bookcurios Chapter 946 Today's Big Taboo
Chapter 946 Today's Big Taboo
Shen Zhinian also had to arrange a senior palace maid to act as a female usher and lead the way outside the palace.
Fortunately, Nanny Xiao had already arranged all these things, so she didn't have to worry about anything.
There are several types of imperial concubine's court dress. The one she wore yesterday was for the enthronement ceremony, and Shen Zhinian changed into another set today.
Early in the morning, Handan began to dress her up.
Shen Zhinian wore a green velvet crown, which was decorated with golden phoenixes, oriental pearls, etc. There was a collar guard at the back of the crown, and a bright yellow belt hanging down.
He was wearing a dark blue court gown with gold satin embroidered with a five-clawed python pattern, and a golden ribbon adorned with jewels hung from the back of his collar.
She wore a gold collar decorated with pearls, turquoise, etc.
The makeup that Handan put on for Shen Zhinian today was beautiful yet dignified. Paired with the gorgeous and solemn court dress, she had a very strong aura!
At the hour of Chen, the concubines from each palace waited outside the Zhongcui Palace in turn according to the arrangements of the Jingshifang.
Because it was a formal audience, their attire was also particular.
Concubines of lower rank wore light-colored clothing, such as lake blue and moon white. The patterns on palace clothing were mainly small flowers and fine stripes. Red, yellow and other primary colors were not allowed, and only silver hairpins and silk flowers were allowed as headwear.
Concubines and above can wear noble colors such as purple and green, and their clothes can be embroidered with twined or broken branch patterns. Their headdresses can be embellished with jadeite and oriental pearls, but the number should be less than that of imperial concubines.
Everyone knows the big taboo today -
On normal days, you may not need to be so particular, but on a day like today, it is strictly forbidden to wear clothes of the same color and pattern as Empress Chen Guifei, otherwise it would be a crime of usurpation.
Even if Concubine Chen doesn't bother with them, the palace rules are ruthless.
The high-ranking concubines have their own means of finding out and will not make such mistakes.
Everyone understands the consequences of breaking a big taboo.
If a concubine of a lower rank wears formal clothes or wears oriental pearls today, the female officials will strip her of her jewelry on the spot according to palace rules and hand her over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for trial.
The punishment could be a three-month salary fine at the least and demotion at the worst!
It was agreed that the nobles would stand in the corridor outside the gate of Zhongcui Palace, and line up in two rows according to the highest rank on the left and the lowest rank on the right.
Concubines and above were allowed to enter the courtyard and stand under the steps according to their rank, keeping a distance of three meters from the main hall and not approaching without permission.
Concubine Chun stood in the crowd and said, "The Great Zhou is indeed the Celestial Empire. It has many rules and regulations. Look at how grand the Concubine Chen is today."
Although she was complimenting him, anyone could hear how sour Concubine Chun's tone was.
Unfortunately... no one around paid any attention to her.
Because everyone understands that not remaining serious in such occasions is a violation of palace rules.
Concubine Chun wanted to say something else, but Fuqiu, the female official who led the ceremony today, glanced at her coldly and said, "Silence!"
Yingxiang secretly tugged at Concubine Chun's sleeve.
If the young lady does not restrain herself, Fuqiu will report her to the Imperial Concubine Chen and have her punished for inappropriate words and deeds. According to palace rules, she will be required to kneel and recite the "Female Rules" for three days.
Concubine Chun could only stand there with her head lowered, but a hint of disdain flashed in her enchanting eyes.
She had heard from His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin that Concubine Chen was only the concubine's daughter of a sixth-rank official. Fuqiu was the maid of the concubine's daughter of a sixth-rank official, and her status was even lower than hers before. Why was she so arrogant here?
Just a fox taking advantage of the tiger's might!
Concubine Wang glanced at Concubine Chun, and hatred flashed in her eyes!
A tribute from a foreign country, even after studying the palace rules for so long, still doesn't know what the rules are.
