Chapter 619 - 606: Receiving the Imperial Decree

Chapter 619: Chapter 606: Receiving the Imperial Decree

“I don’t really need to worry about this. The emperor has already consented to my marriage with Miss Luo. He just said that there are some complications and asked me to wait patiently. Once the emperor has given his consent, I don’t have to worry too much.” Chu Yunzhao replied.

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“Indeed.” Chu Jinnian nodded.

Since Chu Shengrui had already taken over this matter, Chu Yunzhao doesn’t need to fret about it anymore.

Now, it’s his turn to get worried about his impending marriage.

Although they have the relationship of engaged couple, they have not undergone any proper wedding rituals, and even Empress and Concubine Hui were unaware of this. This doesn’t bode well for his marriage plans.

The bride-to-be, who hadn’t been brought home yet, was still an unmarried girl from others’ perspective, attracting many fickle suitors which is a cause of concern.

Hence, many things can’t be delayed.

Furthermore, perhaps he’s not the only one worrying about his marriage at the moment…

However, before anything, he needs to instruct the Ministry of Rites to prepare well for Zhuang Qingning’s conferring of county lordship.

Chu Jinnian squinted his eyes.

—-

Since the arrival of autumn, there’s a bit of chill in the air every morning and evening.

Though the noontime can be a bit scorching and hot, it doesn’t have the sultriness of summer. In the cool mornings and evenings, after escaping the summer heat, people feel extremely refreshed and energized.

Just a few days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhuang Qingning had already started preparing the ingredients to make mooncakes, expectant of Zhuang Qingsui’s two days off during the festival.

Bean paste, salted egg yolk, five nuts, date paste…varieties of fillings were prepared.

This year, with more leisure time than the previous Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhuang Qingning also made a lot of snowy mooncakes and shared them with her close neighbors in advance.

Just when everybody was busy preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival, Enji Village suddenly became lively.

The hustle and bustle was because of the arrival of many carriages and people, especially the man leading the crowd was none other than Xu Zhengping, the county magistrate. It indeed carried some momentous significance.

Once the carriages stopped at the entrance of the village, almost all residents who had no work to do from nearby Zhaojiazhuang, Sunjiazhuang, and other places came to watch the excitement. In a short span of time, a large crowd had gathered.

They all wanted to see who exactly could make the county magistrate personally lead the group, and they were more curious about the purpose of their visit.

Especially when Xu Zhengping led the group to Zhuang Qingning’s house, escorting a man in official uniform and an elderly man with white hair, respectfully carrying a brocade box, the onlookers became even more curious.

“Who are these people, and what are they doing in Ning’s house?” someone asked.

“I don’t know.” One of them shook his head, worried, “I hope it’s not because Ning has gotten into trouble.”

“Nonsense, Ning is such a good person, how could she get into trouble? Besides, if she really did, would the county magistrate be smiling like a flower?”

“That’s true, but we just don’t understand what’s happening…”

While people outside were buzzing with speculation, no one dared to approach or even enter Zhuang Qingning’s courtyard.

Therefore, at this moment, the courtyard was occupied only by Zhuang Qingning, Xiangqiao, Xu Zhengping, and his large team.

Seeing Xu Zhengping and a group of people entering her courtyard and noticing their official attire, Zhuang Qingning quickly put down the utensil for the snowy mooncakes in her hands to salute them.

“Please don’t. I don’t deserve such a grand gesture from you, Lady Hening.” Xu Zhengping hurriedly stopped Zhuang Qingning. “It’s beyond my capacity to accept such great respect from you.”

The lady of Hening County?

Zhuang Qingning was momentarily startled.

She might not be well-versed in ancient history and culture, but she had watched many TV dramas.

The status of a county lord was not low, it was of the second rank, and most county lords were daughters of dukes, mainly of imperial families. Even if there were county lords from other surnames, they were given the honor due to their fathers’ great contributions to the imperial court.

Now Xu Zhengping had just addressed her as the county lord?

What was going on…

Seeing the confusion on Zhuang Qingning’s face, Xu Zhengping smile and said, “Lady Hening, please stay calm. This is Mr. Lu from the Ministry of Rites, and this is Eunuch Gao, sent by the emperor, here to announce the emperor’s decree.”

Mr. Lu stepped forward and solemnly declared, “Zhuang Qingning, receive the decree!”

Zhuang Qingning, upon Xu Zhengping’s nod, knelt down more formally and replied, “As a humble girl Zhuang Qingning, I receive the imperial decree.”

Eunuch Gao handed over the brocade box to Mr. Lu, carefully opened the box, took out a golden decree, unrolled it carefully, cleared his throat and read, “In the name of heaven, the emperor decrees as follows: the daughter of the Zhuang clan, Zhuang Qingning, through her wit and intelligence, invented the water wheel, which benefits all farmers in the nation. Recognizing her contribution to the country and the people, it is hereby proclaimed that she is conferred the title of Lady Hening. By the grace of the emperor!”

Zhuang Qingning listened to the decree and pursed her lips.

So she was ennobled because of the waterwheel.

She knew that ancient times placed great importance on agriculture, considering it as the foundation. Looking at the current situation, it was clear that because of the waterwheel, she had been given such a high position.

“As a humble official’s daughter, I accept the imperial grace, may the emperor live forever, long live, long live.” Zhuang Qingning bowed and, with her hands raised high, respectfully received the imperial edict.

“Please rise, Lady Hening,” Eunuch Gao quickly extended his hand to help Zhuang Qingning.

“Thank you, Eunuch Gao and Mr. Lu, for your effort.” Zhuang Qingning expressed her gratitude with a smile.

“Being able to make this journey is an honour for me.” Eunuch Gao smiled broadly. “In addition, the emperor has decreed, in recognition of Lady Hening’s arduous efforts in developing the waterwheel, to bestow a hundred taels of gold and twenty bolts of various fabrics, and to assign you a mansion for your residence.”

Mr. Lu said, “This is the first time in the history of our dynasty that a person of non-imperial surname has been conferred the position of county lord. Therefore, a special mansion has to be constructed. Considering Lady Hening’s situation, this mansion will be built in the county. This will facilitate Lady Hening’s living arrangements. Once the mansion is built, Lady Hening can move in.”

“I am grateful beyond words for the emperor’s thoughtful considerations.” Zhuang Qingning expressed her thanks. “Could you please convey my gratitude to the emperor on my behalf when you return to the capital? I will personally thank the emperor when I have the chance to visit the capital.”

“Of course.” Both Eunuch Gao and Mr. Lu nodded, holding more admiration for Zhuang Qingning in their hearts.

Normally, when officials receive an imperial edict, either they get overly excited or feel feared. But no matter the cause, they would surely make errors due to nervousness.

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