Chương 751: Xu Jingxian, Marriage

She walked in gracefully, curtsied, her movements precise and her voice clear and gentle, neither servile nor arrogant.

"This humble woman, Xu Jingxian, greets Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, and Your Highness."

After speaking, he lowered his eyes and stood properly, not sneaking up to look around.

The moment she raised her head to bow, Cai Yan found her pleasing to the eye.

With gentle features and clear eyes, he looks kind and steady, not the kind of person who would cause trouble.

She's not the kind of woman who could topple empires, but the more you look at her, the more pleasing she becomes; she's dignified and poised, with the air of a queen.

Cai Yan asked her with a smile, "What books do you read at home? What do you usually do?"

Xu Jingxian calmly replied, "Your Majesty, I studied at Jinling University for several years, learning mathematics, physics, and also reading 'Admonitions for Women' and 'The Analects'."

She usually helps her mother with housework, and is somewhat skilled at cooking and sewing. She also learned some bookkeeping from her father.

The answer was clear and unambiguous, without exaggeration or self-deprecation.

Cai Yan then asked, "If I were to become the Crown Princess, how would I conduct myself?"

She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said sincerely, "I should be dutiful in my duties, serve Your Highness, manage the affairs of the Eastern Palace, be filial to His Majesty and the Empress, and be neither arrogant nor jealous, and manage the household frugally."

"To prevent Your Highness from being distracted by family matters, so that you can focus on handling state affairs."

Liu Ce, who was listening nearby, quietly leaned close to Cai Yan's ear and whispered:

"This girl is good. She speaks frankly and doesn't boast. Her family background is also clean. Her father is a schoolteacher with no power or influence, which perfectly fits our rules."

He's steady and can keep the Crown Prince in check. I think he'll do well.

Cai Yan nodded, then glanced at Crown Prince Liu Chen beside her.

The boy's eyes were glued to her, his ears were red, and he was trying to look serious, standing up straight, but his gaze kept drifting towards Xu Jingxian.

Empress Cai Yan smiled inwardly, knowing that her son also liked it.

Alright, the couple is satisfied, and their son likes her too, so she's the one.

After the five girls had finished reading and left to wait, Cai Yan and Liu Ce discussed it and made a decision on the spot: Xu Jingxian was made Crown Princess.

Of the remaining four, two were of good character and seemed steady, so they were appointed as talented women in the Eastern Palace and kept to serve the Eastern Palace; the other two were rewarded with 20, 000 coins and a bolt of silk, and sent home in a grand manner, so their trip was not in vain.

The imperial decree was quickly relayed to the Ministry of Rites, and Guan Ning immediately led his men to follow the proper procedures: The emperor confirmed the appointment and drafted the edict of investiture. At the same time, preparations for the six rites were initiated without delay.

When the news reached the Princes' Hall, Xu Jingxian was stunned for a long time before she realized that she had really been selected.

Tears welled up instantly, not from sadness, but from a mix of emotions.

From the county town to the prefectural city, then to the provincial capital, and finally to the capital, the journey has felt like a dream.

The palace maids came over to offer their congratulations, addressing her as "Your Highness the Crown Princess" one after another, which made her a little embarrassed.

When Zhao learned that her daughter had been chosen, she hurriedly packed her things and took the train to Luoyang.

The train chugged along, and she sat on it, feeling both happy and worried. She was happy that her daughter was blessed, but worried that her daughter would be mistreated in the palace.

Upon arriving in the capital and seeing her daughter, the mother and daughter embraced and cried, a mixture of joy and tears.

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

When the crown prince takes a concubine, he must perform six rites: betrothal, asking the name, accepting auspicious gifts, presenting betrothal gifts, setting the wedding date, and personally welcoming the bride.

Aside from personally welcoming the crown prince himself, the first five ceremonies were all performed by envoys sent by the emperor, which was a very strict procedure.

The imperial court dispatched Guan Ning, the Minister of Rites, as the chief envoy, who led a grand procession with ceremonial guards and gifts to Xu Jingxian's temporary residence in the capital.

The procession, with its music and fanfare, attracted a crowd of onlookers who came to witness the grand spectacle of the prince's marriage proposal.

For the formal betrothal, gifts of wild geese, silk, and jade were presented, following ancient customs without any ambiguity.

