Chapter 49 Imperial Edict Arrives
Time flies, and Lin Wantang and Chen Baoqian have shown significant improvement under Yin Bai's treatment.
The Lin family and the Minister's family are grateful to Yin Bai and Xie Sangning every day.
Soon, it was the day of the third year of junior high school.
The banquet hall of the Lin residence.
The banquet that Madam Lin painstakingly organized was the epitome of extravagance.
Amidst the carved beams and painted rafters, figures moved about; almost all the officials of the fifth rank and above, noble families, and wealthy merchants from Jinling City were present.
No one dared to disregard the name card from the general's residence.
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly lively, and some people started to say things they didn't mean.
"Gentlemen, in my opinion, the future of the Zhenguo General's Mansion will likely depend on the Second Young Master Wulu."
"Oh? What makes you say that, Brother Zhang?" Someone immediately chimed in.
"Isn't it obvious?" The official surnamed Zhang took a sip of wine and spoke eloquently, "Who doesn't know that the eldest son, Sang Yu, is a playboy? Can such a grand occasion as the General's Mansion be entrusted to a playboy?"
He deliberately lowered his voice: "As for that young lady... her skills and courage are certainly extraordinary, but she is ultimately a woman. If she is not in charge of such a large general's mansion, her position will not be legitimate, and it is not a long-term solution."
"Brother Zhang, your insight is brilliant!" another person chimed in, glancing at Xie Wulu, who was sitting quietly, and nodding approvingly. "On the other hand, the Second Young Master Wulu, though young, is calm and composed, and his scholarship and writing are among the best of his generation."
"With the imperial examinations just around the corner, and given the Second Young Master's talent, it's a sure thing that he'll be among the top three!"
"That's exactly right!"
"Once the second young master passes the imperial examination, with his family background and talent, he will enter the Hanlin Academy and become a scholar. His future will be limitless! At that time, who else but him will inherit the mansion? Do we really expect that person... cough."
"Haha, it is the right path for the wise to reside there!"
The group raised their glasses and clinked them together, their conversation filled with accusations of Xie Sangyu's dissolute lifestyle, subtle denigration of Xie Sangning's immoral behavior, and praise for Xie Wulu.
Xie Wulu naturally heard it as well, and that was exactly the effect he wanted.
The goal is to make everyone think that I am better than Xie Sangyu.
Some things, if said enough times, can become true.
Just then, Xie Sangning entered the hall.
All eyes were instantly drawn to it.
Xie Sangning walked slowly, surrounded by Ru Chun and the other three.
Her aura instantly silenced the noisy hall.
Countless eyes were focused on her.
She walked with ease to the highest point in the center of the hall.
"Your presence today is an honor to my humble abode."
"On the occasion of today's joyous occasion, I also have some good news to share with you all."
She turned slightly to the side, gesturing towards the outside of the hall.
All eyes turned to the doorway.
A woman, like a fairy from a painting, walked slowly into the hall, her head bowed, supported by two maids.
She has a slender figure and an elegant gait.
When her face was fully revealed to everyone.
"hiss--!"
"Oh my god! It's...it's her?!"
"Liu Shi?! That Liu Shi from the Liu family?!"
"That's right! It's her! Liu Shi, the one who was expelled from the Liu family for her promiscuity!"
"How could she be here?!"
Countless gazes were fixed on that delicate figure in the arena!
Liu Shi tried to hold on, but her face was somewhat pale.
Xie Sangning ignored the uproar in the audience.
She stepped forward and, to everyone's astonishment, reached out and grasped Liu Shi's cold, trembling wrist with remarkable ease, gently pulling her to her side so they could stand side by side.
"From this day forward,"
"Liu Shi is my adopted sister, Xie Sangning!"
She paused for a moment: "Enter my Xie family genealogy and change my name to Xie Nu'er!"
