Chapter 745 Conferred the Title of Second-Rank Imperial Lady
Cheng Wanwan didn't understand why the Empress Dowager knew about the King of Qin's thoughts.
Back in Dahe Town, she made it very clear to the King of Qin, who then indicated that he had abandoned this absurd idea.
Now that she has come to the capital, she has met the Prince of Qin many times. The Prince of Qin's attitude is normal, and he has not brought up that matter again, so she really thought it was over.
But now, the Empress Dowager and the Empress are actually discussing her marriage to the Prince of Qin.
Cheng Wanwan didn't care about anything else. She quickly got out of bed and rushed to the outer room without even putting on her shoes.
Before anyone could react, she knelt down before the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, please forgive my impudence, but although my husband is dead and I have been a widow for many years, in my heart no one can replace him, not even the Prince of the court." She lowered her head, speaking each word clearly and forcefully, "I am but a humble countrywoman who has only become a third-rank Lady by chance, but at heart I am still a peasant woman. I am unworthy of the Prince, and I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree!"
The Empress Dowager was taken aback: "So you don't want to marry the sixth prince?"
Cheng Wanwan nodded without hesitation: "Your Highness is a very good man, but I don't like him. It's better not to marry someone I don't like."
Rongqing didn't know whether to be angry or happy.
What infuriates me is that this shameless woman dares to dislike Sixth Brother.
Fortunately, this lowly woman publicly rejected the Empress Dowager, so the marriage was no longer possible.
"Sui Shuren, stop kneeling!" the Empress Dowager instructed the palace servants. "Quickly help Sui Shuren lie down on the couch so as not to aggravate her wound."
Two nannies immediately stepped forward to help Cheng Wanwan up and lay her down on the soft couch beside her, placing a soft pillow behind her back.
Cheng Wanwan knelt for a while, then began to pant heavily. Her body was indeed not in good shape, so she didn't make a fuss and just lay down.
"It was my fault for being so foolish," the Empress Dowager said kindly. "Before asking for your and the Sixth Prince's opinions, I had already come up with a whole bunch of ideas on my own. Now that I think about it, it's really quite laughable. Since Consort Sui is unwilling, then just take what I said earlier as a joke and don't take it to heart."
Cheng Wanwan breathed a sigh of relief.
She never expected the Empress Dowager to be so easy to talk to, even more kind and benevolent than she had imagined.
However, it may also be related to the fact that she saved the Empress Dowager in the underground palace, so she would naturally be much more tolerant of her savior.
"If I can't be your daughter-in-law, then how about being your daughter?" The Empress Dowager grasped Cheng Wanwan's hand. "I'll take you as my daughter. Do you agree?"
Cheng Wanwan looked shocked again.
The Empress Dowager's daughter, wouldn't that be a princess?
She's so old, how did she manage to become an old princess?
Rong Qing was equally shocked. With a slight effort, she snapped her long nail off.
She saved Princess Duanmin, and the Empress Dowager wanted to make her a princess, but everyone else in the royal family objected. In the end, she became Princess Rongqing.
Now, this lowly woman has been favored by the Empress Dowager for saving the royal family. If she really becomes a princess, she will definitely accompany the Empress Dowager. From now on, Princess Rongqing will have no status in the palace.
She absolutely cannot allow such a thing to happen.
Rong Qing was about to speak.
Suddenly, Ming Gonggong's shrill voice rang out from outside the door: "Imperial edict has arrived!"
Immediately afterwards, Eunuch Ming led a group of palace maids and eunuchs into the main hall.
"Please receive the imperial decree, Lady Sui!"
The nanny serving Cheng Wanwan quickly came over to help her.
"Oh, Lady Sui can just lie down and receive the decree," Eunuch Ming said with a smile. "When His Majesty heard that Lady Sui had woken up, he immediately sent me over. If Lady Sui's recovery is affected by receiving the decree, then I will not be able to report back to His Majesty."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Consort Sui, you can lie down. It's alright."
