"Don't worry, your brother Jinzhi grew up there." Jin Jinzhi comforted Yun Duoduo, looking at her furrowed brows.
"Thank you for the medicine. I will use it carefully, don't worry."
"Zhuangzhuang, stay in the palace with your sister Duo. When you have time, come back to visit your parents often," Jin Jinzhi instructed Jin Zhuangzhuang.
"Zhuangzhuang will remember."
"Duoduo, this is for you."
Jin Jinzhi gave Yun Duoduo a small box containing a white jade bracelet with a bell.
[The bell I give you rings with every step you take.]
One step, one thought.
"Thank you, Brother Jinzhi. This bracelet is so beautiful, I love it."
Yun Duoduo held the table up to her eyes and examined it closely. The white jade was pure and flawless, very beautiful. It felt incredibly smooth to the touch, with a cool, refreshing feel. The little bells hanging on it made a very pleasant tinkling sound.
She suddenly remembered that when he left the palace, he had given her a whistle.
Tell her to blow that whistle when she's in danger, and no matter when or what he's doing, he'll come to her rescue whenever he hears it.
The whistle had always hung around his neck; after wearing it for so long, he seemed to have gotten used to its presence.
【Brother Jinzhi, you must take good care of yourself in the Northern Frontier!】
Protect yourself, take good care of yourself, and be careful when fighting the enemy.
Please don't ruin this beautiful face...
Otherwise, Duoduo will be sad, okay?
“Brother Jinzhi, Duoduo also has something to give you.”
I give you this bell, simply so that your face may remain unchanged.
She tiptoed and tied a jade pendant with bells to Jin Jinzhi's waist.
Jin Jinzhi looked at the jade pendant and felt a warmth in her heart.
Jin Zhuangzhuang watched the two of them from the side, feeling like an outsider.
"Okay, I'm leaving."
"Brother Jinzhi, Duoduo and Zhuangzhuang are waiting for you to come back!"
Jin Jinzhi and the other person waved their hands and turned to leave.
Yun Duoduo and Jin Zhuangzhuang watched Jin Jinzhi's departing figure.
...
In the blink of an eye, half a month has passed, spring has turned to summer, and the weather is gradually getting hotter.
Today is the day of the grand ceremony for bestowing titles and honors, and Yun Duoduo got up early.
Ah Xiang busied herself combing Yun Duoduo's hair, while Granny Liu had already prepared the clothes for the investiture ceremony.
This garment was sent by the Imperial Clothing Palace. Its patterns and decorations are extremely intricate, giving it an exceptionally rich and luxurious appearance.
"Ouch, it's so heavy!"
Yun Duoduo wore a crown studded with gems and jade beads.
"Princess, our investiture ceremony will take half a day to finish!" Granny Liu said with a smile, adjusting the crown on Yun Duoduo's head.
Yun Duoduo let out a long sigh of relief.
"Princess, are you ready?"
Outside, Zhao Zhongquan had already prepared the sedan chair, and was waiting outside with a group of palace maids, eunuchs and nannies.
"Alright, here they come, here they come!" Granny Liu called out loudly.
Surrounded by Ah Xiang, Granny Liu, and a group of palace maids and eunuchs, Yun Duoduo walked out. With the heavy headdress in hand, she boarded the sedan chair with the help of the crowd.
Two bright red patches were painted on her fair face by Ah Xiang with red rouge, making her look very festive.
Her eyebrows were painted long and thick by Granny Liu with ink.
After Ah Xiang and Granny Liu finished applying makeup to Yun Duoduo, they were very satisfied with their masterpiece. Yun Duoduo glanced at herself in the bronze mirror and her heart skipped a beat. [This makeup is even more exaggerated than an opera singer's, and more alluring than the top courtesan of the Yihong Brothel!]
She tried to wipe the rouge and powder off her face with a handkerchief, ["This looks like a ghost!"]
However, seeing the satisfied expressions on Ah Xiang's and Granny Liu's faces, she didn't dare to speak up and could only let them do as they pleased.
"Alight from the sedan chair!"
With a shout from Zhao Zhongquan, the sedan chair landed steadily on the ground, and A Xiang helped Yun Duoduo down.
"Greetings, Princess Yourong!"
The ministers, palace maids, and eunuchs all knelt on the ground, and the sound of their prostrations was deafening.
Yun Duoduo trembled, but she steadied herself, straightened her headdress, and walked up the steps one by one.
The Empress Dowager sat in the main seat, looking at Yun Duoduo with a smile on her face. Yun Beiye stood beside the Empress Dowager, looking at Yun Duoduo with a loving expression.
"Princess Ninth, you are gentle and kind, care for the people and Nanyang, rescued children from danger, shared my worries, and made plans for Nanyang. I hereby bestow upon you the title of Yourong!" Zhao Zhongquan held the bright yellow imperial edict in his hand and read it aloud clearly, word by word.
Yun Duoduo stood motionless in front of the incense altar, her demeanor extremely dignified.
She felt everyone's eyes on her, and being stared at made her too nervous to move.
"Ancestral worship!"
After Zhao Zhongquan shouted loudly, he handed her three incense sticks. Yun Duoduo took them, reverently bowed her head and placed the incense sticks in the incense burner, then knelt on the ground and kowtowed in respect.
After performing the salutations, the ceremony was considered complete. Yun Duoduo smiled at the Empress Dowager and Yun Beiye, then straightened her back and walked down the steps.
[What a heavy jeweled crown!]
"Bang!"
Just as Yun Duoduo stepped down the first step, fire suddenly burst out of the incense burner, throwing everyone into chaos.
The concubines in the harem turned pale and fled in panic.
"Protect the Emperor!"
"Protect the Empress Dowager!"
"Quickly, escort the Empress Dowager back to the palace!"
Xiao Xuheng led the Imperial Guards to quickly assemble and protect the Empress Dowager and Yun Beiye.
General Jin held Xun Yunge and Jin Zhuangzhuang protectively in his arms.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
