Chapter 86 Leaving the Cabinet (Part 2)

  "By the Emperor's decree. The Imperial Edict states: A nation that values its founding should honor those who have made great contributions. Those who have achieved meritorious service to the state should be rewarded with noble titles. This is a grand principle of encouragement, and a universal truth throughout history. Yongping Marquis, General-in-Chief of the Western Expedition Xu Lingyi has served for many years, his loyalty increasing day by day, his achievements growing more illustrious, truly worthy of being called a brilliant talent, not disappointing the wise selection of his kin. He is promoted to Second-Rank Tutor of the Crown Prince. His original wife, Lady Luo, was harmonious in her marriage, and should be honored as a model for families; she is posthumously awarded the title of Duchess of Chastity and Obedience. His second wife, Lady Luo, has a gentle and virtuous nature, with a heart full of reverence and caution; she is awarded the title of First-Rank Lady..."

  Eleventh Girl quietly lay on the ground, but her mind was racing quickly.

  The highest official position in the Great Zhou Dynasty is San Gong and San Gu, with San Gong being a first-class official and San Gu being a second-class official... It's not that all three were appointed at once, but rather that the crown prince was appointed as the junior preceptor... Can it be understood this way: The emperor still wants to use Xu Lingyi - if he is appointed as one of the three senior officials, then when war breaks out again, Xu Lingyi will no longer be able to lead troops. Moreover, once a title is conferred, there's nothing left for future successors to reward Xu Lingyi with...

  She couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

  Now, the safety of the Xu family is the most important thing!

  The collective punishment of the feudal system is no joke.

  As for granting titles to Yuan Niang and himself... I'm afraid it's a compensation for not giving Xu Lingyi the corresponding title?

  Eleventh daughter didn't have time to think carefully.

  After thanking her kindness, the queen's reward arrived.

  This time it is for her. One pair of hairpins, one pair of precious flowers, "Everything goes as desired", "Wealth and nobility bloom", "Year after year there is surplus", "Playful infant picture" palace satin each four pieces.

  The eunuchs who escorted the Empress Dowager away have arrived with gifts from Her Majesty.

  Also for her: a copper mirror with the words "Zhōng jié shì dǔ" (Loyal and virtuous generation) engraved on it, and a copper ruler with the text of "Nǚ Jiè" (Admonitions for Women).

  All the Xu family members knelt down for the third time to thank him.

  The palace maid smiled and said to Eleventh Sister: "Take the mirror as a reflection, take the ruler as a warning. The lady should remember the teachings of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."

  After all, she was married into the family and had lost face in front of the empress dowager, so just giving her a copper mirror and a ruler was already giving her face.

  "Thank you for your reminder, Your Majesty." Eleventh Princess said respectfully, "I will remember the Empress Dowager's teachings and be careful with my words and actions, and strictly follow them."

  The old lady couldn't help but glance at Eleventh Sister.

  At a young age, for the first time receiving an imperial edict, advancing and retreating without fear...

  She raised her eyes and saw her son's gaze sweep across his daughter-in-law's face.

  The old lady couldn't help but curve up the corners of her mouth.

  The eunuch saw Shi Er Niang's humble attitude and smiled slightly with a hint of arrogance.

  Xu Lingyi personally went forward to receive the inner attendant - the inner attendant sent by the Emperor and Empress to declare the imperial edict and reward, was received by Xu Lingkuan.

  The eunuch's attitude became more and more arrogant, smiling at Xu Lingyi: "The prince should have more free time to visit Cining Palace, the empress dowager is always thinking of the prince. She often talks about when the prince was young, following the emperor's back, destroying all the bird nests in Changchun Palace... It's really unexpected that the prince was so mischievous when he was young, but now he is also a pillar of the country and a backbone of the court." The tone was very condescending.

  It seems that although Xu's family was able to marry her with the emperor's support, the process was not easy, and it can even be said that Xu's victory was not an absolute one-sided victory... but rather an opportunity gained in a narrow gap.

  The eleventh girl thought for a moment and found that all the Xu family members had gloomy faces.

  It seems that this eunuch's attitude towards Xu Lingyi hurt the feelings of many people in the Xu family.

  Xu Lingyi smiled humbly: "My poor skills as a child must have made you laugh, Grandfather."

  The eunuch seemed very satisfied with Xu Lingyi's attitude, and chuckled a few times. He spoke to Xu Lingyi in a gentle voice for a while before taking his leave.

  Xu Lingyi personally saw him out.

  The air in the courtyard relaxed.

  The eleventh girl hastily stepped forward and paid her respects to Madame Zhao and the others.

