The Enchanting Imperial Concubine (Book 3)

Chapter 464

On October 18th, the birthday of Ming Guifei, the celestial signs were exceedingly auspicious.

By imperial decree, it is hereby proclaimed that Ming Guifei is virtuous and talented, embodying both beauty and grace, with a gentle and kind demeanor. She is elegant and dignified, possessing a natural radiance and noble character. Her commendable qualities and astute intelligence have earned her the respect of the court. She has given birth to royal heirs and sets an example within the palace. She is dedicated to frugality and filial piety, representing the epitome of virtue and grace in the realm. Hence, she is bestowed with the imperial seal and established as the Empress. This announcement is made known to all.

He then issued another decree, naming his legitimate son, the Fourth Prince Ning Yu Jing, as Crown Prince, inheriting the great power of the empire.

As for Ye Yun's position as Empress, according to protocol, the Ye family was to be granted a first-class duke title.

Thus, Ye Zhe was titled Duke Ming, using the title that Ye Yun had previously held, both to signify the Emperor's favor and to commend the Ye family as a family of integrity and significant ministers of the state.

In the past, Ye Yun's uncle had also been a meritorious officer who died in battle, and although the Ye family's second branch was currently quiet, the siblings maintained strong relationships. Therefore, her cousin Ye Huai was also granted a count title, with the title Changping.

After the royal decree was announced, the palace became lively.

However, Ning Chen decided to hold the Fourth Prince's ceremony first, with Ye Yun's coronation ceremony set for March of the following year.

The delay of nearly half a year was due to two reasons: first, Ye Yun's health had not yet fully recovered, and he was concerned she might tire herself out; second, Ning Chen was determined to perform the ceremony with the formalities of marrying a first wife, which would naturally require more complexity and grandeur.

When this decision was announced, there were indeed some censors in the court who opposed it, arguing that Ning Chen already had a previous Empress, Xie Shi.

Even though Xie Shi had committed a grave error and had been executed and removed from the imperial tablets, she had still been a former Empress. To use the ceremonies of marrying a first wife to welcome Ye Yun as Empress into the central palace was against propriety.

Yet Ning Chen was resolute in his intentions, unwilling to slight Ye Yun in the slightest.

He dismissed the opposing argument on the spot, leaving those dissenting censors speechless with his counterarguments.

However, those opposed were a minority, and the majority still complied with the Emperor's wishes.

The censor who first jumped out to voice his opposition didn't stick to the etiquette anymore; instead, he pointed out that Ye Yun's constant residence in the Jiuchen Palace was a violation of the rules and insinuated that Ning Chen was being bewitched, calling Ye Yun a seductive concubine.

This particular censor was already known for his pedantry and inflexibility, rarely speaking on matters of state but obsessively fixated on palace affairs. This time, however, Ning Chen could no longer tolerate it.

First, he was granted two young and beautiful dancers as concubines and then stripped of his official position, being sent back to his hometown.

Naturally, he dared not neglect the concubines bestowed by the Emperor, but without his court salary, he couldn't even support his own wife and children, let alone maintain two dancers.