A middle-aged emperor, childless, was blessed with a beautiful and pregnant concubine who entered th

Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingyi smiled.

I'm not worried about her not taking the bait; I'm worried that she'll jump on it herself and insist on taking it, and I won't be able to stop her.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager nodded slightly, her gaze towards Chaoyang filled with affection: "Emperor, Chaoyang is truly filial; the Moon Goddess will surely be pleased."

Emperor Qianwu's crown tassels twitched slightly. His gaze passed through the jade beads, swept over Consort Chen's eager face, and landed on his daughter's bright and beautiful face.

Under the moonlight, Princess Chaoyang was indeed breathtakingly beautiful. Her youthful vibrancy and royal bearing were unmatched by any of the more conventional concubines.

He paused for a moment, then nodded almost imperceptibly.

The woman who had already taken a step back turned pale and quietly retreated.

Under the encouraging gaze of Consort Chen, Princess Chaoyang took a deep breath, picked up the jade cup offered by the eunuch, and walked lightly and solemnly toward the altar.

The moon-white cloak flowed like ripples on water with her movements, and the silver embroidery reflected tiny starlight.

All eyes were on her.

At this moment, she is not only a princess, but also a symbol representing the royal family's yin rituals and receiving divine grace in this moon-worshiping ceremony.

She knelt down in accordance with etiquette, offering the jade cup. Although her movements were slightly immature, they were made all the more sincere and moving by the moonlight and her gorgeous clothes.

Consort Chen watched this scene with a smug look that was almost overflowing in her eyes.

She glanced subconsciously at Consort Zhen, who was bowing with her hands and eyes downcast.

Suddenly, I realized that there was no point in fighting with Consort Zhen.

What does Consort Zhen have to compare with her?

Even if His Majesty favors her for a time, so what?

Without an heir, His Majesty's whim was ultimately just a passing fancy.

She was the only one who bore His Majesty his only child, and she was the only one who was ultimately qualified to stand by His Majesty's side!

The ceremony is about to conclude.

Just as the master of ceremonies was about to chant "Drink the blessed wine and receive the sacrificial meat," a clear and calm female voice rang out in the lingering silence:

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Mingyi had stepped out of the ranks a few steps, still bowing his head and maintaining a respectful posture, but his voice carried steadily.

"The ceremony is finally completed, and the moon goddess has witnessed it; this is an auspicious omen."

"However, the ancient ritual of worshipping the moon has the instruction that 'when receiving the rites of the underworld, one must present them with clean vessels to cleanse one's mind and clarify one's intentions.'"

She slightly raised her head, her clear gaze fixed on the throne.

"The inner court houses an ancient artifact from the previous dynasty called the 'Moon-Turning Glass Mirror,' which is shaped like a full moon and is crystal clear."

According to the appendix of the Xuande Dingyi Catalogue, in the past, it was used to receive the essence of moonlight after the moon worship ceremony and then shine it on the royal family and relatives, symbolizing "the moonlight cleanses and refines, and blessings last forever".

"Now that the princess's filial piety has moved Heaven, if we were to use this ancient ritual vessel to symbolically receive the moonlight and then present it before His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, wouldn't that further demonstrate the completeness of the ritual, move Heaven with her filial piety, and fulfill the beauty of the ancient rites?"

Her words were unhurried and full of classical allusions, aiming to firmly bind Consort Chen and Princess Chaoyang under the shackles of "etiquette," "ancient precepts," "filial piety," and "auspiciousness."

Consort Chen's expression suddenly changed.

She hadn't expected Consort Zhen to make trouble at this moment, and she certainly hadn't expected her to propose such an ancient ritual that seemed like a nice addition but actually concealed a hidden agenda!

What is a Moon-Turning Mirror?

She had never heard of such a thing!

However, since Consort Zhen openly cited the imperial genealogy in full view of everyone, she could not immediately refute it as falsehood.

Emperor Qianwu frowned slightly, his gaze passing through the tassels of his crown and landing on Mingyi's calm and composed figure in blue.

The Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and several learned senior officials of the Imperial Clan Court had begun exchanging glances in hushed tones.

Clearly, they may have had some recollection of the "Xuande Dingyi Pu" (a collection of bronze vessels and inscriptions from the Xuande period), which seems to contain similar records, but the specific procedures for "turning the month" have long been lost.

Mingyi's voice became even more earnest: "This mirror is kept in the Imperial Treasury, 'Number Seven of the Heavenly Rank,' and the records are verifiable."

"When I was assisting with palace affairs and reviewing old records, I came across this and was deeply impressed by the exquisite nature of ancient rituals."

"Seeing the princess's sincerity today, I suddenly remembered."

"If Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager feel that this ancient ritual is outdated, they should naturally prioritize the current ceremonies."

She retreated in a strategic move, throwing the choice back to the emperor and empress dowager.

