Chapter 0037: The Grand Award

Chapter 0037: The Grand Award

No one knew whether he was just joking or serious.

However, Li Meiren's expression became even more unpleasant.

The Emperor's words clearly indicated his approval of Yun Li.

Although Yun Li was merely a low-ranking concubine, the way she spoke made her seem as if she were the one of higher status.

Li Meiren harbored deep resentment in her heart.

Song Jiyu, sitting beside her, passed a few grapes: “Sister, try these, this year's grapes are very sweet.”

Song Jiyu thought to herself that Li Meiren still didn’t understand. Daughters of noble families never sought to distinguish themselves with song and dance.

What they sought to excel in were poetry, qin (a stringed musical instrument), calligraphy, and painting. The singing here wasn’t about performing a ditty, and the playing of the qin wasn’t the same as that of the Yuefu women.

Given an out, Li Meiren naturally took the opportunity to back down.

Half an hour later, the Empress Dowager was the first to speak: “I am tired now. Emperor, you all continue to enjoy. I will retire first.”

“It’s getting late. Let’s conclude for today. Son will accompany Mother back,” said Emperor Helian with a smile.

Everyone expressed their reluctance, but also took their leave.

The Emperor and Empress escorted the Empress Dowager back to her palace, while the others dispersed.

Tonight, the Emperor was to stay with the Empress.

"After everyone left Yu Lun Terrace, they walked through the passageway between Cian Garden and Qiu Lan Pavilion, some heading west and others east."

"Yun Li walked unhurriedly at the back, supported by Zhu Yu under the bright moonlight, with Zhu Ding holding a lantern, making everything visible."

"Past the plum grove lies Bi Quan Palace, and just ahead of that is Le'an Palace."

"By this point, she was the only one left heading in this direction, now really the only one."

"'If I were timid, I would probably be crying right now.'"

"The night was dense, with only her and two servants accompanying her."

"'Bao Lin need not fear, we are here,' Zhu Ding reassured."

"'Hmm,' Yun Li responded softly."

"After a few steps, she saw Zhu Que and Zhi Fu coming out to meet her."

"'Seeing the light near Jade Belt Bridge, I guessed Bao Lin would be returning, and here you are,' Zhu Que said."

"Zhi Fu approached with a smile to assist her."

"'You are quite clever. It's a festive day, and I haven’t rewarded you yet, have I?' Yun Li said with a smile."

The master and servants cheerfully returned home.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, He Jinli, after getting dressed at the Empress's residence, headed straight to the Zhengyang Palace for the court assembly.

Today was a grand court assembly, and he wore a formal black robe with red edges and dragon motifs.

The dragon robe didn't feature the typical front-facing, ferocious dragon, but rather more subtle dragon patterns indicative of age. There were nine in total.

The robe bore the twelve symbols, including mountains, rivers, the sun, and the moon.

Instead of wearing the traditional crown, he had his hair bound in a gold crown.

The Empress personally combed his hair and placed the gold crown on his head.

The Empress undoubtedly liked the Emperor. However, as the imperial couple, they couldn’t and shouldn’t indulge in pure affection.

No matter how much the Empress might have once harbored girlish romantic dreams, she had to remain pragmatic.

For her family, her position, her children, and the entire harem, she had too many considerations to weigh.

As for the Emperor, from the beginning, he only expected the Empress to fulfill her duties and never had any other expectations.

The Empress saw off the Emperor with respect, feeling a fleeting sense of melancholy, but it was short-lived as she had many things to attend to.

Romantic affections are indeed pleasant, but... they are not too crucial.

All she needed was for His Majesty to visit often; that was enough.

"On the way to Zhengyang Palace in the imperial carriage, He Jinli suddenly said, 'Lady Li need not be promoted for now; just bestow her with a title.'"

"Meng Chang was startled, 'Yes, I will remember that.'"

"Meng Chang thought to himself, did Lady Li say something wrong yesterday?"

"Perhaps her words were not wrong, but in front of the royal relatives, they seemed somewhat… frivolous?"

