The eunuch carrying the imperial edict looked up at the door plaque.
Above the vermilion-lacquered gate hung a black wood plaque with four gilded characters: Estate of the Earl of Dongping.
This was indeed the Earl of Dongping’s residence.
The eunuch gave an odd look at the gatekeeper struggling to his feet, then at the fierce-looking maid. He began to have doubts.
He had never heard of a household where maids threw out gatekeepers when leaving.
“This is the Earl of Dongping’s estate, right?” Better safe than sorry, especially when delivering such an important edict. The eunuch decided to confirm.
The eunuch’s characteristic high-pitched voice quickly made the gatekeeper realize this was no ordinary visitor. Forgetting his grievance with Aman, he hurriedly said, “Indeed it is. May I ask what brings such esteemed guests—”
The eunuch impatiently cut off the gatekeeper’s rambling: “We’ve come from the palace to deliver an imperial edict.”
Startled, the gatekeeper quickly ushered in the group of eunuchs before rushing inside to report the news.
Aman hesitated for a moment.
With visitors from the palace, should she hurry to inform her mistress or go buy meat buns first?
After a brief internal struggle, the little maid lifted her skirts and ran swiftly towards the entrance of the alley.
Informing her mistress after buying meat buns would be just the same. She couldn’t let her mistress go hungry.
In the Cixin Hall, servants moved about quietly, careful not to make any loud noises.
The Old Madam hadn’t slept well last night and was still resting.
A maid came running in.
Afu glared at her fiercely, scolding in a low voice: “Keep it down!”
“Quickly, wake the Old Madam! Visitors, visitors from the palace—” the maid panted, completely disregarding the need to lower her voice.
Afu was shocked and immediately went behind the screen to relay the message.
“Old Madam, please wake up. Visitors from the palace have arrived—”
Old Madam Feng sat up abruptly, flinging open the bed curtains: “What did you say?”
Seeing that Old Madam Feng was awake, Afu lowered her voice: “The gatekeeper just sent word that several eunuchs have come to deliver an imperial edict.”
Old Madam Feng immediately panicked. After hastily getting ready, she hurried to the front reception hall.
Along the way, Old Madam Feng’s heart was in turmoil.
Why would the palace suddenly send people to deliver an edict?
Of course, Fourth Miss had just attended the plum blossom banquet at the palace yesterday. This edict must be related to that.
Fourth Miss had caused such a scandal at the banquet, surely the Emperor would be displeased upon learning of it. This must be a punishment for the Earl’s estate.
The Emperor was certainly capable of doing such a thing. Not long ago, when the Zhu family fell from grace, even the Duke of Anguo was inexplicably implicated.
It’s all because of that ill-fated Fourth Miss!
Old Madam Feng’s legs weakened, and she stumbled.
“Old Madam, please be careful.” A hand reached out to steady her.
Old Madam Feng regained her composure and saw it was Third Master Jiang and his wife. She frowned and asked, “You’ve received the news as well?”
Third Madam Guo replied, “Second Sister-in-law sent someone to inform us at Jinglanyuan.”
The three hurried to the reception hall, where they found Second Madam Xiao already inside, accompanying a pale, beardless man.
Hearing the commotion, the eunuch looked over.
“We apologize for keeping you waiting, Sir.”
Thinking that this old woman before him would be the future Prince Yan’s grandmother, the eunuch’s expression softened as he asked, “This humble one has come by the imperial command to deliver an edict. Is Fourth Miss Jiang present?”
So it was indeed about Fourth Miss!
Old Madam Feng flustered from her late rising and hurried preparations, stiffened her face and nodded: “She is.”
“Then please summon Fourth Miss, and have all the family members come out to receive the edict.”
Soon, the courtyard was filled with a crowd of people.
The eunuch’s gaze slowly swept across everyone’s faces as he took out the imperial edict and unrolled it.
At the sight of that imperial yellow, everyone immediately knelt. In the ensuing silence, the eunuch’s sonorous voice rang out as he read:
“By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: It has come to Our attention that the daughter of the Earl of Dongping is gentle, virtuous, and of exceptional beauty and character. We are most pleased to hear this. As Our seventh son has come of age for marriage, We shall choose a worthy bride for him… Therefore, We hereby betroth you to Our seventh son as his Princess Consort, to be wed on an auspicious date. So be it.”
After the edict was read, the courtyard fell into a silence so profound it was unnerving.
The eunuch’s lip twitched slightly.
He had felt this family was odd from the moment he entered the Earl of Dongping’s gate. It seems his intuition wasn’t wrong.
“Fourth Miss Jiang, please accept the edict.”
Jiang Si bowed respectfully and accepted the edict: “This humble subject receives the imperial decree.”
“Ahem, now that the edict has been delivered, this humble one offers congratulations to your esteemed family,” the eunuch cupped his hands, his eyes shifting slightly.