My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Unlike the warm and nostalgic atmosphere of Kunning Palace, the study in the East Palace was now filled with an almost frozen silence.

The study's doors and windows were tightly shut, isolating the faint sounds of palace music and the hurried, light footsteps of palace servants from the outside.

The room was lit only by a crystal lamp on the desk, the light concentrated on the large rosewood desk and its surroundings, while the rest of the room was shrouded in darkness.

On the desk lay an open jade book detailing the wedding ceremony for tomorrow, with a vermilion brush beside it, the vermilion ink still fresh.

Zhu Cilang did not sit behind his desk.

He stood with his hands behind his back by the window, slightly lifting a corner of the heavy curtain, silently gazing at the countless red lanterns hanging in the courtyard outside the window, swaying gently in the cold wind.

The light from the lanterns cast an irregular interplay of light and shadow on his sharply defined profile.

His face was expressionless, showing neither the joy of a groom the next day nor the tension of an important event, only a deep sea-like calm, and beneath that calm, a rapidly churning mind that no one could see.

Tomorrow's wedding is more than just a ceremony.

That was a formal declaration to the people, officials, nobles, and even history that he had come of age and established a family; it was the last and grandest ceremony before inheriting the throne.

Every step of the ceremony, every expression, every word, and every movement of his was scrutinized and interpreted by countless eyes. There could be no mistakes.

But that wasn't all he was thinking about.

After the grand wedding, the emperor formally abdicated.

The complete transfer of power, the smooth transition of the court, the implementation of new policies, the concrete realization of the "redemption" of fiefdoms by vassal kings, the governance of the Eastern Barbarians, the further development of the navy, and even... the balance he needs to carefully maintain between the new empress and Zheng Xiaomei and Qiqige after she enters the palace...

A myriad of thoughts, like silk threads and hemp, must be sorted out and brought under control.

He enjoys this feeling of control, and he is well aware of its weight.

With a slight creak, the study door was pushed open a crack, and the personal eunuch Ma Bao slipped in silently before quickly closing the door again.

"Your Highness."

Ma Bao stepped forward and stopped a few steps behind Zhu Cilang, bowing and reporting in a low voice.

"Everything is fine at the Ning residence. Lord Ning has informed me that Miss is all prepared, so please rest assured, Your Highness. I just checked on Consort Zheng and Miss Qiqige, and they have both retired for the night. Consort Zheng's lights went out early, and Miss Qiqige... watched the stars in the courtyard for a while before returning to her room. I have checked the etiquette procedures again and confirmed with the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Ministry of Rites that everything is correct."

Zhu Cilang listened quietly without turning around.

Only after Ma Bao finished speaking did he nod almost imperceptibly, his voice calm and even:
"Understood. You may go. No one is to disturb you without orders."

"Yes," Ma Bao replied, and quietly withdrew as he had come, closing the study door tightly once again.

The study returned to silence.

Zhu Cilang took one last look at the festive sea of ​​red light outside the window, and slowly lowered the curtains.

He turned and walked back to his desk, but did not look at the jade book again; he simply blew out the lamp.

He stood alone in the darkness for a moment, then took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

Tomorrow will mark the beginning of a new chapter.

In contrast to the solemn grandeur of the imperial palace, the Ning Mansion, located in the noble district of the capital, was filled with a more intense and anxious festive atmosphere and busy activity.

The mansion was decorated with red and colorful decorations everywhere. The maids and servants walked with a brisk pace, whispering about the preparations for tomorrow, their faces filled with barely suppressed excitement.

However, in the innermost courtyard and boudoir of the mansion, which is the most heavily guarded, the atmosphere is completely different from that outside.

The room was warm as spring, with several charcoal braziers burning brightly, dispelling all the chill.

The spotless bronze mirror in front of the dressing table reflected Ning Wanyao's figure at this moment.

She was wearing the extremely heavy Crown Princess's formal attire, which she would officially wear for her wedding the next day—a deep blue brocade robe with cloud and phoenix patterns, an elaborate shawl, and a nine-dragon, four-phoenix crown adorned with pearls and gemstones temporarily placed in a brocade box. Even so, the rest of her clothing was already breathtakingly magnificent and solemn.

She sat quietly in front of the mirror, letting her mother and two of the most experienced old nannies do her hair and smooth out every wrinkle in her clothes one last time.

The girl in the mirror looked even more radiant and jade-like in the candlelight, with exquisite features, but her clear eyes were now filled with complex emotions.

Tension is inevitable.

Tomorrow she will step into the most prestigious and complex palace in the world, becoming the Crown Princess watched by millions of subjects.

The repeated admonitions from her mother and the nannies these past few days, those extremely tedious etiquettes, those teachings about "dignity," "virtue," and "offspring," weighed heavily on her heart.

The unease lingered.

What is life like in the palace? Is the Empress kind? Are the concubines and noblewomen virtuous? And what kind of world is the Eastern Palace...?
The Crown Prince... From tomorrow onwards, they will be a real couple.

