Cold-faced Empress

coming!

Fu Siying's heart tightened, and she quickly patted Yunzhi and Rongchen beside her, signaling them to come forward.

Prime Minister Fu and Madam Li were greatly alarmed. They had not expected the Emperor to make such a move. Just moments ago they were happy that Yunzhi and Rongchen had brought honor to the family, but now they were extremely worried that the two would behave improperly in front of the Emperor.

Rong Chen had already arrived excitedly, but Yun Zhi was inexplicably panicked and gripped Fu Siying's hand tightly.

"Sister, sister, the Emperor... I... I'm scared..."

Fu Siying patted the girl's cheek: "What are you afraid of? The Emperor is going to reward you, not punish you. Hurry up and attend, don't keep the Emperor and Empress Dowager waiting."

Even as she tried to comfort her, Yunzhi wouldn't let go, staring intently at her, pleading in a pitiful voice, "Sister, please stay with me, I'm so anxious."

Seeing that too much time had already been spent and Yunzhi was still not settled, Fu Siying nodded to her parents and then led Yunzhi out of the seating area.

Instantly, the three young masters and young ladies of the Prime Minister's family became the focus of everyone's attention.

Because of Xia Suxi's affair, many people are unaware that it was the Prime Minister's second daughter, Fu Yunzhi, and his young master, Fu Rongchen, who won the championship.

Because of their simple attire, the three of them already attracted attention, and their reappearance immediately sparked a buzz of discussion throughout the hall.

"The Prime Minister's children? Simple, steady, and truly talented—like father, like son!"

Upon seeing the three people who came out, the Emperor paused, first looking at Fu Siying, and then scrutinizing Fu Yunzhi for a long time.

"Your subject, Fu Siying, along with my second sister Fu Yunzhi and third brother Fu Rongchen, pays respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager! My second sister and third brother have each won first place, but I am not as good as them. I can only shamelessly follow along so that I may bask in the praise of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."

"So she's the daughter of the Prime Minister's family," the Emperor remarked.

Fu Siying keenly sensed that the Emperor's tone was very strange, which puzzled her greatly.

The Emperor asked the Empress Dowager, "I have already decided on the rewards. Has Your Majesty decided on the rewards yet?"

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "I had already decided, but when I saw that it was Prime Minister Fu's daughter, I felt that I should add another reward!"

Clearly, the Empress Dowager liked Prime Minister Fu and his family very much because of Fu Siying's previous good performance.

In addition to bestowing upon you headdresses and clothing, the Empress Dowager praised you, saying, "Prime Minister Fu has taught his sons and daughters well, and his family has a simple and elegant style. Today is Qixi Festival, so I will also bestow upon you two the honor of choosing your own husbands in the future. If the other party hesitates, I can personally act as matchmaker for you."

This was undoubtedly an imperial edict authorizing marriage at one's own discretion!

The entire hall was astonished.

The Emperor just said that if the man and woman were mutually willing, they could immediately request an imperial decree to marry. However, the Empress Dowager has granted Fu Yunzhi and Fu Rongchen permission to request an imperial decree to marry regardless of each other's wishes! To have the Empress Dowager personally act as matchmaker—what an honor and favor this is!

Startled, Prime Minister Fu and Lady Li quickly appeared and knelt down to express their gratitude.

Fu Siying's eyes lit up, and she immediately gestured for Yunzhi and Rongchen to express their gratitude. But in truth, she knew that the Empress Dowager was merely making polite remarks, because such a special reward had happened before in her previous life. The Empress Dowager's so-called "addition" was simply that the headdress and jewelry bestowed upon Yunzhi were much more exquisite.

With the Empress Dowager's bestowal of gifts concluded, the Emperor's gifts became even more anticipated.

"With the Empress Dowager's jewels as a precedent, I cannot bestow a meager reward," the Emperor chuckled twice, and said, "The Second Miss of the Prime Minister's residence will receive a pint of Eastern pearls, ten bolts of flowing cloud brocade, and three pairs of bracelets..."

After bestowing a series of external gifts upon Fu Yunzhi, the Emperor also gifted Rong Chen with fine writing implements, a jade pendant, and a hair ornament.