Prime Minister Chu glanced at him indifferently, then looked away and focused on his toes.
For a very long time, no one dared to stand up and say a word.
Hmm...it seems yesterday's results did have some effect.
If no one comes out to cause trouble, Rong Ning can reason with them properly.
She looked at everyone and said slowly, "Everyone... I gave you a chance today, but if you don't speak up, then don't speak up again in the future. After all, talking about others behind their backs is not the behavior of a gentleman."
Not to mention saying things like, "I am a woman, and I am not capable of shouldering great responsibilities!"
Besides this, if you really think I'm not good enough, then tell me clearly what I'm not good at, and I will learn and change!
"I am quite humble and eager to learn!"
But the ministers all lowered their heads and remained silent.
When the morning court session ended, no one stood up to say a word.
It's so boring.
Rong Ning's roguish style of doing things made these scholars, who valued their reputation, less arrogant than before, and they began to think twice before speaking and acting.
The emperor took the opportunity to reiterate his stance on the matter, and the crown prince, taking advantage of the lingering impact of Rong Ning's outburst at the Censorate, personally visited several high-ranking officials in the court with gifts.
On a sunny afternoon, the emperor and the prime minister of Chu played chess together for the entire afternoon.
The next day, the imperial decree bestowing marriage upon Chu Pingyao and the Crown Prince arrived at the Chu residence.
Later, when the Crown Prince and the Emperor proposed giving Rong Ning command of the northern border troops again, no one stood up to say no!
The matter was finally settled a few days before Rong Ningcheng's wedding, but as for the specific arrangements, the Crown Prince said that the decree would be issued after her marriage.
With the decision settled, Rong Ning felt at ease. As the wedding date drew closer, Rong Ning devoted most of her energy to the wedding preparations.
Because Xie Chong's status was awkward and he had no residence outside the palace, it would be too embarrassing to bring him directly into the princess's residence on the wedding day. Therefore, the wedding was to be held in the palace, and the bridal chamber was set up in Zhaoqing Palace.
Although the marriage was arranged hastily, it was still a wedding between a princess and her husband. Moreover, Rong Ning was the emperor's only legitimate princess, so the importance attached to the wedding was self-evident. Therefore, the wedding was prepared in a grand and solemn manner. As a result, Rong Ning and Xie Chong entered the palace three days in advance to familiarize themselves with all the wedding procedures.
On the day of their wedding, before dawn, the Zhaoqing Palace was already brightly lit.
A hundred-foot-long crimson brocade carpet stretched from the palace gate all the way to the main hall, with gilded bronze cranes holding lanterns on both sides. The flickering flames reflected off the glazed tiles, making them shimmer like a celestial river pouring down to earth.
Because the imperial son-in-law Xie Chong had no other residence, the palace specially arranged for the nine-tiered sedan chair with cloud-patterned vines, a symbol of the wedding ceremony, to be parked in front of the Zichen Hall. Officials from the Ministry of Rites carried a tray made of golden nanmu wood, on which the marriage compatibility chart with carved dragons in red gold shimmered in the morning light—such an extravagant display was originally only seen at the wedding of the crown prince.
Such a grand display is enough to show that the Emperor and Crown Prince's favoritism towards Rong Ning is unparalleled.
Rong Ning sat gracefully before her dressing table, as twelve palace ladies gently placed a nine-phoenix crown, made of pearls from the South China Sea, onto her cloud-like hair.
The gold-embroidered design of a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons on her shawl rose and fell with her breath, while the jade pendant at her waist trembled slightly.
She heard three cannon salutes fired outside, and Xie Chong was walking towards her from the Donghua Gate, accompanied by elegant music.
Inside the main hall, the emperor and his concubine chuckled on the high platform, "Thinking about it, it's been a long time since we've seen such a lively scene."
Before he finished speaking, the seventy-two large drums made of Kui skin resounded loudly, and as the palace doors opened, the river and sea patterns on Xie Chong's crimson python robe were stirred up by the wind.
His hands were holding the golden goose, his knuckles white, but he suddenly loosened his grip when he clasped Rong Ning's hands together to form a love knot.
During the three bows, the thin calluses brushed against Rong Ning's palm, causing the pearls hanging from her phoenix crown to sway gently.
As the ceremony concluded, a thousand Kongming lanterns rose from the osmanthus tree, turning the twilight into amber-colored glass.
Xie Chong's status was awkward, so he didn't go out to socialize with the guests. Rong Ning wouldn't go either, and no one dared to consummate the marriage. In fact, Rong Ning had cleared everyone out of the bridal chamber. So the two of them were sitting together in the bridal chamber, staring at each other.
The two of them hadn't yet adjusted to this change in identity.
"Are you hungry?" Rong Ning finally spoke first.
“A little!!” Xie Chong replied.
They haven't had a proper meal all day.
"Ah Ying..."
Rong Ning called out towards the door...
"Eh~"
Aying responded quickly, but didn't come in. She spoke from outside the door, "What are your orders, Your Highness?"
"Have someone prepare some food, and bring in a few more people to help me remove these things from my head!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Aying immediately gave the order and led several quick-witted servants inside to attend to them.
Xie Chong sat on a stool to the side, watching them busy themselves, and felt a little dazed.
He really did get married, and the woman he married was the most noble woman in the world.
As Rong Ning removed her earring and tilted her head, she saw Xie Chong staring blankly. After thinking for a moment, she instructed, "Have the servants prepare some hot water to help the prince consort wash up."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
They responded and left.
After Rong Ning and Xie Chong finished getting ready, the meal was also prepared. Having been hungry all day, Rong Ning had a really good appetite. She ate her fill, then leaned back in her chair, holding her stomach, with her legs stretched out, staring blankly at the roof beams.
I'm just feeling weak after a good meal...
Xie Chong also stopped eating, raised his hand to have the food removed, and poured Rong Ning a cup of tea and handed it to her.
"Xie Chong..." Rong Ning's voice was languid, "How are we going to sleep tonight? It doesn't seem right for us to sleep in separate rooms on our wedding night."
"cough--"
Xie Chong choked on his tea...
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