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They arrived at the gate of the Jiang Family house, calling out loudly: “A royal decree from His Majesty!”

The gatekeeper boy was startled and rushed into the backyard to announce the news.

Xu Chunniang and her daughter had gotten up early, dressed in new clothes, and were preparing breakfast when they were startled by the boy’s announcement. They immediately called their two sons and Jiang Quan’s Huzi to the door to receive the imperial decree.

A group of people was welcomed into the main hall to read the imperial edict, and the whole family prepared a ceremonial table, properly dressed and kneeling to listen to it.

It turned out that the Emperor was hosting a feast for his officials and their families in Taihe Hall today, inviting the Jiang Family to the banquet in the palace.

There were two other decrees. One was to bestow upon Xu Chunniang the rank of Anren of the Sixth Rank and grant her a set of ceremonial attire and a silk ribbon, along with an official document.

The other was to grant Jiang Yingbao the title of Second-Class Princess of Qinchuan County, with a set of ceremonial attire, a silk ribbon and a jade butterfly, and several corresponding ceremonial objects, along with eight Palace Assistants, a county mansion, a set of sedan chairs, and twelve guards.

Looking at the Palace Maids and eunuchs holding the ceremonial objects, Yingbao was a tad bit stunned.

A clerk smiled and said, “Princess Qinchuan, you should accept the decree promptly. You will have to go to the palace later to express your gratitude.”

Yingbao promptly accepted the decree with a bow.

Holding the imperial decree and the jade butterfly, she didn’t know what to say for a moment.

She did not expect the Emperor to bestow upon her the title of a princess, granting her Qinchuan County as her territory.

This was a treatment that only the daughters of a prince or a Commandery Prince had.

After accepting the decree, the Chunniang and the others wanted to invite the clerks and others to a meal, but they declined saying, “We must return to report, we cannot stay for long.”

Jiang Jie, seeing this, promptly fetched two large red envelopes and placed them into the hands of the two clerks, and each of the eunuchs also received a red envelope.

After sending off the officials who delivered the decree, the family looked towards the eight Palace Assistants.

A senior Palace Maid bowed to Yingbao and said, “I am Meixiang, wishing the Princess peace.”

Another Palace Maid also knelt and said, “May the Princess have great fortune, I am called Lan Xiang.”

“I am He Xiang…”

“My name is Qiu Xiang…”

The four eunuchs also came to pay their respects: “Guixiang, Jinxi, Yulian, Yudahai, wishing peace to the Princess.”

Yingbao nodded, telling them to rise.

The senior Palace Maid, Meixiang, said, “Later, when the Princess goes to the palace to express her gratitude, allow me to assist you in dressing.”

“Alright,” said Yingbao, as she went inside with her mother.

Xu Chunniang also had to dress in the outfit of a six-rank noblewoman, put on the silk ribbon, and go to the palace to express her gratitude, and to attend the palace banquet.

Furthermore, she and her daughter needed to hear from Meixiang about the rules inside the palace, along with the required etiquettes.

Fortunately, these Palace Maids can accompany them into the palace this time. Even if they can’t remember all the rules, having the Palace Maids next to them to give reminders, they should not make any mistakes.

After the four Palace Maids had dressed Yingbao and her mother, and applied their makeup, they stood at one side with their hands down.

Yingbao’s ceremonial attire was longer than her mother’s; it dragged on the ground behind her, appearing particularly imposing.

The moment Xu Chunniang put on the noblewoman’s ceremonial attire, her aura was instantly elevated. With her beautiful features, she was in no way inferior to those noblewomen from prominent families.

Late on, the whole family went to the palace for the banquet together, except for Jiang Quan, who was not on the invitation list.

Fortunately, Jiang Quan was nonchalant. After cheerfully seeing off his aunt and little cousin, he returned to his room and sat on his kang to count his money.

When Yingbao’s carriage reached the gate of the Imperial City, it was surrounded by officers’ carriages and sedan chairs.

Her carriage was a gift from the Emperor, so it could directly enter the city.

With eunuchs and guards leading the way, the crowd at the gate let them through.

They drove into the Imperial City, entered through the Xuanyou Gate, and arrived at the Meeting Gate outside the Zichen Hall along the north-south avenue.

As soon as they crossed the Meeting Gate, they were inside the Imperial Palace.

