lcionline Chapter 498 The Enthronement Ceremony of the Four Concubines
Chapter 498 The Enthronement Ceremony of the Four Concubines
Everyone nodded, finding it increasingly difficult to understand Shen Nanqiao's thoughts.
Although the Lu family was not a noble family, Lu Jianglin had the advantage of being young and already a successful candidate. With the support of the Yue family, he had a bright future.
What could Mrs. Lu not be satisfied with after marrying a man like this?
Moreover, the world is harsh on women. After her divorce, her reputation is ruined. How can she marry into a good family?
Maybe my future husband will be worse than Lu Jianglin...
On the contrary, Lu Jianglin scored 39th in the Autumn Examination for the first time. If he didn't have a wife, there would be many girls willing to marry him.
Shen Zhinian shook his head: "Father will never agree to this, and it's useless for my elder sister to continue making a fuss."
Because she knew Father Shen too well. How could a man who always puts profit first allow himself to have a divorced daughter?
What's more, in the eyes of the world, Lu Jianglin has a very bright future.
In the eyes of Shen's father, the grievances that Shen Nanqiao suffered in the Lu family were nothing.
Even if he let Shen Nanqiao "die of illness" in the Lu family, he would not allow the other party to return.
Fuqiu said mysteriously, "I also heard that Madam has not been in good health recently, and she was very angry about this incident. She has already experienced weakness in her limbs, blacking out in front of her eyes, and dizziness."
"I specifically asked Doctor Tang, and he said that this symptom could be a precursor to a stroke..."
Handan had no sympathy at all, she curled her lips and said, "God has eyes!"
"Who told Madam to bully Madam because she was young? She always wanted to torture Madam. When Madam Meng was still around, she was also bullied by her."
Shen Zhinian naturally would not pity Zhou. In fact, she would be happy to see her suffer misfortune.
But... people's words are scary.
Although the emperor asked Shen's father to make Shen Zhinian's mother his co-wife and posthumously conferred an imperial decree on her, so that she no longer had to call Zhou "mother", in the eyes of the world, she was still raised by Zhou.
It can be said that it was the emperor's will not to grant Zhou the imperial edict. Shen Zhinian was just a concubine and could not influence the emperor's will.
But when Zhou was sick, she still ignored him, which inevitably led to her being criticized.
Shen Zhinian cannot leave any blemish on his own and the Fourth Prince's reputation.
She looked at Fuqiu and ordered, "Take my sign to Doctor Tang and ask him to go out of the palace to see Madam Zhou."
Asking the imperial physician for Zhou was for the world to see. As for whether to treat Zhou and whether the treatment was successful, it was none of Shen Zhinian's business.
Anyway, she has done her best. It is not something she can control whether Zhou will have a stroke or not.
No one can accuse Shen Zhisi of being heartless and ungrateful anymore.
Fuqiu replied "yes" and did it immediately.
Perhaps because she could see Doctor Tang again, a happy smile appeared on the corners of her lips.
I didn't think anything of it before, but now looking at Fuqiu's appearance, Handan couldn't help but feel a little complicated...
After returning from outside the palace, she also met Commander Zhan in the past few days. Although she only saw him from a distance and could not talk to him every time, Handan's heart was still moved.
She had always thought that Doctor Tang was an official with a bright future, while Fuqiu was just a maid in slavery. The gap between their status was so huge, what was the point of Fuqiu's devotion?
But Fuqiu said that she didn't believe in fate, and didn't believe that maids could only be paired with servants. Even if Doctor Tang didn't like her, even if there was no possibility for them, liking someone didn't violate the law. She liked Doctor Tang, so why not?
Now that she is in the same situation, Handan deeply understands how courageous Fuqiu is.
But she didn't dare to admit her own heart, and didn't dare to have any delusion. When she thought of Commander Zhan, she only felt a deep inferiority complex...
The next day came in a blink of an eye.
On the tenth day of October, Shen Zhinian held a ceremony to confer titles on the four concubines.
It was a perfect day.
Zhongcui Palace began to get busy early in the morning.
Everyone had been preparing for this event a long time ago. Under the orderly instructions of Madam Xiao and Yuan Bao, the palace servants were busy but nothing went wrong.
Everything everyone does is in order.
Shen Zhinian had to wear court robes and a crown today, and her attire was mainly dignified and decent. Handan did her best to take care of every detail.
Since entering the palace, Shen Zhinian has only performed the ceremony of conferring titles on concubines.
Although some procedures of the enthronement ceremony for the four concubines were the same as the last time, there were still many differences.
Both of them were requested by the envoy after the emperor's decree came down.
However, the concubines had a book but no seal, and it was a silver book, while the four concubines had a gold book and gold seal that symbolized their status.
In addition, to confer titles on the four concubines, two imperial envoys had to go to the Taimiao and Fengxian Hall respectively to report the title the day before the ceremony.
On the day of the enthronement, officials from the Honglu Temple would set up a festival case in the middle of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a book case on the left, a seal case on the right, and a colorful pavilion outside the cabinet door.
Handan was combing Shen Zhinian's hair, and Xiao Mingzi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the deputy envoy for this enthronement ceremony is an official from the Ministry of Rites, and the chief envoy is still the Minister of Rites, Mr. Gu."
"I heard that when Lord Gu went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple yesterday, many young ladies from official families waited in teahouses along the way just to catch a glimpse of Lord Gu."
Handan smiled and said, "Master Gu is still so attractive. Every time he goes out, he causes quite a stir."
Xiao Mingzi nodded: "That's right."
"No one in the court who holds a higher position than Lord Gu is younger than him; no one younger than him is as handsome as him; and no one more handsome than him is as popular with the emperor as he is. It will be difficult to find a new noble like him in many years."
Fuqiu said proudly: "Master Gu is the envoy for this enthronement ceremony, which shows how much His Majesty values our queen!"
Jiang Wange had not been deposed yet. When the ceremony of conferring the title of Concubine Wen was held, the envoy was just an official randomly assigned by the Ministry of Rites. How could she be treated so grandly?
The eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department had already been busy in the courtyard of Zhongcui Palace.
They set up a festival table in the middle, an incense table in the front, and a book table and a seal table on the left, in preparation for offering the book treasure after the canonization ceremony officially began.
The eunuchs of the Imperial Guard had already displayed the ceremonial guards of the four concubines at the gate of Zhongcui Palace.
At first glance, it is solemn, majestic and magnificent!
During the last ceremony of conferring the title of imperial concubine, Jiang Shu Ren instigated a traitor to put a very long needle in Shen Zhinian's shoe, causing her foot to be pricked.
This time, Handan and the others were extremely attentive. They checked the court robes, crowns, shoes, etc. inside and out several times to make sure there were no problems.
After the inspection, until Shen Zhinian put on the suit, Nanny Lin stayed by his side and no one was allowed to get close.
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Note: The enthronement ceremony of the four concubines was based on the "History of the Palace of the Qing Dynasty".