“Father Emperor!” Yu Jin exclaimed in shock.
Emperor Jingming snorted coldly, “What? Do you have an objection?”
Hadn’t the couple discussed such an important matter behind closed doors?
It was too late for regrets now. He, the Emperor, wasn’t a pushover!
“Father Emperor is being unfair to the Crown Princess. Those rumors were stirred up by people with ulterior motives inciting the ignorant masses—”
“Enough! If you think it’s unfair, then we’ll cancel the Crown Princess’s rain prayer. As for how to quell the unrest, we’ll discuss that later!”
“This—” Yu Jin’s face was twisted with conflict.
Seeing Yu Jin’s reaction, the ministers felt that Emperor Jingming’s decision wasn’t bad after all, and they unanimously said, “Your Majesty is wise.”
Yu Jin lowered his gaze, the corners of his mouth curving into an almost imperceptible smile.
Emperor Jingming didn’t bother to argue further with the Crown Prince and the ministers. He looked at Jiang Si: “Crown Princess, since you’re willing to pray for rain, do you have any thoughts on this?”
“Everything should follow the established rituals,” she replied.
Emperor Jingming nodded slightly: “Then the date for the Great Yu Sacrifice will be determined by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—”
“Father Emperor,” Jiang Si called out, her voice clear.
Emperor Jingming paused.
Jiang Si kept her eyes lowered and calmly said, “The auspicious date chosen by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau would make your daughter-in-law uneasy. Your daughter-in-law has no requests regarding the Yu Sacrifice ritual, only hoping that she may choose the auspicious date herself.”
Emperor Jingming asked, trying to hide his embarrassment, “On which day do you wish to hold it?”
Mentioning the Imperial Astronomical Bureau made him feel a bit guilty when facing the Crown Prince and Princess.
He had ordered Han Ran to thoroughly investigate the officials of the Bureau, and the investigation had uncovered a long-destroyed charitable hall that was somehow connected to the palace.
He didn’t even dare to let Han Ran investigate further—
“Each day of drought brings more suffering to the people. Your daughter-in-law wishes to set the prayer date seven days from now.”
Seven days later would be the 18th day of the 4th month in the 22nd year of Jingming’s reign. In her previous life, on this day, after months of severe drought, sweet rain had finally fallen. At that time, the streets were filled with people, millions of citizens kneeling and weeping in gratitude to Heaven.
On this day in her previous life, she had also returned to the capital from Wumiao, just in time to witness the grand scene.
“Very well, let it be seven days from now. Minister Chang, the Ministry of Rites must put all its efforts into organizing this Great Yu Sacrifice. Do not let anything go wrong with the ceremony.”
The Minister of Rites reluctantly agreed.
To be given such a short preparation time for such a grand ceremony—the Crown Princess must be retaliating against him for speaking out earlier!