Lian Hua was satisfied; this little fool was quite amusing.

She nodded at him and said, "Oh my, why are you still kneeling? Stand up, we don’t do much kneeling here at Canglan Court.

" Having said that, she shouted toward the kitchen, "I’m hungry, Xiao Qing, Xiao Qing, where’s the food? I need to eat."

"Young Master, it’s coming, it’s coming," Xiao Qing’s voice came from the kitchen.

After Lian Hua had eaten, Zhang Qing came along with a few young eunuchs, all grinning and carrying something wrapped in bright yellow.

His Majesty got up earlier than usual today and went back to the Star Palace.

Last night, after going to bed, His Majesty got up while Young Master Lian was asleep and came out to order him to summon the Official of the Imperial Secretariat in the morning, then changed his mind and said there was no need, appearing as if he wanted to urgently draft a decree, but then again, not quite.

In the end, he ordered him to prepare cold water for a bath.

Zhang Qing couldn’t figure out why His Majesty would want a cold water bath in such chilly weather, especially since he had already bathed in the morning.

He tried to persuade His Majesty but couldn’t sway him and was puzzled—His Majesty seemed like a different person when with Young Master Lian.

This morning, before the early court session, he saw His Majesty personally return to the Star Palace, wrote a decree, stamped the great seal on it, handed the finished document over to him, and specifically instructed him to continue overseeing Canglan Court today, and to wait for the person to wake up before announcing the decree.

So in his hands, he held a sacred decree personally written by His Majesty—apart from Young Master Lian, who else had such immense honor and favor for His Majesty to personally pen a decree?

His Majesty’s exceptional treatment of Young Master Lian was no longer a surprise to Zhang Qing; he had grown numb to it.

So, after coming back from the Star Palace this morning, he placed a few people at the gates of Canglan Court to protect Young Master Lian on the one hand and on the other, to be promptly informed of any developments.

He himself found a pavilion not far away where he sat and waited, preferring to wait outside rather than in Canglan Court for Young Master Lian to wake up, for reasons he preferred not to articulate.

And so not long after Lian Hua had finished eating, he timed his arrival perfectly.

"Blessings to Young Master Lian, your servant greets you," Zhang Qing said with a slight bow and a look of happy anticipation.

"Steward Zhang, you’re so early. Have you eaten yet? If not, have some food with us. We’ve prepared too much for breakfast and can’t finish it all," Lian Hua replied with a smile. She had a fairly good impression of Steward Zhang; overall, he had been very good to her.

Was it really still early? Perhaps it was just because Young Master Lian got up a bit earlier than usual and thought it was early, right?

Zhang Qing suppressed the urge to look up at the sky, his expression unchanging as he smiled and said, "Young Master Lian is too kind. I have eaten already. Has the Young Master had a good meal?"

He had to confirm again just to be sure. His Majesty had drilled into him to wait until the person was free and comfortable before making the announcement.

"Mm-hmm, I’ve eaten well. Is there something you need, Steward Zhang?" She had long noticed the object that Zhang Qing was holding, and curiosity got the better of her. She couldn’t help but glance over again and again, too embarrassed to ask outright.

Zhang Qing’s smile grew even more fervent as he said, "I am here to congratulate Young Master Lian.

I have here a sacred decree from His Majesty for the Young Master, which I will read to you shortly.

When it is read, the Young Master should kneel to listen.

If you are tired or unwell, please wait for a moment, and I will make it quick. "

After finishing this long speech, Zhang Qing added, "Does the Young Master feel unwell now? If so, it is possible to postpone the reading."

Upon hearing it was a sacred decree from His Majesty for her, Lian Hua couldn’t help but be very curious. Why, on earth, would His Majesty want to give her a decree?

Could it be that His Majesty’s statement last night about sustaining Canglan Court had come to fruition, actually becoming a written guarantee?

This was the first time! If it’s in the decree, he couldn’t go back on his word... Oh, why am I thinking this about His Majesty?

Lian Hua cleared the nonsense from her mind and, thinking about His Majesty giving her a written guarantee, suddenly beamed with joy. Her lips curled up so high that not even her eight little pearly teeth could hide.

With joy written all over her face, she said to Zhang Qing, "Steward Zhang, I’m feeling great. Look how lively I am, I don’t feel uncomfortable at all. Read it quickly, read it."

She was simply too eager to wait.

