Qin Miaomiao really wished she was not from the Qin family. Even if Qiao Jinniang would only be the Crown Prince’s second concubine, she was not someone that the Qin family could mess with.

  Besides, Qiao Ruoyun was her brother’s wife. If they forced her brother to divorce Qiao Ruoyun for no reason, what would others think of the Qin family?

  There was faint scorn in the eyes of Prime Minister Lin’s wife on the side.

  Old Madam Qiao said angrily, “Don’t worry. We won’t implicate you in the serious crime we commit.”


  Qiu Su’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhong, stepped forward with a smile and said, “Old Madam Qiao, how can you defy His Majesty’s order, not to mention Qiao Jinniang was just a merchant girl.

  “Being the Crown Prince’s second concubine is not bad for her. It is a blessing for the South.

  “After all, we can’t think too highly of ourselves, can we?”


  Although Mrs. Zhong looked down on Qiao Jinniang from the bottom of her heart, she knew that if she could win over Qiao Jinniang, it would be very beneficial to her daughter after her daughter got married into the East Palace in the future.

  “Who are you?” Old Madam Qiao glanced at her coldly.

  In the South, as the governor’s wife, Mrs. Zhong was fawned upon by almost everyone, but here, she could only answer with a smile,

  “Old Madam, I am the wife of the governor of the South

  “My daughter-in-law and Qiao Jinniang were classmates before, and they had studied together in a women’s school.”


  Old Madam Qin sneered. “How dare a mere governor’s wife say that about the Crown Prince’s second concubine?”


  When she said “second concubine”, her tone was full of ridicule.

  Zhong Wu’er jumped and said, “Why don’t we dare? Qiao Jinniang is nothing but a vulgar merchant, Mother…”


  Mrs. Zhong glared at Zhong Wu’er.

  Li Lingling’s voice came from the door. “Oh, why are there so many people at the gates of the Duke Mansion at noon? I thought that Miss Qiao would be my sister-in-law, but unexpectedly she will only be the Crown Prince’s second concubine… However, I would still like to congratulate her.”


  Li Lingling knew that for the sake of Prince Huai’s reputation, she should not have come here, but she couldn’t help it.

  She had planned so much to become the crown princess, but in the end, it was Qiao Jinning who appeared out of nowhere that would become the crown princess.

  Seeing Qiao Jinniang in distress, how could she not laugh at her? So Li Lingling took Consort Qi and other princes’ wives to come.

  Consort Qi was terrified of Qiao Jinniang from the bottom of her heart, so she hid herself in a corner so that she would not be seen by Qiao Jinniang.

  “Li Lingling, although Jinniang will only be the Crown Prince’s second concubine, you can’t even be his concubine!” Fulu came over from across the street and said.

  Li Lingling said complacently, “But I’m still much better than someone who claimed she would be the crown princess but ended up as the second concubine.”


  Old Madam Qin and the others all chuckled.

  Qiu Su looked at Qiao Jinniang with sympathy and said, “Jinniang, you have always been eager to excel since you were a child, so don’t say things you are not sure about too early anymore. Otherwise, you’ll make a joke of yourself.”


  Qiao Jinniang said to Li Lingling, “When did I say I would become the crown princess?”


  Li Lingling chuckled and said, “No matter what, His Majesty has granted you to be the Crown Prince’s second concubine. Why don’t you accept the imperial decree?”


  In the imperial palace, all the officials of the Ministry of Rites knelt in front of the Hall of Diligent Governance.

  The Minister of Rites kept kowtowing. “Your Majesty, my subordinate was too nervous when he took the imperial decree, so he took the wrong one. Please forgive us!”


  Emperor Huilin was extremely annoyed. “How could you mistakenly take the wrong imperial edict on such an important matter?”


  The Minister of Rites felt very helpless. The imperial decree was supposed to be announced early this morning, but someone from the East Palace told them to postpone it to the afternoon.

  And the official who went to proclaim the imperial decree was newly appointed to the job and didn’t know there was an old imperial decree that granted Qiao Jinniang to be the Crown Prince’s second concubine.

  Being urged by his superiors, he took the wrong imperial decree in a hurry.

  The Minister of Rites kowtowed again and said, “Your Majesty, we know we made a big mistake and deserve to die, but since the imperial decree has been issued. Why not let County Mistress marry into the East Palace first, and then issue the imperial decree to confer her the title of crown princess?”