Inside the Meeting Gate were the Imperial Kitchens of the Palace Department, as well as the Palace Medicine Bureau, Wine Bureau, Clothing Bureau, Residence Bureau, and Carriage Bureau, a total of six bureaus, which were usually heavily guarded.

Those who can enter through this gate are all confidants and close servants of the Emperor and the palace consorts.

Right now, outside the Meeting Gate, the personnel of miscellaneous services such as the Provincial Directors, Imperial Pharmacists, Guards, Chariot Officials, Carriage Courtyard, Yellow Courtyard, and the Palace Soldiers of Inner Offices, are on standby, ready for summons at any time.

The people in the palace responsible for purchasing and tribute are all entering the palace from here.

Yingbao and her mother alighted from the cart, and followed by a few palace maids, entered the Meeting Gate.

Subsequently, they arrived at Wenhe Hall, the side hall next to the Purple Imperial Hall. Meixiang said that the Emperor would temporarily stop here.

At the entrance of Wenhe Hall, there were indeed many eunuchs and palace maids. From the look of it, the Emperor must already be inside the Hall.

After being announced, Yingbao and Chunniang entered the hall.

There sat Zhou Wuchang in a bright yellow dragon robe, wearing a crown woven from gold thread upon his head, on the dragon throne.

“Long live the Emperor! May your life be filled with peace and fortitude!”

The mother and daughter respectfully performed the ritual of three kneelings and nine bowings to Zhou Wuchang.

Zhou Wuchang smiled: “Rise. Fetch their seats.”

The palace attendants on both sides immediately brought up two round stools.

After thanking him, Yingbao and her mother sat down on the stools.

She thought for a while and asked, “Emperor, did you really assign Qinchuan County as my territory?”

Zhou Wuchang gave a nod.

Yingbao laughed: “Then I plan to go back and live in Qinchuan County in the future.”

“Dream on, you still need to stay in Beijing.” Zhou Wuchang took a sip of tea from his cup.

“Why?”

Zhou Wuchang said: “You are not yet married. The person who will be your husband will be selected for you, then you can move to Qinchuan County.”

Yingbao: “…”

Zhou Wuchang added, “In today’s palace feast, you should take a good look. If you find any gentleman pleasing, tell me.”

Yingbao was at a loss for words.

Zhou Wuchang: “You are growing old. In our dynasty, it is rare for a woman to be unmarried at the age of seventeen. Every time the court convenes, I have to listen to those old ministers nagging. You, Zhou Hao, Zhang Min, and others have been impeached by those old ministers countless times. I’m helpless.”

“What if the person I like doesn’t live in Beijing?” Yingbao tried to stay confident.

Zhou Wuchang: “That doesn’t matter. As long as you identify who it is, I will give you two my blessings.”

“What if he doesn’t agree?” Yingbao asked, batting her eyes.

Zhou Wuchang smiled: “No matter, I will summon him and inquire.”

Seeing Yingbao about to speak again, the Emperor hurriedly said, “The banquet is about to start, you guys go to the Chuigong Hall.”

The Chuigong Hall is next to the Purple Imperial Hall and the palace consorts and ladies were dining in this hall today.

Seeing that her master had started to move people along, Yingbao and her mother had to excuse themselves.

When they arrived at Chuigong Hall, a lot of ladies had already taken their seats in the Hall.

Under the guidance of the eunuch of the palace, Yingbao and Chunniang found their respective seats.

They had no choice, because of their different ranks, they were assigned different positions.

Luckily, the old Madame Wu and old Madame Luo were also there, their ranks were the same as Chunniang’s, which was the sixth-ranked Anren, and they ended up sitting together.

Seeing that her mother was sitting next to old Madame Wu, Yingbao felt relieved and nodded to the ladies on her left and right as a gesture.

She holds the title of the Second Rank County Lady, her status is equivalent to the royal kins of the imperial family and she is sitting with several imperial-decreed ladies of the First and Second Rank.

Meixiang secretly told her that some of these ladies were the birth mothers of Consort Shu Yao and Consort Xian Lv, and others were the mothers of Consort Hui Chen and Consort De Zhong.

They looked young, about the same age as Chunniang.

“So you’re the one who is the Emperor’s female disciple?” Madame Lv asked with a warm smile.