Chapter 985: 543: Conferred as Marquis, Granted 10,000 Households! (Part 2)

Chapter 985: Chapter 543: Conferred as Marquis, Granted 10,000 Households! (Part 2)

“Ahem…”

Jingtai coughed lightly twice, and the entire Golden Throne Hall fell silent. Everyone lifted their heads to glance at him but quickly lowered them again, not daring to meet the gaze of the figure on the dragon throne.

“Has Minister Chen arrived?”

Jingtai’s voice sounded softly.

Many people’s gazes shifted to Chen Yuan, whose eyes moved instantly, realizing his affairs were about to be addressed. He then took a step to the side and bowed respectfully:

“Your humble servant is present.”

Jingtai opened his eyes and glanced briefly at Chen Yuan, his expression of disdain fleeting, quickly replaced by a smile that outsiders couldn’t notice.

“Minister Chen, you have accomplished extraordinary feats this time, and I am very pleased.”

“Your humble servant dares not accept such praise.”

“Haha, there’s no need to be modest. Your contributions are indeed significant, turning the tide in Liangzhou and saving countless citizens. I was truly delighted when I first heard the news.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern.”

“Speak freely; what reward do you desire?”

“To serve Your Majesty and the court is my duty. I dare not seek rewards for small accomplishments, only wish for Your Majesty’s health and well-being.”

“Minister Chen, you indeed speak wisely, haha…”

Jingtai’s hearty laughter rang out, seeming very pleased.

“Wang Qian, convey my decree.”

“Yes, your servant obeys.”

The elderly eunuch in red slightly bowed, took out an imperial decree from his sleeve, walked to the left, and gazed down at the array of officials, announcing loudly:

“Heavenly Patrol Bureau’s Heavenly Patrol Golden Envoy Chen Yuan, hear the decree.”

Chen Yuan’s body bowed slightly again, concentrating his mind.

“By the will of the Emperor of Great Jin, the decree states: Heavenly Patrol Golden Envoy Chen Yuan has served for three months in Liangzhou, achieving numerous merits, capturing remnants of the previous dynasty, single-handedly defeating the Northern Barbarians’ Qishan King’s Department, slaying the barbarian Yang Transformation at Sword Sect Pass, leading the Beiliang Army’s eighteen Iron Cavalry to burn Northern Barbarians’ supplies in Oblique Moon Valley, earning exceptional merits.

In the battle at Liangzhou City, fearless in the face of death, wielded the True Martial Immortal Sword to slay the Barbarian God’s Dharma Body, turning the tide and saving countless Liangzhou citizens. I… am greatly comforted, hereby appointing Chen Yuan as Marquis, with a fief of ten thousand households, lands in Ping’an County, Qingzhou, and the title… Marquis Wu’an!”

The eunuch’s voice gradually faded.

The entire Golden Throne Hall fell into silence.

Marquis Wu’an!

Marquis!

A fief of ten thousand households!!!

Everyone’s hearts seemed to have exploded with a ‘boom’, their gazes fixed intently on Chen Yuan, filled with shock!

Even several Divine Envoys from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau were only interior marquises with a fief of a thousand households, but Chen Yuan had suddenly risen to become a marquis with a fief of ten thousand households, along with land!

Such honor is scarcely held by more than a handful within the court.

Those few are all veteran ministers of the court, figures like Gu Tianqiong, the Great Governor of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, and Li Kuangxiu, the Grand Marshal!!!

Truly astonishing.

Before Chen Yuan’s appointment, there was debate in the Capital about whether he would be a marquis or an interior marquis, with most thinking he’d be an interior marquis, and even if appointed as a marquis, his fief would only be a few thousand households.

Now, with a fief of ten thousand households, many do not know what to say.

For someone of Chen Yuan’s age, not only is this unprecedented in this dynasty, but likely even in the previous dynasty.

In the hall, aside from Jingtai and Gu Tianqiong, everyone’s eyes were filled with shock, including Chen Yuan himself, yes, he was very shocked.

Because he originally didn’t care much about the title of marquis.

At most, he’d be a marquis with a fief of a few thousand households.

Never had he imagined such an illustrious honor would be granted.

A fief of ten thousand households and Ping’an County as his land, not many in the entire court could match.

Clearly dissatisfied with him for disrupting Jingtai’s plans, yet bestowing such a noble honor, truly inexplicable.

“Marquis Wu’an, accept the decree.”

Wang Qian closed the decree, respectfully handed it to Chen Yuan.

And Chen Yuan, under the many envious and admiring gazes, accepted the decree, raising it above his head solemnly:

“Minister, thanks the Emperor!”

Sima Qian and Sima You seemed to have flames flickering in their eyes, fixed on Chen Yuan, determined to win him over. The influence of a marquis with a fief of ten thousand households is too immense.

Sima Ke’s face blossomed with a smile, as if he were the one being enfeoffed.

Though it’s not much different; the higher Chen Yuan’s status and power, the greater Sima Ke’s chance of becoming the Crown Prince — that move was indeed the right one.

He did not gamble wrongly.

Jingtai nodded slightly, wearing a faint smile:

“Minister Chen, do you know the origin of the title Wu’an I granted you?”

“Please enlighten me, Your Majesty.”

“The Great Jin was founded with martial strength, you have gained fame through martial prowess, using it to awe the world. The word ‘Wu’ is indispensable, and the character ‘An’ reflects my expectations of you,

to stabilize my realm, subdue the people, becoming a pillar of the court. My expectations of you are high, do not disappoint me.”

Jingtai spoke each word with evident appreciation.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. Your humble servant will certainly sacrifice all to repay your grace, and bleed the last drop for the court, to ensure the Great Jin Dynasty lasts for eternity!”

Chen Yuan declared loudly, his expression incomparably solemn.

“Good, good, good, I believe in you.”

Jingtai echoed thrice, each time with a higher pitch.

Those around couldn’t help but feel immense envy; at such a young age, holding such a position, enjoying such favor — even if he wished not to succeed, it would be difficult.

Indeed, people are incomparable, the comparison can be infuriating.

“Now, please withdraw.”

“Yes, Your humble servant obeys.”