At this moment, Long Yi, the leader of the Dragon Shadow Guard, appeared beside Emperor Yuanjing and reported that it was true that the Second Prince had indeed hired someone to assassinate Miss Shen.
In an instant, Emperor Jingyuan's aura changed!
The second son indeed harbored rebellious intentions.
He's still here!
The Crown Prince is still alive!
Emperor Jingyuan glanced coldly at Consort Li, his eyes devoid of any warmth.
Everything the Crown Princess said was actually true!
Having his thoughts confirmed, Emperor Jingyuan suddenly came up with a "good idea".
...
At this moment, Zhao Guangming felt anxious and uneasy.
Shen Mingzhu just mentioned Zhao Xueer's ending, but she didn't say who Zhao Xueer's husband is!
How can their family avoid disaster?
Zhao Guangming thought:...Miss Shen, please finish your sentence at once!
After enjoying these few juicy tidbits, Shen Mingzhu couldn't help but think that such a banquet should be a talent competition among the young ladies!
[Guagua, why aren't any of the young ladies showcasing their talents at this banquet? It would be a great opportunity for them to shine; they might just catch the eye of some important person.]
Emperor Jingyuan listened to her heartfelt words, and the corners of his lips curled slightly.
Soon, Empress Lin Wanrou gave the order, and many young ladies from noble families began to perform their respective talents.
Shen Mingzhu finally sat quietly in her seat to watch the performance, and Shen's mother secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as she relaxed for a moment, Shen Mingzhu's inner thoughts came through again!
These heiresses are truly amazing! Look at this one painting on the spot, this one playing the guqin—it's really impressive! If this were modern times, they would all become internet celebrities with millions of followers based on their talents.
Guagua: [That's right, host. Don't forget, they are all daughters carefully raised by aristocratic families! How can they be compared to those who are raised in isolation!]
Many ministers nodded in agreement.
Indeed, they all hired renowned teachers to meticulously nurture their daughters, without a moment's slackening, even in the harshest winters and sweltering summers.
Shen Mingzhu watched with great interest, unaware that the two big bosses at the head of the table exchanged a glance and laughed in unison.
After Miss Gu from the Minister of Personnel's family finished her performance, Empress Lin smiled warmly and looked in Shen Mingzhu's direction, saying...
"Your Highness, everyone has been very curious about you. This is a good opportunity to show yourself and let everyone get to know you."
Shen Mingzhu didn't move at first, but when her mother Xie Qinghuan hit her, she realized that she was the Crown Princess!
The title was just granted tonight!
Freshly baked!
Shen Mingzhu quickly smiled and stood up, walked to the center of the hall, bowed, and when she looked up again, she couldn't help but scream in her heart.
[Guagua, I don't have any special talents! In my previous life, I was an orphan and couldn't afford to learn. In this life, I spent the first twelve years growing up in the countryside, and for the last three years, I barely learned some needlework. What does the Empress want me to demonstrate?]
[Guagua, help!]
The Second Prince Yan Yunxuan looked smug. "A country bumpkin like her, she's not presentable!"
He can already imagine how devastated his older brother Yan Beichen will be when he wakes up and finds out he has such a fiancée!
Just thinking about it makes him happy!
Shen Jiaojiao looked at her with disdain. So what if she's the legitimate daughter? She's nothing but a disgrace!
Shen Mu's insistence on blood ties every day is truly laughable!
Don't they know that?
Only her, Shen Jiaojiao!
Only she can bring glory to the Shen family!
Looking at Shen Mingzhu kneeling in the center of the hall, what a joke!
It's utterly awful!
Upon hearing her daughter's thoughts, Shen's mother immediately wanted to step forward to help her out of the predicament.
Suddenly, a thought struck Shen Mingzhu.
[Got it!]
Everyone was filled with anticipation!
Immediately afterwards, everyone heard Shen Mingzhu speak with a smile.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, on this auspicious Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for family reunions, I would like to compose a poem on the spot for all of you to appreciate!"
