Chapter 54: To seek wealth

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1霞帔-xiapei: a strip of scarf over ceremonial robe for noble ladies.
2凤体康健,福泽万年: variations of well wishes for someone
3Low ranking officials
4中饱私囊: zhōng bǎo sī náng: lining one’s pocket, meaning to embezzle public funds or other people’s money
Government office in feudal China

                                                                         
Chapter 54: To seek wealth

In the afternoon, Li Wei Yang accompanied Lao Furen into the palace.

After days of nonstop snow, it was bitterly cold; even though seven or eight large heating stoves were placed in Ci Xin Gong, it was useless. It was still unable to block the deep cold that came in.

Lao Furen was wearing a red knitted jacket with gold clouds, an embroidered lion mandarin square on the chest, there was a narrow serrated decorative edge on the collar with gold and silver buckle, plus the xiapei’s radiance was glittering.

Li Wei Yang lowered her head, staring steadily at the three feet square of white jade brick on the floor, knelt with Lao Furen to perform the bowing rituals.

At the moment, the hall was filled with silence that even the “swisha” sound caused by the rubbing friction between the shirt and skirt could be heard.

“Which one is Li Wei Yang?” The Dowager Empress with dignified face and amicable look, slowly asked.

Li Wei Yang took a deep breath, stepped forward, did a grand curtsey, said: “Dowager Empress, healthy body, pool of happiness for thousands of years.

The Dowager Empress’s eyes fell on her, smiled and said: “Raise your head and let me see.”

Li Wei Yang raised her head, her gaze respectful, demeanor dignified.

The Dowager Empress looked at her face, nodded while smiling, said: “She is a beautiful girl.” Then she said: “The countermeasures in the booklet, were devised by you?”

Li Wei Yang quietly said: “Yes.”

“Oh…” The Dowager Empress pondered and sized her up again, “So young, with such knowledge, it is rare.”

Her gaze was clearly gentle, yet Lao Furen felt as if a meaningful glance was present. A trace of uneasiness rose up in her heart. However, Li Wei Yang who was beside her, seemed to be unaffected. Lao Furen for a moment was unconsciously surprised. How could she have thought, that in Li Wei Yang’s past life, such scenes were so common that she was already accustomed to it.

After they rose, Dowager Empress allowed them to sit, Dowager Empress had ordered the formality to be dispersed with, then chatted with Lao Furen, and did not bring up the issue in the booklet.

Li Wei Yang calmly looked at the white porcelain with blue white tea lid, quietly sitting on the most right-hand seat. She knew that the Dowager Empress did not want her to be too proud, deliberately pressing down on her temper.

Soon, outside of the curtain, a servant announced: “The Emperor has arrived.”

Everyone was busy getting up for greetings. The Emperor entered wearing a bright yellow Kui dragon design, did not salute when facing the Dowager Empress, called out: “Empress Mother.” He turned around and waved a sleeve towards the people who bowed and said carelessly: “All rise.”

The Emperor’s stature was tall, in his younger days, he was also a beautiful man. Just that through the years, the life of an emperor had added a fearsome quality to him, causing an involuntary feeling of dread in people. He sat down, his eyes naturally staring at the girl in the hall.

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