Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 229 Marquis of Weibei

Upon receiving the order, Manager Fan immediately dispatched someone to Yongfeng Liangpu in Lin'an.

Upon hearing the news, Manager Zhu, who was on good terms with Manager Fan, slapped his thigh and his eyes lit up. He immediately took his wife to present a visiting card to the head of the family and Madam Yun.

A month later, Yongxing Restaurant in both the capital and Lin'an launched several new dishes made with spicy eggplant. The pure spiciness instantly won over the people of the Great Zhou. Manager Zhu once again won first place at the monthly council meeting. But that's another story; let's just mention it for now...

Closer to home.

The Northwest Army returned to the capital in triumph, and the emperor held a banquet to reward them.

The Xiongnu king, Huzheng Chanyu, looked dejected as he presented a letter of surrender. The handwriting on the letter was somewhat rough, but it was filled with his submission and helplessness.

Although Zhou Bai had been an official for less than a month, he had already become close to the Marquis of Lin'an's mansion and was adept at social maneuvering. Moreover, no one in the entire capital was more familiar with the Xiongnu than Zhou Bai. Therefore, the post-war reparations negotiations naturally fell into Zhou Bai's hands.

When Zhou Bai, then serving as the Left Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, met his "old acquaintance" Huzheng Chanyu again, he naturally gave him a "warm welcome." Zhou Bai was also a ruthless man, squeezing all the wealth that the Xiongnu had plundered and accumulated in various regions over the past ten years.

After a mere seven days of back-and-forth, the Xiongnu finally offered up a thousand miles of northern grassland, ten thousand head of cattle and sheep, a thousand fine horses, and a quantity of gold, silver, jade, and medicinal herbs as compensation to mend relations between the two countries. Border trade resumed at the end of October.

The four officials, namely, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, the Minister of War, the Minister of Revenue, Yun Qian, and the Minister of Rites, were all astonished to see that Zhou Bai knew the Xiongnu's resources so well.

This child is truly a genius!

Yun Qian actually tried to win over Zhou Bai in front of Lord Zuo, saying that there were several vacant positions in the Ministry of Revenue.

Lord Li hesitated, but he also wanted to recruit Zhou Bai to the Ministry of War. Relatively speaking, Tang De was the most prudent. He submitted a memorial two days ago, saying that in short, it would be a loss for Your Majesty if Zhou Bai, a man who was so adept at navigating social situations and was "friendly to his neighbors," did not come to the Ministry of Rites.

The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, stroking his beard, smiled sincerely, intending to betroth his eldest daughter to Zhou Bai. However, before he could even voice his intentions, he learned that Zhou Bai was already engaged...

......

The day after Jiang Wei entered the capital, the emperor issued an edict of reward, granting him the title of Marquis of Weibei.

On that day, Marquis Jiang Wei of Weibei and his wife entered the palace to express their gratitude. The emperor kept them alone in the Funing Palace for a meal. Later that afternoon, Marquis Jiang Wei went to the Renming Palace to pay his respects to the empress.

The father and daughter had not seen each other for over a year. The Empress's eyes were filled with tears, and she had endless grievances she wanted to tell her father. Madam Jiang was slightly embarrassed in the hall, but when she saw the Empress's haggard face, she felt a pang of heartache for her daughter whom she had raised for more than ten years.

"Marrying into the royal family was your own choice, and I never forced you. Now you look like you've been defeated, all miserable and pathetic, which has disgraced the General's Mansion."

Jiang Weijian's eyebrows were furrowed, and the muscles on his cheeks were slightly tense.

"What does it matter if Consort Chun is favored for a time? You will always be the Empress."

"Since we didn't get rid of her back then, my son, you must learn to wait for the opportune moment. When the grand election comes next year, it won't just be the third young lady of the Duke of Qing's mansion entering the palace..."

When Jiang Wei met the Empress in Renming Hall, Hua Yan, carrying the palace token of Consort Chun, led Dong Gua and Meng Zhu to Yeting.

New palace maids were all placed here. Green Willow and others not only had to receive instruction from the matrons of the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau, but also had eunuchs such as the Secretary and Registrar of the Imperial Palace Bureau participating throughout the process, so that outstanding ones could be selected and assigned to appropriate places.

Mengzhu said worriedly on the way, "I heard from Xiao Nianzi that Marquis Weibei went to the palace to express his gratitude and should have already arrived at Renming Hall to meet the Empress."

Winter Melon whispered, "Last time they released poisonous snakes, are they planning to do something to our Empress again this time?"

For some unknown reason, the Emperor has been staying in Huining Palace for two out of three days. Every day when the concubines go to Renming Palace to pay their respects, apart from Consort Song, even the shrewd Consort Guo can hardly hide her envious gazes.

Even Consort Qu, who would set aside her pride to sit in Huining Palace for a while every afternoon, and who had the opportunity to see the Emperor twice, has not yet served him in bed.

Hua Yan's lips curled into a meaningful smile, "The palace is not like the royal residence. Even if someone wants to harm another, they do so slowly and deliberately."

"Rest assured, nothing will happen in the harem before the election. Just be wary of the Empress's pregnancy."

Consort Chun's birthday is approaching, but since she is still in mourning for the late Emperor, there will be no grand celebration. The Emperor has sent word that a small banquet will be held at Huining Palace on that day. As a result, the kitchen needs to quickly recruit two more palace maids.

Hua Yan also wanted to take this opportunity to see Lv Liu.

The dishes made by Donggua have won praise from Empress Dowager Jiang and the Emperor, and have become famous in the palace. Even the female officials of the Six Bureaus respectfully call Donggua "Miss Donggua". Therefore, Huayan also brought Donggua with her.

Granny Xu from the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau had been in the palace for over forty years; she was a veteran. She was currently instructing the newly arrived palace maids on etiquette. Always strict, she was now reprimanding them:

"Don't think that entering the palace is just to enjoy life. Sweeping the courtyard, serving tea and water, and attending to daily needs are all things to learn. Once you're in the inner palace, you must keep the rules in mind and not be negligent in the slightest. Etiquette is of utmost importance. When you see your master, you must be clear about what kind of greeting to give and what words to say."

Even when facing the aunts and matrons in the palace of noble ladies, one must not lose respect; the slightest mistake would be a disrespect to palace rules.