Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 845 Entering the Hall: Qi Heng and You Li [Thank you! Bow again! 8k words owed]

The sky was azure.

The sun was shining brightly.

As Wang Ruofu emerged from the palace gate, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

Although Wang Ruofu's title was promoted two ranks yesterday, from 'Anren' to 'Gongren',
Before entering the palace, she still had to be separated from high-ranking noblewomen such as Madam Sun, Madam Bai, and Madam Wu according to their rank, and stand with the other noblewomen of the same rank.

As Wang Ruofu walked and stopped along the palace roads with the crowd, he suddenly felt a bit like he was attending court.

After passing through several palace gates, the procession of officials' wives and noblewomen finally came to a slow stop.

Standing in the crowd, Wang Ruofu slightly raised her eyes to look around.

In the distance, the grand hall stood majestic and imposing, its glazed tiles reflecting a soft glow.

A row of festive palace lanterns hangs under the eaves of the palace, while various auspicious plants, either freshly picked or made of silk, are wrapped around the pillars beside the lanterns.

Tall, solemn-looking imperial guards in golden armor, along with palace officials and female officials, lined up on both sides of the palace gate.

The noblewomen stood on a red felt carpet.

Many noblewomen from the capital were waiting outside the palace.

There was not a sound from the crowd.

Only the exquisite and gorgeous ceremonial hats and gowns of the noblewomen shimmered with various colors in the sunlight.

Because the decorations on the ceremonial hats and robes differed, the higher the rank, the more elaborate and precious the decorations. Therefore, the brilliance of the ceremonial hats and robes of the noblewomen also differed, with the brilliance decreasing from front to back.

Just as Wang Ruofu was feeling quite moved by the scene, he saw three people walking out of the hall, one in front and two behind. One of the two people in the back seemed somewhat familiar to Wang Ruofu.

The noblewoman walking at the very front
She wore a dark blue pheasant-patterned robe (the pheasant is a bird with long and beautiful tail feathers, and the pheasant-patterned robe is a gorgeous garment embroidered with the pheasant) that only women of the highest rank could wear.

She wore a nine-phoenix crown, a style reserved for women of the highest rank.

The ceremonial crown was adorned with elaborate and ornate decorations, and was filled with pearls and jade.
The top is adorned with rows of pearl pheasant-shaped ornaments, flowering trees (flowers and leaves made of various pearls and gemstones), and gold pheasant-shaped hairpins, among other ornaments.
On either side of the phoenix crown are four sideburns decorated with pearl and jade cloud patterns that hang down to the shoulders.
These precious ornaments shimmered in the sunlight, and even among the high-ranking ladies at the front, they were among the brightest.

After only a couple of glances, Wang Ruofu recognized the leader as Lady Chai Zhengzheng of Wei.

Following behind were Lady Rong Feiyan and Minglan.

Looking at Minglan, whose attire was only one grade lower than Chai Zhengzheng's, and then at her own Gongren dress, Wang Ruofu instantly felt that the joy she had been experiencing since yesterday had diminished by more than half!

Chai Zhengzheng, who was at the front, bowed slightly to Madam Sun along with Rong Feiyan and Minglan.

Because it was in the palace and not at the Xu family's residence, after Chai Zhengzheng finished her ceremony, she stood in front of Sun Shi, who was standing next to Bai Shi, according to her rank.

Rong Feiyan and Minglan were positioned behind Madam Sun, standing alongside the other ladies of the Marquis, including Madam Wu.

The reason why Madam Sun and Madam Bai stood side by side was because Gu Tingye had made meritorious contributions when he went north to Beizhou, and used his merits to promote his birth mother, Madam Bai, to a higher rank.

After Minglan and the others had stood still for a moment, an official stepped out of the hall and stood at the entrance.

Looking at the numerous noble ladies at the palace gate, the eunuch blinked, his eyes dazzled by the bright jewelry.

Subsequently,

"when--"

A solemn and melodious bell rang out.

The ladies-in-waiting standing in front of the hall adjusted their ceremonial hats and smoothed their ceremonial robes.

Amidst the rhythmic chimes, melodious sounds of jade chimes and string and wind instruments filled the air.

After a dozen breaths.

"Boom!"

"Crack!"

Rhythmic drumbeats and cymbal sounds joined in.

Amidst the music, the drums and cymbals sounded seven or eight times.

