Within a few days, the noodle shop had accumulated a small group of repeat customers, with new customers joining every day, and the shop began to make a profit.
Xue Huan was busy in the noodle shop that day when Mrs. Qin suddenly came over. "Miss, someone's coming from home! They're from the capital! They're from the palace, and they've brought a lot of things over. The county magistrate is with them. You should go back quickly."
Xue Huan gave some instructions to the hired woman, took off her sleeves and overalls, and hurried back with Mrs. Qin.
As soon as she left, the customers in the store started talking about it.
"How did this Miss Xue get involved with the palace?"
"I wonder what the people in the palace are here for?"
"Let's go and take a look."
When Xue Huan reached the entrance of the alley, she saw two rows of guards with swords standing outside, and a magnificent carriage parked not far away.
As soon as I entered the house, I saw two people sitting at the head of the main hall. One was white-faced and beardless, holding a whisk. I thought he was the man from the palace that Mrs. Qin had mentioned. Next to him was a middle-aged man wearing the uniform of a sixth-rank official. I guess he was the county magistrate of Lucheng.
Mr. Nie is accompanying him.
Chen stood trembling at the door. When she saw Xue Huan, she immediately felt more confident. "Liu'er."
Xue Huan took the hand she extended, pressed it, walked into the house and bowed to the few people.
"Is this Miss Xue Huan, who invented movable type printing?" Eunuch Wei spoke.
The county magistrate looked at Nie Hongzhen, who said, "Yes, sir."
"Xue Huan, listen to the order--" Eunuch Wei stood up, took out a roll of imperial edict from his wide sleeves, and stood facing the direction of the imperial city.
Xue Huan knelt down and said, "I accept your order."
The county magistrate and Nie Hongzhen also knelt down, and Chen followed suit.
Her movements were a little too hasty and she pulled her bones. She almost cried out in pain, but she held it back.
The imperial edict was written in flowery language, with quotations from classics and meticulous word selection. Xue Huan didn't quite understand it, but she understood the general content.
It is said that she contributed movable type printing technology and made great contributions to the country and the people, so she was rewarded and named Princess Kangning. She was also rewarded with fertile land, jewelry, cloth, and 100 taels of gold.
After finishing the reading, Eunuch Wei concluded with a drawn-out "I decree" and handed the imperial edict to Xue Huan with both hands.
Xue Huan raised her hands above her head and took it: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
Is that right? She wasn't sure.
"County Lady, we are honored to meet you." Eunuch Wei bowed to Xue Huan.
After the imperial edict was issued, Xue Huan's identity had changed. She was no longer a commoner girl, but a county lord with a title.
Xue Huan returned the greeting, "You are too polite, sir."
"The imperial edict has been delivered. We will go back now." Eunuch Wei nodded to the few people and walked out.
Xue Huan walked her to the door.
After sending Eunuch Wei to the carriage, the county magistrate returned and said, "This humble official greets the county lady. I'm sure the county lady still has a lot of things to do. This humble official will not disturb you and will come to visit you another day."
Xue Huan: "Sir, take care."
Nie Hongzhen nodded to Xue Huan and left.
Everyone had left, and the entire courtyard was empty again. Only Xue Huan and the other two were left. They looked at each other in bewilderment at the several large boxes displayed in the courtyard, feeling a little dazed for a moment.
"Liu'er, pinch me, am I dreaming?" Chen murmured.
Xue Huan burst out laughing: "Mother, I'm not dreaming, this is real. Your daughter, I, have been named the County Lady by the Emperor, the County Lady of Kangning. From now on, you will be the County Lady's mother."
Mrs. Qin reacted and congratulated them repeatedly.
"Oh, I knew that the young lady was not an ordinary person. No, now I should change my address to "County Lady"! This is the first time I have met so many important people. I was really scared just now and didn't dare to breathe..."
Chen: "Who isn't, hiss——"
Xue Huan: "Mom, what's wrong with you? Did you pull a bone?"
Mrs. Qin and she hurriedly helped her in to lie down.
Afterwards, Xue Huan and she collected and put away the things in several large boxes in the yard one by one. They were so busy that they could hardly straighten their backs.
However, Xue Huan was willing to endure this kind of tiredness. After all, the things in those boxes were all money!
Gorgeous and luxurious jewelry, glittering silk and brocade, shining golden ingots...which one is not lovable?
Did you suddenly become rich?
There's also a large piece of fertile land! From now on, even if she just sits at home collecting rent, she won't have to worry about food and drink.
As for the title of County Lord, Xue Huan didn't feel much about it.
"Mrs. Qin, take this." Xue Huan gave Mrs. Qin a five-liang silver note so that she could also share in the good fortune.
Mrs. Qin declined for a while, but finally accepted it.
In the afternoon, Nie Hongzhen came again and brought gifts, including a house deed, which was the house that Xue Huan and her daughter were currently renting.
He actually gave this courtyard worth hundreds of taels directly to Xue Huan.
How could Xue Huan accept it? But before she could say no, Nie Hongzhen said, "Take it! Don't push it around and act coy. You're the county lady now, so you have to act like one."
Xue Huan couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Nie Hongzhen himself laughed.
"Mr. Nie, I've been thinking of inviting you to dinner to express my gratitude. Now is the best day. Would you please stay for dinner later?"
"Okay." Nie Hongzhen agreed readily.
Xue Huan then asked Mrs. Qin to invite Yuan Ji over to have a banquet for the two of them.
After Yuanji arrived, he accompanied Nie Hongzhen in playing chess, chatting, and appreciating flowers, acting as the host for the guests. Chen breathed a sigh of relief and returned to her room.
She really couldn't handle this kind of situation.
Xue Huan and Mrs. Qin were busy in the kitchen.
Nie Hongzhen was shocked. He thought Xue Huan was planning to order a table directly from the restaurant, but he didn't expect that she would cook by herself.
Xue Huan smiled and said, "Old man, don't treat me like a county lady. I'm just a commoner. Even if I were to become a county lady, wouldn't I still have to eat and wear clothes? I'm just a cook. What's the point?"
This made Nie Hongzhen laugh out loud. "Haha, the county lady sees it clearly. That's exactly what's going on."
The meal was a great pleasure for both the host and the guests.
Nie Hongzhen and Yuan Ji both left in high spirits.
Before leaving, Nie Hongzhen advised Xue Huan, "Hire a few more people to look after the house as soon as possible. It would be best if you also get a dog. Otherwise, it will be unsafe for you and your daughter to live here."
Especially now that she has been conferred the title of county lady and rewarded with so many things, if someone were to take the risk and attack her and her daughter, it would be too late to regret it.
Xue Huan felt warm in her heart and nodded in agreement.
Mr. Nie gave her this advice because he cared about her. Normal people would never say such a thing.
After seeing the two off, Xue Huan walked around the courtyard wall and set up several traps and a simple maze.
Although I don't know why I know how to set up formations, I set them up naturally.
I hope no villains will come to target them, mother and daughter. Otherwise, the only ones who will be in trouble will be those with bad intentions.
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