Chapter 85: Consecration Ceremony
Yuying's canonization ceremony was scheduled before July. Even though Kangxi wanted to keep Yuying for a while, he felt sorry for her and was afraid that the canonization ceremony would coincide with the hottest time in the Forbidden City.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs delivered all the items needed for the enthronement ceremony to the West Warm Pavilion the day before.
According to the rules, Yuying only needed to get dressed and then perform the three kneeling and nine kowtows ceremony to the empress today. However, there was no empress in the palace, so she should have gone to see the Imperial Noble Consort who was in charge of the six palaces. However, Kangxi knew that Yuying was afraid of the rules and was not willing to kneel down, so he exempted her from this step, and gave the reason that the Imperial Noble Consort was not in good health and should not be overworked.
As for whether others believe it or not?
That was not within Kangxi's consideration.
This most important step was omitted by Kangxi, and Yuying was relieved. Anyway, Kangxi had the final say here. If he said it was okay, who would dare to say there was a problem? As for the Golden Book that was originally to be awarded to her by the Imperial Noble Consort, Kangxi said that he would do it for her.
So on this day, an incongruous enthronement ceremony began.
Early in the morning, Yuying woke up to the calls of Qingtao and Qingdai. There was no chance for Yuying to stay in bed today.
Yuying sat up from the bed with a look of despair, letting the two palace maids do whatever they wanted to her. Yuying had not yet come to her senses, she had not expected that the canonization ceremony would actually begin before dawn.
When she sat in front of the dressing mirror, Yuying looked at herself in the mirror. She was bleary-eyed and her face was more swollen than usual because she didn't get enough sleep. She immediately woke up.
Qingdai, who was about to put makeup on her, saw this and said with a smile: "Your Highness is finally awake. I was afraid that you would fall asleep without moving."
"Qingdai, put on my makeup first! We'll talk later!" Yuying couldn't stand herself looking like this for a moment.
Qingdai thought Yuying couldn't wait to put on the wedding dress. After all, when the wedding dress was delivered yesterday, Yuying couldn't wait to try it on and showed that she liked it very much. So she stopped talking and moved her hands faster. Luchen, who was combing Yuying's hair without saying a word, also quickened her pace.
Today's makeup and hair were done by two senior maids from the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Qing Tao couldn't help and could only watch helplessly from the side.
The court dress, even for a concubine, is dignified and steady. So the makeup that matches it should also be serious. This is something Yuying has never tried before, and it is naturally Qingtao's weak point, so she can only leave it to Qingdai Luchen.
After everything was ready, the three of them put on the court dress and crown for Yuying. Yuying in the mirror looked strange. She still had the same facial features as before, but she seemed to be sacred and inviolable.
Several people were stunned for a moment.
Yuying also stared at herself in the mirror, and the woman in the mirror, dressed in brocade and gorgeous clothes, was also staring at her. She reached out and touched her face. Her hands were now covered with long armor. It reminded her of the time when she and her roommates played the roles of emperor and concubine in the dormitory. When they were excited, they even used a pen holder instead of armor. At that time, she never thought that she would really wear armor one day.
Yuying felt a little disappointed and at a loss.
But she was not allowed to let her imagination run wild.
The eunuch at the door came in and reported that the auspicious time had arrived and asked her to move outside the hall and take the sedan chair to Chengqian Palace.
Kangxi insisted on taking on the task of granting her the Golden Book, so he went to Chengqian Palace first to wait for Yuying to come over.
Yuying was wearing a wedding dress that weighed several kilograms, and was supported by Qingtao and Qingdai as she walked to the door.
The sedan chair has stopped at the door.
Yuying climbed up slowly.
Sit tight and lift the sedan.
Behind her were Qing Tao and Qing Dai, and a long procession of colored banners from the imperial concubines. Kangxi had given instructions early on to clear the palace path and not allow anyone to walk around. At this moment, on the palace path, apart from the eunuchs who were doing daily sweeping and kneeling to pay their respects at the palace wall, there was only Yu Ying and her group.
Qing Tao couldn't help but straighten her chest. Being a master is so glorious, so naturally the servants around her will also be proud.
In Chengqian Palace, the concubines above the rank of concubine were already waiting there, but Kangxi had not come out yet.
Imperial Noble Consort Tong Jia was unable to attend today, so Kangxi had to appease her. As a result, he was playing chess with Tong Jia in the back hall.
Kangxi casually put down the chess piece, played with the jade pendant in his hand, and signaled Tong Jia to make her move. Tong Jia frowned, and the hand holding the chess piece hesitated as to where to place it.
At this time——
“Dongdong—”
There was a knock on the door.
It was Liang Jiugong who reminded Kangxi that it was time to go to the front hall.
"Cousin, it's time for me to go." Kangxi stood up.
Tong Jia put the chess pieces back into the chess box and stood up hastily. "Will my cousin come later?" She looked at the chessboard. "We haven't finished playing yet."
"Cousin, there are a lot of government affairs piled up in the Palace of Heavenly Purity waiting for me to deal with. We can't delay it." Kangxi declined politely.
Kangxi appeared in the front hall before Yuying's entourage arrived.
The concubines in the hall all bowed to Kangxi.
"Everyone, get up."
As soon as he finished speaking, a eunuch outside the door shouted loudly: "Empress Jin is here——"
Everyone looked outside the door and saw Yuying walking in step by step. Many people quietly pulled their collars and sat up straight.
Kangxi looked at Yuying's figure walking towards him with admiration in his eyes. When he saw Yuying was about to greet him, he raised his hand and said, "No need to be so polite."
Yuying naturally obeyed.
Then Yuying turned to Concubine Niohuru. Before Yuying could make any move, Concubine Niohuru exempted herself from the formalities. Then, the four concubines Hui, Rong, De and Yi followed suit.
Then it was Concubine An.
Yuying walked up to Concubine An and was about to bow to her as usual, but Concubine An quickly held Yuying's hand to prevent her from squatting down.
Yuying was stunned for a moment, and when she saw Anpin also squatting towards her, she remembered that she was now on the same level as Anpin, and when she greeted Anpin, she no longer had to squat in the posture of saluting someone of a higher position.
Yuying looked at Concubine An with gratitude.
After Yuying and several concubines exchanged greetings, the process was finally over.
Then Yuying took the golden book from Kangxi and handed it to Qingtao behind her, and Yuying was finally able to sit down.
Thinking about having to move the palace in the afternoon, Yuying sighed.
Sweet troubles.
Not long after sitting there, Kangxi took Yuying back to the Qianqing Palace.
Seeing Yuying's exhausted face, Kangxi asked: "If you can't bear it, it doesn't matter if you move the palace later."
"Your Majesty, are you deliberately delaying the repair of Yongshou Palace because it has not been completed yet?" Yuying was very suspicious.
Hearing that Yuying actually took his kindness for granted, Kangxi stopped talking and just looked at Yuying with a sidelong glance, letting Yuying figure out the meaning for herself.
"hey-hey."
Yuying realized belatedly that it seemed that her speculation about Kangxi was not quite kind, so she reached out and held Kangxi's arm, putting half of her weight on Kangxi, and raised her head to smile at him ingratiatingly.
"That's enough." Kangxi pushed Yuying's head away unhappily. "It's up to you whether to move or not. If you don't have enough manpower, you can use the people in the Qing Palace at your will."
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you are so kind!"
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