Coming from Xian Feng Palace, the empress and the emperor walked side by side and was escorted to the ceremonial grounds.
Above the flight of stairs, a hundred step away from the ground, Wei Yi Yi sat next to Jiang Yi as they look down to the one they called as Grandmaster.
He leads the ceremony and made prayers for a safe journey. The other officials stood by the side wearing matching clothes.
Like a good employee, Wei Yi Yi fought this uphill battle to the best of her abilities.
The crown is heavy. The dress is also heavy. Her whole body is so heavy and she just wishes to faint over.
But she did not.
A solemn smile. A straight sitting posture. Then plastered with a face that looks in attention.
Although it feels like torture, Wei Yi Yi did not show any blunder.
She"s used to the "listener" role after all. Her face could retain an "I"m-interested-keep-talking" look despite her mind flying elsewhere.
"They look colorful," Wei Yi Yi thought as she eyed the Grandmaster and his a.s.sistants.
To keep herself awake, she entertained herself by commenting about everything that she spotted.
She didn"t notice that Jiang Yu is also eyeing her from the side.
After a few hours, the ceremony entered its last phase. What"s left is but few formalities to pray for the empress and the emperor.
Jiang Yu also said a few words by the end of it. The sacrificial scene that Wei Yi Yi was waiting didn"t happen.
Everyone is fussing about the auspicious time and what lucky and what not, and so, without pause, they entered their sedan chair.
Peeking a bit on the curtains, Wei Yi Yi saw as the servants lift up the sedan.
She should be aware. She had read it a few times and even saw them on dramas. But still, seeing it in real time and experiencing it by herself, her jaws can"t help but fall in astonishment.
They walk uniformly like a trained military soldier. Each step is supposed to be b.u.mpy but it was unexpectedly smooth.
Although Wei Yi Yi was afraid to lean over, her curiosity won over and tested it a few times.
s.h.i.+fting her weight around, like a kid, she leans to one side and then to the other. When she didn"t notice any chance, she got into her knees and almost crawl out.
"Your majesty, we"re only halfway done. Please behave yourself," Tang Mei said as she witnessed Wei Yi Yi"s claws reaching for the curtains a second time.
Hearing her voice, the person inside twitch, retracted her hand then mumble a soft "sorry" before peace came back.
Reaching to where the carriages are, Tang Mei respectfully a.s.sists Wei Yi Yi as she steps down the sedan.
"Many thanks," Wei Yi Yi said.
"The Empress is too kind. This servant merely reached the minimum of what to be expected," Tang Mei replied. Her head lowered and her gaze to the ground.
Her movements were stricter but more fluid. Wei Yi Yi was taken aback with her humbleness at first. In the end, she smiled and whispered, "I won"t make any promises."
Tang Mei pursed her lips to stop a sharp remark to scape her lips.
Carriage after carriage was parked in succession. Leading in front, the most elaborated one belongs to the Empress. Followed by the one that belongs to each of the consorts.
There are also small carriages for their personal attendants.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." The consorts were already there waiting and as they spot Wei Yi Yi, they immediately went forward to greet.
When Tang Mei saw the servants following the consorts, she wanted to sigh so bad and whine. Even Imperial Concubine Su who has the lowest rank and was only allowed to partic.i.p.ate by being close to the empress have three personal attendants following behind her.
And the empress, while allowed to have ten personal servants, only have her.
In the palace, servants represent their mistress. They"re like ornamental pieces of jewelry that a high ranking lady should possess. Just like how the Phoenix and the peonies represent the empress, the servants are means to show off their influence.
But Xian Feng Palace only has Tang Mei. It was so lacking that she has no choice but to bring lower ranked maids with them. If this continues, the Empress might have a problem maintaining her influence in the future.
The pressure was enormous. Tang Mei cannot make any mistakes. More so that they"re out open for others to see.
"Forgo the formalities," Wei Yi Yi said warmly. "It will be a long journey but it will be worth it. Let"s all have fun together."
In overall pink apparel, Ye Ai Ning gave a snort at Wei Yi Yi"s tasteless choice of words. It"s the autumn hunt! Who would have fun in there?! They"re going to meet the furens and the ministers. It"s going to be an interaction in which, just a small misstep could send your reputation rolling to the mud.
Empress didn"t notice Ye Ai Ning preying eyes but Su Mei Fan who was standing close take note of this.
Wei Yi Yi only smiled as they proceed to compliment each other look. Right now, Jiang Yu only have Shen Nian Zhen as imperial consort and one consort whose name is Su Yu. Adding Su Mei Fan which she brought with her and Ye Ai Ning which is a given, there are only four ladies that she needed to take care of.
"I will survive," Wei Yi Yi give a pat to herself in her mind.
When they proceed to enter each of their carriages, a eunuch crunched down in front of Wei Yi Yi.
The empress stopped on her tracks.
Turning, she was met eye to eye with Ye Ai Ning. Feeling awkward as the woman sending her bitter expression have the same face as her bestfriend, Wei Yi Yi dodged her gaze and direct a glance to Shen Nian Zhen. She saw her as she stepped on the eunuch like a footstool and with much poise, entered her carriage.
Wei Yi Yi, "???!!!!!"
Wh--wh--what?!
This... human rights advocates will hunt us, you know?!
Ye Ai Ning was being sensitive to Wei Yi Yi. The moment she hesitated, Ye Ai Ning unconsciously looked over. She saw her looking at a lost to Shen Nian Zhen then back to the eunuch.
The Empress said something and wave her hand a few times. Tang Mei came forward to urge her.
Then, in an instant, she flipped over and jumped inside the carriage.
"Eh?!" Ye Ai Ning and Su Mei Fan echoed each other.