After the divorce, I pursued the Ninth Prince 100 times.

Seeing his wife like this, Xia He felt extremely sad and her voice was filled with tears.

"Madam, if the Lord really takes Concubine Qiu as his co-wife today, how will you live in this mansion in the future?"

"Otherwise, let's return to the Duke's mansion, where the three young masters will surely stand up for you..."

"What is Aunt Qiu's status? She's just a concubine. How can she be on equal footing with you?"

"Xia He, stop talking..." Tears flashed in Xu's eyes.

She had been willful and said harsh words to them, and they had said they would never care about her again...

All of this is her own fault, she can't blame others.

Xia He wanted to say something else when she saw Qiuxiang jogging into the yard, looking very anxious.

She hurried out to greet him.

Maybe the master wants to make Concubine Qiu his co-wife.

The lady is already so sad, we must not provoke her any further!

Thinking of this, she went out first and stopped Qiuxiang at the gate of the courtyard. She then deliberately turned sideways to block the lady's sight and whispered, "If you have anything to say, tell me first. The lady is very sad. Don't disturb her."

Qiuxiang, however, looked anxious: "Sister Xia He, it's too late. Someone has come from the palace with the emperor's decree, and they are waiting for Madam to go and announce it!"

"What? Master, in order to raise his wife, he actually went to the palace to ask for an imperial decree?"

Xia He was horrified. "How can Madam accept this? Does Madam have to be there to announce the imperial decree?"

"Oh, it shouldn't be about the master taking a concubine. I think Aunt Qiu was so angry that she left..."

Qiuxiang stamped her feet and said, "It's hard to explain this in a few words. Madam, please go over there quickly! The eunuch has been waiting for a long time."

"Alright, I'll go call Madam."

Xia He naturally knew the importance of the imperial edict, and even if the lady was heartbroken, she still had to go and receive it.

......

After waiting for about an incense stick's time, Xu finally arrived at the gate of the marquis' mansion with two maids.

Shen Nanxing looked up and saw her mother wearing an apricot-colored flowing dress, a complete set of gemstone headdress, and a peony-shaped gold hair ornament in her hair. She had a proper smile on her face and was radiant.

At first glance, she has the temperament of the mistress of a prominent family.

Shen Nanxing breathed a sigh of relief and greeted her with a smile: "Mother, you've arrived."

God knows how worried she was that her mother had lost her mind in order to compete with Aunt Qiu and put on such vulgar clothes. Now it seems that her mother is still rational.

Today's outfit is great.

Shen Yuan looked absent-minded, but when he saw Xu, his eyes lit up slightly.

Xu hasn't dressed up for a long time.

Ever since he took Qiu'er into the family, Madam Xu has been depressed all day long. Whenever she sees him, her face is filled with sorrow. She always talks about how loving they used to be, or questions him about why he broke his promise and why he made it to her in the first place if he couldn't keep what he promised her...

It's annoying to hear.

Recently, she has gone even further, deliberately trying to imitate Qiu'er's style of dress. How could a boring and old-fashioned woman like her easily imitate Qiu'er's innate charm?

It's nothing but a poor imitation, which only makes people laugh.

But the way she looked today made him feel a little bit strange.

So, for the first time ever, he said in a gentle tone, "Madam, you are here."

Xu ignored him, only smiled and nodded to Shen Nanxing, then bowed to Eunuch Gui: "It's been many years since we last met. Hello, Eunuch Gui."

Although she had been married into the Marquis's Mansion for many years and was busy with the affairs of the inner court all day long, she still knew Eunuch Gui, the eunuch who was trusted by His Majesty.

Before she married, because her father and three elder brothers often performed meritorious service, His Majesty would frequently send Eunuch Gui to deliver imperial edicts and bestow various rewards.

Compared with many years ago, Eunuch Gui has not changed much except that he looks more mature.

I just don’t know what this imperial edict today is about?

She originally thought that her husband had gone to the palace to ask for an imperial decree in order to make that woman his equal wife.

Later, I thought, my husband is just a seventh-rank official, responsible for the security outside the capital, and he doesn't even have the qualifications to attend the court. How could he possibly come to His Majesty for such a small matter?

Unless the eunuch speaks to His Majesty in person.

However, the father-in-law disapproved of his husband taking a concubine, let alone agreeing to elevate his wife to a secondary status. Therefore, it was absolutely impossible for the father-in-law to speak to His Majesty about such a matter.

On the way there, Qiu Xiang had already told her that Eunuch Gui had said it was a joyous occasion, but it had all turned out to be a misunderstanding. The woman thought the imperial edict was for her, so she dressed up especially for the occasion, only to find out her husband had made a mistake and left in a huff...

Eunuch Gui only said, "Please invite the lady," but my husband took it upon himself to invite that woman, completely disgracing the Marquisate in front of Eunuch Gui.

There was irony in Xu's eyes. The ceremony of becoming a co-wife hadn't even been completed yet! In the husband's heart, his wife was already that woman. Where did he put her? What was she?

So since she came here, she deliberately didn't even look at the man.

When Eunuch Gui saw someone coming, he returned the greeting with a smile: "Madam Xu, there is no need to be so polite. Prepare to receive the order!"

So Shen Nanxing helped Xu kneel down, Shen Yuan knelt beside them, and behind them were maids and servants kneeling on the ground.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Madam Xu, wife of Shen Yuan of the Marquis of Nanyang, is virtuous and capable, managing her household with propriety, and is a model for women throughout the land. She is hereby conferred the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady. This is the imperial decree!"

What? How could...

Shen Yuan suddenly raised his head, looked at Eunuch Gui in surprise, then at Xu, opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out.

Xu's face was also filled with shock.

Even after Eunuch Gui put the imperial edict away, Xu was still in a daze and had not reacted.

It was Shen Nanxing who tugged at her sleeve and reminded her, "Mother, I have received the order."

Xu then kowtowed hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace. Long live Your Majesty."

Then he stood up and, as if in a daze, took the bright yellow imperial edict from Eunuch Gui's hands.

"Congratulations, Madam Xu." Eunuch Gui was still smiling.

Turning to Shen Yuan, he said, "Sir Shen, please allow me to say a few words. Madam Xu is virtuous and kind, and now she is a first-rank imperial consort. I hope Sir Shen will respect her and put her first in everything."

"By the way, before I left the palace, His Majesty praised you!"

When Shen Yuan heard the first half of the sentence, his heart felt heavy, almost making it difficult for him to breathe.

When I heard the second half of the sentence, I was delighted: "Your Majesty, what are you praising me for?"

Eunuch Gui smiled and said, "His Majesty said that for so many years, Madam Xu has been the only one in your harem, and she is a role model for the people of Beiyue. This makes him very happy."