Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 247 - 83: Holy Decree Arrives
He went to ask Gu Wan, but Gu Wan was also undecided upon hearing it. Later, after much consideration, Gu Chengyu thought it wouldn’t be right to keep this matter hidden, so he decided to reveal it, but he concealed some details and advanced the timing of Ming Mo’s discovery and intervention.
As expected, after hearing it, Sun Xian flew into a rage, shouting about settling accounts with Huang Ming, but Gu Chengyu stopped him. The matter had already passed; to pursue it further would only add unnecessary complications. However, these two days in the Prefecture, he didn’t show a friendly face to Gu Wanhua either.
"Is what you said true? Did the imperial edict really arrive?" Mr. Chen looked at his trusted aide standing by the side, his heart filled with shock.
"Master, it’s absolutely true! The imperial edict has arrived at the Prefecture. Here is Lord Yu’s letter, please have a look, sir."
Chen Xuewen opened the envelope sealed with fire lacquer and began to read it carefully. After a while, he set the letter down and began to ponder.
"Master, why did this happen so suddenly? Wasn’t it said that the Holy Emperor always kept the memorials privately and didn’t release them? Why did he approve this one?"
Chen Xuewen was equally baffled; this time Jiang Mingyuan’s memorial bypassed Chief Minister Xia and went directly to the Holy Emperor. According to his teacher, their faction had lent its help.
He had thought Jiang Mingyuan had come to an understanding, willing to stand with his teacher’s faction. But when the teacher instructed him to act this way, he found it perplexing. If they wanted to promote Jiang Mingyuan’s rank, this shouldn’t be the way to do it. However, the teacher’s letter only mentioned the general content of the imperial edict this time, praising the memorial from Jiang Mingyuan, while the specifics would be known once they received the decree, and the decree also mentioned the examinees who wrote policy essays.
Chen Xuewen was somewhat puzzled; could it be that the teacher was unaware that the examinee was actually Gu Chengyu? Then why did he instruct him to deal with Gu Chengyu? Could it be they’re aiming to nip the genius in the bud? But a person with such talent would better be brought under one’s own wing to work for oneself.
As Chen Xuewen thought more, he felt a strangeness in the situation, and suddenly recalled that the person who delivered the letter at the manor was not the usual attendant by the teacher’s side but rather the Chief Steward from the outer courtyard of the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel’s mansion. However, recalling the letter at that time, it appeared to indeed be the teacher’s handwriting, complete with the teacher’s private seal.
He shook his head; this matter still requires a visit to the Capital for further inquiry. Fortunately, there’s the imperial edict’s arrival, so he doesn’t want to complicate things, and therefore he hadn’t taken any action. There might be more intricacies in this affair.
"Reporting to Master! The imperial edict has arrived, and Prefect Jiang is currently preparing the incense table, asking Master to quickly proceed to the government office to receive the decree together!" Suddenly, a constable came in from outside to report.
"So soon?" Chen Xuewen adjusted his official uniform, finding no faults, and then went to the government office. He was the chief examiner in Jingyuan Prefecture this time, with the arrival of the imperial edict, he ought to proceed to receive it together.
"Hey? Young Master Gu in front? Wait up!"
Gu Chengyu was heading towards the inn with He Shunian and the others. This time, the inn they stayed at was close to the examination hall, and the room rate was much higher than last time at Manager Niu’s place. Manager Niu helped to book this; without his help, they definitely wouldn’t have been able to book it.
While He Shunian and the others were discussing the exam content, Gu Chengyu suddenly heard someone shouting "Young Master Gu" from behind. Turning around, he saw it was a constable from the government office.
"Young Master Gu! Please wait!" The constable jogged to catch up to Gu Chengyu, finally managed to catch him up, and was so exhausted he was out of breath, unable to speak steadily.
"Brother Chai, is there something?" Gu Chengyu listened to the shout "Young Master Gu"; here were two Young Master Gu’s, and he didn’t know which one was being called.
"Young Master Gu, quick! Follow me, the imperial edict has arrived!" The constable grabbed Gu Chengyu to leave, having seen Gu Chengyu and the others had only been walking for a little while, thinking they hadn’t gone far. Had he known they had walked this far, he would have chased with a horse cart, but he was truly exhausted.
"Imperial edict?" Gu Chengyu was somewhat surprised, then recalled the policy essay he had written earlier.
"Chengyu! You had better go!" Sun Xian, although not knowing what the imperial edict said or why it involved Gu Chengyu, realized that since they had come looking, he definitely shouldn’t delay in receiving the decree. Surely, they shouldn’t have the imperial envoy wait for Gu Chengyu!
"Yes! Hurry up! Stop asking so many questions!" Seeing Gu Chengyu still wanted to inquire more, the constable quickly pulled him to go back.
Gu Chengyu followed the constable and ran all the way back to the government office, and with this pace and distance for him, it took no time, ultimately dragging the constable along. By the time they reached the government office, they met scholar Shu Li waiting at the gate who led Gu Chengyu into the outer courtyard of the government office.
The constable felt relieved for catching up in time and wiped his forehead full of sweat with a sleeve. He then suddenly realized that when Young Master Gu had reached here, he seemed neither red-faced nor out of breath, without a trace of sweat visible.
Could it be that today’s scholars are in such good physical shape? He, a grown man, was surpassed in stamina by such a young lad?
Gu Chengyu entered the outer courtyard, noticing that in the center of the yard was already set up with an incense table, and many people stood in the courtyard. At first glance, they should all be officials of various ranks from the government office, along with some serving staff, even Mr. Chen was present.
At this moment, an official wearing a crane badge walked out of the main house alongside Prefect Jiang.
"Lord Jiang, is everyone here?"
Prefect Jiang glanced around the courtyard, seeing Gu Chengyu standing at the entrance, replied, "Everyone is here, sorry for keeping Mr. Guo waiting."
"Then let’s commence!"
With that said, all subordinate officials and staff of the government office knelt down, and Gu Chengyu was naturally among them, curious about what was written in the imperial edict. At this moment, Mr. Guo already opened the imperial edict in bright yellow in his hand.
"Carrying out the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees! Prefect of Jingyuan Prefecture, Jiang Mingyuan has contributed with strategic suggestions... So it is decreed!"
Well, Gu Chengyu bowed his head and listened for a long time; it didn’t mention him at all! Contributing with suggestions referred to Prefect Jiang, unrelated to him. However, it seemed to mention carrying out experimental fields in Jingyuan Prefecture to enhance grain yield, yet the flood-control strategy was unmentioned for some reason. Could it be deemed unreasonable?
"The subject thanks the Lord for His grand grace! May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!" Jiang Mingyuan respectfully accepted the imperial edict.
Mr. Guo, seeing the decree completed, then stepped forward to help Prefect Jiang up.
"I also have to congratulate Lord Jiang! Being personally praised in the imperial decree, Lord Jiang is about to turn calamity into blessing!"
Guo Shi was the Right Assistant Imperial Censor, Standard Fourth Rank; in rank equal to Prefect Jiang, yet a local official like Jiang Mingyuan couldn’t compare with those at the Inspectorate.
"What do you mean? What do you mean? Mr. Guo, don’t tease me!" Jiang Mingyuan responded with a bitter smile; this imperial edict did not mention the flood-control measures, only the experimentation on increasing grain taxes. It seemed the National Treasury was truly depleted. Without the flood-control measure, the credit wasn’t as significant. Who knows if he can be promoted next year!
