The Blessed

"Ling Jingxuan, receive the imperial edict!"

As the team arrived at the gate of Yuehua Manor, a sound suddenly rang. Magistrate Hu Lizhi who was sitting on that big horse swept over at the three brothers and those people standing before the incense burner table. When he saw Ling Chengcai and his wife, his eyes sank. Because of Ling Chenghua’s thing, he also knew more or less about the old xiucai’s family. At least he knew everyone in that family. So when he saw those two irrelevant people here, he felt kind of upset.

"Congratulations, Childe Ling. Congratulations, Jinghan."

While the deputy governor was supporting Eunuch Zhao off the carriage, the magistrate went forward to the people in the lead, cupping his hands, congratulated them. He even didn’t give an eye at Ling Chengcai and his wife. But they just dare not have any objections.

"Thank you, Lord Hu."

Ling Jingxuan made a slight smile, and saluted back cupping his hands together with Ling Jinghan. Hu Lizhi said with satisfaction, “Childe Han, congratulations for topping the list! I hope you can study harder. Next year, top the list during the next provincial examination that I’ll preside for the last time.”

The first place?

Not only just listed? Ling Jinghan finally smiled heartily and he also won some face for his parents and brothers. And others were all surprised in the heart. The first place was different. Even the magistrate said he was expecting that he could top the list again in the provincial examination. Does it mean that a xiucai title is already in his pocket? A lot of people grew more alert of Yuehua Manor. A xiucai title was nothing, but a xiucai in the village was a huge thing. Besides, Ling Jinghan was only fourteen years old! If he really got listed as a xiucai, he might even get the juren title or even jinshi and take an official career.

"I will study harder. Thank you, my lord.”

Although curious if he would get promoted, the brothers did not ask. Ling Jinghan abided to his own thing, did not show too much intimacy, then Hu Lizhi went to congratulate Ling Chenglong and his wife. Seeing that Eunuch Zhao had already come over with the imperial edict and the emperor’s rewards, he hurriedly ran over.

That Eunuch Zhao was no other else but that the one who was responsible for receiving Chu Yunhan and his son when they went back. This time, it was Chu Yunhan who personally suggested the emperor to nominate him to announce the imperial edict.

"The imperial edict arrives, everybody kneels, Ling Jingxuan receives the imperial edict!"

Hands holding a golden imperial edict, Eunuch Zhao’s reedy voice suddenly sounded, Ling Jingxuan moved two steps forward, three little buns still kneeling there, while Ling Jinghan and Ling Jingpeng were behind, then Ling Chenglong and others. The self-important Ling Chengcai and his wife also knelt there among them. But everyone just ignored them. Finally it was those irrelevant people like the village head and the old patriarch.

When Eunuch Zhao was opening the imperial edict, Magistrate Hu and those yamen runners and others all knelt down. In an instant, all people before Yuehua Manor were kneeling down. The straggling up smell of sandalwood pervaded into the air, no any sound, so solemn and majestic.

“Next is the content of the imperial edict. Ling Jingxuan, tongsheng of Ling village, Datong town, Qingyang County has superb medical skills. A few months ago, during the cure of the plague, he has made great contributions. And a few days ago, hearing that he led his family to try the late rice and reclaimed over ten thousand mu of wasteland, and has made great contributions to the kingdom and its people. So I specially grant him the title of role model of the farmers. Here is the plaque with my personal autograph, and a thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, and exempt from the taxes all his life. Over!”

"Long live His Majesty!”

Finally Eunuch Zhao was over, and Ling Jingxuan took the lead to raise his hands. Eunuch Zhao then handed the decree to him. While he was about to get up, Eunuch Zhao said, “Doctor Zhao, wait a minute. I got a reward from the seventh prince for you.”

Speaking of which, he took out another silk scroll, and Ling Jingxuan had to keep kneeling there patiently.

“A box of jewelries, ten bolts of silk, one box of pearls. A thousand taels of gold from Ling Chenglong, Ling Jinghan and Ling Jingpeng each. And two gold head-ornaments for Lady Wang. Some sets of brushes, ink sticks, paper and inkstones for Ling Wen, Ling Wu and Zhao Tiesheng…”

"Long live Prince the Seventh!”

With Eunuch Zhao’s tapering chanting, boxes of gold and silver and jewelries with the plaques and the emperor's reward were carried up, and all placed on both sides of the incense burning table. After thanking the emperor’s rewards, Ling Jingxuan and his family all got up. Then Yuan Shaoqi led Zhou Er and Shuisheng to distribute the red envelops. Eunuch Zhao refused Ling Jingxuan’s invitation, but pulled him aside and whispered by his ear, “Childe Ling, the seventh prince asked me to tell you, stay safe. No worries about him. The emperor also said that if you have harvested the late rice, he hopes that I can take some back.”

"No problem, the harvest is just done. I’ll ask my father and others to prepare a whole carriage for you. Please tell the seventh prince. We are all good. No worries.”

Speaking of which, Ling Jingxuan quietly pulled out a one thousand taels of silver bank not and stuffed it into his hand. Eunuch Zhao didn’t not refuse. Meanwhile, Ling Jingpeng already led the servants to fetch the dried grains. After thinking a bit, Ling Jingxuan asked Ling Jinghan to entertain Eunuch Zhao who was unwilling to come in. While he himself turned to go into the yard. After about half an hour later when Ling Jingpeng went out pulling a carriage of rice, Ling Jingxuan also came out holding a giant package.

"Sorry to trouble you, Eunuch Zhao. These are some dried meat slices and skin nourishing holy water and other things. I hope you can help me take it for the seventh prince.”

"Well..."

