On September 9th, the Double Ninth Festival is held as usual.
In the morning, ministers entered the palace, and all officials followed the emperor to worship their ancestors. The ladies and other female family members entered the palace to pay their respects to the empress and the queen mother.
Everyone sat down in Fengqi Palace first.
Ye Yun's father and uncle were both posthumously awarded the title of first-rank generals, and her mother Chu and aunt Yang were also awarded the title of first-rank generals, so both of them were present at the moment.
The three of them were unable to speak and could only exchange glances.
They basically came to the palace just to join in the fun. The only ones who could talk to the Queen were the Xie, Chen, Yao, Wu, and the families of several other important officials in the court, no more than a dozen people.
Chu was also greeted with a few words, not entirely because of Ye Yun, but because Chu was the widow of a meritorious official, and the queen had to behave herself.
Ye Jun's aunt was not so noticeable and was simply skipped over.
After spending half an hour with the Queen, everyone went to the Cining Palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.
Ye Jun was still not qualified to go, and could only watch his family members follow the queen.
After returning to Yuxiu Pavilion, he quickly ordered someone to bring some cakes.
Today, the lady of honor came to the palace to pay her respects earlier than usual. She was usually reluctant to get up early, so she didn't have time to have breakfast.
"My beauty, please eat slowly. Madam will be here soon. I will ask someone to prepare some more." Nan Zhi was afraid that she would choke, so she quickly handed her tea.
Starting from the sixth-rank position of Wanrong, concubines should be able to live alone in a small courtyard and receive the emperor on their own. When it is important festivals and other important occasions when ladies of noble rank enter the palace, they can meet their family members alone.
Ye Jun and Wu were qualified, but unfortunately Fang Cairen and Min Cairen did not get the chance.
At the Cining Palace, the empress dowager did not keep everyone for long, saying that she was old and in poor health. Everyone drank tea and then left, except for the Chen family.
Afterwards, those who had somewhere to go went to visit their relatives, and those who had no place to go either went to the Queen's place or strolled around the Imperial Gardens, all led by servants.
At Yuxiu Pavilion, Ye Jun ordered Huiyue to wait outside Cining Palace early in the morning. As soon as Chu and Yang came out, he brought them directly to her.
"Beauty, the first lady and the second lady are here!" Bai Zhu lifted the curtain and came in to report.
Ye Jun quickly put down his teacup and went out to greet him.
In fact, we were only separated for three months, but the palace was no different from any other place, and it always made people miss their family more.
"Your humble servant greets the beauty!" Chu and Yang knelt down as they entered the courtyard.
Ye Jun quickly walked over and supported Chu, and Huiyue also hurriedly supported Yang.
"Mother and aunt, there's no need to be so polite. We are all family here, so don't be restrained."
Chu nodded with tears in her eyes, took her daughter's hand and looked her up and down. Seeing that she was thinner than when she entered the palace, she felt unhappy.
Yang hurriedly advised, "We finally met, sister-in-law, please don't just cry, it's useless to make the beauty sad."
"Yes, yes, I was also excited for a moment." Chu wiped her tears.
Ye Jun also felt a lump in his throat. He took his mother's arm and went into the house, pouring tea for the two of them himself.
Nan Zhi and Hui Yue led everyone out, leaving the three of them alone to talk privately.
"Mother and aunt, please stop calling me beauty all the time. It sounds strange. Just call me like a lady in the boudoir."
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Chu held her hand tightly.
Yang's eyes also turned slightly red. The Ye family was a simple family. Ye Yun's father and uncle had been in the army all year round and had never taken concubines. Therefore, the sisters-in-law in the mansion had always supported each other and had a very good relationship.
"Aunt doesn't have anything good to give you. Take these. The palace needs to be managed, and it costs a lot." Yang said as she took out an envelope from her sleeve and stuffed it over.
Ye Jun hurriedly declined, "I brought a lot of money from home when I entered the palace, and I spent it easily. Aunt, please keep it for my brothers and sisters to buy food and clothes, don't give it to me."
"Good child, I watched you grow up and I treat you as my own daughter. Why are you being so polite?"
Yang put the things on the table without saying anything.
At this moment, Mrs. Chu also took out a bulging purse from her sleeve and stuffed it into her daughter's hand.
Ye Jun felt touched and wanted to laugh.
She really had no shortage of money. The monthly salary for a beauty was thirty taels, and she brought ten thousand taels of silver notes and some small change into the palace. She really had no shortage of money.
But as Yang said, it does cost a lot to manage the palace. When a decent servant comes occasionally, she always gives him ten or twenty taels of silver. How can this little monthly salary be enough
"Mother, don't worry about me. The emperor treats me well now. He has promoted me and given me many rewards. But I can't just rely on favors in the palace. My family is also my support."
As Ye Jun spoke, his expression became more serious.
"It will be difficult for my brother to make meritorious service in the army without fighting for a while. My cousin is only fifteen now, and it will take another year before he can take the imperial examination. My family background is just an empty shell in the harem. This won't do. Now the two cousins are in the eyes of the emperor. When mother returns, she will tell grandfather and uncle that since the emperor values them, they must rely on the emperor. No matter who tries to win them over in the court, they must not rely on him. The Ye family, the Chu family, and the Yang family must all be loyal subjects to ensure that everything will be worry-free!"
These words must be broken down and spoken to my family.
If my maternal family had made a mistake and chosen to rely on the powerful in the court, they would have let the emperor down. Even though they may still be enjoying glory now, they will not be able to escape disaster when the emperor eliminates the aristocratic families in the future.
Now that the Emperor thinks highly of you and wants to train you, the best strategy would be for you to devote yourself to serving the Emperor.
Both Mrs. Chu and Mrs. Yang were smart people. After hearing what Ye Jun said, they understood what was going on.
They are Ye Jun's support, but isn't Ye Jun also their support
Now the boys in the family are still young, and have made great achievements and are waiting for them. If Ye Jun could gain the emperor's favor and provide some support and help to the family, it would make a big difference.
At least they can get many opportunities to make meritorious deeds, and as long as they seize them, they can bring glory to the family again.
After saying this, Chu remembered something and spoke quickly.
"The last time you asked me to investigate the case, the person was already dead when I went there. I didn't give up and kept asking people to keep an eye on him. A few days ago, we found some clues. It was Lvyan's brother. He showed up once and took something from the man's room. I sent someone to investigate carefully. It turned out that Lvyan's sister-in-law's cousin's mother-in-law's sister was the fire-maker in the kitchen of Shunyuan Marquis's mansion. Could this be..."
"Shunyuanhou Mansion, Yao Family?" Ye Jun frowned. "I have no connection with Fang Cairen, nor have we ever been enemies. My family background is no threat to her. How could this matter have anything to do with her?"
Chu was also puzzled. "Maybe it's just a coincidence. After all, the man said he died after slipping and breaking his neck while repairing the roof. There are also neighbors who testified. It's not easy to investigate."
Ye Jun nodded. It would not be so easy to figure out the clues of these things, but since it was related to the Yao family, he would still have to be cautious in the future.
After sitting for about another half an hour, someone came in to say that the banquet was about to begin.
The three of them then stood up and went to the Qionghua Palace where the banquet was being held.