Enter the palace to see the emperor
When the eunuch who announced the decree and Lu Yu arrived at the Bai residence, Bai Miaoke was lying on the bed looking at the list of betrothal gifts.
That day, the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion sent a long row of carts of betrothal gifts. Chun Xing and a few maids carefully spent two days checking them one by one and then delivered the list to Bai Miaoke.
The betrothal gifts included not only various kinds of silks, jewellery, brocade clothes, etc., but also nine swords inlaid with gold and jade and six Ferghana horses.
Bai Miaoke's eyes lit up when she saw this. It turned out that the horses pulling the betrothal gifts that day were all Ferghana horses. She had never seen one before. Only General Lu had served in the army for many years to be able to have such good horses.
Bai Miaoke was about to get up and go to the stable to check, but she saw Chun Xing running in in a hurry: "Miss! The uncle and the uncle are here!"
"Huh? Who is the father-in-law?" Bai Miaoke asked with her head tilted.
"It's my son-in-law and the eunuch from the palace who came to deliver the imperial edict. They are now in the front hall." Chun Xing added.
"Go and take a look!" Bai Miaoke immediately walked towards the front hall.
When he arrived, he found that his father and brother were all there. Lu Yu was also standing aside, and next to him stood a eunuch in palace clothes.
When the eunuch saw Bai Miaoke, he reacted faster than anyone else and greeted her in a shrill voice: "The princess is here too. Once everyone is here, I will start to announce the decree."
Bai Miaoke was a little confused and asked Lu Yu in a low voice: "Where is the princess?"
Lu Yu did not answer, but pulled her to kneel down to receive the order.
"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, declares: I believe that Heaven has favored me with virtue, and my family and country rely on virtuous people. I would like to ask you, Bai Miaoke, the daughter of the Bai family, the daughter of the younger sister of the late Empress Dowager Chunde. She is gentle and respectful by nature, and has a prudent appearance. She has been taught by her family and is well versed in etiquette.
She was fearless in the face of danger, and was resolute and resolute in collecting evidence in the investigation of King Kang's conspiracy and rebellion. She was both wise and brave. Her heart was clear, her actions were bright, and she was as brave as a man. She was indeed a model for the boudoir and a model for the royal family.
Today, I have shown my great favor to you, and have specially appointed you as a princess, and bestowed upon you the title of Youyun. I have bestowed upon you a fiefdom, and an annual salary of 800 dan. I have bestowed upon you a golden book, a golden seal, and a crown, clothes, and carriage of a princess in accordance with the regulations. I decree this.”
Bai Miaoke accepted the decree with a confused look on her face and thanked the emperor. Before everyone could stand up, the eunuch who announced the decree took out another imperial decree, but this one was for Bai Yongsi. It had similar content, but did not confer any title on him. Instead, it promoted his official position.
Bai Yongsi took the imperial edict, and the eunuch said with a smile: "This old servant congratulates you two!"
"Thank you for your hard work, eunuch. Please stay and have dinner with us." Mr. Bai was very happy. He walked up to the eunuch who announced the decree and stuffed a gold ingot into his mouth while talking to him.
The eunuch smiled more and more, accepted the gold ingots calmly, and said: "His Majesty is still waiting for me to return and report, so there is no need to have a meal. Princess Youyun, His Majesty misses you very much. If you can come to the palace to see His Majesty, I'm sorry for being so talkative."
After sending the eunuch away, Bai Miaoke gradually came to her senses from the shock. She was actually a princess?! Normally, she should go to the palace to express her gratitude and meet this cousin whom she had never met before. However, she heard that the palace had strict rules, so Bai Miaoke couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
The next day, Bai Yongsi came back from court and brought the news that the emperor had ordered her to enter the palace in the afternoon.
I didn't expect it would happen so soon. Bai Miaoke changed into a goose yellow velvet-edged jacket and skirt, asked Chun Xing to comb her hair into a fairy cloud bun, picked out a few simple and elegant hairpins, and matched them with elegant makeup, she looked like a gentle and quiet lady from a noble family.
After lunch, Bai Miaoke got on the carriage and headed towards the palace. She was stopped after taking a few steps. Chun Xing asked through the curtain, "Miss, is it my son-in-law?"
Bai Miaoke lifted the curtain and saw Lu Yu standing next to the carriage. He nodded slightly at her and got into the carriage very consciously.