Obviously Eunuch Zhao was a bit embarrassed. If it was some clothes, he could do him the favor. But it was food, if something happened to the prince if he took it, even if he got ten heads, it was not enough!

"You needn’t worry. It’s just some snacks the seventh prince often ate. I guess he would be missing those things. If you are worried, you can let someone to try them first. If the seventh prince doesn’t want them, you can throw them away or what.”

Noticing his worries, Ling Jingxuan said reasonably. On hearing that, Eunuch Zhao said no more. After throwing the officer who announced the imperial edict, someone went forward to receive the package. After testing things inside with the silver needles, he packaged them again after making sure it had no poison.

"Then I’ll leave.”

Things done, he would go back to report it to His Majesty. As Eunuch Zhao turned, someone got hold of the lower hem of his robes. Eunuch Zhao scratched his head strangely. Then he saw a kind of familiar little guy was watching at him with a pitiful look. As one of the yamen runners was about to stop him, Eunuch Zhao motioned him to back off. This family was all important people both the emperor and empress attached great importance to. It wasn’t impossible they’d go to the imperial palace some day. So he could never afford to offend them.

"What do you want, little thing?”

"Uncle, are you Brother Yan's family?"

Ignoring his question, the small bun asked, with the other hand holding a wrinkled letter, and Ling Wen and Tiewa who were standing next to him were also wearing a craving face. Daddy asked them not to say anything they shouldn’t. But they really missed Brother Yan too much, very much…

"Brother Yan?"

Eunuch Zhao was confused. Ling Jingxuan hurriedly moved forward and explained deeply, “It’s the seventh prince! They have taken him as their elder brother. Hope you wouldn’t mind.”

"Sure."

Eunuch Zhao waved his hand, saying with a chuckle, "I am a servant of your Brother Yan. Little childes, what do you want me to do for you?”

So lovely children, even he kind of liked them, no wonder the seventh prince missed them so much.

"Can you take the letter we wrote to Brother Yan?"

Ling Wu held out his other hand to pass the crumpled letter to him. Seeing this, Ling Wen and Tiewa also felt out their own letters respectively. Eunuch Zhao accepted them all and touched their heads with a smile before leaving, "Good boys, I promise I will take your letters to the seventh prince. See you.”

"Watch your steps, Eunuch Zhao."

They came in a big way, also left in a big way. They even didn’t take a cup of tea, but everyone went back with fruitful results. The red envelops Yuan Shaoqi gave them was not a small number.

"Wow, this is an imperial edict."

"A lot of gold and silver and jewelries, really makes me jealous..."

"Ha ha... yes, the emperor's reward is really huge..."

After those officials left, those villagers who were still overcautious all crowded over. Everyone was excited to look at those sparkling rewards and the imperial decree on the incense burning table. Ling Jingxuan and others only turned to come back after the carriage disappeared in their eyes. When they saw those people, Ling Jingxuan’s eyes glittered. Throwing Song Gengniu an eye, Song Gengniu got it and led people to move all those things into the room.

"Wait a minute."

As they were about to move those thing in, Ling Chengcai jumped out again. Ling Jingxuan threw him an eye, even didn’t want to utter one word, looking quite cold. He talked to them only because the imperial edict was coming. In case they’d disturb the official that was going to announce the edict, he held some patience and reasoned with him. But now, he had no scruples. On such a big day, they came to make a scene? He really didn’t mind throwing him out.

"Our parents are still alive, and the plaque and the rewards shouldn’t be put here. They should be put in the ancestral hall."

Standing before the plaque, Ling Chengcai held his head high, a face of arrogance, did not notice Ling Jingxuan was already not right at all.

Hearing that, everyone on spot was dumbfounded there. The imperial edict clearly said that those rewards are all for Ling Jingxuan. How could they be placed in the ancestral hall? Let alone he was just his overdue big uncle of Ling Jingxuan who had no connection with him now, even Ling Chenglong and his wife had no right to move them. What was this man thinking? How could he be so unbelievable?

"The ancestral hall? Where is it?"

Ling Jingxuan got so mad. So he was here for his rewards. Money is really a good thing.

"Of course to worship our ancestors’ tablets, and don’t forget your grandparents are still alive in our home.”

Seeing that he did not seem to lose his temper, Ling Chengcai became more confident. He thought he dare not embarrass him before so many people. Now Ling Jinghan had been listed as a tongsheng, and was about to take the examination for xiucai, and their reputation turned good gradually because of the free school they were building. He didn’t believe that he wouldn’t consider about his reputation thing like before.

"You say that's your home, not mine. Things that belong to me should be placed in my home. Or, are you only here aiming at those rewards?”

Is there anyone more unbelievable in the old Ling family? How about they come together? Then he could solve all of them once for all!

"You…Ling Chenglong. I won’t argue with a junior. Chenglong, you are the head of this family. You say it. Do you still acknowledge your parents and ancestors? Do you still acknowledge your brothers?”

Ling Chengcai was angry. He knew he couldn’t win Ling Jingxuan. So he directly dug a pit for Ling Chenglong to jump in. If he said no, he promised that those words would spread into the magistrate’s ears the next day. He didn’t believe that they dare to sacrifice Ling Jinghan’s career!

"Ling Chengcai, don’t drag Chenglong into it. All the folks heard it. His Majesty said those things are for Jingxuan. I remember that not long ago, you said Jingxuan is no longer your family. What? Now you even want his things? Pah! You shameless thing! How dare you even covet His Majesty’s rewards? If you are smart enough, get out of here! Or don’t blame my rudeness.”

Pulling Ling Chenglong, Lady Wang who was wearing gold jewelries all over jumped out again. She wanted everyone to see that they were no long the old them. No one could bully them anymore.