12dz Chapter 220 Qin Wanying Leaves the Crown Prince's Residence
Chapter 220 Qin Wanying Leaves the Crown Prince's Residence
Chapter 220 Qin Wanying Leaves the Crown Prince's Residence
Yan Danyang was making plans in his mind.
The investiture ceremony is over, and he will immediately spread the news among the people, exaggerating and embellishing it to portray Qin Wanying as a witch.
Marquis Dingbei and Qin Xingyuan became anxious.
They knew that this incident must have been deliberately sabotaged.
If such an ominous event were to occur during the princess's investiture ceremony, causing the ceremony to be aborted, what would become of Wan Ying?
Putting everything else aside, public opinion alone could crush her, and her life might even be in danger.
Qin Yezhong glanced at Qin Wanying, but the latter showed no change in expression, as if she already knew what was about to happen.
Could it be that Wan Ying already knew about this and had already planned how to deal with it?
Qin Yezhong breathed a slight sigh of relief.
At this moment, Crown Prince Xiao Jiye spoke up loudly: "Ministers, look closely! This is not a crow, it is clearly a magpie!"
As soon as he finished speaking, all the officials looked outside.
The birds flew closer, and we could see them more clearly.
“A magpie, it really is a magpie!” a minister exclaimed.
The courtiers were all deeply saddened.
Crows are considered unlucky birds, while magpies are seen as auspicious omens.
The appearance of magpies at the princess's investiture ceremony was a stroke of good fortune for Emperor Yao.
"Lord Zhou, are you getting old and your eyesight is failing? How could you mistake a crow for a magpie?" Marquis Dingbei breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was a magpie and spoke up.
Lord Zhou was the one who first mentioned the crows outside.
He rubbed his eyes and looked outside carefully; sure enough, it was a magpie.
How could it be a magpie? Wasn't it supposed to be a crow?
What exactly did Lord Yan arrange?
Yan Danyang's expression also turned somewhat unpleasant.
He clearly arranged for crows, so how did they turn into magpies!
Was his plan discovered? He replaced the crows with magpies?
Magpies are considered auspicious. If the appearance of magpies at Qin Wanying's investiture ceremony were widely publicized, it would be spread as if Qin Wanying was a great blessing to Emperor Yao, making it even more difficult to deal with her in the future!
Thinking of this, the Duke of Wei spoke up: "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations! Auspicious omens descended from the heavens during the investiture ceremony of Princess Shenji, which means that the existence of Princess Shenji is a blessing for Emperor Yao!"
All the officials shouted in unison, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
Qin Wanying smiled.
She stepped forward and took the golden book and imperial seal from the emperor's hands.
Chunying accepted the golden book and imperial seal, and Qin Wanying performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony before the emperor.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness and will certainly live up to your expectations."
Although Qin Wanying was granted the title of princess, the emperor did not adopt her as his goddaughter, so she still had to refer to herself as "your subject's daughter".
This was also to make it easier for her to be with the Crown Prince in the future.
The Emperor looked at Qin Wanying with satisfaction.
He knew that Qin Wanying deserved all of this.
All the officials shouted in unison, "Long live Princess Shenji!"
Thus, the ceremony is completed.
Outside the palace, magpies chirped in unison; inside, officials shouted in unison.
The Emperor said, "The auspicious signs of the heavens have appeared during the investiture ceremony of Princess Shenji. Therefore, I bestow upon you a gold phoenix hairpin made of amethyst to signify your noble status."
Qin Wanying continued to kneel and pay her respects.
The amethyst gold phoenix hairpin was presented, with a lifelike gold phoenix carved on it, the details of which were very well done, and the phoenix eyes and tail were adorned with amethyst.
Items related to the phoenix were exclusively for the empress. Although concubines and princesses of high rank could also wear them, they could only wear simplified versions of the phoenix.
Only a very small number of women were bestowed with phoenix-patterned items as a sign of their nobility.
