Chapter 118 Mu Mu is bestowed the title of princess
As early as when Zhao Yu first came to visit, Zhang had already ordered people to prepare food.
Zhao Yu took Xu Chumian directly back to her room.
Two maids, each carrying a tray, headed towards the side room and eventually found Zhao Yu outside Xu Chumian's room.
Zhao Yu was kicked out by Xu Chumian. There were still people from the Zhang family in the courtyard, so they had to avoid suspicion.
"Young Master, you..."
Inside the room, Xu Chumian stood still until she heard Zhao Yu's footsteps fade into the distance, at which point she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After finishing her meal, Xu Chumian washed up and lay on the tatami mat, marking the end of her day.
The next morning, Xu Chumian woke up very early.
After she opened her eyes, she went to Mu Mu's room. The little girl had slept for a long time yesterday and woke up early this morning.
When she saw her older sister arrive, the little girl started sobbing and crying incessantly.
"Sister, I thought I would never see you again."
Xu Chumian patiently coaxed him, and soon Zhao Yu and Zhang Shi arrived as well.
Upon witnessing this scene, each of them had their own thoughts.
When it was fully light, Emperor Mingde's men arrived.
A large number of imperial guards were gathered outside, and pilgrims from the surrounding area dared not come. There were carriages arranged at the foot of the mountain.
Yesterday, Xu Chumian and Zhao Yu traveled a long way through mountains and valleys to get here.
Now that we're returning to the capital, we'll naturally be taking the official route.
The one driving the carriage was still Zhao Nai.
Xu Chumian led Mu Mu into the carriage, and Zhao Yu's voice sounded from behind, "His Majesty will summon you to the palace, and I will be there as well."
Xu Chumian pursed her lips, about to speak, when Zhao Yu stopped her from saying anything more.
"His Majesty will allow Mu Mu to live in the palace; there is no other way."
According to ancestral rules, a princess of a country who has not reached the legal age is not allowed to leave the palace to visit other people's residences.
They have to wait until they reach the age of marriage at least.
Xu Chumian didn't say anything more. From the day she learned about Mu Mu's background, she knew that this day would come, but when it actually arrived, she was still extremely reluctant to part with her.
After returning to the capital, the carriage did not go to Wenju, but instead went to the house that Zhao Yu had shown Xu Chumian that day.
After changing her clothes, Xu Chumian took Mu Mu into the palace.
Zhao Yu was waiting for them outside the palace gate.
The road was lined with towering walls, which were very imposing. The route was basically the same as in her previous life, so Xu Chumian was quite familiar with it.
Mu Mu's palms were sweaty as she nervously clung to her older sister.
Xu Chumian held Mu Mu's hand tightly and whispered, "Don't be afraid."
The chief eunuch leading the way was a confidant of Emperor Mingde.
Upon arriving outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the people inside seemed to have been waiting for a long time.
Besides Emperor Mingde, the group also includes Old Madam Zhao, the Second Master of the Zhao family, Consort Ying, Consort Ning, and others...
Emperor Mingde sat high behind his desk, and upon seeing Mu Mu, he was so startled that he stood up...
Mu Mu's eyebrows and eyes look just like Zhao Ying's.
Xu Chumian led Mu Mu to kneel down and pay their respects.
Zhao Yu bowed slightly and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the person has been brought."
Mu Mu opened her eyes wide and looked curiously at the uncle who appeared in front of her.
My sister warned me before we arrived not to upset the person wearing yellow.
So Mu Mu looked obediently at Emperor Mingde and allowed him to scrutinize her.
The expressions of the people in the hall varied. The truth of what happened back then had been basically uncovered, and it was all because Consort Ning was behind it all.
It's utterly absurd that Zhao Ying never liked Prince Ding, and that her attempt to drug him backfired, leading her into a trap and being defiled by the guards!
Emperor Mingde once had feelings for Zhao Ying, but the Zhao family was too powerful to produce more concubines. Even if he admired and loved her, he had to suppress it so as not to ruin Zhao Ying's youth.
At that time, Consort Ning had been in the palace for several days and knew Emperor Mingde's thoughts. She became jealous and thus plotted against Zhao Ying at the New Year's Eve banquet. Afterwards, she falsely accused Zhao Ying of being in love with Ding Wan, but ended up shooting herself in the foot.
