Chapter 1077: Conferment
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Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The conferment of the Empress had her own procedures. Unlike ordinary women who got married, she did not need to cry and comb her hair. However, Old Madam Xie insisted on combing her granddaughter’s hair.
Old Madam Xie picked up a small strand of hair from the side of her ear and tied a red ta.s.sel rope that she had personally knitted to this strand of hair. “This is done when a girl gets married so that you won’t forget.”
When a woman was about to get married, her relatives would tie a handkerchief or ta.s.sels before she got married so that she would not forget their teachings.
“Grandmother.” Only then did Yu Youyao finally feel the sadness and panic of parting with her family. She threw herself into her grandmother’s arms and wailed.
All these years, she and the Xie family had always stayed together and had never been separated. No matter what difficulties they encountered, the family had discussions. There were not many rules and etiquette. They were plain and simple, just like thousands of ordinary families in this world. The warmth between them could no longer be cut off.
In the name of her family, the Xie Residence had built a strong city.
It gave her a strong fortress.
It gave her a solid backing.
Once someone had a backer, they would have the confidence to be fearless.
She broke free from the haggardness of the mortal world and lived freely.
Old Madam Xie was also crying. “You can cry however you want now. When you leave this room, you can’t cry. You have to laugh. The happier you laugh, the more blessing you will have in the future…”
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something like a lecture, but just as she was about to say it, she realized that Little Youyao’er had not married into an ordinary family, but into the imperial family. The person she had married was not an ordinary person either, but the current emperor. There were some things that were not appropriate to say. For a moment, she did not know what to say.
The grandfather and granddaughter cried until they were in tears.
As Yu Youyao cried, she shouted, “I don’t want to get married. I want to be with my Grandmother…”
After entering the palace, if she wanted to see her relatives in the Xie Residence again, she had to announce it. Not only were there many rules, but she also had to set a time to meet them according to their grade.
In the end, they would only see each other a few times a year.
The Xie Residence was not in the capital either. Most of its businesses were in Liaodong, and most of its foundation was in Quanzhou. In the future, if they traveled north and south, they would definitely return to the ancestral land of Quanzhou.
It was difficult to even meet them. Just thinking about it made her feel uncomfortable.
Old Madam Xie couldn’t coax her for a long time. “Alright, alright, I promise you. In the future, your maternal grandfather and I will often follow the merchant ship to the capital and enter the palace to visit you.”
Only then did Yu Youyao stop, but she did not look happy. “My Grandmother is old. How can she travel back and forth? It’s better to buy a house and stay in the capital for a period of time every year.”
Old Madam Xie wanted to refuse, but she saw that her granddaughter’s eyes were red as she looked at her. Her big eyes had been washed by tears, making them look clear and bright. There were tears under her eyelids, and she looked like she would continue to cry if Old Madam Xie did not agree. She would cry for her to see, and it would make her heart ache.
Old Madam Xie had no choice but to agree.
Only then did Yu Youyao smile.
After Old Madam Xie left, Auntie Xu led a long line of palace servants into the house. The palace servants held lacquer plates and spontaneously stood in two rows in the house. There was a total of more than 30 people.
Yu Youyao’s hair was disheveled, and she was only wearing an undershirt, allowing Auntie Xu to fiddle with it.
Inside was a jade gauze dress with red edges at the collar, sleeves, and lapels.
On the outside, she wore a red robe with gold embroidery and dragon patterns.
From the front, a piece of greenish-red silk was tied around her body and covered her knees. At the back, there was a large ribbon that was decorated with golden dragon patterns.
There was a large belt, a secondary belt, and a jade leather belt around her waist.
Jade pendants, small ribbons, big ribbons, and so on were tied to the third belt.
One by one, she put them on You Yu Youyao meticulously. It took one hour to put on her clothes. Yu Youyao was almost out of breath.
This wasn’t the end.
