frightfiction Chapter 1362: Deep down, he is not as calm as he appears on the surface (175)
Chapter 1362: Deep down, he is not as calm as he appears on the surface (175)
Prince Jin stood at the front of the royal family team, with an upright posture, a gentle face, and a faint smile on his lips.
He bowed and kowtowed like everyone else, his posture was standard and impeccable, and no one could find any fault with it.
However, hidden beneath his drooping eyelashes, there was an excitement surging deep in the eyes of the King of Jin that was incompatible with this solemn occasion.
He glanced at the emperor sitting on the dragon throne and thought of that charming figure.
Shen Zhinian... Imperial Noble Consort...
That woman climbed so fast and so high!
Shen Zhinian's promotion not only did not make King Jin feel frustrated, but instead made his blood run hot.
His fingers curled slightly in his sleeves, suppressing the urge to tear something.
The more respectful Prince Jin is now, the more he looks forward to the moment when he will pull the Imperial Concubine down from the clouds and step her into the mud!
Just imagining her look of fear, unwillingness and humiliation.
Imagining her eyes that looked down upon the harem, tinged with despair, Prince Jin felt a thrilling pleasure rising in his heart!
Climb, climb as much as you can, my royal concubine.
The higher she climbs, the more painful and miserable it will be when she falls in the future!
This thought made King Jin almost laugh out loud during the solemn ceremony.
In stark contrast to the twisted excitement of Prince Jin, the Minister of Personnel Shen Maoxue, who was sitting at the front of the ranks of officials, was in a completely different mood at the moment.
He tried hard to keep his face calm, even appearing more steady than usual. He followed the Minister of Rites' instructions and performed the ceremony meticulously, setting a good example for all officials.
But only Shen Maoxue himself knew that under his official robe, his hands were slightly clenched due to excitement, and his palms were also wet.
His biggest dream in the past was to make further progress in the officialdom and bring honor to the family. It would have been a great honor for the Shen family's ancestors.
How could he have imagined that one day he would be able to stand in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony as the father of the Imperial Noble Consort and be looked at by all the officials?
All of this is thanks to my daughter. She has really soared to success!
Shen Maoxue quietly glanced at his colleagues on both sides.
Those elders and nobles who he might have needed to deal with carefully in the past now looked at him with more or less an indescribable awe in their eyes.
Shen Maoxue's heart was surging with emotions, but his expression was as calm as an old dog.
The more this happens, the more calm we must remain and we must not lose face for the Imperial Concubine.
Now that he has accepted this immense wealth and power, he must never let it go!
Then, two officials from the Guangchusi, dressed in special formal attire, lowered their heads and walked to the table set up in the hall.
The table was covered with a bright yellow satin mattress, on which lay quietly a golden book made of pure gold, and a golden seal with a crouching dragon as the button and the words "Treasure of the Imperial Concubine" engraved on the seal face.
The two of them knelt down with great respect, raised their hands above their heads, and steadily held up the golden seal that symbolized the authority of the vice queen.
Then, while maintaining a kneeling position, he walked to the imperial desk in front of the throne and gently placed the imperial seal on the desk.
After the imperial edict was properly placed, a cabinet scholar wearing a crane-patched robe and with a thin and old-fashioned temperament stepped out and stood to the east of the imperial desk.
In his hand, he held a scroll of enthronement documents with a bright yellow ribbon. This document had already been carefully drafted by the Hanlin Academy and stamped with the "Emperor's Treasure" seal.
The Grand Secretary took a deep breath and read aloud: "Your Imperial Noble Consort Shen, you have a gentle and kind nature and are prudent and upright..."
Every word and sentence proclaims Shen Zhinian's virtue and the supreme honor of this enthronement.
After the decree was read, its echo lingered among the beams of the hall.
Nangong Xuanyu sat upright on the dragon throne, did not speak directly, but nodded lightly.
Li Changde immediately stepped forward, his shrill voice echoing through the hall: "His Majesty has ordered the chief and deputy envoys to carry the imperial seal and go to Yongshou Palace to confer the title of Imperial Noble Consort on Shen!"
Gu Jinxiao, the Minister of Rites who had been waiting for orders, and another official who was appointed as deputy envoy stepped out in response.
The two men walked to the imperial desk, lifted their robes and belts, and knelt respectfully: "Your Majesty, we obey your order!"
Gu Jinxiao's hands trembled slightly, but he steadily picked up the heavy golden book.
The deputy envoy also held up the gold treasure at the same time.
After the two men stood up, officials from the Imperial Guard presented them with two golden scepters about one and a half meters long, with gold-plated shafts and flame patterns on the top, symbolizing the emperor's authorization.
Gu Jinxiao and the deputy envoy each took the golden token, held it in their hands, then turned around and walked steadily to the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and stood still.
The golden festival reflected a dazzling light in the rising sun, which contrasted brilliantly with the golden book and seal held in the hands of the two men.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Gu Jinxiao and the deputy envoy.
Gu Jinxiao stared straight ahead, his face still stern and serious. Only the slight pressure on his fingers, which gripped the golden seal and the golden book, betrayed that his inner thoughts were far from as calm as he appeared.
He and his deputy envoy set out one after the other, their steps slow but firm.
Twenty imperial guards, wearing distinctive armor, were on guard duty on both sides.
Eight musicians held flutes and pipes, and although they did not play them, they were waiting with solemn expressions.
Four officials from the Imperial Household Department followed closely behind with their heads lowered.
This grand procession marched along the imperial road paved along the central axis of the imperial palace towards the Yongshou Palace.
When the guards on duty along the way saw the golden procession passing by, they all straightened their backs, stood solemnly with their swords in hand, and looked down at the ground, and did not relax until the procession was far away.
The Minister of Rites took a step forward at the right moment, facing the officials still standing solemnly below, and shouted loudly: "Send the emperor away——!!!"
As his voice fell, the civil and military officials on both sides of the east and west knelt down again in unison: "Your Majesty, we respectfully bid you farewell!"
Nangong Xuanyu slowly stood up, without even glancing at the ministers below the stairs, and turned around and left calmly, getting on a sedan chair and returning to the Yangxin Palace.
This part of the ceremony in the Hall of Supreme Harmony has been completed.
The music gradually faded.
All officials stood up in order.
Low-ranking officials began to quietly leave the Taihe Hall Square and return to their respective offices according to etiquette.
Only officials of the first rank and royal relatives with titles still had to stay in a specific area of the palace and wait quietly for the envoys to go to Yongshou Palace to complete the enthronement and then return to report.
The place was solemn just now, but now it is not noisy, but there are more voices.
Shen Maoxue was instantly surrounded by a group of colleagues, and congratulations and compliments came like a tide.
An old clan member with white hair and beard stroked his beard, smiling broadly: "Minister Shen, congratulations! The Imperial Noble Consort is dignified and dignified. She is truly a blessing to the court and an honor to the Shen family!"
Another elder in a purple robe bowed, his tone as warm as if they were close friends for many years: "Brother Mao, I hope you will take good care of me when we serve in the same court in the future!"
Shen Maoxue put on a perfect smile, not appearing too proud nor too cold and rude, and bowed to each of them in thanks: "My Lords, thank you for your kind words."
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has received such great grace from His Majesty. I am truly humbled and overwhelmed. I, Shen, feel so ashamed and unworthy of it. I feel so ashamed and unworthy of it..."
He handled the situation calmly and modestly, leaving no room for criticism.