Free Web NovelChapter 2361: Chapter 2336: Delivering the Imperial Edict
When delivering an imperial decree, someone is dispatched to notify the recipient in advance, whether it brings good or bad news, so that they can mentally prepare themselves. Most importantly, if no one is home, someone must hurry to find the recipient to receive the decree.
However this time...
The eunuch glanced at the "recipient" following them, shook his head, and decided to send someone to notify them anyway. It was better for an adult to handle such matters.
His son’s title was elevated from County Baron to County Viscount, and it was a promotion earned by his own abilities. Yin Li was very pleased, so immediately after court, he took time off to go home and wait to receive the decree.
Besides the elevation of the title, the emperor also rewarded Yin Huo with a house. When the eunuch arrived, he presented the land deed contained in a small box.
He was the only one to be rewarded with a house.
Yin Huo reached out to take it and handed the imperial decree to his father for safekeeping, while he personally handed the box containing the deed to Changshou and then told his father, "Father, I’m going to have lunch with Bai Shan and the others to celebrate."
Yin Li, who originally wanted to celebrate with his family, hesitated for a moment but then nodded, "Go ahead."
He glanced at Bai Shan and the others standing nearby, sighed, and thought to himself that it was the first time he had seen a recipient run alongside the eunuch delivering the decree.
Knowing that the decree was theirs, shouldn’t they have gone home early to prepare?
Everyone moved together to the Liu Residence.
Just two days ago, Minister Liu had scolded Liu Huan, but today his face was radiant and full of smiles. He welcomed the eunuch delivering the decree warmly, bowed to the two princesses, and upon seeing Zhou Man and Bai Shan, paused in surprise, "Why are you here?"
Bai Shan: ...They had been there all along, they came in with the eunuchs.
Manbao: "Minister Liu doesn’t welcome us?"
"No, no," Minister Liu said quickly, "It’s...Lord Zhou, aren’t you going back to prepare to receive the decree?"
They waved away his concern, "There are elders at home. See, didn’t Liu Huan only just return home too?"
Minister Liu: "...Lord Zhou didn’t mention it, but I forgot to ask."
He turned to glare at Liu Huan, "You left the court session early, didn’t you, why are you back later than me? Where have you been?"
The eunuch cleared his throat and gently reminded, "Minister, should we proceed with receiving the decree?"
"Yes, yes, let’s receive the decree first."
Saying so, he grabbed Liu Huan to kneel and receive the decree.
The eunuch unrolled the imperial decree, glanced over it, took a breath but paused, closed his opened mouth slightly, and then looked down at Liu Huan before speaking, "The emperor decrees: I reign through literature and quench chaos with might. Military leaders and generals are the pillars of the court and the defenses of the nation. So should those who are adept in both have their achievements overlooked and not be commended with honors..."
Just like the opening of Yin Huo’s decree, but different was, "Encourages Liu Huan to take the Ming Classic examination this spring, considering the literary heritage of the Liu family..."
Basically saying, with the Liu family’s foundation, a disciple shouldn’t fail the Ming Classic examination, right? You achieved significant merit during the Western Expedition, and I greatly value you, believing you to be a potential literary scholar and military figure. I trust you can do it.
The decree was quite lengthy, much longer than Yin Huo’s decree. It bore the signature of the official from the Imperial Secretariat who drafted the decree, the stamp of the official from the Central Secretariat who reviewed it, and the stamp from the Department of State Affairs handing it to the eunuch.
This eunuch served in the Ministry of Rites, though the people in the Ministry of Rites were notorious gossipers. Once they knew, practically the entire imperial city knew.
Liu Huan didn’t dare to look up at his grandfather’s expression, merely feeling doomed.
Indeed he was, as Minister Liu accepted the decree on behalf of Liu Huan with a smile, offering the eunuch a hefty purse and assuring him, "Please report back to His Majesty that I will supervise his diligent study."
The eunuch agreed with a smile and considerately stepped out, leaving space for the grandfather and grandson.
However, Minister Liu still smiled in front of Zhou Man and Bai Shan and even reached to pat the dust off Liu Huan’s knee, successfully causing Liu Huan to tremble.
Minister Liu spoke softly, "Alright, go play, enjoy today’s play."
Manbao and the others watched from the side, feeling that Minister Liu’s next words would be "Tomorrow, be prepared for punishment," and so they all looked at Liu Huan.
Liu Huan teared up, trembling as he left with Zhou Man and the others.
Once on the carriage, he couldn’t help but wipe his tears, sniffling, "I didn’t want a title, being given a minor official rank by family favor would have sufficed. With so many favored guardians in the imperial city, they wouldn’t lack one of me. I could go to the Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Works, or Ministry of Revenue, why register me for the Ming Classic exam?"
Liu Huan counted on his fingers, "How much time do I have left?"
Bai Shan looked at him sympathetically, "Thirty-eight days."
Liu Huan’s tears fell even harder, "If I fail the exam, Grandfather will surely beat me to death. Last time Grandfather hit me with five strokes, I lay in bed for two days."
Bai Shan: "...Was it really that severe?"
"Yes, it was swelled so badly, how could I walk on it?"
Bai Erlang suggested, "How about having Manbao prepare some healing ointment for you?"
Liu Huan hastily replied, "Forget it, no need."
Bai Shan chuckled, "I’ll sort out my notes and give them to you later."
Liu Huan’s mood didn’t lighten, it only grew heavier as he wasn’t fond of studying; study materials wouldn’t comfort him.
Liu Huan couldn’t help but lament, "I entered the Imperial Academy by family favor, joined Chongwen Pavilion because of my grandfather, I never intended to take the Ming Classic exam this year. The plan was after completing Chongwen Pavilion, I’d try the exam, if I didn’t pass, I could still enter officialdom through family favor..."
Zhou Residence wasn’t very far from Liu Residence; it took about a quarter of an hour to reach it, and so Bai Shan interrupted his endless lamenting, "Alright, it’s no big deal if you don’t pass. Behave sensibly recently, and His Majesty will likely forget about it. If he doesn’t bring it up, Minister Liu’s anger can only go so far. At worst, it’s another five strokes, but they won’t be too severe."
"Really?"
"Really, now you have a title anyway, you’re at least a fifth-rank official, slightly more prominent than your elder brother, Minister Liu won’t be too angry."
Liu Huan stroked his chin, "Yeah, seems I’m now more accomplished than my elder brother."
Yin Huo couldn’t help but laugh, and when Liu Huan looked over, he nodded, "Indeed."
Liu Huan exhaled a breath, he wasn’t foolish, vaguely sensing the difference between the two. Though he had a title, if lacking ability, he wouldn’t hold a real position.
His elder brother, while title-less, held a real and powerful position, naturally being more accomplished.
Upon reaching Zhou Residence, the Zhou family and Bai family were also preparing. This time, their decrees were straightforward; a title was a title, a reward was a reward.
Even Zhou Liru received a portion of the rewards, and Mr. Zhuang’s reward was also delivered.
After receiving their items, they likewise handed purses to the eunuch, with Old Madam Liu prepared five, one for each recipient of a reward.
The eunuch accepted the money in front of the two princesses, then chatted with them pleasantly for a while before leaving. Once outside the door, he let out a long sigh, pleased with his earnings, but the task truly was exhausting.
