The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 1104 - 1078: Honor Amidst Chaos 146

Shi Liu, Lu Zhen’s head maid, saw Lu Zhen return and quickly helped her remove her outer coat, taking down the jewelry from her head to make her more comfortable.

"Miss, did the Empress really take a liking to Miss Lu?"

Shi Liu softly asked Lu Zhen.

Lu Zhen nodded: "It seems like it. The Empress asked me and my sister to come forward for a chat, and she even rewarded us with hairpins."

Lu Zhen carefully placed the hairpin given by Anning into her dressing box.

Shi Liu glanced at it and exclaimed: "Miss, this is the Nine Phoenix Hairpin."

Lu Zhen hadn’t actually looked closely at the hairpin Anning had given her; she thought it was similar to Lu Shan’s, probably a golden phoenix hairpin, but she hadn’t expected the Empress to give her the Nine Phoenix Hairpin.

The phoenix hairpin is not something casually given; generally speaking, the Emperor represents the dragon and the Empress the phoenix. Within the royal family, aside from the Empress, princesses and princess consorts may also use the phoenix, but the specifications vary.

Lu Zhen had heard that the current Empress rarely wears valuable hairpins unless it’s an important occasion, in which case she would wear a Nine Dragons and Four Phoenix Crown adorned with twelve flower hairpins.

She also knew that Princess Duan and Princess Consort Yi usually wore crowns with eight phoenixes plus eight flower hairpins.

The Nine Phoenix Hairpin given by the Empress is even of a higher standard than that of a princess consort.

Though inferior to the Empress, it stands between a princess consort and the Empress. What does this signify?

Lu Zhen couldn’t even dare to think.

Shi Liu had once stayed with Lu Zhen by the Yellow River, so her knowledge was broader than the average maid in the inner house.

She had also thought of this issue.

Shi Liu whispered: "Miss, could it be that the Empress fancies you?"

Lu Zhen shook her head: "Don’t think nonsensical thoughts; why would someone like me catch the Empress’s eye?"

It’s not that Lu Zhen lacked confidence, but she fell short compared to the boudoir beauties of the Capital, who emphasized being fair and slender, with exceptionally delicate skin, and who moved with an elegant ease like a breeze.

But compared to other boudoir beauties, Lu Zhen was darker, and she was plump and voluptuous. Overall, to others, Lu Zhen did not seem beautiful; on the contrary, she was somewhat ugly.

She couldn’t believe that the Empress would choose her among so many beauties.

Lu Shan returned to her room and took out the hairpin Anning had given her, placing it on the table for a closer look, and her personal maid glanced over.

"Miss, this is the Eight Phoenix Hairpin."

Phoenix, also known as the pheasant, is commonly embroidered on first and second rank imperial decree clothing, and Lu Shan received the Eight Phoenix Hairpin, which implies Anning’s blessing for her to become an Imperial Decree Lady.

And eight phoenixes, on Princess Duan’s crown, symbolize her potential to become a princess consort, even though she is neither married nor currently eligible.

The more Lu Shan thought about it, the happier she became: "The Empress’s intention is clear; surely she favors me as a princess consort."

Her personal maid lamented: "It’s a pity it’s not a Crown Princess Consort."

Lu Shan thought herself fortunate: "Who knows, if the Crown Prince isn’t married yet, how could a Commandery Prince possibly wed, maybe I will become the Crown Princess Consort."

The maids in Lu Shan’s room couldn’t hide their joy and became even more arrogant.

But Lu Zhen was cautioning Shi Liu: "You must not speak of my getting the Nine Phoenix Hairpin, and once you leave this room, forget about it. Be more accommodating when meeting those from Miss Lu’s room; these days, we have to endure some grievances."

Shi Liu understood Lu Zhen’s meaning.

With Lu Shan’s temperament, if she found out Lu Zhen received the Nine Phoenix Hairpin, she might act out of jealousy, doing harm to Lu Zhen.

Now Lu Wang was not in the Capital, and the Old Madam and Mrs. Lu were partial to Lu Shan, so if Lu Shan wanted to harm Lu Zhen, there was truly no one to protect her. If anything went wrong, both Lu Zhen and Shi Liu could end up losing their lives.

"Miss, I understand."

Shi Liu quickly assured her: "Enduring grievances is nothing, as long as Miss achieves happiness in the future, the Crown Prince..."

Lu Zhen quickly interrupted Shi Liu: "How dare we even talk about the Crown Prince, you must not mention the Empress or the Crown Prince, nor any matters in the palace in the future."

Shi Liu solemnly nodded.

Zhaoyang and the four of them came to Fengqi Palace to pay respects to Anning.

Fengyang swallowed a few fruits to dampen her mouth, then approached Anning with a smile and asked, "Mother, does your gifting of the Nine Phoenix Hairpin to Miss Lu mean she will be my sister-in-law in the future?"

Anning flicked Fengyang’s forehead lightly: "Not necessarily."

Huh?

