A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

T/N: Thank you for the ko-fi, @J Doe! Enjoy the bonus update~

After grinding ink for some time, Chen Wang looked back and noticed that Emperor Longfeng hadn’t moved from his place: “Father Emperor, a nobleman’s word is his bond. You write the imperial edict today so that erchen can bring it along to the Ministry of Rites for making a backup copy tomorrow. Isn’t that what should be now?”

 

Emperor Longfeng raised his chin towards Liu Zhongbao.

 

Liu Zhongbao walked to the bookshelf and pulled out a decorated box. Then he placed it on the table with a smile: “Your Highness, why don’t you take a look at the thing inside?”

 

Chen Wang put down the ink stick. The palace maids helped him wash and wipe his hands before he finally opened the box.

 

Seeing an imperial decree placed inside, he glanced at Emperor Longfeng.

 

“Duqing, read the imperial decree.” Emperor Longfeng walked over to the wooden chair adorned with a dragon pattern and sat down, “Something you want is there in it.”

 

“Your Highness, open it and take a look.” Liu Zhongbao also urged him with a smile.

 

Chen Wang unrolled it. It was an imperial decree conferring the title of xianzhu to Assistant Minister Ming’s daughter. However, it was not yet sealed.

 

“Zhen wrote two decrees that day: one bestowing Ming Jingzhou with the title of a count and the other making Ming family’s girl a xianzhu.” Emperor Longfeng picked up the imperial seal and stamped a bright red imprint on the imperial decree: “If you are content with going to the Ministry of Rites, Zhen will grant honor to your future father-in-law. If you do not wish to, this honor will be conferred upon your future Wangfei.”

 

As the future husband’s father who pampered his son, he wanted to give them some compensation.

 

“Ming Jingzhou is an understanding and sensible person. It is fortunate that you have such a father-in-law.” Emperor Longfeng put the sealed imperial decree back into his son’s hands: “Alright. You can take the imperial decree to the Ministry of Rites tomorrow and have Minister Li announce it in person.”

 

“Father Emperor.” Chen Wang held the decree and asked, “So… you had already prepared the imperial decree before?”

 

Then why did he work so hard just now?

 

“What? You don’t want this imperial decree?” Emperor Longfeng reached out to take the imperial decree: “Actually, it’s better not to give the Ming family’s girl any title. Some people in the court will certainly disagree on this matter. There will be fewer disputes if it’s not bestowed.”

 

In fact, he had no intention of sending it out if Duqing had not brought up this matter.

 

“It’s just a minor position of a xianzhu, not that of a princess or a junzhu, what kind of disputes could there possibly be?” Chen Wang put the imperial decree into his bosom. Afraid that Emperor Longfeng would renege, he hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed: “Father Emperor, the palace gate is about to close. Erchen asks to be excused first.”

 

“That’s not a problem, you can stay the night in the side hall.” Emperor Longfeng glanced at the ground ink that had mostly splashed outside already. How was this helping him grind ink? This was clearly his son wreaking havoc.

 

“Many thanks for your good intentions, Father Emperor. But erchen should still go back to his residence to rest so as to avoid letting the officials ramble on again.” Chen Wang touched the imperial decree in his arms, “Erchen asks to be excused.”

 

Watching his son run away with the decree in his arms, Emperor Longfeng dipped the brush in the ink and write a few characters on a piece of paper: “Liu Zhongbao, how many days are there before Qi Wang and Sun family’s Young Miss get married?”

 

“Replying to Your Majesty, there are still six days left.”

 

After scrutinizing the characters on the paper for a moment, he put down his pen: “It was a good thing that the Sun family’s daughter did not get betrothed to my son at that time.”

 

“Keep the auspicious time of the wedding the same as before; there’s no need to change it.” He thought for a moment, “Deliver two bolts of the tribute satin over to the Lanxu Palace.”

 

“His Majesty is so biased!” Ning Fei pushed the two bolts of tribute satin to the ground, her eyes reddened with anger.

 

Imperial Concubine Yang had just passed away, so she was worried that Yanze’s marriage would be implicated. But the Imperial Astronomer declared that since the auspicious time had already been set and the wedding preparations were all done, it could not be shifted.

 

Why did he send two bolts of fabric, did he think he was trying to shoo away some cat or dog?

 

“Niangniang.” Bai Shao stooped to pick up the tribute satin from the ground, “Please don’t get angry, that will harm your body.”

 

Ning Fei ignored her; since she failed to do the task given to her last time, her importance became a lot smaller to the former.

 

“Niangniang.” A eunuch hurriedly entered the room: “Today, people from the Ministry of Rites went to Assistant Minister Ming’s residence to announce an imperial decree.”

 

“What decree?”

 

“A decree granting the title of xianzhu upon Assistant Minister Ming’s daughter.”

 

“Didn’t His Majesty just confer the title of count on Ming Jingzhou?” Ning Fei questioned closely: “Is this information confirmed?”

 

“It has been spread widely outside the Palace.” Noticing her unsightly expression, the little eunuch spoke in a low voice: “It’s being circulated that His Majesty cares deeply about Assistant Minister Ming so… he has boundless prospects.”

 

“The three brothers of the Ming family are all highly valued, important officials but they still want to have boundless prospects? How much could they need?” Ning Fei laughed grimly, “His Majesty is doing this clearly for the sake of Yun Duqing.”

 

There were three brothers in the Ming family. So why did all the good things fall on Ming Jingzhou’s branch?

 

The reason behind the Emperor rewarding Ming Jingzhou’s branch time and time again was nothing more than him having a daughter who was about to marry Chen Wang and enter his residence.

 

The Ming family was only a little related to Yun Duqing but they were favored so openly by His Majesty. Her poor Yanze, who was about to marry the Sun family’s daughter very soon, did not get any favor.

 

In terms of importance, family background, and prestige, how can the Sun family be inferior to the Ming family? 

 

Hence, in the final analysis, it was just partiality.

 

She gritted her teeth and sneered: “That daughter of Ming Jingzhou is also a little slut like Su-shi. She likes to play up to those in power and has a vicious mind.”

 

Bai Shao, who was standing by the side with her head bowed, raised it slightly.

 

“Hong Mei.” Ning Fei called her other trusted palace maid: “The Ming family has raised such a good daughter that every one of their family members had greatly received His Majesty’s favor. There would definitely be some rumors being spread outside, right?”

 

“Niangniang’s words are correct.” Hong Mei smiled complacently at Bai Shao after receiving Ning Fei’s favor. She bowed her head to respond to her command: “It seems that having a son was not as good as having a daughter now. Who would not envy the Ming family for this great fortune!”

 

Ning Fei nodded in satisfaction: “I would like to see how the dignified Ming family reacts to such envy. Would they shed tears of gratitude to Chen Wang or would they remain at a respectful distance?”

 

One Ming Jiuzhu was not important; the ones that had some value were the three brothers of the Ming family.

 

She would never allow the three Ming brothers to become Yun Duqing’s supporters. How could the lowly child of the daughter of a merchant possibly compare to her Yanze!

Thanks for reading ٩(๑ᴗ๑)۶! If you found any typos or want to suggest some corrections, feel free to do so in the comment section or in our discord server. And if you like my translations, please consider rating it on NU and supporting me on: