At Rongguo Mansion, roosters crowed through the dawn, and daylight began to glimmer.
Inside and outside the mansion, everyone bustled about. Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai, and the others had risen early to help Concubine Zhao dress and arrange her makeup, putting on her Xiapei and Phoenix Crown.
Nearly twenty days had passed since the Imperial Edict of appointment, and they had longed for this day, night and day.
At last, Brother Huan's moment of glory had arrived!
Whenever a Commanding Commissioner was promoted, officials from across the realm attended the Grand Court Audience, while the Imperially Invested Ladies attended the palace ceremony.
The court's Imperially Invested Ladies represented the women of the realm, and the Commanding Commissioner had to declare before them that the Embroidered Uniform Guard would defend the peace of the State and Altars to the death.
Concubine Zhao glowed with radiance. She admired the dazzling First-Rank Phoenix Crown on her head in the mirror, then headed toward the eastern building with a beaming smile, swaying gracefully with every step.
In the attic, Qingwen, Xiangling, and Caiyun helped Jia Huan put his appearance in order.
"The sedan chairs are about to set off!"
Wang Xifeng swept in grandly, wearing the robes of an eighth-rank Imperially Invested Lady, her smiling face blooming like a flower.
"Huan'er, Mother will go to the Imperial City first." Concubine Zhao gazed at her son for a long while, her eyes brimming with joy, before leaving the courtyard with Sister Feng.
The Inner Court's sedan chairs stood at the Ceremonial Gate. Colored ribbons hung high and bronze drums thundered as Rongguo Mansion's four Imperially Invested Ladies departed for the Forbidden City.
Half an hour later, daylight shone bright.
The Directorate of Ceremonial led a vast procession of eunuchs to Rongguo Mansion. Two of them