novelAbuy Chapter 192 The Crown Prince's First Birthday
Chapter 192 The Crown Prince's First Birthday
In the early summer of the first year of Wuxing, the capital of Xing Kingdom was still immersed in the afterglow of the great victory in the southern expedition and the fervent hope for a prosperous future. Amid this vigorous national momentum, a joyous event concerning the foundation of the country and affecting both inside and outside the palace added a touch of warmth and expectation to the capital, different from celebrations of military achievements—Crown Prince Chen Hao celebrated his first birthday.
The Crown Prince, born to Queen Murong Mingyue, was born in late spring of last year, at a time when the Xing Kingdom was newly established and everything was in need of development. His birth was seen as an auspicious sign for stabilizing the foundation of the nation and ensuring its continuation, and thus attracted much attention. Now that the King has returned in triumph and the nation is flourishing, and the Crown Prince has just turned one year old, it is only natural that a grand celebration is in order. This is not only a royal family matter, but also an important political event to demonstrate both domestically and internationally that there is a worthy successor and that the nation's destiny is long-lasting.
Inside the palace, everything had been transformed. While not overly extravagant, it exuded royal grandeur and a festive atmosphere. The main celebrations were held in the Yihe Hall within the inner garden, a tranquil setting with a spacious courtyard in front, ideal for ceremonies. Inside, the hall was brightly lit, red carpets were laid out, and auspicious jade, coral, and bonsai were displayed. In the courtyard outside, a banquet had been prepared according to protocol. High-ranking officials, members of the royal family, and ladies of the court took their seats in order, conversing quietly, all with smiles on their faces, their eyes frequently glancing towards the hall.
Today, Murong Mingyue wore a specially made palace gown, dignified yet not overly elaborate, her phoenix hairpin swaying gently, her face radiant. The months of regency had tempered her already sharp features, adding a touch of calm and composure to her otherwise spirited demeanor. She personally inspected the preparations within the palace, especially the items prepared for the Crown Prince's first birthday celebration—a crucial part of the ceremony. On the wide brocade carpet, dozens of objects symbolizing different futures were neatly arranged according to ancient rites and with added embellishments:
Items representing both literary and military pursuits include miniature jade swords, sandalwood rulers, small bow and arrow models, and a bamboo slip copy of the Book of Songs; items representing power and wealth include replicas of royal seals, abacuses, jade ruyi scepters, and official seal models; items representing skills and knowledge include Luban locks, writing brushes, inkstones, and herbal specimens; there are even miniature saddles representing northern characteristics, flame-patterned jade pendants symbolizing the origins of Xinghuobao, and a small bag of millet...
Every item was carefully selected and crafted, conforming to etiquette while subtly reflecting the founding principles and characteristics of the Star Kingdom. Murong Mingyue meticulously checked everything to ensure perfection. This was her child's first important public ceremony, and she was filled with tenderness while also deeply aware of its political implications.
As the auspicious hour approached, the sound of drums and music began. Chen Xing, accompanied by Murong Mingyue, slowly emerged from the inner palace. Today, Chen Xing was not dressed in military attire or heavy court robes, but only in a black casual robe trimmed with gold, making him appear both handsome and gentle. He smiled and stood shoulder to shoulder with Murong Mingyue, receiving the congratulations from the crowd. The heir apparent, Chen Hao, was held by his wet nurse, dressed in a festive red jacket and a tiger-head hat. With his tiger-like face and large, bright eyes, he curiously observed the surrounding crowd and colors, showing no fear of strangers. Occasionally, he babbled, eliciting kind smiles from the crowd.
After a simple birthday celebration, the most important part, the "first birthday celebration," began. A brocade carpet was carried to an open area in front of the palace, and in full view of everyone, the wet nurse gently placed the prince in the center of the carpet.
Little Chen Hao sat amidst a dazzling array of objects, initially looking around somewhat bewildered, his little hands unconsciously clutching the blanket beneath him. All eyes were on him, everyone holding their breath.
He crawled around a few times, his eyes first drawn to the crystal-clear jade sword. He stretched out his chubby little hand, grabbed it, and swung it around quite a bit, making "ya ya" sounds, as if he was quite proud of himself.
"Excellent!" A murmur of cheers and praises erupted outside the hall. "The Crown Prince's first grasp of the sword demonstrates extraordinary bravery; he will surely become a powerful and influential king who expands territories!"
