Chapter 182 The Earl of Yongqing Suffers a Cruel Blow
The imperial edict of investiture arrived at the Yongqing Earl's residence along with Qiuheng.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Qiu Heng, the sixth daughter of the Yongqing Marquis's Mansion, single-handedly lured away a black bear during the autumn hunt to save Princess Rongning. Her courage and willingness to sacrifice her life for righteousness are commendable. Furthermore, she assisted Xue Han, the Imperial City Envoy, in obtaining evidence of Fang Yuanzhi's treason by exposing his crimes. She is loyal to the Emperor and loves her country, sharing the Emperor's burdens... Therefore, she is hereby granted the title of Princess of Suiyun County, and awarded one hundred taels of gold and a pair of jade ruyi scepters... This is the imperial decree!"
After the official read the imperial edict aloud, the crowd kneeling on the ground was stunned, like clay sculptures.
Qiu Heng raised her hands and said loudly, "Your subject Qiu Heng receives the imperial decree and kowtows to express her gratitude for Your Majesty's grace."
The official delivering the imperial edict solemnly handed the bright yellow edict to Qiu Heng and said with a smile, "Congratulations, County Princess."
Qiu Heng returned the greeting: "Thank you, sir."
As if waking from a dream, the Earl of Yongqing rushed unsteadily to the messenger: "My lord, has my granddaughter really been granted the title of county princess?"
"We've already accepted the imperial edict, how could it be fake?"
"What... what's going on?" Yongqingbo was still incredulous.
The messenger smiled and said, "My lord, you may ask Princess Suiyun. I don't know the specifics either."
"Thank you, thank you." Even though Yongqing hadn't drunk any alcohol, he felt dizzy as if he had drunk too much, as if he wasn't standing on solid ground, but on cotton.
The old lady pinched her arm hard, and the pain brought her back to her senses. She then instructed the maidservant beside her to give each of the officials who delivered the imperial decree a token of gratitude.
The messenger and his entourage left quickly, leaving behind gold and other rewards. As for the clothing and adornments needed by the county princess, they would take some time to be made.
The courtyard was still so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and everyone stared blankly at Qiu Heng.
"Heng'er, did you help the Imperial City Guard obtain evidence of Fang's treason?" Yongqing Earl stared intently at Qiu Heng, asking incredulously.
Faced with so many curious gazes, Qiu Heng calmly nodded: "Yes."
"How did you do that?" Uncle Yongqing unconsciously raised his voice.
The old lady glanced around, frowned, and reminded, "Don't talk about it in the yard. Ask inside if you have anything to say."
"Yes, yes, let's go inside."
All three families squeezed into Qiansong Hall, leaving a group of servants who were so curious they were itching to cry.
It's too crowded inside, so why not talk about it in the yard!
"Heng'er, what exactly happened? What did you do at the Prime Minister's residence?" As soon as he entered the room, Yongqingbo asked impatiently.
"It was Xue Han who discovered that the Northern Qi spy had been to the Prime Minister's residence. He happened to know that I was there, so he took the opportunity of going to pay his respects to Young Master Fang to ask me to keep an eye out..." Qiu Heng used this excuse again.
The old lady seized on the key point: "Xue Han went to the Prime Minister's residence to see you so that you could help him find evidence?"
Not because he wanted to see Sixth Sister?
Qiu Heng paused for a moment, then could only agree, saying, "Yes."
The old lady slammed her hand on the table: "How could I let Xue Han do such a dangerous thing!"
The young man she thought was infatuated with her was actually looking for help? He didn't care about Liu Yatou's safety at all?
The old lady glanced at Yongqing Earl and sneered silently: Men really do value interests more than love.
"Xue Han only asked me to keep an eye out; sneaking into the treacherous prime minister's study was my own idea—"
"And you're still defending him!"
The Earl of Yongqing glared at the old lady with displeasure: "Fortune favors the bold. If Heng'er hadn't made such a great contribution, how could she have been made a county princess?"
"County Princess! That's a title only a prince's daughter can have. If it were a title inherited by a marquis's family—" The Marquis of Yongqing suddenly realized what was going on.
