"The Marquis of An Bei, Fang Zhengzhi, has made great contributions and is a role model for all officials. Even though I am in charge of everything, I am still grateful for your contributions. I hereby bestow the River of Trust Province, Huai An County, and the Cang Ling Mountain region to An Bei. I will also confer the title of 'Prince Cang', and he will be in charge of all government affairs in the Northern Lands!"
"Prince Cang?!"
"Hereditary title!"
"Huai An County to Cang Ling Mountain region! He will be in charge of all government affairs in the Northern Lands? "
Zhang Yangping and the villagers stared blankly at the Royal Guards standing in front of them, completely stunned.
A prince with a different surname!
This was the first prince of the Great Xia Dynasty who was younger than 18 years old. Furthermore, this prince had grown up in the Northern Mountain Village.
Fang Zhengzhi...
What did he do in the capital?
If Fang Zhengzhi was conferred the title of a rank one official, or even the title of Marquis of An Bei, they would be able to understand. However, to be conferred the title of Prince was too much.
A month ago, Fang Zhengzhi appeared in the Northern Mountain Village. At that time, he was still a fugitive. However, a month later, Fang Zhengzhi returned to the Northern Mountain Village.
He was conferred the title of Prince?
How could Zhang Yangping and the villagers understand?
"Zheng'er has been conferred the title of Prince, Zheng'er has really been conferred the title of Prince... Houde, our Zheng'er has been conferred the title of Prince Cang, Prince Cang..." Qin Xuelian's voice was so emotional that she was on the verge of tears.
Fang Houde, who was standing beside Qin Xuelian, allowed Qin Xuelian to shake his arm as tears welled up in his eyes.
Fang Zhengzhi could feel the excitement from Qin Xuelian and Fang Houde. He wanted to say, "Dad, Mom, isn't it just a prince? What's there to be excited about?"
However, he swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue.
He was afraid of being struck by lightning.
"Congratulations, Prince Cang!" The leader of the royal guards kept the Emperor's Decree and presented it to Fang Zhengzhi with both hands. He was extremely respectful.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Fang Zhengzhi finally nodded his head and took the Imperial Decree from the royal guards. Then, he unfolded it in front of everyone.
He had once asked Emperor Lin Mubai for a hundred-mile mansion in Flame Capital City.
Of course, this big mansion was actually equivalent to a fief.
Now, Emperor Lin Mubai had given him the entire area from Huai An County to Cang Ling Mountain. This was equivalent to fulfilling his promise.
After displaying the Emperor's grace, Fang Zhengzhi subconsciously looked into the distance and saw a group of people.
Fang Zhengzhi was taken aback.
On the other hand, Zhang Yangping and the villagers of the Northern Mountain Village were stunned.
"There are more?!"
"He's already been conferred the title of the Azure Emperor. Don't tell me he can still be conferred another title?"
"Nothing like this has ever happened in history, right? Apart from His Majesty, being a King with a different surname is the highest form of grace. It's impossible for him to abdicate, right? "
No one could understand why there would still be people coming after they had conferred the title of King with a different surname. Furthermore, it was a group of imperial guards that was far larger than the previous one.
Bright red silk was hung on the horses, and dozens of carriages were lined up in two rows behind them.
"It's the prince!"
"The one at the front is the prince!"
Very quickly, Zhang Yangping and the villagers recognized the youth at the front. He was wearing the robes of a prince of the Great Xia Dynasty.
"Looks like this is really the last one." Fang Zhengzhi heaved a sigh of relief as he looked at the approaching Ninth Prince.
Fang Zhengzhi was not surprised that the Ninth Prince had come to congratulate him. However, he was surprised by the red silk that was hung on the horses.
Before long, the Ninth Prince arrived in front of Fang Zhengzhi.
"Greetings, Prince Cang!" The Ninth Prince did not wait for Fang Zhengzhi to speak. He immediately leaped down from the back of his horse and bowed to Fang Zhengzhi.
"Your Highness, you are too courteous. Now that you have been conferred the title of Prince Xian, there is no need for you to greet me." Fang Zhengzhi smiled as he looked at the Ninth Prince.
"So, he is the Ninth Prince who guards the Golden Scale City?"
"Shush, he is now a Prince Xian!"
