Huangming

Chapter 203 Auspicious Omens, Dressed in Dior, Awaiting Courtesy

Inside the hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and golden curtains hung low, while sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, scattering golden fragments across the floor.

As the last candidate, Zhang Yan, disappeared outside the vermilion palace gates, the final selection process finally came to an end.

Consort Li gently stroked her teacup, her eyes glancing at the Emperor's calm face. She noticed that his fingertips were still unconsciously caressing the Hetian jade paperweight on the table, and there seemed to be a deeper meaning in his eyes.

She raised the corners of her lips slightly and tentatively asked, "Has Your Majesty already made a decision?"

Zhu Youxiao's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not answer directly. He simply said, "Among the three candidates, Lady Zhang Yan is composed and handles things properly. She is indeed the best choice for Empress."

He paused, his gaze drifting outside the hall, as if pondering deeper considerations.

"The court is currently in turmoil, and a balance needs to be maintained between the inner and outer courts. What I need is not just a gentle and virtuous empress, but also a empress who can keep the situation under control and withstand the storms."

His tone was calm, yet every word carried immense weight.

Consort Li understood immediately and nodded slightly, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. Zhang Yan is not only of noble birth, but also possesses a remarkable composure. Even I cannot help but admire her."

She paused, then added, "The Imperial Observatory has already determined that Zhang Yan's birth chart is compatible with His Majesty's; they are a match made in heaven, a destiny ordained by Heaven."

Zhu Youxiao's lips curled slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. He then said, "In that case, let the cabinet draft the decree."

Seeing this, Consort Li smiled even more and gently reminded him, "Your Majesty, according to custom, although the final selection has been decided, the imperial edict has not yet been officially announced. Everyone in the palace is eagerly waiting for news."

She glanced meaningfully at the ornaments on the emperor's waist.

"It would be better to bestow some tokens so that those who are interested can understand His Majesty's will sooner."

Zhu Youxiao lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the coiled dragon jade pendant hanging at his waist.

The jade pendant was lustrous and exquisitely carved, with lifelike dragon patterns. It was an item that the emperor always carried, and it was of extraordinary significance.

He lightly flicked his finger, took off the jade pendant, and handed it to Wei Chao, who was standing to the side, saying in an unquestionable tone: "Give this to the lady-in-waiting Zhang Yan."

Wei Chao accepted the jade pendant with both hands. Although he was secretly disappointed that the girl he had bet on had not been selected, he dared not show it on his face. He immediately bowed and replied, "This servant obeys the order and will take care of this matter immediately."

Beneath his lowered brows, his mind raced.

The emperor's move was tantamount to announcing to the entire harem that Zhang Yan's position was secure, and those forces that still harbored illusions should give up their ambitions as soon as possible.

The candlelight flickered inside the hall, illuminating Zhu Youxiao's deep gaze.

He had already begun to envision the future: a wise and decisive empress might be the key to his reorganization of the inner court and the balance of power in the country.

Once the election is over, we can talk about personal matters.

Seeing that the Emperor's expression had relaxed, Consort Li smiled and said softly, "Your Majesty, that girl Huiti has been talking about you a lot lately, saying that she misses her brother very much. Your Majesty is busy with many affairs of state. If you have some free time, you might as well come to Cining Palace for a visit, so that the child can be happy."

Zhu Youxiao paused slightly in his teacup, glanced at Consort Li, nodded slightly, and said in a gentle but somewhat distant tone, "I understand. I will visit when I have time. I will definitely do so next time."

Upon hearing this, Consort Li's smile deepened, and she quickly said, "Then I will thank Your Majesty on behalf of Consort Hui."

Although she was not yet thirty, she knew all too well the loneliness of the inner palace. Without the emperor's favor, even if she held the rank of Dowager Consort, it would be nothing more than a magnificent cage.

If one could use the daughter's name to get closer to the emperor, that would be ideal.

She quietly raised her eyes and subtly observed the young emperor before her.

His Majesty has sword-like eyebrows that reach his temples and phoenix eyes that exude majesty. Although he is only in his early twenties, he has already shed his former immaturity and exudes imperial majesty in every gesture.