Wait a minute, didn't Sixth Sister say before that she would use the merit of saving Princess Rongning during the autumn hunt to prevent the Earl's mansion from making things difficult for her maid named Fangzhou?
He was still hoping for a suitable opportunity to inherit the title through the rewards the Emperor had promised to Liu Yatou. But instead, he combined two achievements and directly bestowed upon Liu Yatou the title of County Princess?
"What's wrong with Grandfather?" Qiu Heng asked with a smile.
The question that was on the tip of Yongqingbo's tongue was swallowed back down.
Well then, this is the Emperor's arrangement, what else can be said?
Alright then, it's an honor for a family like theirs to have a county princess. We'll record this in the family genealogy during the New Year.
Upon thinking about it, Yongqingbo became happy again and decided to go out for a drink later.
Staying cooped up at home is like wearing fine clothes in the dark.
"Sixth girl, I knew you were bold, but I never imagined you were this bold! Didn't you think about what would happen if you were discovered? Forget about getting evidence, your life would be in danger!" The old lady was furious, pointing at Master Qiu, "Never mind what others say, don't you think about your father? Ever since you came back, your father has been so happy that he barely drinks anymore, and he's even started to look like a normal person..."
Master Qiu San: ?
“Grandmother,” Qiu Heng called out.
"Um?"
"The opportunity to get rid of such a treacherous official as Fang Xiang is right in front of us, it's hard to give it up. Just think, how many people would be spared if the Fang family fell?"
The old lady fell silent, thinking of Qiu Fu who had been forced into this situation, the tragically deceased Liu woman, and the Yan family whose home had been destroyed.
"The gold bestowed by His Majesty is still outside. I'll move those imperial gifts to Lengxiang Residence first."
"Heng'er, let Daddy help you move it."
Seeing the eager expression on Master Qiu's face, Qiu Heng's lips twitched slightly.
There's no need to move it yourself...
Master Qiu thought differently: "A hundred taels? Father can carry that!"
A large group of people headed to Lengxiangju.
Fangzhou skillfully arranged for people to put things away, while the Qiuxuan sisters surrounded Qiuheng and asked her about her affairs at the Prime Minister's residence.
"Sixth sister, you are so brave! If it were me, I would have cried." Qiu Ying looked at Qiu Heng as if she had just met her.
Qiu Yun asked curiously, "Sixth Sister, will there be a salary if you become a county princess?"
“Of course.” Qiu Fu’s mood soared, and she was inexplicably happy. “Just like my grandfather, I receive a stipend every year.”
"That's wonderful," Qiu Yun murmured.
As the Thousand Pine Hall grew quiet, the old lady recalled what Qiu Heng had said yesterday, criticizing Qiu Heng for wasting her time going to the Prime Minister's residence on her own initiative.
The girl said slowly and deliberately, "It wasn't a waste of effort, the Prime Minister's residence is finished now."
It turns out that this "not a waste of effort" was a real thing, and it was only after being granted the title of county princess that she said it. How could she be so patient?
As the old lady was filled with emotion, the Earl of Yongqing went out to show off, only to be met with a devastating blow.
"Your granddaughter has been granted the title of County Princess? Congratulations! My lord, well, I heard—"
"What did you hear?" Yongqingbo asked, puzzled by the other man's strange expression.
"Ahem, I heard that His Majesty originally intended to reward your family with a title that would be passed down for another generation, but what happened—"
"result?"
"Have your granddaughter request that His Majesty reward her..."
Yongqingbo was struck dumb, staring blankly at the other person's opening and closing mouth.
How could someone with such a mouth say such awful things?
He's lying, right? He must be lying!
The Earl of Yongqing returned to his residence, utterly distraught, and hoarsely cried out, "Summon the Sixth Miss!"
Soon the maid who had gone to deliver the message returned and reported: "Master, the sixth young lady has gone to the old lady's place."
Yongqingbo gritted his teeth and headed straight for Qiansong Hall.
(End of this chapter)
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