Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress
Chapter 985 - 987 Empress Arrives (7)

Chapter 985: Chapter 987 Empress Arrives (7)

Duke Li Guo led the descendants of his clan and all officials and guests to stand outside the West Gate, while Old Madame led the armored female members and female guests to stand outside the door to welcome them. All was quiet for half a day, and faintly, the sound of drums and music could be heard. After a while, pairs of palace maids of tender age in palace attire, holding pheasant feather palace fans, and censers burning imperial incense appeared, followed by a curved handle nine phoenixes golden umbrella. Then came the eunuchs, carrying fragrant handkerchiefs, embroidered handkerchiefs, rinse bowls, and dusters. After the pairs had passed, what followed was the eight eunuchs carrying a golden yellow embroidered phoenix palanquin, coming slowly.

Old Madame quickly led everyone to kneel down.

"Long live the Empress Dowager! Long, long live the Empress Dowager——"

All the Noble Ladies bowed and paid their respects, only Lady Li was curious about what the Empress really looked like — whether she was like the storyteller said, with a human head and phoenix tail, and a pair of wings.

Thus, she secretly lifted her eyes to glance at the phoenix palanquin.

She saw a supremely beautiful, noble woman, wearing a phoenix crown adorned with eight treasures, draped in a phoenix robe, coldly gazing at the Noble Ladies below.

Seemingly aware of her scrutiny, Empress Mo’s sharp gaze swept coldly over her, scaring Lady Li into shrinking her neck, and she quickly bowed her head, no longer daring to look up.

"Mother, please rise quickly; ladies, please rise!" said Empress Mo coolly, and eunuchs were already coming to help up Old Madame and a few of the aged Noble Ladies!

"Thank you, Empress Dowager!"

Everyone got up and quietly followed behind the phoenix palanquin.

The eunuchs carried the phoenix palanquin into a courtyard to the east of the main door. This courtyard was originally where Empress Mo lived when she was a girl. After she entered the palace, it had been kept locked, with designated people cleaning daily. Empress Mo would stay in this courtyard during each visit home.

After the phoenix palanquin was set down, the eunuchs kneeled to request permission for the Empress to change clothes. Empress Mo descended from the phoenix palanquin and ordered, "Only keep Mother and Sister-in-law here to talk; the rest can go to their seats!"

Thus, Old Madame and Lady Wu respectfully entered the courtyard, while the rest of the Noble Ladies followed Second Lady Bai and Madam Yang to take their places in the garden’s veranda.

Inside the main room, Empress Mo expressed her wish to perform family rites, but Old Madame and Lady Wu quickly kneeled to stop her. Empress Mo personally helped up her mother and sister-in-law, and said, "Today, I’m hardly out of the palace, and I just wish to speak personally with Mother and Sister-in-law. Let’s not stick to formalities, or it’ll just be awkward and detached."

Old Madame said, "Your Highness, this is not right. As the saying goes: ’Rites should not be discarded.’ Even though Your Highness is no longer confined, and Yi’er’s marital affair has been settled, with every new day being better than the last, there are still so many eyes watching us. It’s always good to be careful!"

As she was speaking, an eunuch came from outside to report that Duke Li Guo, leading all the mansion’s younger members and all officials, had come to pay their respects to Her Majesty.

Empress Mo said, "Let them all withdraw, go to the liquor tables or watch the play if they need to, and don’t worry about my palace. Today I returned to celebrate my mother’s birthday, and I do not wish to meet others."

The eunuch took the decree and was about to leave when Empress Mo suddenly said, "Let Zi Qi come see me though. The rest may withdraw!"

"Yes!"

The eunuch withdrew, and a moment later, Mo Ziqi entered.

He was dressed today in a rose purple round-neck long gown, his black hair tied high, secured by an openwork purple jade crown. The festive color, set against his slightly cold complexion, made his elegant and peerless grace stand out all the more.

The more Empress Mo looked at him, the more delighted she became. Seeing Mo Ziqi kneel down to perform the national rites, she quickly ordered Chen Shangxi to help him up, laughed and said, "Time flies, Zi Qi has grown up so quickly. I recall the last time I returned, he was still a half-grown boy!"