Chapter 994: Chapter 546: Jingtai Grants a Marriage! (Part 2)
After putting on his clothes one by one, Chen Yuan turned around and saw the Noble Consort, who was quite satisfied after eating that dish, still not awake, her face slightly flushed, and her long hair in disarray.
Beside her was a decorative fish tank, with fish floating belly up, slowly bobbing as though dead, which was quite normal.
Because Chen Yuan could clearly see that the fish’s mouth was swollen like a peach.
Who knows what it had eaten…
Chen Yuan shook his head, not bothering further, and as he stood up, he felt some soreness in his lower back, for the dish had truly exhausted his culinary skills.
Before walking out of the room while supporting himself on the wall, Chen Yuan drew the curtain. That dead fish mouth must not be seen by outsiders, lest it causes trouble, and just as he closed the door.
The old steward of the mansion approached him, bowing and saying:
“Marquis.”
“What is it?”
Chen Yuan asked with an unchanged expression.
“Someone has come from the palace.”
“An imperial decree?”
“Yes, and they brought an Imperial Decree with them.”
“Hmm, let’s go and receive the decree.”
Chen Yuan nodded, feeling no surprise. This was still about yesterday’s matter of ennoblement; the other rewards from Jingtai were following and were not noteworthy.
The Angel from the palace was a young eunuch, wearing an official uniform, holding Spiritual Tea and shaking his head arrogantly, not saying a word.
But upon seeing Chen Yuan approaching, his expression immediately changed, arrogance replaced by fawning, he quickly put down the Spiritual Tea, stepped forward a few paces, bowed and said:
“This servant Liu Yong, greets Marquis Wu’an.”
Chen Yuan now was different from before; being a Marquis was an absolute top-tier noble, and a small eunuch like him, even relying on imperial majesty, dared not show any airs.
Doing so would be courting death.
“Hmm, Eunuch Liu has worked hard.”
“Not hard, not hard, it is this servant’s honor to meet the Marquis, and before I came, His Majesty even said that the Marquis had already toiled much last night, and instructed me to come later.”
Liu Yong grinned awkwardly.
Naturally, decrees were usually proclaimed in the morning, but the Emperor specifically instructed him to come later, showing the favor towards this newly appointed Marquis.
Chen Yuan felt strange, how did Jingtai know he had toiled much, and even sent someone later for it?
“How did His Majesty know about it?”
“This servant doesn’t know either, but…I suppose it was about the banquet hosted by several princes yesterday for the Marquis, where surely there was much drinking.” Liu Yong whispered.
Jingtai was indeed thoughtful.
Chen Yuan shook his head and chuckled lightly, then said:
“Then, Eunuch, please announce the decree.”
“Yes, as the Marquis commands.”
Liu Yong bowed again, then straightened his face, took the Imperial Decree wrapped in yellow cloth, lightly coughed a few times to clear his throat, and said loudly:
“Marquis Wu’an, Chen Yuan, listen to the decree.”
Chen Yuan’s expression turned solemn, bowing with fists clasped.
“Marquis Wu’an Chen Yuan has deeply won Our favor. Being young and meritorious, neither arrogant nor impatient, he is…especially bestowed ten thousand taels of gold, a thousand bolts of brocade, Spiritual Tea…and a mansion…”
However, speaking of it, these things are not much, but if combined, they definitely are not insignificant, and a particularly superior Marquis Mansion is specifically bestowed to Chen Yuan.
In short, the honor must be present.
“Marquis, receive the decree.”
Liu Yong quickly stepped forward, bowed, and presented the Imperial Decree to Chen Yuan.
“Thank you.”
“Marquis, you’re too kind.”
“Someone, see Eunuch Liu off,” Chen Yuan smiled.
“No need, no need, this servant can leave on his own.”
With that, he bowed again and swiftly left with a group of attendants, not even daring to accept the usual customary silver taels.
But this was understandable; Chen Yuan’s reputation was not only good, but also had many fierce renowns, earned through sheer force of arms.
The little eunuch dared not take the silver.
Casually handing the Imperial Decree to the steward beside him, Chen Yuan stretched his waist and lingered in the backyard for a moment before changing rooms to rest again.
And as news spread, the information about Chen Yuan being ennobled as a Marquis quickly spread beyond the capital, reaching several surrounding states under the vast intelligence network of the Ascending Immortal Tower in a short time.
In a moment, Chen Yuan again stirred up quite a commotion both in the Jianghu and officialdom.
Marquis Wu’an!
Noble title for ten thousand households!
Fief in Ping’an County!
Each piece of news was monumental, and the disturbances caused by Chen Yuan in Qingzhou and Tangshan were even greater, as this was considered his home turf and his place of rise.
When the County Magistrate of Ping’an County, Wu Qingfeng, received the news, he was so frightened that he couldn’t hold onto his teacup, with images from a few years ago flashing through his mind.
Back then, Chen Yuan would bow and show respect before him, not daring to overstep in the slightest.
And now, the other party had become renowned throughout Qingzhou, and the entire large Ping’an County had become his fief. In theory, his position could be taken away by the other party with a word.
Taking several deep breaths to steady his spirit, Wu Qingfeng immediately summoned all officials of the County Government, especially arrest officer Wang Ping, to see where to build a large mansion for Marquis Wu’an.
Whether he came back or not was his business, but if he failed in his hospitality, his official hat would not remain secure.
In those days, the entire Ping’an County became lively, for everyone knew that a great person had emerged from the county, a current Marquis commanding great power and authority.
Wang Ping’s status rose unprecedentedly.
Though merely an arrest officer, even the County Magistrate and County Magistrate had to consider his mood, going so far as to curry favor.
Of course, Wang Ping was also aware of the subtleties involved and dared not show off, behaving earnestly to establish a good name for Brother Yuan.