Jiang Changning moved into Qiyuan Palace on July 20th. Neither she nor Emperor Xuanzhi were in a hurry to move in, but the Empress Dowager didn't think so.
She repeatedly hinted to Jiang Changning that Tiancheng Palace was where the emperor lived, and as the queen, she should live in Qiyuan Palace, which was in accordance with the rules.
Jiang Changning didn’t care about moving, he just moved.
As for the Empress Dowager asking her to persuade Emperor Xuanzhi to spend more time with other people in the harem so that they can get more benefits from it.
Sorry, she has tinnitus and can't hear.
Although the Queen Mother was annoyed by Jiang Changning's behavior of pretending to be deaf and dumb, she did not force Jiang Changning too much.
She could only say to Emperor Xuanzhi: "The affairs of state have been settled. You should select some people to enter the palace and give me more grandchildren."
"Mother, my son has just ascended the throne. It is not appropriate to hold a beauty contest at this time. People will mistakenly think that my son is addicted to women and a ruler who has brought harm to the country." Emperor Xuanzhi said.
"Is that so? Then let's wait for some time before making a choice." The Queen Mother still cared about her son's reputation.
Emperor Xuanzhi raised his lips slightly, "I listen to my mother."
The Empress Dowager temporarily gave up the idea of a beauty contest. Emperor Xuanzhi coaxed the Empress Dowager a few more words and then left to review memorials in the Qinzheng Hall.
After reviewing for a while, Chang Youzhong came in and said, "Your Majesty, the director of the Imperial Observatory wants to see you."
"Let him in." Emperor Xuanzhi said.
The Imperial Astronomical Observatory reported: "The tenth day of the eighth month is the most auspicious day in the past six months. The purple star is bright, the companion stars are dazzling, and the phoenix bird is holding its head high. It is the most suitable day to hold the ceremony of crowning the queen."
The date for the Queen's coronation ceremony was set, and the Ministry of Rites began to get busy again.
On the tenth day of the eighth month, at the hour of Mao, Emperor Xuanzhi got up to attend court.
His movements were very gentle, but Jiang Changning still woke up, "Did I wake you up? It's still early, you should sleep a little longer."
"I can't sleep. I'm so excited when I think about today's queen coronation ceremony." Jiang Changning said excitedly.
"Just don't feel tired for a while." Emperor Xuanzhi said with a smile.
The queen's court dress is much heavier than the princess's, and she will have to wear it for at least two hours today.
"I won't mind." Jiang Changning got up, washed, had a simple breakfast with Emperor Xuanzhi, and sent Emperor Xuanzhi out.
"My Queen, we'll see you later."
Jiang Changning curved his eyebrows and smiled, "See you later."
With the help of the palace maids, Jiang Changning changed into a complicated and luxurious phoenix robe and put on a phoenix crown that symbolized her identity and status.
When Jiang Changning put on the phoenix crown, he felt three inches shorter.
This phoenix crown is so heavy!
Jiang Changning looked at himself in the bronze mirror and whispered: "If you want to wear the emperor's robe, you must bear its weight; if you want to hold a rose, you must bear its pain."
"My queen, is there something wrong?" Fang Ju asked.
Jiang Changning stretched out his hand and pinched his neck, "No, it's great."
The autumn sun is still hot and bright, pouring down on the glazed tiles, dazzling.
The bright yellow phoenix chariot stopped outside the Qiyuan Palace. A breeze blew past, and the auspicious cloud golden bells hanging around the canopy made crisp sounds.
With the help of the palace maids, Jiang Changning sat on the phoenix chariot and went to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Amid the endless music, Jiang Changning got off the phoenix chariot and walked step by step towards the man who was waiting for her on the jade steps. Her excited mood inexplicably calmed down.
Emperor Xuanzhi looked at his wife who was walking towards him with a smile in his eyes. When there were still three jade steps left, he took three steps down and extended his hand to her in front of Jiang Changning's surprised gaze.
Jiang Changning raised the corner of his lips and placed his hand in his palm.
