Chương 684: Princess Conferment

The military generals gathered around a table to chat, and Cheng Yaojin, while gnawing on meat, muttered to Qin Qiong:

"Look at His Highness Prince Qi's temperament, so fiery and impulsive, just like me when I was young! He's sure to be a formidable general!"

Qin Qiong smiled and nodded, saying, "He's a good prospect. But His Highness the King of Qin is also capable, calm and resourceful. He'll be in charge of the trade routes and supplying provisions to the army. That's a sure thing."

Zhao Yun held his wine cup, looking at the Fourth Prince Liu Yong with admiration in his eyes: "Your Highness, the Prince of Chu, excels in military academy, is proficient in horsemanship, archery, and artillery, and is a promising talent. After two years of training with me, he will be able to stand on his own without any problem."

The civil officials were also chatting. Xun Yu stroked his beard and said to Fang Xuanling, "His Highness Prince Zhao is steady and reliable. He will definitely be able to manage agriculture and sericulture well."

"Yes," Fang Xuanling nodded.

"The four princes each have their own strengths, excelling in both literary and martial arts. His Majesty has done a good job in educating his sons."

Liu Ce looked down at his four sons, secretly pleased as he held his wine cup: "Good, they've all grown up. They can help me with my work now. This empire will be theirs from now on."

......

Three days after the investiture ceremony, the four kings, according to custom, were to wear royal robes again and pay homage at the Gao Temple and Guangwu Temple to express their gratitude.

Early that morning, the four of them changed into their formal royal court attire... It was even more magnificent than the day of their investiture, and there were two more strings of beads on their crowns, making their necks ache from the weight.

The Third Prince, Liu Yao, grinned as soon as he put on the crown, and secretly complained to the Second Prince beside him:

"Second brother, this thing is too heavy, it's making my neck hurt. Could you ask the Ministry of Rites to make a lighter one? A hollow gold bead would be fine, since no one can tell it's a piece of cake anyway."

The second prince glanced at him sideways, adjusting his sash with a serious expression: "Rules are rules, bear with it. Be solemn when you get to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, don't look around, and don't whisper among yourselves."

"Okay, okay." Liu Yao pouted and secretly adjusted his crown.

The fourth prince, Liu Yong, repeatedly adjusted his belt to make sure it was tied in the right place. He was meticulous, a habit he developed at military school. He did everything with perfect posture, even tying his belt tighter than others.

The Fifth Prince, Liu Yan, remained calm and relaxed.

The grand procession of carriages and horses arrived at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The four men entered according to their seniority, with the King of Qin in front, followed by the Kings of Qi and Chu, and the King of Zhao last.

The hall was filled with the fragrance of incense, and the shrines were solemn and dignified.

They respectfully offered incense, knelt, and read prayers before the ancestral tablets of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Guangwu.

The prayer was written in advance by Qin Liuheng; the wording was elegant and the calligraphy was beautiful.

He stood at the front, reading with a steady, powerful, and resounding voice.

The third prince kowtowed repeatedly, the sound echoing in his heart, muttering to himself: "May our ancestors bless the Han Dynasty with favorable weather and abundant harvests, free from famine and plague. May I win many more battles, expand our territory, and bring glory to the Liu family..."

As the fourth prince kowtowed, he thought to himself: May the ancestor bless me so that I may achieve great success in the army and become a general as soon as possible, so as not to disappoint my father's expectations.

After the Fifth Prince finished kowtowing, he looked up at the altar and couldn't help but think: If our ancestors knew that we now have steam engines, railways, and steamships, they would probably be shocked. They certainly never imagined that their descendants would come up with so many novel gadgets.

After paying respects at the Gao Temple, we went to the Guangwu Temple. The whole process took up most of the day.

When they came out, the sun was high in the sky, warm and shining, making their court robes glow with golden light.

The first thing Liu Yao did was push the crown up a bit, rubbing his neck and groaning, "My goodness, it's finally over! My neck almost broke! I have to go to a restaurant for a good meal tonight to make up for it! Second Brother's treating!"

"Why should I pay?" Liu Heng raised an eyebrow.

"You are the King of Qin, you have money!" Liu Yao said confidently.

"You can eat so much." Liu Heng smiled helplessly.

"Alright, I'll treat you. Let me show you around the newly opened Hu Ji Restaurant in the West Market."

