bookcurios Chapter 1363: My heart seemed to be gently bumped by something
Chapter 1363: My heart seemed to be gently bumped by something
This overwhelming wealth did not make Shen Maoxue lose his composure.
At this time, a gentle voice sounded: "Minister Shen."
Prince Jin came over at some point with a warm smile on his face.
The crowd surrounding Shen Maoxue subconsciously made way for him.
Prince Jin approached and, unlike the others, was not as eager to flatter Shen Maoxue. He simply looked at him with a smile, and said with a sincere feeling: "The Imperial Concubine is virtuous and famous. Today's enthronement ceremony is well deserved."
"Minister Shen has taught his daughter well, and this prince admires him!"
He speaks appropriately and has an elegant demeanor. Anyone who sees him would praise him for his humility and courtesy.
However, Shen Maoxue's heart suddenly shuddered.
He had been in the officialdom for a long time and had developed the ability to see into people's hearts. The words of the King of Jin sounded beautiful, but those seemingly gentle eyes were actually deep and bottomless, like an ancient well, calm on the surface, but with a turbulent undercurrent inside.
Especially when Prince Jin raised his hand seemingly casually and gently patted Shen Maoxue's arm to show his closeness, Shen Maoxue clearly felt that this was definitely not the demeanor of a leisurely prince.
A fine layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back, but he didn't dare show it on his face. Instead, he bent down even lower and spoke in an increasingly respectful tone, "Your Highness, I am deeply humiliated by your praise."
"The Imperial Concubine is simply doing her duty, relying entirely on Your Majesty's great grace."
Shen Maoxue's answer was flawless, but alarm bells were already ringing in his heart.
The King of Jin, who seems to be indifferent to worldly affairs, is by no means as simple and gentle as he appears.
The King of Jin suddenly showed goodwill on this happy day. The intention behind it is probably much more dangerous than those straightforward compliments.
Shen Maoxue secretly reminded himself that he must be extremely careful when dealing with King Jin in the future and must not be blinded by the wealth in front of him.
The waters among the royal family are very deep!
……
Outside the Yongshou Palace, the ceremonial guards were lined up in a solemn manner, and the golden festivals were dazzling
Yuanbao had already been waiting inside the palace gate.
Hearing the commotion outside, he immediately turned around and walked quickly across the courtyard to the waiting seat on the east side of the main hall. He bowed to Shen Zhinian and said in a voice that was filled with uncontrollable excitement: "Your Majesty, Lord Gu and his envoys have arrived outside the palace gate!"
Shen Zhinian was wearing a bright yellow court robe. When he heard this, his eyes flashed and he nodded slightly: "Open the middle door."
Xiao Mingzi shouted loudly: "Play music--!!!"
The eunuchs' shrill announcements rang out one after another: "Open the middle door—play music—"
The heavy vermilion-painted central door of Yongshou Palace slowly opened.
At the same time, the eight musicians waiting inside the palace gate immediately played the music they had prepared long ago.
Unlike the solemn grandeur of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the music was light and festive, like a spring breeze across a lake, instantly dispelling the solemnity of waiting and adding just the right amount of honor and joy to the ceremony of enthroning the inner palace.
Gu Jinxiao and the deputy envoy held the imperial seal and treasure, led the ceremonial guard in through the middle gate, walked steadily across the courtyard, and stepped into the main hall of Yongshou Palace.
Inside the hall, the concubines stood solemnly on both sides according to their ranks, in total silence.
Everyone's eyes were on this team representing imperial power and the imperial concubine sitting in the front of the hall.
The moment Gu Jinxiao stepped into the hall, his eyes involuntarily met the bright figure sitting in the main seat.
Today, Shen Zhinian was dressed in gorgeous clothes, adorned with pearls and jade. She looked even more charming than usual, and even more graceful and majestic. She looked like a goddess from the sky, making people dare not look directly at her.
