Night had deepened over the Imperial Palace of Great Xu.
Lanterns glowed softly along the palace corridors, their golden light reflecting on the polished jade floors. In the quiet of the Phoenix Hall, the Emperor sat beside the Empress, both still thinking about the conversation they had earlier with the Empress Dowager.
The emperor sighed and placed the teacup down slowly.
"Mother rarely insists on something like this," he said thoughtfully.
The Empress nodded.
"Indeed. The Empress Dowager has always been careful with matters concerning the court. For her to personally request an edict for a young girl… Yue Ning must have truly impressed her."
The emperor leaned back slightly in his chair.
"I also considered something else."
The Empress looked at him.
"What is it, Your Majesty?"
The emperor spoke slowly.
"The Yue family."
He paused before continuing.
"They have served the empire faithfully for generations. Yue Jian has been diligent in the Ministry of Grain Transport, and the rest of the family have kept clean reputations. Even when they lived in poverty years ago, there were no records of them committing wrongdoing."
The Empress nodded.
"I have heard the same. The Yue family has always been known for honesty."
The emperor folded his hands together.
"In court, we often reward military achievements or powerful noble houses. But loyal families who quietly serve the empire are rarely recognized."
The Empress smiled slightly.
"Then perhaps it is time to recognize them."
The emperor looked at her.
"You think the same?"
"Yes," the Empress replied gently. "If the Empress Dowager already favors Yue Ning, and if the Crown Prince may truly admire someone from that family, then elevating them would not only reward loyalty but also stabilize future relations."
The emperor nodded slowly.
"That is exactly what I thought."
He stood and walked toward the large window overlooking the palace gardens.
"The Yue family has risen through effort alone. Granting them noble status will not provoke as much opposition as favoring one of the powerful noble clans."
The Empress asked calmly,
"What title will Your Majesty grant them?"
The emperor thought for a moment before speaking.
"The House of Anhe."
The Empress repeated softly.
"Anhe… Peace and Harmony."
The emperor nodded.
"Yes. Their loyalty and humility have always brought harmony wherever they serve. From today onward, the Yue family will be known as the Noble House of Anhe."
The Empress smiled.
"That is a beautiful name."
The emperor turned back toward her.
"And Yue Ning…"
The Empress waited.
"I will grant her the title of Princess Anhe."
The Empress looked surprised for a moment.
"A princess title?"
The emperor nodded.
"Yes. If Mother values her so highly, then granting her princess status will show the empire that the imperial family acknowledges her virtue."
He paused slightly.
"And it will also make things easier… if Xu Chen truly chooses her in the future."
The Empress chuckled softly.
"It seems Your Majesty has already begun preparing for that possibility."
The emperor did not deny it.
After a moment, he said,
"We should inform Mother."
---
A short while later, the emperor and empress arrived at the residence of the Empress Dowager.
The palace servants quickly opened the doors and announced their arrival.
Inside, the Empress Dowager sat comfortably while drinking warm tea.
When she saw them enter together, she raised an eyebrow with amusement.
"Oh? Both of you came together this late at night. Have you finally reached a decision?"
The emperor smiled slightly and bowed respectfully.
"Yes, Mother."
The Empress also bowed.
The Empress Dowager gestured for them to sit.
"Well then, tell me."
The emperor spoke calmly.
"I have thought carefully about your request."
The Empress Dowager watched him quietly.
"I will grant the edict you asked for."
Her eyes brightened slightly.
"But," the emperor continued, "it will not be issued immediately."
The old woman frowned.
"Why not?"
The emperor explained patiently.
"Because such an edict is extremely rare. Only the Crown Prince currently holds the privilege of never kneeling before the throne."
He continued,
"If I grant the same privilege to Yue Ning while Xu Chen is away at war, the court will be filled with endless speculation."
The Empress Dowager listened without interrupting.
The emperor concluded,
"So I will wait until Xu Chen returns from the northern front. Once he returns safely, I will issue the edict personally."
The old woman considered his words.
After a moment, she nodded slowly.
"That is acceptable."
Then the emperor smiled slightly.
"However… I will not wait to reward Yue Ning."
The Empress Dowager looked curious.
"Oh?"
The emperor announced calmly,
"Tomorrow morning, an imperial decree will be issued."
The Empress Dowager leaned forward slightly.
"What decree?"
The emperor replied,
"Yue Ning will be granted the title of Princess Anhe."
For the first time that night, the Empress Dowager looked genuinely surprised.
"A princess title?"
The emperor nodded.
"Yes."
The Empress added gently,
"It is a recognition of her character and the Yue family's loyalty to the empire."
The emperor continued,
"At the same time, the Yue family will be elevated to noble status."
The Empress Dowager's eyes narrowed with interest.
"What name will their noble house carry?"
The emperor answered clearly.
"The Noble House of Anhe."
The Empress Dowager slowly repeated the name.
"Anhe…"
Then she laughed softly.
"You truly thought this through."
The emperor smiled slightly.
"If Mother values Yue Ning so highly, then I believe the empire should recognize her as well."
The Empress Dowager looked pleased.
"You have made a wise decision."
Then she added teasingly,
"I wonder what Xu Chen's reaction will be when he hears about this."
The emperor chuckled quietly.
"He may return from war only to discover the girl he admires has already become a princess."
The Empress smiled.
"That would certainly surprise him."
The Empress Dowager shook her head with amusement.
"That boy always hides his thoughts. Perhaps this will force him to speak more openly."
The emperor stood up.
"Tomorrow morning, the decree will be announced."
The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction.
"Good."
Then she said quietly,
"The empire may not realize it yet… but today you have made a decision that will shape the future of Great Xu."
The emperor paused at the door and smiled.
"Then I hope history will remember it kindly."
As he and the Empress left the palace hall, the Empress Dowager looked up at the night sky.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Xu Chen," she murmured softly.
"When you return… you will find the path ahead already prepared for you."