Autumn, the first year of Cheng'an.
After the edict announcing the new emperor's choice of empress was proclaimed at morning court, the entire Capital City grew busy.
The Ministry of Rites unearthed the grandest set of investiture rites used since the dynasty's founding. The Wardrobe Bureau worked day and night on the empress's ceremonial robes, and the Imperial Kitchen finalized the wedding banquet menu two months in advance.
Congratulatory gifts rushed in by officials from across the land formed a long queue outside the palace gates. The escorts huddled on horseback in padded coats, their breath clouding white.
After the Double Ninth Festival, the autumn skies were high and clear, and chrysanthemums filled the city with heaps of gold and jade.
On the wedding day, Qi Yu rose before dawn. Rather than waiting for Chun He to wake him as usual, he put on the crimson prince's ceremonial robes prepared long before. It took him two tries to fasten his jade belt straight.
A Ping came in carrying water for him to wash his face. Seeing his prince already fully dressed before the bronze mirror, battling a tuft of hair sticking up at the back of his head with a comb, he hurriedly set the bronze basin on its stand and went over to help.
Qi Yu thrust the comb into his hand and straightened the knotted buttons at his collar in the mirror. He said that today was his brother's wedding day, and he had to be the smartest-looking prince in the entire Capital City.
A Ping said, "Your Highness, when have you ever not looked smart?"
He dipped the comb in water and smoothed down the unruly tuft, then took the prince's winged crown from Chun He and carefully placed it on Qi Yu's head. After inspecting him