"Why are you here?" Bai Miaoke asked.
"I want to go to the palace too. Princess, can you give me a ride?" Lu Yu sat down next to her.
"Well, the princess agrees." Bai Miaoke nodded proudly, but she felt warm in her heart. He had said before that he would accompany her if she entered the palace. Bai Miaoke thought he was too busy, but she didn't expect that he calculated the time and waited for her here.
Then Lu Yu told her about the situation in the palace. The emperor was in a bad mood because of this matter. He had not attended court for two days and had not seen anyone.
"Your Majesty doesn't want to see anyone? Then why did he summon me?" Bai Miaoke was shocked.
"I don't know the exact reason, but it shouldn't be a bad thing, so don't worry." Lu Yu comforted her.
Bai Miaoke shrugged and said, "Well, after all, your Majesty is still my cousin."
The royal family's affection was as thin as paper. Lu Yu smiled bitterly and shook his head, but he didn't say it out loud in the end.
After approaching the majestic and solemn imperial palace, they could no longer take the carriage in, so Bai Miaoke and Lu Yu got off.
There was already a palace servant waiting at the door. It was the eunuch De who went to the Bai family to announce the imperial decree that day. When he saw Bai Miaoke coming, he immediately put on a smile and said, "This old servant greets Princess Youyun. May the princess be blessed." After saying that, he was about to kneel down to pay his respects, but was stopped by Bai Miaoke.
"No, no, no need to be so polite. I'm not used to it."
"Okay, I'm here to greet the Prime Minister." Eunuch De bowed to Lu Yu again, but the latter just nodded with an indifferent expression.
Then he said respectfully to Bai Miaoke: "Princess, His Majesty has sent this old servant to wait for you here, please follow me."
Bai Miaoke nodded, and followed Eunuch De towards the imperial study with Lu Yu.
After walking a few steps, Eunuch De suddenly stopped and said with some embarrassment: "Prime Minister, His Majesty only said that he wanted to see Princess Youyun, you see this..."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu just glanced at him coldly and said, "Just lead the way, eunuch."
The voice was so intimidating without being angry that Bai Miaoke couldn't help but take a few more glances. It turned out that the ruthless prime minister in the rumors looked like this. He was so domineering. If he was like this in bed... Bai Miaoke couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips as she thought about it.
Eunuch De had no choice but to continue leading the way and didn't say anything that would make Lu Yu unhappy.
It was Bai Miaoke's first time entering the palace. As she walked and looked around, she couldn't help but whisper to Lu Yu, "The palace walls are so high that ordinary people can't even climb up."
Lu Yu also looked up at the wall and then at Bai Miaoke, and said objectively: "Do you want me to praise you for being extraordinary? That's true, my fiancée is the strongest."
Bai Miaoke was delighted to hear this. She shook her head, causing the pearl hairpin on her head to sway, and said, "The Prime Minister is indeed very discerning."
Eunuch De, who was leading the way quietly in front, had his eyelids twitching wildly. He could only pretend that he couldn't hear the conversation between the two living ancestors. He buried his head even lower and walked quickly.
When they arrived at the door of the imperial study, Eunuch De went in first to report, and soon came out and said to Bai Miaoke: "Princess, His Majesty invites you in."
Bai Miaoke said "OK" and mouthed to Lu Yu: "Wait for me here." Then she walked into the imperial study.
The emperor was standing beside the desk, looking at something unknown. Bai Miaoke met his gaze as she entered the room. Just as she was about to kneel down to salute, a pair of hands helped her up.
"No need to be so polite, cousin." The emperor's hoarse voice came.
Bai Miaoke was surprised that he called her cousin, but she still remembered the rules and just lowered her head and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Lift your head and let me see it," said the emperor.
So Bai Miaoke looked up and looked at him. The emperor looked like he was no more than thirty years old, but he already had a few white hairs. It was not known whether he had not gotten enough rest recently. Bai Miaoke could clearly see the red bloodshot in his eyes, making him look a little haggard.
"So similar." The emperor murmured, staring into her eyes.
Bai Miaoke didn't hear clearly, so she asked, "What did your Majesty say?"
"Your eyes are very much like your mother's." The emperor said as he turned to look at a painting on the table.
Bai Miaoke followed his gaze and saw a woman in elegant clothes in the painting. Her eyebrows and eyes were 80% similar to her mother's. Bai Miaoke's eyes were like her mother's, so even the small mole at the end of her eye was exactly the same.
