CHAPTER 363: CHAPTER 365: IMPERIAL MANDATE (1)

The Second Madam moved her lips slightly but didn’t speak further. The First Madam was the first to stand up and said to the Grand Dowager, "Then I’ll take my leave!" After speaking, she saluted the Grand Dowager.

"Go ahead, take your time on the way!"

The First Madam nodded, then saluted Xiao Yanyi, Fourth Master Xiao, and the two sisters-in-law, before walking out nonchalantly.

The Second Madam frowned slightly at the First Madam’s retreating figure. Suddenly, Fourth Master Xiao stood up and said to Xiqiu, "Let’s go!" After speaking, he turned and walked to the door, then turned back to wait for Xiqiu...

Xiqiu also stood up and said, "Mother, we’ll take our leave as well." After saluting the Second Madam, she also saluted Xiao Yanyi, "Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, we’ll leave first."

Xiao Yanyi stood up, glanced at Xiqiu, and quickly withdrew his gaze. He then said to the Second Madam, "I have some matters to discuss with Fourth Brother. You should return by yourself later!" After speaking, he walked towards Fourth Master Xiao.

Xiao Yanzheng also stood up with a smile and took Xiqiu’s hand, "Mother, I’ll go with Fourth Sister-in-law!" With that, the four of them left one after another, leaving the Second Madam and the Grand Dowager in the room.

At the door, Xiao Yanting and the Fifth Madam were still kneeling. Upon seeing everyone entering, they lowered their heads, dared not to look up. Xiqiu followed Fourth Master Xiao’s example and walked past them without glancing aside.

Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao were in front, and Xiqiu heard Xiao Yanyi ask Fourth Master Xiao softly, "Has the Ministry of Rites’ approval arrived?"

Fourth Master Xiao replied, "Yes. The decree will be announced tomorrow morning." Xiao Yanyi’s pace paused slightly, and his voice was even lower than before, "Lord Zhou from the Ministry of Rites mentioned to me yesterday that the Emperor seems to have the intention to confer a title on Shen Ji’s eldest son..."

As for Xiao Yanzheng, holding Xiqiu’s hand, she asked quietly, "What exactly happened last night? Why did Mother get so angry?" Nanny Du and Qingshuang, one is the servant of Fifth Sister-in-law, while Qingshuang is Fifth Brother’s concubine. Mother didn’t examine carefully but had both of them beaten to death; clearly, it was aimed at Fifth Sister-in-law!

Xiqiu glanced at Xiao Yanzheng’s curious expression and smiled, "Don’t you already know? Zijuan from the First Sister-in-law’s room stole money..."

Naturally, Xiao Yanzheng didn’t believe it, but no matter how she asked, Xiqiu wouldn’t say anything further!

At the crossroads, Xiqiu parted ways with Xiao Yanyi and Xiao Yanzheng. Standing in the courtyard, she said to Fourth Master Xiao, "Fourth Master, take a rest first, I’ll go see Chunyan."

Fourth Master Xiao nodded, "Come back early." After speaking, he went into the room first. Xiqiu instructed Bihuai to go and serve, while she herself went into Chunyan’s room.

The next morning, just after Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao had breakfast, a maid from the outer courtyard hurriedly came over and called through the door, "Fourth Master, Fourth Madam, someone from the palace has arrived, the Marquis has asked you to go to the front courtyard!"

Xiqiu felt a tightness in her heart and looked towards Fourth Master Xiao.

Fourth Master Xiao looked at Xiqiu and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

When Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao reached the front courtyard, the Grand Dowager had already set up an incense table in the large hall next to the main courtyard.

The eunuch who came this time was about seventeen or eighteen years old, fair and always smiling. As Xiqiu entered, he was chatting with Xiao Yanyi, who wore a Qilin’s dark blue robe. Upon seeing Fourth Master Xiao and Xiqiu come in, he immediately smiled and waved the horsetail whisk in his hand, smiling, "Since the Great Governor and Lady are here, I’ll start reading the Imperial Decree!"

Fourth Master Xiao stepped forward to stand beside Xiao Yanyi, clasped his fists, and said, "So it’s Chief Fan!" Then the three of them exchanged a few more words.

