Phi-Fic Chapter 79 Princess Yonglin
Chapter 79 Princess Yonglin
Granny Zou glanced at Qiao Qingshu with a sly look, knowing she wouldn't be so foolish as to kneel in the courtyard and get soaked in the rain.
Now that the eldest daughter's marriage has fallen through, everyone in the Marquis's mansion knows it, and those who are even slightly astute know that the eldest daughter has lost favor.
She's a shrewd woman, how could she be fooled by a little girl? Naturally, she would complain to the old lady.
Old Madam Qiao frowned slightly and said unhappily,
"Shu'er, what right do you have to punish the people in my room?"
Even his tone of voice has changed.
This old woman is indeed the most opportunistic one.
Qiao Qingshu smiled faintly.
“Grandmother, now that I have the power to manage the household, I can naturally punish as I see fit.”
“Granny Zou disregards social hierarchy and often tries to beat the maids in my room. If I don’t teach her a lesson, those old and cunning girls will learn from her, and the reputation of our Marquis’s mansion will be ruined by these people.”
Old and shrewish.
Old Madam Qiao found it grating and felt that Qiao Qingshu was subtly mocking her.
She slammed her hand on the table, her eyes burning with rage as she shouted.
"I think this control of the family is..."
Before he could finish speaking, Butler Lai rushed in, panting, and said...
"Master, Madam, a palace eunuch has come to deliver an imperial decree!"
Qiao Jizhou frowned, stood up, and said unhappily,
"You're here, why are you in such a hurry? You've never seen anything like this before!"
However, they were just there to announce Qiao Qingshu's marriage to the second son of a concubine.
Qiao Jizhou was already unhappy, so he was even less likely to give his servants a friendly look.
"Go and prepare the incense table, I'll be out in a bit."
Lai Da hurriedly straightened up and shouted,
"It was the Grand Eunuch Li Pu who came specifically for this! And..."
Li Pu is a favorite of the emperor, and his status is becoming increasingly prestigious. It is impossible for him to go out and deliver imperial edicts.
The last time Li Pu was able to issue an imperial edict was five years ago, when the mighty general returned triumphantly from the frontier, and the emperor bestowed upon her a title and fiefdom, and conferred upon her the title of Lady.
"And Princess Yonglin has come too!"
Princess Yonglin was the daughter of Consort Xiande, the baby girl who was switched into the palace, and the illegitimate daughter of Consort Li.
Princess Yonglin was lively and charming, and was greatly favored by the emperor. He would give her anything she wanted, from the stars to the moon.
Everyone in the court knew that the emperor's favorite was Princess Yonglin. If Yonglin were a boy, the throne would undoubtedly belong to her.
Qiao Jizhou was so frightened that he fell off the stool and practically crawled and rolled out to receive the imperial decree.
Madam Qiao, dressed in her finest clothes, was helped to the main hall to receive the imperial decree.
The Qiao family members all knelt on the ground. Lord Li Pu sat on a red steed, with two pairs of imperial guards standing in rows on either side of him.
Qiao Jizhou, who had served as an official for many years without ever receiving an imperial edict, stepped forward tremblingly and knelt down.
"Your subject Qiao Jizhou receives the imperial decree."
Li Pu was speechless.
“Lord Qiao, this imperial edict is for your eldest daughter, not for you.”
Qiao Jizhou scratched his head awkwardly, stood up, and called Qiao Qingshu out from the crowd.
Madam Qiao glanced at Qiao Qingshu with disdain, thinking to herself that no matter how much fuss was made, the imperial edict was only to betroth the illegitimate son to him, so it was ultimately of little use.
He secretly planned to take back Qiao Qingshu's control of the family once the imperial edict was issued.
These days have been quite a spectacle for her, but she needs to be taught proper manners. We should also try to cut back some of her dowry. She's not marrying into the main family, so why does she need to be so dignified?
At the very end of the crowd knelt Liu Wan'er, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes.
