Ceremony, Hand in Hand, Rising with the Tides (2)
Gong mama supported Jing Wan up, walking out of Kunyi Palace’s back hall. The imperial palace sat in the south and faced the north. Each of the main hall were all like so. Jing Wan naturally stood in the main hall facing the south.
And in front of Kunyi Palace at this time, all the necessary items were also long prepared in advance.
Li Hong Yuan rode in the imperial carriage accompanied by the hundred officials, with the various other people to the side.
Majestic and grand, completely showing off the imperial family’s might and prestige.
Upon arriving, the ceremonial music stopped.
Everyone deferentially welcomed the emperor.
Shortly after, following the agenda, Jing Wan got led from the hall to the outside, meeting face to face with Li Hong Yuan. Li Hong Yuan originally carried a stern look, yet at this moment, his face completely softened.
The Master of Ceremonies led the attendants to their respective positions.
Originally, the treasured book[1] and empress’s seal should be separately handed over to the inner court supervisor by the main and assistant envoy, then handed to the eunuch by Jing Wan’s side. However, this segment got changed by Li Hong Yuan.
The Administrator of Rites[2] led Jing Wan down the steps to the center of the courtyard, right in front of Li Hong Yuan.
The inner court supervisor announced: “There’s order.”
Jing Wan originally should kneel, but Li Hong Yuan reached out to stop her, some things understood without saying. The others all pretended to not see. In any case, the things that shouldn’t be done, the emperor has already done, so this bit didn’t even matter anymore.
The ceremonial music played again, and after Jing Wan bowed four times, the music stopped.
After announcing the edict, the treasured book was handed to the document reading eunuch to read aloud. Afterwards, the treasured book landed in Li Hong Yuan’s hand, personally handing to Jing Wan. Jing Wan originally should’ve accepted it while kneeling, but she still just stood, afterwards handing it over to the Directress of Communication[3] by her side.
The hand over process of the empress’s seal was also the same.
From beginning to end, Jing Wan all carried a smile. There were that many people in the surrounding, but in her eyes, there seemingly was just Li Hong Yuan. And for Li Hong Yuan, it was also the same.
However, for better or worse, it was still considered reserved. Even if having the others all ignored, they still didn’t do anything ‘scandalous’ to shock them.
TN: All
The Master of Ceremonies announced: “The rites have ended.”
Jing Wan bowed standing again. As of now, the empress’s ceremony for receiving the edict has officially ended.
Originally, at the end, Li Hong Yuan needs to take Jing Wan to Fengxian Hall[4] to pay respect and offer sacrifices to the ancestors. However, towards this, Li Hong Yuan clearly was quite uninterested. Unfortunately, the civil and military high officials were all present. With that many people inside the courtyard, Jing Wan used her sleeve to cover, smilingly tugging Li Hong Yuan’s sleeve. You’d done that many things, the court officials all covering up for you, hiding from the rest of the world, so you more or less should still give a bit of face, and don’t be too unreasonable.
Li Hong Yuan glanced at Jing Wan. In the end, he still chose to compromise.
The officials took it all in, more or less a bit gratified.
Finally, returning to Fengtian Hall, Jing Wan performed the etiquette of eight bows towards Li Hong Yuan upon the throne. Li Hong Yuan came down, personally supporting her up, taking her together with him towards the throne.
Inside and outside of Fengtian Hall, the hundred civil and military officials echoed with the music, “Long live the emperor, long live the empress.”
The cries resonated throughout the heaven and earth.
After the ceremony ended, Li Hong Yuan issued the order to set the banquet, inviting the civil and military officials, the various titled madams, as well as the people of the imperial clan.
Because the banquet was exceptionally grand, it took up an enormous area, connecting several palace halls.
Prior to the banquet, several imperial decrees were issued down one after another, such as a great pardon throughout the country, and formally conferring Shu Consort Qin to Consort Dowager Qin, specially bestowing Cian Palace, enjoying the honors of the empress dowager. Additionally, there was the decrees for conferring Li Hong Yuan’s brothers. Of course, what they received was just an imperial decree. Afterwards, it was just the officials that assisted him onto the throne. Of course, these people may not necessarily get promoted into nobility, but the most basic bestowments were still present. As for more, it can slowly be discussed at a later time. Encountering a master such as Li Hong Yuan, it’s best not to be too greedy, better to just be honest and obedient. What you deserve, he won’t be stingy, but no one can demand from him.
Jing Wan and Li Hong Yuan shared the throne, and not separately arranging a seat besides the throne. The emperor’s love and respect towards the empress further rose a level inside everyone’s heart.
A banquet feast, from noon to night, for once didn’t have any fights and schemes. Even if certain people were dejected inside, they still could only firmly hold it in.
The next day, Jing Wan issued an order, summoning the elders of her maiden family. What was said, no one knew.
The day after Jing Wan once again issued an order, summoning her maiden family older sister-in-laws, as well as her married sisters and her close friends prior to marrying.
Jing Wan’s status right now was already completely different. Previously, prior to Li Hong Yuan’s matter exposing, how many people predicted this?
In the past, how many people didn’t have Jing Wan taken seriously. Even if respecting her somewhat, it was still because of fearing the living Enma. In fact, in the beginning, how many people were waiting to see her make a fool of herself, seeing how long she can survive, and when she will die. Yet, in the end?
