Entering the Palace, Preparations for the Grand Ceremony

The biggest event at Eastlyn's New Year court session is, of course, Southern Lyn's surrender. Victor Phoenixfield, the commanding general, had already submitted a memorial before the year’s end: Southern Lyn’s captives will be delivered within a month, and he requests the Emperor to send officials to take over Southern Lyn’s administration, as well as proposes returning the Phoenixfield Command Token to His Majesty.

The Phoenixfield Clan once held the command token, controlling half of the Former Dynasty’s armies, but times have changed. Even for Serena Phoenixfield’s sake, Victor Phoenixfield dares not touch military authority, lest the Emperor grow suspicious.

At court, ministers offered various proposals. The official responsible for Southern Lyn is already in place—Felix Fuller is stationed there. Victor Phoenixfield will cooperate with Felix to handle Southern Lyn’s affairs, civil and military checking and balancing each other.

As for the command token, Victor Phoenixfield has turned it in; Nolan Dongling will naturally reclaim it. To defeat Southern Lyn, most of Eastlyn’s troops were sent to the front lines, leaving Victor with the largest standing force—still three hundred thousand strong. The court would not be at ease until these troops are brought back under imperial control.

Southern Lyn’s incorporation into Eastlyn’s territory is now set in stone. Over the New Year, ministers and their private advisers have already gathered at home to discuss strategies. The concrete proposals presented at court are all feasible, putting Nolan in an excellent mood.

Southern Lyn’s affairs are a major matter. Even without trivial business at court, just setting the general direction took much time. By the time Southern Lyn’s administration was settled, it was nearly noon; the officials had been standing in the great hall for almost four hours, hungry, thirsty, and physically strained. Some, suffering from weak kidneys, were nearly purple-faced, desperate for relief, but Ninth Royal Uncle showed no sign of dismissing the court.

Once Southern Lyn’s business was concluded, the Emperor announced that in one month, he would hold his Coronation Ceremony and the Empress-Installing Ceremony, ordering the Ministry of Rites to prepare.

This statement caused a stir throughout the court. Though everyone expected it sooner or later, Ninth Royal Uncle’s sudden announcement still caught them off guard.

Fortunately, Ninth Royal Uncle’s authority has grown, and no minister dared voice objections. Besides, Ninth Royal Uncle’s injuries have made siring heirs difficult, but now Serena has given him a son, and Victor Phoenixfield has won a great victory. Both publicly and privately, making Serena empress is entirely reasonable—except...

She is the Phoenixfield Heiress!

This identity still makes the ministers uneasy. The Former Dynasty was destroyed because of a Phoenixfield Heiress; now Ninth Royal Uncle wants to raise a Phoenixfield Heiress as empress. No matter how they look at it, it just doesn’t feel auspicious.

A bold, straightforward official, ignoring everyone’s warnings, voiced this concern. Ninth Royal Uncle met it with a cold glance: “Incompetent.”

Just two simple syllables, yet they carried layers of meaning, leaving everyone too intimidated to speak further—they bowed their heads and played the quail.

Nolan Dongling never intended to consult the ministers. He’s inherently an autocrat; even seated on the throne, his nature hasn’t changed.

After announcing his decision, Ninth Royal Uncle ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare: the Coronation and Empress-Installing Ceremonies must be grand and spare no expense.

A coronation happens only once in a lifetime, and so does an empress-installing ceremony. Ninth Royal Uncle doesn’t care if people call it extravagant—if an emperor can’t even accomplish this, what right does he have to rule?

The treasury is full; Southern Lyn, as the defeated kingdom, must surrender all its royal treasures to Eastlyn. Eastlyn isn’t short on silver, so no official will oppose the Emperor over such trivial matters.

As long as the Emperor is wise and the country is strong and prosperous, neither ministers nor commoners will begrudge the emperor a measure of luxury. A ruler is meant to enjoy more than ordinary people.

