Mu Yuan, as the heir of the Marquis Mansion, even with military merits, didn't deserve the emperor's personal visit.
It seemed that the emperor truly valued this General Who Pacifies the Distance.
In the future, relying on this connection, the Marquis Mansion could thrive for three generations.
Two young servants opened the door wide and knelt down respectfully. Looking up, they saw Qu Yue still standing there in a daze.
They quickly tugged at the hem of her trousers and roared silently with a ferocious expression: "Madam, are you so overjoyed by the imperial edict bestowed by His Majesty in person that you've lost your wits? Kneel down quickly!"
Receiving an imperial edict was an opportunity to rise in the world, and receiving it in the presence of the emperor meant that from then on, one would be respected by everyone.
After all, one would have faced the emperor directly.
Qu Yue's beautiful eyes regained their clarity. "I... I'll do it right away!"
She quickly stepped forward to catch up with the crowd and went to the door to greet the emperor.
Led by Marquis Mu Qing, they lined up in order of their status and dignity.
Qu Yue found her position and squeezed in like a tender bamboo shoot.
Mu Wang beside her glanced at her. "Are you seeking death? You're so late."
"I..."
Qu Yue's scalp went numb. She didn't know how to answer.
Fortunately, with the eunuch's second announcement, everyone was overwhelmed by the emperor's authority and knelt down in unison.
"Long live our emperor! Long live! Long live!"
The thunderous greeting soared into the sky, shaking Qu Yue's eardrums.
She couldn't help but look up secretly -
She saw the bright yellow imperial palanquin slowly approaching from the horizon under strict escort, bringing with it a suffocating sense of awe.
The nine - curved yellow silk umbrella made of gold - embroidered brocade in front of the palanquin emitted a sacred glow, connecting with the coiled dragon carved on the palanquin.
The dragon's eyes were so majestic that they were intimidating.
In that fleeting glance, the person in the palanquin seemed to sense something and looked in this direction with a piercing gaze.
Qu Yue was startled and quickly pressed her head to the ground.
The weak and gloomy little boy from her childhood was no longer someone she could look at boldly.
The imperial palanquin stopped in front of the Marquis Mansion. Mu Qing's deep voice echoed at the door for a long time. "Welcome, Your Majesty!"
Following the drawn - out ending, the eunuch standing beside slowly lifted the half - closed curtain.
The current emperor, Xie Qichi, slowly stepped out.
His imperial robe, black at the base and embroidered with the twelve symbols, fully showcased his imposing manner. The jade belt and pendant around his waist jingled softly. Every step he took seemed to land on everyone's hearts.
"Rise."
The cold response made everyone present breathe a sigh of relief.
But it was precisely this flat tone that was like the cold and damp wind on a rainy day, blowing through everyone's hearts and leaving them feeling oppressed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Mu Qing nodded repeatedly. Shaking his body, he stood up from the ground.
He bowed with both hands. "Your Majesty, this old official will lead you inside."
Xie Qichi nodded listlessly. His dark eyes were like a swamp. "Yes."
A group of palace attendants surrounded him and slowly walked into the Marquis Mansion.
He walked calmly. Every step his feet took on the blue stone bricks of the Marquis Mansion symbolized the future rise of the mansion.
Qu Yue got up following Mu Wang. Looking ahead, she could only see the bowing Mu Qing and the leisurely - walking emperor.
"Daydreaming again? Let's go! Last night you... Forget it!"
Mu Wang's disdainful question interrupted her thoughts. Qu Yue quickly followed him inside.
After greeting the emperor, the servants returned to their positions.
The other relatives of the Marquis Mansion continued to go to the mourning hall to pay respects with the emperor.
Qu Yue walked at the back and whispered to Mu Wang, "I was fine last night."
Except for sneaking out to eat an unpleasant bowl of wontons.
But she couldn't let Mu Wang know this.
Mu Wang crossed his arms in front of his chest. "If you're really that tired, go back and catch up on sleep this afternoon."
"I'm not tired." Doubt flashed in Qu Yue's beautiful eyes.
Mu Wang let out a snort. "Then why are you always distracted?"
Qu Yue stopped in her tracks. "No... I'm not."
Mu Wang pursed his lips speechlessly. "If you can't lie, just stop. Your eyes are about to drift to the sky."
Qu Yue dodged the topic. "I... I'm going to receive the imperial edict..."
She buried her head and rushed into the mourning hall. After all, she couldn't tell Mu Wang that she had been distracted twice because of the emperor.
She was comparing his current appearance with the first time she saw him as a child.
Moreover, when receiving the imperial edict later, she might have to look him in the eye.
The uneasiness of the unknown swept over her. She shivered.
Mu Wang stared at Qu Yue's stupid look as she walked straight ahead and quickly called out to stop her. "Where are you going to the mourning hall for?"
Qu Yue asked sincerely, "Isn't the emperor going to pay respects?"
Mu Wang's face dropped. "I said you didn't sleep well, and you still deny it. The emperor offered incense this morning and is going to the main hall to announce the imperial edict."
Qu Yue immediately retorted, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
A meaningful look flashed in Mu Wang's eyes. "What's the rush? Anyway, it doesn't matter much to you."
His ponytail under the hairpin swayed slightly. He would never admit that he deliberately lagged behind to accompany her, afraid that she would be sad after learning the truth.
Qu Yue was in a hurry to run and didn't hear what Mu Wang said later at all.
When she arrived at the main hall, Xie Qichi had just taken his seat on the high throne in the center. He sat comfortably. The tassels of the jade pendant around his waist dangled beside him.
His deep - set features were engraved on his almost translucent white skin. He propped his chin with his bent fingers. His ink - black eyes were like a dark corner that the sun could never reach, exuding a strange chill.
Their eyes met. A silent chill climbed up her spine. Her heart suddenly sank, and her legs went weak. She knelt down with the others.
But for some reason, Qu Yue always felt that a gaze was fixed on her. It was as if she had been dragged into a swamp, and the suffocating feeling of being slowly swallowed filled her lungs.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims..."
The shrill voice of the eunuch announced the posthumous title for Mu Yuan and a large amount of gold and silver as a reward.
"Receive the imperial edict!"
With the end of the announcement, everyone stood up.
As Mu Yuan's legitimate wife, Qu Yue should have received the imperial edict.
She was still nervous about how to walk up to the eunuch to receive the edict when she saw Mu Qing step forward and respectfully receive the edict with both hands.
This?!
Qu Yue froze in place. The step she had just taken hung awkwardly in mid - air.
Mu Wang looked complicated and mouthed to her, "Stay here."
This... This was simply unreasonable!
Qu Yue's breathing quickened. She knew very well what it meant that she wasn't allowed to receive the edict.
It meant that the Marquis Mansion had never recognized her identity. She wasn't worthy of showing her face in front of the emperor.
It could even be said that after three years of hard work in the Marquis Mansion, working diligently outside to support the family and doing housework from dawn to dusk, she had received no recognition at all!
In the future, her days would only be more difficult.
Being sent to be buried with the widow would become a certainty.
The grievance in her chest suddenly exploded. Her small nose felt sour, and her eyes instantly turned red.
She knew that the Marquis Mansion didn't like her, but every time she told herself that as long as she worked harder and showed her sincerity to the marquis and the ladies of the Song family, she would be accepted.
But what was the reality?
Today's incident was like a resounding slap in the face, completely waking her up!