Ruyi's Rebirth: Ruyi's Disease Retreat Retreat

Chapter 140: Hongli Dotes on Ping'er; Ruyi Presides over the Silkworm Ceremony

In early spring, the ice and snow melted and the Forbidden City was filled with peace.

According to the Book of Zhou, in spring, the empress led the ladies of the imperial court and the imperial court to raise silkworms in the northern suburbs as a form of ritual attire for sacrifices.

Because the late queen passed away, the silkworm ceremony this year will be performed by the Imperial Noble Consort.

Every spring, the emperor would go to the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Earth to worship the god of agriculture and pray for good weather, while the empress would hold a "silkworm-loving" ceremony at the Altar of the First Silkworm, praying to heaven on behalf of all women in the country.

In the Yangxin Palace, Hongli held Ruyi's hand and stroked it. He said, "Ruyi, this year's Silkworm Ceremony will be very hard for you. You are the Imperial Noble Consort, and I have to follow the ancestral rules."

Ruyi nodded: "Okay, Your Majesty, don't worry, I will do my best."

Hongli raised his arms and put them around her waist, unable to let go.

He stroked Ruyi's belly and asked, "Do you want a princess or a prince?"

Ruyi: "All good."

"Well, I actually hope it's a princess, so that Jingsi can have a companion. Speaking of which, she is so calm and composed at such a young age, like a little adult. Every time I see her, I always feel like she has something on her mind, which makes me feel distressed."

Ruyi leaned on his shoulder and said half-jokingly, "They say a daughter takes after her father. Her personality is definitely like the emperor's."

Hongli laughed instead of getting angry, raised his hand and pinched Ruyi's nose: "Naughty!"

Ping agreed, who came in response to the call, gritted her teeth at the sight of the two people being so affectionate, but still had to greet them without changing her expression.

"Your Highness, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Imperial Concubine."

Hongli: "Now that you are here, please sit down first. I want to talk to the Imperial Concubine."

Ruyi patiently stayed with him for a while.

"Your Majesty, I will go back first. My waist is almost broken."

Hongli: "Okay, Li Yu, you will personally send the Imperial Concubine back. You should have a good rest. I will come to see you when I have time."

After Ruyi left, Hongli couldn't wait to hold Ping'er in his arms. This sweet and soft girl really made him unable to stop.

The biggest difference between Ping'er and Langya is that she is well-behaved, obedient and considerate.

"Your Majesty, I miss you too!" Ping'er pouted and took Hongli's arm, acting coquettishly.

"Okay, I love you."

Ruyi walked out of the Yangxin Palace with a smile on her lips.

Li Yu: "Your servant sees that the Imperial Noble Consort is in a very good mood."

"I have good news for you. Suo Xin gave birth to a daughter."

Li Yu grinned. "Really? That's great. She got what she wanted."

"Well, I, Li Yu, also hope that you can find a good partner and live a happy life."

Li Yu gave a wry smile and said, "Thank you, Imperial Noble Consort. I am a rootless person, why would I bother you?"

Ruyi sighed softly, "You are all people I care about. I just hope you are all well."

Li Yu nodded: "Your Majesty is so merciful, I will be devoted to you."

During the silkworm ceremony, one must fast for two days in advance, then wear court robes to the altar of the first silkworm, offer sacrifices to the silkworm god Xiling, and perform the rituals of six silences, three kneelings, and three bows.

If the silkworms have been born, the mulberry ceremony will be held the next day. If the silkworms have not been born, it will be held a few days after the silkworms are born.

Before picking mulberry leaves, one must determine the people who will pick mulberry leaves from the silkworms, prepare the mulberry fields, and prepare the baskets.

Ruyi and other concubines used silver hooks and yellow baskets; others used iron hooks and red baskets.

On the day of mulberry picking, Ruyi held the hook in her right hand and the basket in her left hand, and took the lead in picking mulberry leaves. Others followed and sang the mulberry picking song while picking.

The silkworm women cut up the mulberry leaves they picked and feed them to the silkworms.

After the silkworms have spun their cocoons, the silkworm women will select the best ones and offer them to the silkworms

Ruyi then presented it to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

Afterwards, she would choose an auspicious day and go to the weaving room with the mulberry workers to personally reel some silk, dyeing it into colors such as red, green, black, and yellow for use in embroidering sacrificial robes.