LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 50
There were many small, key fragments in her mind, but she could only piece them together into a vague outline.
Whenever the Xuanwu Emperor took a step, Jiang Xinyue would break that step down into ten, analyzing its deeper meaning slowly and meticulously.
"Bang, bang, bang..."
The pitch-black night was illuminated by the colorful fireworks, revealing a series of dazzling scenes.
Shuang Jiang opened the window and turned to Jiang Xinyue, saying, "My lady, they are setting off fireworks at the city gate tower."
This was one of the essential programs for the annual New Year's banquet, symbolizing universal celebration and allowing the common people to feel that the Emperor shared their joy.
"Go to the imperial kitchen and have a table of dishes brought here. You all have been busy the whole day attending to me without properly sitting down for a meal. Tonight, let's celebrate the New Year together in Hexi Palace without any distinction of status."
After instructing Shuang Jiang, Jiang Xinyue then instructed Xi Que, "Go and fetch some gold beans so we can distribute lucky money to the palace staff."
The imperial concubines received countless rewards throughout the year and lived in luxury, but it was the palace maids and eunuchs who worked the hardest.
With the palace gates closed due to the incident involving Consort Rong, they dared not make too much noise in Hexi Palace. Instead, a dozen or so people sat together, quietly enjoying a meal, sharing their hopes for the new year, receiving the red envelopes bestowed by their lady, and guessing lantern riddles. They played until midnight, wishing each other a happy new year before retiring to rest.
Meanwhile, the Emperor's busyness began at midnight.
Alas, Consort Rong's child could not be saved and was taken by the Empress Dowager to Cining Palace for care.
At the first quarter after midnight, the Xuanwu Emperor had already left the Imperial Hospital and gone to the southeastern room of the Heart-Nurturing Hall to perform the opening calligraphy ceremony. As the inscription above the door read "Bright Window," it was also called the "Bright Window Opening Calligraphy Ceremony."
But that was not the end of it.
After the opening calligraphy ceremony, the Emperor had to lead the imperial clan members and high-ranking officials who had been waiting outside the palace gates to the imperial ancestral hall east of the Yonghe Gate, across the moat, to perform the grand ceremony of sacrificing to Heaven.
Following the ceremony of sacrificing to Heaven, the Emperor and Empress would proceed to Kunning Palace to sacrifice to the gods.
Initially, due to the Dowager Empress's intervention, Empress Zhu was unable to reside in Kunning Palace. However, the location for the ceremony of sacrificing to the gods could not be changed, so the Emperor and Empress needed to pray together for the gods to bless the prosperity of the Great Yan Dynasty in the new year.
After sacrificing to the gods, the Empress and Emperor would part ways. The Empress would return to the rear palace to receive kowtows from the concubines, while the Emperor would go to the ancestral temple to sacrifice to the ancestors' spirit tablets.
Once all these ceremonies were completed and daylight had arrived, the sleepy officials would finally have the opportunity to greet the Emperor, signaling the end of the New Year's celebrations for the day.
Jiang Xinyue wore a festive palace robe in orange, with her hair tied in a simple style adorned with jade ornaments. The slight injury on her face was concealed with powder.
Empress Zhu looked frail, having just recovered from a severe illness and further losing weight. Her mood seemed sour, so the concubines did not dare to bicker with her as they usually would. All in all, this New Year's Day had passed rather peacefully for her.
"My dear Jiang Xinyue."
Just as Jiang Xinyue had left Yikun Palace, Noble Consort Rong approached her gracefully, "Thank you for saving my sister last night."
"It was a small effort. Noble Consort need not thank me."
Noble Consort Rong smiled, "My sister can visit Jingren Palace to chat with me whenever she is free. In fact, when you were about to move out of Xihuo Palace, the Emperor had intended for you to come to Jingren Palace to keep me company. But the Empress said you had chosen Hexi Palace yourself, and so we missed the opportunity to reside together."
So there was such a plan?
