Su Yu reflexively reached out to catch it. Mao Tuan automatically grabbed onto his lapel and climbed up, only stopping when it reached his shoulder. It looked at Su Yu's complicated and gorgeous crown with dissatisfaction and reluctantly sat down on his shoulder, declaring its ownership to the crowd from above.
There was a moment of silence in the main hall.
"Congratulations, Young Master Su." Wang Gonggong was the first to react. He bowed with a calm expression and gave him a mutton fat jade pendant. This was the first reward for being conferred the title of Imperial Concubine.
The mutton fat jade was warm and smooth, like the slender hands of a beauty. This jade pendant was hollowed out and carved into a pair of fish. It rippled and was very exquisite.
Su Yu blankly held the jade pendant in his hand. A thumb-sized jade pendant was worth several hundred taels of silver. This jade pendant was worth at least a thousand taels of silver. However, looking at the expressions of the harem candidates, especially Miss Cen's blood-red eyes, this jade pendant was probably worth more than a thousand taels of gold.
The ranks of the imperial concubines in the palace were like heaven and earth. Cairen and Shijun were only slightly higher than palace maids. Only Zhaoyi and Shangjun could have their own palace. Imperial concubines could control a palace. Even when there was no Empress, they could still manage the six palaces. In other words, imperial concubines were concubines. Those below them could only be counted as concubines.
Moreover, Su Yu was a man. Once he returned to the position of imperial concubine, he would be directly conferred the title of Count. It could be said that he had reached the heavens in one step!
A fish seller could actually directly become an imperial concubine. And these born noble ladies could only start from being Cairen!
Bursts of coldness came from all directions. Su Yu felt as if he was standing in the middle of a pack of hungry wolves. In his hand was a piece of greasy meat bone …
"The decree of the reward will be sent to the noble families in a few days," Wang Gonggong considerately broke the increasingly tense atmosphere, "Young Master Su, please come with this servant to send the sacred cat back."
With Wang Gonggong following them, no one else dared to say anything. Su Yu secretly heaved a sigh of relief. She nudged the kitten on her shoulder with her ear. What an injustice.
Once they were out of Qing Ping Palace Hall, Wang Gonggong reached out to carry the kitten away and respectfully invited Su Yu back to Xunyang Palace Hall. With a pleasant countenance, he said, "Someone will send Young Master home tomorrow. The Internal Affairs Department will go to your residence to take care of everything. Young Master can rest assured and wait for His Majesty to marry you."
"Don't worry, Eunuch. I will definitely serve Young Master Su well," Yang Gonggong said with a smile.
Wang Gonggong glanced at him and said, "If gongzi has any requests, just do as a concubine. If you can't make up your mind, just come and tell me."
With Wang Gonggong's words in front of everyone, the people in the palace naturally didn't dare to slight Su Yu. Even the few steps from Qing Ping Palace Hall to Xunyang Palace Hall, Yang Gonggong found a carriage, not willing to let him walk half a step.
The next day, the news that His Majesty had chosen a male concubine spread throughout the court. The Su family was in an uproar.
Eldest Uncle's concubine-born daughter had been eliminated early on. Su Ying, who had originally hoped to fly to a branch, was sent back crying by Zong Zhengsi.
After hearing from his daughter that Su Yu had passed the second round, Su Xiaozhang began to feel restless. After waiting for a few days and still not seeing Su Yu leave the palace, he completely panicked. He found the person who had promised to help him determine his title and found out that this person was Prime Minister Lu's second son, Lu Zhongliang.
Lu Zhongliang now held a position in the Ministry of Rites. Zong Zhengsi and the Ministry of Rites were considered to be one. Logically speaking, Su Xiaozhang should be able to help by using such connections. That was why he dared to treat Su Yu so fearlessly. However, in the past few months, he had sent many gifts back and forth, but he had never succeeded. Su Xiaozhang was annoyed, but he didn't dare to say anything. After all, the Prime Minister was now very powerful, and his legitimate granddaughter was also a Noble Consort in the palace. She wasn't someone he, who came from a poor family, could afford to offend.
"This matter can't be done." Lu Zhongliang rarely saw Su Xiaozhang. Every time he came to find him, he would have the steward receive him. Today, he directly came out to meet him. He raised his hand and threw all the silver that Su Xiaozhang had sent onto the table, his face grave.