Emperor Jingyuan smiled and nodded after hearing this.
"Alright, alright, then the Crown Princess, please compose a poem on the spot."
Shen Mingzhu thought for a moment, then spoke confidently.
"A pot of wine among the flowers, I drink alone without a companion; I raise my cup to invite the bright moon, and with my shadow, we become three."
At this moment, all the ministers began to carefully savor the poem.
Grand Scholar Su Huaiyuan nodded repeatedly, a hint of appreciation in his eyes as he looked at Shen Mingzhu.
I raise my cup to invite the bright moon, and with my shadow, we become three!
What a beautiful poem! What a wonderful poem!
Looking at the wine in front of him, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Hahaha~~~ What a wonderful poem! What a wonderful poem!"
Emperor Jingyuan burst into laughter.
The Crown Princess he chose for Chen'er is indeed a wonderful person!
Emperor Jingyuan looked at the people below him and nodded in satisfaction.
"Crown Princess, not bad! Very talented!"
After thinking for a moment, he spoke.
"Princess Consort Shen Mingzhu is a woman of both talent and learning, and she and Crown Prince Yan Beichen are a match made in heaven. Although the Crown Prince is currently unconscious, in order for you two to get along well in the future, i hereby appoint Shen Mingzhu as a sixth-rank Hanlin Compiler, and she will attend court in place of her husband tomorrow!"
Shen Mingzhu: ...
What?
She simply couldn't believe it.
Taking her husband's place in court?
[Guagua, did I hear that right? The emperor wants me to attend court in my husband's place every day? What am I supposed to do at court? He's already unconscious, and he's still causing me trouble!]
[Host, calm down! So what if you go to court? The Great Yan Dynasty has never had a woman holding an official position before. You've set a precedent, so it's good to see for yourself.]
Waaaaah... But I can't get up! I have to get up early for court!
Ministers: ...
Emperor Jingyuan: ...
Chief Steward Wang Defu was very perceptive.
"Crown Princess, why aren't you thanking the Emperor?"
Shen Mingzhu lowered her head helplessly.
"Your subject thanks you!"
[Guagua, I don't want to go to court in my husband's place!]
[Host, think about it the other way around. You're an official now, and you even get a salary. A woman in office makes you a role model for all women in the world. Doesn't that make you feel better?]
[All right. ]
After saying that, she returned to her seat dejectedly.
The mother took her daughter's hand and praised her with a smile.
"My good daughter is amazing! She even became an official!"
[My beautiful mother is so wonderful; she's always a mother who never spoils the mood. I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful mother. Love you, my beautiful mother!]
Empress Lin smiled as she looked at Mother Shen.
He glanced at Emperor Jingyuan.
Emperor Jingyuan whispered a few words to Wang Defu, and after a while Wang Defu returned and spoke directly.
"Madam Shen Xie, stepped forward to receive the imperial decree."
Madam Shen rose and walked to the center of the main hall, where she knelt down to receive the imperial decree.
"By the grace of Heaven and the Emperor, it is decreed: Lady Xie, wife of the Marquis of Changping, is dignified, wise, diligent, gentle, kind, and pure. She is of a good nature and has taught her daughters well. Therefore, she is hereby conferred the title of Third-Rank Lady of Virtue. This is the imperial decree!"
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"
Mother Shen accepted the imperial edict and knelt down to express her gratitude.
Surprises always come so unexpectedly.
Shen Mingzhu was overjoyed to hear that her mother had been granted the title of a third-rank imperial consort.
My mom is amazing!
[Whatever the host says is right!]
Everyone couldn't help but sigh, "They've raised their daughter so well, it's wonderful!"
When Shen Jiaojiao saw that Shen Mingzhu had been made Crown Princess and that her mother had received an imperial decree, and that the mother and daughter were getting along better and better, she was so jealous that her face turned red.
How did it turn out like this?
Why did she have to become a concubine?
She's so angry!