NFBE Chapter 262: Conferring the Title of County Master
Chapter 262: Conferring the Title of County Master
The imperial city of Shang Dynasty,
The princess's motorcade entered the city and was welcomed by all officials.
The convoy arrived outside the palace, where the empress's personal eunuch was already waiting outside.
Feng Zhaoyun did not get off the carriage. Her voice could be heard from inside, "Make way."
The guards at the door looked at each other, and the leader stepped forward and saluted, "Your Highness, the Princess. Your Highness is so favored by His Majesty that you can ride directly in a carriage to the main hall, but..."
The leader of the Royal Guards hesitated for a moment and looked up into the carriage. "But the others in the carriage can't..."
Inside the carriage, Feng Zhaoyun was leaning on the small table with one hand. Incense was burning inside the carriage, and Bai Mohan was drinking tea opposite her.
After the leader of the Royal Guards outside the car finished speaking, Feng Zhaoyun still closed his eyes and did not open them.
Bai Mohan lifted the car curtain, and the people outside saw that the person sitting in the car was actually the concubine, not the princess.
He curled the corners of his mouth, glanced at the leader of the Royal Guards, and was about to stand up and get out of the carriage.
But Feng Zhaoyun grabbed her wrist.
Looking down at the pair of white hands, Bai Mohan held hers in return, "Your Highness, I don't want to embarrass you because of such a trivial matter. I will just get out of the car and walk in."
Feng Zhaoyun opened his eyes and said to the outside of the car in a bad tone, "Once we enter the palace, I will explain to His Majesty. Get out of the way!"
The leader of the Royal Guards was embarrassed, "This..."
She looked back at the people around the empress at the palace gate. Seeing several leading eunuchs nodding helplessly, she clasped her fists and said, "Yes."
Then he waved his hand and said, "Your Highness, please come in."
The palace gate guards made way, but only one carriage entered, driven by Jiuyi, and headed towards the main hall.
Behind the carriage, the rest of the people got off and, led by palace servants, entered the palace in order of their rank.
The news that Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess forcibly brought the Concubine into the palace soon reached the ears of the Empress.
In the main hall, the empress, wearing a golden phoenix dress, sat at the top, looking very majestic and noble.
The princess drove straight into the main hall...
When the ministers heard the sound of horse hooves, they couldn't help but look towards the entrance of the main hall.
Arriving at the main hall, Jiuyi opened the carriage door and two young eunuchs bowed to greet them. "Greetings, Your Highness, the Emperor summons you to the palace."
Bai Mohan got out of the car first, turned around and extended his hand, his eyebrows and eyes were gentle, and he smiled faintly, "Your Highness, be careful."
No one dared to look up, and only saw Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess get off the carriage following the hand of the Concubine.
The young eunuch bowed and said, "Your Highness, please come this way."
When they reached the main hall, the ceremonial officer stopped Bai Mohan, and Feng Zhaoyun stopped. The ceremonial officer bowed and explained, "According to the hierarchy of the Shang Kingdom, the concubine cannot enter until the princess arrives. This is against etiquette."
Bai Mohan smiled. This was clearly the Empress's order. Otherwise, who would dare to do this? So he stepped forward and said politely, "Your Highness, it is indeed so. You must not lose your manners. I will wait for my brother to arrive. It will not be too late to enter then."
Feng Zhaoyun glanced at the female official coldly, turned around and looked towards the main hall, with a slight curl of her lips. It seems...it would only be convenient if she became the empress.
The ceremonial officer entered the hall and called out, "Her Royal Highness has arrived."
All the officials turned sideways and knelt before the princess, "Greetings to Her Highness."
In the past, Feng Zhaoyun always had a kind expression on his face, smiled slightly, and motioned for everyone to stand up. But today, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess simply stepped into the main hall. The aura around her was extremely cold, and she looked very much like the cold-faced War King of the past.
This abnormality naturally did not escape the Empress's attention. She narrowed her eyes slightly and glanced at Zhou Fuhai. Zhou Fuhai quickly and quietly retreated...
Feng Zhaoyun, wearing the dark red robes of a princess, stepped forward and knelt in obeisance, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live Your Majesty."
The Empress couldn't help but chuckle, it was indeed different...
The Empress said, "Princess, please get up."
Feng Zhaoyun stood up and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
At this time, the ceremonial officer came to report, "Your Majesty, the rest of the people have arrived and are waiting at the door."
The empress nodded calmly, "Announce."
Everyone who went to the Moon Kingdom this time went to the palace, including Xiao Qingyue.
Bai Mohan followed behind Bai Jinzhi, but he was extremely conspicuous because he was wearing a dark red robe, which was the favor the empress showed him when he was in Yan Kingdom.
But this is in the Shang Kingdom, and only the princess can wear this color.
It was so conspicuous that everyone couldn't help but look over. The Empress also saw it and looked unhappy...
Everyone knelt and bowed to the empress, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to you. Long live your Majesty."
