After breakfast, the couple went to Liuxuanyuan to pick up Taifei.
Outside the courtyard gate, I met Mrs. Qiao and Princess Kangren.
Qiao was wearing a dark blue wedding dress and a phoenix crown with three dragons and two phoenixes on her head.
It was also piled with various jewels, but it was not as gorgeous as Jiang Changning's phoenix crown.
Looking at Jiang Changning, who was wearing a deep red auspicious dress embroidered with phoenix patterns, a hint of jealousy flashed in Qiao's eyes.
After getting on the carriage at the ceremonial gate, King Jin held Jiang Changning's hand and told her again, "Don't be afraid, I'll take care of everything."
Although he arranged people, he was still worried.
"I'm not afraid. Don't worry. I won't make any mistakes in the sacrifice. I will be careful everywhere. During the dinner, I will stay with my mother and will never be alone. I will never give anyone with ulterior motives a chance to take advantage of me."
Jiang Changning certainly knew that this was a good opportunity for the emperor to take action against her.
The palace is the emperor's territory, so she had already asked Shu Fei to find a way to contact the people planted in the palace and be careful and cautious.
Prince Jin looked down at Jiang Changning's slender fingers, his eyes becoming more determined.
"I asked the small kitchen to make some cakes and put them in a food box. Ask Chang Youzhong to carry it and eat it after the festival. Don't starve."
Once they entered the ancestral temple, they had to separate and would not meet again until the dinner.
Prince Jin smiled. He liked Jiang Changning's care and concern very much. He leaned forward and pecked Jiang Changning on the lips.
When you arrive at the ancestral temple, you must enter according to the rule that men go on the left and women on the right.
The men's side was divided into three teams. One team was the royal family, led by Prince Jin. Although Prince Qing, Prince Ding and Prince De were his uncles, he put the country first and then his family.
The second group was made up of nobles, led by the Queen's maiden family, Duke Sui, followed by Duke Zheng and Duke Zhao.
The third team is composed of officials, led by a first-rank grand tutor.
The ladies outside the royal court were also divided into three teams. The leader of the first team was the Dowager Consort of Prince Jin, followed by the Dowager Consort of Prince Yu, the Consort of Prince Qing, the Consort of Prince Ding, and the Consort of Prince De.
The other team was led by the Grand Princess of Jiashan, followed by three Grand Princesses, four Grand Princesses, and then the County Princesses, County Princesses, and Township Lady.
The third team was led by the wives of officials such as the Grand Tutor and the Grand Preceptor.
Jiang Changning stood behind Princess De, and behind her was Princess Yu Zhao Xifang. Song Yirou was several people away from them, and Qiao was even further behind.
After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, the Queen Mother and the Empress came down surrounded by eunuchs and imperial guards.
They stood in front of the ladies from outside the court. Imperial concubines and concubines were not qualified to come.
The Minister of the Imperial Household presided over the ceremony and said loudly, "The spirits have been appeased. Your Majesty is invited to pay respects."
The emperor, wearing a dark blue robe, walked up to the main altar.
"Your Majesty, I am ordered to accompany you in the sacrifice."
The Empress Dowager is honored as the Emperor's biological mother, not the empress of the previous emperor.
During the sacrifice, she was still a concubine.
According to the etiquette and laws of this dynasty, concubines cannot serve as companions in sacrifice.
When the Empress stood beside the Emperor, the Minister of Rites said, "Offer six animals."
The six animals were passed up from the last person.
Although I know that there is a high probability that Zhao Xifang would not be so ignorant as to play tricks during the sacrifice.
But Jiang Changning was still very careful. When he turned around to take the thing from her hand, he stared into her eyes.
But even so, when Jiang Changning was taking the chicken, Zhao Xifang let go before he could completely take it.
Fortunately, Jiang Changning was on guard all the time, and although the tray fell down a bit, Jiang Changning managed to keep his balance.
Jiang Changning said silently: "I am the only one in the Jiang family. It's worth it to exchange for your whole family."
Zhao Xifang's expression changed slightly. Jiang Changning turned around and handed the tray to Princess De.
"No need." Zhao Xifang just wanted to scare Jiang Changning and had no intention of causing any real trouble, but now she was frightened by Jiang Changning's fierce eyes.
Until the end of the ceremony, Zhao Xifang did not dare to cause any more trouble.
The emperor and empress left first, and the others, led by the eunuchs, left the ancestral temple.
After leaving the ancestral temple, there was no need to queue. Jiang Changning hurried forward to support the concubine and gave her a piece of cake. "It's red date cake."
"Why do you carry cakes with you?" The toffee frowned.
"I'm afraid of being hungry." Jiang Changning quickly stuffed the pastry into his mouth.
The toffee was also hungry, and after hesitating for a moment, he followed his instinct and ate the pastry.
Mrs. Qiao and Princess Kangren also came over. Jiang Changning didn't give any cakes to Mrs. Qiao, but gave a piece to Princess Kangren, "Eat quickly."
Princess Kang Ren was stunned at first, then she lowered her head and carefully looked at the cake in her hand, raised the corner of her mouth, and ate the cake quickly.
On the way to Fushou Palace, Jiang Changning whispered to the concubine: "Mother, the prince asked me to bring some food into the palace. Let's find a place to eat."
The concubine looked at her with a straight face, "Did the prince ask you to bring it?"
"I asked the prince, and he agreed." Jiang Changning said.
The concubine smiled. This was not the first time she had come to attend the ceremony, but the King of Jin had never asked anyone to prepare food.
When the eldest son was alive, Mrs. Qiao never asked.
The concubine glared at Qiao unhappily, completely forgetting that when she was a princess, she never asked anyone to prepare food.
She could have asked the servants to prepare food now, but she didn't. However, she is the mother-in-law and she can choose not to do anything, but the daughter-in-law cannot.
"Go to Changyi Palace." said the concubine.
Changyi Palace next to Fushou Palace was where the concubines lived. But after the Chenglong Incident, there were no concubines and the palace remained vacant. Whenever there was a banquet in the palace, the palace would be cleaned up for the female guests to rest.
The women in Prince Jin's mansion must have separate houses for them to rest.
Xiaochun was the one who had been in charge of the food box. She took out the food and arranged it, then stepped behind Jiang Changning and reported in a low voice, "Princess, the food box has never left my hand."
"Well done." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
The food was served in small portions, including meat jerky, dried fruits, cakes, and Tremella and wolfberry soup.
Jiang Changning asked someone to make an insulated box, and after three hours, the soup was still warm.
"Sister-in-law, I'm sorry. I forgot you didn't like Tremella soup, so I won't give it to you." Jiang Changning scooped a bowl for each of the concubine, Princess Kang Ren and himself.
"I don't want to eat." Qiao glared at Jiang Changning angrily and retracted her hand that was about to take the cake. "I'm not hungry."
If she doesn’t want to eat it, then don’t eat it. She doesn’t want it.
Jiang Changning placed a bowl of soup in front of the concubine, "Mother, drink a bowl of soup first."
Toffee picked up the soup and took a sip. It was thick and delicious, not too sweet or greasy. "Not bad."
Princess Kang Ren looked at the soup and swallowed. Her mother didn’t have any, so could she drink it
"Kang Ren, drink the soup." Jiang Changning urged.
"Oh." Princess Kang Ren picked up the bowl and took a big sip. Her dry throat was immediately moistened. She felt so comfortable!
There are four people in Prince Jin's Mansion, two in different styles. Three of them are eating cakes and drinking sweet soup, and one is sitting there with a blank expression.
At this time, a palace maid came in and went straight to the women of Prince Jin's Mansion.
(End of this chapter)