The eunuch carrying the imperial edict looked up at the door plaque.

Above the vermilion-lacquered gate hung a black wood plaque with four gilded characters: Estate of the Earl of Dongping.

This was indeed the Earl of Dongping’s residence.

The eunuch gave an odd look at the gatekeeper struggling to his feet, then at the fierce-looking maid. He began to have doubts.

He had never heard of a household where maids threw out gatekeepers when leaving.

“This is the Earl of Dongping’s estate, right?” Better safe than sorry, especially when delivering such an important edict. The eunuch decided to confirm.

The eunuch’s characteristic high-pitched voice quickly made the gatekeeper realize this was no ordinary visitor. Forgetting his grievance with Aman, he hurriedly said, “Indeed it is. May I ask what brings such esteemed guests—”

The eunuch impatiently cut off the gatekeeper’s rambling: “We’ve come from the palace to deliver an imperial edict.”

Startled, the gatekeeper quickly ushered in the group of eunuchs before rushing inside to report the news.

Aman hesitated for a moment.

With visitors from the palace, should she hurry to inform her mistress or go buy meat buns first?

After a brief internal struggle, the little maid lifted her skirts and ran swiftly towards the entrance of the alley.

Informing her mistress after buying meat buns would be just the same. She couldn’t let her mistress go hungry.

In the Cixin Hall, servants moved about quietly, careful not to make any loud noises.

The Old Madam hadn’t slept well last night and was still resting.

A maid came running in.

Afu glared at her fiercely, scolding in a low voice: “Keep it down!”

“Quickly, wake the Old Madam! Visitors, visitors from the palace—” the maid panted, completely disregarding the need to lower her voice.

Afu was shocked and immediately went behind the screen to relay the message.

“Old Madam, please wake up. Visitors from the palace have arrived—”

Old Madam Feng sat up abruptly, flinging open the bed curtains: “What did you say?”

Seeing that Old Madam Feng was awake, Afu lowered her voice: “The gatekeeper just sent word that several eunuchs have come to deliver an imperial edict.”

Old Madam Feng immediately panicked. After hastily getting ready, she hurried to the front reception hall.

Along the way, Old Madam Feng’s heart was in turmoil.

Why would the palace suddenly send people to deliver an edict?

Of course, Fourth Miss had just attended the plum blossom banquet at the palace yesterday. This edict must be related to that.

Fourth Miss had caused such a scandal at the banquet, surely the Emperor would be displeased upon learning of it. This must be a punishment for the Earl’s estate.

The Emperor was certainly capable of doing such a thing. Not long ago, when the Zhu family fell from grace, even the Duke of Anguo was inexplicably implicated.

It’s all because of that ill-fated Fourth Miss!

Old Madam Feng’s legs weakened, and she stumbled.

“Old Madam, please be careful.” A hand reached out to steady her.

Old Madam Feng regained her composure and saw it was Third Master Jiang and his wife. She frowned and asked, “You’ve received the news as well?”

Third Madam Guo replied, “Second Sister-in-law sent someone to inform us at Jinglanyuan.”

The three hurried to the reception hall, where they found Second Madam Xiao already inside, accompanying a pale, beardless man.

Hearing the commotion, the eunuch looked over.

“We apologize for keeping you waiting, Sir.”

Thinking that this old woman before him would be the future Prince Yan’s grandmother, the eunuch’s expression softened as he asked, “This humble one has come by the imperial command to deliver an edict. Is Fourth Miss Jiang present?”

So it was indeed about Fourth Miss!

Old Madam Feng flustered from her late rising and hurried preparations, stiffened her face and nodded: “She is.”

“Then please summon Fourth Miss, and have all the family members come out to receive the edict.”

Soon, the courtyard was filled with a crowd of people.

The eunuch’s gaze slowly swept across everyone’s faces as he took out the imperial edict and unrolled it.

