After being reborn with my scumbag ex-husband, I became his sister-in-law.

Everyone was quite surprised to hear that an imperial edict had arrived.

Marquis An Ding took a few steps forward, observing the expression on Old Madam Huang's face, and his heart skipped a beat.

He hasn't accomplished anything or made any significant contributions lately, so there's no way he could possibly receive an imperial edict in person.

Could it be that this old woman went to the palace and got the Empress Dowager's support, which is why the imperial edict arrived at this time?

As Marquis An Ding thought about it, he felt as if his feet were rooted to the ground, and he couldn't take another step.

Old Madam Huang watched Marquis Anding's expression without making a move.

But at that moment, Song Xizhi, who was standing at the entrance of the flower hall, suddenly grabbed the hand of the divine physician Rihua and walked out.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly followed Song Xizhi out.

As the crowd emerged from the Marquis's residence, they saw that the gates were already filled with imperial ceremonial guards. The head eunuch, dressed in red, held an imperial edict in his hand and waited joyfully for the Marquis's guests.

When he saw the large group of people coming out of the Marquis's residence, he was also taken aback.

Everyone stared at the imperial edict in the eunuch's hand, each with their own thoughts, trying to decipher the meaning of the edict and the palace's intentions.

The eunuch narrowed his eyes and smiled slightly: "Oh! The Marquis has come out?"

"What joyous occasion is there at the Marquis's residence today that so many people have come? Once the imperial edict is read, the joy will surely be doubled!"

Marquis An Ding looked bewildered: "Could His Majesty's decree be for my son? But His Majesty did not inform my son beforehand!"

Even Old Madam Huang had an expression that was both hopeful and bewildered.

She wondered if it was really the Empress Dowager who knew she was coming to seek justice for the Huang family and therefore specially had the Emperor write an imperial edict to support her.

That's not impossible, after all, she's from a very senior family.

The crowd displayed a variety of expressions, and the eunuch narrowed his eyes, saying, "Then please kneel down to receive the imperial decree!"

Marquis An Ding hurriedly nodded and led everyone in the Marquis's mansion to kneel down. The members of the Huang clan also knelt down beside Marquis An Ding without any explanation.

The eunuch delivering the imperial edict glanced at Song Xizhi without showing any emotion, then opened the edict in his hand and began to read it aloud:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that the rise and fall of a nation depends on the wise and virtuous, but women can also be pillars of strength, making contributions to the country and bringing glory to the court. Now there is Song Xizhi, who is intelligent, quick-witted, courageous, and resolute, with her heart set on the nation and her ambition to secure peace. I am deeply impressed by her loyalty and bravery, and hereby bestow upon her the title of Princess of Tong'an, granting her a fief of one hundred households, one hundred taels of gold, one hundred acres of fertile land, and the honor of the imperial family. So be it."

The eunuch's voice fell, shocking the entire audience.

Marquis An Ding's eyes widened, and Old Madam Huang staggered, looking up blankly at the eunuch who had delivered the imperial decree.

A woman nearby hurriedly supported Old Madam Huang, her face pale, and whispered to her:

"Old Madam... Princess... isn't your rank higher than that of a Princess?"

Below the Princess of the County is the Princess of the County, below the Princess of the County is the Lady of the County, and after the Lady of the County is the Lady of the Township.

This princess is naturally of a much higher rank than her!

Thinking of this, Old Madam Huang's face turned even paler.

She raised her head expectantly, hoping that the eunuch had accidentally issued the wrong decree. After all, it was a big deal to confer the title of Princess on Song Xizhi. How come there hadn't been any news about it before?

Even Song Xizhi himself was somewhat surprised.

When the servant brought news of an imperial edict, Song Xizhi vaguely felt that it was an edict to confer upon her the title of county princess.

After all, back when they were in the palace, the emperor and empress dowager had already issued their decrees.

She just didn't expect that she would be made a county princess.

How did she become a princess now?

As Song Xizhi was pondering, she heard the eunuch in front of her smiling and saying, "What's wrong? Princess Tong'an, are you so happy that you've forgotten to accept the imperial decree and express your gratitude?"

Everyone suddenly came to their senses, and Song Xizhi bowed gracefully in the direction of the imperial edict: "Your subject kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your grace."

Everyone followed Song Xizhi in kowtowing to express their gratitude.

The Divine Physician Rihua finally realized what was happening. Upon hearing the news, she was overjoyed and hurriedly took out a purse from her sleeve and stuffed it into Song Xizhi's hand.

Song Xizhi understood his master's meaning and was even more moved.

It's tough on her ethereal master; for her sake, he's now even knowing to slip money to the eunuchs.

Thinking to himself, Song Xizhi gripped the purse in his hand even tighter. He then slowly stood up, walked to the eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict, took the edict from his hand, and stuffed the purse into the eunuch's hand.

"Thank you so much for your trouble, Father-in-law. You arrived just in time."

Even Song Xizhi himself was unaware of it.

The imperial eunuch simply smiled ingratiatingly at Song Xizhi, took the purse from Song Xizhi's hand, and then stuffed something else into Song Xizhi's hand.

"Oh dear, then I thank the princess for her generous gift. It's also a way for me to share in the princess's good fortune!"

As Song Xizhi listened to the flattering words of the eunuch delivering the imperial decree, he slowly lowered his head and looked at his palm.

Only then did she realize that her father-in-law had slipped her a note.

Song Xizhi slowly unfolded the note in his hand, revealing the flowing, vigorous handwriting on it.

There were no reply above, only four words written by the man:

"Is Zhizhi alright?"

So that's why the imperial edict arrived so timely...