"Is it not fun in the palace?"
"It’s fun," Panpan said. "It’s just that there are more important things to do when I return to the mansion."
"What more important things?"
Xiao Chunyu asked in confusion.
"Old Madam, Madam, soone from the palace has arrived. It’s Mr. Fu himself, and he said he’s here to deliver an imperial edict."
Mr. Fu is an elderly figure most favored by the Emperor.
What kind of edict would require him to deliver it?
This news caught Mrs. Xia off guard.
"Please ask Mr. Fu to wait a mont while I and Madam change our clothes."
Mrs. Xia, after all, is seasoned. Though curious, she remained composed and wondered about the content of the imperial edict.
"Grandmother, don’t worry, it’s good news."
Panpan said while eating dried at, "Panpan won’t change clothes, I’ll receive the imperial edict as I am."
This child is carefree, and the Emperor wouldn’t punish a child for such a thing.
So, let it be as it is; Mrs. Xia didn’t insist.
"Go ahead, change clothes before receiving the edict."
Mrs. Xia patted Xiao Chunyu’s hand. "Panpan says it’s good news, it must be."
"Panpan, do you know sothing?"
Panpan tilted her head towards her mother and laughed without answering.
This child, so young yet seemingly full of secrets.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."
Panpan is conferred the title of Princess Anping, added to the Royal Family’s jade tablet, enjoying royal honor... Upon Mr. Fu’s announcent, both Mrs. Xia and Xiao Chunyu were greatly surprised; what is the aning of this?
"Old Madam, Madam Xia, Princess Anping, please receive the edict."
Mr. Fu gently reminded them with a smile.
"I humbly receive the edict and thank His Majesty for his grace."
In her life, Mrs. Xia has received countless decrees, but this is the first ti for one like this!
Panpan, this child, what kind of fate is this?
So young yet having experienced so much, honor and disgrace alike.
Henceforth, she is Princess Anping, and by the rules of the state, she and Xiao Chunyu must show her respect.
"Congratulations, Princess Anping; congratulations, Old Madam and Madam Xia."
Upon the announcent of the edict, even Mr. Fu’s tone changed.
Indeed, this is the proper way.
"Thank you, Mr. Fu." Panpan rummaged through her bag and finally took out a gray bottle. "Mr. Fu, you’ve worked hard. Panpan offers you so sweet pills."
"Thank you, Princess Anping."
What are sweet pills?
"Mr. Fu, you have a sore throat. These sweet pills will relieve the pain and hoarseness."
"Oh, I must thank Princess Anping for the gift."
Mr. Fu was very surprised; no wonder she received such honor.
She is truly considerate, caring for the servants. He is well aware that everything this child offers is precious.
Aunt Yu, his fellow townsman, had chronic leg pain, which he knew about. Recently, her walking had been sprightly; describing it as moving swiftly would not be an exaggeration.
Only after asking did he learn it was because of the dicine provided by Panpan, oh no, by Princess Anping.
Therefore, he quickly placed the bottle of sweet pills into his pouch.
"Mr. Fu, you’ve had a hard day, please have a seat and enjoy a cup of tea."
Mrs. Xia gestured, and Nanny Zhou gave Mr. Fu a pouch.
The pouch was light, with nothing inside but a silver note.
Mr. Fu was quite satisfied.
At their position, they clearly know what kind of pouch to receive and what not to.
After having a cup of tea at the mansion, Mr. Fu excused himself, saying he needed to return to the palace to report.
At the Xia Mansion, both Mrs. Xia and Xiao Chunyu were very surprised, asking Panpan what this was about.
"Panpan doesn’t know either. Regardless of whether it’s Panpan or Princess Anping, I’m still Grandmother’s granddaughter and Mother’s daughter, and the elder sister to younger brother."
"The child is right."
Mrs. Xia hugged her precious one fondly.
When it was announced that Panpan was adopted by the Emperor and Empress as their goddaughter and granted the title of Princess Anping, the whole Capital was astir!
"It was bound to happen sooner or later," insiders remarked. "This girl has always been regarded highly by the nobility in the palace."
Just could not fathom how such good fortune fell upon her head.
"Adopted as a goddaughter."
So court ministers’ minds began to stir. They’ve always known Panpan is favored by the Crown Prince, assuming that once she grew up, she would join the harem as a consort. This imperial edict ruled out her path to becoming a consort, aning she is now the top socialite in the Capital.
It’s no exaggeration to say she’s more prestigious than true blood royal family mbers.
While an Emperor’s daughter never worries about marriage, not even a biological daughter of the Emperor would receive such treatnt.
Thus, if soone could betroth her... Just the thought of it made one excited.
They imdiately started sifting through suitable sons in the family, checking for eligibility.
It wasn’t just one household developing an interest in Panpan.
The in-laws of Old Mrs. Xiao and relatives from Mrs. Li’s family began to strategize; Madam Xiao’s family, led by Mr. Xu, secretly summoned their sons to plot; even the Xuu Mansion was tempted. As for the Huang family... never mind, the Huang Mansion thought such fortune wouldn’t co their way, after all, there are families like the Li Mansion and Xu Mansion in line.
The Huang Mansion has always maintained a high moral standing, feeling above many actions.
However, as generations passed, they started considering the prosperity of their descendants.
"Soone, send congratulatory gifts to the General Mansion."
At the Xia family, the porter at General Mansion beca unprecedentedly busy.
Virtually all the nobility in the Capital moved swiftly to send congratulatory gifts to Princess Anping.
"Mother, what should we do about this?"
Whether to accept these gifts or not?
Not accepting might offend people; accepting could lead to being exploited.
"Judge according to the situation. If there is a family relationship, accept the less valuable gifts and return one of equal value. For those without family ties, set a limit; do not accept any congratulatory gifts exceeding the value of one hundred silver taels," Mrs. Xia instructed. "Our Panpan does not lack this."
Yet they cannot afford to offend anyone.
"Mother, do we need to hold a banquet?"
Xiao Chunyu was unsure.
"No need," said Mrs. Xia. "Cheng-er is not in the Capital, guarding the border. This suggests the border situation is unstable; it’s not an appropriate ti for extravagance in the rear. Convert all received gifts into silver, and purchase supplies in the na of the guests to send to the border..."
"Yes, Mother."
Xiao Chunyu was amazed, admiring Mrs. Xia’s wisdom.
What an excellent solution!
The Xia family accepted guest sentints and turned their gifts into supplies for the border soldiers, simultaneously conveying Princess Anping’s good intentions, naturally boosting the soldiers’ morale trendously.
"This Mrs. Xia!"
The Empress smiled with satisfaction upon hearing of the Xia family’s arrangents.
"Mrs. Xia is a remarkable woman," Even the Empress Dowager could not help but praise. "I didn’t expect you would hold this child Panpan in such high regard."
"Mother, she is deserving."
"Indeed, she is deserving."
The Empress Dowager, having survived the palace struggles to the end—was there anything she couldn’t see clearly enough? "How has the Emperor been lately?"
This question left even the Empress at a loss for an answer.
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