Eastern Palace Empress
The Chloe Family Matriarch felt a little uneasy inside and nodded lightly.
......
Grace Wan was standing nearby while they spoke.
Ever since she returned from the palace, she’d been like a lost soul.
While talking with the Chloe Family Matriarch, Grace glanced at Grace Wan and asked, "Aunt Wan, I have a spirit root now—why don’t you seem happy?"
As soon as Grace spoke to her, everyone—including the Chloe Family Matriarch—turned to look at her.
But Grace Wan just couldn’t bring herself to smile.
Then... her eyes reddened and she started to cry, saying, "Grace, Aunt Wan is just too happy! Thinking about all the grievances you suffered in the past, it makes me feel so wronged for you!"
Grace smiled softly. "Aunt Wan, don’t worry. Whoever made me suffer or hurt me in the past—I’ll make sure to get it all back, one by one!"
Grace Wan stiffened, then nodded, saying, "Good, good..."
......
Just then, a servant from the manor came running over, panting, and said, "Prime Minister, the imperial decree has arrived!"
"It must be the marriage decree. Let's go! Back home!" Edward Lawrence then led the whole Zhu Family home happily to receive the decree.
Sure enough, the eunuch delivering the decree was already waiting.
The visitor turned out to be Gao Zhao, the chief eunuch serving Gu Xingyun.
As soon as he saw Edward Lawrence return with everyone, he bowed with a big smile. "Congratulations, Prime Minister! Double blessings for your family!"
"Haha! Thank you for making this trip, Eunuch Gao." Zhuo Minghan replied with a laugh.
Grace Lawrence, receive the decree!" Gao Zhao announced with ceremonial flair.
So Grace knelt at the front, while the rest of the Zhu Family household knelt behind her according to their rank to listen to the decree.
Everyone thought this was the imperial decree to betroth Grace to Evan Xiao.
After all, today was the day she claimed her final victory.
But unexpectedly, it was actually the decree to make her Eastern Palace Empress!
The decree stated: Grace Lawrence, with extraordinary talent and merit in defending against foreign threats, is hereby granted the title of Eastern Palace Empress, sharing the power of the inner court with the Western Palace Empress, Wendy Zhu.
Furthermore, she is to enter the palace tomorrow.
When the decree was finished, everyone in the Zhu Family stared at Gao Zhao in shock.
"Eunuch Gao," Edward Lawrence asked with a changed expression, "Why isn’t Grace being betrothed to the General, but entering the palace instead?"
Gao Zhao replied, "This is the will of His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. I’m just a servant—how could I know? Empress, please accept the decree!"
With that, he held out the decree to Qingluan with both hands.
"Eunuch Gao! Please wait a moment," Zhuo Minghan interrupted. "I want to enter the palace and see His Majesty."
"The Empress Dowager and His Majesty said, if the Prime Minister refuses to accept the decree, then I am to ask you: the Zhu Family has already withdrawn from one marriage—do you intend to withdraw again?"
When Gao Zhao said this, his gaze was full of threat.
The so-called 'withdrawn marriage' referred to Zhuo Mingyue.
Edward Lawrence froze, anger surging in his eyes.
Qingluan knelt there, fists clenched tightly inside her sleeves.
Defending against foreign threats?
Because of Princess Lingyun’s provocation, she defeated her, and that’s considered defending against foreign threats?
Eastern Palace Empress?
There was precedent for this in the history of the Blue Moon Kingdom.
Setting up both Eastern and Western Palace Empresses—the rank of Eastern Palace Empress was actually higher than that of the Western Palace Empress.
She was the Zhu Family’s legitimate daughter, Wendy Zhu’s elder sister, and her talent was even greater than Wendy’s.
Being named Eastern Palace Empress seemed only natural.
......
It felt as though, in the dark, some force kept pulling her back onto the path of her previous life.
No matter how hard she tried, it seemed she could never escape this thing called destiny.