Chapter 643: County Mistress
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
This dressing up took more than an hour.
Yu Youvao was worried that she would miss the time, so she quickly went to An Shou Hall.
Old Madam Yu was also wearing heavy makeup. When she saw Yu Youyao coming over, she quickly said, “l was just about to go to the Jade Courtyard to take a look. I didn’t expect you to come over.” As she spoke, she sized up Yu Youyao’s outfit. It was solemn, exquisite, and grand. It was appropriate for her to welcome the imperial edict. However, she said, “You look so pale. Did you really have a nightmare last night? Are you feeling unwell? Get an imperial physician over to take a look later.”
Yu Youyao quickly said, “Grandmother, with Nanny Xu accompanying me, I’m fine now. I just didn’t sleep well yesterday. I’ll be fine after taking a nap when I return to my room.”
She had indeed had a nightmare yesterday. Although she was fine, she had to put on a show!
Old Madam Yu pulled her granddaughter into her arms and said with tears in her eyes, “Good girl, I was too careless and didn’t protect you. You’ve really suffered this time.’
Although no one had schemed against her reputation, this grievance was not trivial. The gossip about a young lady who had yet to marry would definitely be discussed.
Yu Youyao shook her head. “Grandmother, don’t think too much about it. When you’re in someone else’s house, you have to abide by their rules. It’s impossible to guard against it. Besides, I didn’t suffer this time. I know very well what happened in public. It won’t damage my reputation if others discuss it.” At this point, her eyes turned red. “1 was the one who was shocked because Grandmother suffered.’
Old Madam Yu wiped her tears and took off the prayer beads that were wrapped around her wrist. She wrapped them around her wrist. “These are the prayer beads that Grandmother has been wearing for many years. They’re used in Buddhism. When you sleep, put them by your pillow so that you won’t have nightmares. By the way, I still have calming medicine in my house. Bring a few packets back later and have a bowl before bed.”
Yu Youyao quickly nodded. “Grandmother, you have to live well in the future. Don’t scare me anymore. Otherwise, I might have nightmares again.”
Old Madam Yu patted her hand. “I’ll live a few more years just for you.”
She finally understood that Yao Yao had almost lost her innocence in the Duke Rongs Residence. As the first aunt and half a mother, Madam Yao had never stood up for Yao Yao.
Although with an elder like her present, it wasn’t her place to stand up for her, she was a little cold as a family member.
On the surface, Eldest Son was still passable, but he was too greedy.
At the thought of what he had said yesterday, her heart skipped a beat.
The seed of the dragon’s heart had been extinguished, but his ambition to take another step forward was obvious.
If one did not enter the cabinet, they would not be considered a true powerful minister. With Eldest Son’s talent, he could be considered the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs. If he wanted to rise further, he would need to have major political achievements and be promoted by the emperor.
Now, even the consorts in the palace were eyeing Yao Yao’s money.
Eldest Son might have such thoughts.
Previously, Eldest Son had even schemed to adopt the son of a concubine under Madam Xie’s name. What else could he not do?
Yao Yao had become a “fat piece of meat” in the eyes of others. Everyone wanted to take a bite out of her. If anything happened to her, who would protect her?
Old Madam Yu was worried.
At this moment, Yu Jianjia brought Bai Ye over.
She was wearing a pink and purple dress with a hundred butterflies. It was exquisite and generous. She had combed her hair into a bun, and there was a large golden flower on the side, making her look delicate and beautiful.
The immortal hair bun was similar to a high bun.
However, the high bun was a little more solemn. Her hair would be tied up high on the top of her head, making her look dignified. The immortal bun was tied up diagonally, and the hair at the back of her head was tied into a bundle and placed over her shoulders.
This was one of the favorite hairstyles of the noble ladies of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
After greeting her, Yu Jianjia quickly asked with concern, “Is Grandmother feeling better?”
Old Madam Yu smiled. “I’m old and my body is useless. After taking a walk outside, my body can’t take it anymore. I’ve rested for two days and I’m fine.” Yu Jianjia looked relieved. “It’s good that Grandmother is fine.”
She lowered her eyes. At that time, in the Duke Rongs Residence, she only knew that Matriarch Rong had fainted. As for why she had fainted, she did not know anything. After that, the family rushed back to the residence.
Yu Youyao kept her mouth shut and did not say anything. Matriarch Yu also warned the servants who knew about it to keep this matter a secret.
It was only yesterday that she found out that Yu Youyao had almost ruined her reputation at the Flower Festival in Duke Rongs Residence.
This was the reason for Yin Jinrou and Xu Linlangs inexplicable hospitality to her.
However, she felt sick of it.
Since there was an imperial edict in the palace, it was only right for the entire family to welcome it. Even Yu Qingning, who was locked up in the courtyard, was released. She was wearing a green dress embroidered with hibiscus that was bright and ostentatious.
Seeing that there was nothing wrong with her, Old Madam Yu waved her hand.
Yu Qingning greeted Yu Youyao obediently. “Hello, Big Sister!”
After being locked in the courtyard and disciplined by the nanny of the Education Department for three years, there were still some changes. At the very least, in terms of etiquette and rules, she was already a qualified young lady. She was not as noisy as before.
Yu Youyao nodded. “Greetings, Fourth Sister.”
Since everyone was present, Old Madam Yu instructed them to accept the decree with proper etiquette. In order to prevent any mistakes, she emphasized them a few more times.
It wasn’t until Yu Youyao and the others understood the rules that Old Madam Yu brought the entire family to the front hall.
Yu Zongzheng went to the door to wait. Zhou Linghuai and Yu Shansi were both waiting in the front hall.
It wasn’t until they reached the center that Yu Zongshen brought the imperial carriage ceremonial guard from the palace to the entrance of the Yu Residence with ceremonial guards. There were three types of carriages: grand carriage, legal carriage and imperial carriage.
The grand carriage was considered the most opulent and was used to offer sacrifices to the gods. Accompanying it were the palace guards, the imperial guards, a hundred officials, etiquette, music, carriages, and so on. The legal carriage was used for the court assembly and the Imperial Temple to worship the ancestors. It was on a smaller scale and was mostly used for ordinary travel.
The emperor’s carriage entered and left different places, and the specifications were also different.
The emperor did not appear when an imperial decree was issued, but when one saw an imperial decree, it was as if he had come personally. Therefore, he would also arrange for an imperial carriage to show his respect. It was only a formality and could not be compared to the emperor’s travels.
Yu Zongzheng did not dare to be negligent. He quickly went down the stone steps, lifted his clothes, and knelt down to welcome him. “I, Yu Zongzheng, the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, am here to receive the Imperial Decree. Long live our emperor!”
The person who had come to issue the decree was Eunuch Zhu. He was dressed in a vermillion eunuch’s uniform, and he exuded an arrogant aura.
Behind him were the emperor’s ceremonial guards. Eunuchs and palace maids stood in two rows. There were 32 people in one row, making a total of 64 people. The two people in the front held up a yellow banner that said, “It’s as if I’ve arrived personally.” The eunuchs and palace maids behind him all carried gilded trays with some reward items placed on them. Finally, the eunuchs carried over ten boxes tied with yellow silk.
From the looks of it, it was quite a huge commotion..
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