With their fingers intertwined, Emperor Xuanzhi led her to the jade steps, and the ceremonial officer said loudly: "Pray to the heavens and report to the heavenly court."
Afterwards, Emperor Xuanzhi handed the empress's imperial seal and other items to Jiang Changning one by one, and said, "From today on, you are my empress, and you will share this vast country with me."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jiang Changning bowed slightly.
The couple climbed onto a high platform where a dragon chair and a phoenix chair were placed. The chair with a carved dragon head was on the left, and the chair with a carved phoenix head was on the right.
After he sat down, all the civil and military officials knelt down and shouted in unison: "Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, and a thousand years and a thousand years of live the empress!"
Then she performed the ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows and Jiang Changning breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing how respectful all the officials were, she thought that her ceremony of crowning the queen was probably of the highest standard.
Whether it was true or not, Jiang Changning would not ask Emperor Xuanzhi.
"Get up and play music." the ceremonial officer said loudly.
The music sounded again, solemn and dignified.
When the music stopped, the officials bowed again according to their rank, followed by the ladies.
An hour had passed by when these people had finished their worship. Jiang Changning's whole body was stiff from sitting there, and his neck felt numb.
When will this long ceremony end
"Today is the ceremony of enthroning the Queen, and it also coincides with my ascension to the throne. The whole country is celebrating, and all the people are enjoying themselves. I will grant amnesty to the world to accumulate blessings for the Queen." Emperor Xuanzhi said.
When a new emperor ascends the throne, he will grant amnesty to the entire country, but Emperor Xuanzhi said at the ceremony of enthroning the queen that it was obviously to make Jiang Changning famous.
Emperor Xuanzhi announced: "All exiles will have their 60 miles reduced, all prisoners will have their one year reduced, and death row prisoners will have their execution postponed by one month!"
The people below immediately shouted "Long live the emperor" and said things like "The emperor and the empress are kind and benevolent and bring blessings to the world".
After the ceremony, there was the banquet to crown the queen. An hour later, Jiang Changning, whose facial muscles were almost cramping from laughing, was finally able to leave the banquet and return to Qiyuan Palace.
"Hurry, hurry, help me take off the phoenix crown. My neck is about to break." Jiang Changning said anxiously as soon as he entered the hall.
Fangju and others hurriedly helped her put on and take off the phoenix crown.
Jiang Changning, who had relaxed, took a deep breath, took the tea brought by Shucui, and drank it all in one gulp, "Prepare some water, I want to take a bath."
The phoenix robes, layer upon layer, made her sweat profusely.
Fortunately, she was only blocked once. If it happened a few more times, she would be dead.
The ceremony of enthroning the queen was held with great grandeur, but the ceremonies for enthroning other concubines in the harem the next day were much simpler.
Shun Zhaoyi and Zhaopin had their own separate ceremonies, but the promotion ceremonies for others were held collectively and were as perfunctory as they could be.
When Jiang Changning learned about Emperor Xuanzhi's arrangement, he said, "This is not a good idea."
Emperor Xuanzhi said with a bitter face: "My Queen, the treasury is empty, so we should save as much as possible."
Jiang Changning thought of the mountains of good things in the storehouse of Qiyuan Palace and frowned. Is the national treasury empty
Well, the emperor said the treasury was empty. What could the empress do? Of course she had to listen to him.
That day, the couple went to Ciren Palace to have lunch with the Empress Dowager.
The Queen Mother talked about the Mid-Autumn Festival. "We have just held several grand ceremonies, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites are tired. We won't hold a big banquet for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Let's invite Yinyao and Mi'er to the palace, and we can enjoy the moon together. What do you think?"
Jiang Changning's eyes lit up. What the Queen Mother said was exactly what she was thinking, but it still depended on Emperor Xuanzhi's opinion.
Emperor Xuanzhi was a little surprised by the Empress Dowager's words. After all, the Empress Dowager was quite particular about ostentation.
Although he didn't know why the Queen Mother didn't want to hold a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, Emperor Xuanzhi still said obediently: "I will listen to my mother."
(End of this chapter)