Chapter 248 Finale
The people in the Xie residence quickly prepared the incense table, and Xie Yan and Li Wanyue stepped forward and knelt down.
The others followed suit and knelt down.
Eunuch Hai said: "The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: Our Lord Xie Yan is a gentleman of integrity, both talented and virtuous, who has repeatedly offered good advice for the benefit of the people and has made contributions to the country. Therefore, he is hereby conferred the title of Earl of Yongning, and is awarded a thousand taels of silver and a residence for the Earl.
His wife, Xie Li, is gentle, respectful, frugal, sincere and kind. She offers good advice and helps me relieve my worries. I appoint her as a messenger, reward her with 1,000 taels of silver, 100 acres of good farmland, and 20 rolls of various silks. I hope you will be respectful and careful, and go and do your best. This is my decree. "
"I (the minister's wife) thank the Lord for His great grace. Long live the Emperor."
Xie Yan took the order and stood up.
He really didn't expect that the wedding the emperor talked about for them would be so grand.
The people present were also stunned. Apart from those with hereditary titles, this was the first time that someone was made an earl at such a young age.
Although there is no mention of hereditary succession, even if it cannot be passed on to the next generation, it would be a great favor from the emperor.
However, no one questioned it, because they had more or less heard about what Xie Yan had done, and those achievements were enough to allow him to be promoted three levels.
Rong Kuo sighed, thinking that the emperor summoned him to the palace two days ago to ask for his opinion.
It seems that he didn't want to stay in the capital, so the emperor gave him the title, or it would have been an imperial edict for promotion.
The Xie family forgot to get up.
After coming to his senses, Xie Zhenghuai immediately stood up and respectfully handed a purse containing a hundred taels of silver in it to Eunuch Hai.
"Father-in-law, you have worked hard. Please sit down and have a glass of wedding wine."
Eunuch Hai accepted it with a smile and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Xie, and Mr. Xie's wedding wine. I would like to drink it, but I have to go back to the palace to report to the emperor. I will bother you another day."
"Farewell, Master."
Mr. Hai took his men away.
Everyone congratulated him.
"Thank you, sir. Today is a double blessing."
"Master Xie is young and promising, and his future is limitless. He will surely bring honor to the Xie family."
Xie Zhenghuai and Shen Jinyu were grinning from ear to ear, and Old Madam Xie also smiled. Their Xie family had been promoted and was even conferred the title of Earl by the Emperor. Their status in the capital would be even higher in the future.
The first and third wives were envious and jealous. How could Xie Yan be so lucky? After leaving the capital for a few years, he was actually granted a title. Li Wanyue's status also increased. She was actually granted a fourth-rank title. They didn't even have such a high-ranking title.
However, with the title, they can also get some benefits.
Xie Qi stared at Xie Yan, his eyes cold. Why? Why was he better than him in every way?
It was obvious that his father valued him and didn't care about him at all, so why was he better than him in every way?
His stepmother must have secretly asked someone to teach him, otherwise he would never have achieved such success.
My stepmother pretends to put herself first in everything in front of me, but after all, I am not her biological child and she only loves her own flesh and blood.
Xie Qi's eyes reddened and he turned and left the banquet.
Du Hui sighed, asked the maid to tell Shen Jinyu that she was not feeling well, and asked the eldest young master to accompany her back to the yard.
It was a lively banquet and no one cared about the two people who left.
After the banquet, Xie Zhenghuai called Xie Yan to the study.
Smiling, she said, "Yan'er, you are so lucky. It's really the blessing of our Xie family's ancestors. With this title, you will be able to have a smoother career as an official in the capital in the future."
Xie Yan said calmly: "Most of it is Yueyue's credit, it has nothing to do with me, but the emperor conferred the title on her for her sake. Besides, I will not stay in the capital, I will return to Anping County after the banquet."
Xie Zhenghuai's smile froze, and he said in disbelief, "People go up and water flows down. Who doesn't want to climb up? I thought you had matured after a few years of experience, but I didn't expect you to still act on impulse. Are you still worried about how I was strict with you in the past? If I wasn't strict, would you be where you are today?"
"Father, what you said is funny. You were strict with me only when you listened to my eldest brother and felt that I had bullied him, so you would teach me a lesson and punish me severely. Have you ever appeared in front of me at other times?"
Xie Zhenghuai's expression froze, and he said unnaturally: "I am busy with affairs, and the matters of the inner house and upbringing are mostly handled by your mother."
"Really? When I was a child, no matter how busy my father was, he would always visit my eldest brother first when he came home. He would ask about my eldest brother's situation every day. He was indeed too busy."
Xie Zhenghuai sighed, "It's all in the past. You've grown up now. Even if your father did something wrong, can't you forgive him? Wouldn't it be good to be transferred back to Beijing and live a happy life with your family? Your grandmother and mother are getting old and their health is getting worse. They want you to stay by their side to show filial piety and see you more often. Don't you want that?"
Use filial piety to suppress?
"I also want to be filial to you, but being loyal to the emperor is also my duty. Why don't I let my mother go back to Anping County with me? This way I can also be filial. After living in Anping County for a long time, I can return to the capital. Isn't that good?"
"you……"
Xie Yan interrupted: "Father, there is no need to say more. I have already reported this matter to the emperor. It cannot be changed now. As for the future... we will talk about it later."
Xie Zhenghuai was silent for a moment, and had to say: "Forget it, since you have made up your mind, I won't say much, but can you teach your family about your business? I have heard that the soaps and tables of your aunt Shen were all thought up by Li Wanyue. Does she have any other business?
