Chapter 62: Conferred the title of Duke of Lingguo
"Sister, why are you sighing?"
Jiang Han blinked her big eyes, not understanding why her sister was upset. Jiang Yaozu was even more carefree and opened the paper package to take a piece of cake and started eating.
"Sister, this chestnut cake is delicious. Why don't you try a piece too?"
"Nothing, have your snacks. I'm going to take a nap first, I feel a little dizzy."
"oh."
The brother and sister nodded obediently.
I don’t know when it started, but the two of them became particularly obedient to their eldest sister.
The journey from Maocheng to Beijing wasn't that far, only about 500 miles. But with so many families, young and old, and so many things to do, a lot of time was wasted.
We set off at the beginning of the month and arrived in the capital at the end of the month.
The emperor, who had received the letter from his daughter-in-law in advance, led his people out of the city to welcome her in person.
Jiang Wan knelt on the ground with his parents and shouted "Long live the emperor". He had not yet learned to lower his head completely. He watched quietly as the emperor stretched out his right hand to Madam Qiao, but was avoided by her by taking a step back. Then he stretched out his left hand to Madam Zhao and stood shoulder to shoulder with her.
She looked at the three figures standing in front of her and suddenly felt sad for the two ladies of the Li family.
Maybe it's because I'm a woman myself, so I can't help but side with women. I find it difficult to judge Li Chengxiu's father.
Even though we know in our hearts that it is difficult for all parties, but human nature is selfish and we will always subconsciously distinguish between the insiders and the outsiders.
Qiao felt a pair of eyes from behind scrutinizing her. She slowly turned her head and met a pair of delightful almond-shaped eyes. Without much thought, she could guess who this girl with big eyes was.
The indignation she couldn't quite conceal in her eyes made Qiao find it somewhat amusing. She gave the bold little girl a look, and she quickly lowered her head.
"Hahaha, everyone, stand up!"
The emperor laughed out loud, and personally stepped forward, grabbed Jiang Huailiang, and patted his shoulder hard.
"You are worthy of being the Duke of Lingguo, bestowed by me personally. I can trust you no matter what you do. If you can safely escort the Empress and the Imperial Noble Consort to the capital, I will credit you with another great achievement. The title of Duke of Lingguo will be hereditary and will never be demoted!"
Even though he had heard the news from his eldest daughter in advance, Jiang Huailiang was still dizzy with joy when the title of Duke finally hit him on the head.
He knelt down again with a thud and thanked him loudly.
"Your Majesty, I bow to thank you for your grace!"
The emperor picked the man up again and patted his shoulder emotionally.
"Second brother, you carried me out of the dead so many times, and we swore an oath when we kowtowed to each other and became sworn brothers.
In this life, we share happiness and difficulties together!
Last time you said you were unwilling to accept the reward from a king of a different surname, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness, brother."
He blinked his eyes and wiped away his tears, then pulled the person and waved his sleeves around.
"Look, this is the kingdom we brothers fought for!
From now on, as long as you don't have the guts to stab me in the back, I will agree to your request.
The Duke's Mansion will rest with the country!"
Jiang Huailiang also burst into tears instantly.
"Brother! If I, Jiang Huailiang, ever have second thoughts about you, I will be pierced through the heart by thousands of arrows and die, and I will never be reborn after death!"
These two old brothers are more ruthless than each other, they really deserve to be in trouble!
Jiang Wan looked at his silly father who was crying with the emperor in his arms, and felt that everything about him was unpleasant. Then he changed his posture and knelt down to look again.
Hey, it really looks good.
He looked at his big bear father and Li Chengxiu's fox father with respect, crying and hugging each other, and performed for all the civil and military officials in the court what it meant to live up to the green mountains, pines and cypresses in this life.
This double act was performed by the two of them, tsk.
How come I never realized before that my own father was so smart? Look at how considerately he solved the problem for the emperor. He will definitely be a master at smoothing things over in official circles in the future.
"Second brother, let's go into the city with big brother!"
"Okay!"
Everyone watched as the sworn brothers, their status suddenly elevated, walked away arm in arm, their affection deep within them. A story of perfect brotherly love and harmonious relationship between ruler and subject concluded beautifully outside the city walls.
The empress and the imperial concubine were left smiling at each other, and they politely walked half a step past each other and sat on the phoenix sedan chair one after another.
Then several princes rode their horses in front, followed by their relatives, and they entered the city one by one in an orderly manner.
The Jiang family's carriage was pulled back by servants who had been arranged in advance and was parked in front of a tall mansion in the busiest area of Chunhe Avenue.
Jiang Huailiang was directly taken into the palace by the emperor, and Xu took her family back home first.
"Oh my god! This, this will be our house from now on?"
Old Wang was supported by her daughter-in-law. She stood at the door and looked at the magnificent gate. She was so scared that she didn't dare to lift her legs to go in.
"Why not? Look up, mother. Those few words written in iron and silver ink on the plaque will become our Jiang family's external signboard in the future."
Xu's eyes showed a complex mix of emotions: happiness, sadness, nostalgia, and longing.
Back then, my sister paid a huge price to escape from the capital with me in a panic. I never dreamed that she, Xu Ruoyu, would come back one day!
Sure enough, things change.
Thinking of the families she had just met outside the city, a sneer flashed in Xu's eyes.
"Daughter-in-law, why are there so many words on it?"
The old man can't read, but he knows how to count.
"Just now, when we were outside the city, Prince Huai, oh, no, no, didn't the emperor say that he had conferred upon our family the title of Duke of Ling? Then why are there five characters on this plaque? Did we touch the wrong person?"
Xu, whose thoughts were called back, said with a smile.
"Dad, don't worry, it's not wrong."
He turned back and winked at the three children.
"Mom is testing you three. What do these five words on the plaque mean? Does anyone know?"
The twin brother and sister of the Jiang family raised their heads and shook their heads at the same time, then looked at their eldest sister. In their minds, it seemed as if their eldest sister was omnipotent and omniscient.
"What were you two doing during class?"
Jiang Wan's face tightened, and she looked like an elder sister.
"Imperial Decree to the National Government, don't you know these words?"
"I don't know the first word."
"I know the characters, but I don't know what they mean."
Jiang Lao Er is obviously much smarter than Jiang Lao San, and his excuses are also reasonable.
Xu smiled and listened to her eldest daughter teaching her younger siblings.
"'Imperially built' means it was built by order of the emperor. It basically means that this mansion of ours was bestowed upon us by the emperor. It's both an honor and a source of awe!"
Jiang Wan raised his eyes and looked at his mother again.
"Mother, the Emperor has only been in the capital for a short time. He can't have built a mansion so quickly, right?"
"The house can't be built for now, but the plaque is fine. Mother, please be careful with the door threshold."
Xu helped the old lady lift her legs and walked into the Duke Lingguo's mansion.
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