The county magistrate was an eighth-rank official. She was not required to kneel before officials of the same rank or below, and her monthly salary was one hundred shi (a unit of dry measure).
With this layer of protection, Jiang Yue could move freely and be invincible throughout Taohua County.
"Your Excellency, please straighten your clothes. If there is anything inappropriate, I can arrange for someone to make improvements at any time."
Eunuch Hai bowed slightly, signaling Xiao Shunzi to lead the men to remove the screen so that the county magistrate could change her clothes.
"Then I'll trouble you to make the arrangements, Father-in-law."
When Jiang Yue saw Magistrate Liu wink at her, she immediately agreed.
Soon, the headdress and clothes exclusively for the county magistrate were displayed to everyone.
Jiang Yue stepped behind the screen and allowed two eunuchs to help her put on the cloak...
A moment later, she stepped out from behind the screen, then turned around, exuding an imposing aura without anger. The villagers shouted—
"This humble subject pays respects to Magistrate Jiang!"
No need for formalities~
With a wave of her right hand, Jiang Yue's long sleeves fluttered and fell to her side, the jade pendants at her waist jingling. She quickly bent down and helped up the village chief and his parents.
"Thank you very much, Your Highness!"
The village chief hesitated, saying that Jiang's status was no ordinary person now, and he should be more respectful.
"Uncle Village Chief, you're too kind. Please continue to call me the same way you used to."
Jiang Yue shook her head, trying her best to smile and ease the tension among the crowd.
He then gave his son a meaningful look, and the latter, realizing what was happening, quickly and quietly approached Eunuch Hai, who was delivering the imperial decree, and slipped him a bulging purse...
Grandpa Hai pretended to refuse, then reluctantly accepted it, his smile growing ever more genuine.
"We have urgent matters to attend to, so we won't stay any longer and will be of no use to you. We hope you will understand, Your Excellency."
"Thank you so much, Eunuch Hai, for coming all this way. If there's a chance in the future, I'll treat you to a good meal again!"
Jiang Yue didn't try to stop her and readily agreed.
She thought to herself, "Today is her father-in-law's 60th birthday. He's quite sensible; he knows that bringing too many people would be difficult to arrange."
"Then we agree. We look forward to this fine wine!"
Eunuch Hai was clearly sensible; having completed his mission, he should hurry back to Jinling to report.
"The imperial edict has been read, and the dignitary has departed. Everyone, please rise."
Magistrate Liu turned around, smiled, and gestured for everyone to rise. He then gave Jiang a final, deep look before leaving, making his stance clear:
"I will soon be taking up my post as prefect of Ping'an Prefecture. If the county magistrate needs anything in the future, she may send someone to your residence..."
Upon hearing this, the village chief subtly glanced at Prefect Liu, then at the expressionless Jiang, and began to speculate.
This Prefect Liu has been helping Wu Family Village and the Jiang family from beginning to end. He never considered anything else before, but now...
Unfortunately, he was in love, but she was not.
He had discussed the matter privately with Old Wu, but Jiang refused to remarry, vowing never to do so...
Sure enough, the next second, just as he had expected, happened.
Jiang Yue nodded, without saying another word to try and keep her, and bowed to say goodbye.
"Take care, Prefect Liu!"
She decided not to see him off, to avoid gossip.
Prefect Liu's lips curled slightly in a bitter smile, and he reluctantly bowed and took his leave.
Jiang treated him with the same distant and polite demeanor as always, truly a cooperative relationship...
After he got into his own carriage, he couldn't help but lift a corner of the window and steal one last peek at Madam Jiang.
When they first met, he thought she was just an ordinary woman, a strong widow.
He didn't take his son's words, whether openly or indirectly, seriously.
When did he begin to have some interest?
And when did I realize that the other person had absolutely no ulterior motives...?
He certainly experienced setbacks, but he wasn't one to be easily swayed by romantic feelings.
If there's no fate, there's no fate. Let's each be well and work together towards our shared goals—isn't that a kind of fulfillment?
"Giddy up!"
The roads in Wujia Village are very smooth, without any potholes.
Soon, the carriage disappeared.
Although the village chief secretly regretted it, he was the village chief of Wu Family Village. He had watched Jiang turn over a new leaf, or rather, step by step transform from an ignorant person into the powerful figure she is today!
With the Chiang family around, Wu Family Village should be able to continue its glory for another century!
Ancestors, I, Wu Yongfa, have truly witnessed the rise of Wu Family Village. When I visit you in the future, you must praise me!
"grandfather?"
"What's wrong? Is there silver?"
"Grandma is telling us to go back for the feast."
"Okay, help Grandpa, his legs are a little weak~"
"ah?"
......
The group arrived quickly and left just as fast. If it weren't for the dozen or so large boxes left at the village entrance and the newly dressed Jiang Shi holding the imperial edict, the villagers would have thought they were dreaming.
"Qingshan, find some villagers to help carry everything home."
"Master, continue the performance! A good performance will be richly rewarded!"
“Uncle Village Chief, today is my father-in-law’s birthday celebration. We can hold the ancestral hall ceremony tomorrow!”
"Dad, Mom, I'm hungry. Let's go home for the wedding feast!"
Jiang Yue took off the imperial princess's robes and asked her sister-in-law to remove the hair ornament from her head. She put them back in the trunk and gestured for her son to take people home.
Everyone snapped out of their daze, scrambling to get back to what they were doing...
Everyone's mindset changed, and they looked at Chiang Kai-shek with increasing respect!
Da Zhou's hands were trembling as she held the glittering golden hair crown, afraid of damaging the things on it.
Now that her sister-in-law has become a county princess, should she call her "County Princess" or "Third Brother's Wife"?
Are none of you leaving?
Jiang Yue had no choice but to take the arm of her sister-in-law on either side and speak in a rather indifferent tone:
"Sister-in-law, how many months old is Xiaodie?"
"It's been five or six months now~"
"That's great! The baby will be born in the spring when the flowers are in bloom, so it won't be a painful birth!"
"Yes, back then..."
"Second Aunt, how's your little girl? Is she still throwing up?"
"Much better, all thanks to the traditional remedy you gave me. Last time I went to Jiangjiawan, my mother-in-law..."
........
As he watched his three daughters-in-law walk ahead, Old Master Wu wept with joy.
His family's ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke!
"You old fool, stop crying! Don't make a fool of yourself and embarrass your third son's wife!"
Old Mrs. Zhou patted the old man's arm and scolded him playfully.
"No way! Let's go home for the banquet. I want to have a few more drinks with my older brother!"
Grandpa Wu quickly wiped away his tears, refusing to admit that he had cried.
The troupe leader on the stage was fortunate enough to have seen an imperial edict, enough for him to boast about for the rest of his life!
In fact, for the next ten years or so, the old troupe leader would tell everyone he met about the sight he had seen that day.
Originally an obscure village, Wu Family Village gradually became famous as a medicinal herb village because of the reputation of County Magistrate Jiang...
"What are you all standing there for? Are you going to put on an opera?"
"Let's all be more energetic in our Begonia Class today and sing!"
"Bang bang bang~"
The lively drumming and gonging continued, and the villagers, recovering from their initial shock, watched the opera with great interest...
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