Chapter 25 They Can't Even Make a Meal
The palace was vast, and Shangguan Jin's feet ached from walking so much before she could finally see the Empress's palace.
At that moment, she was incredibly grateful that she didn't have bound feet.
It seems that some of the predecessors who traveled through time did do some good things, at least they didn't make women bind their feet again.
"Madam, please watch your step. It rained lightly last night, and the stone slabs are a bit slippery," Eunuch Hu whispered a reminder.
Shangguan Jin nodded and smiled.
"Thank you for reminding me, Father-in-law."
As she spoke, Shangguan Jin took out a fifty-tael red envelope from her sleeve and was about to hand it to Eunuch Hu.
But Eunuch Hu quickly declined.
"Madam, you mustn't do that. We already received your kind offer yesterday."
Also, thank you very much to the steward of the manor for the gifts; they are the best reward I could receive.”
Seeing that no one was around, Shangguan Jin quickly whispered, "That medicinal wine is the kind that the Duke used to use."
The northern region is bitterly cold, and it is said that this is a secret remedy used by some of the local elders.
Every year during the hottest days of summer, my father-in-law would rub his legs with this medicinal wine. I wouldn't dare say it would fully restore him to his former state, but it could certainly alleviate the pain.
If the father-in-law runs out of supplies, he can simply send someone to the Duke's mansion to retrieve them discreetly.
Eunuch Hu carefully wrote it down, and then respectfully bowed deeply to Shangguan Jin.
After walking less than twenty meters, we arrived at the Queen's palace.
Shangguan Jin didn't look at it closely anymore.
This palace looks quite similar to the Forbidden City of later generations, but it is not as grand and imposing.
With her head bowed, she followed Eunuch Hu into the Empress's Qifeng Palace.
I secretly glanced at the decorations in the Empress's palace.
Wow! No wonder it's the palace of the second most noble woman in the Great Yu!
Everything exudes exquisite beauty; even the smallest candlesticks are inlaid with gold and jade.
"I thought you should have arrived by now, but unfortunately, His Majesty finished dealing with the memorials and came to see the Eleventh Princess. It seems my arrangements were inadequate!"
The Empress's gentle voice rang in Shangguan Jin's ears.
Shangguan Jin only glanced at it before quickly kneeling down.
A woman dressed in a bright red palace gown sat regally on the right side of the head of the table.
On the left sat a man dressed in a bright yellow shirt.
Shangguan Jin immediately realized that this was the current Emperor Xiao Jing of the imperial family.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. Long live the Emperor!"
Your humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress, wishing you a long and prosperous reign.
Thanks to the original Shangguan Jin's rigorous and dignified demeanor, the current Shangguan Jin performs these grand gestures without any sense of incongruity.
As for the grand ceremony of paying homage and kneeling, Shangguan Jin didn't need to think about it at all.
Under the oppressive power of the emperor, human rights were nothing.
You won't kneel? Ha! A knife's to your throat right now. Are you planning a rebellion?
Therefore, Shangguan Jin knelt willingly.
Isn't this just like in later times, when you don't want to work overtime, but your boss calls you in the middle of the night and asks you to prepare a PPT presentation, you still have to obediently get up and turn on your computer?
Therefore, freedom is relative; survival is the most important thing!
Emperor Xiao Jing and Empress Xu were visibly taken aback when Shangguan Jin performed such a grand salute.
"Lady of the State...didn't I already exempt you from the kneeling ceremony?" Emperor Xiao Jing said calmly.
Shangguan Jin...
Damn, you knelt down too early...
Shangguan Jin remembered that after Duke Shen Huaichen quelled the invasion of the Northern Hu, Shangguan Jin was heavily pregnant at the time.
On a whim, Emperor Xiao Jing went to the Duke of Dingguo's residence to find Shen Huaichen.
At that time, Shangguan Jin was already nine months pregnant, making it somewhat difficult to perform the grand ceremony.
In a good mood, Emperor Xiao Jing immediately exempted Shangguan Jin from the grand ceremony of paying homage, and stipulated that she would not have to perform the grand ceremony when she saw him in the future.
"Etiquette must not be disregarded!" Shangguan Jinzhi, who was filled with regret, forced herself to maintain her composure.
Emperor Xiao Jing sighed. Empress Xu glanced at Emperor Xiao Jing's expression and quickly instructed her maid to help him up.
"We're all family, why so many formalities?"
"Quickly help the Duchess up and offer her a seat."
With the help of two palace maids, Shangguan Jin stood up and sat down about five meters away from the Emperor and Empress.
She kept her head slightly lowered and remained silent.
What Emperor Xiao Jing was thinking was that Lady Shen Huaichen seemed to harbor quite a bit of resentment!
The gesture of paying homage just now conveyed a sense of alienation.
"The Duke's Mansion held a birthday banquet for Old Madam Shen the other day."
If I remember correctly, the old lady's birthday is in about fifty days!
"Why did it happen so early?" Emperor Xiao Jing asked with a smile.
Shangguan Jin muttered to herself, "Oh, it's kind of you to remember. But even though you remember, why haven't you sent the Duke a single hair in the past three years?"
"Your Majesty, the master has calculated the auspicious date and said that a certain date is auspicious," Shangguan Jin said respectfully.
Emperor Xiao Jing...
Who are you trying to fool! A good day, my foot! Who doesn't celebrate their birthday at the exact time?
"I want to hear the truth," Emperor Xiao Jing said calmly.
"Yes, Sister Jin, we all grew up together. Although I am a few years older than you, I have always treated you as my own sister."
"If there's anything you can't say to outsiders, just tell me and His Majesty," Empress Xu advised from the side.
Shangguan Jin sneered inwardly.
She's quite the smooth talker; no wonder she's able to hold onto her position as Empress!
Although she was dissatisfied, Shangguan Jin dared not show it on her face.
However, I can still say a few disgusting things.
Shangguan Jin's mind raced, and she immediately knew what to say.
Just tell the truth!
"This humble woman dares not speak!" Shangguan Jin said softly, bowing her head.
"His Majesty and I will stand up for you." Empress Xu sat up straight.
Emperor Xiao Jing also frowned.
Could there be a hidden story behind this?
"What is there to be afraid to say? I am here, so just say whatever you want." Emperor Xiao Jing thought that Shangguan Jin had been threatened.
Shangguan Jin then pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, carefully wiped the corner of her eye, and then began to accuse him with red eyes.
"If we don't hold a banquet and collect some gifts, the Duke's mansion will go hungry."
Emperor Xiao Jing and Empress Xu, who had initially appeared quite serious...
They looked at each other, and Emperor Xiao Jing subconsciously reached for his ear to see if he had misheard.
Is the Duke's mansion starving?
Empress Xu was also shocked.
Wait a minute, this is different from what my sister said!
"This... how could you suddenly be starving! Your Duke's mansion..."
Empress Xu still didn't believe it.
How could the family of the Duke of Dingguo, one of the three great dukes of Dayu, be unable to afford food?
If this gets out to other countries, they'll laugh their heads off.
Besides, which noble family doesn't own estates and shops?
It is said that officials' families are not allowed to engage in business, but which successful shop does not have the shadow of these nobles behind it?
"Tell me properly, how come such a large Duke's mansion is starving?" Emperor Xiao Jing was also full of anger.
My family, the Duke of Dingguo, is going hungry?
Isn't this a blatant slap in my face?
Shangguan Jin was waiting for him to continue!
She wiped the corner of her eye with her small handkerchief again, and then began her performance.
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