“The Bureau of Palace Furnishings has already set up the imperial throne before Fengtian Gate. The Imperial Observatory has also informed Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temples. The Imperial Ancestral Temple has been offered sacrifices, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites have also…”

Shen Qianyu waved his hand, interrupting Ji Rong’s words.

He wasn’t particularly concerned about matters of the ascension ceremony. There were many capable officials in court—how could they fail to handle such a minor matter properly?

Ji Rong also understood his meaning. After thinking it over, he moved all the memorials concerning the ascension ceremony to the back and instead drew out memorials regarding the Empress investiture.

“The Court of Imperial Sacrifices has already made offerings to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temples. Inside Fengtian Hall, the册宝 case table, the ceremonial palanquin in the vermillion courtyard, the incense pavilion, and everything else have all been set up completely.”

“The only thing remaining is to wait for the ninth day of this month, the day of the grand ceremony, when Your Majesty and the Empress will jointly offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and proclaim the imperial edict…”

“Understood.”

Thinking that on that day he would walk hand-in-hand with Song Wan into Fengtian Hall, Shen Qianyu couldn’t help but feel anticipation.

By rights, the ascension ceremony should have preceded the Empress investiture. However, Shen Qianyu used the excuse that the national treasury was not abundant to combine the ascension and investiture into a single day. Though some in court submitted memorials bluntly stating this didn’t conform to ancestral regulations, Shen Qianyu rejected them all.

He now possessed increasing authority. Court officials knew the new Emperor was not the timid sort like the late Emperor. His temperament was volatile. On major matters related to the nation and its foundation, he could still listen to three parts of everyone’s admonitions, but for everything else, he had no patience for excessive interference.

Occasionally there were those with stubborn temperaments who always wanted to constrain him with old regulations, yet they were repeatedly scolded by Shen Qianyu until they couldn’t raise their heads.

Just like this Empress investiture ceremony—neither the choice of Empress nor the ritual met the court officials’ approval, yet no one dared say a word.

Only because Shen Qianyu was truly an Emperor who had been on the battlefield and possessed unparalleled military achievements.

This realm—he had genuinely conquered it himself through hard fighting.

After a long time, those court officials realized they could do nothing about him, so they could only let him have his way.

On the ninth day, at the auspicious hour, Shen Qianyu wore the Emperor’s ceremonial robes and, accompanying Song Wan, followed officials from the Court of State Ceremonial to Fengtian Hall. The hundred officials of the court were divided into civil and military columns—civil officials knelt east of the imperial path, military officials knelt west of the imperial path, waiting outside the hall.

Above Fengtian Hall, ceremonial officials chanted verses to communicate with Heaven and request its decree.

Shen Qianyu listened to those solemn and serious verses, yet his thoughts flew to Song Wan’s side.

He suddenly recalled the day he first met Song Wan, when she said: “The Crown Prince is born of the Son of Heaven, with profound blessings that extend far.”

Shen Qianyu curved his lips in a faint smile, his eyes revealing tenderness.

Held hostage for twelve years, he had narrowly escaped death many times. Those various harsh situations made him never believe in Heaven, Earth, ghosts, or spirits. But after meeting Wan’er, he came to believe that the bloodline of the Son of Heaven truly was a blessed existence.

“Your Majesty, the ceremony is complete.”

Shen Qianyu nodded and descended from Fengtian Gate, supporting Song Wan’s hand.

Entering Fengtian Hall, civil and military officials filed in one after another. Because Ji Rong had already been promoted to Supervisor of Ceremonies with seal authority, he was the one to read the edict for the new Emperor’s ascension and the Empress investiture.

Three days later, the new Emperor issued an edict to the realm, changing the era name to Tai’an, granting a great amnesty across the land, and exempting taxes for three years. Even the inner palace received its benefits.

Those who were over twenty-five years old or had been in the palace for more than ten years could, if they wished to leave the palace, submit petitions to the Empress. Jinshu was at this time granted clemency by Song Wan and released from the palace.

After Shen Qianyu’s ascension, Song Wan moved to Changle Palace. The other women from the Eastern Palace were each granted consort titles and bestowed with palace halls.

At present, Jinshu was kneeling before Song Wan, eyes red as she kowtowed in thanks for the Empress’s great kindness.

“Dear Jinshu, why must you do this?”