Even now, afraid, there were still quite a few people that were unable to come to their senses.
With Jing Wan sitting onto that highest position, the people closely related to her, not one didn’t rise with the tides. The Luo family obviously don’t need to be mentioned. Those aunts and sisters of hers that married out already had the Luo family as backing, so their spines weren’t soft to begin with, and now, it was just hard to the point where it can’t be harder. The people of their husband’s family, regardless of whether or not they were satisfied with them, at present, all fawned over them, cupping in the palm. Never mind shoving people by their husband’s side, it was instead repeatedly warning them, needing to be good to their wife, and don’t womanize outside.
Yuan Qiao Qiao and Zhou Ying Shuang naturally also received this kind of treatment. Don’t know how many times they’ve sighed, “Jing Wan actually became the empress?” It seemingly was like a dream, very surreal.
Because of her first child, Zhou Ying Shuang’s days actually weren’t considered good. But now, she was an ancestor. The entire family really hated that they can’t have her enshrined. Back then, when she gave birth, Jing Wan was still just a qin-wangfei with no future prospects, yet still helped back Zhou Ying Shuang. And now, it further didn’t need to be mentioned. That’s why, they hoped that Zhou Ying Shuang can talk more with Jing Wan, putting in a good word, helping out the whole family, to the extent that when Zhou Ying Shuang needed to enter the palace, they were all more excited than anyone.
There were some that wanted to let them take a sister or two with them into the palace, but they all firmly rejected. “Her Highness just said to see this daughter-in-law. If one were to take sister-in-law into the palace, perhaps it will make her Highness think that this daughter-in-law has no sense of propriety, and from then on, dislike this daughter-in-law. Believe that this is something that everyone is unwilling to see.”
What else can be said, can only give up.
Originally, they were still quite reserved, but after seeing that Jing Wan was still the same as before, they also gradually relaxed. Even though because of the gap in status, they can no longer link arms and whisper in each other’s ears, many intimate words also no longer convenient to say, but the atmosphere was still relatively relaxing.
Jing Wan had Sun Yi Jia kept to the end, privately saying a few words. Originally, because of Sun Yi Lin, her friendship with Sun Yi Jia seemingly was no longer pure, but seeing her now quiet and reserved, she just knew that the Ding Duke Manor’s matter still affected her. However, Sun Yi Jia still looked at her the same as before. Jing Wan ultimately wasn’t able to have Sun Yi Lin’s matter dragged onto her. Of course, she also wasn’t planning on having Sun Yi Lin’s matter told to her either. “Sister-in-law, regarding Ding Duke Manor’s matter…………”
“Wan…..Your Highness, no need to say anything, this subject understands. They were all deserving of punishment for their crimes. In reality, even need to thank your Highness.”
Jing Wan lightly sighed, “Sister-in-law, what about you, are you still well?”
“Many thanks for your Highness’s concern, this subject is quite well. Back then, one had ruined one’s appearance, yet still married a good husband, don’t know how many people envied. Now, one has both a son and a daughter, one’s husband’s side still not having others, and also you, this empress sister-in-law. Going out, nine out of ten all say my life is truly too good, especially those that once taunted and mocked me, that tone as bitter as it can be. You have to know, seeing those people unwell, I just feel comforted inside.” Sun Yi Jia said with a smile, even winking at Jing Wan.
“That’s why, exactly how a person’s fate will be, should wait twenty years and see.”
“Don’t even need twenty years. Right now, can already loudly slap them back. And I believe that I can still continue to fan. For this subject and your Highness, it’s all like so.”
Jing Wan nodded with a smile, indeed.
[1] I forgot to mention previously, but the treasured book(宝册) refers to the edict stating the conferment of the empress. You can think of it as the official empress certificate paper. It takes the form of a little booklet.
[2] The author used 尚礼官(shang li guan) here, but the closest I could find was 尚义(shang yi), since 礼(li) and 义(yi) both mean rite. 尚(shang) has an archaic meaning of ‘to administer (for the emperor)’, this usage of this character is no longer used in modern chinese. My explanation in regards to this position will be according to my understanding of 尚义 which was an actual position in ancient times. This position was established in the Sui dynasty by the first Emperor of Sui. It’s one of the six administrations of the inner court. These six administrations were all ran by female officials, in addition to the twenty-four departments/agencies under them (four department/agency per administration). These administrations were later expanded by Emperor Yang of Sui. The administrations of the inner court mostly were in charge of palace affairs, such as various etiquettes and rites, the palace meals, clothing, looking after the treasures in the palace, and so on.
[3] 司言 – In charge of the Communications Office of the inner court, one of the agencies under the six administration ran by female officials, headed by two directresses. Their job is to receive and distribute imperial orders affecting women of the palace.
[4] Fengxian Hall – The ancestral shrine of the imperial family. The hall itself is still opened for visits in the Forbidden city but currently used as a clock museum in the Palace Museum. Please do not confuse with Fengtian Hall mentioned in the .
T/N: Why does Jen not write up footnotes for all the different positions that have appeared in the last two chapters? It’s because for a lot I can’t find anything concrete, so a lot is based off of my own guesses and limited understanding. The author’s occasional typos make the process even more painful. What’s worse is sometimes I can’t tell if something’s a typo or just a super obscure position that barely has any documentation, or completely just made up by the author.
