Empire Conquest
Chapter 279 - 275: The Empire’s Quasi Prince Consort

Chapter 279: Chapter 275: The Empire’s Quasi Prince Consort

February 29th, the twenty-third day of the first lunar month, Old Almanac: Auspicious for weddings.

It was also a coincidence, occurring on the leap month that comes once every four years, and on that very day!

The wedding of the Little Eldest Princess of the Empire, the Holy Emperor’s own sister, was an exceptionally grand affair, even if it was just an engagement ceremony.

The Quasi Prince Consort had been welcoming guests since early morning, busy until evening before he could catch a moment of respite. Not to mention rest; his hands were tired just from receiving gifts.

However, almost all the gifts were for the Eldest Princess.

Understandable.

Even when marrying the Royal Family’s Eldest Princess, Bai Zhizhan, as an Imperial Navy General, had to abide by naval discipline and regulations. Although the Imperial Family’s involvement meant that a banquet was not forbidden, nor was there a restriction on its scale, rules regarding receiving gifts were certainly not to be discarded.

This meant that if a gift was for Bai Zhizhan and its value exceeded one thousand yuan, it had to be declared in advance at the relevant department of the Navy headquarters.

Apart from the hassle, during such festive occasions, one could accept at most three gifts worth over one thousand yuan; anything beyond that had to be unconditionally surrendered to the state treasury.

There were no such issues with gifts for the Little Eldest Princess.

Even if it was out of respect, it was due respect to the Little Eldest Princess, the Holy Emperor, the Empress Dowager who was the mother of all under heaven, and to the dignity of the Imperial Family.

What sort of respect could a forty-two-year-old man receiving his engagement carry?

In truth, Bai Zhizhan hardly knew the majority of the guests, particularly the Imperial Relatives, and even if he managed to understand their names, deciphering their titles was another matter.

Fortunately, throughout the event, he was accompanied by Li Yunxiang and Fang Suqing.

Fang Suqing was more than familiar with the etiquette of the Royal Family and the titles of the Imperial Relatives; under her guidance, Bai Zhizhan simply followed along with the greetings.

Right before the banquet began, the day’s lively festivities reached a boiling point.

Indeed, the much-anticipated central figure made an appearance.

Not the newly-engaged couple, but the Holy Emperor himself!

Most guests who came with precious gifts to attend the engagement ceremony were actually doing so in deference to the Holy Emperor.

After all, who else could the Quasi Bride be but the Holy Emperor’s only sister?

As for the Quasi Groom Bai Zhizhan.

Which family’s young man was he?

This was the question most frequently whispered among the guests.

Although, upon being reminded, these Imperial Relatives quickly recalled the recent grand victory and acknowledged that there was a General named Bai Zhizhan in the Navy, they almost all believed that Bai Zhizhan hailed from some renowned noble family with a distinguished background.

Was this not the case?

Was the Little Eldest Princess, this blooming flower, to be wed to Bai Zhizhan, akin to being placed atop a pile of cow dung?

Had it not been an Imperial Marriage granted by the Holy Emperor, or the intent of the Empress Dowager, it is likely that many elder members of the Royal Family would have voiced their objections on the spot, or at least sought to clarify matters.

Luckily, it was just an engagement.

After the Eunuch proclaimed the Imperial Decree for the gift of marriage, Bai Zhizhan’s parents made their appearance next to the Empress Dowager.

It must be acknowledged, this was what had changed after the secularization of the Imperial Family.

Previously, it would have been impossible to stand alongside the Empress Dowager without performing three kneels and nine bows. The secularization reforms first abolished these overly intricate royal protocols. Indeed, the secularization of royal rituals, undertaken alongside the Constitutional Amendment, not only did not diminish the majesty of the Royal Family but instead made it more approachable, bridging the gap between the royals and the common people, significantly enhancing the Royal Family’s appeal among the populace.

With the Empress Dowager present, the numerous Imperial Relatives naturally wouldn’t dare to criticize openly.

To Bai Zhizhan’s slight surprise, the Empress Dowager was even more generous than the Holy Emperor.

After all, the Little Eldest Princess was her own flesh and blood.

The Empress Dowager’s first Imperial Decree was to confer upon the Quasi Prince Consort, Bai Zhizhan, the titles of Duke Yu and Prince Ai, a first-class duke title, and the rank of Major General of the Valiant Jiao of the Royal Family.

Of course, these titles and positions within the inner palace had their own significances.