"Yes yes yes …"
When the villagers heard Fang Zhengzhi's words, they looked at the youth in front of them with even more respect. After all, the news of Prince Xian leading the army to defend the Golden Scale City against the Northern Barbarians had spread throughout the Northern Lands.
"Prince Cang's contributions are many times greater than Lin Yun's. Without Prince Cang, the Great Xia Dynasty would not exist today, much less the Wise King today. Furthermore, Father had also mentioned in the decree that Lin Yun should greet Prince Cang as if he was greeting Father. Hence, Lin Yun should be the one greeting Prince Cang!" Lin Yun did not straighten his back because of Fang Zhengzhi's words.
"A king is a king, a subject is a subject. No matter how great his contributions are, even if he is conferred the title of Prince Cang, he is still a subject!" Fang Zhengzhi smiled again. Then, he picked up the dustpan on the ground and said, "However, this is the Northern Mountain Village, my territory. If you don't mind, we can put aside our court etiquette!"
"Sure!" King Xian Lin Yun nodded quickly. Then, he looked at the stunned villagers and said, "But first, you have to wait for me to pass on my father's decree!"
"There's a decree?!"
Zhang Yangping and the villagers looked at each other. They naturally knew Lin Yun's identity, but why would there be a decree?
Fang Zhengzhi's mouth twitched when he heard this.
After the battle of the Southern Region, he was only a Rank 3 Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites. However, after the battle of the Flame Capital City, he was conferred the title of Prince Cang. This was already a huge favor. For Emperor Lin Mubai to do this, it was more than enough.
Further up?
Fang Zhengzhi looked at Lin Yun and the royal guards behind him, as well as the colorful silk hanging on the horses.
In an instant, he seemed to understand.
What a scam!
Fang Zhengzhi cursed in his heart. He really did not expect Emperor Lin Mubai to do something like this. Was he trying to bestow a marriage upon him?
Which official or the daughter of a noble family was "tricked" by Lin Mubai?
"Ahem, can I not accept this decree?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the Imperial Decree that Lin Yun had taken out from his pocket and smiled helplessly.
"Not accept? Why? "Lin Yun blinked with a puzzled expression.
"After pretending to be dumb in the Flame Capital City for more than 10 years, there's no need for you to do it here in the Northern Mountain Village." Fang Zhengzhi looked at Lin Yun and did not hold back.
"Ahem …" Lin Yun coughed and looked at the confused faces of the villagers. Finally, he smiled, "Father indeed has a secret decree. He said that if you really do not want to accept this decree, he will not force you. However, are you really not going to consider it?"
"Why should I consider it?" Fang Zhengzhi twitched his mouth.
"The Thirteenth Princess!" Lin Yun whispered into Fang Zhengzhi's ear, "You should have heard of the Thirteenth Princess right? Other than Ping Yang, she is the princess that father dotes on the most! Most importantly, the Thirteenth Princess is very beautiful, and she is only one year younger than you! "
"No way? The Emperor actually bestowed the Thirteenth Princess to me? " Fang Zhengzhi knew that Emperor Lin Mubai would bestow him a marriage, but he really did not expect the Thirteenth Princess to be bestowed upon him.
After all, he had heard of the Thirteenth Princess in the Flame Capital City.
The Thirteenth Princess was a princess born a year before Ping Yang. She was also the youngest princess at the time, and was doted on by Emperor Lin Mubai the moment she was born.
However, after Ping Yang was born, all the doting was naturally transferred to Ping Yang.
Even so, the Thirteenth Princess still had a great reputation in the palace. Most importantly, the Thirteenth Princess was different from Ping Yang.
Ping Yang was spoiled and stubborn.
However, the Thirteenth Princess was elegant and refined.
Not only was she proficient in music, chess, literature, and art, she was also good at singing and dancing. She could be considered the dream of all the young masters in the Great Xia Dynasty who wanted to be the Emperor's son-in-law.
After all, there were not many people who wanted to marry Ping Yang.
"Mm, the Thirteenth Princess is now living in Huai An County. As long as you accept this decree, you can choose a date to marry her. Is that alright?" The Ninth Prince saw Fang Zhengzhi's hesitation and immediately tried to persuade him.
"Let me think about it!" Fang Zhengzhi's body froze slightly.
For a long time, he had a dream, and that was to marry a gentle and virtuous woman. This woman must have an elegant temperament and must also be gentle enough.
Obviously …
The Thirteenth Princess was such a candidate.