  The elder lady smiled and accepted her courtesy. The second lady, being a widow, immediately withdrew: "It's too late, the road to my place is not good to walk, I'll go back first."

  Everyone was reluctant to see her go and saw her off with their eyes.

  The three madams then gave a return gift to the eleventh daughter: "Fourth sister-in-law, congratulations, it seems that fourth brother couldn't wait to report to the Ministry of Rites and directly sought an imperial edict for you."

  According to the system, after they got married, Xu Lingyi would submit a memorial to the Ministry of Rites, and then the Ministry of Rites would report to the Emperor for approval before formally granting her the corresponding rank. Moreover, Yuan Niang was the first wife, with a rank of Zheng Yi Pin, while she was the second wife, who should have been Zheng San Pin. Unexpectedly, the Emperor posthumously conferred a title on Yuan Niang, and as a result, she got promoted to Zheng Yi Pin and received the title of Lady.

  But how can you say such things at this time?

  Not to mention that she had just entered the door, but the words of "fourth brother can't wait to report to the gift department" in San Fu's language were already very inappropriate. Once it was spread out, Xu Lingyi couldn't help but leave a reputation for being "indulgent and favored", giving people a feeling of frivolity. It would be even worse for herself. She might be said to be flirtatious and coquettish...

  The eleventh girl thought of Mrs. Tai's decisive and ruthless handling of her own marriage, and looked at Mrs. Tai with some trepidation.

  The old lady's face sank, saying: "Our whole family has come to receive the imperial edict and to congratulate the ladies who have been arranged." A gesture that let her quickly entertain the guests.

  The three madams' expressions became slightly unnatural, and they smiled: "It's already been arranged."

  Xu Lingning, who was standing beside him, said immediately: "Since there's nothing going on here, you should go take a look at the backyard! I also need to go to the front to entertain the guests. Today, four princes, two imperial sons-in-law, not to mention those high-ranking officials of the second and third rank...I'm afraid all the big shots in Yanjing have come!"

  The old lady nodded: "Don't let others say we've lost our manners!"

  Xu Lingning respectfully replied "yes", and together with San Furen gave a bow to Tai Furen, the couple then left the courtyard.

  Eleventh daughter only then discovered that this courtyard was located between two halls, the front one a seven-bay hall and the back one a five-bay hall, both with large gates and bright lights. However, due to the angle of view, the back hall could be seen very clearly - there were long tables and taishi chairs, it was a place for receiving guests. The front hall was somewhat unclear. Nevertheless, she could hear the sounds of laughter and chatter coming from the left and right sides of the front hall.

  Is the wine table set up in the outer courtyard of the Xu family?

  She guessed that Tai Fu had already gone forward and taken Eleventh Sister's hand: "Are you tired? I'll have the maid take you back to your room first?"

  The eleventh girl didn't know where she was in the Xu Mansion, but Madam Xu's single word "first" made her realize that Xu Lingyi might still come back here. She lowered her eyelids, with a hint of shyness: "I'll wait for His Highness to return together..."

  Old Lady Tai's face lit up with a few more smiles upon hearing this.

  The fifth lady-in-waiting smiled and said, "Are you afraid to be alone in your new room? Unfortunately, I'm pregnant now, and the astrologer says that people born in the year of the sheep cannot enter the new room... Let's wait a few days, then I'll come visit you."

  "Ah!" Eleventh Sister was delighted and looked up and down at Fifth Madam, "You have a little baby? When did you give birth?"

  She loves little babies.

  It's unclear whether it's because of loose clothing or insufficient months, but nothing can be seen at all.

  The fifth lady's face turned slightly red: "Just four months..."

  Xu Lingkuan stood beside him with a silly smile.

  "You have to be careful." Eleventh Sister was delighted for the couple, "You knelt several times just now. Do you feel uncomfortable?"

  The fifth lady shook her head slightly: "It wasn't too good for a while before. It's all better now."

  Madam Tai watched her and Fifth Madam chatting in harmony, with an even thicker smile at the bottom of her eyes.

  Xu Lingyi turned back after saying two sentences.

  Seeing only a few of them, Qi asked: "Where are Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law?"

  "Today they are in charge of entertaining the guests." The old lady smiled and said, "I let them go first." She also said, "Just now I hurriedly called you out to receive the imperial edict, but haven't had a chance to drink the wedding wine yet? Quickly return to your new home! A house full of people are still waiting for you to make a toast!"

  Xu Lingyi looked at Shiyi after hearing her mother say so.

  The eleventh girl immediately lowered her head and followed Xu Lingyi's back with a well-behaved appearance.

