Chapter 314 Asking for Grace
"Miss Sheng is pregnant. We have been ordered to come here to announce the good news and present rewards." Eunuch Wang said with a smile.
"What? Ru'er is pregnant?" Madam Wang asked in surprise.
When Minglan is canonized, the Sheng family will also receive the imperial edict for the canonization.
However, the imperial edict needed to be approved by the Ministry of Rites and then someone would be sent to read it out, so it was not that fast.
Eunuch Wang, who came to deliver the reward, only knew that Concubine Sheng was canonized and was pregnant with the prince, and he didn't know Minglan's maiden name at all.
When Madam Wang heard that Concubine Sheng was pregnant, she thought it was Rulan. She was so happy that she didn't ask any further questions.
She asked Mama Liu to give some wedding money to the eunuch who came to deliver the reward and the accompanying imperial guards, and personally escorted Eunuch Wang and his party out of the mansion.
After watching Eunuch Wang and his companions leave, Madam Wang turned around and walked into the mansion.
"That's great, Ruer is finally pregnant. Now in the palace, Shulan is the only one who gave birth to a princess. Counting the Queen and Concubine Li, there are four people who are pregnant. Rulan will definitely be doted on because she has a child by her side." Madam Wang said happily.
"Now you should be relieved, madam." Mother Liu said with a smile.
"I'm relieved, I'm relieved." Madam Wang said with a smile, "Let's go and see what rewards Kilometer has given."
Madam Wang hurried to the front hall and opened all the rewards to take a look.
"Cloth, jewelry, jade, ginseng and ganoderma..."
Madam Wang became more and more pleased as she looked at Rulan, and the rewards given by the palace became larger and larger, which showed that the emperor was very happy about Rulan's pregnancy.
In fact, she didn't know that this was a reward for Minglan's enthronement and pregnancy combined.
Madam Wang hadn't been happy for long when the concierge came running over and said, "Madam, the Ministry of Rites just sent someone to say that an angel will come to read the imperial edict in half an hour, and ask the family to prepare."
"Imperial edict?" Madam Wang asked in confusion, "Eunuch Wang didn't say anything just now."
“Madam, generally when a noble lady in the palace gives birth to a child, those with lower ranks will be promoted. Maybe His Majesty is so happy that he directly conferred the title on him.” Mother Liu said.
"Yes!" Madam Wang said happily, "She shouldn't be canonized as a concubine. Shulan is already one of the nine concubines because she gave birth to a daughter. Maybe Ru'er can also become one of the nine concubines."
Madam Wang became happier and happier as she thought about it. She immediately ordered someone to invite Sheng Hong back and also ordered people to prepare an incense table.
Sheng Hong hurried back when he heard the news.
"Sir, do you think Ruer can be conferred the title of the Nine Concubines this time?" asked Madam Wang.
"Thunder and rain are all grace from the emperor. How can we guess at random what the emperor means? We will know when the imperial edict arrives."
Although Sheng Hong was also very happy, he tried to restrain himself. He reprimanded Madam Wang and asked, "Did you go to tell your mother the good news?"
Madam Wang's face froze when she heard this, and she said, "I was busy having people prepare the incense table and clean the courtyard, so I didn't have time to do it."
Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong glared at Madam Wang and said, "Why don't you come with me to tell mother the good news!"
Such a big thing would definitely not be hidden from Old Lady Sheng, but going to announce the good news is filial piety.
Sheng Hong brought Madam Wang to Shou'an Hall to announce the good news. Madam Sheng smiled and said, "I've heard about it, too. You guys should get ready quickly and don't lose your manners. I'll pack up and go to the front hall."
She had indeed known about it a long time ago and had never thought that this would turn out to be a misunderstanding.
While I was happy for Rulan, I was also a little worried about Minglan.
Soon, the entire Sheng family gathered in the front hall.
Hai, Sheng Changfeng and Sheng Changlin were all there.
Sheng Changlin is now seven or eight years old. He is taller than his peers. He inherited the good looks of his parents and is very cute.
After Sheng Hong came back, he sent someone to wait at the entrance of the alley. When he learned that the person who was to announce the decree had arrived, he hurriedly went outside the door to greet him with his whole family.
After greeting each other, he welcomed the person to the front yard.
