Chapter 477

Chapter 483: Congratulations

Lady Shier pondered and found it reasonable, nodding slightly.

When Lord Xu saw her, he smiled and gently ruffled her hair: "It’s getting late, go to bed quickly! It’s New Year's Eve tomorrow, and we need to stay up all night."

Eleven's mother smiled and handed the letter to Autumn Rain, instructing her to give it to Steward Bai and find a way to send it to Yuhang. She then returned to the room with Lord Xu to rest. The next day was New Year's Eve, and the main gate of the Xu residence stood wide open, with door gods, couplets, and signboards all in place. After breakfast, Lord Xu went to Sifang Alley and returned at mid-morning. "I've spoken to Zichun," he said, changing into his formal attire to visit the Grand Lady. "Judging from Zichun’s expression, he truly didn’t know. Let them resolve it privately behind closed doors. We shouldn’t allow this to reach the Wang family and cause trouble for Twelfth Aunt."

Lady Shier was quite surprised.

In her heart, she believed that Fifth Lady had become the person she was now solely because of her marriage to Qian Ming.

To imagine so was somewhat biased of her...

In Lady Shiyi’s mind, the image of Fifth Lady’s study in Yuhang surfaced — a spacious room with only a large black-lacquered painting desk, stacked with famous calligraphy scrolls, and a black-lacquered imperial concubine couch, draped with a slightly worn brocade.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, the matriarch led everyone to the ancestral hall for the ancestral worship. Jinxiao, being too young, was carried back to the main house by Mama Gu. Lord Xu took Xusi Qin, Xusi Yu, Xusi Jian, Xusi Zhen, and Xusi Jie to set off fireworks in the courtyard, while Zhenshao and Xinshao stayed with their mother, accompanying the matriarch inside to eat dumplings and stay up late to welcome the new year.

The elderly matriarch, having barely made it through until midnight, retired to her room to rest.

Lady Second returned to Xinhua Courtyard, while Lady Fifth handed the sleeping Little Xing to Mama Shi and took Little Zhen to watch Lord Xu and the others set off fireworks. Lady Eleventh and Lord Xu were concerned about Little Jin and returned first. "What should we do tomorrow?" Lady Eleventh discussed the next day’s plans with Lord Xu, "Should the child stay with you or with me?"

"Follow me!" Lord Xu said, "We will wait on the danchi. If the child is hungry or needs changing, there won’t be a place to feed or change him. You, on the other hand, will be in the side hall, and all of you are ladies." He continued, "I have already arranged everything in the palace. If Her Majesty the Empress receives you before you enter the main hall to pay your respects, that would be fine. But I’m afraid that day Her Majesty might be very busy and only receive you after you’ve paid your respects in the main hall. Only those with rank can enter the main hall, so Mama Gu definitely cannot go in. At that time, an attendant will lead Mama Gu and the child to the warm pavilion to rest. After you exit the main hall, you can wait with the child in the warm pavilion."

Lady Shier responded affirmatively. The next morning, she dressed according to her rank, held Jingge in her arms, and left Du Mama at home to manage the New Year’s preparations. The group then set off in grand procession for the palace.

Eunuch Lei, the eunuch beside the queen, was already waiting at the palace gate.

"... saying it's cold outside, fearing Young Master Six might catch a chill. The Grand Dowager and the Lady of the Yongping Marquis were to bring the child to Cining Palace to meet Her Majesty."

This arrangement pleased the couple greatly. Gu Ma carried the child while Eleven Miss supported the elder madam to meet the Empress.

The palace ladies were waiting outside the hall to congratulate the Empress. When Eleven Miss entered with the child, the concubines all turned to look, and someone whispered, "See that one in the pink brocade cloak? That's Lord Xu's wife."

With so many palace rules, Eleven Miss dared not look back. She left Gu Ma waiting outside and entered the heated chamber with the elder madam, carrying the child.

The Empress, dressed in formal attire, sat upright on the throne while eunuchs and maidservants served her bird's nest porridge.

Seeing the elder madam and Eleven Miss enter, she stood before they could bow.

"Quick, bring the child to me." The heated chamber echoed with the tinkling of jade ornaments.

Madam Huang hurried forward with a smile to take Jin Geer, wrapped in a squirrel-fur cloak. The elder madam and Eleven Miss seized the moment to bow, and eunuchs nearby helped them up, offering stools.

"This child looks just like Fourth Younger Brother," the Empress said softly, stroking Jin Geer's shaved head before smiling at the elder madam and Eleven Miss. "And so brave—sleeping soundly after such a journey."

Eleven Miss felt a bit embarrassed.

Last night, Jin Geer had fallen asleep as soon as she and Lord Xu lay down. Exhausted, she had gone to sleep, but Lord Xu had played with him until dawn before resting.

"He's just a bit easygoing," she replied respectfully. "He just eats and sleeps."

"That's how it should be at just a month old," the Empress said with a smile. Just then, a eunuch entered and announced, "The Crown Princess has arrived."

"Bring her in quickly," the Empress instructed cheerfully before turning to the elder madam and Eleven Miss. "Fang Jieer is six months pregnant now," she added, visibly pleased.

"This is a blessing for Your Majesty," the elder madam said as Fang Jieer, great with child, entered with the support of palace maids.

She wore a four-winged phoenix crown and a royal blue robe embroidered with pheasants. Pregnancy had filled out her figure, giving her a round face, serene gaze, and dignified composure—so much so that Eleven Miss thought of the phrase "a face like the full moon."

