Everything was ready at the Jiang residence, and the procession tasked with delivering the rewards entered the city gates.
The officials in the government office also received the news that the emperor had specially issued an edict to reward a woman.
"Let's go and greet her. I wonder which woman has been blessed with such extraordinary good fortune."
“I read the official gazette of the lord, it is Jiang Mushi. She was a Jinshi in the previous two examinations, but she did not take up an official post and instead taught at Bailu Academy.”
Uncle Mu was also in the welcoming party. When he heard Shangguan's words, his mind went blank for a moment.
The Jiang Mushi they're talking about, whose husband passed the imperial examination but didn't become an official, instead went to teach at an academy—isn't that Jiang Shuyun?
Uncle Mu's heart pounded. He wondered what Yi An had done to warrant the Emperor's personal decree of reward.
While I was still in a daze, the group came over.
The minor official from the government office quickly went over to greet them, as they were taking the people from the capital to the Jiang residence.
"Gentlemen, please."
With someone leading the way, the people behind followed, and Uncle Mu also moved forward with the flow of people, his mind in turmoil.
Upon arriving at the Jiang residence, Uncle Gu directed the process, and the main gate was already open.
In the outer courtyard, an incense table was set up as Uncle Gu had instructed.
Jiang Shuyun led the Jiang family members to kneel on one side of the incense table, waiting for the eunuch from the palace to read the imperial edict.
The eunuch who came to deliver the imperial decree had already been reminded to be polite to the Jiang family.
He didn't understand why an unknown local person would receive such preferential treatment.
They were not given any instructions when they delivered imperial edicts to the dukes' households in the capital, which is truly baffling.
However, those who can gain a foothold in the palace are no fools. It doesn't matter if you don't understand; just do as instructed.
Seeing that the Jiang family was well-behaved and not in a mess, the father-in-law took out the imperial edict and began to read it aloud.
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees."
Jiang Mu's successful cultivation of cotton solved the problem of keeping frontier soldiers warm. For her contributions to the Dali Dynasty and the nation, she was specially granted the title of Seventh-Rank Lady.
He was rewarded with a thousand taels of gold, a pair of jade ruyi scepters, a set of gold and silver jewelry, a set of jade jewelry, a box of writing implements, and ten bolts each of silk and satin…
So be it!
After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, Jiang Shuyun quickly accepted it with both hands.
"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
Jiang Shuyun took the lead, and her family members followed suit, expressing their gratitude to the Lord.
"The imperial decree has been conveyed. I must return to report. Mr. Jiang and Madam Jiang should remember the Emperor's grace and make more contributions to the court."
"We will remember your advice, Eunuch Xie."
Jiang Shuyun knew that these eunuchs needed to be taken care of, and Butler Li had already gone over and stuffed a purse into the eunuch's hand.
The father-in-law knew perfectly well what was going on, so he didn't linger and left the prefectural city with his men, returning to the capital.
Uncle Gu then instructed him to put the imperial edict away properly, lest he do something disrespectful.
"Uncle Gu, thank you so much. We wouldn't know what to do without your guidance."
Jiang Shuyun was truly grateful, as he and Yi'an didn't know much about these ancient formalities.
This is an imperial edict; if they misunderstand the rules, the consequences will be beyond their capabilities.
"You don't need to take the master's instructions to heart."
"Madam Jiang, do you have any more side dishes? Master really likes them."
Uncle Gu also liked the various side dishes made by the Jiang family; they were very appetizing.
"Uncle Gu, please wait a moment, I'll have someone prepare it."
Mu Yi'an turned and went into the inner courtyard, asking Sister Li to prepare some side dishes.
She was given the title of Ruren (孺人), and although she didn't know what the purpose of this title was, it was better to have it than nothing.
There was also a thousand taels of gold. How much silver would that be? Mu Yi'an felt a little excited.
In the outer courtyard, several officials from the government office had not yet left. They hadn't expected that Jiang Shuyun, whom none of them had paid attention to, would have such great luck in her family.
Imperial edicts are something they might never live to receive.
Moreover, being a seventh-rank lady is no small honor.
"Third Uncle, gentlemen, please come in and have a cup of tea."
Jiang Shuyun only saw Uncle Mu in the crowd after her father-in-law and the others had left.
"Oh my, Lord Mu, is this Jiang Mu family's niece?"
When the other adults heard Mr. Liang address Lord Mu as his third uncle, they immediately understood.
"Yes, she's my niece."
Uncle Mu's feelings at this moment are indescribable; he is surprised, delighted, and bewildered.
"Lord Mu is really tight-lipped. We didn't hear a word about such a big thing beforehand."
"Gentlemen, you've misunderstood. Not to mention my third uncle, I only just received the news and rushed back from the academy."
Jiang Shuyun quickly explained that she couldn't let her third uncle have a difficult time in the government office.
"Seeing how well Mr. Jiang's home was prepared, we thought we knew beforehand."
"How could that be? It's because the headmaster was afraid we wouldn't know the rules and might offend the emperor, so he specially sent someone to give us instructions."
"The headmaster of Bailu Academy? Ah, no wonder."
Once the matter was cleared up, the officials, including Uncle Mu, left together; they still had official business to attend to.
After seeing off the esteemed guests, Mu Yi'an prepared a small dish for the headmaster.
"Mr. Jiang, the headmaster said you should go to the academy again tomorrow."
"Okay, thank you, Headmaster."
Steward Li sent someone to escort Uncle Gu back to the academy.
This time, all the guests have left, leaving only the family members.
Jiang Shuyun instructed Ge Da to lead people to move all the imperial gifts into the inner courtyard's storeroom.
Fang's wife, along with Wu's wife and Yun Duo and the others, tidied up and entered the records. Mu Yi'an and Jiang Shuyun comforted the younger children, who were a little frightened by the commotion earlier.
"Yi'an, I never expected His Majesty's reward to be so great, even bestowing upon you the title of Lady."
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