The Second World in Ancient Times

When the king's solemn and majestic voice rang out in the palace, announcing me as the new queen, I felt a mixture of emotions. All the hardships and efforts of the past flooded into my heart like a tide, and at this moment, endless glory and a sense of mission also surrounded me.

Preparations for the enthronement ceremony were underway at full speed, and the entire palace was immersed in an atmosphere of busyness and jubilation. Palace maids and eunuchs shuttled between the various palaces, meticulously arranging every detail, striving to make this grand ceremony flawless.

Wanqing said excitedly beside me, "Your Majesty, look at this red silk filling the sky, this glittering gold ornaments, it's truly a magnificent sight never before seen. All this is the honor you deserve."

I smiled faintly, a hint of emotion in my eyes: "Wanqing, this journey has not been easy. Behind this glory are countless calculations and struggles. Now standing here, I feel an even greater sense of responsibility."

Finally, the long-awaited day arrived. Even before dawn, my palace was already brightly lit. My maids gathered around me, meticulously dressing me. In the giant bronze mirror, I reflected my face, slightly nervous yet filled with anticipation.

The leading palace maid held an exquisite comb in her hand and gently combed my hair, chanting: "One comb to the end, two combs to the eyebrows, three combs to have many descendants..." Every comb seemed to express her beautiful wishes for my future.

Another maid meticulously drew my eyebrows, using the finest black stone to meticulously outline them, creating a curved shape that resembled willow leaves swaying in the spring breeze. "Your Majesty, your eyebrows, paired with your phoenix eyes, are truly celestially beautiful," the maid softly exclaimed.

After my makeup was complete, it was time to choose my phoenix robe. It was a magnificent garment embroidered with golden phoenixes, each stitch and thread evoking the royal dignity and majesty. The phoenix's feathers were lifelike, gleaming brilliantly in the candlelight, as if ready to take flight. The skirt of the phoenix robe stretched several feet long, embroidered with multicolored auspicious clouds and flowers. It swayed gently with my movements, like a flowing, colorful symphony.

The phoenix corona was exquisitely crafted, its pure gold frame inlaid with countless glittering pearls and precious gemstones. The largest pearl in the center, like the brightest star in the night sky, radiated a breathtaking light. Lengthy curtains of pearls dangled from either side of the corona, each smooth and round. When gently swayed, they emitted a clear, melodious sound, as if singing a song of triumph.

I slowly walked out of the palace and headed towards the main hall where the enthronement ceremony was to be held. Along the way, the palace maids and eunuchs knelt and saluted, their eyes filled with awe and respect.

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Queen, may Her Majesty live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years!" The shouts came one after another, echoing in the corridors of the palace.

I gracefully entered the main hall and saw officials already lined up neatly on either side, dressed in court robes and displaying solemn expressions. The civil officials' robes were embroidered with cranes and cloud patterns, symbolizing their elegance and integrity; the military commanders wore armor embroidered with patterns resembling swirling dragons, highlighting their bravery and majesty. Holding court tablets in their hands, their gazes lowered, they awaited the enthronement ceremony.

The concubines also stood in line. Though resentment and jealousy flickered in their eyes, they were obliged to kneel and salute. Concubine Li, dressed in a vibrant red palace dress, had hoped to attract everyone's attention, but it pales in comparison to my phoenix robe and crown. She bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with resentment, but she managed a smile. "Congratulations, Your Majesty! You are now the master of the harem, but please do not forget your sisters."

I gently took her hand and said, "Sister Li Fei, you are joking. From now on, the affairs of the harem will require the sisters to work together. As long as everyone abides by the palace rules, I will treat everyone well."

Concubine Hui lowered her head and said softly, "Your Majesty, I am willing to obey your instructions and behave myself in the harem."

I looked at her, understanding her reluctance. However, I was now the Empress, so there was no need to dwell on the past. "Sister Huifei is exceptionally talented. If you have the opportunity in the future, please share more poetry and songs with the sisters in the harem to add a touch of elegance."

Inside the main hall, a red carpet stretched all the way to the front of the dragon throne. On either side of the red carpet stood massive bronze incense burners, burning precious spices. Incense curled upward, filling the entire palace with a mysterious and solemn aura.

The palace's dome is decorated with a vibrant caisson pattern, with golden dragons and phoenixes intertwined, seemingly frolicking in the clouds. The surrounding walls are covered with exquisite scrolls depicting the achievements of past emperors and the splendor of the palace.

In the center of the main hall stood a massive golden screen, carved with auspicious dragon and phoenix designs, the workmanship exquisite and ingenious. In front of the screen stood a magnificent table, upon which were placed the imperial seal, a golden book, and various sacrificial items.

