Three years later, several exceptionally luxurious carriages slowly drove out of the capital.
Accompanying them was a guard of over a hundred people.
A sweet voice came from inside the carriage: "Mother, will Brother Mo Chen be angry if we just leave like this?"
And fourth brother, aren't you planning to take him back to Chengyang County with you?"
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "How many times have I told you? Your brother Mo Chen is now the emperor. You can't call him by his given name directly."
He carries heavy responsibilities; he is destined to remain in the capital for the rest of his life.
Your fourth brother is now a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, and he'll be taking the exams this autumn. He probably won't be able to leave the capital for a while.
The emperor was deeply shocked after learning three years ago that Xiao Moyan was not his biological son.
He immediately entrusted all state affairs to Xiao Mochen under the pretext of recuperating from illness.
A year ago, the emperor officially abdicated and went sightseeing with Eunuch Xiang.
Xiao Mochen officially ascended the throne and became emperor, known as Emperor Yanming.
Seven-year-old Li Xiangyang pouted and muttered, "That emperor brother is so pitiful."
Five-year-old Li Jinqian, resting his chin on his hand, said, "What's so pitiful about him? I've heard that the emperor can marry many wives and can kill whomever he wants."
This is every man's dream.
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangyang immediately stepped forward, grabbed Li Jinqian's ear, and said, "Well, you've really made something of yourself, young man. You're not learning anything good at such a young age."
"What are our family rules? A man who is forty and still childless can take a concubine. Tell me, do you want to be kicked out of the house?"
Li Xiangyang started learning martial arts at the age of two and had an exceptionally strong grip. Li Jinqian winced in pain and said, "It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!"
Auntie, please let go! I absolutely didn't mean it that way. If my dad misunderstands, he'll break my legs. I was just saying it.
Grandma, please save me!
Yan Qingqing then looked at Li Xiangyang and said, "Alright, Jinqian is still young. Don't pull his ears too hard, or your sister-in-law will be heartbroken."
Li Xiangyang then released Li Jinqian, who quickly moved closer to Yan Qingqing.
He wants to be closer to his grandmother; his aunt is too fierce, who would dare to marry her in the future?
However, Li Jinqian would never dare to say such a thing.
The children played and joked around all the way, so they didn't seem bored.
It was two days later when Xiao Mochen learned that Yan Qingqing and the others had left.
Xiao Mochen couldn't believe his aunt had left like that, so he immediately ignored everyone's attempts to stop him and rushed off to Mingzhao Mansion.
But when he saw the empty Mingzhao Mansion, he had to accept this reality.
Steward Yu and his group of servants were so frightened that they knelt down on the ground in fear.
He was heartbroken. He wanted to go back to his hometown with his wife to live a few years of retirement life, but his whole family was in Beijing.
Moreover, the lady said that Fourth Master, Eldest Aunt, and Second Aunt had all stayed in the capital, and this huge Mingzhao Mansion could not be without a reliable person.
The lady kept him here because she trusted him.
After spending the last few years together, Butler Yu believed that his wife was telling the truth.
However, the Emperor's expression was far from pleasant. Although Steward Yu did not dare to raise his head, the Emperor's cold aura continued to emanate from him.
Butler Yu felt that his entire back was soaked with sweat.
The emperor then spoke, "Rise, all of you. Did your aunt ask you to convey any message to me before she left?"
Steward Yu quickly replied, "Madam said that her only wish, no matter what, is for Your Majesty to be safe and happy."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Mochen felt his eyes well up with tears, but as an emperor, he could not shed a tear.
Then she spoke again, saying, "Issue the decree: Lady Mingzhao is a woman of great virtue, and should be a role model for all people and an exemplar for women."
Moreover, he has rendered meritorious service to the state and shown kindness to the emperor; his merits will last for millennia.
I am deeply grateful for his kindness and treat him as my closest relative.
She is now specially granted the title of First-Rank Lady and Imperial Tutor, with a fief of ten thousand households.
He bestowed upon him half of the imperial ceremonial regalia, so that all officials would regard him as if they were seeing the Emperor, and would perform the rites of a subject to a ruler.
"Bestowed by Imperial Decree!"
Steward Yu was increasingly alarmed as he listened, for such an honor was unprecedented since the founding of the Great Yan Dynasty.
Even empress dowagers throughout history probably didn't receive this kind of treatment.
The Emperor truly treats their wives like his own mother.
Steward Yu and his servants expressed their gratitude once again.
Before Yan Qingqing and her group even arrived in Canghe Town, the imperial decree conferring Yan Qingqing's title had already spread throughout the entire Great Yan.
When Yan Qingqing heard about this, she could only smile helplessly. She just wanted to retire gracefully and live a quiet rural life.
But Xiao Mochen clearly disagreed. However, no matter what, she was going back to Canghe Town.
The people of Canghe Town were overjoyed when they heard about this.
Li Kaishan and his grandfather, in particular, were so moved that tears streamed down their faces.
Yan Qingqing was gone for five years, although Canghe Town developed very well during those five years.
But without Yan Qingqing in charge, they always felt something was missing.
When Li Kaishan learned that Yan Qingqing would be arriving home soon, he specially invited several clan elders to discuss holding a welcome ceremony for her.
Everyone expressed their unanimous agreement.
When Li Xiangping learned of this, he went to see Li Kaishan and told him not to make a big fuss, saying that his mother didn't want it to be too high-profile.
However, Li Kaishan disagreed and even scolded Li Xiangping, saying that they were officials, and the emperor required all officials to treat Lady Mingzhao as if they were the emperor himself. They could not disobey the imperial decree.
Li Xiangping was left speechless, both amused and exasperated, and ultimately had to return empty-handed.
After more than half a month of eager anticipation, Yan Qingqing's carriage finally slowly entered Chengyang County.
However, they ran into an acquaintance as soon as they entered Chengyang County.
It was Magistrate Gao who was leading his family to leave Chengyang County.
Magistrate Gao seemed to be waiting for Yan Qingqing. Upon seeing Yan Qingqing's carriage, he personally stepped forward and inquired, "Excuse me, is this the carriage of Lady Mingzhao, the Grand Tutor Yan of the current court?"
Upon hearing the title "Grand Tutor Yan" in the carriage, Yan Qingqing was suddenly taken aback. Why did this title sound so much like that of a treacherous official?
Yan Qingqing's guards remained motionless, preventing Magistrate Gao from stepping forward.
Ah Da, who was serving Yan Qingqing, rode forward and was surprised to see that it was Magistrate Gao.
He immediately cupped his hands in greeting and said, "So it's Lord Gao, what a pleasure to meet you."
Magistrate Gao didn't find anything wrong with Ah Da riding on horseback. Even a third-rank official has to stand in front of the prime minister, not to mention that Yan Qingqing is now much more powerful than Cheng Yang.
Moreover, Ah Da was the person Yan Qingqing trusted most, so Magistrate Gao smiled and said to Ah Da, "I am about to leave Chengyang County, and I thought it would be a good time to bid farewell to Lady Mingzhao."
To express my gratitude.
It turns out that this Magistrate Gao had no connections and it took him more than ten years to become a magistrate. He originally thought he would die in the position of magistrate.
However, Yan Qingqing felt that he was very experienced in handling cases, so she recommended him to Xiao Mochen.
Therefore, Xiao Mochen ordered him to be promoted to the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, which is a fourth-rank official position.
This promotion was incredibly fast, like rising to the top in one step.
Upon hearing this, Ah Da felt that Lord Gao was quite thoughtful, so he nodded and said, "Lord Gao, please wait a moment while I go and inform my wife."
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