Chapter 669: The Imperial Harem Runs Deep

Gu Jiu Ling finished dressing, and with the support of the palace attendants, she slowly walked out of Rui Wangfu.

She always felt as if she were about to be married out of Rui Wangfu, marrying into the deep palace, living a life she could not imagine.

Gu Jiu Ling was helped onto the phoenix palanquin.

Previously, the carriages she rode were ordinary ones used by the palace to pick up and drop off officials and their wives; this time, the phoenix palanquin she rode was accompanied by a splendid honor guard, with eighteen people carrying it front and back.

She summoned her courage to sit on it, always feeling a bit guilty.

Soon she arrived at the Heaven Altar for sacrificing to heaven and earth; she stepped down from the phoenix palanquin, and upon looking up, she saw Xiao Yin slowly approaching her.

Strangely, before this, she and Xiao Yin never saw each other despite being in the same place.

She even wanted to get rid of him, but she couldn't shake him off.

Now he has become emperor, and even in the palace he doesn't know what to do; from the night he left her to now, when he led her to the Heaven Altar to sacrifice to heaven and earth, over all these days, she had not seen Xiao Yin.

Gu Jiu Ling looked up and saw Xiao Yin wearing a dark robe embroidered with golden dragons, and on his head he wore the emperor's crown.

Twelve strands of glass beads covered half of his extraordinarily handsome face, revealing his firm, icy chin.

Gu Jiu Ling could not help but admit that this dragon robe suited Xiao Yin's temperament.

Xiao Yin took a few steps to stand before Gu Jiu Ling, raised his arm, and reached out toward her.

Xiao Yin stared fixedly at the finely dressed woman before him.

Even if he looked at her ten thousand times, he could not suppress that flash of astonishment in his heart.

Gu Jiu Ling's pale, slender hand rested in Xiao Yin's broad palm; she could even feel the thin callus on his tiger's mouth from long-term sword practice.

Xiao Yin tightly gripped Gu Jiu Ling's hand, holding hers, and leaned to her ear to whisper.

: \"Sorry, earlier the palace situation changed rapidly, and many things couldn't be discussed with you in time; in the hurry, I dragged you into this imperial harem—do you hate me? \"

Xiao Yin's heart was truly uneasy; he actually understood that Gu Jiu Ling did not want him to become emperor of the world.

But the facts had already forced him to this point; if he did not take this position and let others sit chaotically, it would again be a bloodbath.

Southern Qi could no longer endure turmoil.

Now Southern Qi faces many tasks awaiting revival, internal conflicts abound, and externally the Bei Di and Xirong stare covetously.

If anything else goes wrong, even the realm and the people will be dragged along.

At this moment Xiao Yin realized he could face the court, he could face the people of the world, he could face the ancestors of the Xiao family; the only one he could not face was the woman before him.

This woman had accompanied him through countless storms, saving his life several times.

Xiao Yin knew this woman loved freedom and did not want to be confined in the deep palace, yet he selfishly bestowed upon her the title of empress of the world, firmly confining her to his side.

A hint of bitterness crossed Gu Jiu Ling's lips as she lifted her gaze to stare at Xiao Yin: \"Your Highness… no, I should call Your Majesty. \"

\"Before Your Majesty, you asked if I was willing to see you become emperor of the world; from that moment on, I, your servant, have already known your thoughts. \"

Xiao Yin tightened his grip on Gu Jiu Ling's hand a little more. Gu Jiu Ling slowly lowered her head and smiled.

\"However, Your Majesty is the most suitable choice; although I, Gu Jiu Ling, truly do not want to be confined in this deep palace, the world needs Your Majesty, and your decision is correct. \"

Xiao Yin finally breathed a sigh of relief, yet suddenly felt something was off; facing Gu Jiu Ling's bright smile, he could not think of anything.

\"Let's go! \" Xiao Yin led Gu Jiu Ling toward the highest altar.

