Chapter 1981 Imperial Edict
Bai Dalang was the first to come to his senses. He quickly supported his father and then asked the servants to prepare the things to receive the imperial edict.
Seeing how messy they were, Madam Liu couldn't help but shake her head and took over the arrangements. "This isn't the first time the mansion has received an imperial decree. Why are you in such a hurry?"
He also asked Bai Shan and Man Bao to take Bai Erlang downstairs to change his clothes.
Bai Jilang had recovered from his shock, and was still a little incredulous when he was pushed back to his room. "Is it settled?"
Bai Shan said, "It's been about a month, and it's still short. Go change your clothes quickly."
Bai Erlang changed his clothes and came out. Mrs. Bai finally came back to her senses. She didn't bother to look at Mr. Bai who was still dazed. She ran to find Bai Erlang and put all the nice accessories she could find on him. "Don't embarrass yourself."
Bai Erlang felt that having so many things on his body would be even more embarrassing. Bai Shan and Manbao felt the same way. So whenever Mrs. Bai put something on him, they would take it off. Finally, Bai Shan chose a piece of jade for Bai Erlang to tie, and Manbao chose a necklace for him. Then they comforted Mrs. Bai, "This is enough. If there are more, people in the palace will think our family is nouveau riche."
Mrs. Bai thought so too, but she still felt regretful when she looked at the things on the table. "It's a pity that you're the only one here. Otherwise, we could take them all with us. This would let the emperor know that our family is well-off, and the princess wouldn't be wronged if she married into our family."
As they were talking, Liu Gui came in quickly and said, "Madam, Master, Miss Man, Master, the people from the palace have entered the street and will be at the door soon."
Mrs. Bai stopped wasting time and asked her son to go out and greet them.
When Gu Zhong and his companions stopped in front of Zhou's house, the middle door was already wide open. Mr. Bai, his two sons, Bai Shan and Zhou Man were standing at the front, followed by Old Zhoutou and others who had come to join in the fun.
There was no way. Old Zhou had never seen such a grand ceremony to receive an imperial decree, so he was very curious.
He thought that receiving the imperial edict to redress Zhou Yin's grievances two years ago was already exciting enough, but he didn't expect that granting the princess a marriage would be even more exciting.
The angel actually came to report in advance, beating drums and gongs along the way. Before the imperial edict arrived, all the neighbors knew about it.
Gu Zhong dismounted with the imperial edict in his hand, and after entering the gate, he waited for them to kneel down according to the rules before he announced the edict loudly. There were servants from other families outside who came to join in the fun. After hearing the edict, they would go back and imitate their masters in the chanting, and they would get some reward money.
This imperial edict granting marriage was not much different from other imperial edicts. As usual, it listed the family background of the Bai family, then praised the Bai ancestors, and pointed out that Bai Erlang was a man of both literary talent and good character, so he was recruited by the emperor as the consort of Princess Mingda.
Bai Erlang listened with great interest. When Gu Zhong finished reading the imperial edict, he thanked him before his father and stretched out his hand to receive it.
Gu Zhong just looked down at him, then looked at Mr. Bai with a smile.
Mr. Bai still understood the rules. He reached out and knocked his son's hand away. While apologizing, he expressed his gratitude and took the imperial edict.
Gu Zhong then smiled and said, "This is a happy event. It's understandable that the Second Young Master is happy."
Mr. Bai nodded repeatedly and looked at his eldest son. Bai Dalang immediately took out a purse. Mr. Bai took it and stuffed it into Gu Zhong's pocket as money for his wine.
Gu Zhong did not refuse and said with a smile: "We are so generous that we will take the second young master's wedding money first, and we will ask for another glass of wedding wine later."
Mr. Bai smiled and said, "Of course, of course."
He turned around and invited Gu Zhong and others into the house to eat something before leaving.
If it was any other imperial decree, he would naturally leave after announcing it, but this was an imperial decree granting a marriage, so besides him, people from the Ministry of Rites also came, and they came to propose marriage.
Therefore, Gu Zhong and officials from the Ministry of Rites were invited to the main hall.
So everyone started discussing the engagement between Bai Erlang and Princess Mingda.
Yes, although the emperor has granted the marriage, the engagement procedures still have to be followed.
The officials from the Ministry of Rites and Gu Zhong had lunch at Zhou's house, then took Bai Erlang's birth date and horoscope from the Bai family. They also communicated with Mr. Bai about the future construction address of the princess's mansion and their requirements for marriage.
Of course, Bai Erlang and the other three younger ones had no say in these matters and soon they bowed and left.
When Yin Huo brought Changshou over, the three of them were squatting by the flower bed, closely watching the movements in the main hall. Because they were facing away from the gate, they did not see Yin Huo and his servant.
Yin Huo glanced into the main hall and asked, "Is it someone from the palace?"
The three of them were startled by the sudden voice and looked up. Seeing him standing against the light, his face looked a little unrecognizable. They stood up from the ground and asked, "Why are you here?"
Yin Huo pointed at the beef in Changshou's hand and said, "Didn't we agree to send you beef? As soon as my car entered this street, I heard people say that the emperor had granted a marriage. The people from the palace came to your house, right?"
Bai Shan and the other two just remembered what happened. They responded and led him to the back, explaining their behavior of squatting there just now. "My cousin was a little excited today, so we were worried and kept a closer look."
Manbao continued, "I'm a doctor, so if you're too excited, I can give you an injection."
Bai Jilang: "My father might feel better after seeing me, so we are waiting outside."
Yin Huo couldn't help laughing and nodded, "I know you weren't squatting there to eavesdrop or peek on purpose."
The three of them felt a little embarrassed and wanted to change the subject, so they looked at the beef in Changshou's hand. Bai Shan praised: "This beef looks good at first glance. Was it freshly slaughtered?"
Manbao and Bai Erlang also looked over, their eyes sparkling, "Beef bone soup is also very delicious."
Changshou proudly said, "This is a cow that accidentally died on the farm of Duke Su. My young master came back and said he wanted to eat beef, so Duke Su specially set aside the best piece."
Yin Huo said, "It's not the best piece. The best one has already been collected by Duke Su's Mansion."
Manbao said, "That's good enough. Come on, I'll take you to find my sister-in-law."
Old Zhou was also in the hall, but Qian and the others didn't join in the fun. Seeing Manbao and the others carrying such a large piece of beef, Qian couldn't help but say, "You are greedy, but it's not easy to kill cattle casually."
Yin Huo responded with a smile, explaining that he would not kill the cow again next time.
Bai Shan and the others were very skeptical, "Can you still control the Duke Su's mansion?"
"No," Yin Huo said, "but it's always right to agree."
This was his usual trick to deal with his grandmother and sisters at home, and it always worked.
Bai Shan said, "I heard that Duke Su's mansion slaughters a cow every month. Where do they get so many cows?"
"They weren't raised inside the Great Wall," Yin Huo said. "They were sent from the grasslands by merchants from outside the Great Wall. It's well known that Duke Su loves beef. Even Your Majesty, when he's craving beef and can't find it, asks Duke Su for some."
See you at 6pm
(End of this chapter)
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