"Madam, someone is coming to the palace. I want you to enter the palace immediately." A servant came in and reported.
Mrs. Liu looked at the servant blankly and asked in surprise: "Someone is coming to the palace? Who is it?"
The servant leaned forward and said, "Madam, I am the Han guard from the Imperial Guards Department."
Mrs. Liu straightened her back and asked, "A person from the Imperial Guard's Office?"
The imperial guard office in Daliang is beside the emperor and is responsible for the emperor's safety.
The servant leaned forward and said, "Yes, madam!"
Seeing that Mrs. Liu was so shocked that she only asked questions, Mrs. Qian reminded her: "Qiao'an, go take a look quickly and bring some money with you.
After being reminded by Mrs. Qian, Mrs. Liu came to her senses, stood up quickly, and walked out and said, "Aunt, please sit down for a while, I'll be back soon."
A quarter of an hour later, Mrs. Liu came back with a smile on her face.
Mrs. Qian saw her expression and asked with a smile: "Is it a good thing?"
Mrs. Liu nodded repeatedly, "Good thing, good thing. I came to inform Brother Jie to report to the palace."
Mrs. Qian's eyes lit up and she asked excitedly: "If you ask Brother Jie to report to the palace, do you mean he will serve as a guard in front of the emperor?"
Mrs. Liu smiled and nodded, "Yes, that's what the person here said."
"What a joy, what a joy!" Mrs. Qian and Mrs. Jiang congratulated Mrs. Liu one after another.
"Madam, the imperial edict has arrived. The master asked Madam to change her clothes quickly and then go to the front yard to receive the edict." Before Mrs. Liu could sit down, the concierge hurried in to report.
"Why is there still an imperial edict?" Mrs. Liu said at a loss.
Old Mrs. Jiang reminded: "Qiao'an, don't ask so many questions. Hurry up and have someone help you change your clothes."
Mrs. Liu nodded repeatedly, "Yes, hurry up and change your clothes. Thank you aunt for reminding me. Aunt, please sit down for a moment while I go to change my clothes."
Mrs. Qian waved her hand, "Go quickly and don't worry about us."
Liu Qiaoan took two steps, stopped and asked, "Have you sent someone to notify Yu'er?"
The maid bent her knees and said, "Go back to Madam, someone has already gone to notify the young lady."
Mrs. Liu put on better clothes and led everyone to the front yard.
Xu Guanyu and Ning Wei knelt side by side behind Mrs. Qian. When the chamberlain finished announcing the imperial edict, Xu Guanyu asked softly: "Cousin, how big of an official is he walking in front of the emperor?"
Ning Wei whispered: "Fourth grade."
Xu Guanyu's eyes widened in shock, "Fourth grade?"
Ning Wei pulled off the hem of Xu Guanyu's clothes, raised her eyebrows, and whispered: "Shh! Pay attention to the etiquette!"
Xu Guanyu raised his hand to cover his mouth and said softly: "I'm sorry, I'm so excited. My father worked hard for decades before he was promoted to the fourth rank of Commander of the Military and Horse Division. Brother, it's only been a few years.
He is in the fourth rank. There is no comparison between people. My brother’s luck is simply too good.”
Ning Wei nodded with a smile and said: "The saint is wise, my cousin is both civilized and martial, and he has a promising future."
The news that Xu Guanjie had received the imperial edict and was promoted to the imperial court quickly spread throughout the capital. Soon, people came to the Xu Mansion to express their congratulations.
On this day, Baoping Lane was very lively.
Mrs. Qian and others finished lunch, sat down for a while, and then stood up to leave.
Mrs. Liu sent Mrs. Qian and others to the second door and said apologetically: "Aunt, there are too many guests at home today. Please forgive me if I did not entertain you well."
Mrs. Qian said with a smile: "We family members don't need to say these polite words. You go greet the guests quickly, and we will talk another day."
Xu Guanyu was reluctant to let Ning Wei leave, so she took Ning Wei's hand and said, "Cousin, I will come to Mingyuan to find you another day. Okay?"
Ning Wei smiled and responded: "Okay!"
"Yu'er, come here quickly, everyone is waiting for you." Ye Zhanyu shouted impatiently from the side.
Xu Guanyu looked back and responded, "Come right here!"
Ning Wei said: "Go quickly, let's meet up another day."
When Ning Wei returned to Mingyuan, Hu Rui brought four girls aged 17 or 18 to see her.
Everyone bent their knees and said, "Hello, Miss!"
Ning Wei was stunned for a moment, and then she remembered what Shi Jingyang said about picking people.
After Ning Wei looked at her for a moment, she said, "Hello, what are your names?"
The first one on the right stepped forward and replied: "Miss, I am your servant Ruoqing."
The second one followed, "I'm a slave like jade."
"Only slaves."
"Slave Kehan."
Ning Wei repeated, "If it's clear, if it's jade, it can be done, it can be covered."
The four people bent their knees again and said in unison: "Yes."
Ning Wei nodded and said to Hu Rui: "Sang Ye, take them down to settle down. Then take them to meet other people in the house and get familiar with the situation in the house."
Mulberry bowed her knees and said to the four of them, "Follow me."
After the four people left, Zaohua asked: "Miss, didn't we just add another person? Why did we buy another person?"
Ning Wei said casually: "We're going to open a store next. You guys have a lot to do, and I don't have enough manpower around me."
When Zaohua heard that she was going to open a dim sum shop, she stopped worrying about getting in. She looked at Ning Wei with bright eyes, "Miss, do you really want to open a dim sum shop?"
Ning Wei nodded, "Yes, open!"
Ever since Ning Wei said she wanted to open a dim sum shop last time, Zaohua has been looking forward to it.
Ning Wei didn't mention the dim sum shop these days, and Zaohua thought Ning Wei wouldn't open it.
Ning Wei said: "Go and notify Zhang Qin and ask him to come to the outer study to see me."
Zaohua bent her knees and turned around to go out.
Ning Wei turned around and went to the small study to take the documents listed last night and went to the outer study.
Soon, Zhang Qin followed Zaohua to the outer study. After entering the room, he greeted Ning Wei and asked, "Miss, are you looking for something wrong with me?"
Ning Wei nodded, pointed to the chair opposite the desk and said, "Please sit down."
Zhang Qin thanked him and sat down, waiting for Ning Wei's next words.
Ning Wei said: "I plan to open a pastry shop. This is what I have listed, the required items and the location of the shop.
Please help me find out how much money I would need to open a shop in these places.
Please give me some reference as to where the shop is more cost-effective."
After hearing this, Zhang Zhu asked Ning Wei a few questions, and then said: "I understand, I will give the document to the lady tomorrow."
Ning Wei nodded, "Thank you!"
After Zhang Qin left, Ning Wei called: "Here comes someone."
Zaohua came in, bent her knees and asked, "Miss, what's the matter?"
Ning Wei handed the list in his hand to Zaohua, "Give this to Chang Le and ask him to buy back the things on it."
Zaohua bent her knees and turned around to go out.
At Chengguo Palace, after Wu Mingyi learned that Shi Jingyang was going to the Ning family to propose marriage, he locked himself in the house and saw no one.
Mrs. Cui looked at Aunt Qiao who entered the room and asked, "How is it? Has Sister Yi eaten?"
Aunt Qiao shook her head, "Back to Madam, no. The maids said that after the eldest lady learned about the young cousin's marriage proposal yesterday, she locked herself in the room and refused to open the door if anyone called her."
"No one can open the door? This girl won't do stupid things, right?" Mrs. Cui asked worriedly.
