"There's one more thing. The daughter of Prime Minister Cheng must attend the palace banquet," the Emperor said to Prime Minister Cheng.
"Your servant obeys the order!"
The streets were bustling with people, but the teahouses and restaurants were even more crowded than usual.
"Have you all read the latest chapter of *Anecdotes of the Capital*?"
"Of course. I'm always the first one to read it whenever *Anecdotes of the Capital* comes out!"
"Look! The great reputations of our current Emperor and the Empress Dowager have been written into *Anecdotes of the Capital*!"
Amid the enthusiastic discussions of the people, a team of palace servants rushed towards the Cheng Mansion with boxes of generous rewards, kicking up dust along the way.
Boxes of gold, silver, and jewels were neatly arranged in the courtyard. Many people were gathered around the boxes. When Prime Minister Cheng returned to the mansion, this was the sight that greeted him.
"Congratulations, sir, on receiving such generous rewards from the palace," Mrs. Liu said with a big smile as she quickly stepped forward, having spotted Prime Minister Cheng's return.
Prime Minister Cheng just gave a perfunctory response. His sharp old eyes scanned the surroundings, but his eldest daughter, Cheng Xiran, was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's the eldest miss? Go and call her out," Prime Minister Cheng ordered a young servant beside him. Several attendants immediately rushed towards Cheng Xiran's courtyard.
Mrs. Liu felt a bit annoyed when she heard Prime Minister Cheng looking for Cheng Xiran as soon as he came back. Seeing that he ignored her, she decided to let it go.
"Sir, the eldest miss is here," an attendant said. Just as he finished speaking, Cheng Xiran appeared in front of Prime Minister Cheng.
"Father," Cheng Xiran looked around, raising her delicate eyebrows slightly. Her eyes were full of the reflection of gold and silver. "Good news?" Needless to say, it must be because of that article.
"The Emperor wants you to attend the palace banquet. Prepare well," Prime Minister Cheng said, seeing that Cheng Xiran seemed to know what was going on. "You did a good job this time."
Mrs. Liu, standing not far away, stared at Cheng Xiran with a venomous look. She let out a cold snort and walked away, feeling out of place.
"Got it," Cheng Xiran said with a slight curl of her lips. Then she turned around and went back to prepare for the palace banquet.
It was expected that *Anecdotes of the Capital* would be appreciated by the Emperor, but she didn't expect that the Emperor would invite her to the palace banquet. Maybe he was going to reward her.
Cheng Xiran was daydreaming about boxes of gold as she prepared. She must shine brightly at the palace banquet and wouldn't leave until she had made a fortune.
Time flew by. In a blink of an eye, it was the day of the palace banquet. Carriages of various families were parked at the palace gate. Young ladies and gentlemen from different families gathered there. A grand palace banquet was about to begin.
"Announce the eldest daughter of the Cheng family," the eunuch's shrill voice pierced through the air. As soon as he finished speaking, the young ladies and gentlemen below began to whisper to each other.
Cheng Xiran stood up gracefully and walked step by step up the stairs of the magnificent palace. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager were sitting on the throne.
"The eldest daughter of the Cheng family, Cheng Xiran, pays respects to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor!"
"The eldest daughter of the Cheng family, Cheng Xiran, pays respects to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager live a long life!"
"Seeing the daughter of the Cheng family today, she is truly extraordinary," the Emperor said with a smiling face, looking at the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager also nodded slightly. "She is so beautiful. Did you write that article?"
Cheng Xiran looked at them boldly. Her almond eyes sparkled. "It was indeed written by your servant girl. But it was only when I entered the palace to meet the Emperor today that I realized that the great reputations of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager are so grand. The words in my article are really too limited to describe even one ten - thousandth of it."