  “No!”


  Lu Chen strode in and glared at these officials. These idiots! How could they make such a ridiculous mistake?!

  Lu Chen cupped his hands and said, “Father, although the imperial decree has already been issued, it is not impossible to issue another imperial decree. Please allow me to go to the Qiao family to issue another imperial decree.”


  Emperor Huilin had a headache. How could there be a matter of issuing two imperial decrees in a row within a day? The second concubine became the crown princess. It would be like him slapping himself in the face.

  However, the Crown Prince’s wedding had already been prepared.

  If Qiao Jinniang became the second concubine, the wedding would have to be canceled.

  As Lu Chen’s father, Emperor Huilin wanted to witness Lu Chen’s wedding with his own eyes.

  Forget it, for his son, he didn’t mind losing face.

  Emperor Huilin said to the officials of the Ministry of Rites, “Okay, you go to the Qiao family again!”


  Lu Chen saluted and said, “Father, can you let me declare the imperial decree? I really can’t trust these idiots!”


  The officials of the Ministry of Rites: “…”


  Emperor Huilin said, “How can the Crown Prince announce an imperial decree himself? It’s against the rules!”


  Lu Chen hurriedly said, “Father, what if they declare the wrong imperial edict again? The rules are set by people. Please allow me to proclaim the imperial decree myself!”


  Emperor Huilin sighed. “Okay, do it yourself.”


  He wasn’t sure if these idiots officials of the Ministry of Rites would make mistakes again.

  Since they had already known that Qiao Jinniang would be the crown princess, why did they still read that wrong imperial decree? At the very least, the official should have pretended to faint, but he just bit the bullet and read it out.

  Lu Chen took the order, went to the Ministry of Rites to get the imperial edict, rode on his jujube red horse, and rushed to the Qiao Mansion.

  When he arrived, he happened to hear Li Lingling taunting Qiao Jinniang, “Qiao Jinniang, I advise you to accept the imperial edict obediently. Don’t make a joke of yourself!

  “After all, you are not worthy of becoming the crown princess! Be careful, or you won’t even be able to be the Crown Prince’s second concubine!”


  Lu Chen dismounted, and when the crowd at the door saw him come with an imperial edict in his hand, they all knelt down and saluted.

  There was something wrong with Old Madam Qin’s legs and feet, and when she knelt down, her kneecap was painful.

  Relieved to see that Qiao Jinniang wasn’t angry, Lu Chen said, “This imperial decree is for County Mistress Jia’an.”


  Under everyone’s gaze, Qiao Jinniang slowly stepped forward and knelt down.

  “Duke Anyuan’s daughter, County Mistress Jia’an, is virtuous, intelligent, benevolent and outstanding in appearance. She hasn’t been married, and the crown prince, Lu Chen, is at the right age to marry and needs to choose a virtuous wife. The two of them are a perfect match for each other, so I hereby confer the title of crown princess to Qiao Jinniang, and the wedding will held on March 28.”


  Everyone was shocked to hear the imperial decree.

  Old Madam Qin, Li Lingling, Mrs. Zhong, and the others turned pale and livid, which looked very funny!

  Qiao Jinniang raised her hands above her head to receive the imperial decree and said, “I hereby take the imperial decree.”


  Lu Chen put the imperial decree in Qiao Jinniang’s hand.

  Qiao Jinniang put the imperial decree on the incense burner table. After everyone in the Qiao family kowtowed to the imperial decree, Qiao Jinniang put it into the Qiao family ancestral hall and worshiped it with incense.

  Walking out of the door, Qiao Jinniang saw Old Madam Qin and the others still kneeling at the door, and asked curiously, “Why are you all still kneeling here?”


  Old Madam Qin forced a smile awkwardly, feeling a burning pain on her face. She wanted to stand up, but would she dare?

  Lu Chen, who was sitting at the door, picked his tea cup and slowly took a sip of tea. “Since they’ve come here, it would be rude to leave without greeting the crown princess.”


  The butler beside Duke Anyuan hurriedly took a chair, placed it beside Lu Chen, and asked Qiao Jinniang to sit down.

  Lu Chen glanced at the people kneeling on the ground and said, “Consort Huai is of the highest rank here. Let her do it first.”