This place is where the new emperor completes the enthronement ceremony; here they sacrifice to heaven and earth and to the past emperors of the Xiao family.

The path to the top consists of nine hundred ninety-nine steps, carved with azure dragons and auspicious clouds.

Normally only the emperor may ascend this way; even the empress, honored as mother of the nation, may not walk it.

The empress must ascend the steps carved with phoenixes on either side.

Yet Xiao Yin tightly held Gu Jiu Ling's hand and stepped onto the steps carved with azure dragons; the civil and military officials watching the ceremony instantly changed expression.

Although Prince Rui has always been unconventional and doted heavily on his consorts, now he actually lets his favored consort walk the central path—what kind of rule is this?

As the saying goes, when a hen crows at dawn, the world will perish.

The imperial harem has long held the tradition of not interfering in politics, yet after Xiao Yin's ascension he has placed all the world's power and influence before his woman.

Yet even if they harbor much discontent, they dare not speak.

Know that Prince Rui's methods are decisive and lethal; when he was Prince Rui he already made some of them suffer; now if he becomes emperor, wouldn't he have to behead them all?

Gu Kang stood at the forefront of the officials, leading them to slowly kneel and pay homage; Xiao Yin formally ascended the throne, establishing the era name Qianyuan.

At this moment he saw his elder sister being firmly taken by Xiao Yin's hand and forced onto the steps carved with azure dragons and auspicious clouds; his eyes flickered slightly, then he lowered his head.

Gu Jiu Ling also felt Xiao Yin's behavior here was rather arrogant; she wanted to break free of his hand to correct his wayward conduct, but he held her fast and laughed softly: \"If we discuss merit and reward, the world will surely grant half to the beloved consort; don't be afraid, just follow me. \"

The emperor and empress finally stood at the highest point; Gu Jiu Ling only felt that the height was unbearably cold.

Waves of wind swept over her phoenix robe; she looked down at the civil and military officials kneeling below, who lay prostrate like ants before Xiao Yin, and in that moment it seemed as if all of heaven and earth were under Xiao Yin's control.

Gu Jiu Ling could not quite describe that feeling.

Then came the sharp voice of Chief Eunuch Zhao, and the whole ceremony of sacrificing to heaven and earth proved rather lengthy.

Gu Jiu Ling's calves were sore from standing; if not for Xiao Yin holding her hand and supporting her arm, she would have collapsed under the weight of that heavy headdress and her phoenix robe.

Until the sun slanted westward, the sacrificial ceremony finally ended.

Xiao Yin held Gu Jiu Ling's hand as they boarded the emperor's dragon carriage, accompanied by the grand honor guard of the entire court, and returned in great splendor to the imperial palace.

Xiao Yin did not particularly like the Hall of Mental Cultivation, because the person he disliked most had once lived there; therefore he remodeled the Hall of Exchange and Peace as a resting place for himself and Gu Jiu Ling.

But when Xiao Yin issued the order to reside with Gu Jiu Ling in the Hall of Exchange and Peace, the senior officials could not hold back.

\"Your Majesty, this is against protocol; the Hall of Exchange and Peace is the emperor's main hall, and the empress naturally has her Phoenix Pavilion. \"

\"If Your Majesty wishes to be intimate with the empress, he may visit her Phoenix Pavilion; how could he summon the empress directly to reside in the Hall of Exchange and Peace? This is against protocol. \"

\"Yes, Your Majesty, and furthermore you still need to fill the imperial harem with more consorts; if the empress alone occupies the Qianyuan Hall, wouldn't the whole harem be thrown into chaos? \"

\"Your Majesty, think again! Just now the empress walked the azure dragon and auspicious cloud path, which was already against protocol; moving her to the Hall of Exchange and Peace now—how could that work? \"

Gu Jiu Ling lowered her eyes slightly, remained silent, and a hint of bitterness curled at the corner of her mouth.

Alright! The imperial harem really is deep water—what was bound to come has come.