kingnovel Chapter 1325 Be Yourself
Chapter 1325 Be Yourself
The Ji family residence.
As soon as he returned to the mansion, Ji Benchang was abandoned by Madam Ji.
He limped and hopped along, supported by his servants, following Madam Ji all the way to the gate of the treasury.
In the storeroom, Madam Ji was busy at work, repeatedly instructing the maids around her: "These sets of headdresses, that piece of silk satin over there, and those porcelain and calligraphy on that shelf...shelves! Bring those shelves along too, young people love these old things, and those over there..."
"Madam! Madam! Madam!" Ji Benchang clung to the door frame, nearly falling over the threshold. "What are you doing?!"
Madam Ji turned around, waved away the servants, and stepped forward to support him: "Why didn't you go back to your room and rest? What are you doing here?"
Looking at the warehouse, which was half empty, Ji Benchang asked cautiously, "Are we moving?"
"Pretend to be stupid!" Madam Ji said to him, "Do you think you don't know what I'm thinking?"
Ji Benchang's face fell: "Xiao Shen only has one head and one body, how can she need so many headdresses and fabrics! Two of those headdresses were even part of your dowry back then, how can you, how can you give them all away at once?"
Madam Ji glanced at the jewelry box, showing no sign of distress: "A pretty young girl should wear beautiful jewelry; I only hope that Marquis Shen won't find it distasteful..."
Ji Benchang choked: "You're quick to change your tune."
Madam Ji smiled, helped him sit down, and then spoke her mind: "This child's background is heartbreaking to hear."
Ji Benchang remained silent for a moment.
"Indeed...it has not been easy for her along the way."
Madam Ji continued, "Actually, I had previously considered adopting Marquis Shen as my goddaughter, so that our Ji family could protect her here in the capital. But she was promoted too quickly, and since she became the assistant minister of the Six Ministries, I have never had that thought again."
Ji Benchang was slightly startled and guessed, "Madam, are you afraid..."
"I'm afraid people will think that our Ji family bought the horse to deliberately seek a marriage alliance." She sighed. "But actually, I just feel that this child has had it too hard, and there are wolves and tigers everywhere in the capital... However, now that she is the Marquis Protector of the State, many people are too busy currying favor with her to deliberately trip her up."
An old face slowly appeared before Ji Benchang's eyes.
"That's not necessarily true..."
Some people are very deep and calculating!
"You mean Prime Minister Cui?" Madam Ji asked directly. "Just now on the way, didn't you say that he didn't say a single word in rebuttal today?"
Isn't this a good sign that Prime Minister Cui wants to make peace with Marquis Shen?
Ji Benchang frowned: "That's exactly right, that's not right! Madam, think about it, every time His Majesty wanted to promote Marquis Shen, he always tried to sabotage him. He went to great lengths, making a huge fuss! But today? He's as quiet as a quail! He hasn't said a single word of objection! Even when the others were telling His Majesty to 'think it over,' he remained silent. This is not right, it's really not right!"
Madam Ji lowered her eyes in deep thought.
"This..." She subconsciously tried to think the best of him: "Perhaps, he just didn't want to continue to displease His Majesty?"
“Impossible.” Ji Benchang immediately shook his head. “In short… I don’t think things are that simple. Who knows, he might be plotting something bad!”
Madam Ji gasped.
Ji Benchang pursed his lips and waved his hand: "Not necessarily, not necessarily. I was just saying it casually, Madam, please don't take it seriously. Continue to choose a congratulatory gift for... Marquis Shen."
......
At the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), the sun is at its zenith.
A large crowd gathered in front of the bulletin board on Zhuque Street.
A piece of news suddenly exploded among the crowd.
"The locust plague has been wiped out! It was wiped out as soon as it flew out of Yanzhou Prefecture!"
"How is that possible!" Many people didn't believe it: "I heard that the locusts blot out the sky and are beyond human power to move. How could they be wiped out as soon as they flew out of Yanzhou?!"
"It must be a false rumor deliberately spread by the imperial court to reassure us!"
However, the news that the "locust plague had been eradicated" was quickly dismissed by the people as false.
But after a while, someone in the front row hissed and said, "No! The proclamation says that Lord Shen led the people to wipe out the locust plague! It might be true!"
"Lord Shen?!" The crowd murmured among themselves.
Some people wavered: "If it's Lord Shen, eradicating the locusts... doesn't seem like an impossible task, does it?"
"this......"
In the blink of an eye, the group split into two factions.
On one side are the staunch "impossible" faction.
On the other side are the less steadfast "believers in Shen" faction.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, two more Imperial Guards pushed through the crowd and went straight to the notice board.
Upon seeing the yellow silk in one of the men's arms, the people were secretly surprised: "There's even a proclamation?"
The Imperial Guards did not answer, but silently hung the notice at the highest point of the bulletin board.
"Shh-"
When the yellow silk is unfurled, the most eye-catching feature is the several seals at the end of the signature.
This time, the Imperial Guards did not leave, but instead stood guard on either side of the bulletin board.
The people tentatively took their first steps.
Seeing that the Imperial Guards did not make any move or issue any reprimands, some people became bolder and took two steps forward, looking up at the contents of the proclamation.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: —During the locust plague in Yanzhou, Shen Zheng, the Assistant Minister of the Six Ministries, Prefect of Liuyang, and Magistrate of Tongan County, bravely fought to eradicate the locusts and protect the crops, preserving the rice seeds and saving the people. Therefore, he is hereby granted the title of Marquis of the Third Rank... Marquis of the State?!"
The crowd erupted again.
The people were astonished: "The locust plague has really been eradicated!"
Second shock: "It really was Lord Shen who led the men to wipe them out!"
Three surprises: "Lord Shen has been promoted again!"
Four were shocked: "No! It's not a promotion, it's a marquisate! A Marquis Protector of the Nation! A third-rank official!"
Wu was shocked: "I've lived most of my life and I've never heard of a woman being granted a title!"
This is simply, so, so, so unbelievable!
Someone with sharp eyes pointed to a line of small print below the proclamation and read: "'The Emperor decrees: merit is not limited to men or women, and all who achieve it will be rewarded! This proclamation is made throughout the land so that all may know!' His Majesty means that from now on, as long as a woman can make meritorious contributions, she can not only become an official, but also be granted a noble title like Lord Shen!"
A gasp of surprise rang out from the crowd.
Several girls were embracing each other tightly.
It was clearly wonderful news, yet they were moved to tears.
There was a time when they were taught to be good wives, to raise children, to revolve around the kitchen and their husband's family, to be good at needlework, and even to use their own little money to buy books. People would say, "What's the use of a girl reading so many books?"
But today, the dazzling yellow silk notice tells them that among them, someone has already stood out. She not only wears the purple official robe that everyone envies, but has also become a noble marquis above all others.
Looking at the clear words "Marquis Shen Zheng, Protector of the Nation" on the notice, they seemed to see their own future as well.
They are not anyone's wife, nor anyone's mother; they are simply themselves.
"Lord Shen!"
"The Marquis Protector of the Nation!"
Someone shouted, and the girls' sobs grew louder and louder: "Lord Shen! Lord Protector of the Nation! Lord Shen! Lord Protector of the Nation!"
Since last year, Lord Shen has been repeatedly telling them that women can also stand tall and make the country prosperous.
Today, Lord Shen has taught them a new lesson.
—Women can also be granted titles and positions.