Zhang Qing looked at Young Master Lian before him, his eyes curving into crescents from smiling, conveying such festivity that he couldn’t help but smile along, gesturing with an inviting motion, "Then Young Master Lian, please receive the imperial decree."

Lian Hua straightened her clothes and hairdo, corrected her demeanor, and, with a smile, led several people from Canglan Court to kneel and accept the decree together.

Xiao Qing, seeing the Young Master happy, was also happy. This was her first time hearing an imperial edict being read.

Xiao Jizi’s heart skipped a beat, thinking that the arrival must be His Majesty’s way of compensating and favoring the Young Master.

With this in mind, his blood boiled; he knew His Majesty wouldn’t let the Young Master down.

Look, here it came—after this, who in the Harem would dare to look down upon the Young Master?

The joy in his eyes couldn’t be concealed, and he trembled with excitement, kneeling alongside the Young Master in front.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Daying Lian, since entering the palace, has abided by her heart, conducted herself with gentleness, respect, humility, and virtuous conduct.

.. is hereby promoted to Beauty Lian, and granted residence in the Main Hall of Canglan Court.

Moreover, as the Main Hall of Canglan Court has fallen into disrepair over the years, the Ministry of Works is hereby ordered to commence repair work immediately. Let it be known!"

After Zhang Qing finished reading the imperial edict, the people from Canglan Court were all uncontrollably joyful, with Xiao Jizi especially overjoyed, unable to hold back his tears as he knelt, his eyes welling up.

Lian Hua was a bit stunned. Was she really the person His Majesty praised in the imperial edict? It didn’t seem quite right.

Oh, that wasn’t the main point. The main thing was, wasn’t what was said last night written down? Did that still count?

Is it better to be a Beauty or to be maintained by His Majesty’s silver...?

"Young Master? Young Master?" Zhang Qing called several times, to no response.

He had finished reading the decree a while ago, but hadn’t expected Young Master Lian, no, Master Lian, to show no response at all, not moving an inch, showing no sign of accepting the decree.

He couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding. Just a moment ago, everything was fine, and Master Lian had even said she was well. How had she become like this after he finished reading...?

Something must have gone wrong. Could it be that she was stunned by the content of the imperial edict? That would be terrible; His Majesty would surely hold him accountable.

In fact, after reading the decree, he was also startled. He had originally thought at most she would be promoted two ranks to become a Talented Lady, but he never expected that Master Lian, once silent, would make such a splash.

In the current dynasty, among the Harem concubines’ ranks, the title of Beauty marked a watershed between the lower-ranked concubines and the higher-ranked ones.

A Beauty could occupy a principal position in one palace, above whom were Jieyu, Zhaoyi, Concubine, Noble Consort, Consort, Imperial Noble Consort, and Empress, while below were Talented Lady, Attendant, Daying, Cainv, and the like.

Unlike during the time of the Late Emperor, when the Harem was overcrowded, His Majesty, after assuming the throne and undertaking a major purge of the Harem, made a reclassification.

Concubines at the level of Beauty and above could occupy a principal position in a palace, while those below Beauty would reside in a side hall.

Before Beauty Li’s predicament, she had resided in the Main Hall of Driftfrost Hall; Beauty Zhao inhabited the Main Hall of Fangfei Hall, while Talented Lady Sun lived in a side hall of Fangfei Hall.

In the Harem, palace concubines such as Zhou Changzai had been waiting in place, accumulating seniority and hoping for promotion. Young Master Lian had leapfrogged them all, rising above them.

Could it be that she was so elated she became grief-stricken?

This thought caused Zhang Qing to break out in a cold sweat.

Young Master Lian, no, Master Lian, was truly his bane.

As the Imperial Chief Steward, he had weathered many storms, yet it seemed he always stumbled because of her; oh, the worry she caused him.

Xiao Jizi, hearing Steward Zhang’s call, was the first to come to his senses. Seeing that the Master had no reaction, he quickly tugged at her sleeve and quietly urged, "Master, hurry up and give thanks, quickly give thanks..."

Lian Hua turned her head and looked at Xiao Jizi; she had just been engrossed in mental calculations and found them a bit confusing.

Seeing Lian Hua respond, Zhang Qing breathed a huge sigh of relief, then continued in a gentle voice, "Beauty Lian, would you please accept the decree and give thanks?"

"Oh, right." Lian Hua turned back around, raising her hands high, and said, "I thank His Majesty for his great grace."

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