You also know that money is very important to maintain relationships in Beijing, but the income from the shops and land run by the Xie Mansion can only barely cover the expenses of the mansion. If you can teach us a few business, the Xie Mansion will be good and can also be your backer."
Xie Yan shook his head: "These are the only businesses we have, and we have signed contracts with people to sell the recipes to them. Yueyue only has a hundred acres of land to collect rent. Besides, to bring honor to the Xie family, my uncle and third uncle also have the responsibility, so you don't have to take it all on yourself."
Seeing that he was not moved by any persuasion, Xie Zhenghuai had no choice but to let him leave.
On the other side, Shen Jinyu also wanted to persuade Li Wanyue to stay, but Li Wanyue smiled and practiced Tai Chi, but did not respond.
Shen Jinyu couldn't persuade him anymore.
Li Wanyue opened the box, which contained the cloth awarded by the emperor, and said, "Mother, please pick out two pieces of the cloth you like as your daughter-in-law's honor to you. Give one piece to the old lady, one piece each to the eldest aunt and the third aunt. Please send someone to deliver them.
When I have time, I will send a few more horses to the Shen Mansion."
"You're thoughtful."
Shen Jinyu sent someone to deliver it over. Old Madam Xie was beaming with joy. This was the material given by the Emperor. She kept praising Li Wanyue for being sensible and filial.
She also asked the nanny to pick out some jewelry from the warehouse and give them to Li Wanyue, who is now the lady of the earl.
The next day, the people in the Shen Mansion were also very happy when they received the cloth.
He also gave Li Wanyue some good things.
After finishing all the important things, Li Wanyue and the Li family spent a few more days in the capital and prepared to return.
On the day of the return trip, the Xie family and the Shen family accompanied them all the way out of the city and watched the convoy disappear from their sight.
Shen Yu did not go back with them. He met a girl he liked and was waiting to go to Anping County after completing the three books and six ceremonies and getting engaged.
Shen Jinyu shed tears silently, thinking secretly that she would find an opportunity to live in Anping County herself.
By the way, when Li Wanyue became pregnant, she moved to Anping County on the pretext of taking care of her pregnant daughter-in-law.
I prayed silently in my heart that Li Wanyue would get pregnant soon.
The group staggered back to Anping County.
The butler and his men came to greet them at the gate.
Old Man Shen and Old Lady Shen got off the carriage and stretched themselves: "It's better to go back to our own home and feel comfortable."
In another carriage, Li Wanyue was still sleeping in Xie Yan's arms.
Xie Yan poked her face and called softly, "Little lazy cat, we're home."
Li Wanyue was disturbed from her sound sleep. She whimpered in dissatisfaction and continued to sleep.
"Yueyue, we're home now, go back to the dormitory and sleep."
Li Wanyue then forced herself to open her eyes and sit up.
It’s so tiring to travel, I’m so exhausted and always feel like I’m not getting enough sleep.
"Are you too tired? I didn't see you this tired when we went to the capital."
Li Wanyue said: "Just go back and rest."
Several people returned to their dormitories. Li Wanyue washed up and leaned on the couch.
Qingqi brought the cooked chicken soup: "Madam, drink some chicken soup to replenish your body. You haven't had a good rest after such a tiring journey."
Li Wanyue picked up the ginseng soup, smelled the greasy taste, and felt her stomach churning.
She immediately put the bowl on the tray and retched a few times with her handkerchief covering her face.
Seeing this, Qingqi hurriedly put the tray aside and followed Li Wanyue's back: "Madam, what happened?"
Xie Yan happened to walk to the door. Upon hearing this, he quickened his pace and walked forward.
With a worried look on his face, he said, "Yueyue, what's wrong?"
He turned around and asked Qingqi to call a doctor.
He also poured a glass of water for Li Wanyue.
Li Wanyue felt better after drinking some water.
She said briskly, "I'm fine, don't worry, I just didn't get enough rest."
"We should have walked more slowly."
"That will take a lot of time. It's already slow enough. I'm really fine."
Soon, the doctor came. When Mr. and Mrs. Shen heard that Li Wanyue was not feeling well, they also came to visit.
After the doctor carefully checked her pulse, he said with a smile, "Don't worry, my lord. Madam is pregnant. It's just been a month. Morning sickness is normal. Congratulations, my lord and madam."
Xie Yan and Li Wanyue were both stunned.
Old man Shen patted Xie Yan on the back and said, "I'm so happy that I'm stupid."
Afterwards, Old Man Shen and Old Lady Shen pulled the doctor out of the room, asked some precautions and whether to use pregnancy-preserving drugs, and then asked the housekeeper to give the doctor two taels of silver as a reward and send him out.
Xie Yan's eyes were filled with joy, and he carefully hugged Li Wanyue: "Yueyue, we have a child, I am so happy."
Li Wanyue was also happy.
The whole mansion suddenly became lively.
Li Wanyue instantly enjoyed the national treasure treatment like a panda. Old man Shen and old lady Shen kept reminding her not to eat this and not to touch that, and they hated not letting her walk.
Li Wanyue looked like she had lost all hope in life. She could only wait for Xie Yan to come and quietly take her out for some fresh air.
In late autumn, the maple leaves are as red as fire, and the cool breeze blows. Sitting in the pavilion on the top of the mountain and gazing into the distance, you can see the entire county town.
Li Wanyue leaned her head on Xie Yan's shoulder, and the two whispered softly, chatting about their dreams for the future.
The years are quiet and good.
(The end of the play).
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