With the Coronation and Empress-Installing Ceremonies in full swing, once the festivities end, the Ministry of Rites must also organize the Victory Parade of Captives: Southern Lyn’s emperor, his consorts, princesses, and princes will be escorted to Eastlyn’s Imperial Capital after the grand ceremonies.

This is the first major event under the new era name. No official dares slack off; all want to use it to display Eastlyn’s power and let Northlyn see that those who dare attack Eastlyn will share Southern Lyn’s fate.

Ironically, the two central figures—Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena Phoenixfield—are the most idle in appearance. Aside from the palace embroiderers coming once to measure Serena Phoenixfield for her phoenix-robe for the ceremony, she has nothing to do but sit and wait.

“Never seen an empress so relaxed,” Empress Dowager Xie couldn’t help but feel jealous. But what everyone envied most was how, despite eating constantly during her confinement, Serena Phoenixfield stubbornly refused to gain weight.

In reality, Serena Phoenixfield is far from idle. She doesn’t need to manage the empress-installation protocols, but she must handle all affairs of Feng Manor. From the frontier grasslands comes alarming news: Lady Min and Clara Phoenixfield intend to appear publicly at the grand ceremony; Lady Min plans to use the occasion to return to Eastlyn by claiming the title of Grand Empress Dowager.

With tens of thousands gathered for the ceremony, even Ninth Royal Uncle can’t reverse black and white. If Lady Min truly appears then, her return to Eastlyn isn’t out of the question.

“Who sent the news?” Serena Phoenixfield asked Tong Jue.

Only when Ninth Royal Uncle was at morning court did Tong Jue and Tong Yao dare come in to report these matters.

“Ezra Phoenixfield sent someone.” Tong Jue presented a handwritten letter from Ezra Phoenixfield.

In his letter, Ezra Phoenixfield detailed Lady Min and Clara Phoenixfield’s plan, and added one request: after his death, he asks Serena Phoenixfield to care for Adrian Phoenixfield. He has explained everything to Adrian, who has chosen to remain with the clan.

“Death?” Serena Phoenixfield snorted. “So quick to think of dying over such a small matter—and he wants to be King of Phoenixfield?”

Tong Jue wanted to defend Ezra Phoenixfield, but after opening his mouth, he didn’t know what to say. If Serena Phoenixfield didn’t hold it against Ezra Phoenixfield, he wouldn’t have to die—but then he’d likely never be trusted again.

For a general to be barred from the battlefield, this punishment is almost as bad as death.

Tell Ezra Phoenixfield to escort Lady Min and Clara Phoenixfield to the Capital—he doesn’t need to worry about anything else. The elders will appoint someone to take over the grassland troops. Serena Phoenixfield had no intention of letting Ezra keep military command, but she also wouldn’t let such a talent go to waste.

A general painstakingly cultivated by the Phoenixfield Clan must not be allowed to die before his value is exhausted. Having received the clan’s training, now is the time to give back.

These matters weren’t for Tong Jue to comment on. He simply nodded and passed Serena Phoenixfield’s orders down. As soon as Tong Jue left, the wet nurse arrived carrying Little Dumpling.

After more than ten days, Little Dumpling’s features had grown delicate and beautiful—everyone doted on him. Beanie drooled over him every day, blocking the cradle with his scrawny arms and legs, refusing to let anyone else look. When Empress Dowager Xie joked, “If you like Little Dumpling so much, you should marry him when you grow up,” Beanie took it seriously and started calling Little Dumpling his bride.

One day, Nolan walked in on this. His face immediately darkened. Whether Beanie understood or not, Nolan said coldly, “No calling him bride. Even if my son likes you, he’s not your bride—you are.”

Serena Phoenixfield and Empress Dowager Xie exchanged helpless smiles—Nolan’s priorities were always a little off from everyone else’s.

Of course, these little episodes between children didn’t affect the adults. When Little Dumpling turned one month old, the full empress and crown prince escort arrived at Feng Manor to take Serena Phoenixfield and Little Dumpling to the palace…