Someone from the palace?

When Matriarch He and He Changqi heard the news, they looked at each other in shock.

For a family like Count Jing 'an's, the patriarch was stationed at the borders, and the eldest son only held an empty position in the court. Normally, there wouldn't be anyone from the palace visiting.

Even if Matriarch He delivered a token to the palace, it had to be every ten days, and this was because Matriarch He and the Empress Dowager were close friends.

Senior Servant Liu saw that the masters were shocked and quickly reminded, "The housekeeper said that it's a head eunuch from the inner court. He also brought an imperial edict and seems to be here to announce it."

What?

Announce an imperial edict?

This made everyone even more apprehensive and shocked.

Of all the masters in Count Jing 'an's estate, no one was worthy enough for the emperor to announce an imperial edict.

Although she didn't understand, Matriarch He still sent people to pass the news to the masters of the various branches. They were to gather in the reception hall in the front courtyard and wait for the imperial edict.

Not long after, all the young and old of the He family knelt on the ground in the reception hall. Chu Lian knelt behind Madam Zou according to the rules.

She raised her head slightly and saw that the head eunuch who announced the imperial edict swept his gaze around the room. He straightened his body and straightened his sleeves before taking out the bright yellow imperial edict from a tray held by a young eunuch beside him.

He began to read it with a sharp voice.

"By the will of the heavens, the emperor decrees: The wife of the third son of Count Jing 'an, He Changdi, Madam Chu, is gentle and obedient, gentle and pure, intelligent and quick-witted. We are pleased and hereby confer the title of a fifth-rank village ruler, with the title of Jinyi …"

Before the imperial edict finished, everyone in Count Jing 'an's estate was stunned.

Even Matriarch He, who had experienced many things, was slightly stunned. What was going on? Third husband's wife was conferred the title of village ruler in the blink of an eye?

Not just Matriarch He, but even Chu Lian herself was in disbelief.

Suddenly, she remembered what Princess Duanjia had said at the Prince of Wei's estate. "Just you wait, I'll get you a deputy title!"

It seemed that this sudden conferment of a village ruler had something to do with Princess Duanjia.

Chu Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. At the time, she had only thought she was joking and hadn't expected Princess Duanjia to really request a rank for her. Although it was a low rank village ruler, it was a title personally bestowed by the emperor. This kind of honor was even greater than that of a normal princess.

Eldest sister-in-law, Madam Zou, who was kneeling in front of Chu Lian, was even more shocked. She subconsciously turned to look at Chu Lian, as if to confirm that the imperial edict was referring to her.

Zou madam only took a quick glance and then turned back. However, her was clenching her hands, which was tightly clenched.

His heart was filled with envy and jealousy.

San Dimei had only gone to Wei WangFu that day and received such great benefits. If she had known earlier that day, she would have followed San Dimei to Wei WangFu to pay her respects. Perhaps the main character that the chief eunuch was talking about today would have been her.

"The title of Jinyi Village Ruler, personally bestowed by the emperor, would also fall on her. With the appreciation of Wei's estate, even if she didn't have any children in the future, Da Lang wouldn't be able to take a concubine."

Chu Lian knelt behind Madam Zou. She could sense that Madam Zou's emotions weren't right. However, she couldn't brazenly observe her at this time and could only guess.

After the chief eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, he held the imperial edict with both hands and smiled until his eyes became slits. "Jinyi Village Lord, get up and receive the imperial edict!"

Xiyan hurriedly helped Chu Lian up. They walked to the front of the crowd and took the bright yellow imperial edict from the eunuch's hands.

"Thank you, eunuch."

The eunuch carefully looked the newly conferred Jinyi village ruler up and down. There was a hint of surprise in his eyes. No one would have thought that this Jinyi village ruler would be so young. It was likely that she had just passed the marriageable age.

She had a fair and rosy face. She didn't have any makeup on, but she was naturally beautiful. When she smiled, it was like a spring breeze. Just by looking at her appearance, one could tell that she was a top-notch beauty. She really matched the reputation of the He family's Yu Sanlang.

At this time, Old Matriarch He was also helped up.

She gave Liu wet nurse a look behind her. Liu wet nurse took out an indigo embroidered pouch from her sleeve and handed it to the eunuch with both hands.

The eunuch smiled and stretched out his hand to accept it.

On the other side, Old Matriarch He and the eunuch began to chat. It turned out that this eunuch had served by the Empress Dowager's side before. Old Matriarch He had seen him twice when she entered the palace.

At this time, a relatively young eunuch walked out from behind the eunuch. He walked in front of Chu Lian and bowed slightly.

"This servant greets Jinyi village ruler."

Chu Lian frowned slightly as she looked at the young eunuch in front of her. This eunuch had slender eyes and a tall nose. His facial features were all very delicate, but when put together on his face, it made people feel uncomfortable no matter how they looked at it.

Although the eunuch in front of her spoke respectfully, Chu Lian could see the disdain in his eyes.

"May I ask why this eunuch is looking for me?"

The corners of the young eunuch's mouth twitched. Not only did his facial features not soften, but they also became more sinister and sinister.

"Replying to Jinyi village ruler, this servant works for Harmony Hall in the palace. I heard that Her Highness accidentally left a golden Qilin with Jinyi village ruler."

Harmony Hall!

That was the residence of Imperial Consort Wei, and Imperial Consort Wei was Princess Leyao's mother.

