Chapter 1077: Chapter 1074: Imperial Decree
Chapter 1077: Chapter 1074: Imperial Decree
After waiting for quite a while, he gently lifted his head, his eyes smiling, “What are you thinking about?”
“I was wondering what you were thinking about,” Ye Muyu blushed but was unyielding, her finger tapping his robe in front of him, “She’s not your type? Am I then?”
“Neither.”
Ye Muyu glared at him instantly, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll get angry when you say that?”
Chu Heng hurriedly soothed her by stroking her back gently, with the grain, “Actually, I don’t think I would like anyone.”
“But you, you’re different.”
Chu Heng let out a soft chuckle in his throat.
Ye Muyu, however, felt rather embarrassed and annoyed, her eyes flying open as she tried to move away, but the man’s hand did not relax, “Chu Heng, you’re mocking me, aren’t you?”
“No,” Chu Heng said, the corners of his mouth still lifted in a smile, clearly in a very pleasant mood.
“You say that, but your smile could almost stretch behind your ears,” Ye Muyu thought of retaliation, reaching out to poke his cheek.
Now her hand was caught too, the man brought it to his lips and kissed it, “I’m laughing because Ah Yu is adorable.”
Ye Muyu’s face reddened even more, and after several attempts, she finally withdrew her hand, huffing, “I get it, then stop laughing.”
“Alright.” Chu Heng tamed his smile, but his eyes remained curved, obviously still amused.
“I’ll help you tidy your hair.” As they were about to enter the city, Chu Heng pulled over the young lady who was sulking with him and tidied her hair for a while, leaving Ye Muyu looking prim and proper.
“Thank you,” Ye Muyu said with a smile.
“Mm,” Chu Heng thoroughly enjoyed accepting this apology and then proceeded to straighten his own attire.
The carriage soon stopped at the mansion gate.
Chu Heng got out first and reached out his hand to Ye Muyu inside.
Just as the two descended from the carriage, several people from the mansion came to greet them.
Among them was a person wearing the palace’s patterned robes, clearly an eunuch sent with a decree.
Besides that, the magistrate of Yuzhou, Zheng Tongzhi, and other officials of various ranks from Yuzhou City were also present.
Chu Heng, unperturbed, nodded to the magistrate of Yuzhou and the others as a greeting, before kneeling down with Ye Muyu to receive the Imperial Decree.
Eunuch Ren did not dawdle and directly unfurled the Imperial Decree, reading it aloud for all to hear:
“By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees, to the editor from Nanchang County in South Origin Prefecture Chu Bianxiu, for contributing high-yield grain seeds from his clan… promoted to Bachelor Reader at the Hanlin Academy, official fifth-grade, and his wife Madam Ye, granted the status of Fifth-grade Official Lady…”
For eternal generations, for meritorious achievements to the state and welfare of the nation…
Aside from the ceremonial words, everyone present understood that Chu Heng had been promoted, from seventh rank to fifth, with even the Prefect holding an official rank of only fifth-grade.
This revelation changed many faces amongst the crowd.
Moreover, even his countryside bride was granted a title, and although it was merely Fifth-grade Official Lady, it was still quite exceptional in Yuzhou. From now on, no one at the banquet would dare to treat Ye Muyu with blatant scorn.
“We thank His Majesty for his grand benevolence,” Chu Heng received the Imperial Decree, his expression still calm.
Ye Muyu also stood up, not having expected to receive a decree herself; it seemed the Emperor truly favored officials who did practical work, which meant she would have an easier time.
“Eunuch, did the Emperor have any other instructions?” Chu Heng inquired.
The eunuch smiled, “Lord Chu truly has made an impression on the Emperor’s mind; Eunuch Ren indeed has another matter.”
“Please, Eunuch,” Chu Heng led him into the study and had Housekeeper Luo attend to the magistrate of Yuzhou and the others.
As a female family member, Ye Muyu naturally wasn’t expected to stay in the front yard to entertain guests. With Housekeeper Luo there, she could steal some free time for herself.