Consort Chen was incredibly naive to think that by not informing or ignoring her when handling matters in the inner palace, she could completely strip Consort Chen of her power.

Consort Chen came from a humble background, was uneducated, and relied on giving birth to a princess to act with impunity, which was her biggest weakness.

She, Consort Zhen, was by no means an idle, beautiful but empty-headed vase.

She not only performed her duties diligently, but also studied classical texts extensively in her spare time.

Unlike the likes of Consort Chen, who had no brains...

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly. She valued ancient etiquette and felt that if there was such an auspicious meaning, it would be a good thing to add blessings to Chaoyang, but she did not want to cause any unnecessary trouble.

The emperor, however, thought about it even more deeply.

Consort Zhen was always gentle, but she was stubborn at heart.

There must be a reason why the phrase "complete ancient rituals" is mentioned at this time!

However, he still thought that Consort Chen was too arrogant and had offended this wonderful woman badly.

This wonderful person, even when making things difficult for others, adheres strictly to etiquette, is truly meticulous and extremely adorable.

However, Chaoyang was the apple of his eye.

In Emperor Qianwu's view, even if his daughter was somewhat spoiled, as the most noble princess, she was excellent in every way.

Since there are ancient books to follow, why can't his sunrise be?

Therefore, he agreed almost without thinking.

"Since there are ancient customs to follow, it wouldn't hurt to take a look."

"The Imperial Seal Bureau, immediately retrieve the 'Moon-Turning Glass Mirror' stored in 'Number Seven of the Heavenly Rank'."

"Your Majesty!" Consort Chen couldn't help but exclaim, alarm bells ringing in her mind, "The ceremony is solemn; it's probably not appropriate to add anything at the last minute..."

"Your Highness," Consort Zhen interrupted gently, still respectful, "it's not an addition, but a part of the ancient ritual, only it's been so long that it's little known."

"Now is the perfect time to revive the glory of ancient rites, given the princess's commendable filial piety."

"Moreover, this ceremony only takes a short time and does not interfere with the major events of the ceremony."

Her words were all reasonable, effectively silencing Consort Chen's doubts.

The eunuchs of the Imperial Archives were extremely fast; in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they returned carrying a sandalwood box and opened it in front of everyone.

On a brocade cushion inside the box lay a round glass mirror, about a foot in diameter.

The mirror is as clear as water, with dark silver dragon patterns inlaid on the edges, shimmering with a cold luster under the moonlight, truly an extraordinary piece.

What's even more striking is that the back of the mirror is engraved with intricate star, moon, and cloud patterns, with what appears to be a few extremely archaic characters in the center, which are difficult to decipher.

The Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices stepped forward to examine it carefully. After discussing it in hushed tones with several other senior officials, he reported back, "Your Majesty, this mirror has an ancient and simple design, and its decorations do indeed resemble those made in the imperial workshops of the previous dynasty."

"The genealogy may contain true information."

The emperor nodded.

Zhou Mingyi's expression grew increasingly calm. Following the description in the ancient book fragments she remembered, she clearly instructed: "Please have the master place this mirror in front of the altar where the moonlight is strongest, and stand quietly for a moment. This is called 'receiving the radiance'."

Then, he turned around, tilted the mirror slightly upwards, and slowly walked to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, so that the moonlight would shine through the precious mirror and reflect on their holy and benevolent faces, symbolizing "transfer of grace".

"During this time, the person holding the mirror must be free from distractions, walk steadily, ensure the mirror is not tilted, and maintain the moonlight, so as to demonstrate sincerity and ensure the flow of blessings."

The procedure sounds simple, but it is actually extremely demanding.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, one must hold this smooth, precious mirror and walk steadily along a specific path of moonlight, maintaining the same angle on the mirror.

"It also requires mental focus, which is a great test of anyone's character, let alone a princess who has been pampered in the deep palace."

Princess Chaoyang had little patience.

The blush on Princess Chaoyang's face, a result of completing her final offering, faded slightly. She looked at the cold, glass mirror, then at her mother.

Consort Chen dug her fingernails into her palm; she had already realized that this "ancient ritual" was a trap!

If the morning sun rises well, it will certainly be the icing on the cake.

But if there is even the slightest mistake... then it is a lack of sincerity, and the blessings will be diminished.

The glory brought by the final offering will be greatly diminished, and may even become a topic of gossip!

Consort Zhen has put the rising sun on a blazing fire!

That vixen who seduced the master!

"Father..." Princess Chaoyang's voice trembled slightly, revealing a hint of fear.

"Your Majesty," Consort Chen said urgently, "Chaoyang is young and unfamiliar with this ceremony; I fear..."

"Your Highness is overthinking this," Mingyi said in a gentle voice, as soft as flowing water under the moonlight.

"The princess is intelligent and filial, and her final offering was of excellent etiquette."

"This ancient ritual follows the natural order and takes advantage of the moonlight, making it a perfect time to test and demonstrate one's utmost sincerity."