"Great!" Liu Yong said with a smile, "I won't go. I have to report to the Ministry of War this afternoon to discuss going to the war zone with Uncle Zhao."

"So soon?" Liu Yao asked in surprise.

"Why not stay a couple more days?"

"The sooner we get there, the sooner we can familiarize ourselves with the situation." Liu Yong shook his head, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"There's a lot going on in the military camp; we can't afford to delay."

The Fifth Prince spoke gently, "Fourth Brother, please be careful on your journey."

"Don't worry." The four young men chatted and laughed as they boarded the carriage. The morning sun shone on the royal robes, making them gleam, a picture of youthful success and a bright future.

The clatter of hooves faded into the distance, carrying their aspirations as they galloped toward their respective futures.

..................

The day after the princes were conferred titles, the princesses were granted titles in the Liangyi Hall.

It did not gather a hundred officials, and the ceremony was simple and solemn, yet it still possessed the grandeur of an imperial family.

An incense table was set up in the hall, burning agarwood incense, the smoke rising gently and calming the mind.

The Minister of the Imperial Clan Court and the Minister of the Imperial Household Department stood on the left and right respectively, while palace maids stood quietly below the steps, a stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere of the Taiji Hall.

Liu Ce sat in the main seat, much more relaxed than yesterday... They were all his own daughters, so he didn't need to put on such a strict act. He even specially asked the imperial kitchen to set out snacks and fruit platters, just like a family banquet.

Xun Yu, holding the imperial staff, stood in the hall and first announced the title bestowed upon the emperor's eldest daughter:

"Imperial Edict: My eldest daughter, Ying, is gentle, wise, virtuous, and prudent, and possesses exemplary conduct. Her nature is naturally graceful and compliant, her actions conform to the rites and classics, and her words are never contrary to the law. Pingyang is a renowned prefecture, and the people of Hefen are highly respected. Therefore, she is hereby granted the title of Princess Pingyang... and is bestowed with a gold seal and purple ribbon.

You shall continue to cultivate virtue as a woman, uphold the rites and teachings, glorify the virtues of a royal daughter, and forever enjoy good fortune."

After the announcement, Princess Liu Ying, dressed in a deep robe and a ceremonial robe, slowly stepped forward.

She was the eldest daughter, the most composed, taking measured steps with her skirt barely swaying, exuding elegance and poise.

Upon entering the hall, he bowed deeply to receive the offerings, his posture dignified and flawless.

Xun Yu handed the policy document and the gold seal and ribbon to the female official beside him, who knelt down and presented them to the princess.

Although the gold seal was small, it was heavy, and the purple ribbon was smooth and lustrous, a design reserved for the eldest princess.

Liu Ying accepted it with both hands, her voice clear and bright: "This humble woman thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

She bowed again to express her gratitude, and after finishing the ceremony, she stepped back to one side, her back ramrod straight, displaying the demeanor of an elder sister.

Liu Ce looked at her and nodded in his heart: steady and composed, she will be the backbone of the younger sisters in the future.

Next came the other five princesses, and Xun Yu announced the imperial edicts in turn.

"Imperial Edict: The second daughter, Sui, is of a peaceful and gentle nature, and her conduct is dignified and quiet. Sui is gentle and measured, virtuous and prudent, respectful and frugal, and does not pursue extravagance. Anding is a powerful prefecture, a bulwark of the western border. She is hereby granted the title of Princess Anding... and bestowed with a gold seal and purple ribbon..."

Princess Liu Sui, the second princess, was the quietest of them all. When she stepped forward to bow, her voice was soft, and when she received the golden seal, her hands were gentle.

She was quite happy: with Tang Muyi by her side, she could earn money to buy law books herself and wouldn't have to secretly take her mother's anymore.

"Imperial Edict: The third daughter, Yi, possesses virtue cultivated from a young age, with an elegant and refined demeanor. She is kind and benevolent, acts in accordance with propriety, and is virtuous and graceful, renowned throughout the palace. She is from a prominent family in Nanyang… and is hereby granted the title of Princess Nanyang… and bestowed with a gold seal and purple ribbon…"

The third princess, Liu Yi, was the most delicate-looking. Her face turned red when she bowed, and she secretly glanced at Liu Ce. When she saw her father smiling at her, she quickly lowered her head again.

She was secretly calculating: if Tang Muyi's income were invested in her second brother's business, she would definitely make a lot of money. Her calculations were quite swift.