At the age of twenty-five, Lin Yun became the most honored woman in the Qing Dynasty.
That year, Emperor Yongzheng was forty-seven years old.
Hongyao and Zhaohua were nine years old, Hongxi and Hongsheng were six years old, and Daiyu was fourteen years old.
On the second day after the investiture ceremony, the Empress received the homage of noblewomen from both inside and outside the court at Kunning Palace.
In addition to princes and nobles, the Jia family members were also invited to attend the coronation ceremony. They stayed at the Jia family villa in the capital.
Although Grandmother Jia was old, she was in good spirits and got up early to do her hair and makeup.
Lady Wang placed the imperial crown, a rank above the first grade, on her head. Her fingers trembled slightly, and her eyes held both glory and a hint of unspeakable bitterness.
"Grandma, you look radiant today," Wang Xifeng flattered with a smile, but her handkerchief was clenched tightly in her hand.
She stole a glance at herself in the bronze mirror, thinking that it would be truly glorious to enter the palace as the Empress's sister-in-law.
She had no official rank and was not qualified to participate in the investiture ceremony or to pay her respects to the Empress. It was only by special permission granted by the Empress that she entered the palace.
At this moment, Sister Feng was still a little smug, thinking that Daiyu must have mentioned her to the Empress, otherwise how would the Empress know about her?
Grandmother Jia closed her eyes to rest, and said calmly, "It's just a formality. But Yu'er..."
She paused, a loving expression appearing at the corner of her eyes. "Yesterday was too rushed; we didn't even get to say a word."
Upon hearing this, Madam Wang felt a pang in her heart.
Her Yuan Chun has endured years of hardship in the palace, yet she remains only a female official, while Daiyu, thanks to the favor of the Imperial Concubine—no, now she should be called the Empress—has become a county princess.
She was even adopted as a goddaughter!
Ever since she learned that the Imperial Concubine was to be promoted, she was heartbroken and anxious. Why wasn't it her Yuan Chun? Why couldn't she be promoted to the rank of Noble Lady or Consort?
On the contrary, the imperial concubine rose to the top step by step.
She suppressed her resentment and echoed, "Yes, the young lady is very fortunate."
---
Inside Kunning Palace, the concubines' homage had just ended.
Lin Yun—the current Empress of the Qing Dynasty—sat regally on the phoenix throne, wearing a bright yellow court dress embroidered with golden phoenixes. The kingfisher feather phoenix crown in her hair draped with fine beaded curtains, highlighting her beautiful features and natural majesty.
Grandmother Jia led Lady Wang, Wang Xifeng, and others to kneel in the hall and perform the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony.
As a county princess and the empress's adopted daughter, Daiyu stood to one side, her gaze fixed on Grandmother Jia, her eyes slightly red.
"Rise," Lin Yun said gently. After Grandmother Jia got up, she specially offered her a seat and ordered a palace maid to serve ginseng tea.
"I am very pleased that the old lady, with her advanced age and high virtue, could come today."
Grandmother Jia quickly expressed her gratitude, and when she looked up, she finally saw Daiyu's appearance clearly.
The fourteen-year-old girl was growing taller, and her fair skin was accentuated by a light purple palace dress. The childishness in her eyes had faded, replaced by a sense of composure.
Grandmother Jia felt a pang of sadness, recalling how delicate and frail she had been when she first entered the Jia family, and how she had now blossomed into such an extraordinary and refined woman.
"Yu'er..." Grandmother Jia couldn't help but call out softly.
Daiyu stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "Grandmother." Her voice was soft, but she couldn't hide her sobs.
Lin Yun smiled slightly: "The old lady and the county princess haven't seen each other for a long time, so they must have a lot to talk about. After the worship ceremony, let Yu'er have a chat with you."
Lady Wang stood to the side, but her gaze frequently swept across the palace maids standing in the hall, searching for Yuan Chun's figure.
