Chapter 439, Assassination
Yan Zhigao and Yan Wenxiu stayed behind to take care of the eunuchs who were to announce the imperial decree, while the others escorted Old Lady Yan and Madam Li back to Songheyuan.
After entering the house, Old Mrs. Yan's tense mood finally relaxed. Although this was the second time their family had received an imperial edict, she, an old country lady, still couldn't help but feel nervous.
"My eldest daughter-in-law, come on, let me see the imperial robe. I didn't look at it carefully just now."
Madam Li hurriedly took the imperial robe from Pingtong and handed it to the old lady personally.
Old Madam Yan carefully touched the imperial robe, her face and eyes full of smiles: "I never thought that I would be granted an imperial title this day. Great, really great!"
Madam Li was also very happy and said, "My daughter-in-law didn't expect this either."
Over the years, she has always lacked confidence due to her merchant background. Even though her husband is now the head of a family, she still suffers from some gossip and contempt every time she attends various banquets and gatherings.
Now that the emperor has personally conferred upon her the title of a fourth-rank lady, she can finally hold her head high and no longer worry about her status.
Seeing her grandmother and mother so happy, Daohua's disappointment disappeared completely. She smiled and said, "Grandma, Mother, this imperial robe is so beautiful. Please put it on and show it to us."
Sun smiled and took over the conversation: "Yes, we haven't even seen the lady of noble appointment yet. Mother and sister-in-law, hurry up and put them on so we can see them." Although she was smiling, there was an unconcealable sourness in her tone.
Old Madam Yan looked at Madam Li with an interested look on her face. "How about we try them on and see?"
Madam Li smiled and said, "I will listen to you mother."
Old Madam Yan immediately smiled and said, "Then put it on. Let's go to the inner room."
After a while, the two of them came out dressed.
When everyone saw him, they immediately surrounded him and said nice and happy things without asking for money.
Daohua stood by and watched with a smile, and suddenly felt that this was a good thing. Although the credit did not fall on her, her grandmother and mother became ladies of honor, and she would no longer be looked down upon when she came into contact with other officials' wives in the future.
Old Madam Yan walked around the room in her imperial robes. After being congratulated by her children and grandchildren, she would look towards the door from time to time: "Why haven't Zhigao and Wenxiu come back yet? After they have seen them, I can take them off and put them away."
Madam Li smiled and said, "Just now the maid came to report that an official came to congratulate us. It will probably take a while for him to return."
Old Madam Yan looked at the imperial robes on her body and hesitated: "What should I do? Take them off first and put them on for them to see when they come back?"
Daohua smiled and took the old lady's arm: "Grandma, if you don't mind the trouble, just wear it all the time."
Old Lady Yan touched the clothes with care and asked: "What if it gets dirty or damaged?"
Daohua laughed and said, "How could it be so easily soiled or damaged? By the way, Madam Fang just came in and said that the maids and servants at home wanted to come and pay their respects to the two ladies of the Imperial Order. I wonder if you would allow it?"
After hearing this, Old Lady Yan looked at Madam Li and said, "Then let's meet?"
Madam Li smiled and nodded: "I will listen to you mother."
Old Lady Yan immediately smiled at Grandma Sun. Grandma Sun took the hint and went out with a smile. Soon, all the maids and old women in the mansion came over, and the whole yard was filled with them kneeling on the ground.
Listening to everyone's congratulations, the old lady's face was always smiling.
Daohua leaned close to the old lady's ear and whispered with a smile, "Grandma, you are so happy today, won't you reward me?"
When Mrs. Yan heard this, she immediately said generously, "This month, everyone will receive an extra month's allowance."
When the maids and old women heard this, they were so happy that they rushed to express their gratitude.
Mrs. Li watched from the side and glanced at her daughter with a smile.
Only after the maids and old women had left did Yan Zhigao and Yan Wenxiu return from the front yard.
After Old Lady Yan and Madam Li looked at the imperial robes, they went to the inner room to change.
After coming out, Old Lady Yan couldn't help but ask, "Why did the Emperor want to confer imperial decrees on me and my eldest son's wife when everything was fine?"
