Chapter 14: 13. Empress of Heping

Two weeks later, the palace was once again decorated with red ribbons and banners. A coronation gown and the Empress's golden headdress was brought to Tang Daiyu's residence. Her two attendants dressed and prepped her.

She was bathed and clothed in the coronation gown. As she sat at the vanity, Tang Daiyu let Hua Chao-Xing apply eyeshadow, eyeliner to the edges of her lids, and mascara to her lashes. Red lipstick was brushed over her cupid's bow lips. Her cheeks were patted with light pink blush.

Wu Caihong brushed Tang Daiyu's hair and began to style it. After many twists and turns, her hair was finished. The Empress's headdress was placed on her head and a couple more golden hairpins were pushed into her hair. Tang Daiyu looked at herself in the mirror and thanked them for a job well done. When the horns blew, she knew it was time.

Tang Daiyu walked towards the throne room and a large procession followed her. Outside the throne room, she was left to go in alone. After taking a deep breath, she stepped over the threshold and entered the throne room. Tang Daiyu walked down the centre of the hall towards Feng Rong. Members of the Royal Family stood to her right and bowed. Court officials stood on her left and bowed. Her husband was sitting on the throne and watched as she neared. At the bottom of the dais, Tang Daiyu stopped and kowtowed.

Zhao Chin, Emperor Rong's attendant, stepped forward and proclaimed, "Under the guidance of the Heavens, Emperor Rong has chosen an Empress. Tang Daiyu, as Honoured Consort, you are hereby raised to the status of Empress of Heping."

Shock consumed the throne room.

"Tang Daiyu?!"

"I heard the Tangs were dead!"

"They revolted against Emperor Jianyuan!"

"Chancellor Ru of Chang and his legal wife Bi Mingyu were executed. I figured that Tang Daiyu and Tang Bao had been killed that night as well."

Tang Daiyu interrupted the commotion to loudly say, "Many thanks, Your Majesty."

She stood and turned to face the crowd of people. Tang Daiyu addressed them, "Yes, my parents were killed that fateful night. Emperor Jianyuan allowed my brother and I to live.."

She filled them in on the rest of the terrible events of her life. Once Tang Daiyu had finished, everyone remained silent. Feng Rong stood and walked down to stand at her side.

"I have know Daiyu since we were little kids. I trust her and support her. If you have any complaints about her being Empress, then you have complaints about me being Emperor because now, we are one and the same. The Empress's words hold the same power as mine do."

No one spoke up.

"Good," Feng Rong said. "Now, let us go to the courtyard for festivities."

~~~

That evening, a magnificent feast was served. Dancers and musicians entertained. At one point, Princess Guang played the zither and sang a blessing song. Fireworks exploded in the sky, leaving smoke to disperse amongst the shining stars.

Tang Daiyu sat on the right of her husband on the throne. They looked out over the festivities and enjoyed the night. As things began to wind down, they got up and retired for the night. Tang Daiyu and Feng Rong walked back to her residence alone. Back at her place, they went over and sat down on the bed.

"Daiyu, when do you want to return to Chang?"

"It's almost the new year. Why don't we leave after the celebrations are over?"

"Okay. We can do that."

"Rong?" she murmured quietly.

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"Yes?"

She looked at him, pure emotions shining in her eyes. "I'm scared to go back."

He embraced her. "I won't let anything happen to you, Daiyu. You're safe now. You're past is just that, the past. Yes, I know it's been hard for you, but we can get through the future together. Never forget that I'll always be there for you."

"I know, I know. It's just that every time I walked into the Front Hall in Weiyang Palace, I saw blood on the rugs. I saw my parents' bodies lying on the ground, wounds seeping red. I felt the same fear as I felt that night. Then, I thought about my brother and how he suffered. How he told me to live on for the Tang family," she sighed. "I guess, now, I have. But I still feel like an unfilial child. I can't pay my respects to my family; I can't properly honour them."

"Oh, Daiyu,” he murmured. “I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that."

Tears glistened in her eyes as she said, "I volunteered in Princess Ling's place mostly for my own benefit. I needed to get away. Yes, I was doing it to repay Princess Ling and her mother, Sixth Concubine Luli, but that was my convenient excuse."

"Did you know I was Prince Shandong when you volunteered for the intermarriage?"

"No, I actually didn't remember our time together until the journey south. And as I said when I first came here, I had no idea Prince Yelang was the ambassador all those years ago. It was a shock to see you that first day."

Feng Rong chuckled. "Yes, I was shocked to see you too. I hadn't expected that Tang Daiyu would be the Princess Fangzi."

"No, I suppose not." She gave him an amused smile. "Funny how things change."

"Indeed. If someone had told us back then that we'd be Emperor and Empress of Heping, I doubt either one of us would've believed them," he chuckled quietly.

"Definitely not," she agreed, missing the slight change in his voice. "And yet, that's our life now."

"Yes, it is. And all the challenges that come with it."

"But didn't you just say we'd get through them together?"

He laughed and nodded. "I did."

"On our wedding night, you asked me if I'd help you make Heping a glorious kingdom. I said yes, Rong, and I meant it. Just as you promised to be there for me, I promise to be there for you."

He smiled. "Thank you, Daiyu."

"No, thank you, for giving me peace and happiness. Things I never thought I'd ever have again. Thank you for supporting me and having my back and caring about me. But most of all, thank you for giving me a family again. Your father and sister are so kind to me, I almost forget that they're not my blood relations."

Feng Rong wrapped his arms around her. "Someday, we'll have our own family, Daiyu. And then, I'll make sure our children don't grow up like you had to."

"I'd like that. I'd really like that."

He pressed his lips gently to her temple. "I'll make sure you can honour your family here. It's the least I can do for what they've done for my family and I... and Heping."

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