When the Empress arrived, everyone's eyes turned to her.
Gu Yurong quickly bowed and admitted her mistake, saying, "This humble woman accidentally soiled my sister's clothes and disturbed Your Majesty. This humble woman did not mean to."
She bowed her head low, but a triumphant smile played on her lips.
Even if the Empress were to support Jiang Wan for such an unintentional mistake, she would at most reprimand her a couple of times, but would not punish her.
Jiang Wan only had one set of imperial robes, which could not be replaced.
Wearing dirty imperial robes was disrespectful to the royal family, while changing into everyday clothes to attend the silkworm-raising ceremony was considered exceeding the prescribed limits.
Even if we borrow another set of imperial robes from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the silkworm-raising ceremony would have been over long ago by the time it would have taken to go back and forth.
Biluo also realized this and looked angrily at Gu Yurong.
She's deliberately trying to get rid of the lady!
Jiang Wan stood quietly in place, a faint smile flickering in her eyes.
The silkworm ceremony is over, as everyone knows. After the ceremony, the Empress will hold a tea banquet at the tea house, which all the women will attend. It's a good opportunity to socialize and show off.
In her past life, Gu Yurong was most adept at using such occasions to subtly sow discord, slander herself, and seek benefits for herself.
By getting her clothes dirty and forcing herself to leave, it became easier for her to do what she wanted.
Unfortunately, she was too impatient.
Gu Yurong was never an impatient person.
Perhaps because of the setbacks she had suffered recently, she desperately needed to take advantage of Song Lin's entry into Chongwen Hall to turn the tide.
The Empress looked at Jiang Wan with concern: "Are you alright?"
Jiang Wan shook her head: "But..." She looked down at her dress.
“The official robes of a noblewoman are unclean and undignified,” the Empress said.
Gu Yurong raised her head and said softly, "Sister, I'm so sorry, I brought a change of clothes with me today, they're in the carriage. Please go and change."
Then, don't come back.
No matter how much the Empress favored Jiang Wan, she would not allow her to break the rules of the silkworm-raising ceremony.
"It does need to be changed, but there's no need to trouble Madam Gu."
As soon as the Empress raised her hand, the old nanny behind her immediately understood and brought over a set of clothes: "Please come with me to change, Madam Jiang."
Gu Yurong was taken aback, wondering why the Empress would prepare clothes specifically for Jiang Wan.
Her gaze fell on the dress.
It was a crimson pomegranate-colored dress embroidered with gold, the collar and cuffs adorned with delicate pearl necklaces, and embroidered with peony scrolls, making it gorgeous and elaborate.
Gu Yurong was startled.
This... is actually the robe of a second-rank imperial consort of the Great Yong Dynasty!
If Jiang Wan were to wear this attire, it would be an act of usurpation.
Gu Yurong couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, this is probably... against etiquette, isn't it?"
The Empress glanced at her, her calm face exuding authority: "Madam Gu is well-mannered, yet she comes to instruct me on how to do things?"
Gu Yurong's expression changed, and she hurriedly apologized, saying, "This humble woman dares not!"
"I originally intended to announce it after the ceremony, but since that's the case, I have no choice but to announce it ahead of time."
The Empress gestured behind her, and immediately a young eunuch stepped forward, took out a bright yellow scroll from his sleeve, and read it aloud.
"The Jiang family of General Chengping possesses virtue and elegance, and is both beautiful and intelligent. She greatly pleases me and is hereby granted the title of Second Rank Imperial Consort. This is the imperial decree."
Jiang Wan knelt down to receive the imperial decree, and all the women looked surprised.
Such a young second-rank imperial consort is the first of her kind in the Great Yong Dynasty.
Just now, after hearing Gu Yurong's cheerful boasting, they thought that if Song Lin entered Chongwen Hall, Gu Yurong would really be able to surpass Jiang Wan in the future.
But in the blink of an eye, Jiang Wan quietly became a second-rank imperial consort!
Not only did he have abundant land and rewards, but in terms of rank alone, he surpassed the husbands of most of the women's wives.
More importantly, this demonstrates the emperor and empress's favoritism towards Jiang Wan.
In the future, anyone who dares to oppose her will have to consider the royal family's wishes.
Gu Yurong was completely stunned, her mind going blank.
During her time in the Censorate, she was kept in the dark. What exactly happened, and how did Jiang Wan end up being granted the title of Second Rank Imperial Consort?
His Majesty does not bestow favors without reason.
Jiang Wan was granted the rank of fourth grade because she risked her life by falling off a cliff to plead for Song Lin and many other officials' families.
He was granted the rank of third grade because of his meritorious service in treating the plague.
However, this imperial edict did not mention the reason, but every word showed the royal family's approval and satisfaction with Jiang Wan.
This is what worries Gu Yurong the most.
What exactly did Jiang Wan do to win such favor from the Emperor and Empress, and she was completely unaware of it!
When two people clash, not knowing the opponent's trump card is the most terrifying thing.
Those who had been flattering Gu Yurong earlier all gathered around Jiang Wan, saying auspicious and pleasing things.
Even when a few eyes turned toward her, they were filled with mockery and ridicule.
Gu Yurong's face flushed, and she fled in panic.
Jiang Wan watched her retreating figure, a cold sneer in her heart.
The Empress's illness involved palace intrigue, and Emperor Jingyuan was unwilling to reveal too much. Therefore, in the eyes of outsiders, he had gained immense wealth and honor for no reason.
But there are no free lunches in the world, and others will surely speculate that he has some extraordinary connection with the royal family.
These speculations are her protective shield; she won't explain them.
After the silkworm-raising ceremony, the Empress chatted with Jiang Wan: "Judging from what Madam Gu said, she still doesn't know that the spot for Chongwen Hall went to someone else?"
Jiang Wan had already informed Emperor Jingyuan of this matter, and was only waiting for Aru's child to be born before issuing an imperial decree.
“The general was afraid she would get angry and cause trouble, so he kept it from her,” Jiang Wan said.
But Song Ziyu could never have imagined that Gu Yurong would be so eager for quick success and instant benefits, boasting recklessly at the silkworm-raising ceremony and making it known to everyone.
The Empress chuckled: "She was smug for a moment, but she made Song Lin a laughing stock, and even General Song lost face."
"I've been making a fool of myself in these mundane domestic matters, Your Majesty."
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