The empress looked at the kneeling person. After seeing Xiao Qingyue, she snorted lightly, extremely dissatisfied.
My good daughter went to the Moon Kingdom for a man, and brought back a disaster who was spoiled because of her favor. She is really my good daughter!
The empress said coldly, "Everyone get up."
Everyone then stood up and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
At this time, Xiao Yushan had bloody gauze wrapped around her chest and was tied up with ropes. She looked disheveled, but she did not get up.
The Empress asked, "What happened to Xiao Aiqing? What mistake did you make?"
Xiao Yushan was stunned. The empress's words were obviously to help the princess. In the whole world, there was no one else who could treat him like this except the princess.
The empress asked her what mistake she had made, and it was obvious that she was trying to help the princess.
Xiao Yushan knelt down and kowtowed several times, tears streaming down his face. "Your Majesty! I... am wronged!"
The empress looked at Feng Zhaoyun, only to see her daughter's expression was indifferent. She withdrew her gaze and said, "My dear, please stand up and speak."
At this moment, a general quickly stepped forward and helped Xiao Yushan to his feet. Xiao Yushan said, "Your Majesty, I was ordered to the border. While clearing out the casinos in the city, I was stopped by the Crown Princess and injured. Your Highness is punishing me... for disrespect... I am innocent!"
After saying this, Xiao Yushan prostrated himself on the ground.
Feng Zhaoyun looked towards the Empress and saw her staring at him, so he stepped out of the group and said, "Your Majesty, Xiao Yushan injured your son, the Concubine, which is truly disrespectful. I cannot see that he was wronged."
At this time, Bai Mohan stepped forward and knelt down. "Your Majesty, this matter all started with Mohan. That day, I just went to a nearby restaurant to buy some food, but for some reason I offended General Xiao, and that's why he attacked me."
The empress looked at Bai Mohan with a pair of sharp eyes. Bai Mohan was wearing a dark red crane robe and a golden crown to tie his hair. And her own daughter Yun'er, who never liked gold, also had a golden crown to tie her hair...
Seeing this, the empress retracted her gaze and said, "General Xiao, please stand up first and take a seat."
Immediately, a young eunuch brought a chair and helped Xiao Yushan sit down.
The Empress said, "General Xiao has worked hard and made great contributions. Since this is a misunderstanding, let's clear it up. I hereby grant General Xiao one hundred taels of gold. Upon returning to the capital, he will rest for a month to recover from his injuries."
Feng Zhaoyun frowned when these words were spoken. It was obvious that she was wrong. She looked at the kneeling Bai Mohan, and saw that Bai Mohan was indeed looking at her with a face full of grievance.
Xiao Yushan quickly stood up again, "This old minister... Thank you, Your Majesty! This old minister has something to report!"
The empress glanced at Xiao Qingyue and asked, "What's the matter?"
Xiao Yushan, "Luckily, the new emperor of the Moon Kingdom sent my legitimate son back. I only have this one son... I only ask Your Majesty..."
The empress did not like Xiao Qingyue, not for any other reason, but because she was the one she sent to the Yue Kingdom herself. Yun'er had contradicted her many times for this man.
Thinking of this, the empress interrupted, "I didn't realize that Emperor Xiao is here. Come! Take a seat!"
Xiao Yushan trembled, holding onto the chair, and said, "Your Majesty!"
The Empress's eyes were sharp. "Come, help General Xiao sit down properly."
At this time, Zhu Qing supported Xiao Qingyue, whose eyes were covered with a white cloth, and walked forward. Xiao Qingyue knelt down with a plop, "I am no longer the emperor of the Moon Kingdom, I dare not take the seat."
She actually disobeyed the imperial decree. The empress sneered, "What's wrong with your eyes?"
Xiao Qingyue knelt upright, her green robes on her body, which was out of tune with the grandeur of the hall. "Your Majesty..."
He paused for a moment, "I hurt myself..."
Feng Zhaoyun, who was standing in front, had a normal expression on her face, but when she heard him say that, she was stunned and couldn't help but turn her head slightly to look at him.
This move naturally did not escape the Empress's eyes. "According to the rules of the Yue Kingdom, Emperor Xiao should have been buried alive with the emperor, but he came to our Shang Kingdom. This is against etiquette!"
The empress originally thought that her daughter would come out to plead for Xiao Qingyue, but the one who came out to plead was Bai Jinzhi.
Bai Jinzhi was wearing the peacock blue official robe of the Crown Princess, embroidered with python patterns, and with his pair of enchantingly beautiful peach blossom eyes, he was even more handsome.
He lifted his robe and knelt down. "Your Majesty, Nangong Liuying has committed grave sins and provoked conflicts between the two countries. He is truly unworthy of his position. Fortunately, thanks to the righteous assistance of Emperor Xiao, this tyrant was removed, bringing peace to both countries. Young Master Xiao, you are a meritorious official!"
The empress chuckled and looked at Bai Jinzhi. This boy is quite smart!
