Raising chickens and pigs and digging for wild vegetables, the county magistrate's promotion wa

Chapter 285 Congratulations to Yang Shaoqing!

As the year draws to a close, the festive atmosphere in Beijing is gradually growing stronger, and occasionally a snowflake will drift down.

Magistrate Yang specially ordered someone to get a few ducks early in the morning. After plucking the feathers and removing the internal organs, the ducks were coated with salt that had been fried in advance. They were then wrapped in oil paper and left to sit for most of the day before being cooked thoroughly in the evening.

Next, we'll make some dipping sauce.

Similar to the dipping sauce for Cantonese poached chicken, it's made by mixing minced ginger, chopped scallions, and salt, then pouring hot oil over it to release the aroma. After it cools down, you can cut the duck into pieces and dip it in the sauce.

As for why Magistrate Yang wanted to bring several ducks instead of just one...

Such heartbreaking things cannot be talked about, for it would bring tears to one's eyes – after all, a family of bandits lived right across from Magistrate Yang. The two younger ones were somewhat manageable, but the old bandit leader was a different story; that guy was truly greedy and greedy!

What made Magistrate Yang even more devastated and desperate was that there was clearly more than one bandit in the capital surnamed Chang. There was also a bandit surnamed Zhu who was no better. That old man would have his son rob him every few days!

The key point is that salted duck is not a rare thing. It can be traced back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Even the imperial chef of that old Deng knew how to make it. I don't know why that old Deng liked to let his son take the ready-made food.

That's absolutely insane!

Looking at the freshly cooked salted duck in front of him, Magistrate Yang sighed helplessly and called over Lame Five, ordering him directly: "Send these five to His Highness the Crown Prince, send these two to the Changpingzhang's house, and you can take this one to eat later. Just leave one for me."

Of the nine ducks, Magistrate Yang could only eat one, and even that one he had to share with his maid.

Watching the lame man hurriedly leave, Magistrate Yang sighed helplessly once again.

I've finally had some free time lately. After all, it's almost the end of the year, and the officials in the capital are rushing to finish up the work from the second year of the Hongwu reign. As the magistrate of Ningyang County, Magistrate Yang obviously can't work normally in the capital.

As for the fact that Magistrate Yang also held the position of Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial...

The officials in the Court of State Ceremonial were too busy avoiding Magistrate Yang to even consider allowing him to work in the Court of State Ceremonial.

Left with no other choice, Magistrate Yang could only haphazardly come up with ideas for food.

But before Magistrate Yang could even begin to wallow in his melancholy thoughts, that damned eunuch Chen Zhong came over with a beaming smile.

Upon seeing Magistrate Yang, Chen Zhong greeted him with a smile and a cupped-hand salute, saying, "Congratulations, Vice Magistrate Yang!"

Magistrate Yang returned the greeting with a bow, and while leading Chen Zhong towards the main hall, he asked, "I wonder what joyous occasion has prompted you, Elder Chen, to come in person?"

Chen Zhong said with a smile, "So that Yang Shaoqing may know that His Majesty and the Empress have finalized the titles for Princess Jin and Princess Yu."

After sitting down inside the house, Chen Zhong continued, "Princess Jin's title is Funing, and Princess Yu's title is Fuyang. Moreover, it has been decided that the ceremony for the consorts to receive their titles will be held on the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month."

Funing.

Fuyang.

Ningyang.

Tsk tsk, Empress Ma must have come up with these two titles. That old fool Zhu Chongba could never have come up with such meaningful titles.

As for the ceremony of the imperial consort receiving his decree, Chen Zhonghe and officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs had already explained it to Magistrate Yang.

On the day of receiving the imperial edict, Magistrate Yang had to wait outside the palace. When the auspicious hour arrived, Liu Jizu led him into the palace to pay his respects to Emperor Zhu and Empress Ma. Then, Emperor Zhu bestowed upon him the imperial robes and ceremonial regalia, and gave Magistrate Yang a few words of encouragement, instructing the young couple... that the three of them must love and respect each other, and live a harmonious and happy life. After that, Magistrate Yang could leave the palace.

Just like the previous betrothal, name inquiry, auspicious date selection, gift presentation, and wedding date setting, Magistrate Yang was merely a puppet throughout the entire process. He did whatever the master of ceremonies called out, and Jin'er and Yu'er were nowhere to be seen.

Of course, from this day forward, all the officials and common people of the Ming Dynasty could officially address Magistrate Yang as the Imperial Son-in-Law, without having to wait until after the wedding ceremony, because on the day he received the imperial decree, Magistrate Yang would have the additional title of Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant.

According to the rules set by Emperor Zhu, the rank of Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant was first-rank. In the greetings between officials, the etiquette performed by the Imperial Son-in-Law was the same as that of dukes and marquises, which was significantly higher than that of other officials.

For Magistrate Yang, the addition of the title of Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant only meant that he could receive three salaries. Before the positions of Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies and Magistrate of Ningyang County were revoked, he was the Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant, Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, and Magistrate of Ningyang County, which was directly under the jurisdiction of the Secretariat.

In other words, Magistrate Yang was probably the only sixth-rank magistrate in the early Ming Dynasty to have achieved the third rank of Imperial Son-in-Law and the second rank of Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies.

Thinking of this, Magistrate Yang couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Were there any princes-in-law in history who were so arrogant and unruly?

Was there ever a Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial who was so incompetent in history?

When will I be able to return to Ningyang County and live a life of idleness and complacency?

After inwardly groaning a few times, Magistrate Yang could only smile and bow to Chen Zhong, saying, "Thank you, Elder Chen, for your efforts in arranging my marriage."

Chen Zhong smiled and said, "Young Master Yang is too kind. I offended you quite a bit back in Ningyang County. Now that I can help you with your marriage, I feel much better."

Look, look, it has to be that old eunuch from Zhu Chongba's old... father-in-law's side, he always has such nice words.

Just as Magistrate Yang was praising Chen Zhong in his heart, Chen Zhong suddenly smiled and said, "By the way, there is one more thing. This servant must remind you, Young Master Yang—do you have any candidates for the best man on the day of the wedding?"

Magistrate Yang was slightly taken aback and asked, "The best man?"

No, I am marrying a princess. Do I need a best man to marry a princess?

Oh no, that guy surnamed Yun has a wide circle of friends. When he got married, Changsun Chong and a few others served as his best men and women, and it seems he was put through a lot of trouble.

I have only been in the capital for a short time, and I have already offended almost all the officials, big and small. So which good official's son would be willing to serve as my best man?

Seeing Magistrate Yang's bewildered expression, Chen Zhong felt a surge of satisfaction. He pointed towards the Chang residence and said with a smile, "Why doesn't Vice Minister Yang invite the Chang brothers to serve as best men and women?"

Upon hearing the name "Chang Brothers," a bitter expression appeared on Magistrate Yang's face.

Logically speaking, the Chang brothers would be the most suitable to serve as best men, given their close relationship and their tough, resilient nature.

But these two guys just got beaten up recently...