Chapter 13 Promotion
In the afternoon, an imperial edict spread throughout the six palaces.
"The Emperor, by the grace of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: Beautiful Yu is gentle, virtuous, obedient, intelligent, and quick-witted... and hereby confer the title of Ronghua, a fourth-rank official. This is my decree!"
He Yanchen has never cared much about his position. Many people have been in the palace for several years without being promoted, but Yue Li has been promoted several times in less than half a year.
Not only were the people still staying in Fengyang Palace shocked, Yueli herself was also shocked.
He Yanchen gently stroked her cheek, and the soft and delicate touch under his fingertips made him unable to let go:
"Didn't you say that gifts that everyone else has don't count as gifts?"
"They haven't been promoted yet, but you've been promoted. Does that count as a gift?"
*
Until the New Year's Eve banquet began, Yueli's steps were still a little light-headed.
Rong Hua was promoted to the fourth rank, even faster than she was in her previous life.
Most importantly, the salary is doubled!
The Golden Palace was already bustling with activity. When Yue Li walked in, the atmosphere seemed to freeze for a moment, and many obscure gazes fell on her.
Yueli was not afraid at all. She held her head high and walked in holding Lianqiao's hand.
The smug look of this villain made the empress dowager sitting at the top frown even more.
The seats for the concubines were already full, only her seat was empty.
In the past, Concubine Zheng's position was above hers. Although she had a title, Concubine Zheng was the biological mother of the eldest prince, and everyone in the palace felt that Concubine Zheng was more noble than her.
But now, not only was she above Concubine Zheng, but there were also Jiang Ronghua and Concubine Yi between her. When Yue Li passed by Concubine Zheng, she could feel her resentful eyes.
This made Yueli even happier.
If the person she hates is unhappy, then she will be happy.
After Yue Li sat down, Li Jieyu, who was sitting above her, snorted and moved aside, as if it was unlucky to sit next to her. "Is Yu Ronghua's illness healed?"
"If you are still sick, why don't you go out as much as possible? You claimed to be sick in the morning and didn't go to pay respects, but you can come to the palace banquet in the evening?"
Yueli picked up a grape and put it in her mouth, her voice becoming increasingly sweet: "Sister Li, have you ever heard a saying?"
"What?" Li Jieyu asked subconsciously.
"It's like 'happy things bring joy to one's spirits.'" Yue Li smiled charmingly. "With your Majesty's concern, my illness will naturally heal faster."
Glancing at Li Jieyu's increasingly pale face, Yue Li added, "I just wonder if you'll ever understand it in your lifetime."
"You!" Li Jieyu was so angry that she tightly grasped the handkerchief in her hand, but she didn't dare to lose her composure in such an occasion. She could only glare at Yue Li angrily.
It's no use staring even if you make your eyes pop out.
Yueli happily threw another grape into her mouth.
The empress dowager sitting at the top had a calm expression on her face. From her position, she could see everything below, and naturally she also saw the bickering between Yueli and Li Jieyu.
She took a deep breath and looked away.
If she were to follow her thinking, women from Yueli's background would be the most likely to cause trouble. Women like Defei and Shen Zhaoyi, who were raised in aristocratic families, were well-educated, well-mannered, dignified and generous, and were therefore suitable to serve the emperor.
But during this period of time, the emperor was often with Yu Ronghua, and he became more concerned about state affairs than before.
The Queen Mother could only comfort herself that it was not her fault that she was beautiful, and it was not her fault that she ended up in a brothel.
Maybe Yu Ronghua is actually quite sensible, which is why she was able to persuade the emperor to focus on state affairs.
Yes, that must be the case.
At the hour of You, the banquet officially began.
"Your Majesty has arrived—"
Following the eunuch's loud announcement, He Yanchen, dressed in a dragon robe, stepped into the Golden Palace.
Yue Li stood up and saluted with everyone else. The bright yellow hem of the dress seemed to pause in front of her for a moment before it lifted its foot and left.
He Yanchen walked to the front of the throne and then called out.
After some polite words were spoken as usual, the sound of ceremonial music began to sound in the hall.
