Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 658: Zhaoping (Part 1)

The coronation ceremony of the Emperor has always been tedious and lengthy. Even with some steps simplified, this ceremony took more than half a day. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

After the ceremony was officially completed, the new Emperor, Empress Zhaoping, issued her first decree: "Today, a banquet will be held in the palace for all the ministers. Beloved subjects, please join me at the feast."

All the ministers bowed in unison.

Today, about three hundred civil and military officials attended the coronation ceremony. Two people per table, the solemn and spacious main hall was filled with tables.

Those qualified to sit in the front row were all top-ranking ministers in the court. The two seats closest to the new Emperor were occupied by four people: Minister Dong and Minister Zhang on one side, and General Bao and the Left General on the other. These were the highest-ranked civil and military officials in the court today.

The Empress’s most trusted Chief Historian Chen and Commander Song did not take seats today but stood separately behind her.

Jiang Shaohua, wearing a Dragon Robe, appeared dignified and commanding. She smiled and raised her cup: "I cannot drink alcohol, so today I will replace wine with tea and offer a toast of three cups to my beloved subjects."

Jiang Shaohua was never a strong drinker, and now being pregnant, she absolutely could not touch alcohol.

No officials dared to challenge this, and they all stood up and raised their cups in unison.

Jiang Shaohua drank three cups of tea in succession, then put down the cup and began to eat slowly and leisurely with her chopsticks.

When the Emperor hosts a banquet, it has always been solemn. At such events, the focus is mainly on praising and celebrating, with very few truly focusing on eating and drinking.

However, their Empress neither drank nor showed any interest in hearing the ministers’ flattery, instead eating with focus and delight.

The ministers also followed suit, using their chopsticks while occasionally glancing over.

"Our new Emperor really has a great appetite!"

"Indeed, once she picks up the chopsticks, she never puts them down."

"Heh, our Emperor possesses unparalleled divine power and extraordinary skill, with no match. On the day of the palace coup, she held a long spear and killed countless people. With such prowess, her appetite naturally surpasses ordinary people."

"Exactly, without eating one’s fill, where would the divine power come from?"

Some ministers complained inwardly, while some whispered to each other with heads close. The atmosphere of the palace banquet was unexpectedly harmonious.

It was mainly because everyone was enjoying the feast! This was a rare scene for the ministers.

Emperor Taihe had been buried for just over a month, and Lu Junma of the Nanyang Prince Mansion had also been recently buried. Empress Zhaoping had to observe double mourning, so naturally, there were no songs or music to entertain at the palace banquet. The banquet lasted about an hour and ended when the sky turned dark.

The ministers left the Imperial Palace in the dark. Afterward, many gathered in small groups to find another place for "drinking and chatting."

Jiang Shaohua was also not free. After the palace banquet was over, she went to Jingyang Palace.

Today, being the day of the Emperor’s coronation ceremony, there was also a palace banquet in the harem to celebrate the new emperor’s ascension. Grand Empress Dowager Zheng deliberately postponed the time, waiting for Jiang Shaohua to arrive.

The Empress Dowager Li, who had been in the palace recuperating from her injuries, also made a special appearance today. The pain of losing her son had completely taken away her laughter. Her hair was already all white, and her thin face was full of wrinkles, making her look not much younger than Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

Empress Dowager Li’s neck was still wrapped in heavy bandages. Her trachea had been injured, and she was being carefully nursed, unable to speak or eat anything other than liquid food. Her presence at the banquet today was to show support for the new emperor.

This gesture, Jiang Shaohua naturally appreciated.

Jiang Shaohua smiled and stepped forward, saluting Grand Empress Dowager Zheng and Empress Dowager Li as a junior.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, with a loving expression, smiled and said, "Rise quickly. You are now the Emperor, worshipped by ministers and revered by the people. You cannot bend down to salute just anywhere."

Empress Dowager Li also forced out a sentence: "You are pregnant, don’t bow too much."

Jiang Shaohua responded with a smile, walked forward, and sat beside Prince Ping.

Originally, this seat belonged to Imperial Concubine Fan. However, a few days ago, Imperial Concubine Fan was "unwell" and is now recuperating in the palace, unable to come out to meet people today. The eight-year-old Prince Ping, sitting alone at a table, looked somewhat lonely.

Jiang Shaohua sat beside Prince Ping, who was very happy and called Shao Hua cousin several times. Jiang Shaohua patiently responded, casually picking up a handkerchief to wipe Prince Ping’s hands.

Even if just an act, this gesture was enough to ease the brows of Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

Originally, Prince Ping should have attended the ministers’ palace banquet. However, considering Prince Ping’s repeated embarrassing outbursts in public, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng simply did not let Prince Ping go and embarrass himself.

"There are now only a few people in the harem," Grand Empress Dowager Zheng said with a smile, "it indeed feels a bit quiet and lonely. After a few months, when the child in your belly is born, the palace will become lively again."

Prince Ping understood this sentence, lowered his head to look at Shao Hua cousin’s increasingly visible belly: "Is Shao Hua cousin going to have a baby?"

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "When the child is born, you will have to call him Uncle."

Prince Ping was so happy that he chuckled out loud.

In his world, small and simple, there is only joy.

The biggest distress used to come from his mother, Imperial Concubine Fan, who always murmured things he couldn’t understand in his ear. Since moving into Jingyang Palace, no one nagged him anymore, and he could indulge in eating, drinking, and playing every day, rolling and pouting at will when upset. As a result, Prince Ping had gained weight recently.

When he smiled, his chubby cheeks trembled, looking quite adorable.

Such joy easily spread to those around. Jiang Shaohua smiled with her eyes curved, serving dishes to Prince Ping. Prince Ping happily ate them all.

The few concubines also gradually relaxed, whispering and laughing softly while eating.

Before Emperor Taihe closed his eyes, he had not yet married. The female relatives in the harem were all concubines from when Emperor Taikang was alive, now all imperial concubines... Emperor Taikang was physically weak and could not indulge women. There were only eight or nine concubines in total, and one even passed away in the past few years.

Therefore, one can imagine that there are only a few people at present, even fewer than the number of people at a typical family banquet.

Empress Dowager Li did not move her chopsticks much and after a while forced out another sentence: "Why did Elder Changning not come?"

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng glanced at Empress Dowager Li: "There is a difference between men and women; this is the harem, so it is not appropriate for Elder Changning to come."

Although the concubines are older and have a longer seniority, according to the palace rules, they cannot have contact with outside men. Even at the level of the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng and Empress Dowager Li, wanting to see their family members requires careful planning. It is not something that can just be said and done.

Jiang Shaohua also understood the taboos. In the past month, she never brought Cui Du to Jingyang Palace.

Empress Dowager Li, of course, knew the reason. At this moment, she deliberately mentioned it to show goodwill to Jiang Shaohua. She pretended not to see Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s displeasure and said to Jiang Shaohua: "Now that we are one family, he should be allowed to come and recognize his elders."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "Then tomorrow, I will take him to Ning An Palace to pay respects to Aunt."

Empress Dowager Li smiled and responded.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, being pressed, had no choice but to smile and say, "Why wait for tomorrow? Let someone invite Elder Changning over now!"