Chapter 226 Conferring the Title of Ninth-Rank Lady
"...Rice with regeneration benefits the country and the people... Zhao Chengshi of Dahe Village is intelligent, quick-witted, diligent and gentle. She is hereby conferred the title of Ninth Rank Lady, with the title of Sui, and is specially granted a Lady's official robe, a Lady's hat, a carved jade hairpin, and ten bolts of brocade... So be it!"
The list of rewards alone was quite long, and it was all in a language that the villagers couldn't understand.
Only then did everyone realize that what they had heard before was just an appetizer; the imperial edict from the capital was actually for the purpose of bestowing a title upon Da Shan Niang.
The villagers didn't know what a "ninth-rank lady" was, but they clearly understood what the term "ninth rank" meant, because only those with official positions were distinguished by rank!
Everyone was incredulous, looking down at Cheng Wanwan with a hint of respect in their eyes that they themselves were unaware of.
Cheng Wanwan herself was stunned.
She just casually mentioned regenerated rice, which was promoted by Magistrate Shen. If there were to be a reward, it should have been given to the officials, not her.
Moreover, women who are usually granted the title of Ruren or Shuren usually have a son or husband who is an official. How could a rural widow suddenly become a ninth-rank Ruren and be granted a title? This is too illogical!
She knelt down and took the lacquer tray from the guard. She couldn't carry it all by herself, so Old Mrs. Zhao and the village head's husband knelt beside her and helped her take it. Other women also lent a hand. All of these were shiny things, and the village women were extremely careful, afraid of breaking them.
At this moment, Magistrate Shen walked over and said with a smile, "The imperial edict has been read. Everyone, please rise."
Cheng Wanwan finally stood up. Her knees were a little sore from kneeling on the hard ground for so long.
The two messengers bowed and said, "Greetings, Madam Sui. According to the regulations of the imperial court, the salary of a ninth-rank madam is paid out every three months. It will be delivered by fast horse at that time."
The two were about to take their leave.
Cheng Wanwan quickly told Zhao Sidan to go inside and get the money. She gave each of them two taels of silver and said gently, "You two have come from afar, you must be tired. This is a small token of my appreciation, please take it. Knowing you have to rush back to report, I won't keep you for a meal. This is a water bag that was just filled, and here are some biscuits to fill your stomachs. Take these with you on your journey, and be careful on the road..."
The two guards were somewhat surprised.
They came to the village to deliver the imperial decree, never expecting to receive any reward money. This woman was incredibly generous, giving each of them two taels of silver, more than some wealthy people in the city would give. Moreover, this woman was very gentle; her every smile and gesture was like seeing one's own mother. The two of them felt an inexplicable sense of closeness.
"Thank you, Madam Sui. We'll take our leave now."
The two messengers placed the imperial edict down and quickly rode away on their tall horses.
After the two left, there was a slight commotion in the village, but with the county magistrate still there, no one dared to be too presumptuous. Under the direction of Old Lady Zhao, the women carried more than a dozen lacquer trays and placed them on the table in the main hall of the house. With Old Lady Zhao watching over them, no one dared to touch them, they only dared to stare at the things and enjoy the sight.
Magistrate Shen walked over and laughed loudly: "Congratulations, Lady Sui! Sui, the name of the millet, shows how much His Majesty values this matter..."
Cheng Wanwan inquired, "Your Excellency, if I may ask, why would the imperial court...?"
"The nation is founded on its people, and the people depend on food for survival. Our current emperor is a wise ruler and understands the importance of grain. If this ratooning rice is promoted, the yield per mu (unit of land area) in many parts of central and southern China will double. This will solve countless problems," Magistrate Shen began. "There is war in the west, and food supplies have been scarce. If grain can be supplied, morale will be boosted, and national peace and prosperity will be guaranteed… The emperor bestowed the title of Ninth-Rank Lady upon a commoner woman, and also rewarded Cheng Zhao for proposing a method to eradicate locusts, and the two who invented the stone roller. This is intended to tell all the people that as long as they cultivate the land diligently and offer good advice to the court, they will receive rewards. This will surely encourage creative thinking among the people…"
Cheng Wanwan understood; this was using her story as a model to encourage ordinary people to continue their efforts and make more inventions and creations.
