Today was the Coronation of Deng Hui as the Empress of the Han Empire. The entire palace was magnificently decorated.
In the Palace grounds on the right side, the Han military was standing, led by the Commanders. The Court Ministers and a hundred other lower-rank ministers were standing on the left side of the military in their respective dress code. The Palace servants and maids were standing at the end of the Palace ground in white robes with lowered heads.
The Princes and their respective wives were standing at the front, on the left side. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess were standing ahead of them because of their higher positions than the other princes.
A loud announcement was made, informing the arrival of the Emperor and the Empress of Han in the Palace Ground in two different palanquins. The loud voices of drums could be heard, welcoming the Emperor and the Empress on the ground. The palanquins stopped near the stairs, which were covered with red carpet till the top.
Han Wenji got down the palanquin first, and everyone bowed their heads. Deng Hui stepped out of the next palanquin and came near the Emperor, who passed a smile to her. The palanquins were taken away from the Palace Ground. Han Wenji had worn an exquisite rare silk Hanfu dress of red color with golden embroidery, while Deng Hui had also worn the same colored dress, only the patterns made were different. They both ascended the stairs while the sound of drums kept increasing. The Palace maids who were standing at each side of the stairs showered the flowers on them.
Upon reaching the top, the Emperor raised his hand a little up. The sound of the drums had died out and now the Emperor addressed his subjects. The Chief Palace Head brought the Phoenix Crown. Han Wenji took it and placed it over Deng Hui's head. The Emperor declared Deng Hui as the next Empress of the Han Empire. All the Ministers sat on their knees and bowed their heads, followed by the Palace servants.
The Military Commanders had also come to their knees to pay their respect and show their loyalty towards the Emperor and the Empress.
The Coronation Ceremony ended after Deng Hui's address to the Empire and a few performances. The Palace Ground was emptied by noon. In the Great Hall, the grand feast was organized. Sheng Li noticed that the Fourth Prince was not enjoying as he should. It was a great occasion for him. Then, why?
Ying Lili looked in the direction where Sheng Li was looking. "What happened?" She leaned closer to him.
"Fourth Brother does not appear happy. Something is troubling him," Sheng Li replied and picked the noodle plate. He placed it in front of Ying Lili and told her to eat.
"Talk to Brother Nianzu later," Ying Lili stated. A server came to them, bringing the dessert. She placed two bowls of dessert on the table. Ying Lili remembered the day when Sheng Li was poisoned. Sheng Li picked the spoon and dipped it in the dessert to get a taste when Ying Lili snatched the spoon and sipped it. Sheng Li astonishingly asked, "What are you doing?"
"Tasting the dessert," Ying Lili replied, and put the spoon on the other plate. "Last time I was careless. Use the other spoon," she said when she saw Sheng Li using the same spoon which she had used to taste.
"Why?" He amusingly asked. "The dessert will taste sweeter. Don't you think?" He muttered. Ying Lili smiled and lightly hit him on the shoulder.
Lei Wanxi who was sitting beside Nianzu enquired, "Brother, are you seeing how Brother Sheng is teasing Sister Lili?" Nianzu simply nodded.
"Every brother is married. Now, I am getting scared. What if our father comes with a proposal for me and tells me to marry?" Lei Wanxi muttered as he picked rice from the chopstick.
"Father has given you the time of one year," Nianzu stated.
"Father even told Brother Nianzu that he can marry the woman of his choice, but suddenly a proposal came and he wants you to marry. Though the father is not showing, he wants Brother to marry that woman," Lei Wanxi pronounced. He brought the chopsticks closer to his mouth and ate the rice.
"But our father is waiting for my answer. If I refuse, then he will not force me." Nianzu wanted to be positive about this.
"Brother, don't you think father is getting older? I mean I saw him coughing one day! I shall not say this but I think he is sick, however, is not showing to us." Lei Wanxi's words bewildered Nianzu. He recalled that earlier his father told him he wanted to see him married before dying.
"I think I need to ask Brother Sheng. How to fall in love with the woman of your liking?" Lei Wanxi asserted and looked at the First Prince.
"Poor First Brother! Tied between two women. Whom to choose and whom to love? Sister Mi or Sister Xue? He cannot neglect any of them, or he can? Ahh, marriage is such a headache. I want to be Weng Yu. He is young and does not have to worry about," He had not completed his words when Nianzu left the feast in the middle.
"Did I say something wrong?" Lei Wanxi wondered. Sheng Li and Ying Lili looked in his direction. Their gazes met. Sheng Li gestured to Lei Wanxi, asking what was wrong with the Fourth Prince.
"Brother, I will tell you later," Lei Wanxi said loud enough that it was audible to Sheng Li. After the feast was over, everyone left the hall. The wives of the Princes had gone to greet the Empress personally while the Princes separated their ways. Sheng Li and Lei Wanxi went to the chamber of the Fourth Prince to converse with him.
"A marriage proposal for the Fourth Brother?! Why did you not tell me earlier?" Sheng Li scolded Lei Wanxi.
"You were busy romancing with Sister Lili! I know you would have beaten me if I had ruined your precious moments," Lei Wanxi snapped at Sheng Li, who chuckled.
"Do you always keep an eye on me and Lili? Since when you turned like this?" Sheng Li muttered.
"Brother, why would I keep an eye on you two? Everyone knows in the Palace that the Crown Prince spends most of his time with the Crown Princess. As soon as he completes his work, he goes to Zhenzhu Inn. I think in a few months I will read stories of romance between the Crown Prince and his Crown Princess," Lei Wanxi remarked. Sheng Li chuckled and shook his head in disbelief.