There was a festive atmosphere throughout Yongning Palace.
Shen Wei had a vague premonition in her heart, and she asked Cai Lian: "What's the happy event?"
Cai Lian smiled and told Chen Wei, "My master, the chief steward Zhou came just now. The emperor ordered the Minister of Rites to be the envoy to confer the title of imperial concubine. He will come this afternoon to confer the title of imperial concubine on my master."
Shen Wei silently calculated the imperial concubine’s salary in her mind.
The salary of a noble concubine was much higher than that of a concubine, and her allotment was second only to that of the empress. Now that the queen is under imprisonment, Shen Wei has the highest salary in the entire harem.
Shen Wei showed a satisfied smile.
Shen Wei was not surprised to be named a noble concubine. She has both a son and a daughter, and is valued by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
Li Yuanjing originally planned to enthrone her as queen, but Shen Wei politely declined for the sake of the overall situation. Li Yuanjing must have felt indebted. Once a man owes a woman, he will try every means to make up for it.
"Very good." Chen Wei's eyes only had a slight smile, and she was not too excited. "I have been promoted to Imperial Concubine. The salaries of the servants in Yongning Palace will be increased by 10% this month."
When she got a promotion and a raise, she would not forget to reward the palace maids who served her.
There was a festive atmosphere in Yongning Palace, and the palace servants kowtowed one after another to express their gratitude.
At 3 p.m., the envoy of enthronement held the imperial edict and the imperial seal of the imperial concubine and announced the imperial decree to enthronize her in the main hall of the palace. The enthronement ceremony went on in an orderly manner, and all the concubines in the harem were present to congratulate.
Shen Wei, wearing luxurious imperial concubine's auspicious dress, took the imperial edict.
The other concubines had different expressions.
Zhang Miaoyu jumped twice in excitement, with a happy expression as if she had found a golden thigh;
Lu Xuan silently clutched the silk handkerchief, her expression gloomy;
Liu Ruyan's eyes were as calm as water, without causing any ripples;
Lanpin was so jealous that she stared at the golden dress on Shen Wei for a long time, imagining that she could wear it;
Concubine Qiao frowned, looking puzzled, as if she had not expected Shen Wei to reach this position.
...
Shen Wei was busy until dark before returning to Yongning Palace.
Aunt Rong led the palace maids to count the gifts sent by concubines and court ladies. Gold, silver and jade articles were piled up like mountains, and Shen Wei was delighted to see them.
It’s great to get a promotion and sit on a mountain of gold and silver.
Shen Wei silently calculated her wealth in her mind. The amount of money she received from the palace was impressive, and her business outside the palace was expanding in full swing.
Chen Wei drank her tea happily, feeling really happy about making money.
"Master, take a look. This is a natural ruby from Nanchu given by the wife of the Right Vice Minister of Rites. It looks like a rose and is very beautiful." When Rong Mama was counting the gifts, she saw the ruby in the box and her eyes lit up.
Shen Wei glanced sideways.
A natural ruby is placed in the exquisite box. The ruby has not been cut yet and its shape resembles a scarlet rose, which is very beautiful.
"The wife of the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites... Tan Tai Rou." Chen Wei thought of this person. Yan Yunting, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, married Tan Tairou, a girl from a small family, before the marriage to Emperor Zhaoyang.
The sensational farce between Yan Yunting, Princess Zhaoyang and Tan Tairou also came to an end.
After marriage, Yan Yunting was obsessed with official duties and worked diligently for Li Yuanjing. Tan Tai Rou became a perfect and virtuous wife, managing the Yan family in an orderly manner and enjoying an excellent reputation among the court ladies in Yanjing.
“She is quite capable of handling rubies that are unique to the Southern Chu Kingdom.” Shen Wei put down the ruby and asked Rong Mama to put it in the storeroom. Li Wan'er will be coming of age next year, and this uniquely shaped ruby will be a great gift.
Aunt Rong went to put away the gifts.
Shen Wei leaned back in the rattan chair and drank a cup of hot milk tea. Speaking of Tan Tai Rou, Chen Wei thought of Princess Zhaoyang again.
