Chapter 70 Deliberately Making Things Difficult
With a loud announcement, everyone stood up from their seats and saluted.
Jiang Yingli stood up and saw Xiao Chenglan, dressed in a black and red dragon robe, striding towards her, surrounded by more than twenty palace maids and imperial guards.
Xiao Chenglan had a stern expression on his face, his eyes fixed straight ahead, as he walked straight towards the imperial seat from the corridor.
"All the nobles and concubines, please stand up."
Jiang Yingli stood up and looked up. The emperor who was about to take his seat glanced at her intentionally or unintentionally. It was a very hurried glance, but Jiang Yingli's heart jumped for joy.
After sitting down obediently, Jiang Yingli heard Xiao Chenglan saying some routine formalities for the palace banquet.
The family members below were secretly looking at the two concubines on the left and right sides of the imperial carriage. They could more or less guess who the concubine on the left was, she must be from the Song family.
As for the person on the right, that must be the old man from the palace that was rumored.
I heard that she comes from a very humble background. How favored must she be to be able to travel with a girl from the Song clan?
Jiang Yingli could feel people looking at her, both overtly and covertly. Moreover, there were a lot more people below than when she sat down just now. But she was not so nervous now because His Majesty was right next to her.
Listening to His Majesty's voice, she felt at ease.
After the palace banquet began, dancers performed on the stage below the imperial carriage. The atmosphere was much more relaxed than at the beginning, and Jiang Yingli could boldly glance sideways at Xiao Chenglan a few times.
Xiao Chenglan's expression remained stern, like a majestic emperor.
Court officials below kept toasting Xiao Chenglan, and Xiao Chenglan also raised his glass.
Song Wanyan, who was sitting on Xiao Chenglan's left, could see Jiang Yingli's unintentional side glance out of the corner of her eye.
She cleared her cough twice, and Jiang Yingli's attention was drawn to her. When she saw Concubine Song winking at her, Jiang Yingli's face flushed and she quickly sat down.
Suddenly, a high-pitched voice rang out among the court officials.
"Your Majesty has resolved the flooding of the Fen River. The people of the two states are no longer harmed by natural disasters. This is truly a blessing for Daye."
Xiao Chenglan looked at Su Wenyue, who had stood up at the front of the court, his expression softening slightly. "This is all thanks to Lord Su, my dear. The censors of Tongzhou and Bozhou have already sent letters saying that everything is going according to plan. I intend to reward Lord Su for his contributions once I have a thorough understanding of this matter."
Su Wenyue waved his hands repeatedly and said modestly, "Your Majesty's words make this humble servant very uneasy. Isn't it the duty of a minister of the Su family to share Your Majesty's worries? I really don't deserve any reward."
Xiao Chenglan continued to smile and said softly, "Since you are so modest, I will also be modest for once. I said I would reward you, but in truth, I don't know what else I can reward you with."
The court officials below all lowered their eyes slightly. As a minister, the worst thing is to have no reward.
Su Wenyue didn't care about the deeper meaning of these words at all, and there was arrogance in her eyes.
The Su family is prominent, so what if the emperor is afraid of them?
There have been many emperors who were wary of the Su family. Now they have just been replaced by a new one. A hundred years later, it is hard to say whether the emperor will still be there, but the Su family will definitely still be there.
Which emperor was not afraid of the Su family but unable to get rid of them?
Su Wenyue laughed heartily and raised his glass to Xiao Chenglan, "To be honest, Your Majesty, I do have something I would like to ask for your grace."
"Oh? What do you wish for, my dear?"
Su Wenyue drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, and the hearty smile she had just had disappeared. She looked at the concubines' seats across the screen with a worried look on her face.
"Serving Your Majesty is my duty. I only ask Your Majesty to reward me with your daughter."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was a commotion among the concubines' seats.
All the concubines looked at Su Qingrong, with a hint of envy in their eyes.
Su Qingrong immediately straightened her back, with a defiant look on her face. She raised the corners of her lips and smiled in a contemptuous manner, looking very proud.