"This must be the late empress dowager. She looks very similar to my mother." Bai Miaoke couldn't help but say, and she also thought of her own mother.
"I heard that my aunt also passed away early because she was too worried," said the emperor.
"Yes." Speaking of her mother, Bai Miaoke felt a little depressed.
"I feel very guilty. It is the royal family that has let them down." The emperor sighed and lowered his head, looking lonely.
Bai Miaoke really wanted to say that the late emperor was unkind, but after thinking it over again, she finally remained silent.
Then the emperor continued, "Do you know why I gave you the title Youyun?"
Bai Miaoke shook her head: "I don't know."
"My mother has been trapped in the palace for her entire life, and my aunt has been trapped in her memories for her entire life. I don't have many family members left. I hope you can be as free and leisurely as the clouds in the sky."
Bai Miaoke thought of the princes who died in the battle for the throne, and her uncle and cousin from the Yu family who had remained anonymous until now. She suddenly understood what Lu Yu said about the lack of family affection in the royal family, and she only replied softly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"If you have any trouble, come to me. If anyone bullies you, come to me. I will support you in the future." After the emperor said this, he seemed to have put a burden on his mind and finally showed a relaxed expression.
Bai Miaoke understood that he wanted to make up for what the royal family owed to the Yu family over the years through her. Perhaps only in this way could he feel at ease.
Don't blame her for being rude. Bai Miaoke pretended to be touched and said, "Thank you, cousin." But in her heart she was already planning to give the emperor a good beating.
The two were still acting out the affectionate brother-sister drama when Lu Yu suddenly came in, followed by Eunuch De, who knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was unable to stop the Prime Minister."
Bai Miaoke met Lu Yu's concerned gaze and gave him a reassuring look in return.
The emperor waved his hand at Eunuch Chongde and said, "Nothing, you can go down."
He turned to look at Lu Yu again: "Zicheng, why are you so worried about your fiancée? I am her cousin after all, would I embarrass her?"
Seeing someone, Lu Yu also resumed his dignified appearance, "I am concerned about your Majesty's health. Your Majesty has not attended court for several days, and state affairs cannot be delayed."
The emperor has not seen anyone or attended court in recent days, so all affairs are handled by Lu Yu. This is to urge the emperor to get to work.
The emperor smiled bitterly and said, "Okay, okay, I am well now. I will attend court tomorrow."
"I would like to ask Your Majesty a favor." Lu Yu bowed and said.
"What's the matter?" the emperor asked curiously.
"I beg Your Majesty to grant me a marriage with Princess Youyun."
"A marriage is granted? I heard that you are already engaged."
"I beg for grace, Your Majesty." Lu Yu insisted. According to the laws of this dynasty, if the emperor grants a marriage, the ceremony can be held with higher standards, and one cannot cancel the engagement, divorce, or divorce the wife at will.
"Okay, I will grant you a marriage. I will also prepare a dowry for your cousin. You must treat her well." The emperor said with a smile.
Lu Yu said: "Your Majesty, I obey your order."
After leaving the palace, Bai Miaoke poked Lu Yu and said, "Why don't you ask what His Majesty said to me?"
"It's just some words that can make him feel at ease." Lu Yu replied.
"It's true. He said he wanted to compensate me. Do you think I can ask for a lot?" Bai Miaoke asked.
"Okay, he feels guilty. Your Majesty will agree to any request that is not too excessive." Lu Yu took her hand and thought about the wedding next spring.
Bai Miaoke was not in the mood to think about these things now. She was already planning in her mind how to use His Majesty's grace to continue expanding the Bai family's business.
The capital city is a magical place. News can spread extremely quickly in such a large place.
News soon came that Bai Miaoke had been named a princess and summoned to the palace.
All kinds of invitations were sent to the Bai Mansion at once, and Bai Miaoke accepted them all. In just one month, she got to know all the ladies and young ladies from various aristocratic families.
Without exception, she would always tell them how good the Bai family's jewelry, clothes, gouache, etc. were. For a while, whether out of politeness or genuine affection, the Bai family's business became famous and was unrivaled in the capital.
After solving the biggest problem in his mind, Lu Yu became more idle. Every day he listened to his subordinates report which noble lady Bai Miaoke had met, but he hadn't seen his man for a long time.
As the year draws to a close, the Prime Minister can no longer sit still.
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