Gently having someone help Jinshu up, Song Wan said: “I had Heng Zhi prepare a residence for you in the capital. After you leave the palace, you can live there first.”

Thinking of that box of pearls Wan Xiao had sent her previously, Song Wan’s heart felt slightly bitter.

Jinshu ultimately hadn’t kept that box of pearls. It had been forced upon her, but some days ago she had already asked someone to return it to Wan Xiao—she just didn’t know what feelings Wan Xiao had upon seeing it.

“Have you decided when to marry?”

Jinshu smiled shyly: “This summer, perhaps.”

“Why decide so hastily?”

“This servant and my husband are both advanced in years. He also doesn’t want to drag things out. This servant thought that it’s going to happen sooner or later anyway—there’s truly no need to keep delaying.”

“Marriage is not child’s play. You must observe carefully. If that person’s character and disposition are both excellent, then marrying won’t be too late.”

“This servant understands.”

Jinshu nodded with a beaming smile, her eyes full of expectations for the future.

Handing the exit documents to Heng Zhi, Heng Zhi then passed them to Jinshu.

Jinshu received them, but suddenly her eyes reddened.

She had served by Song Wan’s side for many years. Song Wan treated her like a blood sister and had never regarded her as a servant. Now that she was leaving everyone, she felt extremely reluctant.

“Your Majesty the Empress…”

The young woman’s eyes reddened. Tears as large as beans rolled down, making Song Wan also feel very reluctant.

“Dear Jinshu, go. If in the future your life doesn’t go smoothly, go to the Song estate. I’ll have my sister-in-law bring you back to the palace.”

Hearing these words, Jinshu burst into tears with a wail.

Heng Zhi and Heng Wu also reddened their eyes, but they stepped forward and gently coaxed her out.

Song Wan accepted the vermillion brush a palace maid handed over and continued approving other palace maids’ and female officials’ requests to leave the palace.

While she was busy, a eunuch outside came to report that Consort Wu requested an audience.

Wu Xixiang entered Changle Palace. Just as she was about to perform the ceremonial bow, Song Wan stopped her.

“Since the Empress has exempted this subject from the formalities, this subject will shamelessly accept.”

“For Sister Wu to speak this way—are you teasing Wan’er?”

Song Wan smiled warmly and gently. Wu Xixiang also smiled gracefully in response.

After a long while, Wu Xixiang said: “Actually, this subject came today because there’s a matter I wish to ask of Her Majesty the Empress. Please, Your Majesty, show mercy.”

“Does Sister Wu also wish to leave the palace?”

Upon hearing this, Wu Xixiang’s eyes reddened slightly.

She was born with a black-red mark on her face, yet her father had never regarded her as inauspicious and had never been ashamed of her.

“This subject’s father was honest and upright his entire life, devoted to home and country. The old gentleman was born of common people, and his family could be called impoverished. Even so, after becoming an official, he used most of his savings to aid the poor.”

“After this subject’s mother passed away, this subject urged Father many times to remarry, but Father said that having this subject as his one daughter in this lifetime was already sufficient.”

Wu Xixiang raised her hand to touch the mark on her face that could never be removed in her lifetime, and smiled tenderly.

“Unfortunately, I never in my life accomplished anything to bring glory to Father.”

Though her father was a Censor, he had been scrupulously honest his entire life. The household could even be called straitened. From when she was very young, she did odd jobs to supplement the household. Fortunately, the Wu family consisted only of her and her father, plus one old servant—three people total—so they could still maintain an official family’s dignity.

But inevitably she received some criticism.

“When the people from Dong Chang came to our home asking if this subject was willing to enter the Eastern Palace, this subject was extremely delighted.”

“Only because I could finally hold my head high and bring glory to Father.”

Her difficult marriage prospects had always been a heartache for her father. Only after entering the Eastern Palace did Father set his heart at ease.

“This subject entered the palace for Father. Now that he is gone…”

“This subject wishes to leave the palace to visit Father’s hometown.”

Wu Xixiang looked at Song Wan, hot tears rolling from her eyes.

“The happiest days of this subject’s life were when gathered joyfully with all the sisters in the Eastern Palace. But now, this subject wishes to go see the magnificent rivers and mountains of our Dongning on Father’s behalf.”

“This subject wonders whether Her Majesty the Empress could grant this request?”