Chapter 469: Chapter 438, Assassination_1
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Yan Zhigao and Yan Wenxiu stayed behind to see to the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict, while the rest of the family escorted Old Madam Yan and Madam Li back to Songhe Courtyard.
Once inside, Old Madam Yan’s tensed emotions finally relaxed. Although this was the second time their family had received an imperial decree, she, a country old lady, still couldn’t help feeling nervous.
“Eldest daughter-in-law, quick, show me the imperial edict. I didn’t get a good look at it just now.”
Madam Li hurriedly took the imperial edict from Ping Tong and personally handed it to the old lady.
Old Madam Yan carefully touched the imperial edict, her face and eyes full of smiles: “I never thought this old woman would see the day she would be granted an imperial edict. How wonderful, truly wonderful!”
Madam Li was also filled with joy and said, “I didn’t expect it either.”
Over the years, due to her merchant background, she felt lacking in confidence. Even though her husband was now the head of a province, she would still face some disdain and cold looks when attending various banquets and gatherings.
But now things were different. The emperor had personally bestowed upon her the title of an official fourth-grade Madam. She could finally hold her head high and stop worrying about her status.
Seeing her grandmother and mother so happy, Daohua’s bit of disappointment completely vanished as she said with a laugh, “Grandmother, Mother, the imperial edict dress is so beautiful. Please try it on and let us have a look.”
Sun Family smiled and took over the conversation: “Yes, we haven’t seen what a Madam of an imperial edict looks like. Mother and big sister-in-law, please put it on quickly and let us broaden our horizons.” Although she was smiling, there was an unmistakable tinge of sourness in her tone.
Old Madam Yan looked intrigued and turned to Madam Li, “Shall we try it on?”
Madam Li said with a beaming smile, “We’ll do whatever you like.”
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Old Madam Yan immediately said with a smile, “Then let’s wear it. Come on, let’s go to the inner room.”
Soon enough, the two ladies came out wearing their outfits.
Upon seeing them, everyone immediately gathered around, freely offering compliments and good wishes.
Daohua stood smiling on the side. Suddenly, she felt that this was all quite nice. Although the honor had not fallen on her, both her grandmother and mother had become Madams of the imperial edict. In future interactions with other officials’ families, they would no longer be looked down upon.
Old Madam Yan walked around the room in her imperial edict dress. After accepting congratulations from her children and grandchildren, she kept glancing at the door: “Why haven’t Zhigao and Wenxiu come back yet? I want them to see it and then take it off for safekeeping.”
Madam Li said with a chuckle, “Just now a maid reported that some officials have come to offer their congratulations, so they might take a while to return.”
Old Madam Yan looked at the imperial edict dress she was wearing and hesitated: “What should we do then, take it off first and put it on again for them when they return?”
Daohua laughed as she held onto the old lady’s arm, “Grandmother, aren’t you troubled by the trouble? Just keep wearing it.”
Old Madam Yan caressed the dress fondly: “What if it gets dirty or damaged?”
Daohua couldn’t help but laugh: “It’s not that easy to get it dirty or damaged. Oh, by the way, Lady Fang came in just now to say that the maids and old women of the house wish to meet the two Madams of the imperial edict. I wonder if you grant permission?”
Old Madam Yan listened and looked at Madam Li: “Shall we meet them?”
Madam Li nodded with a smile, “Whatever you say, Mother.”
Old Madam Yan immediately looked at Grandma Sun with a smile, and with a nod from her, Grandma Sun left the room smiling. Soon, the house’s maids and old women all came over, filling the courtyard with a sea of kneeling figures.
Hearing the words of congratulation from everyone, the old lady’s smile never left her face.
Daohua whispered in the old lady’s ear with a low laugh, “Grandmother, with so much joy today, won’t you give a reward?”
Old Madam Yan, upon hearing this, declared generously, “Let’s give everyone… an extra month’s allowance.”
The maids and old women, upon hearing this, joyously and eagerly expressed their gratitude.
Madam Li watched from the side, looking at her daughter with an amused glance.
Not until the maids and old women had all withdrawn did Yan Zhigao and Yan Wenxiu return from the front courtyard.
After Yan Zhigao and Yan Wenxiu had seen the imperial edict dresses, Old Madam Yan and Madam Li went to the inner room to change.