The bright yellow dragon robe made him appear even more upright and tall, and the jade belt at his waist gleamed warmly in the candlelight.

Who would have thought that just a few months ago, this emperor was a puppet she could manipulate at will?
At that time, he always stood before the late emperor with his head bowed and eyes lowered, even his words carried a hint of timidity.

She secretly sneered, thinking that the young man who had been forced onto the dragon throne was nothing more than an incompetent mediocre talent who would sooner or later become a plaything in the hands of powerful ministers.

However.
All his cowardice was actually a carefully crafted illusion.

The bells of the coronation ceremony still echoed in his ears. As soon as His Majesty ascended the throne, he swiftly purged the inner court, exiling all the eunuchs who relied on their seniority. He also quickly seized control of the capital garrison and promoted a group of loyal young generals.

In the imperial court, he subtly dismantled the alliance of powerful ministers, and by the time everyone realized it, the political situation had already been turned upside down.

Such methods and such cunning are far superior to those of the indecisive late emperor.

Consort Li suddenly felt a tightness in her throat, and the silk handkerchief in her hand had been twisted into a crumpled mess.

She subconsciously touched the golden phoenix hairpin at her temple, and only when her fingertips touched her burning earlobe did she realize her loss of composure.

The rich aroma of ambergris in the hall suddenly became exceptionally strong, causing her to breathe more rapidly.

unfortunately
She was, after all, his 'mother'.

Even though my mind is racing with a thousand thoughts, those inappropriate fantasies can only turn into a sigh.

Consort Li slowly lowered her eyelashes, her thick lashes casting a shadow on her face, perfectly concealing the turbulent emotions in her eyes.

She gently smoothed the non-existent creases on her sleeves, her voice as soft as spring rain in March: "Now that the selection of the empress is over, Your Majesty, would you like to stay at Cining Palace? I have some excellent green tea here."

Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly with a calm expression, but his gaze remained perfectly distant.

He deliberately avoided Consort Li's burning gaze, focusing only on the already cooled pre-rain Longjing tea in his hand.

"If Mother has no further instructions, I will take my leave."

Zhu Youxiao strode across the vermilion threshold, walking extremely fast, as if some raging flood or ferocious beast was chasing him from behind.

The attending eunuchs had to jog to keep up, and the palace lanterns they carried swayed in the evening breeze, casting long, long shadows of the emperor.

"Let's depart for the Qianqing Palace!"

The shouts and calls of the eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs echoed between the palace walls.

When Zhu Youxiao boarded the imperial carriage, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He rubbed his temples, recalling the hesitant expression on Consort Li's face earlier, and a cold smile crept onto his lips.

He is neither a pervert nor an animal controlled by his lower body.

Consort Li was indeed a beauty, but if you rush to pounce on every beautiful woman you see, you won't even know how you died.

In his eyes, such immoral thoughts were nothing more than another hidden danger to be guarded against.

As dusk deepened, the bronze crane lanterns lining both sides of the imperial road lit up one after another. The young emperor leaned against his palanquin, gazing at the bronze bells hanging from the eaves of the Qianqing Palace in the distance, his eyes gradually becoming profound.

In this deep palace, what is more dangerous than open and hidden attacks are often those traps disguised as tender affections.

And the other side.

After the selection, Zhang Yan returned to Chuxiu Palace with the palace servants.

Zhang Yan walked with a composed gait back to her room, only the slight curling of her fingertips inside her sleeve betraying a hint of her inner turmoil.

The sunlight in Chuxiu Palace was just right, shining on the white marble steps and making her features look like a painting.

"Sister Zhang."

She heard Duan Xiurong's soft call from behind. She turned around and saw Duan Xiurong and Wang Wanbai standing side by side, their expressions different.

Duan Xiurong's eyes held a hint of envy, while Wang Wanbai remained aloof, though his gaze lingered on her for a moment longer.

Zhang Yan smiled slightly and curtsied, saying, "My two younger sisters."

Duan Xiurong stepped forward and whispered, "Sister, were you satisfied with His Majesty's performance in the palace just now?"

She asked the question subtly, but the unease in her eyes was unmistakable.

