Chapter 229: The Majesty of the Emperor

How did Hada Tuoya compare to Empress Zhou and Noble Consort Yuan? In the Chongzhen Emperor's eyes, each had her own beauty — Empress Zhou, seated in the position of the nation's mother, naturally carried an air of grace and dignity, while Noble Consort Yuan was a step below, appearing meek and deferential.

But this Tuoya, compared to them, possessed an additional kind of wild beauty.

What was wild beauty?

Put plainly, it gave one a feeling utterly opposite to the Han women of the Central Plains who had been disciplined by the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. This young woman from beyond the frontier, from her attire to her manner of walking and every other aspect, gave the Chongzhen Emperor a sense of novelty that could not be found anywhere in the entire harem.

It was precisely this novelty, combined with her fair and unvulgar features, that made the Chongzhen Emperor's eyes light up the moment he saw her.

Light up though they might, a show of authority was still necessary — otherwise, if such an unrestrained woman came to the Ming harem and could not be reined in, would she not stage a Ming-dynasty version of *My Fair Princess* and throw the harem into chaos?

The play the three of them put on at this moment successfully cowed Hada Tuoya. After entering, since she did not know imperial etiquette, she did not even dare speak more than a word, afraid that any mistake might implicate her family.

In the great hall, besides the Chongzhen Emperor, Empress Zhou, and Hada Tuoya, there were only Wang Cheng'en and a few attending palace maids. In this situation, with the Emperor and Empress silent, no one dared make a sound — the hall was so still that even a silver needle dropping could be clearly heard.

Suddenly, the Chongzhen Emperor turned his head to look at Wang Cheng'en and said calmly: "Since the person has arrived, Cheng'en, you may give the orders and make proper arrangements. The one kneeling below is, after all, a daughter of the Hada clan, and she must not be treated shabbily in my harem."

Wang Cheng'en also behaved with great restraint this time, responding with utmost deference, bending his body halfway. This scene made Tuoya, kneeling below, even more nervous — if Urmai were to see his unruly daughter become such a demure little maiden, he too would likely exclaim in shock:

Since her birth, he had never seen this daughter of his behave so obediently.

Having spoken, the Chongzhen Emperor turned his profile to the left and asked softly: "Empress, what do you think of this girl? If she is unsuitable, shall we simply send her back?"

Hearing this, Empress Zhou naturally understood that the Emperor was putting on an act — this was necessary for her to better govern the harem.

"Raise your head and let me take a good look at you." With that, Empress Zhou raised her hand and said.

Not knowing how to respond, Tuoya simply acknowledged and slowly raised her head. Seeing the man and woman seated upright above, she gathered up all the boldness she had on the grasslands until not a trace remained.

"Mm, her features are somewhat wild, but at least it is a quality not found in the palace." Saying this flatly, Empress Zhou turned back and changed to a gentle tone, continuing: "Your Majesty, keep this girl after all — since the decree has already been issued, how could it be changed?"

"Very well, I shall follow the Empress's advice."

The Chongzhen Emperor nodded, then turned and said from on high: "Summon Minister of Rites Huang Jin to the palace to see me."

Before long, after Huang Jin entered the palace and performed the great ceremonial kowtow, the Chongzhen Emperor said: "I previously had your Ministry of Rites deliberate on the matter of the enfeoffment ceremony — has it been settled?"

Upon hearing this, the newly appointed Minister of Rites Huang Jin's face showed hesitation, and only after a long while did he speak:

"This... Your Majesty, the court officials oppose it, and even within my Ministry of Revenue opinions are divided — the date has yet to be finalized."

"Heh, forget it." The Chongzhen Emperor was not surprised. Huang Jin had only recently taken office, his predecessor Wang Duo had been executed along with his nine kin by the Emperor himself, and with the current controversy over the consort enfeoffment, naturally he did not dare go too far — this was understandable.

