Western Wind Sighs Works The Eldest Daughter Should Marry, A First-Rank Duke's Concubine The Eldest Daughter Should Marry, A First-Rank Duke's Concubine The Eldest Daughter Should Marry, A First-Rank Duke's Concubine Volume 1 Chapter 44 Xia Fu's Imperial Decree

  In the pear courtyard, Xia Ting sat on a comfortable couch with her brother Xia Ziyun playing Go, honing their skills. Shui also sat aside embroidering and smiling as she occasionally glanced at her two children.

  This warm and cozy atmosphere dispelled the chill of winter. The house was surrounded by a warm and loving air everywhere.

  Mrs. Shui was sewing with a needle, smiling with satisfaction: this is the feeling of being a family, as long as every day can be like now, happy and harmonious, she will be content.

  Suddenly, the pleasant atmosphere was broken. Late Jade came running in, panting and saying "Miss, miss, someone has come from the palace, Master wants you, madam and young master to hurry over to the front hall to receive the imperial edict."

  Xia Ting's hand, still grasping the black chess piece, froze in mid-air. Only one phrase flashed through her mind: "Someone has arrived at the palace." This made her heart skip a few beats - could it be him?

  Shui heard Wan Yu's words and was suddenly startled, frightened to hastily put down the embroidery in her hands and stand up. How could someone have suddenly arrived at the palace? Was this about receiving some imperial decree?

  Xia Ting put the black thing back in the bowl, slowly got up and said to Shui Shi and Xia Zi Yun, "Mother, Yun'er, let's go. Don't keep others waiting."

  She had already adjusted her mood, as for whether it was him or not, she would find out when they reached the front hall.

  Mrs. Shi nodded hastily, she had to hurry up, the people in this palace really couldn't be slow. She quickly tidied up her clothes and followed closely behind her daughter with her young son in tow towards the front hall of the Xia residence.

  Xia Lao Ye was sitting beside Liu Gong Gong at this time, personally pouring tea and water for him, looking extremely diligent and not daring to be the slightest bit slow. This Liu Gong Gong is a red person next to the emperor, he must serve carefully, otherwise, if someone turns around and says a few words in front of the emperor, his official career may end up going nowhere.

  He didn't know what Liu Gonggong was coming over for today, and as soon as he entered the main hall, he said he wanted to pass on an edict to Ning'er, which made his heart beat a little faster.

  "Now I can only force a smile and say 'Please wait for a moment, sir. I've already sent someone to fetch my second daughter.'"

  While speaking, her eyes glanced at the yellow imperial edict on the table in front of her, secretly guessing what was written inside. Jing'er had just arrived in Kyoto for a short time, how could she have an imperial edict? In recent days, apart from the matter of the Crown Prince's selection of his bride, Jing'er had no connection with the royal family. Even if she was about to enter the Qingwang Mansion as a concubine, the Emperor wouldn't need to personally issue such a solemn decree. It was truly strange.

  Duke Liu didn't dare to be presumptuous, and very politely said "It doesn't matter, it's not urgent at this moment." After finishing speaking, he picked up his tea cup and took a sip, with an air of calmness. It was clear that King Shi's son favored the second young lady of the Xia family, and Duke Xia was the second young lady's father, the future father-in-law of the prince. How could he put on airs and offend people?

  Xia Lao Ye felt a sense of puzzlement, wondering why Liu Gong Gong was being so polite to him, with not even a hint of arrogance in his words, which left Xia Lao Ye somewhat bewildered.

  Mrs. Xia and Mrs. Li, as well as Xia Lian and Xia Rong, were also sitting upright on the side, perking up their ears to listen carefully to the conversation between Mr. Xia and Liu Gonggong.

  The four of them felt like they had been scratched by a cat, itching to know what was written in the imperial edict given to Xia Ting.

  At this time, Xia Ting brought Water and Xia Ziyun over.

  As soon as she arrived at the entrance of the front hall, Xia Tingjian saw a eunuch in palace attire, about fifty years old, sitting with her cheap father in the upper part of the hall.

  She saw her cheap father smiling with a flattering face, diligently serving tea and water to the other party. It seems that this is the official who came from the palace to deliver the imperial edict.

  Xia Ting smiled slightly and walked into the hall with Shui Shi and Xia Ziyun, immediately attracting everyone's attention.

  Mr. Liu saw a girl with a face as red as rouge and natural beauty walking in lightly, and knew that the main person to receive the imperial edict had arrived. He hastily put down his tea cup, stood up, and held the yellow imperial edict scroll with both hands.

  Xia Lao Ye also hastily stood up, facing Xia Ting Cong and introduced "Ting Cong, this is Liu Gong Gong from the Emperor's side, he has come to deliver an imperial edict to you today."

