Compared with the Willow Leaf Village two or three months ago, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Last year, there was a drought, and the already barren mountainous region had no harvest. Although the imperial court had already reduced taxes for two years, there were still many people struggling to feed themselves with just the amount of food they had left in their homes.
However, now that he looked at it again, he could finally see some flesh on the bodies of the skinny brats who had been running all over the village. They were holding a large bone in their hands and gnawing on it. There were always one or two dogs beside them, staring at the bone in the hands of the brats and constantly walking around.
The new houses of several families had been built. Their neighbors would often lend a helping hand. In the end, they would ask their wives to cook a good meal to reward their neighbors. For decades, this had been the default habit of the villagers in the stockade.
Several men were chatting while working. Suddenly, they heard something coming from the entrance of the village. They looked up and were all stunned.
A few silhouettes on horseback entered their line of sight. After entering the stronghold, the people on horseback dismounted unhurriedly. The few of them could clearly see a dozen or so black-clothed officials following behind them as they entered the stronghold.
There had never been so many officials in the Willow Leaf Village. Several men's expressions changed slightly. Could it be that someone in the village had committed a crime and these people were here to arrest him?
"Look, isn't that … Fang?"
One of the men saw a familiar figure walking in front and immediately said in surprise.
"It's Fang!"
"Why is Fang with the officials?"
"What are these people doing in the village?"
Several men were surprised. Seeing these people enter the village, they followed them from a distance and didn't dare to get too close. Until they found that they stopped in front of a courtyard, they couldn't help but exclaim.
"Are they here for the First Miss?"
"No … I'm afraid they are here for the son-in-law."
"Is the son-in-law …"
Just as their expressions changed, more and more people began to notice the movement here.
After all, the Willow Leaf Village was located in the mountains and was not connected to other villages. Usually, outsiders rarely came here. This time, there were so many people, all dressed as officials. It seemed that this matter was unusual!
Fang knocked on the door.
Li Yi was in the courtyard teaching Xiao Huan how to make her hair into a bun, hearing the knock on the door, he casually said, "The door is not closed, come in."
When he glanced over and saw Old Fang, he could not help but be startled.
What was wrong with Fang today? Why did he know to knock on the door?
However, Li Yi's expression changed slightly when he saw the officers and the two unfamiliar men leading them.
What was going on?
Why were there so many officials?
Could it be that Old Fang had done something wrong?
The little servant girl was also shocked by the situation. Her face was pale, and she hid behind Li Yi, looking at the officers nervously.
Hearing the movement in front, two women walked out of the inner courtyard. Seeing the situation in front of them, Liu Ruyi's beautiful eyes slightly narrowed, and one hand was already holding the hilt of her sword. Liu Ruyi's pretty face also changed. They quickly walked to Li Yi's side. Ruyi turned to look at him and asked, "Husband, what are these people doing?"
"Who is Li Yi? Come out and receive the imperial edict!"
The eunuch's shout caused everyone to freeze on the spot.
"Receive the imperial edict?" Li Yi's expression changed. Receive what imperial edict?
Liu Sister Ruyi looked at him.
The eunuch's voice was not low, and the people outside the door also heard him.
Everyone looked at each other, and their eyes were full of surprise and doubt.
"His Majesty's imperial edict, why don't you kneel and receive it?" Usually, when imperial edicts were announced, many people were scared silly. The eunuch glanced at him, and did not find it strange. He said coldly.
Crash!
Before Li Yi knelt, County Magistrate Liu and the other officers knelt first.
When the imperial edict was announced, it was as if the Emperor himself had arrived. Not only did the person who received the imperial edict have to kneel, but the surrounding people also had to kneel.
There was another crashing sound, and the villagers outside the door also knelt down.
Although they had not seen the imperial edict, and did not understand the rules, how could they dare not to kneel when even the officers knelt?
Liu Ruyi removed her hand from the hilt of her sword. After looking at each other, she also knelt.
In the Jing Kingdom, the current Emperor was the most honorable person. This concept was deeply rooted in their blood.
Seeing that they knelt, Xiao Huan also followed closely behind.
For a moment, other than the two eunuchs, only Li Yi was still standing.
He looked around, and a trace of helplessness appeared on his face. He walked in front of the two eunuchs, and knelt down, saying, "This commoner receives the imperial edict."
Although he really did not want to kneel, he did not want to be accused of disrespecting the Emperor.
"Even the imperial edict is here. Which bastard framed me?" After kneeling down, he murmured in a low voice. The first person that appeared in his mind was the guy who claimed to be a professor of the Prefectural School that he met a few days ago.
Other than that, he really could not think of any other reason.
When the eunuch heard him murmur, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he almost flew into a rage on the spot. When he thought of the Princess's instructions, he suppressed his anger and read the imperial edict.
Listening to the eunuch read a lot, Li Yi roughly understood the reason. It meant that the "Rules for Disciples" was meritorious and so on, and then there was a lot of praise. Before the eunuch finished, Li Yi already had an idea.
"Now, I can't run away from the position of a scholar."
When he thought of this, the eunuch had already read to the end, "… You are conferred the title of Anxi County Lieutenant, and you will be blessed by the Emperor forever."
"County, County Lieutenant …" Li Yi suddenly raised his head, and his face was full of disbelief.
Because of his meritorious service, he was conferred the title of … County Lieutenant?
"How could this be possible?"
"Isn't it too sudden and too big a turn?"
"This is not common sense at all. Who on earth is framing me?"
"County Lieutenant Li, quickly receive the imperial edict!" Seeing him standing there in a daze, County Magistrate Liu could not help but urge him.
He took the opportunity to take a few more glances at him, but he still could not believe that this young man would be the County Lieutenant in the future.
"Can I not receive it?"
Li Yi looked at County Magistrate Liu and asked tentatively. It was not easy to meet a kind-looking person.
Last time, he just said it casually to MIngzhu. God bless him, he had never thought of being a County Lieutenant!
Suddenly, Li Yi seemed to think of something, and his face suddenly showed a look of understanding.
"Are you going to defy the imperial edict?"
Before County Magistrate Liu opened his mouth, a eunuch looked at him and asked with an unkind look.
"Can't I be an official even if I don't want to?" Li Yi looked at him and said, "Since ancient times, there have been many people of noble character and unquestionable integrity who refused to be an official, right?"
"So … they are all dead!"
The eunuch looked at him, and a sneer appeared on his face.
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