Furthermore, he had already sent her to Huai An County. As long as he nodded his head, they might be able to consummate their marriage tonight. So, should he nod his head or not?
Fang Zhengzhi hesitated.
"You still need to think about it?" Lin Yun was in disbelief. Then, he whispered into Fang Zhengzhi's ear, "Even if you don't think about yourself, you have to think about the Fang Family, right?"
"For the Fang Family?"
"Yes, think about it. If you marry the Thirteenth Princess, then with the Emperor's love for her, your parents and the Fang Family will definitely be able to maintain their wealth in the future!"
"I see!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
He seemed to understand Emperor Lin Mubai's intentions. He wanted to marry the Thirteenth Princess so that Fang Zhengzhi's next generation would have a better chance of inheriting the title of Prince.
Needless to say, Lin Mubai was quite far-sighted.
However …
Something did not feel right no matter how he looked at it.
It was obvious that Lin Mubai was implying that he could not live for more than half a year. As such, he should hurry up and have sex with the Thirteenth Princess and make use of this time to give birth to a child.
Am I right?
"Prince Cang, do you understand my intentions?" Lin Yun's eyes lit up when he saw Fang Zhengzhi nod. Then, he took a step back.
"I understand." Fang Zhengzhi nodded again.
"Alright, Prince Cang, receive the decree!" Lin Yun no longer hesitated. He unfolded the edict and was about to read it out loud when he heard the Emperor's words.
However, before he could even speak, a figure had already appeared in front of him. Her black dress fluttered gently in the mountain breeze.
Lin Yun was stunned. He looked at the lady who suddenly appeared in front of him. He looked at the red dot of cinnabar on her forehead and then at the dejected Fang Zhengzhi behind her.
At this moment …
He seemed to understand what Fang Zhengzhi meant by "I will think about it".
"Prince Xian, what decree do you want Fang Zhengzhi to read?" The lady squinted her eyes and looked at the decree in Lin Yun's hand.
"That, actually … Haha, there is no decree!" Lin Yun's gaze turned, but his hands didn't delay in the slightest as he quickly put away the edict.
"Don't tell me the Emperor wants to bestow marriage?"
"No, definitely not!"
"Then … Why are all these horses covered in red silk?"
"Festive!" Lin Yun's forehead was beaded with sweat. Then, he looked around and said, "This is also to congratulate Prince Cang. I am afraid that the Northern Mountain Village does not have enough red silk!"
"I see. Thank you for your hard work, Prince Xian!" Upon hearing this, the lady nodded. Then, she turned around and walked towards the crowd. "Your Highness, please have dinner in the Northern Mountain Village tonight."
"Alright, sorry to bother you!" Lin Yun nodded immediately.
Fang Zhengzhi looked at the figure walking away and sighed helplessly. He understood what Lin Mubai meant, but would Wu Yuer understand?
In fact, Fang Zhengzhi did not think too much about other things. He only thought about one thing. Wu Yuer was still around?
…
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night in the Northern Mountain Village.
Hundreds of royal guards sat in the square and celebrated with the Northern Mountain Village villagers at the same table. The fire was lit and the stars were bright. Laughter and cheers could be heard.
And in the middle of the square.
Fang Zhengzhi's family of three, Wu Yuer, Prince Xian Lin Yun, and the Village Chief were sitting at the table. Compared to the other tables, this table was much more spacious.
All six of them had smiles on their faces.
No one talked about anything else. It was already late at night when Fang Houde returned to the Fang Family's courtyard with Qin Xuelian's help. The Village Chief also went back to rest with the help of a few villagers.
Until now …
The boisterous square became much quieter.
However, there were still the royal guards and villagers playing games, eating meat and drinking wine.
Prince Xian Lin Yun frowned slightly. He knew that Yan Xiu and Shan Yu were no longer in the Northern Mountain Village, but he did not expect Wu Yuer to be there.
Lin Yun looked at Wu Yuer again and wanted to say something.
"Your Highness, do you have something to discuss with Fang Zhengzhi? If you really have something to say, please say it. I am not an outsider! "Wu Yuer looked at Lin Yun's expression and said generously.
Not an outsider, these words …
So it could actually come from his own mouth?
Lin Yun looked at the sincere expression on Wu Yuer's face, then looked at the silent Fang Zhengzhi. In that instant, he seemed to have understood something.
Shamelessness was contagious!
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
