met free Chapter 191: Conferred the title of Jingu Xiangjun
Chapter 191: Conferred the title of Jingu Xiangjun
Shen Wanning couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. She really liked this set of headwear. It was pink and tender, suitable for her age.
Someone on the side urged, "Wan Ning, please accept it! Look, Third Lin thinks so highly of you that the engagement gift is so expensive. I wonder how much the betrothal gift will be."
"Yes, Wan Ning, you are so lucky! In our village, if Xiaoli had a pair of gold earrings, she would be envied. But you have a complete set of gold headwear!"
Shen Wanning took the headgear and said, "Thank you, Third Brother."
Aunt Zhang coughed twice behind her, and Shen Wanning reacted, "I also have a gift for Third Brother."
Aunt Zhang beside her quickly took the jewelry box from her hand. Xu stepped forward and handed the silk robe in her hand to Lin Jingyou.
Shen Wanning felt a little embarrassed and blushed as she said, "This is the dress I made specially for Third Brother. Thank you, Third Brother."
Lin Jingyou's eyes were filled with amusement, but he didn't expose her. "Well, thank you, Wan Ning."
Aunt Zhang spoke first, "Okay, okay! With so many witnesses, our third son has already signed the engagement document. Their marriage is officially set. We'll let everyone know when they officially pay their marriage fee and set the wedding date. Everyone must come and support us and have a drink!"
"Well, okay, we are waiting for that day!" The village head took the lead and said.
Then everyone said some auspicious words and cleaned up the venue. They were busy until around nine o'clock in the evening before they dispersed and went home.
After the engagement banquet, Shen Wanning and Lin Jingyou returned to the county town and their lives continued as usual.
Until one day, the county magistrate came to Mingyue Tower and said that the emperor's reward was on the way, and asked Shen Wanning to return to the village to wait for the order.
After Shen Wanning said something to Lin Jingyou, she returned to Daqing Village to wait for the imperial edict.
After waiting for three days, no reward arrived.
In fact, the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict first went to Fuzhou and announced the edict to the governor's mansion, fining Governor Huang half a year's salary.
On the afternoon of the fourth day, the father-in-law who came to announce the imperial decree arrived in Daqing Village.
It was Eunuch Xiang who came last time. He had long known that Shen Wanning would achieve something, but he didn't expect the emperor's reward to come so quickly.
This time, the village head had experience. As soon as he saw the father-in-law's carriage, he immediately gathered everyone, including the refugees, to wait at the door of the Lin family.
Shen Wanning had heard the noise outside a long time ago, and stood at the door with her family, waiting respectfully.
"Miss Shen, long time no see." Eunuch Xiang just got off the carriage and greeted Shen Wanning as if they were old acquaintances.
"Eunuch Xiang, you have come to visit me. I am sorry for not welcoming you in person. I hope you will forgive me." Shen Wanning lowered her head and said with a smile.
"I don't deserve it. After today, I won't even be able to accept Miss Shen's gift." Eunuch Xiang said with a smile, and then immediately said, "Shen Wanning, accept the order."
Shen Wanning quickly knelt on the ground with everyone else.
Eunuch Xiang opened the imperial edict and read it aloud, "The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, declares, 'I commend the teachings of our ancestors, and have broadened the doors of opportunity to recruit talents from all quarters.' In ancient times, people appointed people according to their merit and ranked them according to their abilities. Those who made great contributions were rewarded with generous salaries, and those with great virtues were awarded noble titles. Thus, military achievements were honored, and literary virtues were praised.
"Shen Wanning of Daqing Village has discovered and cultivated sweet potatoes, achieving an astonishing yield. She generously surrendered all of them, alleviating the drought, which is a source of great relief to me. Shen, known for her exceptional talent and integrity, is hereby granted the title of Jingu Xiangjun (Governor of Jingu Township), and is granted a set of official crowns and robes, 500 acres of fertile land, a head of snow mountain ginseng, and a pair of phoenix-shaped hairpins inlaid with kingfisher feathers. This is my order."
Shen Wanning was overjoyed and immediately led everyone in kowtow to express their gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
After they kowtowed, they didn't hear Eunuch Xiang telling them to stand up. Shen Wanning quietly looked up and saw Eunuch Xiang taking out another imperial edict.
"By the Mandate of Heaven and Earth, the Emperor decrees that due to the drought, the people of Daqing Village have been displaced. However, the entire village of Daqing Village has worked together to welcome the refugees, setting an example for the nation. Therefore, Daqing Village is awarded one thousand acres of fertile land. For the wise leadership of Daqing Village, Zheng Lin Qiangjun is appointed as the Instructor of Qinghe County. This is my decree!"
The village head was stunned in place until Shen Wanning coughed twice. Then he reacted and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the emperor!"
"Lord Jingu, Instructor Lin, please stand up and receive the imperial edict!" Eunuch Xiang put away the two imperial edicts.
Everyone stood up, and Shen Wanning and the village chief stepped forward to take the imperial edict. Shen Wanning saw from the corner of her eye that the village chief was trembling as he took the imperial edict.
After receiving the imperial edict, Shen Wanning took out a bulging purse and handed it to Eunuch Xiang with familiarity. "Eunuch, you have come a long way and must have worked hard. This is tea money for you. I hope you don't mind. Please come in quickly and have a cup of tea."
"Thank you, Lord Jingu. I have important matters to attend to, so I won't go in for tea. I just received an imperial edict from Fuzhou. The governor of Fuzhou closed the city gates without permission, which angered His Majesty. His Majesty issued an edict to fine him three months' salary. It just so happened that the edict was delivered together with Lord Jingu's edict." Eunuch Xiang added.
Shen Wanning understood what he meant. The prefect and the governor were currently at odds, so they could easily seek the prefect's protection. Secondly, since Eunuch Xiang specifically mentioned this matter, it meant that the emperor also knew about what happened at the Luming Banquet.
"Thank you for the reminder, father-in-law. Wan Ning will remember it. I will always remember your kindness." Shen Wan Ning said with a nod and a bow.
"Well, I'll go back to Beijing first. I'm used to living in the capital, and I won't be used to sleeping in this countryside!" Eunuch Xiang sighed, got on the carriage and left.
As soon as the imperial edict was read, the people who followed her all the way had already moved her reward home.
The group bowed and respectfully saw Eunuch Xiang off.
After Eunuch Xiang left, the village head's hand holding the imperial edict trembled even more violently than before. He stared with wide eyes at Shen Wanning, then at Aunt Zhang, and then at Tie Niu beside him.
"I'm an official now! I'm an official now! Did you hear that? The emperor appointed me as a military instructor! I've brought honor to my family!"
Shen Wanning smiled and said, "Yes, the village head has become a disciplinary instructor, an official. This is a great thing!"
The village head reacted and said to Shen Wanning, "I have to thank you, Wanning. If you hadn't gone against the crowd's opinion and accepted those new villagers, I wouldn't have received the emperor's reward, let alone become an official."
"This is what the village head deserves. He has done no less for them than I have." Shen Wanning said modestly.
The village head was excited for a moment before he realized, "Oh, Wan Ning, the emperor has made you the Lord of Jingu Township. Doesn't that mean you're even more powerful than the county magistrate? From now on, the county magistrate will have to bow to you when he sees you, right?"