"Or maybe, the Emperor dislikes the sight of consorts competing in front of outsiders?"

"Tsk, by comparison, Qi Bao Lin is much smarter. She neither lost face nor offended anyone publicly."

"Meng Chang mused that he had been too short-sighted before."

"He had thought that as the second daughter of the Qi family, she would just be a passing fancy for the Emperor, soon to be cast aside."

"With the Noble Consort present, she couldn't possibly attain a high rank."

"Now he sees that he was blind."

"This lady, she can’t be hidden."

"The imperial edict for the conferment was issued the next day."

"At that time, everyone was in the Empress’s palace for morning greetings."

"As the edict arrived, the Empress, along with everyone else, knelt to receive it. First, the eldest princess was conferred as Yi Yang Princess, with a stipend comparable to that of a prince. Her princess's residence would be built when she turned fifteen."

"The Empress was immensely grateful as she accepted the decree on behalf of the eldest princess."

"This was indeed a great honor."

Generally, the princesses of Great Jin did not receive such high treatment.

Even the princes, after reaching adulthood, couldn't match the treatment of the imperial uncles.

For instance, the late Emperor's fifteenth son, who has not yet married or been ennobled, only enjoys a slightly higher stipend than the Emperor's sons.

This is because he is the Emperor's brother.

The Emperor's sons, before their marriage, do not receive a very high stipend.

As for princesses, only the legitimate daughters of the Empress receive slightly higher stipends, while those born to concubines receive less.

Of course, this 'less' is relative, being only somewhat lower than that of the princes.

However, the exceptional treatment of Princess Yiyang, equating her to an imperial uncle, is rare. Such treatment is usually reserved for major princesses when they marry and need a consort.

And for such a young princess to already have a title and rank is unusual.

The Empress, of course, understands that this is the Emperor's way of generously rewarding the harem, perhaps to ease her discomfort, but as the Empress, what more could she expect?

She could only confer titles to princesses. But it also showed the Emperor's affection for the eldest princess.

The eldest princess receiving a title and rank at such a young age is unique, but impossible for the eldest prince.

The next decree was the promotion of Ye Xiuyi to the rank of Ye Zhao Yi and Wu Xiurong to Wu Zhao Rong. Their residences remain unchanged, and they received no titles.

Song Jieyu was conferred the title: Shu.

Li Meiren was conferred the title: Jia.

Their residences remain unchanged.

Li Xiaoyi was promoted to the rank of Lady.

Hua Baolin was given the title "Jing" and promoted to Lesser Beauty. Sun Baolin received the title "Yun" and also advanced to Lesser Beauty. Qi Baolin was elevated to Lesser Beauty without a title. Their residences remained unchanged.

Wu Yuni was promoted to Baolin, and Zhou Yuni also rose to the rank of Baolin.

The two ladies from the Li and Wang families had finally served the Emperor and were promoted to Attendant.

Now, the only ones left in the lowest rank are those maids who served in the Eastern Palace and couldn't leave the palace.

This round of promotions brought joy to some and disappointment to others.

What was thought to be a major ennoblement turned out to be merely a reshuffling of newcomers.

Consort Lan, who had hoped to leap to the first rank, remained unchanged.

But she had nothing to complain about; currently, there are only two at the top rank. The Noble Consort comes from a distinguished background and held a high status in the Eastern Palace.

Consort Jinde has a child.

Consort Lan, without a child of her own, had no grounds for promotion.

Yet, Ye Zhao Yi and Wu Zhao Rong don't have children either, but they were promoted.

Consort Lan's disappointment was keenly felt by Jia Meiren.

In reality, she was unaware that she had missed the opportunity to be promoted to a Jieyu; she just felt aggrieved.

On the other hand, Shu Jieyu was aware that she hadn't borne any children and didn't have sufficient seniority, so she had anticipated not being promoted this time.

Lady Li was relatively calm; she was not often favored and only served a few times a year, so being promoted was already a stroke of luck.