Yan Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Mom, is there any need to ask? It must be because of my eldest brother's outstanding political achievements."
Yan Zhigao smiled and did not refute. He just glanced at his eldest daughter who was snuggling beside the old lady.
The eunuch who just announced the decree revealed that this time, the emperor rewarded two families in total, one was their family and the other was the Jiang family.
The daughter of Minister Jiang was conferred the title of county lady.
His intuition from years of ruling told him that the reason his mother and wife were granted imperial decrees was not because of his outstanding political achievements, but most likely because of the gold mine.
Thinking about the recent search for gold mines by the eldest daughter, Wentao and Wenkai, and her reaction when she learned that it was the Jiang family that found the gold mine, he had some vague guesses in his mind.
The imperial edicts bestowed upon the mother and wife may be the emperor's compensation to their family.
Yan Zhigao glanced again at his eldest daughter, who was sitting next to her mother and talking and laughing, and felt quite emotional.
He failed to obtain an imperial decree for his mother and wife, but his eldest daughter did.
Compared with the joy of the Yan family, the atmosphere in the home of Provincial Councillor Jiang was not so warm.
Jiang Zhengyuan held the imperial edict without much joy on his face. "I originally thought that because of my contribution to finding the gold mine, the emperor would give me the right to mine the gold mine. I didn't expect that a county lady would just send us away."
The Jiang family has two queens. Even if the girls of the Jiang family do not have the status of county masters, they are still the most noble in the whole of Daxia.
Mrs. Jiang ignored what was happening outside. She was very happy that her daughter became a county lady. "Before, only Wanyu from the eldest wife's family was a county lady. Now, our Wanying is also a county lady. No one is inferior to anyone else."
Hearing this, Jiang Zhengyuan shook his head. Women are always short on ideas and only care about arguing over the little piece of land in the backyard. "I wonder who the emperor will send to manage the gold mine?"
Madame Jiang: "Is there any need to ask? He must be the emperor's confidant."
On the eighth day of November, the Yan family received a letter from the Yang family.
"What did you say, your sister is coming back?"
Old Mrs. Yan looked at Yan Zhigao excitedly.
Yan Zhigao smiled and nodded. "Yes, my brother-in-law said that on your birthday this year, my sister will bring her two children to celebrate your birthday in person. Now that I'm calculating the date, I'm afraid they're already on their way."
Old Mrs. Yan's eyes suddenly turned red. She couldn't remember how many years it had been since she last saw her daughter.
Daohua quickly stepped forward to comfort her, "Grandma, your aunt is coming back, you should be happy, why are you crying?"
Old Lady Yan wiped the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief and said, "I just miss your aunt." Then she looked at Daohua with a smile, "You haven't met your cousins yet, but this time you can finally meet them."
Daohua smiled and said, "I've wanted to meet my aunt and cousins for a long time."
The smile on Yan Zhigao's face faded a little. He knew that the reason why the Yang family asked his sister to come and celebrate the birthday was simply because they saw that the Yan family was getting better and better and more profitable. He was very displeased with the Yang family's scheming.
However, seeing that his mother was so happy, he did not reveal his thoughts.
Everyone was talking and laughing when Butler Sun suddenly came over in a hurry.
When Yan Zhigao saw this, he immediately walked out and stood under the eaves, frowning as he listened to Butler Sun's report.
Daohua was going back to the yard to get something, and when she stepped out of the room, she just heard this sentence.
"Mrs. Chiang was assassinated while she was out burning incense"
Yan Zhigao saw his eldest daughter looking at him and waved to her.
Housekeeper Sun glanced at the approaching young lady and continued, "I heard that Madam Jiang was stabbed in the arm and bled a lot. Miss Jiang was so frightened that her old illness relapsed. More than ten of the Jiang family's servants died."
Hearing this, Daohua's face turned pale and her heart couldn't stop beating wildly.
After Butler Sun finished speaking, Yan Zhigao waved him off and said to Daohua, "Don't mention your search for the gold mine again."
Daohua nodded repeatedly.
(End of this chapter)
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