At the sight of that imperial yellow, everyone immediately knelt. In the ensuing silence, the eunuch’s sonorous voice rang out as he read:

“By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: It has come to Our attention that the daughter of the Earl of Dongping is gentle, virtuous, and of exceptional beauty and character. We are most pleased to hear this. As Our seventh son has come of age for marriage, We shall choose a worthy bride for him… Therefore, We hereby betroth you to Our seventh son as his Princess Consort, to be wed on an auspicious date. So be it.”

After the edict was read, the courtyard fell into a silence so profound it was unnerving.

The eunuch’s lip twitched slightly.

He had felt this family was odd from the moment he entered the Earl of Dongping’s gate. It seems his intuition wasn’t wrong.

“Fourth Miss Jiang, please accept the edict.”

Jiang Si bowed respectfully and accepted the edict: “This humble subject receives the imperial decree.”

“Ahem, now that the edict has been delivered, this humble one offers congratulations to your esteemed family,” the eunuch cupped his hands, his eyes shifting slightly.

Except for Jiang Si, who was holding the imperial edict, everyone present remained in a daze.

The eunuch secretly rolled his eyes.

He had thought he might receive some rewards for this trip, but it seemed unlikely now.

“This humble one shall take his leave,” the eunuch bowed slightly, preparing to depart with his subordinates.

Old Madam Feng finally snapped out of her trance: “Please wait, Sir!”

Feng Popo quickly handed over a money pouch: “For your troubles, Sir.”

The eunuch smiled and said, “You’re too kind.”

Old Madam Feng’s sharp eyes scrutinized the eunuch.

The eunuch’s smile faltered.

He had just thought the people of the Earl of Dongping’s household were sensible, so why was this Old Madam looking at him as if he were a swindler?

Old Madam Feng could hardly believe what had just transpired. She murmured, “Fourth Miss has truly been bestowed the title of Princess Yan?”

The eunuch laughed, “What are you saying? How could this be false? Falsely delivering an imperial edict is punishable by death and the extermination of one’s entire clan.”

Yes, death and clan extermination!

At this thought, Old Madam Feng finally felt that this wasn’t a dream, and her heart settled.

Fourth Miss had become a Princess Consort!

The eunuch left, but no one in the courtyard moved. All eyes were on Jiang Si.

Old Madam Feng walked step by step to Jiang Si, her outstretched hand trembling as she grasped Jiang Si’s hand: “Fourth Miss, what exactly happened…”

Jiang Si withdrew her hand, her tone cold: “Granddaughter also doesn’t know what happened. Granddaughter will return to Haitang Residence now. You instructed me yesterday to stay in my courtyard.”

Seeing Jiang Si turn to leave, Old Madam Feng blurted out: “Stop right there!”

Jiang Si turned back, calmly asking: “Does Grandmother have any other instructions?”

Old Madam Feng inwardly cursed her slip of the tongue.

Now that Fourth Miss was a Princess Consort-to-be, she must change her attitude.

Having to swallow the words she had just spoken was certainly unpleasant, but compared to the Earl of Dongping’s household producing a Princess Consort, it was completely insignificant.

Old Madam Feng put on a warm smile: “It’s nothing. I was just thinking that it hasn’t fully warmed up yet, and I feared you might catch a chill if you went out too often.”

Aman, who had finally recovered from her shock, interjected at the right moment: “Then why weren’t even the servants allowed to go out? This morning when I wanted to go buy some meat buns, the gatekeeper refused to let me leave.”

“Buy meat buns?”

The little maid spoke quickly: “Yes, the dinner sent from the main kitchen yesterday wasn’t fit for human consumption, and this morning they only sent a bowl of thin porridge. I had no choice but to go out and buy food for Miss…”

Old Madam Feng’s face turned crimson with anger. She thundered: “Xiao Shi, how have you been managing the household!”

Xiao Shi was still in a daze.

What did this have to do with her? She hadn’t even had the chance to make things difficult for Jiang Si yet.

“Guo Shi, from now on, you’ll be in charge of the household. Your Second Sister-in-law’s health hasn’t been good lately and needs rest.”

Jiang Si listened to Old Madam Feng’s public rebuke of Xiao Shi, a mocking smile on her face.