The Sheng family, young and old, knelt down in front of the incense table, and the official who read the imperial edict unfolded it and began to read it.
When they heard the contents of the imperial edict, the smiles on everyone's faces froze except for Sheng Changfeng and Sheng Changlin.
Although the imperial edict did not mention any name, it did say that the sixth daughter of the Sheng family was canonized as a beauty.
The order may be wrong, but the grade of enthronement cannot be wrong.
Rulan was already a beauty, so this imperial decree could only be for conferring the title of empress to Minglan. In other words, it was Minglan who was pregnant, and this was just a misunderstanding?
Sheng Changfeng knew that Madam Wang disliked him, so when he saw that she had made such a big mistake, he was naturally happy to watch her make a fool of herself.
Sheng Changlin was simply happy for his sister.
"Minister Sheng, please accept the order."
When the official who announced the imperial edict saw that the Sheng family did not react after the edict was read, he had to speak up to remind them.
Sheng Hong came back to his senses and quickly thanked the emperor and accepted his order.
After sending the angel away, Sheng Hong sent the imperial edict to the ancestral temple for worship. When he returned to Weiruixuan, he wanted to scold Madam Wang, but when he saw how distraught she looked, he held back.
It was getting late, and Sheng Hong had no intention of going to the government office. He left Wei Ruixuan and went to Wei Xiaoniang's yard.
As soon as he left Wei Rui Xuan, a maid ran over to him and saluted, saying, "Master, there is someone visiting outside the mansion!"
"Visiting?" Sheng Hong frowned slightly.
It's almost evening now, why would you come to visit at this time?
After taking the name card and looking at it, Sheng Hong said with an unpleasant expression: "Tell the concierge that I won't see them!"
The visiting card was actually sent by an envoy from the Liao Kingdom.
When Zhao Xing ascended the throne, the Liao Kingdom sent envoys to watch the ceremony.
Later, because of the negotiations on canceling the annual tribute, the Liao Kingdom deliberately dragged the Song Dynasty and no envoys were sent back.
Sheng Hong knew a little about these things. The Liao envoys coming to his house at this time must be no good, so he naturally would not meet them.
In fact, throughout the day, the Liao envoys visited many people, including the families of Zhao Xing's concubines and some important officials in the court.
Some people, like Sheng Hong, refused to meet, while others chose to meet.
The Liao envoys were naturally under surveillance in Bian Jing. Zhao Xing naturally received the news as he openly visited important officials in the court with gifts.
"What does the Liao Kingdom want to do?" Zhao Xing frowned slightly.
Did the Liao Kingdom want to use this method to stop the Song Dynasty from sending troops?
Zhao Xing felt that it was unlikely. As long as the Liao envoy was not stupid, he should know that all his actions were under surveillance.
"Or do you want to use this method to make me doubt the ministers in the court?"
Zhao Xing shook his head, thinking it was unlikely.
Although he couldn't understand the Liao Kingdom's intentions for a while, Zhao Xing was very unhappy with those who met the Liao envoys.
"Check what those officials who met with the Liao envoys talked about." Zhao Xing ordered.
"Yes!" Sanshui replied.
…………
At night, Zhao Xing rested in Chunjin Pavilion where Minglan lived.
"His Majesty."
Minglan's eyes were filled with spring water. She pressed down Zhao Xing's big hand that was playing tricks on her chest and said, "If Your Highness wants, just let Dashuang and Xiaoshuang serve Your Highness. Why bother me?"
"Hey, I can't help myself."
Zhao Xing smiled awkwardly and withdrew his hand.
Minglan straightened her clothes and said, "I would like to ask for a favor from your majesty."
"Hmm?" Zhao Xing asked in confusion, "What grace?"
"My maid Xiaotao is not young anymore. I would like to ask for mercy and let her leave the palace and get married." Minglan said.
Originally, she didn't want to bring Xiaotao into the palace, but Xiaotao insisted, and Old Lady Sheng also said that she needed a loyal person by her side.
Xiao Tao is not very pretty and Zhao Xing doesn't like her. Minglan doesn't want her to be like Madam Kong, who left the palace only when she was old.
Grandma Kong still has a nephew to rely on, but Xiaotao has no relatives at all.
(End of this chapter)