However, Xiao Chenhao did not put down his sword. His gaze turned to the exquisitely carved, imposing "Royal Seal" beside him. He put down his sword, stretched out his free hand, and steadily picked up the Royal Seal. Holding one in each hand, he seemed to find it quite interesting and tapped them together, producing a crisp sound of jade striking jade.
The entire arena fell silent for a moment, then erupted in even more enthusiastic gasps of amazement!
"A precious sword and an imperial seal! Military equipment and power! The crown prince... he actually grasped both!"
"The sword opens new frontiers, the imperial seal safeguards the land! This is a divine omen; the Crown Prince will achieve unparalleled success in both civil and military affairs!"
"It is the will of Heaven! It is truly the will of Heaven!"
Jia Wen stroked his beard and smiled, stepping forward first to loudly proclaim, "Your Majesty and Queen, I, Jia Wen, offer my congratulations! On His Highness's first birthday, he first grasped the precious sword, then the jade seal—a truly auspicious omen! The precious sword is the instrument for pacifying the world and expanding territories; the jade seal is the seal of authority, ensuring peace and stability for the nation. His Highness has obtained both, foretelling that our Star Kingdom will surely enjoy military prosperity, sweeping across the land, and flourishing in civil administration, benefiting all people! This is not merely a blessing for the royal family, but truly a blessing for the millions of subjects of our Star Kingdom. Heaven's will is clear, as can be seen!"
Generals Chen Wei and Dian Xiong were even more excited, echoing, "The Crown Prince is born with divine martial prowess; he will surely be a wise ruler! The Xing Kingdom has a worthy successor; its hegemony is within reach!"
Not to be outdone, the civil officials quoted classical texts and compared this custom of "grasping the baby's head" to the auspicious signs at the birth of ancient sage kings, praising it to the fullest extent.
Chen Xing and Murong Mingyue exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with relief and pride. They naturally knew that the first birthday celebration (抓周) was more of a ritual and symbolism, and that a child's actions were largely accidental. But at this moment, the prince's unintentional act had perfectly resonated with the people, solidified the foundation of the nation, and even draped the future of Xing Kingdom in a sacred cloak of "divine mandate." This was undoubtedly icing on the cake, adding joy to joy.
Chen Xing stepped forward, took his son, who was happily playing with a sword in one hand and a jade seal in the other, from the wet nurse's arms, raised him high, faced the crowd, and proclaimed loudly: "Today, the Crown Prince turns one year old. We are blessed by Heaven with auspicious omens, and we also owe our success to the assistance of all of you! I wish to work together with you all to create an everlasting dynasty for our Xing Kingdom! When the Crown Prince grows up, wherever this sword points, there will surely be peace throughout the land; wherever this jade seal is affixed, the law will surely be upheld!"
"Long live the King! Long live the Crown Prince! May the Star Kingdom last forever!" The resounding cheers echoed throughout the palace once more.
The baby's first birthday celebration concluded successfully, and a grand banquet immediately began. Melodious music filled the air, dances sang, and toasts were exchanged, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Chen Xing and Murong Mingyue held the young prince, receiving toasts and congratulations from the assembled officials and their wives. The prince seemed to enjoy the lively scene, waving his little hands from time to time, eliciting bursts of laughter.
During a break in the banquet, Chen Xing whispered to Murong Mingyue beside him, "From today onwards, Hao'er will no longer be just our child. He carries the hopes of too many people." He looked tenderly at the infant in his arms, "We must lay the most solid foundation for him, and for this world."
Murong Mingyue nestled beside him, her gaze resolute: "I understand. No matter what lies ahead, we are a family, united in heart and mind."
Su Xiaoxiao, along with the other noblewomen, toasted the Queen and the Crown Prince. Her demeanor was impeccable, her words respectful, and when her gaze swept over the happy family of three, it remained calm and undisturbed. She then focused on discussing with the noblewomen beside her the "Dragon Boat Festival Market" that the Imperial Household Department had recently organized to promote trade in the north, concealing the slightest ripple of emotion beneath her shrewd and capable exterior.
The Crown Prince's first birthday banquet concluded in joy and harmony. The "sword" and "jade seal" drawn during the traditional "grasping ceremony" quickly became a popular topic of conversation throughout the capital and even the entire Xing Kingdom, further uniting the people and consolidating the foundation of the nation. For Chen Xing, the fulfillment of his family and the healthy growth of his heir allowed him to focus wholeheartedly on the even grander and more arduous task of governing the country that lay ahead.