The eunuch in front of the palace gate exchanged a glance with the ladies of the court standing at the front, signaling them to get ready.

Then, amidst the elegant music, the eunuch loudly proclaimed: "Summon—the Princess Consort of the Prince of Wei! All, the First-Rank Imperial Lady, enter the hall!"

"Thump!" Chai Zhengzheng listened to the drumbeats in the music and slowly took a step forward.

"Snap!" Chai Zhengzheng stopped, and the jewelry on her crown trembled, sparkling brightly.

"Thump!" Chai Zhengzheng took another step.

"Snap!" Chai Zhengzheng stopped.

With each step Chai Zhengzheng took, the noble ladies behind her followed suit.

The ladies at the front of the procession walked forward, stopping and starting with the drumbeats, and the other ladies behind them followed suit.

Thus, the ladies-in-waiting before the palace marched forward rhythmically to the magnificent music.

Wang Ruofu stood in the middle, took only five or six steps forward, and then stopped again.

After waiting for a while, the eunuch in front called out: "Summon—Zhu, the Lady of the Second Rank Imperial Decree to enter the palace!"

Amidst the music, Wang Ruofu, together with the officials and their families, stepped forward once more.

"Boom!"

"Crack!"

"."

Amidst the elegant music, and following the calls of the palace officials, Wang Ruofu's position gradually moved closer to the palace entrance, eventually becoming one of the front row officials.

Looking at the scene inside the hall, Wang Ruofu suddenly felt a little breathless.

"Summon—all, the Fourth-Rank Lady Gong, to enter the palace!"

"Boom!"

Hearing the eunuch's shouts and the sound of drums ringing in his ears, Wang Ruofu suddenly felt unsure which leg to step with.

Fortunately, Wang Ruofu was quick-witted. Seeing that the wives of officials of the same rank next to her had not moved, she did not move either.

When the drums sounded again, Wang Ruofu took a step forward, climbed the steps, and slowly entered the hall.

Upon entering the main hall, ignoring all other decorations, the first thing Wang Ruofu noticed was several long-necked vases placed on a table to the side, each containing a small lotus leaf supporting a blooming twin lotus flower.

After a while, the music stopped.

Wang Ruofu could only observe the subsequent rituals, such as offerings and the third-day bath.

After the ceremony, a banquet was held in the palace.

In the spacious palace, the ladies-in-waiting took their seats according to their rank.

The atmosphere was much more relaxed than when they entered the palace, and everyone whispered among themselves.

With so many people, the entire palace was filled with a buzzing sound.

As a Marquis's wife, Madam Wu's seat was naturally very close to the front. Looking at Chai Zhengzheng sitting with the dukes' wives, Madam Wu couldn't help but sigh and shake her head.
The reason is simple: none of the noblewomen sitting with Chai Zhengzheng were as young as her.

Not only around Chai Zhengzheng, but also around Minglan and Rong Feiyan, there were few people of similar age to them.

Lady Bai, the wife of Marquis Gu, approached Madam Wu and asked with a smile, "Sister Wu, what's wrong?"

Not far away, Madam Sun and Princess Pingning, who was diagonally in front of her, also looked over, their eyes full of concern.

Madam Wu smiled and said, "Sister, it's nothing! I just remembered that the last time I saw such a young new bride sitting among the dukes' wives was the year Princess Pingning got married."

Upon hearing this, Princess Pingning was immediately stunned.

Chai Zhengzheng, Rong Feiyan, and Minglan couldn't help but exchange a shy glance.

Madam Sun and Madam Bai both looked at Princess Pingning and nodded with smiles: "Sister is right!"

When Princess Pingning married into the Qi family, she was granted the title of princess. Although Qi Yiqiu was only the second son of the Duke's family at the time, she still sat in a very prominent position.

Princess Pingning waved her hand with a smile: "That was so many years ago, and now I even have wrinkles around my eyes!"

Upon hearing this, the officials' wives and noblewomen around them echoed the sentiment, lamenting how quickly time flies.

As the music and performances in the palace changed, the Empress would raise her cup to toast, and the ladies of the court would all raise their cups in response.

Chai Zhengzheng naturally received special treatment; she didn't drink alcohol but only had a beverage.

As everyone ate, Madam Wu glanced at Wang Ruofu, who was being toasted from time to time.