Then they asked for her name, her full name, and her birth date and time, and brought her back to the palace.

Xu Mingren was wearing newly made clothes and was so nervous that his hands were shaking. He almost dropped the imperial edict when he received it.

Beside her, Zhao was both crying and laughing, as if she were dreaming. She pinched herself several times, afraid it wasn't a dream.

Neighbors gathered in layers to offer their congratulations, and the Xu family's doorstep was almost worn out by the crowds.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau combined the birth dates and times, and calculated that it was an extremely auspicious match, a match made in heaven.

The envoy returned to formally announce: the marriage is settled!

From that day on, the Xu family were considered relatives of the emperor.

Liu Ce issued a special edict to transfer Xu Mingren from Jinling University to the Royal University to serve as the vice-director of the Faculty of Arts, so that he could continue teaching and the father and daughter could meet.

That's quite considerate; they didn't separate the father and daughter.

The presentation of gifts was the largest undertaking.

Gold bracelets, gold hairpins, gold necklaces, dozens of bolts of silk in various colors, jade ornaments, dragon and phoenix wedding candles, and betrothal gifts and carriages provided according to custom filled the courtyard.

The gold glittered, and the silks and satins were piled up like small mountains, dazzling the eyes.

The neighbors gathered in layers, all coming to see the Crown Princess's betrothal gifts, marveling at them.

"My God, how much silver is that! I've never seen so much gold in my life!"

"The Xu family is truly blessed! Their daughter has made something of herself! Not only are they enjoying the good life, but the whole family is benefiting!"

"That young lady is wonderful, gentle and kind, a perfect match for the Crown Prince."

Looking at the things in the courtyard, Zhao wasn't so excited. She took Xu Mingren's hand and said:

"Once our daughter marries into the royal family, she must serve His Highness well, be filial to His Majesty and the Empress, and not act childishly or fail to live up to the royal family's favor."

Although we are a small family, we must still observe proper etiquette and avoid becoming a laughingstock.

Xu Mingren nodded repeatedly: "Of course. We must give Jingxian a good talking-to."

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau selected an auspicious day suitable for marriage.

When the envoy came to inform them of the wedding date, the Xu family received the imperial edict and began to prepare the dowry in earnest.

Xu Jingxian was taught court etiquette and the rules of the Eastern Palace by the nannies sent by the palace every day. She was busy from the moment she opened her eyes in the morning until she went to bed at night, her feet never touching the ground.

Although she was tired, she felt at ease and studied very diligently.

On the day of the wedding, the entire city of Luojing was bustling with excitement.

Red lanterns hung in the streets and large red "double happiness" characters were pasted on them. Crowds of people crowded together, all standing on tiptoe to see the grand spectacle of the prince's wedding.

Crown Prince Liu Chen, dressed in a black imperial robe embroidered with coiled dragons, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist, rode a tall horse, followed by a long procession of the Eastern Palace guards.

With banners, parasols, fans, golden gourds, axes, drums, and music, they marched in a grand procession toward the temporary residence of the Crown Princess.

As the procession marched through the streets, the people cheered and praised the Crown Prince for his handsome appearance.

Crown Prince Liu Chen sat on his horse, and his palms were sweating.

He had overseen the country for three years and had seen all sorts of big events, but today he was unusually nervous.

The thought of having a wife and a mistress in the Eastern Palace filled him with both anxiety and joy.

Upon arriving at the Xu residence, he bid farewell to his parents-in-law according to custom.

Xu Mingren and his wife sat in the hall, received a bow from Crown Prince Liu Chen, and quickly helped him up, repeatedly murmuring:

"Your Highness is too kind. My daughter is immature and has been spoiled since childhood. I hope Your Highness will be more tolerant and teach her more."

Liu Chen said gently, "Father-in-law and mother-in-law, don't worry, I will treat her well."

Xu Jingxian, wearing a red veil, a bright red dress, a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, was helped out by the wedding attendant.

She bid farewell to her parents, her voice trembling with tears, "Father, Mother, your daughter is leaving. Please take care of yourselves."

Zhao nodded, wiping away her tears, and gave several more instructions.

Then they boarded the dragon and phoenix wedding sedan chair, which was carried by the sedan chair bearers and steadily made its way to the palace.