The young Princess Taihua held Princess Yongping's hand, and they kowtowed in perfect form.
For many of the concubines, promotion ceremonies were a bittersweet affair.
The sheer weight of the ceremonial robes could only be endured thanks to the adrenaline rush of reaching the pinnacle of one's life.
But Jiang Xian was physically fit. She found the Noble Consort's ceremonial robes a bit cumbersome, but not enough to hinder her movements. She stood at the Emperor's side, listening as the solemn words of her promotion were slowly recited.
"Pure Consort Jiang, blessed by the heavens and a fortunate omen for the inner court, has displayed great virtue and kindness, and conducted herself with respect and caution. Today, she is promoted to Noble Consort and bestowed the title 'Hao'…"