Jiang Xinyue smiled as well, "It seems I have disappointed Noble Consort's kindness. I will certainly visit when I have the chance, and Sister must not scorn me for being a chatterbox."
"Then I shall await my sister's esteemed visit."
It was not until lunchtime that Jiang Xinyue finally caught a distant glimpse of the Emperor.
This was the time for the Emperor to bond with his family.
The Xuanwu Emperor was also looking at Jiang Xinyue. The makeup on her face had faded after such a long time, revealing a bright red mark on her right cheek.
Xi Que whispered something in her ear, and she panicked, covering her face. After ensuring no one was paying attention to her, she hastily plucked a few loose strands of hair to conceal the injury on her face.
The Empress Dowager's hand must have been exceptionally heavy, intent on disfiguring her!
Fortunately, he had arrived early last night, or else he could not imagine how his beloved consort might have been further tormented.
His dear Jiang Xinyue had suffered grievances.
"Empress, convey my decree to promote the consorts in the rear palace!"
Empress Zhu nodded and instructed the head eunuch Eunuch Yang, "Go and announce the decree!"
The so-called "grand promotion" referred to the advancement of consorts below the rank of Noble Consort.
Those previously holding the rank of Consort would be promoted to Noble Lady, those who were Noble Ladies would become Honorable Consorts, and those who were Honorable Consorts would also move up one rank, and so on.
There were exceptions to this rule for Jiang Xinyue, Noble Consort Rong, and Consort Jin Chongyi.
Originally, Consort Jin outranked Jiang Xinyue by several levels, but the Emperor elevated Jiang Xinyue multiple ranks, conferring upon her the title of Honored Consort.
Although she herself also became an Honored Consort, she could not feel happy about it.
Noble Consort Rong was transformed into one of the four Consorts, receiving the title of Virtuous Consort. Now, with Virtuous Consort, Benevolent Consort, and Chaste Consort, only the position of Accomplished Consort remained vacant.
Accomplished, Benevolent, Virtuous, and Chaste: the Accomplished Consort was the highest ranking among the four Consorts.
With the positions of the four Consorts so scarce, those beneath them would once again strive to attain them.
Concubine Li felt aggrieved, realizing she needed a child now more than ever.
She had held the position of Noble Consort for three years, but the Emperor had yet to grant her the title of Imperial Noble Consort, presumably because she had no child, giving him no legitimate reason to elevate her rank.
It seemed she needed to write more letters home, asking her father and mother to seek out some secret methods for bearing children.
Following the Emperor's gaze, the Empress's heart skipped a beat as she saw Jiang Xinyue kneeling among the concubines.
Had the Emperor slapped her last night because she poisoned Honored Consort Jiang Xinyue and framed Jiang Yuan?
The thought flashed through her mind but was immediately dismissed.
Impossible!
No matter how much the Emperor favored Honored Consort Jiang Xinyue, he would not use Concubine Li to slap her, the Empress.
The Emperor's decree last night had also included Concubine Li's name, intending to grant her the title of Imperial Noble Consort.
However, since the reign of the Great Ancestor Emperor, the Emperor's great-grandfather, to prevent the Imperial Noble Consort from surpassing the Empress and threatening her position, a rule had gradually emerged that an Imperial Noble Consort would not be appointed while the Empress was still alive.
The idea is that in the harem, if there is an empress, there absolutely cannot be a noble consort, including the golden books and golden treasures that were previously given to the empress and noble consort individually. Under this unwritten rule, only the empress would receive them.
So she refused, and even had a few arguments with the emperor over this.
Concubine Li is still the first person in the emperor's heart. The emperor would never use Concubine Li to vent his frustrations on Consort Zhen Zhao, as their status is almost interchangeable.
Then... is it because she hasn't given birth to a surviving child?
After the new year, Jiang Xinyue will turn seventeen by traditional age reckoning. At an age when she would still be a high school student in modern times, in this accelerated ancient era, she has already reached the age of being urged to bear children.