The Empress excused her from formal greetings and had the eunuch bring over a brocaded stool for her to sit. Only then did she smile at Lady Eleven—a flicker of mischief in her eyes, just like before.

Somehow, Lady Eleven felt a wave of relief at the sight.

The Empress inquired about Fang Jieer’s wellbeing, and upon hearing that all was well, she nodded with a smile. Just as she was about to speak, Eunuch Lei entered: "Your Majesty, it is time!"

Lady Eleven knew this was a reminder for the Empress to take her seat. She stood up with the elder madam and Fang Jieer.

The Empress hesitated briefly before saying to Lady Eleven, "Let the wet nurse stay with Jin Geer in the warming room."

Lady Eleven knelt in gratitude, then supported the elder madam as they followed the Empress and Fang Jieer to the grand hall.

First, the inner court ladies paid their respects to the Empress, followed by the outer court ladies. By the time the ceremonies concluded, it was already noon. Everyone was exhausted, especially the elder madam, who was advanced in years, and Lady Eleven, whose constitution was weak. Both looked pale. Yet they still had to retrieve the child from the warming room. The Fifth Lady helped the elder madam, saying, "I’ll escort you to the door."

Lady Eleven gave her a grateful glance and supported the elder madam on either side as they headed to the warming room. Jin Geer had just been taken by Eunuch He to see the Emperor.

The Empress laughed. "Even more impatient than I am." She offered the elder madam and Lady Eleven tea and snacks. "At least have something to settle your stomach." The elder madam sipped hot tea to recover, while Lady Eleven unceremoniously ate two pieces of pea cakes.

Fang Jieer watched with an amused smile.

The Third Prince and the First Princess came to pay their respects to the Empress.

"This is the elder madam of Yongping Marquis’s household, and this is the Marchioness of Yongping," the Empress said, holding the princess and pointing to the elder madam and Lady Eleven. "The elder madam is your maternal grandmother, and the Marchioness is your aunt. Remember that." Her voice was gentle.

The three-year-old princess obediently nodded and repeated in a sweet voice, "The elder madam is my grandmother, and the Marchioness is my aunt." Then she blinked at the Empress. "Do they have to give me lucky money envelopes?"

Everyone laughed.

The Empress pinched her daughter’s cheek playfully. "Who taught you that? Such petty habits! You’re a princess!"

The princess cried out playfully, but her eyes sparkled mischievously—bright-eyed and clever.

The elder madam quickly took out a prepared lucky money envelope filled with gold trinkets and handed it to the princess. "Of course, you must have one." She also gave one to the Third Prince, who stood nearby with a smile. "A small token for you."

The Third Prince, now fourteen, was as tall as Xu Siyu. The cousins looked strikingly alike, though Xu Siyu appeared scholarly while the prince carried a regal bearing.

He accepted the envelope with a smile.

Lady Eleven also presented her gifts.

The princess cheered and ran to Fang Jieer. "Elder Sister, where’s yours?"

Fang Jieer chuckled and patted her head, producing another lucky money envelope.

The princess grabbed it and scampered away. "I’m going to find Father—he hasn’t given me one yet!"

"Furong!" [personal name of the princess] the Empress called her name, but the princess only turned back with a grin before continuing her sprint.

"Mother, don’t worry," the Third Prince said hastily, bowing before chasing after her. "I’ll accompany my sister. She won’t cause trouble."

The Empress sighed helplessly and said to the elder madam, "This child—utterly spoiled!" Yet her tone was full of affection.

The princess had been born after the Fifth Prince’s death, carrying the Empress’s lingering grief, and thus received extraordinary doting.

The elder madam smiled. "The First Princess is clever and lively—who wouldn’t adore her? It’s only natural for Your Majesty to dote on her."

The Empress then spoke at length with the elder madam and Lady Eleven about the princess before asking after Jin Geer in detail.

After much talking, neither the princess nor the Third Prince returned, nor did the eunuchs bring back Jin Geer. Everyone grew anxious, and the Empress finally instructed Matron Huang, "Go and see. It’s nearly lunchtime."

Aunt Huang hurried off but came back almost immediately.

"Lord Xu sent one of the Emperor's eunuchs to relay a message. He and the Sixth Young Master are already waiting at the East Gate. He requests that the Elder Madam and Lady Yongping proceed directly to the East Gate upon leaving the Palace of Earthly Tranquility."

The Empress looked shocked. "How could they just leave without saying anything, taking Jin Geer away like this!" She added, "I haven’t even given my greeting gifts or New Year’s money yet!"

The Elder Madam and Eleven Miss exchanged bewildered glances.

Eleven Miss even wondered if Lord Xu had had a falling out with the Emperor, hence avoiding even the Empress and leaving the palace with the child in tow.

The Elder Madam, too, was unsure of what had happened, but she simply wished to see her son as soon as possible. Hearing this, she rose and said, "The New Year isn’t truly over until after the Lantern Festival. In a couple of days, Eleven Miss will bring Jin Geer to pay New Year’s respects to Her Majesty and the Crown Princess."

Palace formalities were exhausting, and Jin Geer was still young—entering the palace was an ordeal. The Empress didn't want to make a mountain out of a molehill.

She smiled and instructed Aunt Huang, "Send the gifts I prepared for Jin Geer to them."

The implication was clear: there was no need for them to return to the palace.

Both the Elder Madam and Eleven Miss sighed in relief.

Fang Jie'er, seeing this, also instructed her attendant, "Have the gifts I prepared for Jin Geer sent over as well."

The maid bowed and acknowledged the order.

The Elder Madam and Eleven Miss of course thanked them profusely before finally departing the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.