At this time, the musicians were already in place, wearing uniform clothes and holding various instruments in their hands, including chimes, zither, pipa, sheng, and flute. With the sound of a melodious bell, the canonization ceremony officially began.

First, the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven began. The king, leading me and all the officials, slowly walked out of the main hall and onto the square in front of the palace. A tall altar had already been built there, draped with yellow silk, fluttering in the wind.

The king and I walked slowly up the steps to the altar, each step taken with great slowness and solemnity. In the center of the altar stood a huge white sacrifice, surrounded by various offerings, including grains, fruits and vegetables, fine wine and delicacies.

The king stood before the altar, his expression solemn. He clasped his hands together and began to recite the sacrificial text: "Heaven above, Earth below, I now enthrone [your name] as empress. I hope she will uphold the virtues of a mother, lead the harem, assist me in governing the country, and jointly ensure the prosperity of our dynasty. I pray for the protection of Heaven, favorable weather, and peace and prosperity for the country and the people..."

After the king finished reciting, he picked up the wine cup beside him and poured the wine on the ground in front of the altar as a sign of respect. Then, I followed the king's example and performed the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the heavens.

After the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven, everyone returned to the main hall, where the atmosphere became even more solemn and dignified.

The king sat high on the dragon throne, his eyes filled with satisfaction and anticipation. When I approached him, he personally stood up and took the jade seal and golden book that symbolized his status as queen.

The king gazed at me, his voice loud and firm: "Today I enthrone you as queen. I hope you will uphold the virtues of a mother who models the country, lead the harem, assist me in governing the country, and jointly ensure the prosperity of our dynasty."

I knelt on my knees and respectfully accepted the Imperial Seal and the Golden Book. "Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to live up to your high expectations and, as Empress, dedicate myself to the service of the court and the country."

Then, under the auspices of the ceremonial officer, I completed the conferment ceremony. The ceremonial officer shouted, "The Empress is being conferred. Kneel three times and kowtow nine times!"

I slowly knelt, my forehead touching the ground, performing my first great salutation. With each kowtow, I felt immense reverence and gratitude, thanking the king for his trust and fate for his favor. My movements were slow and precise, and my sleeves spread out on the ground like a blooming flower.

"I bow my head and thank your majesty for your grace!"

"I kowtow twice. May Your Majesty live long and long!"

"I kowtow three times and pray for the prosperity of our dynasty!"

Then, I stood up, knelt once more, and repeated the kowtow three times, kowtow nine times each time. This is the ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows. Throughout this process, the palace was silent, with only the gentle sound of my kowtows, as if to express my cherishment of this honor and my commitment to future responsibilities.

After the ceremony, the palace maids came forward, carrying trays of precious jewellery. These pieces were part of the royal collection, rarely seen on ordinary days. There were pearl necklaces, jade bracelets, ruby ​​earrings, and more, each one priceless.

The king personally held up a pearl necklace. Each pearl was round and plump, radiating a soft luster. He gently placed it on my finger and said, "This necklace is a fitting match for a queen. May you always be as radiant as these pearls."

I bowed my head slightly and whispered, "Your Majesty, I am deeply apprehensive."

Afterwards, the king put other pieces of jewelry on me, each of which was filled with his love and expectations for me.

After the enthronement ceremony, a grand banquet ensued. The palace was filled with delicacies and the aroma of wine filled the air. The enormous dining table was laden with a variety of delicacies from land and sea, including bear paws, bird's nests, shark fin, abalone, and a variety of exquisite snacks and fruits.

The musicians played melodious music, the sound of the chimes was crisp and pleasant, the melody of the guzheng was gentle and melodious, the notes of the pipa were lively and jumping, and the playing of the sheng and xiao was like crying and complaining. Various instruments intertwined with each other, playing a cheerful movement.

The dancers, dressed in gorgeous costumes, danced with graceful movements. Some held ribbons that fluttered in the air like a rainbow, while others, wearing clogs, still managed to twirl and leap gracefully, like blooming lotus flowers.

All the officials came forward to toast me and congratulate me on my ascension to the throne.

Lord Li raised his glass first and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, congratulations on your promotion to Empress. Your Majesty's extraordinary wisdom and decisiveness in hunting, suppressing rebellions, and managing the harem are all witnessed by us. I am confident that under your leadership, the harem will be peaceful and harmonious, and will serve as a solid support for Your Majesty."

I smiled and replied, "Lord Li, you are too kind. My position today is inseparable from Your Majesty's trust and the support of the ministers. From now on, I hope that you will continue to serve the court as always and work with me to share Your Majesty's worries."

