novelraw Chapter 406
Chapter 406
"Tell father to find some girls with similar looks and cultivate them to match the Empress's aura."
After all, the journey of life was still so long, and Yan Zheng was in his prime. Who knew what would happen in the future?
With the Empress's coronation ceremony concluded, a grand banquet for the officials followed.
But before that, imperial edicts were issued one after another like flowing water.
"Posthumously conferring the title of First-Rank Madam of the State upon the late wife of the Duke of Chu, née Jiang!"
"Conferring the title of Princess Huayin upon the Duke of Chu's second daughter, Chu Ruoyin, with a fiefdom of three hundred households!"
"Conferring the title of Princess Hualan upon the Duke of Chu's third daughter, Chu Ruolan, with a fiefdom of three hundred households!"
"Conferring the title of First-Rank Mandate Lady upon the principal wife of Chief Minister Cao, née Chu..."
As the edicts were announced, even Chu Tingfeng and Lin Yunshi from the Chu family's second branch were included.
Counting Lady Jiang the Younger, who was already a First-Rank Mandate Lady, almost everyone received a reward.
On the contrary, the new Emperor's own Yan family received nothing. Even his biological younger brother, Yan Zhao, did not receive any rewards.
"It's one thing for the second and third branches, but Little Six, why did you also...?"
Chu Ruoyan couldn't help but ask. Yan Zheng replied as a matter of course, "If a man wants honor and fame, he must earn it himself. What is the point of relying on nepotism?"
Chu Ruoyan choked on her words, thinking of her cousin Tingfeng who had been appointed to the Ministry of Works, and silently shook her head.
Yan Zheng's differential treatment was far too obvious...
"What about Wenjing? He is Big Brother's only son. You can't possibly give him nothing, right?"
Yan Zheng raised an eyebrow. Then, Manager Fang's loud exclamations could be heard: "Oh, my little ancestor, please slow down, slow down!"
Yan Wenjing rushed straight over, about to throw himself into Chu Ruoyan's arms, but suddenly the back of his neck felt heavy. Yan Zheng lifted him up by the collar: "Your Third Aunt is pregnant. Don't be so reckless."
The Little Black Sesame Dumpling let out an oh and looked sweetly at Chu Ruoyan. "Third Aunt, please don't blame Third Uncle. I was the one who told him not to give me a title! Father said that a true man must fight for whatever he wants on his own! Wenjing wants to be like Grandfather, Father, and Third Uncle, establishing military merit and earning a title through my own efforts!"
Chu Ruoyan smiled and rubbed his head, then suddenly paused. "Establish military merit? Are you planning to..."
She looked at Yan Zheng, who smiled faintly. "Didn't you say it before? Compared to being a civil official, Wenjing is much more suited for the path of a military general."
She had indeed said those words, but that was on the night of her second wedding, when she thought she didn't have long to live...
"You actually remember..."
"How could I dare forget my wife's words?" Yan Zheng leaned down and kissed her temple. Yan Wenjing chuckled secretly and said loudly, "Third Aunt! Dummy Xue and I have agreed. When I grow up, I will become a great general who protects the family and defends the country, just like Grandfather and Father! Dummy Xue is weak and gentle, so he can be a civil official like his adoptive father and Lord Gu. This way, with one in the civil court and one in the military, we can properly assist the little brother in your belly!"
Chu Ruoyan's ears burned hot, and her heart melted into a puddle.
How fortunate was she to have met such wonderful people as the Yan family uncle and nephew?
At the palace banquet.
Once the edicts of conferment were issued, Chu Huaishan was almost surrounded by officials coming to congratulate him.
Someone congratulated, "Duke of Chu, you truly have great fortune! To be able to adopt a daughter like Her Majesty the Empress and find a perfect son-in-law like the Emperor for her!"
Thinking back to when the Chu family married her off, although everyone praised their integrity, who could have imagined that a cripple would stand up again, and even stand at a height that everyone had to look up to?
Gu Sun felt a sour taste in his heart and was even more upset. Originally, he had his eye on the Empress to be his daughter-in-law and wanted to play matchmaker for her and his youngest son, Gu Bingzhi. In the end, she became the mother of the world, the Empress of the nation!
Whether they were sincere or hypocritical, Chu Huaishan responded to everyone with a smile.
Until someone asked, "Lord Chu, where is your mother, Old Madam Chu? On such an occasion today, why hasn't she come?"
Everyone then remembered that Chu Huaishan did indeed have a mother in poor health, and it seemed she wasn't mentioned in the imperial edicts either?
Chu Huaishan's face darkened, and Lady Jiang the Younger hurriedly said, "My lords may not know, but my husband's long-lost legitimate daughter, Princess Roumin, returned to the estate the day before yesterday. My mother-in-law was so overjoyed that it triggered her illness, so she couldn't attend..."
This was actually phrased very tactfully.
In fact, less than an hour after Roumin was brought back to the estate, Old Madam Chu had stormed in, cursing and demanding that they send the madwoman away.
Back then, she hated née Jiang to death, and her hatred extended to Chu Ruoyan, whom she mistreated for years. Who knew that Chu Ruoyan would live better and better, leaving her suffocating with anger. Then one day, her son suddenly told her that Chu Ruoyan was not his biological daughter, and Roumin was.
So that breath of anger was instantly smoothed over. It turned out she wasn't née Jiang's daughter, so it was understandable that she lived well.
