Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

Chapter 2417: Caught Unprepared

Qiao Xuan couldn’t help but laugh. She glanced at Ding Xiang and said, “Don’t tease me! Remember to stay with me today.”

Ding Xiang smiled warmly. “I’m not joking—it’s the truth! Don’t worry, Your Majesty, I’ll be here with you.”

The capital takeover had gone very smoothly the previous day. Everyone who needed to be informed had been, and those who needed to be controlled were in place.

However, just to be safe, few concubines were allowed into the palace to offer their congratulations today—only those of second rank and above were permitted.

Women continued to enter the palace, lining up according to their ranks in the square in front of Kunning Palace.

As Shao Yunduan took the throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the cheers echoed to Qianqing Palace.

Qiao Xuan looked up at the palace before her. Under the blue sky, the golden glazed tiles sparkled in the sunlight, adding to the grandeur and solemnity of the occasion.

In that moment, Qiao Xuan felt a profound sense of accomplishment, realizing that she and Shao Yunduan had truly entered the palace and claimed their place in the empire…

After Shao Yunduan took the throne, his first imperial decree was to appoint Qiao Xuan as the Empress.

Many of the ministers who had previously surrendered displayed varying degrees of surprise. Some even looked at him in astonishment.

Shao Yunduan cast a brief glance at them before turning his attention away. At this moment, no one dared to challenge his decision.

He was determined to confirm the appointment of his wife and ensure that no one could question her background.

Shao Yunduan knew there would be those eyeing the position of Empress, but he was resolute in keeping such influential figures out of the harem. The position of Empress would be reserved solely for his wife.

This entire harem was hers alone.

When the imperial decree was delivered, Qiao Xuan knelt to receive it along with the Empress’s seal. She then proceeded to Kunning Palace to receive the obeisance of the wives.

The wives were taken aback, their surprise evident as they exchanged glances.

Empress? Had they heard that correctly?

They had expected the visitor to be an imperial concubine, not the Empress!

Many families had spent the night strategizing about how to secure marriages for their daughters, only to be caught off guard by this development.

When the Emperor ascended the throne, maintaining stability was crucial. For the Empress, having a daughter from a powerful family would have been the most reassuring choice.

However, Ms. Qiao seemed an unsuitable choice for Empress. She was perceived as a cold-hearted woman who had severed ties with her family. Was she truly deserving of such a position?

Despite her current backing from the Yuezheng Family, they were still considered a business family, no matter how wealthy. They were seen as unworthy of the prestige held by true nobility.

The noble madams grumbled privately, but they had no choice but to kneel and pay their respects.

After the lengthy ceremonial process, Qiao Xuan did not prolong their stay. She requested that they be escorted out of the court.

The weight of the elaborate outfit was nearly overwhelming, and she was eager to remove it. With so many arrangements still to be made in the palace, she couldn’t afford to be distracted.

Once she finally changed into lighter clothing and simpler accessories, Qiao Xuan could finally breathe more easily.

Caiyue requested breakfast, so Qiao Xuan had a meal with Ding Xiang.

Afterward, they began meeting with the original palace maids and eunuchs in groups to assign new duties.

This process was crucial for her own security, and she could not afford to be careless.

Fortunately, the Fourth Prince’s position had been weakened, and his palace staff were not particularly loyal. Besides a few trusted aides, most of the staff were primarily interested in maintaining their own peace.