Determining a title for a poor family was not a difficult matter. Lu Zhongliang had agreed without thinking much. However, when it came to this matter, there were always problems. It wasn't until today's morning court, when the Emperor announced that he would make Su Yu an Imperial Consort, that he finally realized. He thought about how the Su family's fisherman had obtained the favor of the National Tutor. There must be a noble person helping him, and the power behind this noble person was enough to contend with the Lu family!
"Second Master, why can't it be done?" Su Xiaozhang's face was full of astonishment.
"You'll know when you go home." Lu Zhongliang didn't have the patience to talk to him anymore. These days, the two Imperial Princes had entered the capital, and the balance in the imperial court was suddenly broken. During this sensitive period, he naturally couldn't get involved in the Su family's matters.
Su Xiaozhang returned to the Su family dejectedly. He just happened to meet Su Yu, who had been sent back by the Imperial Household Affairs Department. Following that, there was a bright yellow imperial edict.
"The youngest son of the Su family, Su Yu, has both ability and integrity. His character and appearance are excellent, and he is worthy of being a model of nobility. Today, by the Empress Dowager's decree, he is bestowed the title of Imperial Consort. He is allowed to enter the palace in three days to serve …"
The Head of the Imperial Household Affairs Department, Wang Gonggong, personally carried the imperial edict. The people of the Imperial Household Affairs Department stood on both sides. The Su family knelt on the ground, trembling with fear. They helplessly looked at Su Yu, who was wearing brocade clothes and a jade crown. The latter expressionlessly accepted the imperial edict and thanked them for their kindness. He didn't seem excited at all, which made the Eldest Uncle's family feel even more terrified.
If it weren't for Su Yu's calmness, he really didn't have the strength to complain.
Wang Gonggong left after announcing the imperial edict. However, the people of the Imperial Household Affairs Department stayed behind. In the next three days, they had to prepare Su Yu's dowry and enter the palace.
"The ancestors of the Su family bless and protect us. Heaven has eyes!" The Jhao Clan was so excited that they couldn't control themselves. She had never expected that Su Yu would be chosen and even be bestowed the title of Imperial Consort! In two years, when the Crown Prince was appointed, the harem would be released. Su Yu would be the official Earl, and he would have a salary of a thousand taels every year. And she would be the Old Madam of the Earl's Mansion!
"How could this be …" The Eldest Aunt trembled for a long time, and then her eyes rolled back and she fainted. When Su Yu entered the palace, the family's title of nobility would be stripped. When Su Yu was released, it would have nothing to do with the first branch if he was promoted.
"Niangniang, about the dowry …" The people of the Imperial Household Affairs Department didn't seem to see the Su family's loss of composure. They smiled and asked Su Yu about the next arrangements.
It was reasonable to say that the imperial concubines of the Imperial Consort Election could directly stay in the palace. However, Su Yu had been bestowed the title of Imperial Consort, so she had to go through a grand ceremony and give the dowry. The people of the Imperial Household Affairs Department had to follow and serve her in a hurry.
The corners of Su Yu's mouth twitched. She looked at the honest and considerate consul of the Imperial Household Affairs Department and said, "Official Li, can you not call me Niangniang?"
The dowry of an imperial concubine was thin and thick, and it represented the power of the family behind her. At the same time, it was also a guarantee for the imperial concubine after she entered the palace.
The Su family was poor and naturally couldn't provide any dowry. Su Yu only had the 40% shares of the Xian Mantang and the banknote of a thousand taels of silver given by the Prince Of Changchun. She was forced to enter the palace to serve a man she had never met, and she also had to give up all of her family's wealth. No matter how she thought about it, it wasn't worth it.
Su Yu painfully threw the two hundred taels of savings that he had accumulated over the past few months to the people of the Imperial Household Affairs Department and told them to do as they saw fit. Then, he changed out of his magnificent clothes, hugged the straw basket of chili peppers, and hurried out.
Once he entered the palace, it was as deep as the ocean. He only had three days to deal with the matters of the Xian Mantang and arrange for the chili peppers that he had paid a huge price for. No matter how he thought about it, it wasn't enough.
"Official Li, this …" The people of the Imperial Household Affairs Department looked at each other.
When Imperial Consort Lu entered the palace, the Prime Minister's manor took out thirty thousand taels of silver to prepare one hundred and twenty sets of dowry. Only then did the Imperial Household Affairs Department send eight people to manage it. This time, they also sent eight people. They thought that in three days, they would be overwhelmed with work. Who would have thought …
Official Li looked at the pitiful two hundred taels of silver. There was no need for them. Su Yu could just pack a bundle and bring it into the palace.
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