  Xu Lingyi bowed to Tai Furen and then stepped onto the covered corridor heading east.

  Eleventh Sister Hu hastily gave everyone a blessing and followed Xu Lingyi back to the new house by the original route.

  The people who came to see the excitement in the new house had all left, leaving only the two Mrs. Quanfu invited by the Xu family and the two pretty maids who helped Xu Lingyi change her clothes in the room. Seeing the two enter one after the other, the two Mrs. Quanfu let out a sigh of relief and simultaneously welcomed them forward, one pulling Eleventh Sister into the house, while the other shouted to the rough maid outside: "Have the kitchen send up some snacks."

  Eleventh Sister had just sat down when the dishes were served from the kitchen.

  Nothing but some chicken, duck and fish with auspicious names.

  Smelling the fragrant aroma of dishes, Shíyīniáng felt a pang of hunger - from morning till now, she had only eaten three mouthfuls of lotus seed and red date peanut porridge.

  She suppressed her greed and drank with Xu Lingyi under the guidance of the two Mrs. Quanfu.

  The wedding ceremony is over.

  The two Madame Quanfu smiled and congratulated Xu Lingyi and Eleventh Lady.

  The eleven girls each gave two big red envelopes, and the two Mrs. Quanfu smiled and retreated.

  Xu Lingyi then instructed the maid in the house: "Go and call over the mistress's maid."

  One of the maids immediately went off in response.

  "Get me some casual clothes."

  Another maid immediately came forward and skillfully changed his clothes.

  The new house is a four-compound mansion. The west wing has a corner door that leads directly to the covered corridor. The three-bay hall has two side rooms on each side, and the main house has five bays with one side room on each side. Their inner chambers are located on the west side of the main house.

  Xu Lingyi changed her clothes in the western room, and Shiyi Niang sat on the large kang by the window in the adjacent western room.

  Before long, the maid served him and changed into a purple-red cloud-patterned straight robe with a floral pattern and walked out.

  He saw an eleven-year-old girl sitting upright on the kang, and he was taken aback.

  The eleventh girl had already gotten down from the kang and given him a curtsy.

  "I'll go make a toast."

  The eleventh girl responded in a low voice "yes", then sent Xu Lingyi out of the main house.

  Returning to the house, she smiled and asked the maid: "What's your name?"

  "The maid replied respectfully: 'My name is Xia Yi.'"

  The eleventh girl nodded: "What's the name of another one who works with you?"

  "Call Spring End."

  Just then, Chunmo led Amber and Dongqing in.

  It's been less than two hours since they last saw each other, but for Amber and Wintergreen, who have been worried about Shirojo all this time, it feels like two years.

  They couldn't help but have tears in their eyes, and they all said in unison: "Miss, are you okay?"

  "It's okay, it's okay!" said the eleventh girl with a smile. But in her heart, she thought: I'm really hungry! So the words "Have you guys eaten yet?" came out of her mouth.

  The two nodded repeatedly: "We've eaten. We've all eaten. Auntie Tao personally brought the rough servant's mother to serve us food."

  The eleventh girl smiled and nodded, saying to Chunmo and Xiaoyi: "You both withdraw! With them serving me, that's enough."

  The two of them hesitated for a moment before kneeling down to pay their respects.

  The eleventh girl ordered Dongqing and Hupo: "Help me change into another set of clothes, this one is too uncomfortable to wear."

  The two nodded and went to prepare bath water and a change of clothes for Shiyi Niang, but she sat down at the table and ate a small bowl of rice instead.

  When Xu Lingyi walked in with a whiff of wine, the eleventh lady had already washed her face clean, combed her everyday braid, changed into a lake-green jacket and was reclining on the large pillow reading a book.

  "Master Hou is back!" She hastily put down her book and got off the kang to pay her respects to Xu Lingyi.

  Xu Lingyi's face was slightly red, but her eyes didn't show a hint of intoxication, only shining brighter than usual.

  The eleventh girl quietly raised her vigilance.

  There is a kind of person who gets brighter in the eyes the more they drink, even when drunk, it's hard to tell.

  But usually people who are drunk have weaker control over their emotions... She didn't want to cause Xu Lingyi any displeasure.

  Xu Lingyi didn't even glance at her, walked straight to the edge of the bed, picked up a book and read under the sheep horn lamp: "The Records of the Nine Regions of Great Zhou!"

  This guy must have had too much to drink, otherwise he wouldn't be spouting nonsense word by word.

  Eleventh Sister was just about to explain when Xu Lingyi had already thrown down her book and headed towards the bathroom: "I want to take a bath!"

  Sisters, the update is a bit late, don't wait anymore!