In the end, the Empress declared Xiao Yu the winner of the competition. Princess Yijia was not convinced, but the Empress did not argue with her, simply telling her to do a handstand or splits instead.
Princess Yijia’s dance was beautiful, but her flexibility was nowhere near that of Shen Xiaoyu, who practiced yoga every day. Dance moves only require a touch, not the deep practice of yoga, with a set of movents for the shoulders, neck, waist, and legs each day that can penetrate the whole body.
Therefore, what Princess Yijia could do, Shen Xiaoyu could do easily, but what Shen Xiaoyu did, Princess Yijia might not be able to do.
Whether it was a shoulder handstand or so other more difficult postures, as soon as she gave a demonstration, Princess Yijia knew she couldn’t complete them.
So what if Princess Yijia felt unsatisfied with her loss? Who asked her to be unable to do it?
And then Shen Xiaoyu rightfully beca the brightest star of the New Year’s Eve banquet. What objections could anyone have to the marriage bestowed by the Emperor and Empress?
So the bestowal of their marriage was very smooth. Taking into consideration Xiao Yu’s age—she would be twenty next year—the Astronomical Observatory was ordered to set the date before the Dragon Boat Festival.
Shen Xiaoyu had not let the Imperial Family down; the Emperor even announced at the New Year’s Eve banquet that the quick containnt of that year’s epidemic was also thanks to Shen Xiaoyu. Thus, the Emperor conferred on her the title of Lord of Le’an County and designated the entire Le’an County as her fief. Henceforth, the taxes from that land would belong to her.
Looking back on the history of Yan Country, County Masters with their own fief were exceedingly rare; moreover, which of those who had been conferred the title of County Master were not royal relatives? Shen Xiaoyu, with her humble background, was truly unprecedented and unparalleled!
And coincidentally, Le’an County was none other than the county that belonged to Port Town, which also ant that Le’an County was one of the counties under Qingyang Prefecture.
It was said that she was given a county, but Yan Qing and Shen Xiaoyu both knew that the Emperor had intentionally elevated her status, because after their grand wedding, Yan Qing would go to Qingyang Prefecture. By then, the whole prefecture would belong to the couple; what difference would it make if she was given Le’an County?
But since the Emperor had done so, it was also seen as providing Shen Xiaoyu with a safety net, just in case Yan Qing turned out to be unreliable. Le’an County could beco her reliance in the future.
Xiao Yu, overwheld with gratitude, knelt down to thank the Empress. The two County Masters from Prince Zhao Mansion were so angered they almost fainted.
They had wanted her to embarrass herself, but who would have thought that this woman would actually gain the title of a County Master? If it were just the title, that would be one thing, but the key point was that it ca with a fief. Although they didn’t know where Le’an County was, it was still a fief, wasn’t it? They, being Commandery Princesses, didn’t have a fief, whereas she, a re County Master, had one. It was too unfair.
What feat? That was sothing from many years ago; who knew if it was true or false? But after all, he was the Emperor. Even if they were dissatisfied, what could they do?
Therefore, during the entire New Year’s Eve banquet, Shen Xiaoyu was undeniably the biggest winner. She had made a splash at first, then been conferred a title, and finally was granted marriage to Prince Qing. Wasn’t her luck simply too good?
Those scions of the aristocratic families who had originally shown interest in Shen Xiaoyu were also frustrated because Yan Qing had intercepted them along the way, and they asked him discontentedly,
"Where on earth did you find such a gem?"
Yan Qing smiled proudly, glancing over at his elder brother, King Wu Wen, "Speaking of which, I might have to thank my second brother for this. If it weren’t for you back then, hmm? Haha, how could I possibly have such good luck?" After speaking, he did not forget to raise his glass towards King Wu Wen, signaling a toast.
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