abcnovels
Chapter 367
Chapter 367
Chapter 367
“Really?!” Empress Wei was delighted and immediately instructed Miao momo, “Miao momo, don’t tell Xiao Jiu about this, this empress and the emperor will give her a surprise.”
Miao momo quickly responded before retreating.
A joyful atmosphere bloomed inside the Fengluan Palace.
The palace maids nearby who were serving Empress Wei inwardly sighed, few of them looked at Empress Wei as an honorable person, but they all knew how difficult it had been for the empress for the past ten years, it was thanks to the emperor putting her into his heart always that she could bear these years.
Seeing Empress Wei happy, the corner of emperor’s lips also curved up as the two of them continued talking about the gift they would give to Qin Jiu that day. The emperor ordered Zhou Xin to open the inner warehouse to pick out some jewelry over to choose.
Empress Wei saw that the emperor was not busy today, so she asked, “Does the emperor want to stay and have dinner with me today? Zhen’er will be leaving school soon, too.”
“I also have not accompanied you and Zhen’er in a meal for a few days now.” The emperor agreed, while speaking, a slight frown could be seen on his face, remembering why he left his imperial study and came to Fengluan Palace, he turned the topic, “Wang Yu after being quiet for a while, had his son and daughter visit the capital, they should be arriving next month.”
Empress Wei slightly frowned. “Are they visiting to pay their filial piety to Consort Fang?”
Before the late emperor passed away, he never forgets his beloved concubine and son. He made sure that nothing happens to them after he was gone, so he made the current emperor swear to heaven on his death bed that he would not mistreat Concubine Fang and her son, he even invited the imperial clan and the cabinet of elders as witnesses, afraid that the emperor would not honor the promise.
Empress Wei was also present at that time, and she could see that the late emperor wanted Concubine Fang to go with Wang Yu, to his fiefdom, however because he already wasted his breath by explaining everything earlier, so before the late emperor could finish this sentence, he breathed his last breath.
At that time, Concubine Fang cried mournfully that she almost fainted, those who didn’t know may think that she had a deep affection for the late emperor and wanted to be buried with him.
The emperor simply detained Concubine Fang in the capital, even after Wang Yu requested three times to take her to Yuzhou, the emperor just plainly ignored him.
In recent years, the Wang Yu has occasionally sent his children to visit Concubine Fang in the capital.
The emperor faintly said. “He was afraid that I had treated the concubine poorly.”
Because of the later emperor’s decree, the current emperor would naturally not treat her badly. Like the other concubines of the late emperor, Concubine Fang has lived in the palace on the outskirt of the capital after the death of the later emperor, and enjoyed her due share, he even went to her palace to greet her during Chinese New Years.
Wang Yu was an ambitious person, hoarding three hundred thousand troops in Yuzhou, in a way having Concubine Fang here in the capital was like having her as a hostage.
The emperor felt a complex emotion: ten years ago, when he first ascended to the throne, he thought of waiting for his reign to stabilize before dealing with the hidden danger like Wang Yu. However, ten years later, Daqi was still unstable, once the external turmoil was resolved internal problem arose again…
So, over the years, the emperor has not made a move against Wang Yu and Concubine Fang. First, he was concerned about the late emperor’s imperial edict, and second, he doesn’t really have the manpower and resources to fight Wang Yu. Wang Yu has an army of 300,000 soldiers, and if he hastily takes action, it would either split Daqi or give opportunities for those foreign barbarians to take advantage of them.
Right now, Daqi must fight steadily to return to its former glory.
With these thoughts running into his mind, the emperor picked up the teacup and slowly sip his tea.
While, Empress Wei didn’t really care as she lightly said, “Let them come.”
Anyway, Wang Yu’s third son and the county princess couldn’t make any waves.
Empress Wei quickly put this matter behind her in a blink of an eye, what she cares about now was her niece’s coming-of-age ceremony. She pulled the emperor, “Your Majesty, what kind of clothes should this wife wear better on the day of my niece’s hairpin ceremony? This wife made some new summer clothes, can you give me some advice?”
You Bai signaled everyone with her eyes and quickly summoned young palace maids to carry the empress’s new summer clothes out of the closet. As the clothes were out for display, Gu Zhen who was already out of school was also called by the empress to help her choose clothes and jewelry together.
The atmosphere in Fengluan Palace was warm as the family of three continued to talk and laugh, making everyone’s faces filled with bright smiles.
On the ninth day of the seventh month, Empress Wei got up early and waited for the emperor to leave the court, the couple then left the palace together and went to the Qin family.
The arrival of the empress and the emperor caused the entire Qin mansion to explode.
Old Madam Qin had arrived earlier, so she was able to welcome them at the gate in person, and led the emperor and Empress Wei to the hall where the coming-of-age ceremony would be held.
Qin Jiu and Yun Jiao stayed in the side hall, only to hear the clamoring sound coming from the direction of the main hall, a young maidservant came to report happily, “His Majesty the emperor, and empress are here!”
Aunt Empress and Uncle Emperor were here! Qin Jiu opened her eyes wide in surprise, and hurried out of the side hall with Yun Jiao.
A this time the other guests in the main hall saluted to the emperor, one after another. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
The emperor waved his hand with a smile and said affectionately, “No need to be polite, today Xiao Jiu is the main character, don’t let me steal her thunder.”
Everyone responded, but their expressions inevitably became a little more restrained and their thoughts were complex.
The emperor may said there was no need to be polite, but Old Madam Qin did not dare to treat the emperor casually, and gave her position to the emperor and the empress.
Empress Wei looked at the pot leak on the side and reminded, “The auspicious time is almost here, right?” Today was a good day for her niece, they mustn’t delay the auspicious time.
Immediately after, others also took their seats, Qin Jiu also returned to the side hall.
At the first hour of the auspicious time, a solemn sound of silk and bamboo was heard in the hall, representing the official start of the coming age ceremony.
Under the guidance of Miao momo, Qin Jiu and Yun Jiao walked towards the main hall, there, Old Madam Qin gave a brief speech and announced the beginning of the ceremony.
Followed after, Cui momo opened the bamboo curtain, and Qin Jiu who was dressed in an aqua-colored dress with a double bun on her head, walked into the hall amidst the burning eyes of everyone.
Qin Jiu strode gracefully to the front of the table, smiled sweetly at Empress Wei who was standing in the main guest position, and then bowed deeply to the people who were watching the ceremony today.
The guests were all smiling, but inwardly they were not as calm as they appeared to be.
***