PNB Chapter 237 The Emperor’s Thoughts
Chapter 237 The Emperor’s Thoughts
On the first day of December, Qin Ruo and his party finally arrived at the city gate of the capital.
The Fifth Prince, who came with the Minister of Rites, Lord Li, to greet Qin Ruo and Old Madam Xie, glanced at the approaching convoy, with a gleam of light in his eyes.
When the carriages arrived at the city gate, they stopped in an orderly manner.
Emperor Jing Zhao seemed to be intentionally building up momentum for Qin Ruo to show the court's regard for this commoner princess.
After the date for Qin Ruo's enthronement ceremony was determined, Emperor Jing Zhao ordered people to post notices in the imperial city, which were full of praise for the achievements of Princess Qin Ruo.
Now arrangements have been made for Lord Li, the Minister of Rites, and the Fifth Prince and his entourage to personally go to the city gate to welcome the Qin family.
The name Qin Ruo is well-known in Beijing.
As soon as the convoy stopped, Nanny Zhang and Mingyue got off the carriage at the back, trotted to the front carriage, opened the curtain and helped Madam Xie down.
Next, Qin Ruo, who was wearing a plain brocade dress with only a few simple white jade hairpins in her hair, slowly walked out of Madam Xie's carriage.
The afternoon sun just happened to shine on her body, as if giving her a layer of light golden light.
When the Fifth Prince saw the cold and stunning face getting off the carriage, his heart skipped a beat.
Before, the emperor sent him out of the city to welcome the eldest princess and Princess Ning'an. He did not pay too much attention to the legendary Princess Ning'an.
After all, there are so many beauties in Beijing. What kind of beauty has he not seen?
I didn't speculate too much about Qin Ruo's appearance, mainly because I didn't think a farm girl from the countryside could be so stunning.
When Qin Ruo really appeared in front of him, he suddenly felt that he might have to change his plan.
Qin Ruo ignored the look in the Fifth Prince's eyes and didn't even frown.
Old Lady Qin, the Qin Ziyan brothers, Qin Tiaotiao and others also came out from the carriage at the back one after another.
Lord Li, along with several officials from the Ministry of Rites, hurried forward to pay their respects.
"Greetings to the Princess, and Princess Ning'an. May Her Royal Highness the Princess live a thousand years." The Fifth Prince was the first to bow, his tone respectful.
"My Lords, there's no need to be so polite. Thank you for your help." Old Madam Xie smiled and raised her hand to signal everyone to stand up.
Her eyes suddenly changed from the kind-looking old lady of the Xie Mansion in Taihe County to the majestic eldest princess in the capital in the past.
"Your Highness, we are here on the orders of the Emperor to welcome the Princess and Princess Ning'an to the capital. Please come with me into the city to rest for a while. The Emperor has prepared a feast to welcome the Princess and Princess Ning'an." After Lord Li said this, he stepped aside and gestured to invite them.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. Qin Ruo greets all of you. Thank you for your concern."
Qin Ruo walked forward slowly and bowed slightly to the Fifth Prince and the official from the Ministry of Rites who came to greet her.
Old Lady Qin and her grandchildren followed suit and saluted to the Fifth Prince and the other adults.
The movements are standard, the words are appropriate, and the manners and gestures show good upbringing.
"Princess Ning'an, you are too polite. It is an honor for us to come here in person to welcome the Princess and Princess Ning'an." Lord Li did not dare to be arrogant and bowed to Qin Ruo again.
The Fifth Emperor also stepped forward and said a few polite words to Qin Ruo, then turned and walked towards Old Madam Xie.
"Aunt, you've been exhausted from the long journey. Are you feeling well?" The Fifth Prince's Si Ce was very attentive. He personally supported Madam Xie, his tone full of concern.
"So it's the fifth prince. Thank you for your concern. Ruo'er has taken good care of you along the way and you're fine. I haven't seen you for many years, and you seem to have become more stable. Is everything okay?" Old Madam Xie kept her expression unchanged and praised the fifth prince with a smile.
Upon hearing this, the Fifth Prince became even more respectful: "Thank you for the compliment, aunt. I am doing fine. I have been concerned about your health, and now that I see you are in good spirits, I am very relieved."
Old Madam Xie exchanged a few words of greeting with the Fifth Prince before following Lord Li into the city in the carriage specially prepared by the Ministry of Rites.
Inside the city, both sides of the streets were already crowded with onlookers.
Everyone was very curious about this commoner princess who was personally conferred by the emperor.
The best seats in every restaurant that the carriage passed by had already been booked.
Those young masters from wealthy families had already started their plan quietly before Qin Ruo came to the capital.
Most people believed that the common princess appointed by the gambling emperor himself would be a rough, ugly peasant girl.
When the Ministry of Rites' carriage passed by, those cynical young men who were waiting to watch the fun couldn't help but gasp when they saw who was in the carriage.
The calm and unhurried temperament she exudes, coupled with her cool and stunning face, is enough to make the noble ladies in the capital city pale in comparison.
If this is still Wuyan, then what about those noble ladies in the capital?
"Is the incredibly beautiful woman riding in the same carriage with the eldest princess the Princess Ning'an?" A young man couldn't wait to speak up, muttering to himself in disbelief.
This carriage from the Ministry of Rites was specially arranged by Emperor Jing Zhao.
There are no curtains around, and the scene inside the car can be seen at a glance.
It seemed as if it was to allow the people of the capital to witness the elegance of the legendary Princess Ning'an with their own eyes.
Qin Ruo sat upright in the car, ignoring the noise around her and the burning gazes, with no sign of restraint on her face.
The emperor arranged such a ostentatious scene, which was clearly intended to put himself in the spotlight.
But so what?
If you want to wear a crown, you must bear its weight.
Qin Ruo's face remained expressionless, she just looked forward calmly.
The people from the Ministry of Rites took Qin Ruo and his party for a walk through the busy streets, and half an hour had passed.
Old Madam Xie took Nanny Zhang and the others back to her princess residence first.
The people from the Ministry of Rites escorted the Qin family to the gate of the Princess' Mansion that the Emperor had just bestowed upon them not long ago.
Before leaving, he informed Qin Ruo of the time of the palace banquet and then left in a hurry.
The Fifth Prince did not leave with the people from the Ministry of Rites. He stayed for a while and walked up to Qin Ruo to talk to her.
"Princess Ning'an, after meeting you today, I can see that your reputation is well-deserved. You must have been tired from the journey. Please take a good rest with your family. I will come to pick you up to the palace at the palace banquet tonight." The fifth prince smiled and his eyes fell on Qin Ruo, with an imperceptible depth in his eyes.
Qin Ruo smiled slightly and said calmly, "Your Highness, Fifth Prince, you are too kind. Ning An thanks Your Highness. The Princess has arranged for someone to pick us up for the palace banquet tonight, so Your Highness doesn't need to worry about it."
Qin Ruo's gaze swept across the Fifth Prince, but then she retracted it unnoticeably, her tone polite yet distant.
"Oh, Fifth Brother is quite free, but he has the time to come to the Princess's Mansion to show his courtesy."
Si Heng, dressed in gorgeous clothes, suddenly appeared with a swagger, staring straight at the fifth prince with a signature cynical smile on his lips.