"From now on, she will be the legitimate daughter of the General of the Nation's Mansion! Her status will be of great importance! Anyone who shows her disrespect is disrespecting Xie Sangning and the General of the Nation's Mansion!"
What? !
The entire banquet hall erupted in chaos!
"The legitimate daughter?! Her?! Someone who was expelled from the family..."
"Has Xie Sangning gone mad?! Recognizing a notorious slut as his adopted sister? And a legitimate daughter at that?!"
"This...this is absolutely ridiculous! Utterly absurd!"
In the most prestigious seat in the hall, there was a man whose face was as black as ink.
The eldest prince's once handsome face was now contorted with rage!
Liu Shi!
This is the woman he once abandoned!
How dare she stand here?!
How could she possibly be worthy of him?!
What terrified him even more was that Xie Sangning had actually given her the identity of the legitimate daughter of a general's mansion!
Why did he go to such lengths to force Xie Sangning into marriage?
Isn't it all for the General's Mansion's military power, enough to shake the imperial court, and its wealth, enough to rival that of a nation?!
But now!
The person he had personally abandoned had somehow transformed into the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion!
A surge of anger at being fooled and betrayed was about to blast him away.
He felt like a complete joke!
Now, not only have those who betrayed us not received the punishment they deserved, but they have also been given a better status.
Even this identity was given to him by Xie Sangning, the woman he wanted to marry.
Isn't this telling everyone in public that Xie Sangning and Pei Yi not only have no relationship, but will definitely not have any relationship in the future?
All the calculations and schemes were in vain.
"You wretch..." Pei Yi's gaze toward Xie Sangning and Xie Nu'er was filled with resentment and venom!
He wanted nothing more than to rush up and tear those two women to pieces!
Just as the entire banquet hall was thrown into chaos by this announcement.
"Imperial edict has arrived!"
Everyone was startled by this sudden imperial edict.
He immediately knelt down to receive the imperial decree.
The Grand Eunuch, the chief eunuch of the inner court, entered the banquet hall with a solemn expression and swift steps.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: All families of officials of the fifth rank and above shall select one virtuous, unmarried, and unengaged daughter of the principal wife to enter the palace for selection next week! No one may refuse or make any mistakes! So be it!"
This imperial edict is even more unbelievable than Xie Sangning's earlier notice of family recognition!
All officials of the fifth rank or above were required to send one unmarried woman of marriageable age from their families to participate in the selection process.
The people accepted the imperial decree.
Countless gazes focused on Xie Nu'er in the center of the arena.
This...this is too much of a coincidence! It's so coincidental it's chilling!
Xie Sangning had just publicly bestowed upon Liu Shi the noble status of a legitimate daughter, and the imperial edict immediately followed, demanding that all high-ranking officials offer up their daughters.
This is practically... tailor-made!
Xie Sangning slowly turned to the side, gently raised her hand, and used her fingertips to smooth Xie Nuer's temples.
Then, she slowly raised her head, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"Oh?" She tilted her head slightly, as if genuinely surprised, her smile tinged with amusement.
"Isn't that a coincidence?"
She turned to Xie Nuer, her voice gentle:
“My little sister,” she said, taking Xie Nu’er’s cold hand and patting it gently, “has been well-versed in the “Admonitions for Women” since childhood, and has long admired the Emperor’s wisdom and might.
"Now that an imperial edict has been issued, isn't this just... good fortune coming and nothing can stop it? Being able to enter the palace to serve is the blessing she has always dreamed of."
This is no coincidence at all!
This is a meticulously planned, interconnected, and relentlessly pressing scheme!
From adopting a sworn sister to elevate her status, to the imperial decree forcing her to participate in the selection, every step was within Xie Sangning's calculations!
This also shows that Xie Sangning has people even by the emperor's side!
And that high and mighty emperor had become a pawn on her chessboard, fueling her every move.
The banquet hall was deathly silent.
Xie Wulu looked at his cousin, who was so powerful and influential, with an extremely complicated expression.
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