"So I ask you to handle this one small matter and you cannot even accomplish it? Fine! Then I shall emulate the Hongwu Ancestor-Emperor and attend to everything personally." As he spoke, the Chongzhen Emperor's expression gradually darkened, and in a tone that brooked no dissent he said:

"Convey my decree: the enfeoffment ceremony shall be set for the tenth day of the ninth month this year. All princes, nobles, meritorious relatives, and civil and military officials who can attend must come. Transmit my oral edict to the Uliangha garrison, saying that on the day of the ceremony, each of their six guards may send representatives to the capital to participate."

"In addition, send word to Dong Qi and Zhang Shize that on the day of the ceremony, the patrol guards inside and outside the capital shall be increased severalfold — I want them ready at all times to suppress any disturbance by imperial decree! Also, the Troops and Horses Office and the Shuntian Prefecture offices must dispatch all their constables — every single person passing through every gate of the inner and outer city must be strictly inspected!"

"If anything goes wrong at the ceremony, I will have all your heads!"

The moment the Chongzhen Emperor's words fell, Wang Cheng'en and Huang Jin prostrated themselves on the ground in terror and shouted in unison: "Your ministers obey the decree! We will surely see the ceremony carried out flawlessly, without the slightest mishap."

"Mm."

Seeing them like this, the Chongzhen Emperor nodded, and only then did the matter come to an end.

Since the ceremony had not yet taken place, Hada Tuoya did not yet count as a true Ming imperial consort, so she was temporarily arranged to stay in a small side hall within the imperial city but outside the inner palace.

Wang Cheng'en specifically instructed Fang Zhenghua to send men from the Directorate of the Imperial Horses to protect her, and also had two maidservants attend to her personally, only then leaving to handle the Eastern Depot's recent major affairs.

That night, Hada Tuoya sat alone in the hall with her two maidservants, chin resting on her hand, lost in thought.

In truth, in her mind, the thunderous display of rage the Chongzhen Emperor had performed that day in the Hall of Union, and the cowering expressions of those below who dared not even let out a loud fart, were far more impressive than any mighty man of the grasslands showing off his skill in riding and archery.

"A man like this is worthy of Tuoya of the Hada clan."

Hada Tuoya was savoring the thought happily when she suddenly heard several faint knocks at the door. At first she thought she had misheard, but when she heard it again shortly after, she snapped to attention and hurried out to open the door.

What came into view was actually Noble Consort Yuan.

"Little sister will soon enter the palace to serve His Majesty, and this elder sister's heart is filled with joy. I came especially to see if you need anything." Noble Consort Yuan stood outside the door, winking and making faces continuously, but would not step inside even one pace.

It took Tuoya a long while to react — on her way here she had also heard about the current situation in the Ming harem.

After that woman named Gu Mei's assassination attempt failed last time, the harem's personnel had been thoroughly screened from top to bottom by the Directorate of the Imperial Horses. If the Chongzhen Emperor so decreed, even consorts could not cross the line by a single step.

Hada Tuoya's first reaction upon hearing this was to feel proud of her future husband.

In her view, if a man could not even keep his own women in check, then no matter what great achievements he obtained, he was still an incompetent fellow. Yet this vast harem had been completely transformed by a single command from the Chongzhen Emperor — this, it must be said, was precisely the majesty of the Emperor himself.

Outside the door, eunuchs of the Directorate of the Imperial Horses from the inner depot stood guard. Without the Emperor's will, even Noble Consort Yuan could not enter, which was why she kept winking and making faces, seeking Tuoya's assistance.

Tuoya did not think much of it and simply said a few pleasant words to the guard, wanting to welcome Noble Consort Yuan inside.

The guard was actually in a difficult position as well — the one inside was a person his own director had ordered him to protect, and also the future imperial consort of the Great Ming; the one wanting to enter was also no simple figure, being Noble Consort Yuan, who was currently quite favored.

None of these people could he afford to offend. Forced to choose, the guard confirmed three times over that this was indeed the wish of Tuoya, the future Gentle Consort, before reluctantly nodding and stepping aside.

But after Noble Consort Yuan went inside, the inner-depot eunuch at the door immediately trotted off at a run toward the inner depot office to report, while the guard also stood even closer to the door, ready to rush in and take control of the situation at any moment.