She raised her hand and gently grasped the warm, smooth jade pendant that was pressed against her skin inside her bodice—a token given to her by the Crown Prince.

The cool touch calmed her chaotic thoughts slightly.

She looked at herself in the mirror, a slight smile curving her lips, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

Her mother seemed to sense her emotions, stopped what she was doing, gently patted her shoulder, and spoke in a soft but firm voice:
"Yao'er, don't be afraid. With your looks, talent, and virtue, my son is sure to be able to handle this. His Highness the Crown Prince is a reasonable person. You just need to do your best, keep to your duty, and maintain your composure. From now on, the Ning family will be your support, but more importantly, you will have to rely on yourself."

Ning Wanyao nodded vigorously, her voice soft yet clear:

"Mother, I understand. I... will not let Father or His Highness the Crown Prince down."

On December 23rd, at the beginning of the Yin hour, it was the darkest and coldest time before dawn.

Inside and outside the Forbidden City, everything was already running at full speed and silently, like a tightly wound-up machine.

The Eastern Palace's sleeping quarters were brightly lit, as if it were daytime.

Several eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial and officials from the Ministry of Rites were already standing in solemn silence, waiting.

With the help of eunuchs, Zhu Cilang removed his ordinary clothes and began to put on the heavy, elaborate crown prince robe, which symbolized the highest ceremonial status of the crown prince.

He wore a black robe and a crimson skirt, woven with twelve symbols including the sun, moon, stars, mountains, dragons, and pheasants; he wore a nine-tassel crown with white jade beads that swayed slightly.

Every accessory and every ribbon must strictly conform to etiquette, without the slightest deviation.

Zhu Cilang remained calm, cooperating with the eunuchs' movements as they dressed him in the ceremonial robes that represented supreme honor but also restricted his movements.

As the last jade belt was fastened, his entire demeanor changed. He lost some of his usual affability and gained a more imposing and unapproachable aura befitting a crown prince.

The third quarter of the Yin hour is an auspicious time.

Guided by officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial, and led by the full retinue of the Crown Prince, Zhu Cilang stepped out of the Eastern Palace and, under the still-dark night and the illumination of the long dragon of palace lanterns, first arrived at the Fengxian Hall.

The hall was brightly lit with candles, and the ancestral tablets of the Ming Dynasty's ancestors were enshrined there.

Under the guidance of the master of ceremonies, Zhu Cilang burned incense, knelt and bowed, and recited the proclamation, reporting the upcoming wedding to the late emperors Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di, and praying for their blessings.

The entire process was solemn and dignified, with incense smoke swirling around. Only the clear voice of the master of ceremonies and Zhu Cilang's steady responses echoed in the spacious hall. Afterwards, they went to the Fengci Hall to offer sacrifices to the empresses of past dynasties.

The morning wind was biting, blowing the tassels on his crown and the hem of his robe, yet he stood tall and straight, meticulous in every detail.

Meanwhile, inside the Ning Mansion, the busy activity, which lasted all night, reached its peak.

Inside Ning Wanyao's boudoir, several experienced old nannies sent from the palace, as well as a blessed person invited by the Ning family, were surrounding Ning Wanyao, who was sitting in front of the mirror, doing her final makeup.

Applying powder, rouge, drawing eyebrows, and dotting lips... the makeup should be exquisite and dignified, neither too flamboyant nor lacking in festive spirit.

Then, she put on that awe-inspiring Crown Princess gown. A deep blue robe embroidered with golden phoenixes and clouds, a heavy shawl, and finally, a pearl and jade crown that truly weighed over ten pounds and was adorned with pearls, gems, and nine dragons and four phoenixes.

The moment the crown was placed on her head, Ning Wanyao felt a sudden weight on her neck, and she had to straighten her back as much as possible to support it.

The girl in the mirror is now a noble and dignified Crown Princess, someone whose gaze cannot be met directly. However, deep in her eyes, there is still a trace of the nervousness of a daughter about to be married.

Everything was ready, and the sky was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

Supported by her mother and nanny, Ning Wanyao arrived at the main hall to bid farewell to her parents and ancestors.

Ning Weixian, dressed in court attire, had a complex expression, showing both the sadness of marrying off her daughter and the pride and worry of her daughter becoming the future empress. She repeatedly instructed her daughter to "uphold the virtues of a woman and serve the emperor diligently."

Ning's mother was already in tears, holding her daughter's hand, all her unspoken words condensed into one sentence:
"My son... take care."

Ning Wanyao held back her tears and bowed deeply to her parents before her veil was lifted.

At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the auspicious time arrives again.

The Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City.

The heavy city gates slowly opened amidst the resounding sound of horns.

The first thing to emerge was the enormous and dazzling ceremonial procession of the Crown Prince.

The burly general of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, riding a tall horse, wearing golden armor, and wielding weapons such as a golden mace, axe, and stirrups, led the way.

