Chapter 4, Offering Black Silk to the Imperial Palace (Part 1)

As if in a dream, I felt the luxurious architecture of the palace, and before long, I arrived at the Golden Water Bridge. Here, more than a dozen eunuchs stood in line, responsible for guiding visitors and also for conveying messages to the inner palace. After all, it is not simply a matter of coming here and seeing whomever you wish; it also depends on whether the other party is willing to meet you.

They are the soldiers guarding the imperial palace and also the most elite Golden Armored Army of the Great Qian Dynasty

This requires a certain amount of time. Shen Ao is a legitimate Duke, and even though the Great Qian Dynasty was established through military might, there were only a limited number of dukes granted titles, amounting to just a few dozen. Whenever he thinks of this matter, Shen Ao cannot help but admire his father. Although he has never met him and has no impression of him, he often contemplates what great contributions must have been made to receive such an honor.

With his head held high, Shen Ao entered the imperial palace accompanied by two guards. The finely crafted white jade floor shimmered with a gentle glow, while in the distance, a faint mist enveloped the indistinct palace. On the eaves carved from sandalwood, a phoenix spread its wings as if ready to take flight, and the walls, adorned with floating windows made of blue tiles, were constructed from piles of jade stones.

This is not the first time coming here. Relying on the memories in my mind, the ox cart stopped in front of Chaoyang Gate. Shi Lei and Feng Xun each carried a cardboard box, following Shen Ao directly towards the side door. When the Golden Armored Army saw that the visitor was Duke Zhongguo, they merely approached to conduct a brief inspection. Not finding any weapons, they waved their hands to allow passage.

The middle-aged woman sitting in the chair has a beautiful yet elegant and kind face adorned with a smile. Upon hearing the voice of the maid beside her, she cannot help but smile broadly. Indeed, although she is already in her thirties, this smile still evokes a stunning impression, exuding a mature femininity that captivates the attention of men.

The Grand Qian Palace, towering and majestic, is adorned with layers of Qin bricks and Han tiles, purple pillars and golden beams, all showcasing the utmost extravagance.

Shi Lei and the other two quickly picked up the wrapping paper that had been prepared in advance. After watching Shen Ao personally wrap a bar of soap, they began to imitate him. Based on the perfect size, a hundred bars of soap were soon encased in a layer of exquisite light golden paper, on which the words "Goat Milk Soap" were elegantly inscribed in large characters. Having spent time at the Calligraphy Association, Shen Ao's brush calligraphy was still quite impressive.

Good products also require good packaging, as the first impression it gives is very important. Fortunately, Shen Ao's calligraphy and painting skills are quite impressive, especially the latter, which has won awards. During these past two days at home, he has been busy writing the packaging. Although it has been somewhat tiring, considering the benefits that success in this matter will bring him, it all seems worth it.

He took in the expressions of these individuals, and then Shen Ao instructed Shi Lei to bring the ox cart, which also carried raw materials. Since they had succeeded, they naturally had to continue. However, before leaving this time, Shen Ao left behind a guard named Geng Liang, instructing him to ensure that this place was well-guarded, and that no one was allowed to approach or spy; otherwise, they could be captured and brought to the authorities. After that, he took Shi Lei and another guard, Feng Xun, and drove the ox cart out of the Zhao family workshop, heading straight for the most prosperous area of the city, the Da Qian Imperial Palace.

After Shi Lei and Feng Xun arrived here, they placed the two cardboard boxes on the ground. They then obediently stepped aside, regardless of whether Her Majesty Zhao Fei noticed them or not. Given their status, it was absolutely impossible for them to cross the bridge; having reached this point, it marked the end of their journey.

The Shenwu Gate only opens during major festivals, and even the nearby Zheng Side Gate, the Anding Gate, only opens when the officials attend court. Those like Shen Ao, who wish to enter the palace to see the imperial concubine, would use another side gate, the Chaoyang Gate. Although there are also armored soldiers guarding that gate, the checks for entry and exit are relatively more lenient, allowing someone of Shen Ao's status to come and go freely.

Only Shen Ao maintained a calm expression, yet he felt a sense of joy in his heart. Although he knew that the steps were correct, having prepared all the materials in the residence of the Duke of Loyalty, witnessing the moment of success still brought him a pleasant feeling. "Come here, take out the wrapping paper we brought, and carefully wrap all these soaps."

Of course, this is also because Shen Ao is still quite young, only just fifteen years old. According to the regulations of the Great Qian Dynasty, a male is only considered an adult at the age of sixteen. His current ability to come and go freely can be regarded as one of the benefits of his young age

However, Shen Ao walked over to an empty chair under the shade of a tree. A eunuch had already run across the bridge to deliver the message, and he was now waiting for Consort Zhao to give her consent. Only then would someone be sent to guide him across the bridge to meet the main person.

At the main gate, specifically in front of the Shenwu Gate, there are over one hundred soldiers clad in golden armor standing majestically, showcasing the preciousness and inviolability of this place

Beside the chair, there was a cup of tea poured out, and Shen Ao appeared unhurried and calm. At this moment, in the Palace of Gathering Lotus on the other side of the Golden Water Bridge, the eunuchs had already reported the news. A young and handsome palace maid was standing in front of a dignified and elegant middle-aged woman, giggling, "Your Highness, the young duke must be short of silver again. There are still ten days until the end of the month, and I wonder how he spends all that silver."

"Enough, stop joking around, go and pick him up quickly. If you are late, I fear that the young lord will trouble you again." The middle-aged woman is Zhao Fei, whose birth name is Zhao Yingying. At the age of sixteen, she became the consort of the then Crown Prince, the current Emperor Tang Qingshan. Her sister, Zhao Yanyan, also married the then General Shen Yuntian in that same year.

The bright red rosewood is intricately carved with a dragon and a phoenix winding around both sides of the grand entrance, exuding an air of nobility; the handles are also fashioned into two golden dragon heads, each adorned with a precious luminous pearl, pure and captivating; from a distance, the grand door, inlaid with gold, shines even more brilliantly under the sunlight

With these packages, the soap instantly feels elevated by several levels, leaving Shi Lei and others starry-eyed with envy.

The two daughters of the Zhao family married into prominent families, and at that time, it was indeed a grand affair. Remarkably, one year later, both daughters became pregnant one after the other, and coincidentally, they gave birth on the same day. At that time, the war was at a critical juncture, and due to a lack of proper care, Zhao Yingying gave birth to a baby girl, who is now known as the Fifth Princess, Tang Min. Zhao Yanyan, on the other hand, gave birth to the current young duke, Shen Ao, a little over an hour earlier, but subsequently died from severe hemorrhaging.