  Upon hearing this, Xia Ting's heart was certain that it was indeed him. With a faint smile, he elegantly bowed and said "Lord Liu."

  Liu Gonggong hastily retreated, not daring to accept the courtesy, and smiled warmly: "Miss Xia is too polite, our family really can't afford it. Since you're here, please have Miss Xia listen to the imperial edict."

  Xia Ting Cong calmly knelt down in the hall, and Shui Shi and Xia Zi Yun also knelt behind her. Old Master Xia hurriedly called out to the people in the house, including Old Madam Xia, to kneel down and receive the imperial edict together.

  The Grand Duke unfolded the imperial edict with a bright yellow seal, and a sharp voice rang out: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that Xia Nian Yu's daughter, Xia Ting, is endowed with virtue and talent, pure in nature and gentle in heart. She is hereby granted marriage to the Crown Prince of Jing Wang, and the wedding will take place on a chosen date. Let this be known."

  As soon as these words came out, except for Xia Tingying, everyone else was stunned on the spot, not daring to believe what they had just heard. The hall fell silent.

  Liu Gonggong said after finishing speaking and then closed the imperial edict, holding both hands in front of Xia Ting's face "Miss Xia, please receive the edict."

  "I, your subject, have received the imperial edict and thank Your Majesty for his great kindness." Xia Ting Cong calmly accepted the imperial edict, then stood up and turned to help Shui Shi get up after she finished reading the edict and appeared dazed.

  Liu Gonggong quietly sized up Xia Tingcong, seeing that the other party was wearing a moon-white water-patterned Lingbo skirt, with white wrists and red skin, and was an extremely beautiful woman like a rippling wave.

  Her every move exudes a subtle elegance, and even standing still, she commands attention. No wonder the Crown Prince of Jing took notice of Miss Xia, and hastened to deliver the imperial edict himself. She is indeed a rare gem.

  Feeling Liu Gonggong's sizing-up gaze, Xia Ting also didn't get annoyed and let him take a good look at her with an open mind. She knew that the content of this imperial edict was indeed unbelievable, and the eunuch who came to announce it would be curious about her, which she didn't find unexpected at all. Anyway, she wasn't a three-headed six-armed monster, so letting him take a few more glances wouldn't make her lose any flesh. She just satisfied his curiosity.

  On the side, Old Man Xia finally came back to his senses from the shock, hastily stood up and stuttered "Yes, yes, thank you, Your Excellency, for coming to deliver the edict." He still felt a bit dizzy at this moment. This, this Jing Er was actually bestowed marriage to the Crown Prince of Jing? Wouldn't that make her the future Crown Princess of Jing? Good heavens, this news was simply too shocking. He, he would become the future father-in-law of the Crown Prince!

  Mrs. Xia and her daughter, Mrs. Li, also looked like they were not in their right minds, and had to be supported by the maids beside them. They apparently had not yet recovered from the shock of hearing the imperial edict just now.

  Mr. Liu smiled and said, "Lord Xia is too polite, this is what our family should do."

  Xia Ting glanced at Old Man Xia with a dark and white expression, only knowing that he was standing there foolishly, even forgetting to hand over the silver ticket. Never mind, anyway she had known all along that this kind of person couldn't be relied upon.

  Xia Ting walked a few steps forward, quietly putting the silver ticket into Liu Gonggong's hand, and smiled slightly: "Thanks for your trouble to come all the way here, this is just a small token of appreciation."

  Liu Gonggong held the silver note in his hand, looking at Xia Ting's gaze with great surprise. He really didn't expect that Miss Xia would be so well-versed in human relationships and worldly affairs. He lowered his eyes and quickly glanced at the denomination of the silver note, good fellow, it was actually a five-hundred-tael silver note. This Miss Xia was indeed very generous.

  At this point, he smiled and said, "Miss Xia, it's all as it should be. Now that the edict has been announced, I should also return to the palace to report back, so I won't bother you anymore."

  Xia Ting smiled slightly and said, "Please go slowly, sir."

  Xia Lao Ye hastily volunteered and carefully sent his counterpart out of the house.

  Standing behind Xia Ting's back, Shui Shi had already come to her senses and saw the imperial envoy walking away. She quickly grabbed her daughter's hand and said, "Ting'er, this..."

  She had just opened her mouth when Xia Tingjing shook her head and interrupted, "Mother, let's talk about this when we get back."

  Shui heard this and could only hold himself back. Xia Ting stretched out his hand to support his mother, and was about to return to the Pear Garden with his brother.

  But then she heard Old Lady Xia's urgent voice behind her, "Second Daughter, wait."

  Digression

  Everyone, I'm working hard on storing drafts these days, and I'll be entering V soon, thank you all for your support.