Thus, Cheng Wanwan became the first person in the world to receive an imperial edict while lying down.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Since being granted this title, Lady Sui Shu has been devoted to the people, serving the country and its people, and has made countless contributions to the future of our Great Yu Dynasty... During the palace coup on New Year's Eve, Lady Sui Shu stepped forward in the face of danger... She is hereby promoted to the rank of Second-Rank Imperial Lady, granted the official robes and seal of an Imperial Lady, and bestowed with a gold token granting her immunity from death!"
The eunuch behind Eunuch Ming immediately presented a tray.
Aside from the official robes and seals, the imperial pardon was particularly eye-catching.
It is made entirely of gold, engraved with four large characters, and has numerous seals below, proving its authority.
Cheng Wanwan was deeply shaken and performed a kowtow of gratitude on the bed: "Your Majesty, I accept your decree and express my gratitude. Long live the Emperor!"
"Madam Sui, please lie down quickly, the imperial edict isn't finished yet." Eunuch Ming said with a smile, picking up the next imperial edict and reading aloud, "...During the perilous time at the underground palace, Zhao Youjin, a seventh-rank military officer, rescued and eliminated the rebels and the Crown Prince, rendering a great service. He is hereby appointed as a fifth-rank General of Valor and Might..."
Cheng Wanwan: "..."
Those who didn't know the situation might have thought Zhao Youjin was a real person upon hearing this imperial edict.
She advanced in rank step by step, while Zhao Youjin started at the seventh rank and then skipped ranks to become the fifth rank. It's infuriating to compare yourself to others.
"...In this palace coup, Lady Sui's third son fought bravely and skillfully, taking the heads of a hundred rebels and making outstanding contributions. Therefore, Zhao Jingyu is hereby exceptionally appointed as a seventh-rank battalion commander in the capital's garrison, and is bestowed with armor and a precious sword...So be it!"
Eunuch Ming read out all three imperial edicts in one breath.
Cheng Wanwan was promoted.
Zhao Youjin was promoted.
Zhao Jingyu was promoted.
Three members of the Zhao family were promoted to official positions.
Cheng Wanwan kowtowed again in gratitude: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness. My entire family will certainly be loyal to the country, the court, and Your Majesty, and continue to contribute our modest efforts to the long-lasting prosperity of the Great Yu Dynasty!"
"Madam Sui, please take good care of your injuries." Eunuch Ming handed her the imperial edict. "This old servant will now return to report."
After Eunuch Ming and his large entourage left, the Empress Dowager approached and once again grasped Cheng Wanwan's hand: "I just said I would adopt you as my daughter, but I take that back... because my daughter is a princess. If a princess wants to be loyal to the court, there is only one path: a marriage alliance with a distant land. As for Lady Sui... Lady Sui's significance to the court and the people goes far beyond that. Everyone wants to be a princess, but the identity of a princess would dishonor Lady Sui's true talents."
Cheng Wanwan was just thinking about how to refuse to acknowledge the Empress Dowager as her mother, because she yearned for freedom and did not want to live deep in the palace.
Before she could even come up with a reason or excuse, the Empress Dowager automatically retracted her words.
This empress dowager was easier to get along with than she had imagined.
She grasped the Empress Dowager's hand in return: "Even if I am not the Empress Dowager's daughter, I can still enter the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager. I am currently recuperating in the Empress's palace. Once I feel a little better, I can go to Renshou Palace every day. I hope the Empress Dowager will not find me a nuisance then."
She has readily accepted this advice and changed her self-reference to "I" to show closerness.
"Then I'll call you Wanwan from now on," the Empress Dowager said kindly. "And your sons, the third and fourth ones are in the capital, right? When they come to the palace, let them come to my palace for a while, so it will be lively."
Later that evening, Zhao Sanniu and Zhao Sidan entered the palace. When they saw Cheng Wanwan leaning unharmed against the bed, the two boys' eyes immediately welled up with tears.
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