According to regulations, the court attire for first-rank officials was deep purple, appearing noble and mysterious.
However, when Luo Shangyu received her court robe, she was greatly surprised.
On the deep purple fabric, golden threads were interspersed, forming intricate classical patterns.
“How is it? Do you like it?” Qin Yu leaned close to Luo Shangyu.
“You designed it for me?” Luo Shangyu was somewhat incredulous.
She seemed not to have noticed Qin Yu doing this.
“Mm, I secretly asked someone to design it for you, but I decided on the overall design concept and the final style.” Qin Yu said. “How is it? Do you like it?”
“I like it very much.” After saying this, Luo Shangyu paused, holding the garment against herself to measure it for a moment. “Thank you.”
“There’s nothing to thank me for!” Qin Yu urged Luo Shangyu. “Hurry up and put it on!”
The two of them busied themselves for a while before finally changing into their respective court robes.
Qin Yu had become the Emperor, so her court robe was the dragon robe. The splendid attire not only symbolized status but also represented power.
Qin Yu looked at herself in the mirror, admiring her heroic bearing. At that moment, seeing herself in the mirror, looking majestic and domineering in the dragon robe, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of looking down on the world and controlling everything.
“Haha!” Luo Shangyu watched Qin Yu’s expression from the side and couldn’t help but laugh.
“What are you laughing at?” Qin Yu asked, a bit puzzled.
“Nothing.” Luo Shangyu deliberately put on a serious expression. “I just think there’s no way to connect your current appearance with how you looked when we first met.”
“How I looked when we first met?” Qin Yu’s face darkened. Wasn’t that when she was captured by Luo Shangyu?
“Annoying!” Qin Yu glared angrily at Luo Shangyu. “At… at that time, it was just the circumstances forcing me!”
“Forcing you? I seem to remember you being quite immersed in it?”
“Fine, Luo Shangyu!” Having been exposed, Qin Yu bristled and warned, “Just you wait tonight. Don’t think you’ll have it easy!”
“Qin Yu, you’d better understand your position.” Luo Shangyu came behind Qin Yu and began to comb her hair. “Some things cannot be changed, even if you become Emperor, they still cannot be changed. If you don’t mind being severely disciplined tonight, by all means, go ahead and try.”
“Hmph!” Qin Yu could only let out a heavy snort. Facing Luo Shangyu, no matter what, she couldn’t defeat her and could only be manipulated at will. Rather than a warning, it was more like Qin Yu’s last useless resistance.
Luo Shangyu skillfully gathered Qin Yu’s hair, making it neatly arranged behind her head.
Unlike ordinary maids, Qin Yu had to wear the Emperor’s crown, so she couldn’t put her hair up in a bun on top of her head; she had to let it hang down and tie it.
However, the hat would only be put on during the coronation, so Qin Yu’s head was bare.
“Let me help you comb your hair!” After Luo Shangyu finished combing Qin Yu’s hair, Qin Yu said to Luo Shangyu.
“No need. I already took care of it in advance.” Luo Shangyu shook her head and fiddled with her light golden hair in the mirror.
The light gold color of her hair complemented the golden threads on her clothes, full of a holy aura.
“Your Highness, it’s time…” A maid gently knocked on the door and reminded them.
“We’re coming.” Luo Shangyu and Qin Yu exchanged a glance, pushed open the door, and left the bedroom.
The main hall of the East Palace was already filled with Eastern Palace officials. They were all people Qin Yu trusted, gathered here specially to congratulate her.
“We welcome Your Majesty!” Everyone bowed in unison, making Qin Yu feel very embarrassed.
The official in charge of guidance from the Ministry of Rites had already arrived at the East Palace. Under his guidance, Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu boarded the already prepared sedan chair.
The sedan chair left the East Palace. Qin Yu looked back at the courtyard where she had lived for over a decade, and a pang of sorrow surged in her heart. ‘I suppose this is the last time I’ll see this courtyard?’ Qin Yu thought about spending the rest of her life in the Rear Palace and couldn’t help but miss every plant and tree in the East Palace.
In the blink of an eye, the sedan chair had arrived at the square behind Weiyang Hall.
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu stepped down from the sedan chair hand in hand and entered Weiyang Hall.
For this coronation ceremony, Luo Shangyu could no longer stay by Qin Yu’s side; she needed to stand in the ranks of the officials.
However, because Luo Shangyu was the Grand Preceptor of the first rank, she stood at the head of all officials.
At this time, the officials had not yet entered the hall; they were all standing outside Weiyang Hall. Only Luo Shangyu stood alone inside the empty Weiyang Hall.
Qin Yu sat on the dragon throne with a nervous heart. At this moment, she was the only one on the spacious dragon throne, which was vastly different from usual.
Usually, she and Luo Shangyu sat closely together on the dragon throne, clearly feeling each other’s body warmth, and occasionally their hair strands would brush against each other.
But now, beside Qin Yu, there was only cold air.
The bell for the court session had already rung, and the doors suddenly swung open wide.
The officials entered the hall in neat steps, wearing tidy robes. Along with them came a cold wind that made the candles inside the hall flicker uncertainly for a moment.
Qin Yu’s body couldn’t help but tremble. Although she tried to conceal it carefully, Luo Shangyu, who knew her well, noticed it at a glance.
She cast an encouraging look at Qin Yu. Qin Yu met Luo Shangyu’s gaze and couldn’t help but smile slightly. At that moment, she felt she had regained her courage.
Having calmed her mind, Qin Yu was finally able to greet the coronation ceremony in her best form.
The first step of the coronation ceremony was for Yin An, as the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor and also the entrusted guardian minister of Qin Ling, to read the late emperor’s edict appointing Qin Yu to inherit the throne.
After hearing it, Qin Yu, following the procedure, respectfully declined to accept the edict.
Yin An then continued according to procedure, persuading Qin Yu that ascending the throne and inheriting the great tradition was in accordance with heaven’s will and the people’s wishes. As a result, Qin Yu declined a second time, claiming that her virtue was insufficient and she was unwilling to inherit the great tradition.
Then Yin An, as the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor, followed the procedure by listing several “virtuous” deeds of Qin Yu to refute her excuse.
Qin Yu then followed the script, saying that today’s celestial omens were abnormal and that it was not suitable for the coronation.
Then the officials, as prearranged, shouted in unison, urging Qin Yu to ascend the throne without considering celestial omens; moreover, after their selection, today was the most auspicious celestial omen.
One should not refuse more than three times. Qin Yu had already declined three times, and the act was almost over. She put on a reluctant expression, preparing to accept the edict.
Qin Yu stood up, knelt on both knees, and with trembling hands, took the edict.
“Your son is dull and ignorant, with shallow learning, hardly fit for such a great responsibility. But today, the many ministers repeatedly urged me to accept, so I have no choice but to take this position.” Qin Yu paused and continued, “Your son will certainly cultivate tranquility to cultivate virtue, practice frugality to nurture morality, guard against arrogance and impatience, open wide the avenues of remonstrance, and not fail the late emperor’s legacy. I shall govern the Phantom World and wield power over all under heaven!”
After she finished, everyone in the hall shouted “Long live” in unison.
Amid the cheers, Yin An placed the Emperor’s crown on Qin Yu and handed her the jade seal and jade pendant symbolizing the Emperor.
Immediately, the edict of Qin Yu’s ascension and inheritance of the great tradition was passed to the officials and simultaneously sent to every official of the Chengji Empire.
At this point, the coronation ceremony was basically concluded.
Qin Yu sat back on the dragon throne, finally relaxing. The jade seal, which had been cold in her hand, had already warmed up.