Chapter 198 Entering the Palace to Attend a Banquet

Furong returned shortly after leaving: "Princess, the Princess's residence has sent someone to deliver congratulatory gifts."

Liu Ye was very puzzled after hearing this. What kind of congratulatory gift would the princess's mansion send her? "A congratulatory gift? What are you congratulating me on? Didn't you ask me anything?"

Furong smiled and said, "Of course I asked. The steward of the princess's residence said that it was to congratulate the princess on being named the Peerless Princess. The Empress Dowager had the plaque of the residence changed. From today onwards, the Peerless Princess is the real Peerless Princess. What was said in the palace before does not count. Only now does it count."

Liu Ye understood immediately: "Then accept it. By the way, shouldn't I give the princess a return gift?"

Furong nodded and said, "There's no need for a return gift, but the princess should host a banquet to entertain the families who gave us the gifts."

Liu Ye nodded, her head throbbing: "Alright, put the rewards from the palace and the gifts from the princess in the storeroom next door. You can keep the key."

She didn't plan to put these obvious items into her spatial storage; she'd just leave them outside as return gifts.

At this moment, a palace maid whispered at the door, "Your Highness, the stewards of the Li, Zhang, Zhao, Qian, and Sun families have all sent congratulatory gifts."

For three consecutive days, people came to the Princess's mansion with gifts in an endless stream. They were all high-ranking officials, princes, dukes, and nobles of the court. Merchants also came to give gifts to Liu Ye, but she refused them all.

She accepted the gifts from those ministers out of necessity, and only this once. She refused to accept gifts from anyone else. Lord Wei, who was Wei Ziwei's father, also sent her a congratulatory gift, and Wei Ziwei gave her a separate gift as well. This time, she accepted it. If she hadn't accepted it, it would have been a slap in Wei Ziwei's face.

Liu Ye arrived at the storeroom, which, despite its small size, was already piled high with gifts. The gifts were of all kinds, including a huge red coral. Such items were not cheap even in modern times, and would have been even more expensive in ancient times. She wondered who was so generous: "Who sent this red coral?"

Furong handed the ledger to Liuye: "This servant has written it all down. Coral was sent from the Princess's residence."

Liu Ye took the ledger, glanced at it, and then handed it to Furong: "Princess Ruyi is quite generous."

Furong touched her nose and said, "Princess, don't think you've gotten a great deal. If the princess has something to do, we also have to send gifts, and the gifts we send can't be worse than the ones she sends. We'll just go back once, but if she has something to do, the princess has to be there in person and with gifts."

Liu Ye thought to herself, "That's right. Whatever amount she receives now, she'll have to give away double in the future." Just then, a maid ran in from outside: "Your Highness, an imperial edict has arrived from the palace. You should go and receive it quickly."

When Liu Ye and Fu Rong came out of the storeroom, they saw a group of eunuchs standing in the courtyard. The one holding the imperial edict was none other than Bai Zilin. Bai Zilin looked at Liu Ye with a serious expression and said, "Princess Wushuang, receive the imperial edict."

Liu Ye, along with everyone in the princess's mansion, quickly knelt down to receive the imperial decree: "Princess Wushuang, please accept the decree."

Bai Zilin opened the imperial edict. In fact, he didn't recognize the characters at all. All he knew was what it said: "Hmm..." Never mind, he handed the edict to Liu Ye: "His Majesty has bestowed the Su family mansion next door upon you. Princess, please accept the decree and express your gratitude."

Liu Ye accepted the imperial edict in a daze. She really didn't want it: "Long live the Emperor!" She stood up from the ground and looked at the Su family next door with disdain: "The Emperor is really thoughtful. Brother Bai, are you leaving now?"

Bai Zilin nodded helplessly: "There's a banquet in the palace tomorrow, and I have a lot to do. Oh, and you have to go tomorrow too. The banquet tomorrow is the Emperor's feast for officials and foreign envoys. It will be very lively. I'll send a palace carriage to pick you up tomorrow. The banquet will be held in the evening, and I'll send someone to pick you up in the afternoon."