As for the somewhat tongue-twisting titles, they were the result of secularization.

Because it was just an engagement, it was the Empress Dowager who issued the Imperial Decree.

When the time came for the wedding, it would be the Holy Emperor who issued the imperial edict, and both hereditary titles and positions within the inner palace would be promoted by one level.

Afterward, something happened that surprised Bai Zhizhan.

In her second Imperial Decree, the Empress Dowager not only conferred titles upon Bai Zhizhan’s father and mother but also added noble titles to each of Bai Zhizhan’s three siblings.

Although these were not hereditary titles, being conferred by the Empress Dowager was still an addition of glory and honor.

Now, they had truly become nobility.

Even if they were two generations away from being a noble clan, at present, in this dynasty, the Bai Family had become true Imperial Relatives, and greatly favored by the Holy Emperor.

Wasn’t the Empress Dowager’s Imperial Decree the same as the Holy Emperor’s edict?

Sometimes, especially regarding matters of the Royal Family’s internal affairs, the Imperial Decree was more effective than the imperial edict, as the Holy Emperor rarely personally intervened in internal matters.

Moreover, since the Empress was in poor health and the Empress Dowager was very energetic, it was mainly the Empress Dowager who managed the Royal Family’s internal affairs.

In front of many Imperial Relatives, the Empress Dowager lavishly rewarded the Bai Family, and it was obvious to anyone with even a discerning eye that the Bai Family was on the verge of soaring to great heights.

As for why the Empress Dowager was making such a grand gesture, Bai Zhizhan had a very clear idea in his heart.

Fundamentally, it was meant for Bai Zhizhan to devote his life to the service of the Empire’s Imperial Family.

War had already broken out, and the Empire was in need of people. If a capable and battle-skilled Prince Consort emerged, it would be of great benefit to both the Empire and the Royal Family.

The political acumen of the Empress Dowager was extraordinary.

More than twenty years ago, with the support of the Empress Dowager, the then Eldest Prince, who is now the Holy Emperor, had been sent to the Western Front. This move earned him the former Emperor’s regard and rallied his younger brothers’ loyalty, cementing his position as the Crown Prince and facilitating his smooth accession to the throne following the former Emperor’s demise.

As for the affections between the Little Eldest Princess and the Quasi Prince Consort, those were of secondary importance.

As long as the Prince Consort excelled in warfare, even if their affections were lacking, it wouldn’t be too much of a concern. After all, once they had a child or two, wouldn’t the feelings naturally follow?

Furthermore, this couple was not young anymore, and within a year’s time, they could bear fruit.

This was how the current Empress Dowager had come through her own experience.

In summary, the Empress Dowager’s actions were, in reality, an effort to ease the worries of the Royal Family and the Holy Emperor.

Clearly, in the Empire, especially during a time of war, to serve the Royal Family with undivided loyalty was to serve the Empire with undivided loyalty; the two were inextricably linked.

After the Constitutional Amendment, the greatest value of the Royal Family lay in becoming the spiritual leaders of the Empire in times of national crisis!

Bai Zhizhan was also moved by the Empress Dowager’s well-intentioned efforts.

Decades ago, Emperor Shiwu had said, "Women hold up half the sky in the Empire."

These words were not mistaken.

Having such an understanding, virtuous, and magnanimous Empress Dowager was not only a blessing for the Imperial Family but for the entire Empire as well.

Of course, Bai Zhizhan’s primary task was to offer toasts with the Little Eldest Princess.

The Eunuch had specially brought fine wines from the palace, which were surely non-intoxicating.

To put it plainly, it was just water.

Everyone understood the pretense but did not openly discuss it, for with hundreds of toasts being offered, without five hundred cups, there were four hundred. If it were real alcohol, no one could withstand it.

Finally, under the guidance of Fang Suqing, Bai Zhizhan also went to offer toasts to a few elders of the Royal Family.

The Royal Family was the largest family in the Empire, and in any large family, the elders held significant influence.

This was a round of toasts with real drinks, not just plain water.

Fortunately, Bai Zhizhan could hold his liquor well.

By the time he finished his duties, it was already midnight.

Most guests had tactfully taken their leave after the toasts by the soon-to-be-wed couple. By the time Bai Zhizhan finally got some respite, the manor had quieted down quite a bit.

However, he wasn’t truly at leisure, but at most allowed himself to sit down to catch his breath, meanwhile eating some hot food to fill his stomach.