After putting on the crown clothes, Auntie Xu pushed Yu Youyao to the dressing table and quickly combed her hair into a bun. It was shaped like a mountain and was extremely magnificent.
Immediately, a palace maid walked forward with the Nine Dragons and Nine Phoenix Crown.
There were nine dragons and nine golden phoenixes. The large dragon in the middle had a large pearl in its mouth. There were jade wings on the crown and beads were tied on the bottom. The other eight dragons and nine phoenixes had beads in their mouths, bringing the total number of beads to 40…
As soon as the phoenix crown was worn on her head, Yu Youyao immediately felt her head sink. “It’s much heavier than the crown of the Eldest Princess.”
Auntie Xu smiled when she heard this. “On the phoenix crown, there are pearls, jade, golden silk, and cat’s eye stones. In addition, there are more than 130 uncarved five-colored natural gems. There are more than 5,000 pearls of the same size. Naturally, the crown has to be heavier.”
Yu Youyao was stunned. “Yin Huaixi harmed me.”
Auntie Xu held back her laughter. Everything was simple during the emperor’s coronation, and it was only right for the post-coronation wedding to be like this. However, the new emperor had put in a lot of effort in the crowning and etiquette, causing a lot of trouble for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Rites.
The Nine Dragons and Four Phoenix Crown was changed to the Nine Dragons and Nine Phoenix Crown.
In any case, it was a change of dynasty. The new emperor could make changes however he wanted. If the ministers had any objections, they could not use the etiquette of the previous dynasty to speak, in case they offended the new emperor.
She put on the pearl emerald flowers, beaded rings, and other accessories one by one. “Stand up and I’ll take a look again.”
Yu Youyao stood up as she was told. She felt a heavy weight on her body, so heavy that she almost couldn’t breathe.
Auntie Xu circled her again and again, looking at her carefully. She also helped her tidy her clothes before bringing the jade tablet to her.
In the Record of Trades, Zhou Li said, “The jade tablet seven cun1 long. The emperor uses this to get engaged.”
There were patterns on both sides of the jade tablet which symbolized grains. This represented the meaning that grains nurtured people. Yu Youyao reached out and held the jade tablet in her hand.
After that, Auntie Xu mentioned the etiquette that needed to be paid attention to.
Due to the details of the etiquette, it was very complicated. Although Yu Youyao knew everything by heart, she was still a little fl.u.s.tered and did not dare to be careless.
When she was dressed neatly, it was already 1pm.
Yu Youyao was so hungry. She looked at Auntie Xu resentfully. Auntie Xu quickly brought over a bowl of medicinal cuisine and fed her spoon by spoon.
Unknowingly, the sun was already slanting. The orange sun restrained its light and heat, becoming even redder. The beautiful clouds surged in the sky, looking incomparably beautiful.
The auspicious time had arrived.
Elder Yu and the Minister of Rites, who were the main and deputy envoys, brought the Empress’s guards to the Eldest Princess’s residence. Yu Youyao quickly went forward to be conferred her t.i.tle.
Seeing that she was about to kneel, Elder Yu hurriedly stepped forward and said, “The emperor has decreed that other than the sacrificial ceremony, the Eldest Princess doesn’t have to kneel and bow. She can just stand and listen to the conferment.”
Yu Youyao followed suit and bowed to listen to Elder Yu read the imperial order to confer her t.i.tle.
The imperial order was filled with beautiful words and majestic merit. After reading it, Elder Yu handed it to the Minister of Rites. Yu Youyao took the Empress’s book treasures from the Minister of Rites. The books and treasure seals were collectively called book treasures.
The Empress’s seal was also called the Phoenix Seal.
After the ceremony, the Minister of Rites quickly said, “Eldest Princess, please enter the palace in a carriage.”
The book treasures had been bestowed, but this was only the etiquette before the conferment.
Yu Youyao arrived at the flower gate. A luxurious carriage with seven treasures was parked in front of the flower gate. Auntie Xu helped Yu Youyao into the carriage.