If it weren't for the fact that she was presented by His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin, and His Majesty had to take into account the brotherhood, Concubine Chun would have been dealt with long ago.
Finally, the appropriate time came. Shen Zhinian, dressed in gorgeous clothes, walked from the inner room to the main hall and sat on the throne.
Fuqiu shouted: "My lords, please come to see me--!!!"
Two palace maids held up "screen fans" and led the way. The noble ladies, maids-in-waiting and concubines entered one after another in order, with each person standing three feet apart and not allowed to whisper to each other.
Everyone remembered the rules taught by the nanny, and they had to lower their heads when paying respects and not look directly at Concubine Chen.
When walking, you should move your steps lightly and your clothes should not make any unusual noises.
When answering, one should speak softly and articulate words clearly, and should not interrupt others or make irresponsible comments on state affairs.
When they arrived at the main hall entrance, these low-ranking concubines performed their first salute, with their legs slightly bent, their hands on their knees, and respectfully said, "Your concubines pay their respects to Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine Chen!"
After holding for three seconds, he stood up and walked into the main hall to pay his respects.
Although there were many noble ladies present, Concubine Chun was the only one with a title, so this group of low-ranking concubines respected her.
Even though she felt disdainful in her heart, Concubine Chun did not dare to violate the palace rules on such a day.
She was not afraid of being punished, after all, being beaten was commonplace for her. But if it delayed the work of His Royal Highness Prince Jin, that would be bad.
Concubine Chun walked in the front and stopped five feet away from the throne, shouting, "Salute!"
The lower-ranking concubines behind her, led by Concubine Chun, performed the three kneeling and nine kowtows ceremony at the same time.
She knelt down, kowtowed, and stood up in front of Shen Zhinian again and again, and repeated these actions, with a gloomy look in Chun Guiren's eyes.
Everyone in the palace said that she and Concubine Chen were of the same type.
Before His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin sent her into the palace, he also said that with her beauty and charm, she would definitely replace Concubine Chen!
But why is it that even though she has been in the palace for more than half a year, the gap between her and Concubine Chen is still so huge?
Even if she was unwilling in her heart... Concubine Chun could only follow the palace rules and perform the ceremony respectfully.
After the ceremony, Concubine Chun took a half step forward, holding the tray with gifts in both hands, and said, "Congratulations to Concubine Chen on her promotion. May you live a long and healthy life, and be blessed with the emperor's grace forever!"
The lower-ranking concubines behind her echoed, "Congratulations, Imperial Concubine Chen!"
Who would be willing to kneel when you can sit and accept everyone’s greetings?
Shen Zhinian likes the feeling of being in a high position and being worshipped by others!
She motioned for Handan to accept the gift and said calmly, "Everyone, get up."
"Thank you, Imperial Concubine Chen!"
Led by Concubine Chun, everyone stood up and retreated to the east side of the hall.
Because of their low status, they were naturally not qualified to sit down on days like this and could only stand with their hands hanging down.
Next, it was the turn of the imperial concubines and consorts to meet the emperor.
Unlike the lower-ranking concubines who had to pay homage together, they were qualified to pay homage individually.
The order of greeting is from low to high according to status.
There are three concubines in the palace now. Concubine Wang has no title, so naturally she is the first.
Fuqiu shouted loudly: "Please come to see the Queen--!!!"
Wangpin stepped forward, folded her hands on her right waist outside the palace, bent her left leg backward, slightly bent her knees and bowed, and said respectfully: "I congratulate the Royal Concubine Chen!"
Then, she entered the main hall, stopped three feet away from the throne, and knelt down three times in ceremony!
Shen Zhinian looked at Wang Bin with a meaningful look.
In the past, she was a chess piece chosen by the Duke Dingguo's Mansion, and later she turned against the emperor and became a knife used by the emperor to deal with the Duke Dingguo's Mansion.
I just wonder how the emperor will treat Concubine Wang, who is so aware of the current situation, after destroying the Duke Dingguo's Mansion?