"The princess will surely understand the sentiments of the ancients and complete this ceremony perfectly."

Consort Lan also whispered, "Her Highness the Princess is His Majesty's own daughter, a person chosen by Heaven. How could she lack sincerity?"

"Your mother, Consort Zhen, dotes on you and brings you great fortune!"

"Furthermore, the blessings of the Moon Goddess will surely protect our Great Zhou and our kind Empress Dowager."

Consort Lan looked at the Empress Dowager with admiration and respect.

With Consort Lan's agreement, even the Empress Dowager relented.

"Good boy, let's begin."

All eyes were on Chaoyang.

Emperor Qianwu looked at his daughter's hesitant expression, then at the cold, ancient mirror, and finally, his deep gaze swept over Mingyi's seemingly calm yet somewhat stubborn face.

He sighed inwardly.

His Ah Chang was venting her anger in her own way.

He was even forced to choose between Consort Chen and Chaoyang, between propriety and imperial authority.

"Since this is a part of the ancient rites..." the emperor finally spoke, "Chaoyang, you shall follow Consort Zhen's advice and try to implement it."

"The Empress Dowager and I will wait and see."

A ruler's word is his bond.

Princess Chaoyang's face paled. Under her mother's almost fiery gaze, she had no choice but to steel herself and take the cold, heavy glass mirror from the eunuch's hands.

The touch was so cold that she almost shivered.

She walked to the designated spot in front of the altar, turned the mirror upwards, and faced the bright moon in the mid-sky.

The moonlight spilled onto the mirror, reflecting a hazy glow.

She had to stand still.

A night breeze blew by, causing her cloak to flutter slightly. She felt her arm holding the mirror begin to ache, but what was even more terrifying was the growing tension in her heart...

The next dozen or so steps seemed to stretch on forever.

Time's up...

She took a deep breath, carefully began to turn around, adjusted the angle of the mirror, and then took her first step.

Landing on tiptoe, as light as a feather.

Step two, step three...

She focused all her attention on the mirror in her hand, striving to keep it steady so that the guiding moonlight remained as still as a pool of autumn water reflected in it.

The entire place was deathly silent, save for the sound of her extremely light footsteps and the occasional whistling of the night wind through the cypress leaves.

Countless gazes, almost tangible, were fixed on her back, her hands, and the mirror in her hand.

Consort Chen's heart was in her throat as she stared intently at her daughter's every subtle movement.

Mingyi watched quietly, her gaze calm and undisturbed, but a slight smile played on her lips.

Halfway there, perhaps due to nervousness, or perhaps because the night wind suddenly picked up, Princess Chaoyang's fingertip slipped almost imperceptibly.

The mirror trembled and tilted for a fleeting moment, almost imperceptibly!

Although she immediately managed to steady herself, the originally perfectly formed moonlight shattered and jumped briefly on the mirror before gathering again.

This tiny flaw, under the watchful eyes of countless people, has nowhere to hide.

Consort Chen closed her eyes, her heart turning ice-cold.

Princess Chaoyang bit her lower lip, forcing back the tears welling up in her eyes and the soreness in her arms, and finally took the last few steps, raising the precious mirror, which now bore the imperfect moonlight, high before the Emperor and Empress Dowager.

The moonlight, passing through the mirror, softly reflected on the emperor's face beneath his crown and the empress dowager's kind brows, yet seemed to carry a lingering tremor.

Emperor Qianwu looked at the slightly swaying light in the mirror, then looked up at his daughter's face, which was on the verge of tears but was trying to remain calm.

Finally, his gaze passed over her and met for a moment with the pale-faced Consort Chen behind him.

"The ceremony is complete." The emperor's voice was devoid of emotion, simply announcing the outcome of this small segment.

He neither commented on whether the moonlight was perfect nor praised it, nor did he criticize it.

But everyone already knew the answer.

The princess's sincerity and demeanor showed obvious flaws under this sudden test of "ancient etiquette".

Suddenly everyone realized that Consort Zhen was incredibly audacious, daring to openly embarrass Princess Chaoyang!

But what she used was clearly an open scheme.

Even if Princess Chaoyang didn't do well, it was because she wasn't sincere.

It has absolutely nothing to do with Consort Zhen!

Ironically, even His Majesty and the Empress Dowager indulged her...

Could it be that the imperial harem is about to undergo a major upheaval?

The following rituals—drinking the blessed wine, receiving the sacrificial meat, sending off the gods, and observing the burning of offerings—proceed in sequence.

The ceremony concluded in a solemn yet somewhat subdued atmosphere.

On the way back to the capital, Consort Chen held her daughter's cold hand tightly, her face unusually pale in the flickering palace lanterns.

Princess Chaoyang nestled against Consort Chen with a grim expression, her previous smugness completely gone.

Her gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed intently on Zhou Mingyi.

It was as if he wanted to stare a hole through her.