Zhang Yan's eyes flickered slightly, but she did not answer directly. Instead, she said gently, "Your Majesty is wise and will make your own decision."

Wang Wanbai snorted lightly, a half-smile on her face: "Sister Zhang is quite composed."

Zhang Yan was not annoyed; instead, her smile deepened: "Sister, you flatter me. In the palace, one should be cautious in speech and action, shouldn't one?"

Her tone was gentle, yet sharp, both pointing out the rules and subtly suppressing Wang Wanbai's probing.

As the three were talking, a female official hurried over, carrying a red plate with a jade pendant on it.

"Lady Zhang Yan, receive your reward!"

Zhang Yan's eyes narrowed, and she immediately knelt down, followed closely by Duan Xiurong and Wang Wanbai.

The female official presented the dragon-patterned jade pendant to Zhang Yan with a smile on her face and a hint of flattery in her words.

"This jade pendant was a special gift from His Majesty; Your Highness should keep it safe."

His Majesty bestowed this jade pendant upon you?

In addition, the female official changed her address to "Your Majesty" in advance.

The outcome of this election was self-evident.

Duan Xiurong trembled and almost lost her composure, while Wang Wanbai pursed her lips, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.

Only Zhang Yan remained calm, accepting the dragon-patterned jade pendant and bowing deeply: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness."

Her voice was clear and melodious, neither arrogant nor humble, showing neither elation nor fear, as if everything was within her expectations.

After the female official left, Duan Xiurong finally couldn't help but whisper, "Sister... congratulations."

Zhang Yan gently held her hand and said softly, "Sister, there's no need for that. We are sisters in the palace, and we will need to support each other in the future."

Her words were very tactful, both reassuring Duan Xiurong and implying that she would not become arrogant because of her changed status.

Wang Wanbai observed coldly, then suddenly smiled: "Her Majesty the Empress is indeed sensible."

Zhang Yan looked up at her, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Sister Wang is also a clever person, and she will surely have a bright future."

She neither took her jab nor gave her a way out, leaving Wang Wanbai speechless and forced to shut up in frustration.

After seeing Duan Xiurong and Wang Wanbai off, Zhang Yan returned to her room.

Zhang Yan finally shed her dignified and composed demeanor from the previous day.

She leaned against the carved door, her delicate fingertips gently pressing against her rapidly heaving chest, feeling the wildly beating heart within her.

"Finally... I'm going to become the empress."

From Henan to the capital, she stood out from thousands of candidates, going through layers of selection, and finally won the emperor's favor in the final selection in the Forbidden City.

She recalled her father's earnest gaze before she left, and his parting words, "Our family's century-old reputation rests on your shoulders." Now, she felt she had not let him down.

just
"Being empress to a wise ruler like His Majesty is really... a bit stressful."

She walked slowly towards the dressing table, where a blushing face was reflected in the bronze mirror.

My fingertips lightly traced the mirror's surface, and in a daze, I saw that tall, elegant figure in the Cining Palace again:
The young emperor had handsome features and sharp, sword-like eyes, yet when he looked at her, he revealed a rare gentleness.

"Hee hee~"

She suddenly smiled, a sly glint in her eyes.

"It's better to be the Empress for His Majesty than for a tyrant."

If she were to encounter an indecisive monarch, or a muddle-headed emperor who indulged in sensual pleasures, even as empress, she would be nothing more than a puppet in the deep palace.

But this new emperor, who has only been on the throne for a few months, has swiftly purged the court and reorganized the capital garrison. Even the powerful eunuchs and high-ranking officials who have been domineering for many years have had to bow down and obey his orders.

Such an emperor deserves her utmost support.

Zhang Yan took a deep breath and turned to look out the window.

As night fell, the palace lanterns swayed in the wind, casting long shadows of her.

She gently clenched her sleeve, a determined look gradually appearing in her eyes.

"His Majesty has placed high hopes on me..."

"I, Zhang Yan, will never let Your Majesty down."

From this day forward, she will no longer be just a well-read young lady from Xiangfu County, Henan, but the future Empress of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Yan, from this moment on, strive to be a qualified empress!
(End of this chapter)