If she really marries into the second branch of the Xiao family, let's see what right Qiao Qingshu will have to act so arrogantly in the future!
Upon seeing Qiao Qingshu, Li Pu immediately dismounted and greeted her with a gentle smile.
"Qiao Qingshu, receive the imperial decree!"
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that Bai Chanzi of the Qiao family be posthumously honored as Lady of Hu, Qiao Qingshu be honored as the adopted daughter of Consort Xiande, and be married to Xiao Zhijie, the eldest son of the second branch of the Xiao family, with a dowry of 500,000 taels of silver, to be married off as a princess."
Qiao Qingshu was also shocked. She looked up at Li Pu in disbelief.
Li Pu, with a kind smile on his face, handed her the imperial edict.
"Miss Qiao, why don't you quickly express your gratitude?"
Qiao Qingshu then accepted the imperial edict.
The entire Qiao family was dumbfounded, kneeling there in a daze for a long time without anyone uttering a sound.
Li Pu leaned closer to Qiao Qingshu and whispered.
"In the letter to the Emperor, Consort Xiande praised you highly, and even lauded your mother. Now that you have received such an honor, remember Consort Xiande's kindness and be filial to your imperial concubine godmother in the future, understand?"
Qiao Qingshu nodded slowly.
Then her father, Qiao Jizhou, rushed over, shamelessly asking,
"Lord Li, my wife has been granted the title of Lady of Hu, so doesn't that mean I should also..."
Li Pu clicked his tongue impatiently, saying with obvious disdain,
"Posthumous conferment of titles has nothing to do with you, a living person. You, Lord Qiao, will remain as you are."
In other words, Bai Chanzi's posthumous title had absolutely nothing to do with Qiao Jizhou; it was an honor that belonged exclusively to Bai Chanzi.
Qiao Jizhou opened his mouth wide and couldn't speak for a long time. Why is it that good things never seem to happen to him?
However, the lady and her daughter received wave after wave of good luck.
Old Madam Qiao was trembling; she simply couldn't believe that Qiao Qingshu had become the adopted daughter of Consort Xiande...
This supreme honor...
This means that Qiao Qingshu will suddenly become the most distinguished and dignified member of the Qiao family.
No matter who she marries, even if she marries a country bumpkin, it will not affect her noble status.
In the future, Qiao Qingshu will be able to attend banquets and receive rewards in the palace during festivals!
The Qiao family had worked hard for generations for hundreds of years but never achieved such glory.
Old Madam Qiao couldn't help but slowly turn her gaze to Qiao Qingshu, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over her.
"You must be Qiao Qingshu?"
A delicate, oval face peeked out from the phoenix palanquin that had been parked behind Li Pu.
Princess Yonglin has curved eyebrows and eyes, and when she smiles, two dimples appear on her lips, making her sweet, playful, and adorable.
She was helped down by the palace maids, and Li Pu quickly stepped forward to protect her.
“I saw the message my mother sent to my father, the Emperor. It praised you a lot, and oh, and your mother too.”
“I was so curious that I kept pestering my father to let me out to take a look.”
Princess Yonglin left the palace today not only to visit Qiao Qingshu, but also because her father and mother had a conflict a few days ago.
Her mother had just returned home to visit her family in a fit of pique, but after only one day back, her father was already missing her.
Princess Yonglin personally went to the Xiao residence today to fetch her mother back to the palace.
Qiao Qingshu stepped forward and bowed respectfully, her eyes flickering slightly.
Princess Yonglin died mysteriously in the palace after Xiao Chengyan's death in her previous life.
Qiao Qingshu questioned Xiao Chengyan, and he admitted without hesitation that he was the one who did it.
He said that Princess Yonglin's existence would always be a thorn in his side, as she had taken away everything that belonged to him.
She enjoyed a level of pampering she didn't deserve.
She, a woman born of humble origins, has already had enough to be a princess for so many years.
Death was the best ending for her.
Upon hearing these words, Qiao Qingshu broke out in a cold sweat, feeling that Xiao Chengyan was a complete stranger.