On the day of the imperial concubine investiture ceremony, the weather in Kyoto had already begun to feel the heat of early summer.
The heavy and gorgeous court dress of the Crown Princess was delivered to Zhaoyang Palace yesterday.
The bright red color exudes elegance and nobility, and every stitch was meticulously sewn by the embroiderers of the Imperial Clothing Bureau.
The golden phoenix wings are inlaid with sapphires, which gleam brilliantly.
Even at night, it can illuminate this vast sleeping chamber.
The weather outside was lovely, and occasionally a few orioles would sing on the pear tree branches.
According to the birth dates and times of the two people, the abbot of Huguo Temple told Xiao Xuan that the auspicious time would be Shen Shi (3-5 PM).
So at this moment, the palace has sent an old nanny to help Ningyin with her makeup and dressing up, and she is undoubtedly extremely beautiful today.
The old nanny used to comb Empress Zhang's hair; her skills were extraordinary. But Ning Yin was born with a face as beautiful as a lotus emerging from water.
After the old nanny finished applying the flower decoration to the woman's forehead, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "This woman should only exist in heaven."
The old nanny smiled approvingly at Ning Yin in the mirror, then said gently, "Your Highness, you are truly the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Even the former Empress Yao pales in comparison."
As soon as the old nanny spoke, she realized that she had overstepped her bounds. How could a mere servant dare to compare the late Empress with the current Crown Princess?
One is His Majesty's favorite, and the other is the Crown Prince's favorite. How could she be so inconsiderate?
The old nanny looked a little embarrassed, but seeing that Ningyin didn't say anything, she carefully put the phoenix crown on Ningyin's head.
"Your Highness, is there anything else that's not quite right? This old servant will fix it for you right away."
The old nanny's skills were indeed superb. With this makeover, Ning Yin was instantly transformed from a cold, aloof, and naive young girl into the Crown Princess whom everyone had to respect.
Even Su Xin, who grew up with Ning Yin, couldn't help but widen her eyes in amazement at her young mistress's appearance.
"Miss, you look absolutely stunning today..."
Su Xin blurted out, and the old nanny turned and glared at her.
She admonished, "Miss Suxin, you can no longer call her 'Miss.' Your mistress is now the most honored woman in the Great Qi, the Crown Princess. We servants must know our place. If you continue to do this, you will be punished."
The old nanny's stern face frightened Su Xin, who quickly nodded in agreement.
After everything was prepared, the old nanny helped Ningyin to her feet. Next, she would ride in a sedan chair with the Crown Prince to the Xuanyuan Palace for the investiture ceremony.
Su Xin and Granny Zhang were not of high enough status to wait for Ning Yin to return in Zhaoyang Palace. They escorted her to the palace gates, where a sedan chair was already waiting.
Tears welled in their eyes, as if they were witnessing their own daughter's wedding. While they were excited, they also worried about whether the Crown Prince would remain faithful to her.
The old nanny helped Ningyin sit down. A group of palace maids and eunuchs, who were originally kneeling, also stood up after the sedan chair was lifted. The procession was grand and headed towards the Xuanyuan Palace.
Ning Yin sat there, her mind filled with complicated emotions. She loved Xiao Xuan, but the thought of becoming his Crown Princess filled her with a strange sense of unease, as if something bad was about to happen.
But she had no way out now. She and he had already been intimate. If she didn't stay with the Crown Prince, the Emperor would find a way to bring her into the harem. She could only accept this fact now.
When Ning Yin arrived at Xuanyuan Palace, Xiao Xuan also arrived. He was undoubtedly excited, as the woman he had been longing for had finally become his rightful Crown Princess.
He quickly stepped down from the sedan chair, came to Ningyin's side, reached out to help the woman, and together they slowly entered the main hall.
Today, Xiao Xuan wore a dark blue wide-sleeved python robe with gold cloud patterns on the cuffs. His hair was tied up with a hollowed-out jade crown. He was tall and slender, with an air of elegance and nobility that made people dare not profane him.
Ning Yin, standing beside him, also possessed an extraordinary air about her. Her long, jet-black hair was styled into a bun, adorned with a phoenix crown and two gold hairpins, their long tassels swaying by her ears with each step.
Her eyebrows resembled distant mountains, her skin was as white as jade, and her lips, when pressed together, were as red as a ripe fruit.
The bright red dress was elegant and graceful, with a gold belt around her waist that accentuated her slender figure. Every step she took was stunning, captivating everyone present.
The emperor, in particular, was immediately captivated, feeling both regret and envy towards Xiao Xuan.
Xiao Xuan held Ning Yin's hand tightly, feeling the thin layer of sweat on her palm. He tapped it with his fingertip, offering encouragement.
"Ah Ning, don't be afraid. No matter what, I will stand by your side. After today, you will be the most noble woman in the world, and you will have nothing to fear from anyone."
He spoke to comfort her, but Ning Yin didn't dare to turn her head to look at him. She just nodded gently. The phoenix crown was too heavy. The gems and agates on it weighed down her neck, but she dared not make the slightest mistake.
With so many people watching them, especially the Emperor and Empress Dowager Zhang above, their state of mind was quite unusual.
The emperor felt regret, while the empress dowager was furious. Such a woman was beautiful, but she must not become a source of trouble.
Empress Yao was a prime example. The emperor favored her alone, disregarding the other concubines in the harem. Sometimes he was so infatuated with her that he neglected state affairs.
Ning Yin is now even more beautiful than Empress Yao, and she can't even imagine whether Xiao Xuan will be like his father in the future.
As the two drew closer, the emperor's Adam's apple bobbed twice involuntarily.
Standing to the lower right of the emperor is a female official, who is specifically responsible for reading out the investiture documents and presiding over related ceremonies.
The two stood in the center of the hall. The female official quickly unfolded the investiture document, her dignified and solemn face showing no emotion, only glancing at Ning Yin briefly.
"The ceremony for the investiture of the Crown Princess begins. Kneel..."
This is the investiture of the Crown Princess, so Xiao Xuan doesn't need to kneel. The old nanny has already explained all the procedures to her, and Ning Yin has done a good job of following the rules.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Ning Yin, daughter of the Ning family, is of virtuous character and appearance, gentle and kind. Now that the Crown Prince is of marriageable age, she is a worthy match for him. Therefore, Ning Yin is hereby appointed as the Crown Prince's principal wife, and a wedding date shall be chosen. This is the imperial decree..."
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty..."
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