her.
"It contains lime hair, and I think you need it more than I do."
As he spoke, his eyes turned red.
"I'm sorry for you."
“Your Majesty, why do you need to say that? Qing Ning just did what she wanted to do.
I think she must be extremely satisfied to die for the Empress."
Ma Chong lowered his head with a sad expression.
Upon seeing this, Fuyao said nothing more, but just hung the sachet on the handle of his knife and turned away.
There was a lot of noise and laughter in the Muching Palace.
Madam Ling and Princess Jinru came to see Fuyao from time to time, and everyone hoped that she would recover soon.
"I heard that His Majesty is preparing for the coronation ceremony for the Empress."
Madam Ling sat on the chair and looked at Fuyao who was feeding her baby with her head down, smiling, and she was very happy for her.
She has seen all the hardships that Fuyao and Song Chenyu have gone through, and she feels so sorry for her sister.
"So what?"
Fuyao raised her head and said softly.
"how?"
Madam Ling stood up and came to her side.
"I have long seen how much His Majesty cares about you.
Moreover, the position of Empress is second only to the emperor and above all others. Many royal relatives and noble ladies are vying for the position, but Her Majesty doesn't seem to care much."
Fuyao chuckled and looked at Princess Jinru who was standing beside her for a moment, but did not respond.
Jinru knew a little about her thoughts.
"This is how the world works. Many people outside these red walls want to get in, but there are also some who want to get out."
One day, Fuyao was playing with the little prince in the palace when someone came to announce that Commander Shaodu had arrived.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shao Hansu, wearing a purple official uniform, walked in.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
"Shao, Commander, please get up quickly."
Fuyao swallowed the word "big brother" and asked the wet nurse to take the little prince out to play.
"Here is a letter from home, entrusted to me to give to the queen."
Shao Hansu presented the letter.
"A letter from home?"
Fuyao lowered her head and looked at the handwriting on the outside, her nose felt sore. She recognized it as Uncle Yu's handwriting.
I felt guilty because I hadn't bothered to write to them since I entered the palace.
Uncle Yu heard about the changes in the imperial city and how the Crown Princess bravely defended the city. He was really worried, so he sent a letter to Shao Hansu.
"Commander Shao, how do you like life within these palace walls?"
Fuyao suddenly spoke, her eyes wandering.
"What do you mean, Madam?"
Shao Hansu looked at her in confusion.
"What if I say I want to leave Yu'an?"
Fuyao came back to her senses and looked at him.
Shao Hansu was shocked.
"Your Majesty has already prepared a date to hold the ceremony for your coronation!"
Fuyao chuckled and turned to look out the window.
"Brother Shao, you should understand me."
She paused,
"You should have heard about His Majesty's injury in Fengxiang.
In order to protect me, he left Xu Jing behind despite the shortage of personnel and went to Fengxiang alone with his men.
If I hadn't been there, Xu Jing would have gone with him, and perhaps he wouldn't have been the leader who burned the granary that day.
At least Xu Jing will be there to accompany him and protect him."
There was silence in the air for a while, and Fuyao sobbed softly.
"Every time I think of him being surrounded and falling off his horse, I shudder.
Without me, this wouldn’t have happened.”
She turned her head and looked at Shao Hansu who was silent, her eyes filled with tears.
“There are so many rules in this imperial city, and I hate being bound by them.
I don't want to be his weak point in this bloody palace.
Because in this deep palace, no one knows what will happen in the future.
As for me, I just want him to do whatever he wants without any scruples.
Because I had no backrest, I couldn't help him and could only become a hindrance.
This is not the life I want, and he and I are not suitable.
If that's the case, why do we have to be together? "
Looking at Fuyao and listening to her narration, Shao Hansu knew her personality very well, so he took a deep breath.
"So, my lady?"
"So, I need your help."
Fuyao chuckled softly, raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her face, with an indestructible light in her eyes.
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