After a fleeting look of worry in her eyes, Madam Wu whispered a few words to Madam Sun, who nodded with a smile after hearing them.

"My two elder sisters, what are you whispering about?" Princess Pingning, who was diagonally in front of her, asked with a smile, raising her cup.

Madam Wu quickly raised her cup and said with a teasing smile, "Your Highness, you've been smiling nonstop since this morning. The joy on your face is comparable to that of Madam Hai, who found a third-ranked scholar as her son-in-law! We're quite curious about it!"

"Huh?" Princess Pingning touched her face and looked at everyone around her. "Is it that obvious?" Bai and the others nodded with smiles.

"Your Highness, is a happy occasion approaching?" Madam Wu asked with a cryptic smile.

Princess Pingning glanced at Madam Shen not far away and nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes! I must thank you, Sister Wu! My Heng'er's marriage is settled!"

"Is she a girl from the Shen family?" Bai asked.

Princess Pingning smiled and nodded: "Yes! It's all thanks to them not disliking Heng'er, this troublemaker, that I've been relieved of my worries!"

"Your Highness is too modest! With the young master's background and the Qi family's social standing, which girl in the capital wouldn't want to marry into that family?" Madam Wu said proudly.

Princess Pingning waved her hand with a smile: "We'd be grateful if he didn't cause trouble for me and the Duke."

"When is the wedding date set?" Mrs. Sun asked with a smile.

Princess Pingning: "A few days later than the second son of the Sheng family! By staggering the two families, we can invite all our relatives and friends to my house for a celebration."

The people nearby echoed his sentiments.

The palace banquet has ended.

The officials and noblewomen who had come to the palace to offer their congratulations were slowly walking out.

At this time, although the sun was setting, it had not yet gone down.

The ground was scorching hot from the sun, and people walking through the palace could still feel the heat.

Many noblewomen were waving their round fans rapidly.

On the way out of the palace,
Minglan twitched her eye and looked up at the ceremonial crown on her hair.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Rong Feiyan asked, fanning herself with a round fan.

Minglan frowned and nodded: "Yes, this ceremonial crown is making me a little dizzy."

Rong Feiyan raised her eyebrows and said in a low voice, "Let's be patient a little longer! We can take them off once we leave the palace."

“My God, I don’t think I’m this tired even on my wedding day,” Minglan nodded.

Rong Feiyan nodded in agreement and looked ahead, saying, "Minglan, what do you think your mother-in-law and your stepmother are talking about?"

Looking at Wang Ruofu, who was walking beside Madam Sun with a smile that looked more like a grimace, Minglan said in a low voice, "I guess she's probably talking about my fourth sister's marriage."

Rong Feiyan raised an eyebrow: "Fourth Miss Sheng, Mo Lan?"

Minglan nodded: "Yes! My husband told me before that on the day of the wedding, Liang's sixth son made advances towards my fourth sister."

Recalling their previous meetings at the literary gatherings in the capital, Rong Feiyan nodded and said, "Liang Liulang has good taste! That's right."

"Sister, what is it?" Minglan pressed.

Rong Feiyan shook her head: "It's nothing! If I say too much, I'm afraid that if Madam Wu finds out, she'll complain to her mother-in-law."

Minglan glanced at Chai Zhengzheng, who was surrounded by Xie Shi and Pingmei, and whispered, "Sister, is it related to a girl surnamed Wan?"

Rong Feiyan's eyes widened, and she said in a low voice, "You know this? Who told you that?"

Minglan pursed her lips and nodded: "My cousin Pinlan used to play polo with the girls from wealthy families in the capital, and she often ran into that Miss Wan at the polo field."

"My cousin said that Miss Wan often plays polo with Liang Liulang!"

"Oh—" Rong Feiyan looked enlightened, then lowered her voice to explain, "I heard it from my brother."

"The Liang family"

Seeing Minglan's worried expression, Rong Feiyan comforted her, "Don't worry, the eldest son of the Liang family is not valued in the court because of the Gan family's affair, and he has also lost favor in the Liang family! That Miss Wan can't cause any trouble."

“Hmm—” Minglan nodded, unsure whether she was happy or regretful: “But I think Fourth Sister might not be interested in Liang Liulang.”

Rong Feiyan pursed her lips noncommittally, looked around, and then smiled, "My lord has arrived."

Minglan quickly looked up.

