The wives of the concubines are empresses

Chapter 470 The First Farming and Silkworm Ceremony Begins

Faced with the fragrance, Mr. Qu couldn't help but move closer to smell it, squinting his eyes and sighing in enjoyment.

"Today is a truly wonderful day. We have wine, meat, and beggar's chicken. From now on, I will be at the pinnacle of my life."

After he finished speaking, he quickly grabbed a delicious chicken leg and started chewing on it.

General Nan Shaoan, Bao Zhian and others were stunned. The master's father-in-law and Old Qu moved so fast that it almost blinded their eyes.

Old Qu squinted his eyes comfortably and said, "Great, son-in-law, come, let's have a drink together."

When Bao Zhian heard this, he hurriedly wiped his hands with a handkerchief and bent down to pour wine for General Nan Shaoan.

"Master, please."

The two men clinked their glasses and drank it all in one gulp. Mr. Qu licked his lips comfortably, and General Nan Shaoan showed his teeth in satisfaction.

Seeing the two of them eating happily and drinking heartily, Bao Zhian felt as if he were there himself, and he became happy too, constantly responsible for pouring wine for them.

In the imperial study and dining hall, Shangguan Wanjun looked up at Liu Cheng and asked, remembering that she had not visited her mother and master for the past two days.

"Xiao Liuzi, what have the Queen Mother and Mr. Qu been doing lately?"

Liu Cheng thought about the situation reported by the people below today, he smiled lightly and looked up.

"Your Majesty, General Zhao Yong has gone to dine with Elder Qu. I heard he also took a beggar's chicken with him."

"Beggar's chicken? It's quite Master's style. I guess they are enjoying themselves drinking and eating meat right now."

Liu Cheng smiled and said, "That might be the case. The Queen Mother hasn't left Fu Shou Palace in the past few days, but she asked Master Leng and Master You You to take the three young masters to Fu Shou Palace twice."

"The Second Prince and the others?"

"Correct."

"Where's Cang'er?"

"The eldest prince goes there every day."

Shangguan Wanjun smiled after hearing this and said, "This child is quite filial. Send someone to Fushou Palace to tell them that I will be there to have dinner with my mother tonight."

Liu Cheng said respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty."

After dinner, Shangguan Wanjun took her concubine Feng Jinghan back to the bedroom in the side hall to take a nap.

General Anyong, who returned to the Yunzhou border, insisted on exercising every day. Today he was so tired that he took a deep nap.

General Wan - Wan Zhanye looked at his brother General Shi - Shi Jun who was a little drowsy, and asked out of curiosity.

"Brother, what new and interesting things happened to you in the capital this time?"

When the other soldiers heard this, they also gathered around.

Seeing their gossipy faces, General Shi - Shi Jun couldn't help but reach out and punch his good brother General Wan - Wan Zhanye.

"That's quite a lot, you know the eldest prince."

Everyone nodded.

"That's a clever one. At the hunting grounds, the emperor asked all the men and women to form teams of five. Guess who the eldest prince chose?"

General Wan-Wan Zhanye cooperated and asked, "Who is it?"

"General Yuxuan was once the concubine of Consort Wu, but he has now been promoted to the Imperial Consort."

A soldier asked curiously, "Imperial Noble Consort? Is that equivalent to the Empress?"

General Shi - Shi Jun shook his head: "No."

Hearing his flowery words, General Wan - Wan Zhanye kicked him.

"Be normal."

"No, why did you kick me? Are you sick?"

"Okay, stop dithering and just say it out loud to make the brothers happy."

General Shi - Shi Jun rolled his eyes at him: "I know, I want you to tell me. Besides that, there is also the former Concubine Wu, who is now promoted to Concubine Wu."

Someone else asked, "Wu Cefu? What rank is this?"

"The previous position of concubine was from the first rank."

General Wan Zhanye was puzzled when he heard the different titles: "Has the Emperor changed all the titles?"

"That's not..."

Everyone listened with great interest and didn't even take a nap. When General Anyong woke up, they all ran to training again.

