Her older sister, Ji Qingrong, was also among them. Ji Qingwu made a point of walking down the steps to help her up, and the two sisters smiled and exchanged a few words.
Last were the concubines. As the Emperor's consorts, they were required by court etiquette to perform a grand salute to the Empress. They had to kowtow respectfully, their foreheads touching the ground, and present meticulously prepared congratulatory gifts.
Ji Qingwu had no intention of making things difficult for them or putting them in their place.
Whether the gift was a precious Golden Ruyi Red Coral, a hand-embroidered handkerchief, or a hand-copied Heart Sutra, Ji Qingwu treated them all equally. She responded with a faint smile before bidding them to rise.
Those who had been hoping to see a struggle, whether overt or covert, between the new Empress and the favored concubine were left disappointed.