Liu Ye looked at Bai Zilin with reluctance. He had just returned and was leaving again. They hadn't even kissed, hugged, or lifted each other up high yet. "Okay, I understand." He really wanted to talk to Bai Zilin alone. They hadn't seen each other for a month.

After Bai Zilin left with the palace staff, Liu Ye led her people to the Su family residence. Looking at the chaotic state of the Su family home, she was utterly exasperated. It wasn't like she didn't have a place to live; why did the Emperor bestow the Su family mansion upon her? He could have simply given her some gold, silver, jewelry, shops, or estates.

Just then, a gust of wind blew by, making her hair stand on end. Why did this wind feel so eerie? "Furong, take them and dig up the garden for me first. Don't be surprised no matter what you find."

"Yes." Furong immediately led the people from the Princess's mansion to dig around in the garden. They unearthed more than 50 skeletons, which frightened six maids into fainting. The remaining four had leg cramps and stood trembling to the side. The calmest ones were the five old women and ten former Imperial Guards. They didn't even blink when they saw the skeletons, as if they thought it was normal.

Furong wasn't afraid: "Princess, what should we do with so many skeletons? Why don't we report it to the authorities and let them handle it?"

Liu Ye didn't want the whole family to know: "The Su family members are all dead. Reporting to the authorities is pointless. The officials will just bury them anyway. Guard Zhang, take your men and bury these remains. We don't need the flowers and plants anymore. We need to clean up the pond and dig up every soil area in the courtyard."

"Yes." Before dark, Zhang, the guard, buried more than 50 skeletons on the mountain. The next day, they began to dredge the pond, and they pulled out six more skeletons from the pond. They also dug out more than a dozen skeletons in various courtyards.

After Liu Ye finished her lunch and changed into a new dress, the palace carriage arrived. Fu Rong walked in from outside, also wearing a brand new dress and her hair styled in a flying phoenix bun. The pearl hairpins in her hair were a set of gemstone jewelry that Liu Ye had given her, and she was wearing them all today. They looked beautiful and sparkling. If you didn't know her, you would think she was a young lady from a wealthy family: "Princess, I have asked, and I can accompany you to the palace..."

Liu Ye smiled and nodded, "Okay, then you can come with me." She understood Fu Rong's thoughts, so she neither interfered nor stopped her.

The master and servant boarded the carriage bound for the palace. When the carriage arrived at the palace gate, it did not stop but drove directly into the palace and stopped in front of the Empress Dowager's palace. The eunuchs and maids at the gate hurriedly stepped forward to greet them.

"Welcome, Princess Wushuang."

Liu Ye was helped down from the carriage by Fu Rong and followed the palace maid into the palace. Fu Rong followed behind Liu Ye nervously, thinking that the Empress Dowager probably didn't remember her either.

Inside the main hall, the Empress Dowager sat in the main seat, dressed in a dignified and luxurious manner. Liu Ye smiled and took a few quick steps. Just as she was about to kneel down, the Empress Dowager stopped her with a smile: "No need, no need. Ye'er, come and sit next to your mother."

Liu Ye obediently sat down next to the Empress Dowager and sweetly called out, "Mother..." Oh dear, how awkward! She got goosebumps all over.

"I know how well Mother has been these past two months. I know the palace is busy, so I didn't dare to go in and disturb her."

The Empress Dowager affectionately took Liu Ye's hand, held it in her palm, and stroked it. For some reason, she felt comfortable all over when she touched Liu Ye's hand, as if she had taken a magic pill: "I am doing well, but I miss you very much. Now that the Emperor has ascended the throne, there is not much to do in the palace. You must come to the palace more often to keep me company."

Liu Ye smiled and nodded, "Okay, I'll definitely visit the Empress Dowager often in the future." But inwardly, she couldn't help but think, "Empress Dowager, you've practically rubbed my hands raw! What's with this? She felt the Empress Dowager was a bit lewd. Is this old woman a lesbian?!" ⊙﹏⊙