When Grandma He heard this, she thought it made sense and was temporarily relieved. She was actually a little scared. Not long after the imperial edict was issued, her son died, and not long after that, her daughter-in-law followed. So her first reaction when she heard the imperial edict was still a little worried, worried that it would be bad for Jinshu and their family.
After listening to Chen Zhen's words, she also felt that she might have been worrying too much. After all, Xiaoshu had just done such a great thing that benefited the people. Even if something happened, it shouldn't be now.
Thinking of this, she said, "Brother Zhen, you should also change into something more formal. Grandma should also change. Later, you should change for Siyi and Sixuan as well."
"Okay, I understand." Chen Chen responded.
Although they don't need to bathe and change clothes like John Horgan, they still need to dress more formally.
After Grandpa He came back, he also went back to his room to change his clothes.
After everything was ready, everyone knelt down to receive the imperial edict. The people in Wujia Village also heard the news and knelt in the courtyard or outside the door of the He family.
When Eunuch Chang saw that everyone was ready, he began to read the imperial edict: "By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor summons this person, He Jin, a native of Wujia Village, Linshe County... This is my order."
After reading it, Eunuch Chang folded the imperial edict with both hands and said to He Jinshu, "Mr. He, please accept the edict!"
"Thank you, Lord, for your grace. Long live the emperor." Everyone responded.
After the kowtow was completed, He Jinshu took the imperial edict with both hands, and then respectfully placed it in the imperial edict box in the middle of the main hall.
Afterwards, he hung the plaque "Goodness and Benefit to the People" brought by Eunuch Chang in the center of the main hall.
After everything was done, He Jinshu said to Eunuch Chang, "Eunuch, you must have come all the way here, you must be tired. Please come to the main hall and have a cup of tea and rest for a while. I will have someone prepare some wine for you and your brothers to thank you for your hard work over the past few days."
"In that case, I'll have to trouble Mr. He," said Eunuch Chang.
Then he added, "On the way here, I heard someone say there's a place called Jitongyatan here that serves really good roast duck and beggar's chicken."
"I'll ask someone to buy some later, and make sure to bring back plenty of chicken, duck, and braised food." He Jinshu said calmly.
Eunuch Chang nodded when he heard this, and then led his people into the main hall.
After everyone entered the house, He Jinshu asked Wen Feng to ride to the town on horseback to buy chickens, ducks and braised food, and then asked Aunt Wen to prepare some other snacks. Grandpa He went to the warehouse in the back to get some fruit wine.
Chen Chen and Grandma He took the two children back to their room, while the other villagers returned home.
After He Sixuan returned to the room, he pointed outside and said, "Father."
"Your father is entertaining guests outside! Let's not disturb him." Chen Chen put his hand down and said.
After saying that, he asked again: "Are you still going to sleep?"
The two children were sleeping when the imperial edict was about to be announced. They had originally planned to go to the town to release lanterns in the evening, so they were allowed to sleep a little longer in the afternoon so that they could play longer in the town in the evening.
Who knew that the imperial edict would come suddenly, so Chen Chen and Grandma He carried the two sleeping children out to receive the imperial edict. Unexpectedly, the two children woke up in the middle of the process. Fortunately, they did not make a fuss, so no accident happened.
After hearing what Chen Chen said, He Sixuan shook his head, indicating that he didn't want to sleep anymore.
Seeing this, Chen Chen didn't force it. He just put He Siyi and He Sixuan in the middle of the bed, and then leaned against the headboard, playing with them with toys and chatting with Grandma He.
While teasing He Sixuan, Chen Chen said to Grandma He, "We were planning to go see the lanterns tonight, but now we may not be able to go."
It was already 3 p.m., and they didn't know how long it would take for the man called Eunuch Chang and the others to finish their meal. Chen Chen estimated that they might not be able to go to the town.
Hearing this, Grandma He comforted her and said, "Maybe they know that today is the Lantern Festival and want to join in the fun."
Chen Zhen nodded slightly after hearing this. Even if they went, He Jinshu would definitely have to accompany them, and then they would not be so comfortable.
Although these people are not important figures and do not need to be treated with excessive courtesy, they are from the capital after all, so they still need to be taken care of. Otherwise, what if they make them unhappy and cause trouble for themselves?
Thinking of this, Chen Zhen asked Grandma He, "Grandma, was this father-in-law familiar with Dad before?"
"I'm not sure about that." Grandma He shook her head and said, "I don't remember much contact."
In the past, He Ningyi would also talk about some people and things in the court at home, mainly to Grandpa He, so that when he went out to deal with people in the future, he would know which people he could make friends with and which he could not.
Grandma He and Jiang Huixian would also listen to some of the stories, but Grandma He had no recollection of having heard of this father-in-law's name.
Chen Zhen nodded upon hearing this. It didn't matter if they were not familiar with each other. If they were also going to the town to celebrate the Lantern Festival in the evening, Chen Zhen planned to separate from He Jinshu after arriving in the town and take his two sons to see the lanterns.
However, Chen Zhen's worries this time were unnecessary. After dinner at home, Eunuch Chang and his companions declined He Jinshu's invitation to go to the town to see the lanterns. They then said to He Jinshu, "Thank you very much for your hospitality, Mr. He. We have been away from Beijing for two months and we have to go back to report. We will not join in the fun."
"In that case, I can't keep you here, sir. I've asked someone to pack some food for you, and I hope you won't refuse." He Jinshu said politely.
"In that case, I won't be polite." said Eunuch Chang.
After seeing off a few people, He Jinshu returned to his room.
When Chen Zhen saw He Jinshu coming back, he asked, "Are they all gone?"
"Yes," He Jinshu responded.
"So are you going to town tonight?"
"Will you go?"
Before Chen Zhen could say anything, He Sixuan grabbed He Jinshu's sleeve, stood up, and said, "Go, Father." This meant that he wanted to go to town to play.
Seeing this, Chen Chen said in surprise: "Hey, you can actually stand up."
He Sixuan ignored Chen Zhen's words. Seeing that He Jinshu hadn't responded to him, he looked up at He Jinshu and said, "Go."
He Siyi, who was also sitting nearby, echoed, "Go."
He Jinshu was very happy to see that his brother could help him stand up, so he hugged him and said, "Let's go."
He Sixuan probably understood what He Jinshu said, so she clapped her hands happily, then smiled brightly and leaned over to give He Jinshu a kiss.
After a few laughs and jokes, they said hello to Grandpa He and Grandma He, then packed up and prepared to go to town to see the lanterns.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