Chu Lian's eyes darkened. She had long expected that Princess Leyao would send someone to ask for the golden Qilin back, but she didn't expect her to be so shameless. She actually wanted to use the reputation of Harmony Hall to crush her.

She didn't know if Princess Leyao thought too highly of Chu Lian, or if Princess Leyao thought too highly of herself.

As long as He Changdi was around, Princess Leyao wouldn't like her. She had already offended him long ago. Whether she submitted or not, the result would be the same. Since the result was bad, why should she endure it?

If her beloved Princess Leyao wanted to get her beloved item back, she would have to pay a price.

Chu Lian laughed softly in her heart.

"Oh?

There's such a thing?

Eunuch, why don't I remember?

Could it be that you're getting old and your memory isn't good? "Although Chu Lian's expression was warm, her words didn't give him any face at all.

Although the eunuch in front of her wasn't very old, and could even be considered very young, for a young lady like Chu Lian, he was far too old.

The eunuch's face was red with anger. He worked in Harmony Hall, and even in the palace, other than the Empress Dowager and the servants in the palace, not many people dared to bully him.

The young eunuch's face was a little twisted. He bared his teeth and spat out each word, "Jinyi village ruler, are you sure you don't remember?

Don't think about it carefully. It's not good to offend Imperial Consort Wei and Princess Leyao, right? "

Chu Lian was quite carefree. After all, she wasn't going to enter the palace. Even if Imperial Consort Wei and Princess Leyao wanted to bully her, they had to leave the palace first!

"What, do you want me to remind eunuch?

I've only seen Princess Leyao once at Marquis Dingyuan's estate. If Princess Leyao left something behind, it should be at Marquis Dingyuan's estate.

Eunuch, this is Count Jing 'an's estate. Didn't you see the plaque on the door when you came in? "

The eunuch in front of her was about to go mad with anger. This was the first time that Imperial Consort Wei and Princess Leyao's titles didn't work so well.

Chu Lian was warning him that Princess Leyao had lost the golden qilin to her. If he was willing to bet, he had to be willing to pay the price. If he wanted to get back what belonged to him, he had to pay the price.

Moreover, the eunuch's accusation that she had stolen something from Princess Leyao was completely unfounded. Everyone had witnessed the bet at Marquis Dingyuan's estate. If word of this got out, Princess Leyao would lose face.

The eunuch suppressed his anger and could only lower his stance. He took out a plain-colored pouch from his sleeve and presented it to Chu Lian. "Village ruler, Imperial Consort Wei has entrusted this servant with this. She wants this servant to exchange for the golden qilin that belonged to the princess."

Chu Lian glanced at Xiyan beside her. Xiyan quickly left to retrieve the golden qilin from Songtao Court.

Chu Lian was slightly enlightened. She didn't stand on ceremony with the eunuch and accepted the pouch. She even opened it to take a look before laughing. "Eunuch, don't worry. Although it was something that the princess lost to me, I have always kept it in good condition. Today, I can hand it over to you in front of everyone. Eunuch, please take a good look at it."

Xiyan soon returned. The young eunuch took the brocade box from Xiyan's hands and carefully examined it. After confirming that it was indeed Princess Leyao's golden qilin, he bowed and said, "Apologies for disturbing Village Ruler Jinyi today. I hope that Village Ruler will not blame me."

After the person in charge of announcing the imperial edict left, Chu Lian was summoned by Matriarch He to Qingxi Hall for a chat.

Only after an hour did he come out of Qingyan Hall.

On the way back to Songtao Court, Chu Lian thought about what Matriarch He had said and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

So she had to go to the palace to express her gratitude after receiving a title …

When she thought about the possibility of bumping into Princess Leyao and Imperial Consort Wei, Chu Lian couldn't help but feel unwell. Did she have to be so unlucky?

Xiyan followed behind Chu Lian, frowning as she thought about the events of the morning. Finally, she couldn't help but ask, "Third Young Mistress, you handed the golden qilin over to the eunuch. Why did you say those words at the end?"

Those words?

Oh, that's right. She had asked the young eunuch to examine the golden qilin.

Chu Lian turned around and tapped Xiyan's forehead. "What? Haven't you realized it yet?"

"Ah?" Xiyan exclaimed.

Chu Lian sighed. "Didn't you realize that the eunuch was the one who put on a show today? Otherwise, how could he have taken out the pouch filled with silver notes?"

Princess Leyao and Imperial Consort Wei might not like her, but as members of the imperial family and with high status, they wouldn't be so shameless as to make empty promises if they wanted to get something back.

Imperial Consort Wei was arrogant and noble. She wouldn't stoop so low as to do such a thing to a mere village ruler like her.

The silver notes to exchange for the golden qilin should have been prepared a long time ago.

It was just that the eunuch who was sent to ask for it was greedy. He didn't want to keep the money, so he tried to use his authority to get it back empty-handed. He didn't expect that she wouldn't fall for his tricks at all.

As for why she specifically asked the eunuch to examine the golden qilin, it was because she was afraid that he would tamper with it and cause Imperial Consort Wei to misunderstand.

However, she would definitely offend this lackey today. Even if she returned the golden qilin, this servant would probably add fuel to the fire in front of Imperial Consort Wei and Princess Leyao.

As the saying goes, it's better to offend a gentleman than to offend a villain.