His Rui

Chapter 771: The Coronation (1)

The next morning, not only the Imperial Palace but the whole Imperial City was vibrant and decorated.          

    

Today was after all the crowning ceremony of the Second Prince, Zhao Zhang Wei. Xin was soon going to get a new Emperor.     

Though Zhao Zhang Wei becoming an Emperor was never within people’s expectations, no one could deny accepting him as the new Emperor after knowing what the first prince has done.      

In fact, the contempt and doubt for Zhao Zhuang Chen in people’s hearts had been rising since Qin Wenya’s execution.      

If the Empress had been trying to intimidate their Emperor using Qin Empire for so many years then would her son be any less?      

That was what people were suspicious of.      

It could be said that if Zhao Zhuang Chen had indeed ascended the throne then his reign would have been full of difficulties.      

But Zhao Zhang Wei won people’s trust very easily after seeing his conduct in the matters related to the previous Emperor’s death and then Zhao Zhuang Chen committing treason by killing the former.     

In the end, those who were still doubtful of whether he would be a good Emperor or not could only wait and watch how he will rule.      

Also, there was no other Imperial Prince who could be an option in front of Zhao Zhang Wei.      

So People sighed and sincerely wished that the Empire would only progress under the new Emperor’s reign.      

At the same time, this situation allowed ministers to think again about what had been part of the Imperial Clan for so many years.      

Having many concubines and consorts has been a norm for an Emperor which Zhao Wang Lei had broken. Noble Consort Shu was the only woman he had taken in after marrying the Empress.      

However, this time many ministers were unwilling to let the new Emperor do the same.      

After all, it could be seen how many princes could be needed in the situations Xin was facing today.      

One could commit treason, the second could be incapable but at least the third might be slightly better …and if there were more princes then the competitive feeling among the Imperial Princes would only make them improve themselves more and more.      

Many ministers had already discussed this matter among themselves and were thinking of bringing this matter in front of Zhao Zhang Wei once he would ascend the throne.      

In fact, they thought that Zhao Zhang Wei should not have any problem with this. After all, he already had more than three concubines in his courtyard unlike the previous Emperor who didn’t even have a single woman in the inner hall after the previous to previous Emperor had suddenly left the world.     

Thinking of this, they thought that everything would go well.      

The Imperial Court was filled with ministers in the early morning. Many of them were there for making arrangements for the crowning ceremony.      

Even Xi Ying had entered the Imperial Palace today early morning.      

In Xinhe Palace, Zhao Zhang Wei stepped out of his chambers in yellow robes and walked to the outer hall.      

His face was cold and emotionless making Eunuch Zhang continuously on pins and needles since last night.      

The young Eunuch didn’t know what happened between his master and wangfei but his master’s face didn’t look good after that.      

Eunuch Zhang suddenly regretted for being impatient in letting wangfei enter the study room yesterday.      

However, what could he even do?         

    

At the same time, he wondered if he should not let his master know when wangfei would come in the future to visit him.      

It used to be like this in the past, however, since the time he had suddenly seen his master’s care for wangfei. Though it was all of a sudden, Eunuch Zhang only thought that a man’s heart was fickle and he as a loyal servant to his master could only try his best to satisfy him.      

However, every time in his attempts of doing so, he would only see his master’s long face.      

Eunuch Zhang felt frustrated and helpless.      

On the other hand, Zhao Zhang Wei’s phoenix eyes were glued to the entrance of the outer hall.      

Would she not come?      

He wondered suddenly.      

The thought made his phoenix eyes go colder and his fists clenched tightly. Actually, he had already thought of an excuse in case Yi Huiqing didn’t agree to come with him to the Imperial Court.      

The crowning ceremony of the Empress could be done later as well. He would make some excuse regarding her health.      

However, in the end, she would become his Empress and no other woman.      

Still, he felt stifled on realizing that she disliked him so much.      

No woman would miss such an opportunity. How much she must dislike him to refuse to become an Empress.      

The surroundings were suddenly a little strange.      

Just when Zhao Zhang Wei was somehow going to say to Young Eunuch that they will leave now, he saw a figure walking from the other side of the door.      

His phoenix eyes were glued to the figure even though it was not alone.      

Yi Huiqing wearing the yellow dress looked very beautiful. She was leading all the concubines as she walked toward the outer hall.      

When she saw Zhao Zhang Wei staring at her without looking away, her emotions were slightly complicated but she soon looked away and composed herself.      

“Wangfei greets Wangye.”     

Yi Huiqing said politely and other concubines followed her soon.      

In the group, Shaolin was standing in the middle and looked at Zhao Zhang Wei with longing-filled eyes.      

Her heart had been filled with rage since last night.      

She wished that the morning would never come because the next morning Yi Huiqing was going to become an Empress and she never wanted that.      

Yi Huiqing was already higher than her. If she became an Empress then Shaolin thought that she would never be able to find a position that could make her stand equal to Yi Huiqing.      

Two wangfeis were even possible in some manors but two Empress….that could never be possible.      

There could only be one Empress.          

    

And she was merely a concubine. However, regardless of what she thought, the morning came in the end and she also had to get ready even if she was unwilling to see Yi Huiqing becoming an Empress.      

She still wanted to see the prince whom she had not seen for so many days.      

And as soon as she saw him, she suddenly forgot all her grievances.      

Shaolin thought that no one else could Zhao Zhang Wei so much.      

However, she was stifled when she noticed that he didn’t even glance at her once and was constantly looking at Yi Huiqing who was not looking at him at all.      

All the grievances she had returned again and Shaoling suddenly wanted to tear Yi Huiqing’s face then and there.      

She had to control herself with great effort.      

Concubine Lin who was standing beside Shaolin clearly saw all the expression on Shaolin face and shook her head lightly.      

Most of them were aware of Shaolin’s high ambitions. However, in their eyes, she was just stupid who was trying to equate herself to the wangfei of the Xinhe Palace.      

The wangfei who was soon going to become an Empress.      

However, she was not going to meddle in all this. She would just stand aside and watch Shaolin’s humiliation. Remembering how the former had been bragging about wangye visiting her courtyard, Concubine Lin smirked.      

She couldn’t wait to see Shaoling’s humiliation.      

Unaware of what was going on inside the women’s minds living in the inner courtyard, Zhao Zhang Wei was just focused on Yi Huiqing.      

Eunuch Zhang who was standing behind his master could clearly feel that as soon as wangfei entered, his master’s mood had suddenly become completely opposite of before.      

He was relieved and looked at wangfei with deep respect. He really needed to win wangfei’s favor seeing how things are going on.      

Zhao Zhang Wei’s mood was indeed bright. There was even a small smile on his lips. He stretched his hand out and said gently     

“Come, we are getting late.”     

Yi Huiqing looked at the hand for a few moments silently. In the end, whether she wanted or not, she could only put her hand in his and leave for the Imperial Court.     

Zhao Zhang Wei held the soft hand firmly.      

When they reached the Imperial Court, the guard announced his and Yi Huiqing’s arrival.      

All the ministers in the Imperial Court suddenly kneeled down except for Xi Ying.      

A few couldn’t help but look at Xi Ying secretly. Prime Minister Xi had been granted the privilege of not kneeling down by the previous Emperor but did it apply to the new Emperor as well?      

However, all the doubts were cleared when Zhao Zhang Wei calmly walked inside the Imperial Court and looked calmly at Xi Ying who was standing.      

While Xi Ying who saw Yi Huiqing walking beside Zhao Zhang Wei was satisfied.      

He was just here to ensure that Yi Huiqing would become an Empress without any obstacles.          

    

After all, he had taken her as his responsibility.