"I heard that my daughter displeased His Majesty a while ago. I think it's because she's been spoiled by her family since she was a child, and her temper is a bit willful. Your Majesty has punished her many times, and she has already admitted her mistakes. Why bother with a little girl, Your Majesty?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone had different expressions, but they all lowered their eyes and looked away.
Jiang Yingli looked at Su Wenyue with an expression that said, "As expected."
No wonder Su Qingrong could act so arrogantly in the harem. The Su family's ministers did the same in the previous dynasty, and their subordinates followed suit.
He actually openly accused His Majesty of punishing Su Qingrong and picking on a little girl.
Jiang Yingli couldn't stand Su Wenyue, but Xiao Chenglan remained calm.
"According to what you have said, how should I grant your daughter grace?"
Su Wenyue smiled, looking like a loving father caring for his children. "My daughter will enter the palace with the rank of Xiuyi. How about Your Majesty promote her to the rank of Zhaoyi? My daughter will be happy, and I will be comforted."
Upon hearing this, the concubines showed no sign of concealing their surprise.
Zhaoyi!
A position of the third rank, the head of the nine concubines.
It is true that Su Qingrong entered the palace as a concubine, but now she is just a concubine, and she actually dared to ask for a title beyond her rank.
"Lord Su loves his daughter deeply, and we admire him. I also have a daughter at home, and I can understand Lord Su's deep love for his daughter." Many court officials echoed and supported Su Wenyue.
Jiang Yingli glanced sideways, and saw Xiao Chenglan's expression remained unchanged from beginning to end. She said softly:
"My dear Lord, I am grateful for your kindness. Fu Wanquan, please bring me the imperial edict and seal. I will immediately fulfill Lord Su's wish."
Fu Wanquan bent down to get the things, and Xiao Chenglan immediately issued an edict, appointing Su Qingrong as Zhaoyi, ranking first among the nine concubines.
Su Qingrong walked from her position as a palace concubine to the front of the imperial carriage to thank him for his decree, her expression showing unprecedented pride.
Song Wanyan rolled her eyes secretly while drinking tea.
Go ahead and do it. Sooner or later, you will capsize. The higher you climb, the harder you fall.
Su Wenyue looked at Su Qingrong's back as she thanked him, then glanced at Jiang Yingli who was sitting high next to the imperial carriage, with contempt flashing in her eyes.
A little merchant girl actually dared to step on the head of the girl from the Su family. Don't blame her for embarrassing her.
"Empress Zhaoyi, since His Majesty has bestowed this grace, how can Your Majesty not come forward to accompany the imperial carriage, pour wine and water, and thank His Majesty for his grace?" Su Wenyue continued to speak.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes were focused on Jiang Yingli.
There are two seats on the left and right of the imperial carriage. If Empress Zhaoyi wants to accompany the emperor, then Jiang Yingli must step down. What's the difference between this and being kicked out?
But His Majesty agreed.
"In that case, Su Zhaoyi, please come forward."
At the concubines' seats, the concubines were also sweating.
Everyone can see that this is the Su family trying to intimidate Jiang Yingli and boost Su Qingrong's power.
Zheng Baolin knelt at the end, clenched the embroidered handkerchief in his hand, and stared at Su Qingrong, who was half the space away from her, with resentful eyes.
The Su family is at its peak, and all the losses that Su Qingrong suffered some time ago were recovered today.
Zheng Baolin cast his worried gaze on Jiang Yingli again. It was because of her that Jiang Yingli was hated by Su Qingrong.
Su Qingrong also understood the intention of her father's proposal, which was to ask her to slap Jiang Yingli hard in the face.
She stepped onto the imperial platform step by step, walked in front of Jiang Yingli, and smiled.
"Sister must be tired of accompanying me, now, let me come."
Jiang Yingli looked up at Su Qingrong who was arrogant in front of her, lowered her eyes and stood up.
Song Wanyan on the left could hardly suppress the anger in her eyes.
However, she now represents the Song family and it is impossible for her to stand up and give up her seat.
Suddenly, her peripheral vision caught her eye, and she saw the emperor beside her waving his hand, grabbing Jiang Yingli's wrist, pulling it lightly, and then hugging her into his arms.
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