The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims...
The emperor gave Amu a mansion that was the top scholar's mansion. It was right next to Chen Ge Lao's house and one house away from Anchang Hou's mansion.
Everyone present was surprised, but they all knew that this was compensation and reward for Amu.
"Xiao Yushu thanks the Lord for His great grace. Long live the Emperor!"
Ah Mu raised his hands above his head and respectfully accepted the imperial edict. He had not expected the emperor to be so generous as to grant him a mansion. Next to Chen Ge Lao was a large house with five entrances, which was too big for their family of three.
However, who would complain about a big house?
Eunuch Li said with a smile, "Congratulations, Mr. Top Scholar. Here is the land deed, please keep it."
The title deed was written in Amu's name, which meant that the emperor would not take the house back unless Amu broke the law.
Xiao Zhensheng gave Eunuch Li a large red envelope and said, "Thank you for taking the trouble to make this trip."
The silver note was worth at least one hundred taels, and Eunuch Li accepted it with a smile. The old marquis also gave a red envelope. Since he was announcing the decree at the gate of Anchang Marquis' Mansion, he should have given a red envelope.
Eunuch Li was very happy to receive double red envelopes. However, he was not happy about the red envelopes, but about the attitude of Duke Dingguo and the old marquis towards him.
He raised his hand and said, "I have to return to the palace to report, so I'll take my leave now."
"Send it to the father-in-law."
After the carriage had gone far away, the old marquis said happily, "Congratulations to our number one scholar. The emperor is so gracious that he has awarded the number one mansion. This is unprecedented and our Jing Dynasty is the first of its kind."
Xiao Zhensheng was proud of it. "Come on, let's go see the No. 1 Scholar's Mansion together."
"Yes, this imperial edict should be placed in the mansion of the number one scholar." The old marquis arranged for people to go there first to prepare, and they slowly went there.
Before reaching the gate of Chen Ge Lao's mansion, Chen Ge Lao and his family came out to congratulate him.
The Chen family is a civil official family, and the Anchang Marquis family is a military official family. The two families have been neighbors for so many years and have a harmonious relationship.
A'mu won the first place in the imperial examination and was awarded the No. 1 Scholar's Mansion. The old marquis generously invited Chen Ge Lao and others to visit it.
Elder Chen knew the courtyard next door was large, especially the beautifully designed garden, with flowers blooming year-round, reminiscent of the Jiangnan scenery. He had long yearned for it. Unfortunately, he had previously disagreed with the Fourth Prince's people on political issues, so he hadn't had the opportunity to visit.
Today I have such a good opportunity, so of course I agreed to it.
On the gate, the three large gilded characters "Zhuangyuan Mansion" are obviously written by the emperor.
There were already people waiting at the door to greet him. They were all eunuchs and maids from the palace. They filed out and formed two teams on the opposite side. They all saluted and said, "Welcome the champion back to the palace."
It was so realistic that it reminded Linlang of the receptionist at the entrance of a modern restaurant.
Yier was so happy that he danced with joy and wished he could come down and run in.
Amu handed Yi'er to Linlang and raised his hand, saying, "Grandpa and grandma, please come in. Father, please come in. Old Master Chen, please come in."
Finally, please invite all the female relatives and others into the mansion together.
Before Amu and his companions stepped into the mansion gate, firecrackers were set off outside to welcome the host back home. A eunuch led the way and introduced the Zhuangyuan Mansion to everyone.
Everything in the mansion has been arranged, and only the three members of Amu's family, including Amu, can move in with their luggage.
It is autumn now. As soon as you enter the door, the breeze brings waves of sweet osmanthus fragrance, which makes people feel relaxed and sweet.
Linlang was very satisfied with the layout of Zhuangyuan Mansion. If she added some soft furnishing, it would become a warm home.
Yier opened her eyes wide and looked around, feeling that one pair of eyes was not enough.
The old lady and Mrs. Song were more and more satisfied with the place, but they felt a little reluctant to let them go. Even though they lived nearby, they might not be able to see Linlang and Yier every day.
The five courtyards were large and cleverly laid out, with each courtyard planted with different species of flowers and trees, offering blossoms year-round. The furniture inside was all left behind, and as expected of the Fourth Prince, he was wealthy, so most of the furniture was made of pear wood.
Xiao Zhensheng nodded in satisfaction. The emperor was quite generous this time, giving Ah Mu such a nice mansion. Unfortunately, no matter how good the things were, they could not make up for the pain Ah Mu had experienced.
After visiting the No. 1 Scholar's Mansion, everyone drank tea in the hall. The eunuch steward handed the key to Amu. Their mission was completed, and they were about to leave and return to the palace.
Xiao Zhensheng gave red envelopes to the eunuchs and palace maids and planned to send people from his own house. His son and daughter-in-law were both young, so he had to send a few capable helpers.
The Song family had already prepared several people, and they were now serving in Linlang and Amu's courtyard. They could be brought over when the time came.
The main courtyard is very nice, perfect for Amu, Linlang and Yier to live there.
Mo'er had already chosen his own courtyard, next to Chen Ge Lao's residence, past the small garden was Yue'er's courtyard. He had his own little idea, that way he could see Yue'er every day.
The old marquis chose a courtyard and said, "I have to help you take care of Yi'er. If I'm not here to take charge, how can you young people do it?"
The courtyard Xiao Zhensheng chose was next to the old marquis. He was the grandfather of his eldest grandson, so of course he had to come over to help take care of him. He was young and had his own things to do.
There weren't that many courtyards, so Xiao Yujian could only share a courtyard with his father. Linlang naturally had to leave a courtyard for Rong Bowen and Rong Yi, letting them choose one.
The father and son chose the smallest one and left the most elegant one to Song.
House viewing turned into house selection.
Overall, everyone is very satisfied with the Zhuangyuan Mansion. Xiao Zhensheng has decided to ask the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to choose an auspicious day for his son to move.
Mrs. Song wanted to be with her daughter forever. After being missing for more than ten years, she finally found her and wanted to spend more time with her. She knew that her children had grown up and needed to have their own lives, so she had to be cruel and let them move out.
The old lady was reluctant to leave Linlang and the child, but since they lived so close, she could visit whenever she wanted. Even if the house was lonely and she was old, she could only live like a child. She couldn't bear to leave Yi'er; he was so adorable.
The Chen family was quite envious, but that was all they could do. Their descendants were not as promising as they thought. Elder Chen's eyes lit up as he looked at Amu, but he also felt sorry for her. She had married so young, otherwise she would have two unmarried granddaughters at home.
While people were happy here, the atmosphere in the eldest prince's mansion was a bit serious.
When the eldest prince learned that Amu had won the first place in the imperial examination, the emperor not only granted him a mansion, a unique privilege granted to the Jing Dynasty since its founding. The emperor was giving Amu a face, granting a mansion only afforded to princes, meaning that in the emperor's heart, Amu and the princes enjoyed equal treatment.
The eldest prince was in a very bad mood. He threw everything around him to the ground in anger, "Everyone is against me, everyone is against me."
This caused the wound on his body to split open, and blood gushed out, immediately staining the gauze. The servants who were serving on the side were so scared that they knelt on the ground and begged the eldest prince to calm down.
The eldest prince's wife was tired of seeing her own incompetence and would get angry. She called the imperial physician to take a look, but she turned and walked out, thinking out of sight, out of mind.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com