When Kong Qing returned, the affairs of the estate had already been settled.
No one else was affected. Those who had served Rong Ning could not leave, so they stayed there to live out their retirement.
As for the Yan family, they were unaware of this matter.
Let's talk about it when Yan Jinsi and Yan Jinfei dare to ask.
In the inner palace, the ceremony for bestowing the title of Noble Consort Duanyi was prepared first.
The Yan family father and son have already left, so they cannot participate.
However, Madam Yin stayed behind and waited until the event was over before leaving.
The investiture ceremony was held on April 26th, a day with fine weather.
Yan Nangui was in Zhaochun Palace, where he received the greetings of many people. Many members of the imperial clan were present.
Consort Duanyi was the first to be appointed since the establishment of the dynasty, so everything had to be started over.
The original meaning of the Imperial Household Department was that it was one rank higher than that of the Imperial Concubine.
But His Majesty means that he is one rank lower than the Empress.
At first glance, they seem to mean the same thing. But upon closer inspection, they are quite different.
Therefore, on the day of the investiture ceremony, Yan Nangui used a nine-tailed golden phoenix.
Although it's a little smaller than the one used by the Empress, it's still a nine-tailed beast.
Consort Xiangxian looked at Yan Nangui, who was sitting upright at the head of the table, wearing a black auspicious robe embroidered with gold phoenixes and trimmed with deep red. She deeply felt that the distance between them had been completely widened.
Previously, she was a virtuous concubine favored by His Majesty, but now, Yan Nangui has become someone who far surpasses everyone else.
Consort Xiangxian thought the same as everyone else: because Lady Yan could not be the empress, she was the Noble Consort Duanyi.
Although she was not as high-ranking as the Empress, she was far superior to any of the other concubines.
Fortunately, she only has one princess. (You guys used to say it was fortunate she couldn't have children.)
Yan Nangui was dignified and composed. He smiled and asked everyone to stand up, and he was extremely polite to his relatives.
Those who had heard of her achievements also felt that it was all a misconception, since the Empress was clearly such a polite person.
Of course, nobody's stupid. After thinking about it this way, they realized that he was someone the Emperor favored, and that he knew how to get along with people.
The Empress Dowager wanted to disrespect her, but the Emperor was still there.
After being persuaded by his subordinates, he gave them face.
The princes and princesses also sent their congratulatory gifts.
The returning geese were accepted without question, and His Majesty bestowed many gifts upon them. These included various rare and precious antiques, clothing, jewelry, and a string of azure beads. Each bead was about the size of a thumb, crystal clear, and shimmering with iridescent light.
Such sapphires are extremely rare. Not to mention they need to be drilled and strung together. And they're polished so smoothly.
It can be considered an authentic item.
Yan Nangui naturally put it on right then and there.
“It’s true that different people have different fates. I was overjoyed when His Majesty gave me a hairpin with a sapphire in it. Compared to Your Highness’s, I can’t even look at it,” Lin Xiaoyi whispered to Qiao Baolin.
Qiao Baolin was also extremely envious: "Yes, we people can't compare to the Empress."
The day after the investiture ceremony, everyone came to Zhaochun Palace to pay their respects.
After Yan Nangui called them up, he said, "Now that I have officially conferred the title, it would be wrong not to ask you to pay your respects. However, you don't need to come every day, just the first and fifteenth of the month. It's just that you can all gather here and then go to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager together."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty," the crowd said.
“This time, I will also speak to His Majesty about promoting you all. Some of you have been with His Majesty since the beginning of his life, and some have served him for many years. As long as you have all been law-abiding and dutiful, you should be promoted,” Yan Nangui said.
Everyone was overjoyed.
As expected, Consort Duanyi is very generous; she's promoted right away?
Yan Nangui had already discussed this matter with the emperor before he returned.
The emperor didn't care.
However, it is indeed time to fill the gaps mentioned above.
So, the imperial decree was issued the very next day.
The first was that Consort Jia was promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine.
