The Li family took the palace banquet very seriously, studying with exceptional diligence. Meanwhile, in the palace, Ying Hao and the Empress had a late-night conversation, during which they discussed the Li family.
"The Li family's foundation is ultimately too shallow. With a few tricks from the Wen family, they were caught in a trap. If it weren't for a series of unforeseen events, I would not have let them off so easily."
Ying Hao's voice was deep and resonant. "Li Er is truly audacious. He dares to try and take sides. He is utterly despicable."
"His Majesty is kind-hearted, while Li Er is shallow. But he is, after all, the son of Madam Pan. Madam Pan has made outstanding contributions, saving the lives of the Crown Prince and me."
Madam Pan made her stance clear: Li Er was to be expelled from the capital, and the matter should be left as it was.
The Empress pondered the tone in Ying Hao's words and reassured him in a similar manner.
"Hmph, if it weren't for Pan's contributions, Li Er would never have survived."
Ying Hao turned around with a soft hum, feeling only that he was being merciful. He looked at the Empress's flawless face; the smallpox rash had long since disappeared, and the imperial physicians had been quite accurate in their treatment of this condition.
The Li family's matter is minor; however, every single family that contributed to the smallpox outbreak deserves his severe punishment. Then, he comforted the Empress, acknowledging her suffering.
"In this matter, I am the one who has wronged you."
"Your Majesty, why do this? I hope you won't blame me for my rashness."
Ying Hao held the Empress's hand and gently stroked it.
"At that time, the Crown Prince was in a critical situation. If my subordinates hadn't desperately stopped me, I would have gone in too."
"The hearts of parents are no different from yours or mine; I understand you perfectly well."
"Your Majesty~"
The Empress was moved and looked at the Emperor with deep affection.
"Thanks to Madam Pan, I have the opportunity to be with Your Majesty again. I heard that Madam Pan has a granddaughter who is still unmarried. I was thinking of helping Madam Pan's granddaughter find a match and granting her a marriage."
Ying Hao didn't care.
"You can make the decision on this matter. As for the rewards, I have indeed not been generous enough to the Li family. You can give them some favors from the side."
Ying Hao deliberately withheld a generous reward from the Li family.
The Lady of Liang and her entry into the palace without being summoned were merely superficial honors. No matter how much favor Pan Jinhua received, she was still just an old woman with one foot in the grave.
This will have no impact on him or the imperial court; that is his purpose.
However, it wouldn't be right to leave the Li family with absolutely no other options. The Empress's idea was excellent: to give Pan Jinhua's granddaughter a good marriage. This would also be a way of giving Pan Jinhua face.
If word gets out, everyone in the world will only envy the imperial family's favor towards the Li family.
And that was the end of it.
The Empress enthusiastically went through all the sons of officials in the capital, including members of the imperial family.
She was genuinely grateful to Pan Jinhua for saving her and her son's lives. She knew the Emperor might have some ulterior motives, but at least his attitude towards the Li family was positive. Therefore, she would simply repay his kindness.
On New Year's Eve, Pan Jinhua put on her official robes as a Lady of the State, dressed meticulously according to her rank.
Li Qingzhi and Li Qingjun, who accompanied the emperor into the palace, had their clothes checked several times to make sure there was no mistake.
Pan Jinhua decided to bring only these two people into the palace after thinking about it all night.
The second son made a mistake, and his wife was not allowed to enter the palace, as husband and wife were considered one. This was to prevent the nobles in the palace from seeing her and taking their anger out on her.
Although Li Qingduan and Li Qingyi have returned home, as the sons of Li Xushi, and given that this whole affair was caused by their marriage, it's not appropriate for them to go.
Some time ago, Gao Chuan bought a house with one courtyard, and the family of three moved in. Gao Chuan saw that the Li family was now thriving, and he couldn't concentrate on his studies while living in the Li family's house, so he hurriedly bought a house and moved out.
Pan Jinhua naturally supported his choice.
The family of three spent the New Year in Kyoto every year, so Pan Jinhua did not invite Li Qingruo to accompany them. Although Li Qingruo was Li Xushi's eldest daughter, she had already married. Nobles would not be so narrow-minded as to choose a wedding gift for a married woman.
After much thought, the only people he could take on were the two younger ones, Li Qingzhi and Li Qingjun.
"Grandma, we're all better now."
"Alright, let's go. Be careful what you say and do. You can't wander around the palace. Just stay close to me. Once we get on the carriage, have some pastries to tide you over."
"good."
The others saw Pan Jinhua and her two companions off from the Pan residence and helped them into the carriage. Pan Jinhua seized the opportunity to give the two of them some more detailed instructions.
She had to say something; it was on TV that things were most likely to go wrong at palace banquets, and she was nervous.
Fortunately, the two children were well-behaved and readily agreed. Accompanying them were Yao Niang and Bai Xue, who, when they were sold to the Li family by brokers in Li Family Village, never imagined they would have such a fortunate turn of events.
The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, heading towards the palace.
"Madam Liang, I am the chief steward of Her Majesty the Empress's palace. Her Majesty the Empress has specially assigned me to wait here. Please grant me an audience."
As soon as Pan Jinhua stepped off the carriage, a pale-faced eunuch came forward to pay his respects. The eunuch was very respectful, and the families of the surrounding high-ranking officials and nobles also stopped in their tracks to bow to Pan Jinhua.
Pan Jinhua was the Lady of Liang, and among the ladies with imperial titles, she was already at the top.
Pan Jinhua remained calm and composed, nodding to the women around her who were bowing to her.
"Her Majesty the Empress is kind-hearted; please lead the way, sir."
It was better to be invited by the Empress than to enter like a headless fly. Although there were female officials to guide me, I didn't recognize anyone, which was quite embarrassing.
They had only just arrived at the palace gate when the Empress sent her chief eunuch over, clearly to carry her in a sedan chair, which she naturally insisted on getting into.
As Eunuch Sheng led Pan Jinhua and the other two towards the palace, their departing figures caught the attention of the noble ladies, each with their own thoughts.
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