Even Zhaoyang was surprised: "Mother, you’ve given her the Nine Phoenix Hairpin, why say it’s not certain?"

Anning just smiled: "Becoming a Crown Princess Consort is not so easily done; if her personality is inadequate, how can she become the future Queen of a nation? The Nine Phoenix Hairpin is both an acknowledgment and a test for her."

With Anning speaking to this extent, the four princesses, who were clever, instantly understood why.

Typically, a girl receiving the Nine Phoenix Hairpin would think the Empress acknowledges her, and the Nine Phoenix Hairpin signifies the Empress has chosen her to be the Crown Princess Consort. Those with insufficient temperament would undoubtedly become overjoyed and presumptuous in their actions.

If it were the daughter of another family, it would be fine for her to be presumptuous; her whole family would rejoice with her.

But Lu’s family is different.

Miss Lu wasn’t favored; above her was an immensely loved and even biased eldest daughter favored even by her birth mother.

The eldest daughter excelled in every way compared to the second, so if the second became presumptuous, it would not only upset the eldest daughter but even the Old Madam and Mrs. Lu wouldn’t tolerate her. She might even face danger, potentially losing her life or integrity.

"What if Miss Lu is insufficiently tempered and gets harmed, what then?"

Fengyang was a bit worried, as even though it was a test, it’s not good for someone to lose their life.

Anning smiled and reassured Fengyang: "Don’t worry, I’ve arranged for someone to protect her secretly, ensuring she won’t be in any danger."

Fengyang then breathed a sigh of relief: "That’s good."

Several days passed, and every day, the undercover agent in Lu’s house would report news to Anning: what Miss Lu did, how Miss Lu behaved, how Miss Lu was discreet, how the maids in the eldest daughter’s room were presumptuous and provocative, and how Miss Lu endured without showing any indication she was favored by the palace.

Anning, after reviewing several days’ worth of news about Lu Zhen, finally made her decision.

The candidate for Crown Princess Consort was chosen, and naturally, Xiao Yuan was to summon Ministry of Rites officials to discuss the matter.

He also summoned the newly appointed attendant of the Imperial Study, Qian Tingde, to draft the decree.

The Jing Dynasty had just been established and many ceremonies didn’t follow the previous dynasty but were newly established. The Crown Prince marrying a consort was also a first for the Dajing Dynasty, with no old precedence to follow, so these ceremonial regulations had to be discussed by the Ministry of Rites officials.

They had to arrange how to deliver the decree to the Lu family, how to deliver the betrothal gifts, how to perform the Six Rituals, all of which had to be arranged by Ministry of Rites officials. They would present the plan to Anning, and once Anning found it feasible, only then would they proceed.

The Ministry of Rites officials discussed for several days before submitting a plan to the palace. Anning reviewed it and found it satisfactory, and so it was settled.

To demonstrate solemnity, Prime Minister Lin Lianshuang, accompanied by the Ministry of Rites officials, went to the Lu family to present the decree.

The day they arrived at the Lu family, the Lu housekeeper, both frantic and delighted, sent word out.

Soon, the inner house of the Lu family was a flurry of activity.

Several maids yelled, "Old Madam, Madam, great news, Prime Minister Lin has come with Ministry of Rites officials to deliver the decree."

Old Madam and Mrs. Liu, upon hearing this, were overjoyed and hurriedly ordered the incense table to be set up to prepare for the decree.

Furthermore, they summoned Lu Shan and Lu Zhen to the front hall.

Lu family’s main door was wide open, and Lin Lianshuang, accompanied by officials and attendants, entered. An incense table was already set up in the central hall.

The Ministry of Rites official began announcing the decree.

Old Madam and Mrs. Liu knelt at the front, while Lu Shan and Lu Zhen knelt behind them.

Lu Zhen had a calm expression, while Lu Shan’s face was flushed with delight, her face especially red with excitement.

Upon finishing the decree, Old Madam and Mrs. Liu were stunned, and Lu Shan wore an expression of disbelief.

Old Madam cautiously asked: "Sir, did you make a mistake, did the Empress select my second daughter and not the eldest?"

The Ministry of Rites official sneered: "The decree bears the handwritten edict, how could it be wrong? The selection of the Crown Princess Consort is of significant importance, if a mistake occurred, do you think I would keep my head?"

Suddenly Lu Shan leapt up: "Impossible, it was clearly supposed to be me. How could it be Lu Zhen? You must have made a mistake – it must be me, I am the Crown Princess Consort, I am the Crown Princess Consort."

Mrs. Liu quickly went to pull Lu Shan back, but Lu Shan violently pushed her away: "It’s all your fault, pretending to be sweet on the outside but scheming for your own daughter behind my back."

She then lunged, trying to tear at Lu Zhen: "You wretch, wretch, I am the Crown Princess Consort, give me back my Crown Princess Consort!"

Seeing the situation getting out of hand, Lin Lianshuang couldn’t refrain from frowning and, when Lu Shan was about to strike Lu Zhen, quickly stepped forward, yanking Lu Shan ahead, landing several slaps on her face.