Thinking of this, Eunuch Liu felt a little relieved, as if a heavy boulder had been lifted from his heart.
In the depths of his heart, apart from Princess Qingyun, he could not find another person in this vast world who could treat them, the servants, with such genuine kindness.
Every act of care and greeting from the princess, every kind smile, and every generous reward she bestowed was like the warm sunshine of spring, warming their hearts and minds.
The faint light of dawn shone through the exquisitely carved and painted windows of the Golden Palace, casting wisps of light onto the court robes worn by the officials inside.
The reflected light shone brightly against the golden bricks in the hall, making it appear even more solemn and majestic.
The officials stood in orderly rows according to their rank and performed a solemn court ceremony. Afterward, they all held their breath, their expressions solemn, and quietly awaited the start of the first court meeting of the new year.
Just then, the Emperor gently raised his hand, stopping the proceedings that were about to begin.
His eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze sharp as cold stars, as he slowly swept over the ministers who had been spreading rumors and gossip about Qin Qianluo behind her back these past few days.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes, like a shooting star streaking across the quiet night sky, carrying a chilling and intimidating power.
Then, the Emperor gave a wink to Eunuch Liu, who was standing beside him with his hands at his sides.
Eunuch Liu understood immediately and quickly stepped forward, his face beaming with a joyful smile, a smile as overblown as spring flowers.
He announced loudly, "Princess Qingyun, step forward to receive the decree."
Qin Qianlu was startled, and wondered to herself, why would an imperial decree be issued on the first day of the new year?
Although she was full of doubts, she did not delay. She took graceful steps and walked out of the ranks of the ministers with elegant and composed posture.
He knelt dignifiedly on the cold, hard gold bricks in the hall, his back straight, like an ancient pine tree, quietly waiting for Eunuch Liu to read the imperial edict.
Seeing that Qin Qianluo was ready, Eunuch Liu cleared his throat, his voice standing out clearly in the quiet hall.
He slowly unfurled the bright yellow imperial edict in his hand. The dragon patterns on the edict seemed to come alive, baring their fangs and claws to display the majesty of the imperial family.
Eunuch Liu read aloud in a clear and resonant voice: "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"
I am blessed by Heaven and inherit the great foundation of the ancestral temples. I rule over all nations and aspire to bring peace to the world and prosperity to the people.
Today we have a loyal and brave minister, Qin Qianluo, who comes from a noble family, yet he has lofty aspirations and a heroic nature.
He was intelligent and quick-witted from a young age, possessed lofty ambitions, had the talent to save the world, and always thought about the peace and stability of the nation.
Since I ascended the throne, the country has been in turmoil, and Qin Qianluo resolutely stepped forward.
On the battlefield, he led from the front, clad in armor and armed with weapons, galloping thousands of miles to quell rebellions and suppress traitors. His bravery and strategy were like a tiger roaring in the mountains and forests, causing bandits to flee in terror.
In the imperial court, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to managing state affairs, promoting what was beneficial and eliminating what was harmful, advocating culture and education. His wisdom and strategies shone like stars in the Purple Palace, helping me share my worries and solve my problems.
His virtue is exemplary, his conduct commendable, his contributions to the nation are great, and his virtue benefits all people. He is a model for all officials and is revered by all.
I govern the world with benevolence and virtue, and rewards and punishments are always appropriate, with merits and demerits clearly evident. Now, considering Tan Qianluo's many years of merit and illustrious achievements, I hereby issue this imperial edict.
He bestows upon you the title of Prince Jinrui Zhao, with the additional name Qingyun, and grants you a fief of five thousand households. He also orders the Ministry of Works to construct a magnificent mansion in Jinxiu County to signify your nobility.
In addition, he will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, a hundred pearls, a thousand bolts of fine silk, and eighty fine horses.
And a number of antiques, rare treasures, paintings and books, all of which are treasured in the Imperial Palace, to show the Emperor's great grace and benevolence.
I hope that after you are granted this title, you will not forget your original aspiration, always cherish the thought of loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, and remain steadfast in your commitment.
Upholding the virtues of integrity and incorruptibility, he set an example for future generations. Within his fiefdom, he was diligent in governing and caring for the people, reduced taxes and levies, promoted education, facilitated trade and benefited industry, safeguarded the peace of the region, and promoted its prosperity.
To uphold the glory of our dynasty, to establish the great achievements of women, to set an example for all time, and to leave a lasting legacy. So be it!
Upon hearing the imperial edict, Qin Qianluo felt her mind go blank, as if she were in a misty, cloud-shrouded world, and was momentarily at a loss.
Only when Eunuch Liu's drawn-out voice faded did she snap out of her daze, hurriedly kowtowing to express her gratitude, saying, "Your Majesty's grace is as vast as the ocean, and I am but a drop in the ocean."
Today, I am deeply grateful to His Majesty for bestowing upon me the title of a king of a different surname. I am moved to tears and prostrate myself in gratitude.
I was born into a noble family, and I am fortunate that Your Majesty is wise enough to give me the opportunity to serve the court.
Since entering the court, I have always kept in mind His Majesty's teachings and instructions, and I am always mindful of His Majesty's virtuous character of diligently seeking good governance and caring for the people.
He felt full of energy and longed to do everything in his power to repay the emperor's kindness.
This investiture as a king is, for me, an unparalleled honor, but also a weighty responsibility.
Your Majesty, I will take this as a new starting point, and within my fiefdom, I will diligently follow Your Majesty's decree, recruit talented individuals, and develop water conservancy projects to improve the livelihood of the people.
To strengthen the defenses of the borders, we must promote culture and education to cultivate the nation's talents; and to uphold integrity and honesty to promote the virtues of the court.
Your Majesty is willing to lay down your life and serve with utmost loyalty to help Your Majesty achieve a reign as prosperous as that of Yao and Shun, and to ensure the eternal stability of our dynasty and the well-being of our nation.
"May Your Majesty live ten thousand years! I am deeply grateful and once again kowtow to thank Your Majesty for your grace."
After speaking, Qin Qianluo solemnly kowtowed three more times, each kowtow resounding like a heavy evening drum echoing throughout the hall.
Then he stood up and took the imperial edict from Eunuch Liu with both hands. The edict seemed to weigh a ton at that moment.
With a smile in his eyes, Eunuch Liu said softly, "I will take His Highness Prince Jinrui Zhao to change into his royal robes."
Qin Qianlu nodded slightly, gave Eunuch Liu a sweet smile, a smile as warm as the spring sun, and said softly, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Liu."
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