Zhaoyang left Yanjing in early May. Now it is Mid-Autumn Festival, and Zhaoyang has already arrived in Yue State. Almost half a year has passed, and she hasn't replied to a single letter.
The sky is high and the road is long. I don’t know if I can see Zhaoyang again in my lifetime.
The beaded curtain was lifted, and Cai Ping walked in respectfully, handed over a letter, and said happily: "Master, Lord Shen has sent a letter. In addition to this family letter, he also sent a large box of dried seafood and nuts."
Shen Wei put down her teacup and opened the letter to read.
A few months ago, Shen Xiuming was sent to the coastal area as an official, responsible for trade with the Donglin Kingdom. In the past two months, he was sent by Li Yuanjing to supervise the dam construction project upstream of the Mingyuan River, and his official position was raised.
It can be said that he has a successful official career.
The content of Shen Xiuming's letter is full of caring words. He was concerned about whether Shen Wei was living comfortably in the palace and about the health of his mother in the capital. At the end of the envelope, he added a few words expressing his concern for Dr. Mo.
Shen Xiuming said in the envelope that Mo Xun had a strange personality and was addicted to alcohol, so he asked Shen Wei to take care of Mo Xun and not let her drink too much.
I also gave Mo Xun a portion of the roasted chestnuts in the box because she liked them.
"Mo Xun...this boy really cares about her." Shen Wei raised her eyebrows slightly. My younger brother is not young anymore, it’s time for him to get married.
Shen Xiuming seems to have a special liking for Mo Xun.
But Shen Wei knew clearly that Mo Xun was a woman from Yue State with a mysterious background, and Shen Xiuming was an official from Daqing. The two had completely different positions, and it was almost impossible for any result to occur.
"Master, after we started building the Qing Kingdom dam, the Donglin Kingdom immediately surrendered." Cai Ping whispered to Chen Wei, "I heard that the Donglin Kingdom plans to send a beauty to the emperor."
Shen Wei raised her eyebrows slightly.
To show its submission, Donglin Kingdom wants to send a beautiful woman as a gift; when the princess of Yue Kingdom comes of age, Yue Kingdom will also send the princess to Qing Kingdom.
In the future, this harem will be really lively.
There was a notification at the gate of Yongning Palace, the emperor was coming.
Shen Wei casually put Shen Xiuming's letter on the table and went out to meet Li Yuanjing. It was not yet time for dinner, and Shen Wei took Li Yuanjing into the house and sat down.
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached and the weather turned cooler, Shen Wei adjusted the decoration and furnishings in the house.
The curtains were replaced with light golden Xiangyun gauze, and on the wall hung a painting of "Autumn Mountain Residence" by Li Yuanjing himself, and the incense was also an elegant osmanthus scent. She also asked the palace maids to make two soft pillows in the shape of melons, which were very soft when placed behind the waist.
Li Yuanjing held Shen Wei's hand, his eyebrows and eyes smiling, and jokingly asked: "What are you busy with, Concubine?"
Chen Wei's eyes curved, "I'm busy reading letters from home - Caiping, take some of the dried fruits in the box so that the emperor and I can have a taste."
Cai Ping worked quickly, opening the large box sent by Shen Xiuming, and after a moment, she placed the small white jade plate containing nuts on the table.
The nuts are opened with a special small tool, so the delicious flesh can be easily taken out.
"A letter from home?" Li Yuanjing was curious.
Shen Wei casually handed over the family letter on the desk, with a gossipy look on her face: "Your Majesty, please take a look. I suspect that my younger brother has someone in his heart."
Handing the letter to Li Yuanjing, Shen Wei picked up a crisp chestnut, peeled it, took out the plump kernel and tasted it.
Li Yuanjing held the letter from home in his hand with mixed feelings.
In the harem, it was not uncommon for concubines to communicate secretly with their families. Most of these concubines shoulder the future of their families. They will compete for favor in the palace or pass on news from the harem according to their family's instructions.
The concubines kept family letters privately and dared not reveal them to others.
Chen Wei, on the other hand, carelessly handed him her brother's letter and had no guard against him at all, always opening her heart to him.
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