After giving their instructions, the two men took twenty oxcarts and three horse-drawn carriages to Jinnan City. Their first stop was a furniture store. Although the elders in the village were also making furniture, they weren't making enough, since beds alone required a lot of production.
Now that we have such big houses, we can't just squeeze into one bed like before. And those with wives and children are allowed to live in other courtyards.
When they arrived, the women in the village told them to buy more furniture for them so that their sons and daughters-in-law could live separately. They even offered them some money, but the two women refused, saying they could deduct it from their accounts that night.
The two of them went to all the furniture shops in Jinnan City and finally managed to collect all the beds, tables, cabinets, dressing tables, and other items.
The horse-drawn carriages and oxcarts couldn't carry all the items, so they asked the furniture store owner to help send some back first. Then the two of them went to the house to put away their things: quilts and fabrics. Although there were still some in the workshop, they could take some back with them. They decided to have the girls make some bed sheets and duvet covers for the night.
Finally, there's cotton. Since arriving here, the two of them have been using their clothes as pillows to sleep at night. They're not used to ancient pillows, so cotton is much better. Next is grain, chicken, duck, and goose. Besides those used for braising and selling, the villagers are eating better these days.
Finally, there were the fruits. Several hundred pounds of each kind were taken out and packed into sacks. Besides brewing wine, they were also given to the tribespeople to eat. Previously, all the fruits had been used to brew wine, and no one had gotten to eat a single bite. Now, they could be taken out to let them taste them.
After they finished putting everything away, they sat down to rest. They were really tired. She was in charge of buying the items, and Hua Hua was in charge of packing them. There was nothing else for them to do, so the two of them sat outside the house waiting.
Soon, Lin Changwu and his men arrived in a carriage. Seeing them outside the house, Lin Changwu jumped off the carriage and said, "Sisters-in-law, you should go back quickly. The official who made the investiture has arrived. We met him on the way."
They had barely arrived in the village when Mu Tou told them to find the two sisters-in-law. The prefect had sent someone early that morning to say that the official to be conferred the title would arrive today and would not stay in Jinnan City, but would go directly to the village.
This made Mu Tou very anxious, and he kept urging him to hurry up. On the way, they encountered the entourage of the prefect and the officials. They just hoped that the entourage would not move too fast and give them some time to catch up.
An Shuyi and Xia Hua did not expect that the official who was bestowing the title would not stay in Jinnan City, but would go directly to the village. Fortunately, they had returned early, otherwise, how could the prefect have kept him there?
Seeing that Lin Changyuan had already caught up, he handed him the key to the house gate, saying, "Changyuan, there are things inside the house. You take them back, and we'll go back first. Just give me the key back."
After saying that, she and Xia Hua jumped into Lin Changwu's carriage. Lin Changwu, who was eager to get back, drove the carriage very fast. Xia Hua had to remind him, "Changwu, safety is the most important thing. There's no use in rushing. Besides, the prefect is here. If we arrive a little late, he will handle it. You don't need to be in such a hurry."
They wanted to live a few more years and didn't want to die young. Besides, the streets of Jinnan City were full of people. If they hit someone, it wouldn't be good for anyone. Safety was the priority.
"Okay, sister-in-law!" Lin Changwu knew that rushing wouldn't help, so he could only slow down a bit, but still be a little faster than usual.
When they arrived at the village, the roads were already filled with many carriages. Besides the prefect, there were also officials and people who had come to buy things. However, since it was probably the newly appointed officials present, the village was very quiet despite the large number of people.
An Shuyi and Xia Hua disembarked from the carriage some distance away because the roads in the village were impassable. When they got closer and didn't see the Second Prince, they breathed a sigh of relief. In the Second Prince's current state, it was not a good opportunity to return to the palace.
So many days have passed and his subordinates still haven't come looking for him. It's either because they can't find him or they've run into trouble. There's still no news from the palace that the Second Prince isn't in the palace. That means no one knows he left the palace, or there's a stand-in in the palace.
When Prefect Xiao saw them appear, he turned to the official sitting in the chair and said, "Sir, the two ladies have arrived." These two ladies are really busy; they are never here when I come.
Although the emperor was getting impatient while waiting, he did not make things difficult and then ordered the guards behind him to bring the box containing the imperial edict.
After he opened it, he took out the imperial edict, which read, "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees." Then, a whole group of people knelt on the ground, including An Shuyi and Xia Hua. Although neither of them wanted to kneel, there were so many people, and they were at the very front, so they had no choice but to kneel.
However, the two could not actually kneel down. Using the hem of their skirts, they stopped a little distance from the ground without actually kneeling down. And no one noticed their movements except each other.
After the official finished reading the imperial edict in his high-pitched voice, An Shuyi stood up to receive it, and then the others stood up.
"Congratulations to both of you ladies. The cholera outbreak was resolved so easily thanks to your prescriptions. His Majesty was very pleased. When I came here, His Majesty asked me to see what kind of extraordinary people you are. After seeing you, I can confirm that you two ladies are truly remarkable."
An Shuyi smiled and said, "That's the Emperor's favor, nothing to mention. It's too kind of you to come, Eunuch." As she spoke, Xia Hua handed over a purse containing the silver they had prepared.
"Thank you both for your generosity. Now that the imperial decree has been issued, I must return to report to the Emperor." With that, he strode forward and was helped into the carriage.
It's unbearably hot here, and they're making him wait outside. They're obviously ignorant people who don't know the rules. He doesn't want to stay here any longer.
An Shuyi and Xia Hua couldn't wait for him to leave. As soon as he got into the carriage, they gave each other a look, signaling the prefect to leave as well.
Seeing the threatening looks in their eyes, Prefect Xiao hurriedly jumped into his carriage and left. He had been thinking of having a meal in Peach Blossom Village today, but he didn't expect that he wouldn't be able to. His wife and daughter had originally wanted to come along, but he hadn't brought them.
Don't think he doesn't know what that mother and daughter are thinking. It's because they really liked the things he brought last time, so they wanted to buy some more, but they were afraid of being seen by others, so they wanted to come with him.
After the officials and the prefect's entourage left, the village slowly began to liven up. Those who came to buy things then learned that the village had suddenly produced two ladies-in-waiting. Although their official positions were not high, they were still bestowed by the emperor.
Moreover, it was thanks to their prescription that the cholera outbreak in Jinnan City did not spread and prevent too many deaths. People who were shopping were so busy that they didn't even have time to buy anything and hurriedly drove back to tell their families.
After those who had bought the items left, the villagers erupted in lively chatter again, all eagerly eyeing the gifts bestowed by the Emperor. In addition to the imperial edict, there were two sets of official robes for ladies, a pair of jade ruyi scepters, six bolts of silk and satin, and one hundred taels of gold.
Although there aren't many items, what's important isn't the quantity, but the value.
"An family, Xia family, could you show me the imperial edict?" the clan chief asked as he approached.
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