Gu Jinzhi had already gotten down from the sedan chair, and Cheng Gugu personally supported her.

  Chang Gonggong stood in front of them.

  Gu Yanwu hastily ran over and hurriedly made a bow to Chang Gonggong.

  Chang Gonggong also smiled and returned the courtesy.

  In a moment, Mrs. Xue, Old Master Er, Mrs. Er and Gu Yanwen couple, Eldest Uncle and Aunt, all came out to greet them, with surprise on their faces.

  Mr. Gu didn't come.

  Gu Yanwu had his family members pay their respects to Chang Gonggong and Cheng Gugu.

  Gong Gong hastily stopped: "The slave and Sheng's aunt are sending the princess back to the mansion, if they accept the gift, the empress dowager will not forgive the two slaves when they return. Let it go."

  Everyone bowed or curtsied, and it was awkward to stop halfway, so they all went ahead with the greetings.

  Chang Gonggong and Cheng Gugu could only vaguely return the courtesy.

  Song Pan'er gazed through the crowd, carefully sizing up her daughter. It had only been twenty days since they last saw each other, and it seemed as though her daughter had grown taller, although she couldn't be sure if it was just an illusion or real; she had also lost a significant amount of weight.

  Serving the Empress Dowager in the palace must be done with great care everywhere.

  Song Pan'er's heart ached endlessly, and her eyes were filled with tears.

  Gu Yan Zhen looked at Gu Jin Zhi's return, his mood was moved, and his eyes were a little sour. A big man like him, if he shed tears, wouldn't it be laughed to death? He quickly turned his eyes away.

  However, Your Highness...

  What princess?

  Song Pan'er's eyebrows slightly furrowed.

  She has not been in the capital for more than six years, and there are many things she does not know. The emperor's brothers, since the emperor ascended to the throne, have been successively sent to their fiefs; while the emperor's sons are still too young. The emperor's uncles, several of whom are idle princes without a fief...

  What princess, where did this princess come from?

  The two elderly masters and mistresses exchanged a glance, both with surprise in their eyes: Gu Jin had gone to the palace for a trip and returned so triumphantly...

  The old master Gu Yanwu welcomed them and invited everyone inside.

  He originally wanted to invite Chang Gonggong and Cheng Gugu to go to the main hall.

  However, Cheng Gu Gu was sent on a mission, and she had to help the Empress Dowager take a look at where Gu Jin lived.

  The reward given by the Empress Dowager was not for the Gu family, but for Gu Jinzhi.

  A crowd of people swarmed together and went towards Sanfang.

  Gu Yan Tao's heart was racing: the third house in that courtyard, although exquisite, was very small. It was originally used by Eldest Third Gu Yan Zhen when he got married, and it was indeed suitable for a young couple. But for a whole family, it seemed too cramped.

  Arrived at Jingyuan, everyone came together, including Sheng Gu Gu and more than thirty palace maids from Kun Ning Palace, as well as people from the Gu family. There were also servant girls and old women serving in the courtyard, nearly a hundred people in total.

  The Jingyuan was once flooded and inaccessible for some time.

  The old lady's eyebrows were heavily furrowed.

  The Empress Dowager indeed has foresight, let her take a look.

  It's such a small place. It's too humiliating to live here!

  The whole garden is very delicate when the national public Gu's family lives here.

  It was a great honor for Cheng Guogong to be granted this in those years.

  Nowadays, Cheng Guogong's family has become a four-generation household, how can it not be crowded?

  It's just the rules of those aristocratic families outside. When their parents are still alive, they don't easily want to separate from home.

  "The princess, I'll be back first." Sheng Aunt put down her things and saw that the whole house was crowded with people who couldn't move their hands or feet, and they hadn't even had tea, so she smiled and bid farewell.

  Gu Yan Tao hastily gave a signal with his eyes to Madame, asking her to persuade Cheng's aunt to stay for a while longer.

  The madam looked at Jinzhi's face.

  Gu Jin smiled and said to Sheng Auntie: "Auntie has worked hard. The Empress Dowager's side, can't be away from you for a moment, I won't keep you in vain."

  Then he bowed to Chang Gong Gong again.

