Chapter 469: Imperial Decree

Chapter 469: Imperial Edict

Yu Mingzhu's reputation started to spread across the capital.

People said she was not just beautiful but also had a kind heart. As the legitimate daughter of a prestigious ducal household, she endured the bitter cold to distribute porridge to disaster victims, showing noble virtues and setting an example for the capital's young ladies.

Even the Emperor heard about her actions and issued an edict to commend her.

Yu Mingzhu's fame soared in the capital.

The shadow that had loomed over the ducal household due to the miscarriage of the eldest young mistress seemed to dissipate somewhat. Yu Mingzhu's mother, Lady Jiao, the wife of the heir, walked with a bounce in her step, her face constantly lit with smiles.

However, at this time, the Princess of Ying, accompanied by her beloved daughter, Princess Qing'an, went to the charity hall to perform good deeds. While casually browsing the charity hall's financial records, they stumbled upon the fact that Yu Xingxing of the General of the Western Garrison's household had quietly donated ten thousand taels for the purchase of cotton clothes.

Though Princess Qing'an had never met Xingxing, she knew she was the sister of the General of the Western Garrison. Moreover, Princess Qing'an had been present at the Huibin Tower on the night of the Lantern Festival and saw Yu Yongliu win the Phoenix Holding Pearl lantern for his sister, leaving an impression of Xingxing.

When the Princess of Ying and Princess Qing'an returned to their residence, they brought up this matter admiringly to the Prince of Ying. They praised the Yu family for being remarkable, with sons excelling in both military and scholarly arts, and even the sister being so righteous, quietly donating ten thousand taels without any fanfare. If they hadn't stumbled upon the financial records, they would never have known about it.

The Prince of Ying agreed wholeheartedly. Later, when he entered the palace, he casually mentioned to His Majesty that in the capital, there was not only the duke's daughter who distributed porridge to the people but also the sister of a general who quietly performed good deeds without seeking fame or profit.

The Emperor, worried about the snow disaster and having previously issued an edict to commend Yu Mingzhu, intended to set her as an example to encourage the nobility to do more good deeds for the people.

Upon hearing about a young lady who had quietly donated ten thousand taels, the Emperor was initially delighted. But then he paused—wait, the sister of the General of the Western Garrison?

The Emperor immediately sat up straight.

Wasn't this the Yu family that his son, Wei Shiyan, had specifically instructed to take care of in his letters?

He had always been quite pleased with Yu Yonghuai, but due to his young age, he couldn't promote him too quickly, so he had given him the title of General of the Western Garrison, waiting for him to gain more experience before assigning him greater responsibilities.

He had never expected that his sister would also be so righteous.

The Emperor was overjoyed and quickly dismissed the Prince of Ying. He went back to the inner palace and straight to the Empress's quarters.

In the hall, amidst the faint scent of incense, Empress Nie was holding a letter and reading it. When she saw Emperor Jia Zheng enter, she smiled, "Your Majesty, how did you know that Wei Shiyan has sent a letter? A-Qing just brought it to me, and you arrived right after."

Emperor Jia Zheng brightened and stepped closer, "Wei Shiyan has sent a letter? Come, let me see it too."

Empress Nie handed the letter over. Emperor Jia Zheng muttered, "Wei Shiyan only writes to his eldest brother," as he took it. He sat down with Empress Nie on the couch and began to read the letter carefully.

Wei Shiyan's letters were always brief, just a few sentences.

But Emperor Jia Zheng noticed that while this letter seemed to be about his well-being, it only mentioned himself in one sentence. The rest of the sentences focused on asking his eldest brother about the recent situation of the Yu family's only daughter.

Emperor Jia Zheng immediately sat up straight, no longer concerned about his second son only writing to his eldest brother. "This..."

Empress Nie's eyes sparkled with joy, her face, more beautiful than a hibiscus, lit up with a smile that was breathtakingly stunning. "Wei Shiyan previously asked his eldest brother to take care of the Yu family. Could it be that his true intention was not the family but this Yu family girl?"

Empress Nie then slightly furrowed her brows, pondering, "...Wait, no, I remember the Yu family only has one precious daughter, who is only eleven or twelve years old this year. That's too young..."

But then Empress Nie smiled again, "It doesn't matter. Wei Shiyan will return to the capital in two years. We can discuss it then."

Emperor Jia Zheng couldn't help but laugh heartily, in high spirits. "I used to worry that after so many years of rigorous training, Wei Shiyan might follow Qin the Court Official to pursue Taoism... It's good that he has a connection in the mortal world."

The imperial couple exchanged a glance, both brimming with joy.

Emperor Jia Zheng suddenly remembered the purpose of his visit and clapped his hands, laughing, "Ah, I almost forgot to tell the Empress. I just had a casual chat with the Prince of Ying and learned that this Yu family's daughter is also a good girl who seeks no fame or profit and quietly performs good deeds for the people."

Emperor Jia Zheng recounted to Empress Nie how Xingxing had privately donated ten thousand taels to the charity hall without any publicity. Empress Nie was even more delighted, her head slightly raised with a sense of pride. "I knew it. The girl Wei Shiyan specifically wrote to ask about must be exceptional."

Recalling something, she took Emperor Jiazheng's hand, "Your Majesty, when the granddaughter of the old Duke of Xinguo distributed porridge, you issued an edict to commend her. Now, the daughter of the Yu family has done such a great deed for the disaster victims without any fanfare, isn't that even more commendable? What does Your Majesty think?"

Emperor Jiazheng happily grasped Empress Nie's hand in return, nodding in agreement, "The Empress is absolutely right. How does the Empress wish to reward this daughter of the Yu family? It shall be as the Empress wishes."

Empress Nie smiled with joy in her eyes, "Good."

That very day, a eunuch was sent to the residence of the General of the Western Garrison to deliver the Empress's edict, stating that upon hearing of the noble act of charity by the Yu family's daughter in donating ten thousand taels of silver to the charity house without any publicity, she was specially summoned to the palace for an audience the day after next.

The eunuch delivering the edict beamed with joy, looking at the somewhat bewildered but still properly grateful Yu family, and specially advised, "The Empress has always been benevolent. Upon hearing of Miss Yu's righteous act, she was very pleased and thus specially issued an edict to summon Miss Yu to the palace. Miss Yu, this is a great honor."

Wei Pozi led the thanks and received the edict, then gave the eunuch a generous tip, smilingly inquiring for more information, "...Eunuch, to be honest with you, I just found out that my granddaughter quietly donated ten thousand taels of silver to the charity house. That was all her own private savings, how did Her Majesty come to know of it?"

Upon hearing that Miss Yu had donated her own savings without her family's knowledge, the eunuch was even more respectful, "Miss Yu is truly righteous... I heard that it was when Princess Ying and Princess Qing'an went to the charity house to do good deeds that they accidentally came across the charity house's ledger and learned of Miss Yu's good deed. It must be divine providence ensuring Miss Yu's noble act did not go unnoticed."

Wei Pozi then slightly relaxed and properly saw off the eunuch and his entourage from the residence.

Back home, Wei Pozi embraced Xingxing, her heart torn between worry and joy.

Coincidentally, a familiar lady was visiting the Yu family and upon hearing the news, she was both surprised and envious, "Madam, this is a great honor. The Empress has always been benevolent, and now that Miss Yu has caught the Empress's eye, her future is incredibly bright."

"Yes, indeed. As I see it, Miss Yu is truly pure and upright, doing such good deeds without any publicity, no wonder the Empress, upon learning of it, summoned her to the palace. Madam, rest assured, the Empress is surely going to reward Miss Yu."