Unexpectedly, the person who went to the abandoned palace that night was not the guards arranged by Consort Ning, but Emperor Mingde. After Consort Ning's people discovered this, they had no choice but to take the unconscious Zhao Ying away and make the guards perform an insulting act.
That night, Emperor Mingde assumed that he had favored a palace maid, and he never found any trace of the woman again.
He never expected that it would be Zhao Ying.
The guard was silenced by Consort Ning the day after the incident.
For years, the misunderstanding persisted, and even Zhao Ying herself believed that the person that night was the guard, let alone a member of the Zhao family.
Consort Ning was banished to the Cold Palace by Emperor Mingde last night. Those in the Nan'an Marquis's Mansion who should be dismissed were dismissed, and those who should bow their heads bowed... Yet they still dared to slander the royal daughter as an immoral thing!
Emperor Mingde wanted to kill everyone in the Nan'an Earl's Mansion whenever he had the chance.
Now that the truth has been revealed, Madam Zhao's gaze towards Mu Mu is particularly complicated. Although Zhao Ying is an illegitimate daughter, Madam Zhao has raised her as her own daughter.
At the New Year's Eve banquet that year, even Zhao Ying stammered and couldn't say anything. There were also letters between her and Prince Ding in her boudoir as evidence. That's when Old Madam Zhao was completely disappointed in Zhao Ying. Even when Zhao Ying married far away to Jiangnan, Old Madam Zhao didn't send anyone to ask her a single question.
Thinking about it now, Madam Zhao felt a pang of sadness, and she clutched her chest, her face turning pale.
"Grandma, Grandma!"
Madam Zhao waved her hand, "I'm fine."
Emperor Mingde asked Mu Mu in a gentle voice, "What is your full name?"
Mu Mu looked obedient. Remembering her sister's words, she tried to open her eyes wide. "Mu Mu, my full name is Xu Mu Yang."
Bathed in the heavenly grace, vast and boundless.
It's a good name.
Emperor Mingde smiled and patted Mu Mu's head. "I am your father. How about living in the palace with your father from now on?"
Mu Mu blinked her big eyes, which immediately filled with tears. She shook her head, turned around, and hugged Xu Chumian's leg.
"No, I want my sister."
Mu Mu's voice choked with emotion; all she wanted was Xu Chumian.
Xu Chumian's face showed a troubled expression.
Emperor Mingde's smile remained unchanged as he looked at Xu Chumian beside him.
"So you are the eldest daughter of the Xu family?"
Xu Chuming nodded and lowered her eyes, saying, "This commoner, Xu Chuming, greets Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!"
Emperor Mingde's smile faded slightly, and he ordered Xu Chumian to rise.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Zhao Yu's gaze narrowed slightly.
The emperor, though not angry, exuded an imposing aura. Emperor Mingde chuckled lightly, "You have done a great service by taking such good care of me all these years."
Xu Chumian dared not take credit, saying, "Your Majesty is too kind; it was all just my duty."
No need for such formalities.
Emperor Mingde was overjoyed and bestowed upon Xu Muyang the title of Princess Rongchang, granting her a fief of three thousand households. He ordered the Ministry of Works to repair the princess's residence, and stipulated that she be educated by the Imperial Study and reside in Minghua Palace until the age of sixteen.
Furthermore, Xu Chumian has taken care of Princess Rongchang for many years, and as a great reward, she is specially granted the title of Princess Jinyang, with a fief of 600 households, a mansion, and 1,000 taels of gold.
Considering that Princess Rongchang was young, Princess Jinyang was allowed to enter the palace to accompany her for two days each month.
Upon receiving the imperial edict, Xu Chumian and Mu Mu knelt down to accept it.
Mu Mu was unaware of what was happening and simply followed her sister's movements in a daze.
Emperor Mingde saw this and gave Xu Chumian one day.
Tomorrow, Rongchang will have to enter the palace.
Tonight, the two sisters moved into the Duke's mansion.
After many twists and turns, Xu Chumian finally brought Mu Mu back to the Zhao family.
It was a courtyard arranged by Madam Zhang, and the old lady had come to visit the two sisters.
Seeing Mu Mu's face, which looked so much like Zhao Ying's, the old lady burst into tears.
Xu Chumian moved her lips slightly. She didn't know much about what happened in the previous generation, and it was too late to make amends now. She only hoped that Mu Mu would be safe and well in the future.
Xu Chumian saw Old Madam Zhao off, and the old lady patted Xu Chumian's wrist.
"Thank you for all these years."
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