Chu Liuyun's meaningful gaze darted back and forth between Ye Liangyu and Song Jinzhao. Between the leg injury and Song Qiming, Ye Liangyu was essentially tied to the same boat as Song Jinzhao. It was hard to imagine that a peasant girl from two years ago could reach where she was today. The title of Lady was probably just the first step.
Xiao Chengjing sat down on the dragon throne, a smile playing at the corners of his lips, his voice clear and resonant.
"Lady Linghui, Song Jinzhao, step forward to receive the decree. Bearing the mandate of heaven, I value the sustenance of the common people. The high yield of potatoes has saved thousands of people from the plight of hunger and poverty. Your merit will be recorded in history and benefit generations to come. To commend this achievement and to set an example for women across the world, I hereby grant you the title of County Princess Linghui, and bestow upon you a thousand taels of gold, a thousand mu of fertile land, and a mansion. I hope you will continue to keep the nation in your heart and serve the imperial court in the future."
Ye Liangyu, who had just slightly lifted his bottom, instantly hovered in mid-air. Everyone in the Hall of Supreme Harmony widened their eyes and looked at Xiao Chengjing.
Not a County Lady, not a Commandery Lady, but a County Princess?
To be elevated from a Township Lady to a County Princess was an instant four-level jump. Was the Emperor joking?
Fei Yanzhang squinted hard at Ye Liangyu, signaling him to sit down quickly, as there was no need for them to worry anymore.
They originally thought the Emperor would grant Song Jinzhao the title of County Lady, so they had planned to fight for the position of Commandery Lady. Now she was directly conferred the title of a third-rank County Princess. The imperial grace was immense, far exceeding the reward Song Jinzhao should have received. To ask for more would be crossing the line.
Ye Liangyu slowly sat back down, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of his chest.
Everyone was so shocked that they could hardly recover. As the person involved, Song Jinzhao merely lifted her eyes slightly before kneeling down to bow and accept the decree.
"This subject's daughter receives the decree. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your profound grace. Long live, long live, may Your Majesty live for ten thousand years."
The crowd snapped back to reality. Seeing that the matter was settled and the Emperor was greatly pleased, they knew they absolutely could not ruin the mood and offend the Emperor at this moment. Thus, they all knelt down to congratulate him in unison, "Long live, long live, may Your Majesty live for ten thousand years."
It was not only the civil and military officials who were startled, but also the family members they had brought along.
A commoner woman being granted the title of County Princess—this was a reward usually reserved for the daughters of Commandery Princes. One could only imagine how high the newly appointed County Princess Linghui stood in the Emperor's heart.
They had to take her seriously. If they ever encountered her in the future, they absolutely must not offend her.
Just as Song Jinzhao stood up, Xiao Chengjing said, "I will immediately order someone to go to Anyang Prefecture to fetch the remaining one hundred and twenty catties of potatoes."
"To reply to Your Majesty, this subject's daughter has already had those one hundred and twenty catties planted at the farmstead and built vegetable greenhouses. It is estimated that they can only be harvested in early December."
Xiao Chengjing was even more delighted upon hearing this. That meant that after the harvest in December, there would be over three thousand more catties of potatoes.
"Very well. Then wait until after the harvest and send them all to the capital."
With her head lowered, the corners of Song Jinzhao's mouth twitched. Asking for so much meant he had no intention of letting her keep much for herself.
Never mind, her goal had been achieved anyway. She would keep a few catties to plant for her own family's consumption, and hand the rest over to the imperial court so they could expand the planting scale as soon as possible and benefit all the people.
"Yes. After the harvest, this subject's daughter will have them sent over."
Xiao Chengjing nodded in satisfaction. "Someone, grant County Princess Linghui a seat."
A table was quickly set up just below Princess Yongjia. The palace maids swiftly served fruit platters and dishes, and then waited quietly to the side, ready to serve at any moment.
The presentation of gifts continued, but the people present no longer had any interest in watching.
Countless gazes frequently landed on Song Jinzhao. Among them were dissatisfaction, wariness, envy, and admiration. They pricked her like needles, but even though it felt like having thorns in her back, Song Jinzhao did not feel the slightest bit of panic.