Following closely behind was a ceremonial guard carrying various flags, canopies, and banners, including the Sun and Moon Flag, the Azure Dragon and White Tiger Flag, the Star Flag, and the Five Sacred Mountains Flag... all fluttering and rustling in the wind.

Following them was a large orchestra, complete with bells, chimes, sheng, xiao, drums, and flutes, and then came the imperial guards, their helmets and armor gleaming, their swords and spears dazzling.

Finally, there was the Crown Prince's highest-ranking imperial carriage—the Golden Carriage.

This is a huge, magnificent two-wheeled carriage, mainly decorated with gold, drawn by four pure white horses without a single stray hair. The roof is adorned with a golden phoenix, and bright yellow silk curtains hang all around.

Zhu Cilang, dressed in a royal robe and with a calm expression, ascended the golden carriage and sat upright inside, surrounded by officials of rites and eunuchs.

With the master of ceremonies' resounding cry of "Let's begin!", the entire procession began to move slowly, like a colorful and majestic dragon, driving out of the Meridian Gate and onto the Imperial Street leading to the Ning Mansion.

Although it was still early and the wind was chilly, the main streets of Beijing were already packed with people who had heard the news and flocked to the city.

Soldiers from the Five Cities Garrison and all the yamen runners from Shuntian Prefecture were mobilized to set up cordons on both sides of the street, barely managing to keep the passage open.

When the Crown Prince's procession appeared, a thunderous roar of cheers erupted instantly, soaring into the sky!
"Long live Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Congratulations on Your Highness's wedding!

Long live the Ming Dynasty!

The people waved their arms, jumped, and shouted, their faces beaming with pure, heartfelt joy.

The Crown Prince pacified Liaodong and brought peace to the dynasty; now, his wedding is a joyous occasion for the nation.

Someone started it, and many people began throwing flower petals and confetti at the crowd. Some clever vendors even sold simple "囍" (double happiness) paper-cuts and red silk ribbons from behind the crowd, which were snapped up instantly.

Sitting in the swaying golden carriage, Zhu Cilang looked through the light gauze curtains at the sea of ​​excited faces on both sides of the road, and listened to the deafening cheers. His heart was also stirred.

This reflects the fervor of the people's hearts, their expectations for him and for the future of the Ming Dynasty.

He slightly raised his hand and gently waved towards the window.

This move was like igniting an even bigger powder keg!

"His Highness the Crown Prince has waved!"

"Look! His Highness the Crown Prince!"

The cheers grew even more frenzied, almost lifting the roof off.

The eunuchs, who were well-prepared, began to throw red paper-wrapped lucky money and cakes from the procession to both sides, causing the crowd to become even more excited. Children laughed and scrambled to grab them, creating a lively atmosphere like the grandest festival.

The procession wound its way through the streets and alleys, finally arriving at the Ning Mansion, which was brightly decorated and had its main gate wide open.

The elaborate and solemn "welcoming ceremony" was held in the main hall of the Ning Mansion.

When Ning Wanyao, covered with a bright red dragon and phoenix veil and dressed in a magnificent gown, slowly walked out with the help of female officials, and after completing a series of rituals with Zhu Cilang, the two of them boarded the Crown Prince's golden carriage one after the other.

This time, the procession turned around and drove towards the palace in a more solemn and slow manner.

The cheers along the way only grew louder, and shouts of "Long live the Crown Princess!" began to ring out.

The group returned to the palace and arrived at the Fengxian Hall.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess must jointly perform the "temple audience" ceremony here to pay homage to the ancestors and formally inform the ancestral temple that the Crown Prince has married his principal wife.

The ceremony was even more solemn than Zhu Cilang's solo sacrificial ceremony in the early morning, with meticulous music, dance, sacrificial text, and worship.

Although Ning Wanyao was wearing a veil and had difficulty moving around, she still managed to complete all the ceremonies perfectly with the whispered prompts from the female official and Zhu Cilang's occasional, subtle assistance.

After the temple visit was completed, it was nearly noon.

Guided by ceremonial guards, the Crown Prince and his wife arrived at the heart of today's ceremony—the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

At this time, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was filled with banners that blotted out the sun and a gathering of dignitaries.

From the steps inside the palace to the huge square outside, civil and military officials, dressed in court robes according to their rank, stood solemnly in rows.

Princes, dukes, marquises, earls, and other nobles and members of the imperial family also stood in the designated area.

Everyone fell silent, their eyes fixed on the end of the imperial path in front of the palace.

Emperor Chongzhen and Empress Zhou were already seated on their high thrones in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Today, Emperor Chongzhen wore his most solemn twelve-symbol imperial robe with dragon motifs, and a crown with tassels on his head. His expression was dignified yet gratified. Empress Zhou wore a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, looking elegant and noble, with a gentle smile on her face.

"The Crown Prince and Crown Princess pay their respects—"

The officials of the Court of State Ceremonial chanted a long, drawn-out hymn. (End of Chapter)