Chapter 134: Noble Lady Fu

At this moment, Liu Qianqian could no longer stand still. With an air of haughty pride, she stepped out of the ranks, seemingly eager to claim credit and seek praise. Without waiting for a summons, she stepped forward to offer her greeting:

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager. Your humble subject, Liu Qianqian, also performed a dance during the Moon Sacrifice."

It was indeed true that Liu Qianqian had performed at the banquet following the ceremony, but seeing Fu Yan being praised by the Empress Dowager, she felt unwilling to be outdone. Impatiently, she had stepped forward to announce herself, hoping for a few words of commendation. Yet, her haste only made her appear lacking in decorum.

The move backfired, drawing the Empress Dowager’s distaste. The Emperor glanced at her; while she was certainly beautiful, her impatience stood in stark contrast to Fu Yan’s poise and sense of propriety.

The Empress Dowager glanced toward the official beside her, who understood immediately that she wished to know who this maiden was. "She is the granddaughter of the Right Chancellor," the official replied.

Although all thirty candidates had been introduced one by one earlier, it was impossible to remember them all. Upon learning that Liu Qianqian was the Right Chancellor’s granddaughter, both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor understood the situation.

She could not be eliminated today; they had to show respect to the Right Chancellor. However, once selected, she could not be granted a high-ranking title. They would observe her behavior in the future; if she continued to show such a lack of decorum, she would simply be kept in the palace without any opportunity to serve the Emperor. This, however, was only a preliminary judgment, subject to her future conduct.

"Very well. Return to your place."

Following the Empress Dowager’s command, the final palace selection soon concluded. The results were not announced on the spot; instead, three days would pass before the Emperor and the Empress Dowager made their final decisions, after which messengers would be sent directly to the candidates' estates.

After returning home from the palace, the thirty candidates waited anxiously for news. Being selected meant the possibility of soaring to great heights, while silence after three days would mean failure.

"Why haven't they come yet?" Fu Yan sat in her chamber, restless. The time for the imperial decree to arrive was nearly passing.

This caused Fu Yan great anxiety. She could not afford any mistakes this time, and she prided herself on her performance during the palace selection.

"Do not worry, Miss. Perhaps they are delivering messages to other estates first," her maidservant consoled her, though seeing her mistress’s furrowed brow made her grow anxious as well.

"I hope so."

Just as Fu Yan sat down and reached for a teacup to soothe her parched throat, a servant came running in, calling out with joy.

"Miss, quickly come to the front hall to receive the decree!"

"Miss, they are here!"

Her maidservant was also excited. She helped Fu Yan up, and they hurried toward the front hall together. Just when the suspense had become unbearable, the best possible news had arrived.

Fu Yan hastened to the front hall, where she found Eunuch Wu, the palace official sent to deliver the decree, already waiting. Her father, Fu Shijie, was there as well. After offering a respectful greeting to Eunuch Wu, the entire household knelt according to protocol to receive the imperial edict.

After the decree was read, they knelt to express gratitude for the imperial grace. As Fu Yan accepted the scroll, her heart raced with excitement. Fu Shijie was even more overwhelmed; he had not expected her to be bestowed the rank of "Noble Lady" (Gui Ren) on her very first appointment.

Although it was the lowest of the three secondary consort ranks, it sat just below the Empress, the Left and Right Zhaoyi, the Noble Consort, and the Virtuous Consort. It was a very high starting rank for Fu Yan.

As for Liu Qianqian, who had participated alongside her, she had only managed to secure the title of "Jieyu." Had she not been the granddaughter of the Right Chancellor, she might have been eliminated entirely; as it stood, she was given a mediocre rank.

"Greetings to the Noble Lady!"

Once Eunuch Wu finished reading the decree, he immediately offered his fawning congratulations. It was rare for someone to be titled a Noble Lady on their first selection, and she was the highest-ranking candidate he had announced that day.

"Eunuch Wu, please rise."

Fu Yan maintained the grace of a noblewoman as she bade him rise, offering him a pouch of money as a reward. This made Eunuch Wu beam with joy, and he offered her a piece of earnest advice:

"Prepare to enter the palace in three days. In a short while, you shall be able to serve the Emperor. Be sure to conduct yourself well when the time comes."