After Shangguan Wanjun finished handling government affairs, she came to Fushou Palace. The Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace was already sitting in the dining hall waiting for her.

"My son has met his mother."

"The emperor is here, please take a seat."

Shangguan Wanjun smiled gently and thanked him, then raised her eyes and said, "Thank you, mother."

After she sat down, Nanny Li personally served her a bowl of lotus root and pork ribs soup.

"Your Majesty, please enjoy! Lotus root and pork rib soup not only clears away heat and phlegm, replenishes blood and nourishes the complexion, but also nourishes yin and moistens dryness, and strengthens the stomach. Please drink a little more."

The Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace spoke lovingly, "Madame Li is right, my son. You are busy with state affairs on weekdays, so you should drink more to nourish your body."

"Thank you, Madam Li, Mother. I will drink more, and you can drink too."

"Okay, Madam Li, serve me a bowl too."

Matron Li bowed respectfully, "Yes, Queen Mother."

After the mother and daughter finished a bowl of soup, the Empress Dowager Donggong picked up the pork ribs and lotus roots and placed them one by one in Shangguan Wanjun's bowl.

"Have some spare ribs and lotus root."

"Thank you, mother."

Shangguan Wanjun lowered her head and tasted the food carefully. Seeing her daughter eating happily, the Empress Dowager Donggong was also happy.

"That ploughing and silkworm ceremony that the emperor mentioned is almost here, right?"

"Well, will you go then, Mother?"

"This is the first time we're holding this event, so I'd be happy to join in the fun."

On the day of the ploughing and silkworm rearing ceremony, Shangguan Wanjun, the Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace, the Imperial Noble Consort Wenwu and the concubines of the harem, together with their ministers and families, went to the place where the ceremony was usually held.

Sitting on the phoenix carriage was Shangguan Wanjun, who was wearing a black dragon robe and crown, and a black shawl embroidered with exquisite phoenixes was folded around her wrists.

As a formal agricultural and sericulture ceremony, and the first time it was officially held, Shangguan Wanjun wore the imperial crown, the front of which was composed of the main parts such as the extension, tassels, hat roll, jade hairpin, martial arts, tassel, martial arts silk, and ribbon, which looked particularly solemn and majestic.

When they arrived at the destination, the third carriage behind the Luanjia, which was also the carriage of the Imperial Noble Consort, was ridden by the civil and military officials. Both of them got off the carriage with the help of their attendants.

The two of them were wearing the same crown, but theirs was different from the empress's imperial crown. They wore noble bright yellow crowns and came to the left and right sides of the phoenix carriage.

As agreed before, the Imperial Noble Husband Wu - Xuanhua Feng lifted the curtain and waited for the Imperial Noble Husband Wen - Bai Xuanyi to reach out to the empress and help her down.

Shangguan Wanjun looked at the big hand that reached into the carriage, raised her hand to hold it, stood up and walked outside the carriage.

"Your Majesty, be careful."

Shangguan Wanjun stepped down from the carriage with the help of Bai Xuanyi, the husband of Emperor Wen.

In front, Guard Li led the palace guards with high martial arts skills to clear the way, and behind the guards were the soldiers led by General Xuanwei to protect and clear the way. The guards were equipped with a sword on their waist, while the soldiers were equipped with a spear.

At such a solemn moment, Shangguan Wanjun, as the empress, was supported by the noble husband of Emperor Wen, Bai Xuanyi, and waited for the noble husband of Emperor Wu, Chuanchuanfeng, to return and support the Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace.

"Emperor, let's go."

Shangguan Wanjun smiled politely and walked towards the rooftop where the ceremony was to be held.

The officials in charge of the sacrifice shouted: "One step at a time, wishing good weather and good harvests in the coming year."

Climbing another multi-story staircase above, another sacrificial official shouted.

"One step at a time, I wish peace to the world."

The sacrificial officials on the third stage of the stairs shouted: "Step by step, higher and higher, may the people of our dynasty live and work in peace and contentment."