Therefore, when she saw the crazy Roumin, Old Madam Chu was overjoyed. As a result, before she could even curse a couple of times, her heart seized, and she fainted dead away.
At this time, Yin Shun walked over with a smile. "What are the Duke of Chu and the lords chatting about, looking so happy?"
Everyone hurriedly said, "Greetings, Eunuch Yin!"
Speaking of which, this old eunuch Yin Shun really knew how to choose masters. When the late Emperor was alive, he was a favorite. In the new dynasty, he actually secured the position of Chief Eunuch again. What a truly good life!
Chu Huaishan stepped forward to greet him. "Eunuch Yin has come over, does His Majesty have a message to pass on?"
Yin Shun replied, "The Duke of Chu truly understands the Emperor's heart. His Majesty indeed has a message for this old slave to pass on to the Duke. He says that the Duke and Princess Roumin have been separated for many years, and recognizing her now is a joyous occasion. Therefore, in addition to the title of Princess, she is granted an extra fiefdom of five hundred households. Imperial Physician Zhang has also been ordered to treat her eye ailment. Please set your mind at ease, Duke."
Chu Huaishan trembled all over. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
With a fiefdom, even if he resigned from his official post, Roumin's life would be guaranteed.
Not to mention, if her eye ailment could be cured, that would be wonderful...
Yin Shun smiled, cupped his hands in a salute, and left. At the nearby female guests' tables, the noble ladies and mandate wives who heard these words couldn't help but turn red-eyed with jealousy.
On what grounds?
Just by adopting the Empress, the entire Duke of Chu's estate had risen to the heavens.
Even someone like Roumin, who could be said to have no connection at all, was elevated to a Princess with a fiefdom.
"The Emperor treats Her Majesty the Empress too well. Isn't he afraid of the Yun... on Her Majesty's body?"
Before she could finish speaking, her mouth was covered by a good sister. "Stop your nonsense! The Emperor loves and respects the Empress, this is a good thing!"
"Exactly. Her Majesty the Empress has gone through life and death with the Emperor several times. They are a couple forged in adversity, of course she deserves it!"
"I also heard that before Her Majesty ascended to the throne, tens of thousands of commoners petitioned for her. This is the will of the people!"
"Not to mention Her Majesty's appearance, it is simply worlds apart from ours..."
They chimed in one after another, praising her to the utmost, seemingly forgetting that when she first married him, they had mocked the dignified Duke's daughter for marrying a cripple.
Jiang Yi shook her head and walked over to a seat in the corner. "Sister Xie, are you alright?"
Xie Yaozhi looked up haggardly, saw her, and smiled bitterly. "Sister Jiang, it's you... Don't worry, I'm fine. Although the Xie family has been stripped of its noble title, my brother still serves as the Commander of the Five Wards' Military Defense. It shows that the Emperor has not forsaken us..."
Jiang Yi held her hand and sighed softly. "Alas, we have all heard about Sister Xue's matter. No one could have imagined that things would turn out this way."
At the mention of Xue Ling, the guilt on Xie Yaozhi's face deepened. "Say no more, Sister Jiang. It is all my fault. I knew early on that Grandmother held a grudge against my sister-in-law... against Sister Xue, but I failed to stop it. Instead, I was entirely focused on my marriage prospects. Look at us now. The Xie family has been stripped of its noble title, and Eldest Young Master Han has sent a letter breaking off our engagement. It is all retribution."
She had been looking into a match with Han Zhiyuan, the eldest son of Chief Administrator Han. Although he was a bit bookish and dull, she had liked him very much, even begging her father and brother to finalize the betrothal document regardless of her grandmother's wishes. Who knew that just days after her family was stripped of their title, his family would call off the marriage?
Jiang Yi did not know how to console her and could only say, "Sister Xie, please put your mind at ease. Was my brother not also reduced to a commoner by the late Emperor because he failed to divine the astrological signs of the rebels' downfall? But as soon as the current Emperor ascended the throne, he was summoned back to court. It just goes to show that when you think you have reached a dead end, there is always a way out—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden pain flared in her shoulder as someone forcefully shoved her out of the way.
"Sister Jiang!"
Xie Yaozhi cried out in alarm, watching her friend stumble backward.
In the nick of time, a rolled-up painting scroll reached out, catching her firmly by the lower back and saving her from a nasty fall.
"Ah!"
Jiang Yi steadied herself. Still shaken, she turned around and curtsied. "Thank you, General...?"
The person who had used the scroll to help her was a young military general clad in silver armor, impossibly handsome.
The young woman's cheeks flushed slightly, just as a domineering voice rang out from behind. "Hmph! What kind of lowly creature dares to block my path? Do you not know my surname is Yan, and I am related to the imperial family?!"
The young general curled his lips in a mocking smile. "Who doesn't know? Yan Chenghao, the eldest young master of the Yan family's third branch. Your infamous name has been the talk of the entire capital these past few days!"
Yan Chenghao flew into a rage. "Mei Hexuan! Do not think you are so great just because you have achieved a little military merit. Let me tell you, you are nothing but a dog working under my third cousin! You—"
His words died in his throat. He suddenly caught sight of Jiang Yi as she turned to the side. With her snow-white skin, crimson lips, and bright eyes veiled in a misty allure, she looked over with innocent curiosity—and instantly struck him straight to the heart!
Yan Chenghao immediately rushed forward. "Which family are you from, miss? What is your name?"