  Gu Yanwei told Gu Chenzi to go to Changfang and bring back some silver.

  When the group of palace people from Kun Ning Palace left, Gu Yanwu had bribed each and every one of them.

  Those palace people all secretly admired Gu Gonggong's magnanimity.

  After sending away the people from Kun Ning Palace, the Gu family members were still in Jing Yuan, and they all asked Gu Jin what was going on: "Is that aunt a manager next to the Empress Dowager? She called you Wang Fei, did Sister Jin get some kind of wealth and honor?"

  Gu Jin smiled and didn't know which sentence to pick as a response.

  The little servant outside came in a hurry to report. The imperial edict has arrived, and it is the Minister of Rites himself who issued the decree. Please ask Seventh Young Miss to receive the edict.

  Gu Jin had just sat down when he followed his uncle and parents to the front hall to receive the imperial edict.

  The imperial edict bestowed marriage, giving Gu Jin as the formal wife to the youngest son of the Empress Dowager, Lu Yang Wang.

  King of Luoyang...

  The two madams' eyes turned red: Luoyang Wang was the most favored by the empress dowager, even more than the emperor. His fiefdom was in Luzhou Prefecture, which is the richest among all the princes of the present day.

  He is also the only prince among all princes who shares the same parents with the emperor.

  Moreover, Luoyang's King Jun is beautiful, known throughout the world.

  The third daughter of the family, how come you're so lucky?

  Song Pan'er's eyes slightly turned, she thought of the rumors in the streets, saying that Luoyang Wang was a half-fool, and her heart tightened.

  What others think of is wealth and fame, but what Song Pan'er thinks of is her daughter's happiness.

  Except for Song Pan'er, everyone else was either delighted, envious or jealous.

  Gu Jin stepped forward calmly and received the imperial edict.

  Everyone's eyes were fixed on her, eager to drill a hole in her body, asking her what was going on. Gu Jinyi just smiled and refused to talk about it, making everyone feel both angry and frustrated.

  After the imperial edict, Madam said: "The Empress Dowager gave so many things to Sister Jin, all of which were placed in the Quiet Garden. It's chaotic enough over there, let's disperse for now. We'll go again tomorrow to congratulate Sister Jin."

  Everyone says so.

  After everyone dispersed, the madam ordered the servants to remove the incense table that had just been set up for receiving the imperial edict.

  As a result, there was another eunuch from the gate who came to report that there was another imperial edict, and asked Seventh Young Lady to receive it.

  The madam's mouth was just one word away from being reconciled.

  She's dizzy.

  Her heart was up and down all day long.

  This time, it was the Minister of Revenue who personally delivered the edict.

  Gu Zhizhen was bestowed upon the King of Luyang, and all marriage matters were handled by the Ministry of Rites, with no interference from the Gu family.

  The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the world's finances, what else can they do? Are they here to offer rewards?

  Seal the queen, and also reward money?

  The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment, then ordered the eunuchs to summon Guo Yanwei and the people of the third house to receive her edict.

  ——*——*——

  After two days of snow, the courtyard was muddy and unbearable, but the plum blossoms were even more fragrant, with a lingering sweet scent.

  The second lady ran two rounds to the third house, her skirt slightly wet. Although she wore wooden clogs, the snow still fell on her head, getting her embroidered shoes wet.

  The old man's trouser legs and the hem of his long gown were also stained wet by the snow.

  The husband and wife changed their clothes separately.

  The old man lay on his bed in the inner room, tossing and turning. He hadn't slept well last night.

  The second lady was sitting on the kang in the eastern room, leaning against a bolster and holding a hand warmer.

  Not a moment of quiet had passed before the sound of footsteps was heard outside. The curtain was lifted, and her three delicate flower-like daughters came in one after another.

  "Mother, what's going on?" The fifth daughter sat down beside the second lady and asked her mother, "I just heard a commotion from the Jing Garden side, and the maid said that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager bestowed many gifts upon Seventh Sister?"

  The second lady nodded.

