The next day, the emperor issued a decree to grant marriage to General Lian and Commander Zhou.
Generally speaking, the decree granting marriage came from the middle palace. The emperor personally issued the decree granting marriage, and the people granting marriage were all generals of Da Qi. This is also an interesting thing since the founding of Da Qi Dynasty.
Lian Shuyuan led the Shu soldiers to defeat the Royal Forest Army, which has become the latest and hottest gossip in the capital. With the addition of such a happy event, it is even more popular.
The two of them are not young anymore, and the Lian family and the Zhou family want them to get married as soon as possible. The wedding is scheduled for February 12th next year.
Lian Shuyuan was not a prostitute and had no intention of sewing her own clothes and shoes. She was short of time and it was not easy to prepare a decent dowry.
Fortunately, both the emperor and the empress had generous gifts. The gold, silver, jade, silk, and satin gifts from the palace were enough to make up twenty-four dowries. Adding the betrothal gifts sent by the Zhou family, it was possible to make up forty-eight dowries.
The Lian and Zhou families were busy and happy, so there is no need to go into details.
The first year of Jianye passed quickly and a new year came.
On the first day of the new year, the noble lady was ordered to come to the palace to see her.
According to the practice in previous years, all the noble ladies went to Jiaofang Hall to have an audience. In the past, on New Year's Day, Empress Xiao would also go to Jiaofang Hall to have an audience with Empress Dowager Yu, and she would sit below the Empress Dowager Yu.
This year’s New Year’s Day should be the same as in previous years...
All the ladies got up before dawn to change their clothes and make up, and at five o'clock they went to wait outside Donghua Gate.
The sky was dark and the wind was biting. The noble ladies were wrapped in thick mink fur cloaks and sat in the carriage with a burning charcoal basin, looking around from time to time.
When the sky lit up slightly, the palace door finally opened.
The ladies got off the carriage and continued to wait outside the palace gate.
The person who appeared in front of everyone was neither Zhi Lan nor Yu Qiao, whom everyone was familiar with. It was Xiang Hui, the female official next to Queen Xie.
Xianghui was dignified, beautiful, and generous. She bowed to all the ministers and said with a smile: "The Queen has ordered her servants to come to greet her. Please come with your ladies to Cining Palace to have an audience."
Public orders: "..."
This incident was beyond everyone's expectation.
Not going to Jiaofang Palace, nor Fulin Palace, but actually Cining Palace!
After thinking about it deeply, I realized that there were already signs of this happening.
Empress Dowager Li's illness gradually improved, thanks to the Queen's contribution to the illness. Empress Dowager Li was very satisfied with her grandson-in-law and loved her in every possible way, to the point where she couldn't live without her. No matter how much power Empress Dowager Yu took over, she would have to go there every day.
Greetings from Cining Palace.
The situation in the palace also became complicated and subtle.
With Empress Dowager Li, the most respected and longest-standing person, standing on her head, Empress Dowager Yu's arrogance was immediately suppressed by three points. The relationship between the late Emperor Xiao and the current Empress Xie was extremely close, and there was a clear tendency to join forces. Empress Dowager Yu was there
The young Empress Xie did not have the upper hand.
The situation in the palace can never be hidden from anyone who cares.
Among these ladies who are qualified to visit the palace on New Year's Day, who are not well-informed people? They had stretched their necks and ears to pay attention to the goings-on in the palace, but now they heard Xianghui's words and started to speculate even more.
Unfortunately, it is not appropriate to whisper at this time. The familiar ladies exchanged knowing glances with each other, then raised their smiles, walked slowly, and entered the Donghua Gate. Following Xianghui, they walked towards Ci
Ning Palace.
When they arrived at Cining Palace, all the ladies were led to the side hall to wait.
At this moment, acquaintances naturally gathered together to chat in low voices.
…
This was the first time that Mrs. Xu went to the palace to meet her as the royal wife. She was excited and happy. She slept for less than two hours the night before. At this time, she was still in high spirits and was quite interested in talking.
The new emperor ascended the throne, Xie Mingxi was promoted to the queen of the middle palace, and the Xie family became a new noble in the capital. The Xu family made a big fuss in the Jiaofang Palace, but nothing happened, and was immediately sealed with a second-grade imperial edict...
Even though Mrs. Xu's words were vulgar, there were still many ladies who gathered around to greet her and show her goodwill.
Among them, Mrs. Lin, Mrs. Qin, and Mrs. Yan were the most enthusiastic.
My daughter was a classmate and close friend of Empress Xie. She and her husband went to Shu when the King of Shu had not yet made his fortune. They stayed in Shu for a short period of time, and there would be a day when they would be recalled to Beijing.
It is proper for them to associate with the Xie family members.
"I heard that in previous years, I would go to Jiaofang Hall to pay my respects."
Mrs. Xu thought she was keeping her voice low, but in fact, among the soft-spoken ladies, her slightly excited voice sounded like a bell: "Why did it change to Cining Palace this year?"
All the ladies quietly listened with their long ears... No, they listened openly and openly.
Mrs. Xu, who was born in a rural area, did not understand the art of euphemistic hints. She spoke directly and directly, which made people laugh. People in Cining Palace actually started discussing this matter.
Don’t be afraid of getting into trouble with your words!
Mrs. Lin, who was over forty years old, smiled slightly and responded softly: "The Empress Dowager has been lying in bed to recuperate. Now that her illness has improved, it is really a matter of joy and joy. It is also reasonable for us to go to Cining Palace to see you.
As it should be."
Mrs. Xu grinned: "Isn't that right? My old lady doesn't know a single Chinese character, but she does know some truths. The Empress Dowager is the highest in the palace and has the most honorable position. She should be ranked in front of the Empress Dowager. Come to Cining Palace
It’s also appropriate to have an audience.”
Mrs. Lin smiled and said nothing.
Her words were rough but not her reasoning. Although Mrs. Xu was born in the city and spoke rudely, her words were sharp.
As soon as these words were said, those imperial wives with long ears would have to weigh things up. Their hearts would have to lean towards Empress Xie again.
The so-called human heart is gathered bit by bit like this.
…
Half an hour later, a palace maid came to summon her.
There are also many things to pay attention to when entering the palace for an audience, and all of them are based on rank and order.
However, there are a few imperial edicts for the first grade, a dozen for the second grade, and even more for the third grade, with a total of more than twenty people. Imperial edicts of the same grade are also assigned a priority. At this time, who comes first and who comes last will matter.
It can be seen who is more favored by the Queen Mother.
Several first-grade ladies were summoned to the back of the palace. Among the second-grade ladies, Xu was the first in line.
Mrs. Xu straightened her chest, walked out of the side hall and entered the main hall amidst the envious eyes of everyone.
Empress Dowager Li, who had not been seen in public for a long time, was dressed in new clothes today. Her white hair was combed particularly neatly. She had an old face full of wrinkles and looked surprisingly good.
Empress Dowager Yu is sitting on the lower left side of Empress Dowager Li, followed closely by Concubine Mei and Concubine Duan. Concubine Xian, Concubine Jing, and Concubine Jing have both been seriously ill since their sons were given poisonous wine and did not show up today.
Xie Mingxi sat on the lower right side. Xiao Yuhan sat next to Xie Mingxi.
Several first-grade imperial ministers were all given seats.
Just as Mrs. Xu was about to kneel down and bow down, Empress Dowager Li squeezed out four words: "No need for a big ceremony."
During this period, Empress Dowager Li's condition gradually improved, and she could now speak four or five words.
