Chapter 573: Lian Hai is angry

Lian Fang Zhou looked surprised. “What does my cousin mean? I got the news yesterday but my cousin has been studying hard, how could I bother you? I asked someone to invite you now as to not delay my cousin’s studies.”

On inviting Lian Hai last minute, Lian Fang Zhou was not only not embarrassed but on the contrary, she even spun it as looking out for Lian Hai. It almost make Lian Hai’s nose go crooked!”

Ah Jian smiled secretly, looking at Lian Fang Zhou with amusement.

“You! How could you do this?” Lian Hai was furious. “How can you act like this?”

Lian Fang Zhou smiled. “What did I do wrong? This is my family’s business, it has nothing to do with my cousin! The reason I have invited you over is just to enjoy the excitement. After all, my cousin still needs to take the provincial examination soon.”

“What did you say?!” Lian Hai was stunned and his eyes widened in disbelief. “You say this has nothing to do with me? You clearly promised me before that I would also be a part of this matter! How can you say it has nothing to do with me? Fang Zhou, don’t forget that I am your cousin, you can trust me too!”

Lian Fang Zhou was about to answer when there was the sound of gongs and drums. “The imperial decree has arrived— idlers out of the way—” someone was shouting louder and louder. She quickly stopped talking and stepped forward to stand with Lian Ze and the others.

Lian Hai glanced at her but had to hold back his words in his heart. He stepped forward as well but the more he thought about it, the more regretful and annoyed he became.

What he regretted the most was believing Lian Fang Zhou’s words so easily back then! He should have waited to see her write down his ‘contributions’ on paper before she sent them to the county government and Master Ding!

What was more annoying was that his cousin had the hardest heart and the most merciless way of doing things. Since she has said this now, it was clear that seventy percent of the credit had gone to her. Why was she so stingy and vicious! It was just a matter of lip service, she didn’t need to do much. Why was she so unwilling to help him?

Just report that there was one more person involved, it would be no loss to her!

But she didn’t want to!

If she said that she was the second most stingy and selfish person, no one would dare to say they were the first!

A burst of loud firecrackers interrupted Lian Hai’s thoughts. When he looked up, he saw that the county magistrate had already got off the sedan chair and was congratulating Lian Ze and the others with a smile.

All around them, the crowd chattered enviously, their eyes on the several carriages covered with apricot-yellow stain. They could only guess at what these carriages were carrying.

Well, the flat object carried by two servants was probably the imperial plaque inscribed by the emperor himself!

Seeing it, Lian Hai’s heart was even more angry and he grit his teeth.

The county magistrate exchanged a cordial greeting with the Lian family and village elders. After congratulating them, he smiled and order the Lian family to prepare to accept the decree.

As the master raised his hands, all voices stopped abruptly.

“Lian family, prepare to accept the order!”

Lian Fang Zhou and the others quickly knelt down in front of the incense table according to their rehearsed order.

Lian Ze and Lian Che were the first, followed by Lian Fang Zhou, Ah Jian, Third Aunt, and Lian Fang Qing. Then was the village elders, followed by the Lian family servants. The crowd watching the excitement also knelt down, facing the direction of the imperial decree.

All of the officials and civil servants also knelt down, except for the two holding the imperial decree in their hands.

Curls of sandalwood rose from the incense burner and the faint scent gradually diffused in the air. Everything was silent, the entire scene very solemn.

The county magistrate held the imperial decree in his hand. Standing upright with his head held high and his chest out, he read aloud in a calm and stable manner.

The imperial decree was written in four or six parallel prose, looking very neat and full of charm. Everyone thought it was very pleasant to listen to, even though they didn’t understand most of it.

While the county magistrate’s voice sounded loudly, Lian Hai suddenly realized that he had been so focused on his anger that he had forgotten to come forward!

Turning his head to look around, he found that he was actually kneeling among the onlookers.

He was so annoyed, he almost choked on his own breath!

By now, everyone was already kneeling. Even if he wanted to move forward, it was too late and he could only bow his head in resentment.

“Accept the decree!” The county magistrate closed the decree with a smile and everyone kowtowed. Lian Ze raised his hands above his head to accept the decree and slowly got up.

Everyone also stood up. There was another burst of lively congratulations, which seemed endless.

After she got up, Lian Fang Zhou saw that Ah Jian was still sitting with his head slightly lowered and his eyes in a daze. She nudged him lightly with her elbow and smiled lightly. “What are you thinking about, get up!”

Ah Jian came back to his senses and smiled, standing up with her.

Fortunately, the scene was very lively and no one noticed them.

Inwardly, Ah Jian frowned and sighed in his heart.

When he had knelt down to receive the decree, the feeling was very familiar, as if he had experienced it before.

But though the memory was faintly visible, it was hard to see through the layer of fog, which was really annoying!

He had been lost in thought until Lian Fang Zhou interrupted him.

After he finished announcing the decree, the county magistrate called: “The Lian family has made great contributions to the county and its people. These contributions belong to the county and the Lian family is worthy of the name ‘Liufang’! Young Master Lian, please come forward and uncover the yellow silk. Let your neighbors see the demeanor of the emperor’s inscription!”

The crowd cheered and stretched their necks to see.

Lian Ze cupped his hands and bowed slightly to answer the county magistrate and Lian Fang Zhou stepped forward to carefully uncovered the plaque, revealing it’s face.

The plaque had a red sandalwood base and a vermilion wood frame. The four big characters of ‘Liu Fang House’ were like flying dragons and phoenixes or leaping tigers, very extraordinary.

“Good! Good!” Everyone applauded and cheered, laughing loudly.

Someone shouted: “This is what the emperor wrote! I can actually see something the emperor wrote!”

This was amazing.

The crowd roared, laughing and cheering: “Yes! Yes! The emperor’s own handwriting!”

The county magistrate smiled, stroking his beard. The people of the countryside were simple and honest. They really respected their emperor as a leader and a father. When he went back to report this matter, he would say a few words and the emperor would be delighted.

Who knew who took the lead but suddenly the people were all kneeling down and kowtowing to the plaque, shouting: “Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor!” Bowing three times, they got up again.

“Everyone settle down!” Seeing how excited everyone was, the county magistrate raised his hand and yelled loudly. When they were calm, he smiled and said: “In addition to the plaque inscribed by the emperor himself, there are other rewards! There is a house, two fertile fields totaling 2,300 acres, a thousand taels of gold, five thousand taels of silver, and a thousand bolts of colored satin.”