After a moment's hesitation, Emperor Yongning finished writing the imperial edict. After the eunuch respectfully received it, he turned to Wang Xian and said, "Minister Wang, please return and carefully review the matter of the fertilizer. I need to examine it closely." As Wang Xian acknowledged the order and withdrew, Emperor Yongning added, "Remember to also present the design of that specially made toilet."

After Wang Xian left, Emperor Yongning was in a good mood. Even when he tested the Crown Prince's studies, the young prince stumbled over a few questions, but Emperor Yongning just smiled and gave him some pointers, showing none of his usual strictness.

As they were talking, a young eunuch bowed and entered to report, "Your Majesty, Princess Danyang requests an audience."

Emperor Yongning's face immediately broke into a loving smile: "Danyang has arrived? Quickly, summon her in."

Before long, the clear sound of jade pendants came from outside the hall. Princess Danyang, dressed in a gorgeous dress and wearing a gold hairpin, walked in and glanced at Shen Qinghe as she passed by.

Upon reaching the Emperor's presence, Princess Danyang gracefully bowed, smiling sweetly, and said, "Danyang greets Uncle."

Emperor Yongning smiled and raised his hand: "Get up quickly, speak, what brings you to your uncle?"

Princess Danyang stepped forward gracefully, saying with a touch of coquettishness, "Uncle, there's a lantern festival in the capital tomorrow night, and I'd like to go see it."

Emperor Yongning raised an eyebrow. This little girl has the Empress Dowager's token and can leave the palace whenever she wants. Why would she need to ask for permission?

Seeing Emperor Yongning's expression, Princess Danyang took two steps closer and said coquettishly, "But there will be many people and suspicious eyes at the lantern festival. What if I run into bad people if I go by myself?"

Emperor Yongning couldn't help but chuckle. A princess traveling with countless guards and attendants, openly and secretly, what danger could she possibly face? He gave Shen Qinghe, who stood to the side, a meaningful look, then glanced at his niece's expectant eyes. He understood immediately, stroking his beard and smiling, "I think you're not afraid of encountering bad people, but rather afraid of being alone to see the lanterns, aren't you?"

If Shen Qinghe were perceptive, he should have volunteered at this moment. However, Emperor Yongning glanced at him and saw that Shen Qinghe had been standing with his head down and motionless ever since Danyang entered the room. A look of understanding flashed in the emperor's eyes, and his gaze toward Danyang carried a hint of disapproval.

Seeing this, Princess Danyang bit her lower lip and stepped forward to tug at Emperor Yongning's sleeve: "Uncle, I've already told Mother that we'll return to the palace on New Year's Eve to celebrate the New Year together."

Emperor Yongning's expression changed slightly. Ever since the death of the Duke of Wei, his elder sister had believed that the couple had committed too many sins. From then on, she devoted herself to Buddhism and traveled around to worship Buddha for many years. Even the Empress Dowager rarely saw her. Now, upon hearing that his elder sister was going back to the palace for the New Year, Emperor Yongning's heart softened. Looking at Danyang's expectant eyes, he finally sighed softly.

"Hua Zhang," Emperor Yongning said.

Shen Qinghe clasped his hands together, bowed, and said, "Your subject is here."

"Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival in the capital, and with so many people and eyes, I am truly worried about Princess Danyang going alone." Emperor Yongning's tone left no room for argument. "How about this, you accompany her tomorrow, and after the Lantern Festival, escort the princess back to the palace."

Shen Qinghe stiffened slightly, his fingers unconsciously tightening beneath his wide sleeves, but he could not disobey the emperor's command, and finally bowed his head and replied, "Your subject... obeys the decree."

***

Meng Zhao had just come out of Mingxianglou and was thinking of going to check out the workshops in the suburbs of the capital. If he was quick, he could return before dark. However, just as he reached the carriage, he saw Meng Dashan galloping towards him on horseback.

"Zhaozhao! Hurry home!" Meng Dashan shouted urgently before he could even rein in his horse, his face full of excitement. "A messenger just came from home saying that Eunuch Li, who serves the Emperor, is about to deliver an imperial edict, and you must return immediately to prepare to receive it!"

What! ! ! !

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhao's eyes widened immediately, and she stood there stunned. When she came to her senses, she didn't have time to ask any more questions. She hurriedly got into the carriage and drove back as fast as she could.

On the way, Meng Zhao kept thinking about how she, the daughter of a merchant, could have alarmed the emperor and received an imperial decree. Moreover, during her time in the capital, she had been busy with business and had not done anything else. If there was any connection with the royal family, it was probably that she had saved Princess Danyang from the water more than two months ago. But if she was to be rewarded for this, why wait until now?

After much thought, Meng Zhao still couldn't figure it out, so he could only hurry back home. As soon as he arrived at his doorstep, he saw that the Meng family's gate was wide open and Xiao Chuan was wiping the pillars with a rag.

"Xiao Chuan!" Meng Zhao called out urgently, "Quickly go to the Shen family and see if Shen Qinghe is home!"

Xiao Chuan quickly shook his head, "I've already been there. Lord Shen went to the palace today, and Madam Gu is in the courtyard right now."

It turned out that Xu Yunrong was also in a panic when she heard the letter. The first person she thought of was Shen Qinghe, but she couldn't find him. So she had to call Gu Shi over, thinking that since she had an official son, she should have seen more of the world.

As a result, Madam Gu was completely clueless about the etiquette of receiving the imperial decree. Fortunately, there was a nanny named Sun in the family who knew some of the rules. She quickly had everyone change into more presentable clothes and then taught them the etiquette for receiving the imperial decree.

Meng Zhao originally wanted to change her clothes, but she didn't know when the imperial envoy would arrive, so she didn't change. She just took two hairpins, put them on her head, and hurried to the entrance of the courtyard to wait.

The cold wind of the twelfth lunar month was biting, but no one dared to move. The whole family stood in the courtyard. Fortunately, not long after, the sound of horses' hooves finally came from afar and stopped at the gate of the Meng residence.

Meng Zhao hurriedly led his entire family out of the mansion to greet them. A magnificent official sedan chair landed smoothly, and a middle-aged eunuch in splendid attire, with a fair complexion and no beard, stepped out slowly, holding a bright yellow imperial edict. He asked in a clear voice, "Where is Madam Meng?"

Meng Zhao quickly stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "This humble woman, Meng Zhao, greets Your Excellency."

Eunuch Li had already heard Shen Qinghe and Wang Xian's report in the palace. He had originally thought that someone who could develop fertilizer, a product that would benefit the country and its people, must be a middle-aged woman who had experienced many hardships. However, upon seeing the young woman before him, he couldn't help but show surprise. He then smiled and said, "In that case, accept the decree."

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