The other ministers chimed in, praising me highly. I responded to each one with tactful words, displaying the majesty of the empress while remaining approachable.

At the banquet, I sat side by side with the king, accepting everyone's greetings and congratulations. I knew that from this moment on, my status had undergone a drastic change. I was no longer just a favored concubine, but the ruler of this harem, the queen who would work hand in hand with the king to rule the world.

After the banquet, I returned to the Queen's Palace. It was even more magnificent and lavishly decorated than my previous residence. But I wasn't dazzled by the splendor and opulence before me. I immediately summoned the main harem officials, the maids and eunuchs, to discuss matters concerning its management.

I sat in the main seat, glanced at everyone, and slowly spoke, "Now that I have become the Empress, the rules and order of the harem must be even stricter. You are all my capable assistants. I hope that you can each perform your duties and manage the affairs of the harem in an orderly manner."

A senior maid stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, we will do our best. However, the harem is large and the affairs are complicated, so sometimes we may miss things. I hope Your Majesty will forgive us."

I shook my head slightly. "I'm not trying to be harsh with you, but mistakes will be punished, and meritorious service will be rewarded. If anyone slacks off on their duties or deliberately stirs up trouble, I will not let them off lightly. And if anyone works diligently and contributes to the harem, I will reward them accordingly."

"Yes, your Majesty," everyone responded in unison.

Subsequently, I made arrangements for resource allocation and personnel scheduling within the harem. I decided to review the expenses of each palace, allocating them appropriately based on the number of people and actual needs, to avoid waste and resource imbalance. At the same time, I strengthened the training and management of the palace maids and eunuchs, improving their quality and service level.

After dealing with the affairs of the harem, I began to pay attention to the affairs of the court. I knew that the position of empress was not only related to the harem, but also closely related to the stability and development of the court.

I discussed with the king and decided to set up a communication mechanism between the harem and the court, so that the harem can keep abreast of the court's policies and developments, and at the same time, feedback the harem's situation to the court in order to better coordinate relations between all parties.

The king agreed with my thoughts: "My beloved, I am deeply pleased that you have such foresight. The harem and the court are one and the same, interconnected and mutually influential. With you by my side, I believe that this court and this country will only get better and better."

I snuggled up to the king and said, "Your Majesty, this is my duty. I am willing to share the joys and sorrows with Your Majesty and work hard for the prosperity of our dynasty."

In the days that followed, as Empress, I participated in several important court events. I accompanied the King in receiving foreign envoys. In these diplomatic occasions, my elegant demeanor and tactful speech showcased the great power of our dynasty, earning their praise and respect.

During a reception for envoys from a neighboring country, the envoy presented the king with precious gifts and said, "Your Majesty, your queen is dignified and beautiful, with elegant manners. She is truly a model of a mother who exemplifies the virtues of the nation. We deeply admire your prosperity and wish to establish everlasting friendship with you."

The king smiled and replied, "It is my great fortune to have such a virtuous queen. The queen and I both hope that our two countries can maintain friendly exchanges and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results."

I nodded slightly and said with a smile, "Your Excellency, I am very grateful for your kind words. I believe that as long as our two countries uphold peace and friendship, we will be able to create a bright future together."

As time went by, my prestige in the palace and the imperial court grew. I actively participated in charity work, cared about the suffering of the people, and often ordered the harem to save money and use the saved money for public welfare such as relief for disaster victims and building schools.

"Your Majesty, you care so much about the people, which is a blessing for them. Now under your governance, frugality prevails in the harem, and these properties have indeed helped many suffering people." A minister said in the court.

I humbly responded, "I am merely fulfilling my duties as Queen. All the people of this world are your Majesty's subjects, and I shall share your care for them."

I also focused on fostering a cultural atmosphere in the harem, encouraging concubines to learn the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song, and organizing various cultural activities. I hoped that the harem would not only be a place for vying for favor, but also a place where women could enhance their cultivation and talent.

At a poetry gathering, the concubines presented their own works. I listened attentively, then offered comments and encouragement: "Sisters, each of your poems has its own merits. This is the charm of culture. I hope you will continue your efforts to imbue this harem with an atmosphere of elegance."

Under my guidance, the harem's atmosphere gradually shifted. Concubines no longer focused solely on vying for favor, but instead focused on self-improvement and harmonious coexistence. And I, in my position as Empress, constantly strived, using my wisdom and compassion to write my own glorious chapter. While I held a prestigious position, honored throughout the land, I also shouldered endless responsibilities and missions, working tirelessly for the future of this palace and this nation.