Empress, "Jin'er is quite generous."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone could not help but secretly look at the Princess Royal. His Majesty's meaning was so obvious. The Princess Royal loved Xiao Qingyue, yet the Princess Royal was actually helping her love rival...
Bai Jinzhi smiled slightly and raised his head, "Your Highness is the Crown Princess, so naturally, everything will be of the utmost importance to Her Highness."
The Empress looked at Feng Zhaoyun, wondering why Yun'er didn't quarrel with her over Xiao Qingyue, but instead quarreled with Bai Jinzhi...
Empress, "How does Your Highness think this matter should be handled?"
Feng Zhaoyun's expression was indifferent. "Your Majesty, I dare not speak rashly. I leave all matters to Your Majesty's judgment."
The empress was stunned. This surprised her...
When Xiao Qingyue, who was sitting below, heard this, even though she was blindfolded, she could not hide her disappointment.
Sure enough, she no longer cares about herself...
At this time, Bai Jinzhi said, "Your Majesty, General Xiao has been loyal to his country, and he only has this one son. I heard that although Master Xiao is in Yue Country, he has not committed himself to Nangong Liuying. If you count it this way, he is just a figurehead."
The Empress raised her eyebrows slightly, "Oh? That's how it is."
At this time, Xiao Qingyue raised her hand and saluted, "That's what the princess said."
The Empress said, "Come here! Take him down for a physical examination. If this is true, his status as the general's legitimate son will be restored, and he will be granted the title of Princess Qingyue!"
Everyone present was stunned. They didn't expect that the empress was about to punish Xiao Qingyue, but suddenly gave such a generous reward. It was indeed difficult to guess the emperor's mind.
Zhu Qing felt Xiao Qingyue's body stiffen noticeably. His master's body had already been given to Her Highness the Princess, so how could he still examine her? This examination was truly irrefutable...
Bai Jinzhi didn't know that the Crown Princess and Xiao Qingyue had slept together. The secret guard beside him reported that Xiao Qingyue had indeed not devoted herself to Nangong Liuying.
Looking at Xiao Qingyue's reaction at this time, he thought to himself that something was wrong.
Several eunuchs stepped forward, "Master Xiao, please."
Xiao Qingyue still knelt motionlessly.
Zhu Qing looked at the Princess Royal and was really angry when he saw that she was unmoved. What a heartless woman!
The Empress said, "Master Xiao has difficulty seeing, yet you don't step forward to support him. Do I need to teach you this?"
The young eunuch trembled and hurried forward to forcibly take Xiao Qingyue up, but he heard a sound.
"His Majesty!"
Hearing this, Xiao Qingyue's heart couldn't help but beat a little, and she secretly cursed herself for being so useless.
Feng Zhaoyun said, "Your Majesty, I can testify for Young Master Xiao that it is indeed as the Crown Princess said."
The Empress smiled. Could she finally hold it in? Xiao Qingyue must have lost her virginity, and it was clearly related to her own Yun'er...
Empress, "Since Yun'er said so, then I believe Master Xiao. However, Master Xiao is already old and has indeed reached the right age for marriage."
After saying this, the empress looked down at the ministers below.
The ministers didn't understand what the empress meant, and they lowered their heads in haste, fearing that they would be chosen.
She has been married before, and even though she was given the title of county lady, everyone can see that the empress dislikes her towards her. If she marries him, the family may be implicated.
The ministers dared not look at the empress...
The Empress looked at everyone and said, "I think that since the Second Princess Feng Yiran has not yet married, why not...give her the title of Consort?"
Concubine?
Feng Yiran was shocked and quickly looked at Feng Zhaoyun. How could this be possible...
She quickly stepped out of the group and said, "Your Majesty, between me and Young Master Xiao... we really can't have the romantic feelings that men and women can have..."
At this time, Xiao Qingyue also laughed at herself, "Your Majesty, I do not wish to marry again in this life, please grant me your blessing."
The empress seemed to have not expected him to say that. She was slightly stunned, but then she found that her Yun'er did not care at all when she heard this, which made her unable to understand.
The Empress said, "Let's put this matter aside for now. Pass on my decree. I grant Xiao Qingyue the title of Princess Qingyue and reward the Xiao family with 100 taels of gold."
Xiao Yushan was overjoyed and quickly knelt down, "This old minister is filled with gratitude! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
Xiao Qingyue: "I, the humble commoner, thank you, Your Majesty."
The Empress said, "Someone, send Xiao Yushan and Qingyue County Master back to the mansion to rest."
...........
After the Xiao family mother and son were both supported out of the main hall, the empress said, "Your Highness the Crown Princess personally went to the border to guard the city and ensure the peace of the two countries. You should be rewarded generously!"
The empress then looked at Bai Mohan, "You deserve to be punished for allowing your concubine to act so recklessly!"
Bai Mohan pretended to be afraid and knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, please punish me. Your Highness is not aware of this!"
After saying this, Bai Mohan lowered his head and curled the corners of his mouth. Is it his turn?
...........