After coming out, Old Madam Yan couldn’t help but ask, “Why would the emperor suddenly think to bestow upon me and the eldest daughter-in-law the imperial edict?”
Yan Zhiyuan said with a smile, “Mother, isn’t that obvious? It must be because of big brother’s outstanding accomplishments.”
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Yan Zhigao wore a smile on his face, offered no rebuttal, and merely glanced at his eldest daughter, nestled by the old lady’s side.
The eunuch who had just proclaimed the decree had revealed that this time, the Emperor had awarded only two families, one being theirs and the other the Jiang Family.
The daughter of Advisor Jiang had been conferred the title of a county princess.
Years of governing had honed his instincts which told him that his mother and wife’s imperial edicts were probably not due to his outstanding achievements but likely because of the gold mine.
Thinking of his eldest daughter’s recent venture with Wentao and Wenkai in search of gold mines, and her reaction when she learned it was the Jiang Family who had found the gold, he had a faint guess in his heart.
The imperial edicts for his mother and wife might well be the Emperor’s compensation to their family.
Yan Zhigao looked at his eldest daughter again, who was sitting beside his mother, chatting and laughing, and felt quite emotional.
He hadn’t been able to secure the imperial edicts for his mother and wife, but his eldest daughter had managed to do so.
Unlike the Yan Family’s jubilation, the atmosphere in Advisor Jiang’s provincial residence was not nearly as warm.
Jiang Zhengyuan, holding the imperial decree, did not show much joy, “I had thought that with the merit of discovering the gold mine, the Emperor would grant me the rights to mine the gold, but instead, he dismissed us with the title of a county princess for my daughter.”
The Jiang Family boasted two empresses, so even without the county princess title, the Jiang daughters were extremely prestigious throughout Daxia.
The Madam of the Jiang Family ignored the matters outside, quite delighted that her daughter became a county princess, “In the past, only the eldest branch’s Wanyu was a county princess. Now our Wanying is also a county princess, no one is inferior to another.”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhengyuan shook his head. Women are always so short-sighted, concerned only with petty competitiveness, “Who knows whom the Emperor will appoint to manage the gold mine?”
The Madam of Jiang Family replied, “Isn’t that obvious? It will definitely be one of the Emperor’s confidants.”
…
On the eighth day of the eleventh month, the Yan Family received a letter from the Yang Family.
“What did you say, your sister is coming back?”
The old Madam Yan looked at Yan Zhigao excitedly.
Yan Zhigao nodded with a smile, “Yes, my brother-in-law said that for your birthday this year, my sister will personally come to wish you well with her two children. By now, she must be on her way.”
Old Madam Yan’s eyes immediately reddened; she couldn’t remember how many years it had been since she last saw her daughter.
Daohua hurriedly stepped forward to comfort her, “Grandmother, Auntie is coming back. You should be happy. Why are you crying?”
Old Madam Yan wiped the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief, “I just miss your auntie.” She then looked at Daohua with a smile, “You have yet to meet your cousins. This time, you finally will.”
Daohua smiled, “I’ve also longed to meet Auntie and my cousins.”
Yan Zhigao’s smile faded slightly; he knew that the Yang Family was allowing his sister to visit for the birthday simply because the Yan Family was becoming increasingly prosperous and presented an opportunity to profit. He felt a strong distaste for the Yang Family’s maneuvers.
However, seeing his mother so happy, he kept his thoughts to himself.
Everyone was chatting and laughing when the butler, Sun, suddenly came over in a hurry.
Seeing him, Yan Zhigao immediately went out and stood under the eaves, frowning as he listened to Sun’s report.
Daohua was about to go back to her courtyard to fetch something and happened to overhear a sentence just as she stepped out of the room.
“Madam Jiang was attacked on her way to offer incense…”
Yan Zhigao saw his eldest daughter looking over and waved her over.
Butler Sun glanced at the approaching eldest young miss and continued, “It’s said that Madam Jiang was stabbed in the arm and bled quite a bit. Miss Jiang, due to extreme fright, relapsed into her old illness, and about ten of the Jiang Family’s servants died.”
Hearing this, Daohua turned somewhat pale, her heart beating uncontrollably.
After the butler finished, Yan Zhigao gestured for him to leave and then said to Daohua, “You must never mention your quest for the gold mine again.”
Daohua nodded repeatedly.