At yesterday's investiture ceremony, she saw Yuan Chun presenting the golden book and seal to the Empress from afar. Although she was only a member of the ceremonial guard, her dignified demeanor made her so proud that she almost shed tears.
But at this moment, Yuan Chun was nowhere to be seen.
"Your Majesty," Lady Wang said, mustering her courage, "I wonder about my daughter, Yuan Chun..."
Lin Yun understood: "Lady Jia is on duty today and will come to pay her respects later."
Madam Wang quickly expressed her gratitude, but a myriad of thoughts were churning within her.
If Yuan Chun had won the Emperor's favor back then, would her daughter be sitting on the phoenix throne today?
The thought flashed through her mind, and she immediately clenched her fists, cursing herself for being delusional.
---
After the worship ceremony, the ladies of the court moved to a side hall for tea.
Lin Yun deliberately had Daiyu accompany Grandmother Jia, while she chatted with several members of the imperial family and their wives.
"Your Majesty the Empress is truly radiant today," the Princess Consort of Prince Yu flattered with a smile.
Lin Yun smiled faintly: "You flatter me, Your Highness. I am merely doing my best to assist the Emperor."
Princess Consort Gong chimed in, "Your Majesty is too modest. You are not only virtuous, but also well-versed in Western learning, even capable of designing steam warships. You are truly a model of virtue for the nation!"
Everyone echoed his sentiments, but Wang Xifeng stood in the corner, listening with a pounding heart.
She originally thought the Empress was only favored because of her looks, but she never expected her to have such abilities.
Looking at Daiyu's composed demeanor as she dealt with the noblewomen, I felt a mix of emotions. I blamed myself for being illiterate and incompetent; otherwise, I would have certainly made an appearance before the Empress.
On the other side, Grandmother Jia held Daiyu's hand and looked her over carefully: "Good child, are you getting used to life in the palace?"
Daiyu said softly, "Grandmother, don't worry. Her Majesty treats me very well and even lets me teach at Mingde Girls' Academy."
"Teaching?" Grandmother Jia asked in surprise, "How old are you?"
Daiyu smiled and said, "Your Majesty said that learning is not limited by age. Now I teach the basics of mathematics, and my students are all working very hard."
Grandmother Jia was filled with emotion and patted her hand: "Good, good... If your mother were alive, she would be pleased."
Just then, Yuan-chun rushed over and bowed to Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang.
Lady Wang grabbed her daughter and looked her up and down: "You've lost weight... Is life in the palace tough?"
Yuan Chun smiled and shook her head: "My daughter is doing well."
She looked at Daiyu, who was now a county princess, and she had to bow. A complex look flashed in her eyes. "Sister, you look so well these days."
Daiyu rose and returned the greeting: "Sister Yuanchun."
After the three chatted for a while, Yuan Chun had to take her leave because she had to be on duty.
As Lady Wang watched her daughter's departing figure, she finally couldn't help but whisper, "Yu'er, you have a lot of face in front of the Empress, could you... could you help your sister Yuanchun?"
Daiyu was taken aback, and before she could answer, Grandmother Jia frowned and scolded, "Foolish! How can you meddle in palace affairs? Yu'er has achieved her current position entirely through her own abilities. Don't make things difficult for her!"
Madam Wang lowered her head sheepishly, but her heart ached even more.
---
On the carriage back to the mansion, Wang Xifeng leaned close to Grandmother Jia and whispered, "Grandmother, look at the scene today. Shouldn't our family make more connections with the palace? Yu'er is now a county princess, and Yuan Chun is someone close to the Empress..."
Grandmother Jia glanced at her: "What's the rush? Yu'er is a woman of her own mind; she'll help when she should. As for you, stop having such wicked ideas."
Taking Daiyu as her goddaughter was an act of favor from the Empress, but they could not use this to curry favor, or they would all die without even knowing how.
Wang Xifeng was rebuffed and had no choice but to shut up.
She lifted the carriage curtain, gazing at the receding palace walls, and thought to herself: This immense wealth and honor is something Wang Xifeng absolutely cannot miss.
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