"Madam Sui, do you need your wound treated?" Magistrate Shen suddenly spoke up, turning around to ask, "Master Yuan, do you have any wound medicine with you?"
Master Yuan shook his head. Why would a scholar like him carry around such a thing?
He tentatively suggested, "Should I go and fetch a doctor?"
"No need." Cheng Wanwan waved her hand. She felt that her wound was almost healed. It was just a small, shallow scratch.
She said, "I'll just go in and wash up. Excuse me for a moment."
After she went in, the magistrate's warm expression vanished instantly, and his stern eyes turned to Xu Pozi, who was being held aside.
Granny Xu was trembling all over.
She never expected that she would witness such a major event when she arrived here.
The village woman who had just been scolded by her has, in the blink of an eye, become a ninth-rank lady personally appointed by the emperor!
Although the ninth rank is the lowest, it still means someone with an official position and a title. How could a mere servant like her possibly afford to offend such a person!
"Your Excellency, this old servant was sent by the Madam to fetch Miss Cao back to the manor. I truly have no other intentions," Granny Xu said, kneeling on the ground. She pointed in Cao Yingying's direction, "This is indeed our Cao family's eldest daughter, without a doubt!"
"Whether she is the eldest daughter of your Cao family or not is none of my business, but!" Magistrate Shen's tone was icy, "The Cao family servants used weapons to harm ordinary people of Ping'an County, no, they used weapons to assassinate the newly appointed ninth-rank lady by the current emperor. This is a serious crime! Guards, seize all members of the Cao family!"
Granny Xu was shocked and hurriedly crawled to Cao Yingying's side: "Miss, please explain to the magistrate that this old servant really came to take you home. It's all a misunderstanding..."
As she spoke, she lowered her voice, her tone laced with threat, "If the Cao family suffers a loss of face, Miss will be in deep trouble when Master returns..."
Cao Yingying smiled.
Even after things have come to this point, this treacherous servant still dares to threaten her.
She kicked Granny Xu to the ground, then curtsied to Magistrate Shen: "Your Honor, the servants of the Cao family have maliciously injured someone. This matter must be thoroughly investigated and severely punished. Cao Yingying, the eldest daughter of the Cao family, hereby promises that the Cao family will never protect its own!"
Regardless of whether her promise is useful or not, she must make her stance clear.
Magistrate Shen praised, "Miss Cao is a woman of great virtue and righteousness, even at the cost of her own family. She is Cao Defu's good fortune!"
He had heard about the incident in Hekou County while he was in Ping'an County. He heard that the eldest daughter of the Cao family had gone missing and been sold into a brothel. He had sighed for a long time at the time, but he never expected that it was just a rumor. A young lady of marriageable age being spread such rumors, the person behind it is despicable!
“I also envy Master Cao for having such an outstanding daughter.” Cheng Wanwan came out of the house and said with a soft smile, “When I saw Yingying, I felt like I saw my daughter from a past life. So I decided to let Yingying come back to the village with me for a while. The whole Dahe Village knows about this. I really don’t understand why the Cao family servants think that I kidnapped Miss Cao. It’s really a miscarriage of justice.”
These words were tantamount to publicly telling everyone that Miss Cao had not gone missing, but had voluntarily come to Dahe Village for a short stay with the newly appointed Lady of the Cao family by the current emperor, and that the thousands of villagers were witnesses.
Cao Yingying's eyes were filled with gratitude.
Even after she obtained evidence that her stepmother had plotted against her, it was still difficult for her to clear her name, because she had indeed been sold to a brothel.
However, once Aunt Zhao said this publicly, no one would doubt the truth of her words. All the villagers in Dahe Village knew that she had lived here for a long time. Moreover, if Aunt Zhao had become a ninth-rank lady and a lady of the imperial court, who would dare to doubt it?
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