Chapter 270 Entering the Palace to Request an Imperial Edict
Sure enough, when they arrived outside Fengzao Palace, Chief Steward Zhou, who had received the news, directly welcomed Jia Cong into the palace.
"Your servant Jia Cong greets the Empress!"
The queen smiled and waved her hand, "Noble Zhou, quickly help the child up. It's so cold, why is he kneeling? You don't need to follow these rules in front of me."
Jia Cong stood up and then sat down.
The queen said jokingly, "I heard that you took a concubine yesterday? Why didn't she accompany you? Instead, she came to the palace early."
Jia Cong scratched his head awkwardly, "Well...I want to ask the queen for mercy!"
"Oh?" The Queen looked at her son with amusement, "Could it be that you feel the benefits of having concubines, and want me to grant you a few more concubines or wives?"
"No, no, no!" Jia Cong waved his hands in panic. The female officials around the queen were all labeled as royal family members. Even if they were to be bestowed, they would be given to the princes and grandchildren of the emperor. Naturally, he did not dare to have any unrealistic thoughts.
Just like Emperor Xiaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty, his two empresses were female officials bestowed by the Empress Dowager, so how dare Jia Cong ask the empress for a woman?
Then, Jia Cong scratched his head and said a little embarrassedly, "I thought that although Yuanyang was my concubine, she was also my close friend, so I wanted Her Majesty to give her some grace and promote her to a higher position, so that she would not have been in vain following me."
Yuanchun, who was standing beside the Queen, became anxious and wanted to signal her brother.
This third brother has always been a sensible person. Why has he overstepped his bounds now and asked for a position for the aunt? Even the most favored aunt is only a servant. Wouldn't this make the empress unhappy?
However, she couldn't speak at this moment.
But after hearing this, the queen not only did not get angry, but she couldn't help laughing.
"You are a kind and compassionate child! But, if you ask for a reward for your aunt, aren't you afraid that your emperor will punish you with a stick?"
Jia Cong chuckled, "It is because I am afraid that Your Majesty will be angry and beat me with a stick that I came directly to find the queen."
"You are a man with your own ideas!" The Queen glared at Jia Cong in reproach.
In fact, the queen was not angry about this matter. After all, in her opinion, her son should be a prince, so even if the concubine around him was a concubine, it was just a position, which was nothing. Just think of it as being given in advance. How could the woman around her son be compared to an ordinary concubine?
The queen thought for a moment, and then said, "I can grant you this favor, but you have to promise me one thing."
Jia Cong immediately patted his chest and said, "Your Majesty, please tell me. Not to mention one, even if it's eight or ten, I will never refuse."
"Well, my conditions are simple. The New Year is coming soon. Every year's New Year is the same. There is nothing new. On the night of New Year's Eve, you can come to the palace and have a New Year's Eve dinner with me. I will agree to this. Is it feasible?"
Jia Cong thought it was a big deal, but it turned out that he just came to have New Year’s Eve dinner with him. What’s the big deal?
"Don't worry, Madam! I am here to pay my respects to you on New Year's Eve!"
"Okay!" The queen agreed contentedly. Ever since she acknowledged this son, she didn't want to miss every meaningful event and every meaningful day. Having her son accompany her for the New Year's Eve dinner was better than anything else.
"Since you have agreed, I will also approve this matter! Mr. Zhou, draft the imperial decree!"
Then, she turned to Jia Cong and said, "I will give you an imperial decree first, so that you don't have to worry. As for His Majesty, you don't need to talk to him. I will help you."
Jia Cong nodded happily, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
After the imperial edict was written and the queen used her seal, she said, "I originally wanted to keep you here for dinner before leaving, but seeing how impatient you are , it seems you can't wait any longer. In that case, then hurry back and please your aunt, and come and have dinner with me another day when you are free."
"Yuanchun, take him to get two pieces of the fine cloth that was sent from Jiangnan a while ago, and then choose a set of headgear as a reward for him, so that this little monkey won't accuse me of being stingy."
Yuanchun accepted the order and Jia Cong thanked him, and then the two of them went to the side hall.
When they were alone in the side hall, Yuanchun said anxiously, "It's a good thing that Cong loves Yuanyang, but isn't it inappropriate for him to ask for mercy from the queen for my aunt? Maybe someone will say that Cong is domineering because of his achievements."
Jia Cong patted Yuanchun's hand and said, "Don't worry, sister. This was done on purpose. It's not scary to be domineering. It doesn't matter if others make comments. It all depends on what Your Majesty thinks."
"Brother Cong is being modest and leaving some evidence behind?"
"Big sister is smart!" Jia Cong said with a smile, "Also, you should know that I made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion in Jiangnan a few days ago, but His Majesty was reluctant to reward me."
"If I give too much reward, it will be difficult for me to command the army in the future. But if I don't give any reward, the soldiers will definitely be dissatisfied. So, I will simply ask the queen for mercy. In this way, your majesty only needs to give appropriate rewards and there is no need to worry."
"So that's how it is!" Yuanchun breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's good that Cong has an idea. Now the honor of our family depends on you, so you should be more cautious in your actions."
"Don't worry, big sister. I know what I'm doing."
Yuanchun nodded, then gave Jia Cong two pieces of fine cloth, and picked out a set of head ornaments that were not too expensive but also exquisite, and asked the maid beside her to take it.
"My third brother is so happy, I should also show my appreciation. This is a gift from the Empress to me before, so please give it to Yuanyang on my behalf!" Yuanchun took off a bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Jia Cong.
Jia Cong was not polite and took it and thanked him.
Afterwards, Jia Cong returned to Fengzao Palace to express his gratitude. The Queen then asked Zhou Gui to take the imperial edict and follow Jia Cong to announce it!
Returning all the way to the West Mansion, the old lady looked at Manager Zhou who came with Jia Cong and could not help but feel a little surprised. Wang Xifeng, Li Wan and Yuanyang, who were accompanying them, hurriedly stood up and saluted, then moved aside.
"I don't know why Steward Zhou is here, but does the Empress have any instructions?" the old lady asked puzzledly.
Chief Steward Zhou smiled and said, "I am here to announce the emperor's order!"
The old lady was startled, and hurriedly wanted to ask someone to call the other people in the mansion to come over to receive the decree. However, Chief Steward Zhou said, "Old Lord, there is no need to do this. This is the decree of the Queen, and it is for the concubine of the Marquis of Guanjun."
"this…"
Manager Zhou ignored the old lady's surprise and directly took out the imperial edict, "Jin Yuanyang, accept the edict!"
Yuanyang was pulled to the front by Jia Cong in shock and knelt down. The others also prostrated themselves on the ground. Only Chief Steward Zhou could be heard chanting in a loud voice, "… because of his pure character, he is specially granted the title of Sixth Rank An Ren…"