The women were also wearing Xia Pi according to their rank, only Xiao Yanzheng and the Fifth Madam wore their usual formal attire. Xiqiu went over to pay respects to the Grand Dowager, the First Madam, the Second Madam, and Xiao Yanting and the Fifth Madam. Xiao Yanzheng came over to pay respects as well, and the whole family knelt down in order of their ranks and seniority in the large hall.

Xiqiu glanced out of the corner of her eye at Chief Fan, who held a five-color brocade in red and bright yellow, with four large characters "Fengtian Gaoming" written on it.

Chief Fan opened the rhinoceros horn scroll and read the Imperial Decree aloud. The essence of it was that the Great Governor is a good general and has meritorious contributions to the country. His marriage to his first wife was granted by the Emperor, who has heard that his wife is gentle, virtuous, and observant of her duties... Therefore, she is conferred the Second-Grade Imperial Decree!

"Fourth Madam, please accept the decree!" Chief Fan smiled, took back the scroll and looked at Xiqiu.

Xiqiu slightly lowered her head, received the colorful decree document with both hands, and then took a tray. On the tray was placed a pearl crown and brocade. She respectfully kowtowed and thanked the Emperor.

"Congratulations to the Great Governor, congratulations to the Governor’s wife!" Chief Fan clasped his hands and congratulated Fourth Master Xiao, who then stood up and returned the courtesy, saying, "Thank you for coming all the way here, please move to the outer courtyard for a cup of tea."

Chief Fan then smiled and said, "Then I shall graciously accept!" After speaking, he saluted the Grand Dowager, "Old Madam, this humble one takes his leave!"

The Grand Dowager quickly smiled and said, "Thank you, Chief Fan!" Chief Fan busily replied it was nothing, then turned to salute the Second Madam, greeted the First Madam, and followed Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi to the outer courtyard.

After they left, the Grand Dowager looked at Xiqiu with a gentle expression and nodded slightly, "Later, go to the ancestral hall. Originally, I wanted to take you to see your father on the second day after the wedding, but Fourth Master said to wait until the decree arrived to pay respects at the ancestral hall, so it’s been delayed until today..." After she finished, she paused and added, "You should go back and change clothes later, to accompany Fourth Master to the palace for gratitude."

The Grand Dowager was explaining to her why she hadn’t yet paid respects to the ancestors of the Xiao Family at the ancestral hall, and pointing out that she would have to go to the palace later to express gratitude. Xiqiu smiled gratefully and nodded, "Thank you, Mother, I understand!"

The Grand Dowager nodded, and the Second Madam came over smiling, "Congratulations, Fourth Sister-in-law!" Xiqiu smiled and returned the courtesy. The First Madam, holding the Grand Dowager’s arm, nodded faintly at Xiqiu, "Congratulations!"

Xiqiu smiled and returned the courtesy as well!

The Fifth Madam, with a white cloth wrapped around her forehead, wore a bright red peony patterned standing-collar overcoat, her head adorned with red hairpins clanging softly, her face showing a bluish-black hue. It was said that she and the Fifth Young Master had been kneeling at the Grand Dowager’s door last night until the morning when the Grand Dowager called them in. It was still winter; kneeling outside all night was certainly uncomfortable... She came over and stiffly saluted Xiqiu, her voice low with a trace of bitterness, "Congratulations, Fourth Sister-in-law!" She was the only woman in this family who hadn’t received an imperial decree.

Xiao Yanting’s face also looked unhappy.

Later, when Fourth Master Xiao returned, Xiqiu followed him and the others to the Xiao Mansion’s ancestral hall located at the northeast corner. Seeing the bright walls and gray tiles, exuding a solemn and reverent atmosphere, Xiqiu couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe. When she saw row upon row of ancestral tablets stacked fifteen or sixteen layers high, she couldn’t help but silently marvel... Compared to the sparse ancestral hall of the Tong Family, the Xiao Family is truly a century-old clan!

At this time, people measure by their lineage, legitimate or concubine status, or their rank and titles. If the social status is the same, they compare ancestors...

Sometimes with the changing dynasties and constant wars, sometimes with natural and man-made disasters, where countless people suffer and die, struggling to even find enough to eat, who can still remember who their ancestors are?! Therefore, the more ancestral tablets there are in the ancestral hall, and if they can trace back dozens or hundreds of generations, it shows that this family has deep roots and strong strength, truly reputable aristocrats!