Gu Jinxiao's heart seemed to be gently bumped by something...
He was genuinely happy for her glory today, but this emotion only flashed across Gu Jinxiao's calm eyes, so fast that no one noticed.
Shen Zhinian also saw him.
Gu Jinxiao still had that thin and tall figure and that old-fashioned and serious expression.
From the first enthronement ceremony for Consort Rou to her current title of Imperial Noble Consort, he was the one who read the imperial edicts for her several times.
The ups and downs and dangers along the way turned into an indescribable emotion in the familiar scene, quietly spreading in Shen Zhinian's heart.
The officials of the Imperial Household Department moved swiftly and silently, setting up a temporary case for imperial decrees in the middle of the hall and covering it with festive red satin.
Gu Jinxiao and the deputy envoy stepped forward and placed the golden book and golden seal back on the table. Then they stood solemnly beside the table holding their imperial seals, facing Shen Zhinian's direction.
The music in the hall stopped and there was silence.
Gu Jinxiao took a deep breath, took a step forward, took out the bright yellow edict from his sleeve, and unfolded it with both hands.
He raised his eyes and looked forward steadily, no longer making eye contact with Shen Zhinian.
Then, in a clear voice, he read out the text that he had already memorized: "I hereby inform you that your Imperial Noble Consort Shen is of a gentle and kind nature, and is prudent and upright..."
Gu Jinxiao's voice echoed in the hall, every word clear.
Whether the concubines on both sides were sincere or pretending, they all held their breath and listened with their heads down.
Concubine Zhuang paused as she twirled her Buddhist beads.
The virtuous concubine's cold face was calm.
There was a gloom on Concubine Dun's beautiful face.
There was pure joy in Concubine Xuan's eyes.
Concubine Kang lowered her eyebrows and looked submissive.
Tongpin still has no sense of existence...
Everyone, listening to the imperial decree, once again confirmed that the woman in front of them was from now on the Imperial Noble Consort, second only to the Emperor in the harem and above everyone else!
After Gu Jinxiao read the last word of the document, the music stopped quietly at the perfect moment before the lingering sound in the hall had faded away.
Two female officials dressed in the formal attire of a third-rank lady stepped forward steadily, and respectfully helped Shen Zhinian, who was sitting upright, up from the left and right.
Shen Zhinian slowly stood up with the help of the female official, and the hem of her bright yellow court dress shone like golden light on the ground.
Under the guidance of the female official, she moved to the center of the hall and sat on the red carpet that had been laid out, facing the table where the golden book and seal were displayed.
After standing still, Shen Zhinian raised his hand slightly and adjusted his collar and cuffs with a calm and unhurried movement.
The female official said in a deep voice: "Kneel——!!!"
Shen Zhinian faced the imperial edict table and solemnly performed the ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows.
After the ceremony, she was helped up by the female official again and stood up waiting.
The next step is the most important part.
The two female officials turned and walked to the table of imperial edicts. One of them held up the heavy red gold edict with both hands, and the other held up the golden seal with a crouching dragon button.
Then he knelt in front of Shen Zhinian, raised the imperial edict above his head, and presented it to her.
The golden book weighed two hundred taels and gleamed with a heavy luster under the candlelight. It was engraved with words, which was not only a gorgeous decoration, but also a symbol of Shen Zhinian's identity and power.
The first half is the emperor's words, praising her for "serving me for many years with respect and caution."
The second half of the edict details Shen Zhinian's merits and confirms her status and authority as Imperial Noble Consort.
The gold seal weighs about 150 taels, and the five words "Imperial Noble Consort's Seal" are engraved on it, which means that from now on, Shen Zhinian's authority to manage the six palaces and pass on orders to each palace must be stamped with this seal to take effect.
Shen Zhinian concentrated his mind and calmed down. He stretched out his hands, with his left palm facing up, and took the golden book steadily, placing it lightly on the left atrium of his chest.