Naturally, it was because of Meng Haijiang; Meng Haijiang was doing quite well these days. He deserved a reward of a concubine's rank. Therefore, she skipped the rank of concubine and became a concubine.
Then they moved to Linhua Palace.
Then came Consort Wan, since the Sixth Princess had grown up and been promoted to the rank of Zhaorong. She moved to Feixue Pavilion.
Consort Sang was also promoted to the rank of Wanrong. There was no need to move.
Anjieyu was promoted to the rank of Noble Consort. She no longer needed to move.
Even though Consort Song was promoted to the rank of Jieyu, she did not need to move.
Hui Lingyi was promoted to the rank of Cai Ren, and Zhuang Lingyi was promoted to the rank of Mei Ren. Neither of them moved.
Wang Lingyi was promoted to the rank of Liangren and moved out of Wanchun Palace to live in Yiyu Pavilion.
The three junior consorts, Lin, Li, and Wang, were promoted to the rank of Imperial Consort. Imperial Consort Lin moved to a side hall of the Jade Lotus Palace. Imperial Consort Li remained unchanged. Imperial Consort Wang remained unchanged.
Xu Baolin and Qiao Baolin were promoted to the rank of Xiaoyi. Xu Baolin remained unchanged, while Qi Xiaoyi moved to Liuying Pavilion.
Xiao Xiang, the Imperial Concubine, was promoted to Baolin. Wen, the Imperial Concubine, was also promoted to Baolin. Neither of them changed their positions.
Lady Feng and Lady Yang, who were promoted last time, retained their original ranks, but moved to Fuxi Palace. Both of them were now fifth-rank officials, and it would be too crowded for them to live in the same room again.
Everyone was naturally delighted, but the person who remained seated was in a very awkward position.
For example, there's Consort Luo, who was recently demoted, and Consort Xia, who was demoted a few years ago.
This situation involves people who haven't made any mistakes, and those who aren't favored, all getting promoted. Actually, this isn't unusual.
In the imperial harem, when there is such a large-scale promotion, almost everyone can be promoted.
Those who are not eligible for promotion should just suffer the embarrassment themselves.
Now that the princes' marriages have been arranged, Yan Nangui can't help but worry about it.
The second prince's wet nurse changed several times, and the one who remained in the end was more like a head nanny than a wet nurse.
His surname is Zhou.
Zhou Shi came to discuss some matters concerning the Second Prince's marriage, and she was being very cautious.
Having said what needed to be said, Yan Nangui said, "Go back and tell your Highness that Jin's failure to be promoted this time is because His Majesty still remembers the past. However, I have already sent her two hundred taels of silver. It won't interfere with her life. As for the birthday gift for the Empress Dowager, as long as the Second Prince is willing to take responsibility, it can be sent over when the time comes."
In other words, if you want to help your mother, I won't stop you. Just do your best.
The wet nurse naturally thanked him on behalf of her prince.
"Let me also tell Your Highness that I am a straightforward person. Don't think that I can win over the Second Prince just because I have no children. I don't raise other people's children. I am doing this for His Majesty's sake. Whether he believes me or not, he should just do his own job."
The wet nurse was indeed thinking about that, and she was a little surprised when she heard what Consort Duanyi said.
"Yes, Your Highness is right."
Nowadays in the palace, everyone calls her Imperial Concubine. Calling her Imperial Concubine Duan Yichen would be too long, and it's unnecessary to use that in daily life.
Anyway, there are no other imperial concubines now.
She returned to the Hall of Joyful Longevity and repeated what she had said.
"It's just that this old servant is overthinking things. I thought... but it turns out that Her Highness the Noble Consort didn't think that way."
"Of course, Consort Chen didn't think that way. If she wanted a prince... she would naturally have one." Putting aside everything else, if Consort Chen wanted the Eighth Prince, he wouldn't end up with Consort Xiang.
It's probably because she doesn't want it; after all, Consort Chen has always been unconventional.
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