She sat on the soft cushion, as steady as a mountain, and calmly picked up her chopsticks, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with her. It was like passing clouds, not a big deal at all.
She had to admit that the imperial chefs in the palace really had some skill. The dishes were much more delicious than those in the restaurants outside.
After the gift presentation came the song and dance performances. The officials began to raise their wine cups to toast each other and whispered among themselves under the tables.
Faced with Song Jinzhao, the newly appointed County Princess, no one dared to take the initiative to strike up a conversation before the two princes spoke. Even the female family members did not dare to cast an extra glance at her. Only Ye Liangyu raised his wine cup toward Song Jinzhao.
Ou Shinian, the Minister of Works, thought of everything that had happened before. Perhaps he might need her help with something in the future, so it was best to stay on good terms.
He kept staring at Song Jinzhao until she noticed him, at which point he immediately smiled and raised his wine cup to gesture to her.
Song Jinzhao did not know Ou Shinian, but she nodded at him and took a small sip from her cup. Given his seating position, he should be one of the Ministers of the Six Ministries.
Sitting in his original seat, Prince Ying had almost crushed his back molars from gritting his teeth. If such a great merit had fallen on him, his position as the Crown Prince would definitely be secured. Now it was all ruined by Song Jinzhao. It was just the title of a County Princess, what use was it? She was still just a woman.
"Will County Princess Linghui be residing in the capital permanently from now on?"
A soft voice came from her left. Song Jinzhao turned her head and saw a young girl wearing a magnificent gold phoenix hairpin inlaid with a pearl the size of a pigeon egg. Her sunset-colored cloud silk brocade was embroidered with gold thread peonies, and her whole body exuded a noble temperament distinct from the other female family members.
Sitting alone at a table right next to the princes, she must be the Emperor's only daughter, Princess Yongjia.
Recalling what Li Qinyun had told her, Song Jinzhao lowered her eyes and smiled faintly without losing her manners. "To reply to Her Highness the Princess, this subject's daughter will temporarily stay in the capital for a period of time."
Princess Yongjia gave a slight nod and did not ask any further questions.
When Prince Qi saw Xiao Yongjia talking to Song Jinzhao, he thought that enemies were meeting face-to-face and that she was going to cause trouble for her. In the end, it went quiet after just two sentences. He was instantly furious, thinking to himself that Xiao Yongjia was too cowardly and completely useless.
On the dragon throne, the Emperor had eaten the entire pot of potato noodles and grew more and more satisfied the more he looked at the potatoes in the box.
A divine object appearing on the day of his birthday banquet—he truly was the Son of Heaven. Even the heavens were sending him a birthday gift.
If Song Jinzhao had heard Xiao Chengjing's inner thoughts, she would definitely have rolled her eyes hard at him. If it really was a birthday gift from the heavens, wouldn't she have to be a deity?
Seeing that a pile of crab shells had accumulated on Song Jinzhao's table, the Emperor said in a deep voice, "Anyang Prefecture is not near the sea. Presumably, County Princess Linghui has never eaten sea crabs before."
"Since you like them, someone, bring my plate over to the County Princess as well."
Song Jinzhao paused her hand holding the crab claw and stood up to thank him for his grace. "This subject's daughter likes them very much. Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward."
The eunuch waiting to the side immediately bowed and brought the plate full of sea crabs over to Song Jinzhao's table.
Riding fast horses all the way from Mingzhou, a single sea crab cost ten taels of silver. Such fresh ones could only be found in the imperial palace.
Envious gazes fell upon Song Jinzhao. Indeed, the imperial favor was profound. The Emperor valued her very much.
Seeing that Song Jinzhao liked his reward, the Emperor was also pleased. A person who was useful to him and posed no threat was completely worry-free to use.
"I heard that your younger brother passed the civil service examination at the county level at the young age of twelve. I wonder how he performed in the provincial examination this year?"
Song Jinzhao replied, "Blessed by heavenly grace and ancestral virtue, my younger brother luckily achieved the top rank in the provincial examination this time. He has also come to the capital to prepare for the metropolitan examination next year, hoping to live up to Your Majesty's profound grace of education."
