Chapter 426 - Chapter 426: Chapter 422: Enthronement_1 (1/2)

Chapter 426: Chapter 422: Enthronement_1

The first day of the New Year came in the blink of an eye.

First thing in the morning, four Palace carriages arrived, carrying two officers from Zhongshu Province, several Palace Maids holding gift boxes, a few eunuchs carrying ceremonial objects, as well as a group of guards on horseback.

They arrived at the gate of the Jiang Family house, calling out loudly: “A royal decree from His Majesty!”

The gatekeeper boy was startled and rushed into the backyard to announce the news.

Xu Chunniang and her daughter had gotten up early, dressed in new clothes, and were preparing breakfast when they were startled by the boy’s announcement. They immediately called their two sons and Jiang Quan’s Huzi to the door to receive the imperial decree.

A group of people was welcomed into the main hall to read the imperial edict, and the whole family prepared a ceremonial table, properly dressed and kneeling to listen to it.

It turned out that the Emperor was hosting a feast for his officials and their families in Taihe Hall today, inviting the Jiang Family to the banquet in the palace.

There were two other decrees. One was to bestow upon Xu Chunniang the rank of Anren of the Sixth Rank and grant her a set of ceremonial attire and a silk ribbon, along with an official document.

The other was to grant Jiang Yingbao the title of Second-Class Princess of Qinchuan County, with a set of ceremonial attire, a silk ribbon and a jade butterfly, and several corresponding ceremonial objects, along with eight Palace Assistants, a county mansion, a set of sedan chairs, and twelve guards.

Looking at the Palace Maids and eunuchs holding the ceremonial objects, Yingbao was a tad bit stunned.

A clerk smiled and said, “Princess Qinchuan, you should accept the decree promptly. You will have to go to the palace later to express your gratitude.”

Yingbao promptly accepted the decree with a bow.

Holding the imperial decree and the jade butterfly, she didn’t know what to say for a moment.

She did not expect the Emperor to bestow upon her the title of a princess, granting her Qinchuan County as her territory.

This was a treatment that only the daughters of a prince or a Commandery Prince had.

After accepting the decree, the Chunniang and the others wanted to invite the clerks and others to a meal, but they declined saying, “We must return to report, we cannot stay for long.”

Jiang Jie, seeing this, promptly fetched two large red envelopes and placed them into the hands of the two clerks, and each of the eunuchs also received a red envelope.

After sending off the officials who delivered the decree, the family looked towards the eight Palace Assistants.

A senior Palace Maid bowed to Yingbao and said, “I am Meixiang, wishing the Princess peace.”

Another Palace Maid also knelt and said, “May the Princess have great fortune, I am called Lan Xiang.”

“I am He Xiang…”

“My name is Qiu Xiang…”

The four eunuchs also came to pay their respects: “Guixiang, Jinxi, Yulian, Yudahai, wishing peace to the Princess.”

Yingbao nodded, telling them to rise.

The senior Palace Maid, Meixiang, said, “Later, when the Princess goes to the palace to express her gratitude, allow me to assist you in dressing.”

“Alright,” said Yingbao, as she went inside with her mother.

Xu Chunniang also had to dress in the outfit of a six-rank noblewoman, put on the silk ribbon, and go to the palace to express her gratitude, and to attend the palace banquet.

Furthermore, she and her daughter needed to hear from Meixiang about the rules inside the palace, along with the required etiquettes.

Fortunately, these Palace Maids can accompany them into the palace this time. Even if they can’t remember all the rules, having the Palace Maids next to them to give reminders, they should not make any mistakes.

After the four Palace Maids had dressed Yingbao and her mother, and applied their makeup, they stood at one side with their hands down.

Yingbao’s ceremonial attire was longer than her mother’s; it dragged on the ground behind her, appearing particularly imposing.

The moment Xu Chunniang put on the noblewoman’s ceremonial attire, her aura was instantly elevated. With her beautiful features, she was in no way inferior to those noblewomen from prominent families.

Late on, the whole family went to the palace for the banquet together, except for Jiang Quan, who was not on the invitation list.

Fortunately, Jiang Quan was nonchalant. After cheerfully seeing off his aunt and little cousin, he returned to his room and sat on his kang to count his money.

When Yingbao’s carriage reached the gate of the Imperial City, it was surrounded by officers’ carriages and sedan chairs.

Her carriage was a gift from the Emperor, so it could directly enter the city.

With eunuchs and guards leading the way, the crowd at the gate let them through.

They drove into the Imperial City, entered through the Xuanyou Gate, and arrived at the Meeting Gate outside the Zichen Hall along the north-south avenue.

As soon as they crossed the Meeting Gate, they were inside the Imperial Palace.