This is the first time His Majesty has bestowed an amethyst phoenix hairpin since ascending the throne.
The Crown Prince smiled as he looked at Qin Wanying.
This was his suggestion to his father, the emperor; he wanted to give Qin Wanying the best of everything.
Yan Danyang and his faction looked rather grim.
The Emperor looked at Lord Zhou, who had initially said it was a crow, with displeasure.
Lord Zhou was merely a fifth-rank official.
"Minister Zhou, your eyesight isn't very good. You can mistake a magpie for a crow?"
Lord Zhou immediately prostrated himself on the ground: "Your Majesty, I was mistaken for someone else!"
The Emperor said, "Today is the princess's investiture ceremony, so I will not punish you severely. I will only deduct one year's salary as a warning to others."
Lord Zhou's face turned deathly pale.
Yan Danyang's expression also turned somewhat unpleasant.
The phrase "to serve as a warning to others" seemed to be a slap in his face.
He had just pleaded with the Emperor to stop the ceremony.
Originally, his standing on the side of the War King was a secret matter, unknown to the Emperor and the Crown Prince, who still regarded him as one of their own.
And now, it's out in the open.
Recent events in the imperial court indicate that the emperor already knows he has sided with the War King.
So, when exactly did the Emperor discover that he was the War King's man?
He didn't know that they might find out once Qin Wanying returned.
However, the Emperor and the Crown Prince previously had little power in the court and dared not openly break with him, so they pretended to be on good terms with him. Now that their power is on par with the War King, they no longer pretend.
Today's events were intended to be a chance to bring down Qin Wanying, but unexpectedly, they've ended up benefiting her and giving her a good reputation.
Yan Danyang felt increasingly regretful.
I regret supporting the War King.
He felt that Qin Wanying was not an easy person to defeat.
After the ceremony, news spread among the people that a large number of magpies had gathered in the sky during Qin Wanying's investiture ceremony.
Everyone says that Princess Shenji is an auspicious person, a blessing bestowed upon Emperor Yao by Heaven.
Qin Wanying's reputation among the people became very good.
Yan Danyang's faction not only did not harm Qin Wanying in the slightest, but because their plan was thwarted, they also helped Qin Wanying gain a good reputation.
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In the blink of an eye, Qin Wanying had been living in the Crown Prince's residence for a month.
The one-month period has expired, and Xiao Jiye has not taken the initiative to suggest that Qin Wanying leave the mansion.
Treat her as usual, dine with her, and prepare her favorite foods.
However, Qin Wanying couldn't just shamelessly stay there and refuse to leave.
So she bid farewell to the Crown Prince.
The crown prince looked at her with a lingering reluctance.
The crown prince opened his mouth slightly, but finally spoke.
"Wan Ying, if you like, you can stay here with me forever."
Qin Wanying felt as if she had been electrocuted.
Qin Wanying understood the meaning behind those words.
How could she stay in the Crown Prince's residence indefinitely?
Marry the crown prince and become his wife, and that will suffice.
Qin Wanying was in a state of turmoil. Although she had a good impression of the Crown Prince, she still felt some resistance to marrying him.
She could only pretend not to understand: "Thank you for your hospitality these days, but I... miss my family and want to live with them."
Xiao Jiye's eyes showed a hint of disappointment.
He didn't want to force Qin Wanying; he preferred to give her the right to choose.
He can wait indefinitely.
Besides, these days we've been together day and night, and suddenly being separated might make her feel that "absence makes the heart grow fonder"?
He didn't try to stop her any longer and gave Qin Wanying his personal jade pendant.
"Very well, here's the jade pendant for you. With this pendant, you can come to see me anytime."
Qin Wanying accepted the jade pendant and waved it at the Crown Prince with a smile: "Then I shall respectfully accept your offer!"
Xiao Jiye smiled as he looked at Qin Wanying.
Her smile was so beautiful that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe her as stunningly beautiful.