Yue Li had no interest in the almost cold dishes in front of her. She held her cheek with one hand and tilted her head to look at the man above her.
Today he was wearing a bright yellow crown, which made him look more majestic than in private. He was handsome, but his deep eyebrows and eyes seemed too cold and stern, which made people feel afraid of him.
He Yanchen noticed her gaze and looked at her.
Yueli didn't hide or avoid him, but smiled at him with a curved eyebrow.
It will seduce people.
He Yanchen's heart beat slightly, and his fingers unconsciously stroked the lines on the wall of the cup. He withdrew his gaze, picked up the wine cup and took a sip.
After three rounds of drinking, the atmosphere in the hall gradually became lively. Wei Chengdong stood up with the wine cup in hand:
"Your Majesty, I respectfully wish that our country, Da Zhao, will be peaceful and prosperous."
He Yanchen leaned casually on the throne, and he glanced casually at Wei Chengdong below.
Wei Chengdong didn't avoid or give way, and let him look at him.
After a moment, the man raised his wine cup and said, "The Prime Minister is thoughtful."
Seeing Wei Chengdong toast, the other court officials were also eager to try. Yuan Zhang followed suit, raised his wine cup, and said many auspicious words.
He drank it all in one gulp, but the man on the throne only took a sip.
After that, He Yanchen never drank the wine offered by other ministers again.
"I remember when Your Majesty was young, Prime Minister Wei was still your tutor, teaching you knowledge. Back then, Your Majesty always liked to visit the Wei Mansion." The Queen Mother looked at the scene just now, as if recalling some past events, and her tone was quite lamenting, "Over the years, the relationship between you, the monarch and your subject, has become quite unfamiliar."
He Yanchen's expression was indifferent: "Your Majesty, you are joking. It has been a few years, and the changes in the world are nothing new."
The Queen Mother said, "The Prime Minister is loyal to Your Majesty, but he is old and works very hard. I hope Your Majesty will be understanding."
The Empress Dowager also heard about what happened in the Imperial Study a few days ago. No one knew what exactly happened inside, but she had already heard about the broken porcelain cup and Wei Chengdong's expression when he came out.
The Queen Mother looked at He Yanchen with a complicated look. Even though this was her own son, she didn't dare to say too much.
We became estranged after all.
He Yanchen turned the wine cup in his hand and chuckled faintly, "The Prime Minister is indeed old. Does the Queen Mother want him to retire and return home?"
"Then you won't have to work so hard anymore."
"Your Majesty!" The Queen Mother's voice was a little louder, startling some people sitting nearby, and the Queen also turned her head to look over.
The Queen Mother realized her own gaffe and lowered her voice: "That is not what I meant."
"Your Majesty has the final say on all matters of the court. I have overstepped my bounds."
He Yanchen didn't say anything else, and there was no emotion in his deep black eyes.
Although the Queen didn't hear what the two were saying, she noticed the Queen Mother's gloomy mood and said, "Mother, today is New Year's Eve. The concubines in the harem have each prepared gifts for you and Your Majesty. Would you like them to present them?"
The Queen Mother nodded slightly: "That's fine."
At the Queen's command, many concubines rejoiced. If the things they prepared could win the favor of the superior, then today would be a day of great success.
The things prepared by the Queen and several high-ranking concubines were relatively expensive, but not rare. The Queen Mother smiled and gave some of them away as rewards.
When it was Yueli's turn, she presented a screen embroidered with scriptures, which was a thoughtful gesture.
Cui Zhaoyuan glanced at her and drank a sip of tea in silence.
Noticing Choi So-won's gaze, Wol-ri snorted, seeming to wonder why she hadn't been caught.
Idiot! You didn't expect that! She knew it in her last life!
When it was Concubine Yi's turn, she said, "I know that the Empress Dowager loves to drink tea, so I specially found a set of tea sets to present to her."
The Queen Mother's smile suddenly changed when she saw the navy blue enamel tea set.
She gripped the armrest of the chair with such force that even the muscles at the corners of her mouth trembled.
Concubine Yi was completely unaware and continued to say a lot of nice things.
"presumptuous!"
The sudden scolding made the hall suddenly quiet down.
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