Sure enough, Xu Zaijing, dressed in the ceremonial robes of a prince, was walking and talking among a group of high-ranking officials in purple robes.

After noticing their gazes, Xu Zaijing nodded to them.

After exiting Donghua Gate,
Standing in the shadow of the palace gate tower,

Xu Zaijing bowed to the several high-ranking officials in purple robes and said, "Thank you for your kind guidance, gentlemen."

"Hey! Ren Zhi, what are you saying!" The white-haired old man frowned and said, "Do we need you to thank us for asking a few questions to a few old folks?"

"Exactly, exactly." The elderly man with black and white hair nodded in agreement, "If it weren't for you, Xu Renzhi, I would be..."

"Ahem!" One of the prime ministers coughed.

"Yes, yes, look at my mouth, I should be careful what I say on such a joyous occasion," the old man laughed.

After the coughing prime minister nodded, he said to Xu Zaijing, "Renzhi, what do you think of my experiences as an official over the years?"

Xu Zaijing then shared his insights, which made the senior officials nod in agreement.

After parting ways with the other officials, Xu Zaijing walked over to Sun's side and said a few words.

Because Chai Zhengzheng was pregnant, Madam Sun gave her another round of earnest advice.

"Mother, I understand! I'm not someone who doesn't know anything," Xu Zaijing said helplessly.

“Zhengzheng, Feiyan, and Minglan, if he does anything reckless, send someone to me directly, and I’ll teach him a lesson,” said Madam Sun.

As if he had found a powerful backer, Chai Zhengzheng nodded repeatedly beside Madam Sun with a defiant look in his eyes: "Yes, Mother."

Rong Feiyan bit her lip and said nothing.

Minglan just kept giggling.

After saying a few more words, Madam Sun waved her hand and said, "Alright, this ceremonial robe and hat is heavy enough, you should all go back now."

After bidding farewell, Xu Zaijing watched his family leave and then saw the three ladies board their own royal carriages.

But he didn't rush in. Instead, he watched Yunmu, Xibu, and Xiaotao carrying various boxes and baskets, going in and out of the cart.

When Xu Zaijing entered the spacious carriage, his three wives had already removed their ceremonial hats and changed into formal dresses, sitting wearily in the cool carriage.

"My God, how come I never felt this kind of celebration was so tiring before!" Chai Zhengzheng exclaimed as he took the ceremonial cap from Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Wearing a ceremonial crown means you must bear its weight."

Minglan opened the trunk in the carriage, took the ceremonial cap handed to her by Chai Zhengzheng, and exclaimed, "Wow, my lord, this is so light!"

Rong Feiyan, after taking the jade belt from Xu Zaijing's waist, glanced curiously at Minglan.

quickly,

With the driver's commands, the carriage began to move.

As Xu Zaijing drank the cold beverage in the car,

"Snapped."

Xu Zaijing slapped away Chai Zhengzheng's outstretched hand: "Is this something you can drink?"

Chai Zhengzheng looked embarrassed: "Can't I just smell it?"

“No.” Xu Zaijing said seriously.

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Rong Feiyan and Minglan drinking their beverages and said helplessly, "Alright."

On the way,

The bustling sounds of the market were incessant.

Inside the carriage, Xu Zaijing looked at his three wives and smiled, "How did you feel about attending the ceremony today?"

"I'm tired," Chai Zhengzheng said, leaning against Xu Zaijing.

"I'm very tired," Minglan nodded in agreement.

After they finished speaking, they looked at Rong Feiyan, who had not yet spoken.

"What do you think, Feiyan?" Chai Zhengzheng asked.

Rong Feiyan pursed her lips and smiled at Chai Zhengzheng and Minglan, saying, "I'm tired, very tired! But the biggest feeling is still what Madam Wu said."

"Huh? What did you say?"

Chai Zhengzheng, Minglan, and Chao Rongfeiyan cast curious glances at each other.

Seeing that Xu Zaijing was equally interested, Rong Feiyan laughed and said, "What Madam Wu said is that whatever position one's husband holds among the officials, that's the position of the women in the inner quarters among the noblewomen."

Upon hearing this, Chai Zhengzheng and Minglan immediately looked at Xu Zaijing and nodded in agreement.

Seeing the three people's gazes, Xu Zaijing nodded with great satisfaction and said, "Hmm—that makes a lot of sense."

(End of this chapter)