288 Reward from the Empress Dowager
“This three-colored jade cicada palace token was given to Eldest Miss Yu by the Empress Dowager.” As Miss Shen spoke, she tied the palace token in her hand to Eldest Miss Yu’s waist. She looked at it carefully and was very satisfied. “I think this palace token suits Eldest Miss Yu. Eldest Miss Yu will look good wearing it.”
Yu Youyao quickly restrained her clothes and knelt on the ground. Her hands were folded and placed flat on the ground, and her forehead was pressed against the back of her hand. “I thank the Empress Dowager for her generous gift. I wish her good health.”
She knew that there were as many young misses in the capital as fish in a river. There were not many who could be rewarded by the nobles in the palace. Furthermore, the Empress Dowager was deep in the palace and no longer cared about internal affairs.
In recent years, she had never heard of the Empress Dowager rewarding anyone.
It was obvious how much weight this palace token had.
Aunt Shen smiled in satisfaction and bent down to help Yu Youyao up. “There’s no need to be so polite.” With that, she took a long box from another small palace maid and stuffed it into Yu Youyao’s hand. “You’re still young, so you don’t have to enter the palace to thank her. The Empress Dowager will pay her respects to Buddha, so you can copy two Buddhist scriptures and get someone to send them into the palace. The Empress Dowager likes them too.”
Yu Youyao quickly agreed.
Aunt Shen said a few more words to Yu Youyao before bidding Old Madam Yu farewell.
Old Madam Yu hurriedly stood up, wanting to send her off personally. “I’ll send Aunt Shen off.”
“I can’t tire you out.” Auntie Shen quickly refused and looked at the agarwood prayer beads in Old Madam Yu’s hand. The golden prayer beads were of a honey color. It was obvious that she had been wearing them for many years to develop such a solemn appearance.
Old Madam Yu did not insist. “I haven’t entered the palace for many years. Aunt, greet the Empress Dowager on my behalf.”
She had already said everything else before Yu Youyao came, so there was no need to repeat it. After all, the Yu Residence was well-mannered.
Aunt Shen agreed with a smile and was about to leave.
Yu Youyao hurriedly followed to send Aunt Shen off.
When Aunt Shen reached Nanny Xu’s side, she stopped in her tracks and smiled. “The Empress Dowager is a nostalgic person. Ever since you left the palace, she’s been thinking about you. She’s used to the incense medicine you use. In the future, when she’s free, make more and send them into the palace. The Empress Dowager will be happy to accept them.”
Nanny Xu lowered her head and quickly said, “Yes!”
Yu Youyao sent Aunt Shen off and sent her all the way to the carriage. When she saw that the carriage had left, she returned to An Shou Hall.
Old Madam Yu couldn’t stop smiling. She quickly waved at her. “Come over quickly and let Grandmother take a closer look at the palace token awarded by the Empress Dowager.”
Yu Youyao quickly walked up to her grandmother.
Old Madam Yu leaned over and held the palace token in her hand. “The texture is dense, exquisite, and strong. It’s top-grade Lantian jade. What’s even rarer is that Lantian jade is precious in yellow and green. Although the color of this palace token isn’t pure, even a noble daughter of the imperial family can’t compare to it.”
Palace tokens also had different grades.
The best ones were like Yao Yao’s. Even the color and style of the high-grade Lantian jade were top-notch. The jade cicadas and peony patterns on it were also very exquisite.
Yu Youyao stroked the palace token at her waist and immediately felt that it was smooth and warm. She smiled and said, It’s a pity when one’s talents are not used in the world.”
Lantian jade was one of the four precious jade pieces. In ancient times, there was a jade piece that belonged to the He family, and it was sent to the Zhao family intact. In addition, when the Qin Emperor first ruled, he ordered Prime Minister Li Si to pick a jade seal made of Lantian jade. As the saying went, “By the heavens, one will live forever.”
Later, Emperor Ming of Tang ordered someone to pick Lantian jade and make a jade belt for Imperial Concubine Yang. Today, Lantian warm jade nourished the body and mind, cured illnesses, and improved longevity. It was called longevity jade!
Old Madam Yu was overjoyed. She pulled Yu Youyao to sit beside her. “This palace token is equivalent to the title of county monarch. In the future, Yao’er will also be a true noble lady. No matter which family she goes to, she will definitely wear it to show off.”
She did not think that her granddaughter was in the limelight and had attracted too much attention.
Yao Yao was smart and pleasant. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she was outstanding. In any case, she was still useful. The reputation she had accumulated in her early years could still be intimidating. No matter what, she could protect her granddaughter a little. If she couldn’t protect her one day, it would be a disaster for the family, and it wouldn’t matter anymore.
She hoped that her granddaughter would have a good reputation and a good future.
Even if she married someone, she could protect herself and establish herself in her husband’s family.
Yu Youyao pursed her lips and chuckled. “The gift from the Empress Dowager naturally can’t be covered in dirt.”
The reward of this palace token was a little too much, but from the looks of it, it had obvious benefits for her. As for other matters, what did they have to do with a growing child like her?
Even if it was related, didn’t she still have her cousin?
Old Madam Yu stroked the top of her granddaughter’s head. “What’s the other gift from the Empress Dowager?”
Yu Youyao took the box from Chun Xiao’s hand and carefully opened it. There was a blue field white jade brush inside. She picked up the jade brush and looked at it carefully. Then, she smiled. “It’s Five Sheep and Five Purple. It’s just right for me.”
It was obvious that this brush had been carefully chosen.
Old Madam Yu did not seem surprised. “I’ll use this brush to copy two Buddhist scriptures and send them to the palace. It’s also to thank the Empress Dowager for her reward.”
Aunt Shen had also specially reminded her.
Yu Youyao nodded, put away the jade brush, and handed it to Chun Xiao.
Old Madam Yu pulled her granddaughter into her arms. “My Yao Yao’er has also become successful and earned a name for herself. She has to be good in the future.”
As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears.
She had originally planned to enter the palace this morning, but she did not expect that the Empress Dowager would dote on Yao Yao so much that she had sent her a gift of dignity. Now, her old bones were useless.
The Yu Residence was a royalist party and had a deep relationship with the Empress Dowager.
Yao Yao had caused a commotion at the Flower Festival at the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence and handed a knife to the Empress Dowager, allowing her to take the opportunity to suppress the arrogance of Imperial Consort Lu.
Even the women and children of the inner residence could not escape the conflict in the royal court.
The lightning and rain were all bestowed by the emperor.
“Grandmother, I’ve already grown up and can protect myself. Don’t always treat me as a child. You always feel that I’ve suffered. Actually, at the flower festival yesterday, I deliberately made a big fuss out of it. This way, no one will criticize me with the words ‘bereaved eldest daughter’ in the future.”
Yu Youyao leaned into her grandmother’s arms and smelled the sandalwood fragrance on her grandmother’s body.
She had made this incense. It had a hint of medicinal fragrance and a hint of bitterness. It also had the effect of calming the mind and nourishing the blood. It was not like ordinary incense. It had a smoky smell.
She knew that her grandmother was worried about her.
Old Madam Yu smiled as she wiped her tears. “Good, good, good. My Yao Yao’er has really grown up.”
Yu Youyao sniffed hard and looked at the agarwood beads in her grandmother’s hand. As expected, she saw two wooden osmanthus incense beads in her hands. They were the ones she had asked Liu’er to send over not long ago.
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