A month after the funeral and the mourning period is over. The palace prepare to do the next step to prepare the coronation of the crown prince to be emperor. A new era to mark the new beginning. Before the sun is up, every member of the royal family have already dress up in their fineness. Each of them arrive at the palace and gather outside the main hall as tradition demands that the royal family men to stand on the left and women to stand on the right. There is silence in the air only the sound of the birds chipping as the sun climb up the sky. Banou watch the sun with her hand each holding her twins. They are restless but they are aware not to move too much. They see their father standing up the huge golden throne. Li Cheng is the third highest command of the nation besides the emperor and the crown prince. Thus he is standing where the astronomy bureau determine where he should stand. They are now waiting for the auspicious time for the coronation to start.
The crown prince and his wife are standing outside the palace gates. He look at his wife and hold her hands. He is worry now that he is going to be an emperor. He will oversea the whole realm, the power in his hand. Even though he was train from childhood to know that he have to take over one day but he did not expect his father to suddenly pass away without a warning. He turn around to look at his eighteen years old son. That boy today will be known as the crown prince. When suddenly the officer of the astronomy bureau signal for the music to start, the emperor-to-be get caught unaware. His wife squeeze his hand and nod her head gently. He smile and breath deeply. He look at the officer and signal him to open the gate for them to walk in.
The royal couple walk slowly on the red carpet that is leading to the dragon throne. The emperor-to-be walk steady and breath normal as he should. His court officers are all line up on the left and right. All are bowing to the new supreme power couple. The sun is now reach at the top shining down at them. The music continue as they slowly climb the stairs up to the dragon throne. He keep swallowing his saliva. Sweat beads form on the side of his face. His wife is feeling his cold hands. When they reach the top stairs, the music stop.
Banou watch the new emperor walking up. They stop in front of the dragon throne. The astronomy bureau officer hand them some joss sticks. They bow and pray. The eunuch who perviously served the deceases emperor read out the edict. With his loud voice, everyone in the courtyard can hear it loud and clear. Before the new emperor sits on the throne, his kneel down with that his hat is removed and a new crown is place on him. With couplets and another edict. The new emperor accept the edict and he raise. Together holding his empress's hand they walk up and slowly sit on the dragon throne. All court officers kneel down while the royal family bow together they congratulate the new supreme rulers.
After a while the eunuch announce the new crown prince along with edict. The boy kneel down and accept the edict. The emperor look at Li Cheng. The youngest brother who swear loyalty to the throne. However he is not sure of his wife who is a foreign born. Especially those children that they had adopted. However he knows today is not the day to talk about all these. He have to take step by step.
After the coronation, soldiers are dispatch to announce throughout the realm that a new emperor have ascended. In the capital city, the new emperor, empress and the crown prince will be paraded to show to the public and will travel to the royal temple. Confetti and coins are thrown in the air as they move out to the royal temple.. While the empress have arrange for food to be given out to the public as well. In the royal temple, they will kneel and bow to the ancestors. Asking for blessing and the continuation of this dynasty. The monks will continue to chant for the blessing of the new era for three days non stop.
Back at the palace, there is a dinner feast for the royal family. The previous empress is now the dowager is still not that well enough to attend the feast. Banou brings her twins along to visit her. She smile as she see them.
"Are they a handful?"
"No. They understand they can do and what they shouldn't do."
"Such a young age so sensible. Consort Princess Ban Nu, are you tired?"
"I did not sleep well."
"Yes ... i can't sleep well too. When suddenly he just ... i am not prepared. He is a healthy man. When he is free, he do the word dance for me to watch. Even he is slow, he does it so well. Sometimes we will take long walks in the gardens"
"I am sure that he doesn't want to leave you alone, like this."
"We are not married because we love each other. We were forced to stay together but eventually we come to accept all the faults and dislike of each other. He is not the type of man that i like. Likewise i am not the type he likes. Still we managed well. We rarely argue. We sit down and talk about it. Maybe some times we just get angry and don't talk to each other but which couple don't have all these problems."
"Yes every... couple have .."
"Ban Nu, you may not understand our culture but you make effort. I can see that. I am glad that Li Cheng married someone that he likes. I can tell that he likes you a lot. When he was young, he did not like any girls that i mentioned or introduced to him. He will run away or stay away from me. The day you appear in the capital, he stay in the capital longer than i know... I know in my two sons, have lost their hearts to you and you have chosen to stay with Li Cheng. It is wiser that you stay away from Li Jun."