  "It's not just things, but also the title of Wangfei." The second lady said with envy, "The Luoyang Wangfei! This is the most honorable thing under heaven. Except for entering the palace to become the Empress and the First-Rank Concubine, I'm afraid there's nothing more honorable than this! Even the Second-Rank Concubines in the palace can't compare. The fief of Luoyang Wang, that's the richest fief under heaven. And it's also the birthplace of the Empress Dowager... You haven't seen how many things were rewarded!"

  The fifth daughter's eyes were all red.

  Her fingers clenched tightly together.

  Why does Qi Gu Niang have such good luck despite having the same background?

  It was all because of her grandfather that she was sent into the palace!

  The fourth daughter also showed an envious expression. She was born with a humble appearance and had self-awareness since childhood. She could never become someone superior to others, so she didn't feel any loss.

  Unlike the Fifth Girl, she was stronger than others since childhood.

  The girl always thought she should be the one in charge of everything. When someone surpassed her, she became consumed with jealousy.

  "...I've heard that the Prince of Luoyang is extremely handsome!" Liu Yiniang's face was filled with admiration, "That appearance, it's as if Pan An has been reborn. Under the heavens, there isn't a man more handsome than him."

  The fourth daughter also nodded, she had heard it too.

  The fifth girl was even more furious: "Good luck, that's all! If it weren't for Grandfather letting her enter the palace, could she have achieved this? In those days, if we had followed Grandfather to the south, today would also be our wealth and glory. Where would that little hoof get a turn? Country bumpkin ugly girl, all relying on Grandfather's blessing!"

  Then she asked the second lady, "In those years, why didn't you and Father follow him to Yanling?"

  Actually blaming parents for it.

  The second lady was so angry that her face changed in an instant.

  "Raised you for a lifetime, nurtured you for a lifetime. Now I still have to suffer from your temper!" The second lady scolded, "You get out, just as if I never had this daughter of mine. In the future when you become successful, don't think that your mother will bask in your glory!"

  The fifth daughter suddenly had an inspiration.

  Alas?

  The Seventh Young Lady entered the palace, but she didn't become a noblewoman, instead she was made a princess consort.

  So, is the quota for entering the palace still available?

  "Mother, mother!" The fifth daughter seemed to have not noticed that she was being scolded by her mother, and excitedly went forward again, holding onto the second wife's arm. "Mother, isn't Seventh Sister a noble now? In the past, Eldest Uncle said I could enter the palace too. Now that Seventh Sister didn't go, is that position still available?"

  The second lady is also eagerly awaiting her daughter's entry into the palace.

  Her mood was even more urgent than Wu Niang's.

  She had no son and was always looked down upon by others. She urgently needed a daughter to help her save face, so she could hold her head up in front of people.

  And of her three daughters, the fifth daughter is the most beautiful and will have a great chance to marry into royalty in the future, so the second lady has spoiled her since she was young, giving her everything that's best for her, hoping that her daughter will have the best prospects in the future.

  In order to cultivate this daughter, the second lady even disregarded the fourth and sixth young ladies.

  To the extent that the fourth and sixth sisters are neither close to their mother nor to the fifth sister.

  "Let your father go ask!" The second lady was also excited, "The quota for entering the palace must still be available! This time, we can't afford to mess it up again!"

  She went into the inner room to wake up the second master.

  The Second Master had just fallen asleep when he was suddenly pushed awake by the Second Mistress. He sat up in anger: "What's all the commotion about now?"

  The second lady repeated what she had just said.

  The two old men listened and their sleepiness was gone.

  How come they didn't think of that? The whole family was resentful and depressed because they lost the opportunity to send their daughter into the palace, and they hated Da Fang and San Fang to the bone.

  Now, Wu Niang's words are like throwing a huge stone into the dead silent lake water, causing ripples.

  The two old men hurriedly got dressed and wanted to go to Big Brother's place to ask about it.

  Just then, the little servant who had gone to gather information ran in and said to Second Master and Second Mistress: "...the Ministry of Revenue has issued an imperial decree, rewarding our family's Seventh Young Lady with 500 catties of gold!"

  The two masters and mistresses were suddenly stunned, their mouths wide open in shock!

  ——*——*——*——

  Thanks enya2013 and others for their rewards.