The small discussion in the Imperial Study ended quickly.
The officials then left the Imperial Study.
Ah Li was following behind the Vice Minister of War when the Emperor called her back just as they were about to leave.
"Han Aiqing, please stay."
He had no choice but to stop and quietly await orders: "Your humble servant is here."
Unexpectedly, Zhao Changheng kept him around not to give him instructions on political affairs, but to chat with him casually.
"Han Aiqing, how is your mother doing lately?"
Zhao Changheng had a deep impression of He Youyou.
Having interacted with her several times, Zhao Changheng felt that she was a woman of considerable insight, judging from her views on land reclamation and her research on ironware business.
When I saw Ah Li today, I suddenly thought of He Youyou, so I casually asked her about it.
"Your Majesty, my mother is well."
Zhao Changheng then remembered something else: "Has your mother's imperial decree been issued yet?"
The mothers and wives of officials of the first to fifth rank could receive imperial edicts and were also called "imperial consorts".
Those below the fifth rank were granted imperial titles and were called Imperial Lady.
Given Ah Li's rank, He Youyou was able to be granted the title of Anren by imperial decree.
Ah Li replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, my mother has not yet been granted an official title."
He had not been officially appointed for long.
Moreover, a new batch of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) suddenly appeared in the court, keeping the Ministry of Personnel extremely busy.
In such a short time, how could there be time to handle the matter of bestowing titles upon the officials' families?
Therefore, He Youyou's official title has not yet been issued.
Zhao Changheng pondered for a moment.
He never interfered with the imperial edicts bestowing titles upon the families of minor officials; the Ministry of Personnel handled these matters according to established procedures.
However, He Youyou had left a deep impression on him, and he felt he had to do something to show his appreciation.
"Sixi, come here."
The eunuch Sixi turned and entered, standing before the emperor to await his orders: "Your Majesty, this servant is here."
"Issue my decree to expedite the process of bestowing an imperial edict upon Han Aiqing's mother."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go to the Ministry of Personnel to convey the imperial decree immediately."
After saying that, Sixi left in a hurry.
"I thank you Lord for your kindness!"
Ahri immediately knelt down and kowtowed to express her gratitude for the emperor's grace.
Within a few days, the imperial edict from the Ministry of Personnel was issued.
He Youyou, dressed in her imperial concubine's robes, twirled around in front of Ah Li a few times.
"Ah Li, what do you think of my clothes?"
Ah Li laughed, "Mother, you look absolutely stunning in this outfit."
Regardless of whether what he said was true or false, He Youyou was happy.
This imperial decree was a title her son earned through his own abilities; not every woman can have it. How could she not be happy?
About half a month after the imperial decree, another decree came from the palace.
The Empress held a banquet in the palace, inviting the noble ladies of the capital to attend.
Since it was a banquet for noblewomen, those invited were all noblewomen of the first to fifth rank.
Unexpectedly, He Youyou was added to the list of fifth-rank imperial consorts.
With my son entering officialdom, these social interactions are unavoidable.
He Youyou exclaimed with delight, "I can finally go to the palace to eat at the palace banquet!"
What we eat doesn't matter, and whether it tastes good or not doesn't matter either.
She feels like she's on vacation right now.
Since we've come all this way to Huangquan Society, we should at least try out some of their unique tourist attractions.
The main focus is on a sense of participation.
He Youyou dressed up in her new imperial concubine robes and took Xiao Wu to the palace banquet.
Xiao Wu is now her bodyguard; she has to take him with her wherever she goes.
The carriage must stop at the palace gate, then passengers must disembark and walk in with the palace attendants.
Along the way, they encountered many officials' wives attending a banquet, all dressed in their official robes, their faces beaming with joy, walking together.
Among these ladies of high rank, there were several who were quite old and held the rank of First Rank.
He looks to be in his fifties or sixties.
Perhaps because she had been a titled lady for so long, she became arrogant and presumptuous.
A group of second- and third-rank noblewomen warmly supported these first-rank noblewomen, constantly exchanging intimate words with them.
The scene appeared harmonious and loving, accompanied by cheerful laughter.
The ladies of the fourth and fifth ranks couldn't approach them; they could only follow behind them voluntarily and respectfully.
Only He Youyou, dressed in the attire of a sixth-rank official, stood out conspicuously among them.
Although the ladies of noble birth were all very cultured, they still couldn't help but cast curious glances at her.
The ladies who knew each other exchanged glances and whispered among themselves.
Everyone speculated that she was the wife of some minor official, and how she had managed to get into such a high-level palace banquet.
He Youyou, being thick-skinned, pretended not to hear.
He leisurely followed the crowd.
As you walk, enjoy the scenery of the imperial city.
The palace is very large; it takes a long time to walk from the palace gate to the Phoenix Palace where the Empress holds banquets.
On both sides were palace walls that stretched as far as the eye could see.
As they walked, some sharp-eyed people spotted a figure in the distance ahead.
Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that it was actually a sedan chair.
Immediately, someone exclaimed with delight, "Oh my, it must be because Her Majesty the Empress cares about the ladies of the first rank that she has sent someone to fetch them?"
None of these second, third, or fourth-rank officials were so arrogant as to think that the sedan chair was there to pick them up.
The only possibility is that they came to pick up these elderly ladies of high rank.
But there are several first-rank ladies, so why is there only one sedan chair?
Perhaps there are other sedan chairs behind?
Just as they were speculating, several eunuchs carried a sedan chair to their doorstep.
The sedan chair came to a stop, and the lead eunuch carefully searched among the ladies.
My gaze swept over the first-class...
Passing through the second grade...
Then it passed through the third, fourth, and fifth ranks...
Finally, it stopped at the end of the line with He Youyou.
The head eunuch stepped forward with a smile and bowed to He Youyou: "May I ask if you are Madam Han, the mother of Han Xiuzhuan?"
He Youyou nodded: "That's me."
The eunuch smiled and said, "Madam Han, the road ahead is long. Please get into the sedan chair. We have come here specially to pick you up for the banquet."
He Youyou was delighted: Hey, we can even ride in a sedan chair? This tourist attraction is quite an experience.
The other ladies could no longer contain themselves as they watched her get into the sedan chair.
Especially the high-ranking officials, who disregarded their age and status.
She stepped forward and stopped the eunuch, asking, "Were you sent by Her Majesty the Empress to pick us up? Will we also have sedan chairs to ride in?"
The eunuch said apologetically, "We are not from the Empress's palace and do not know whether the Empress will arrange for someone to pick you up. We are from the Eastern Palace. His Highness the Crown Prince only instructed us to take Lady Han to the Phoenix Palace, but did not mention any other ladies."
Everyone present looked at each other in bewilderment.
What?
Even a lowly woman like An could ride in a sedan chair, yet no one came to fetch them?
Is there a mistake?
The old ladies were still unwilling to give up: "Then... what should we do?"
The eunuch stepped back, withdrawing from the encirclement: "Ladies, we only obey the Crown Prince's orders. Please do not delay our work. If we make a mistake, the Crown Prince will be furious, and we will not be able to bear the consequences."
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