Chapter 323

323. Chapter 323: Conferring the Title of County Princess

"Identity... token?"

Jiang Xiaoxiao paused, then took out a jade pendant from the pouch at her waist. The back was carved with exquisite and complex patterns, while the front was clearly engraved with the two characters "Duan Wang."

"Are you talking about this?" Jiang Xiaoxiao asked in confusion. Wasn't this what Su Wanwan lent her to use to escape the pursuit of Duan Wang's soldiers? How did it become something personally bestowed upon her by Duan Wang?

Ever since that incident, Su Wanwan had not asked her for the jade pendant back, and she had forgotten about it, leaving Xuzhou with the pendant...

Upon seeing the jade pendant, Wealthy Donor Sun and County Magistrate Lu's eyes widened in disbelief, their faces filled with fear.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard then spoke again: "Miss Jiang, Duan Wang has already petitioned the Holy Emperor to confer upon you the title of Changle Princess/County Princess."

After saying this, he beckoned, and two other saber-carrying guards stepped forward, holding precious trays. As the red cloth was lifted, it revealed the seal of a Princess/County Princess and the imperial decree of conferment.

That bright imperial decree and the golden seal stimulated everyone's eyes.

"This subordinate pays respects to Changle Princess/County Princess!"

Following the Right Commander's resonant and powerful words, all the Imperial Guard soldiers present knelt before Jiang Xiaoxiao.

A Princess/County Princess is a title that can only be enjoyed by the daughter of a Prince, possessing a fief and a salary, with a status second only to an Imperial Princess.

It is evident that Duan Wang truly treats her as his own daughter, specifically requesting this Princess/County Princess title for her.

At this time, County Magistrate Lu was already dripping with cold sweat, so scared that he collapsed on the ground.

He knelt on the ground, trembling as he kowtowed to Jiang Xiaoxiao: "J-Princess/County Princess, please spare my life... It was this subordinate who was blind, listened to the slander of others, and misunderstood the Princess/County Princess..."

"Misunderstood?" The guard holding the imperial decree snorted coldly, "Was it truly a misunderstanding? Didn't you just want to throw the Princess/County Princess into prison?"

"N-no, I dare not..." County Magistrate Lu was so scared his face turned pale, and he couldn't even speak a complete sentence, "It was this subordinate who was deceived by others and listened to slander..."

As he spoke, his gaze suddenly turned to Wealthy Donor Sun, who was already trembling with fear nearby, and he immediately pointed at him: "It was him! It was him who used ten thousand taels of silver to bribe this subordinate to frame the Princess/County Princess..."

Everyone looked at Wealthy Donor Sun in unison.

Jiang Xiaoxiao also looked at Wealthy Donor Sun with some surprise.

She knew that Wealthy Donor Sun was the one pushing things behind the scenes, but she never expected this scoundrel to be willing to spend ten thousand taels of silver to bribe a county magistrate!

This guy is truly too abominable!

"Falsely accusing and framing a member of the Imperial family is a capital crime. Drag him out and execute him immediately," the Right Commander looked at Wealthy Donor Sun and ordered nonchalantly.

Wealthy Donor Sun fainted dead away.

"As for you..." The Right Commander looked at County Magistrate Lu again, "Privately accepting bribes, bending the law for personal gain, and conspiring with others to frame the Princess/County Princess—a capital crime may be spared, but living punishment is inevitable. Drag him out, give him fifty heavy strokes, strip him of his position as County Magistrate, donate all the bribes received as compensation to the Princess/County Princess, confiscate his family property, demote him to a criminal from now on, and his descendants shall never be allowed to serve as officials."

Once these words were spoken, County Magistrate Lu almost fainted as well.

But fortunately, he remained slightly conscious and hurriedly kowtowed in thanks.

Being stripped of his official position and having his property confiscated was still better than being executed directly like Wealthy Donor Sun.

At least he still had his life.

Inside and outside the courtroom, everyone dared not even breathe loudly, for fear of offending this five-year-old Princess/County Princess.

Those who had previously insulted the Jiang family were also dripping with cold sweat, feeling lingering fear.

When Jiang Xiaoxiao walked out of the Ping'an County Yamen, her head was still a bit dizzy.

In the span of this one day, she had first experienced being framed by the Sun family, being interrogated by County Magistrate Lu, and going from panic and anxiety to relief after her mother appeared... She hadn't even had time to catch her breath before she inexplicably became the daughter of a Prince and was personally conferred the title of... Princess/County Princess by the current Holy Emperor?

This world is so magical...

She clutched the jade pendant in her hand, unable to figure it out.

Why would Duan Wang adopt her as his foster daughter and even petition the Holy Emperor to confer the title of Princess/County Princess upon her?

She absolutely did not believe that Duan Wang would do this just because she had saved Su Wanwan's life once and he wanted to thank her.

Just as she was thinking, Jiang Wei led the Right Commander and others toward her again.

Jiang Xiaoxiao felt a sudden, inexplicable nervousness and hurriedly straightened her back.

"Don't be afraid, you are a Princess/County Princess now," Jiang Wei walked up to her and smiled, patting her head.

Jiang Xiaoxiao looked at the Right Commander of the Imperial Guard, whose expression remained serious, and then at her mother's usual expression, and couldn't help but ask in confusion: "Mother, could it be that you knew about all of this long ago?"

Jiang Wei nodded: "Sorry, the situation was urgent, and I didn't have time to explain it to you."

The Right Commander then said: "Princess/County Princess, we found Madam Jiang first and discussed this matter together before deciding to announce your identity at the Ping'an County Yamen."

Jiang Xiaoxiao was silent.

It must be said that this slap in the face came too suddenly.

Presumably, everyone present today knew her identity—not only as the foster daughter personally recognized by Duan Wang but also as the Changle Princess/County Princess personally conferred by the current Holy Emperor.

"Xiaoxiao, how do you want to deal with the Li family?" At this moment, Jiang Wei spoke again.

"Deal with?" Jiang Xiaoxiao pointed at herself, "Is it up to me to deal with them?"

Jiang Wei smiled and flicked her nose: "Of course, you are now the Changle Princess/County Princess personally conferred by the Holy Emperor; naturally, you have the right to deal with them."

Jiang Xiaoxiao, however, frowned tightly.

To be honest, she didn't know how to deal with the two Li elders.

After all, they were the original host's biological grandparents. If she dealt with them too harshly, wouldn't she really have to bear the charge of being unfilial?

But if she let them off, it would be letting them off too easily.

Seeing her hesitation, Jiang Wei suddenly said: "How about this: let Mother deal with them on your behalf, how about that?"

"Okay!" Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded repeatedly.

With her mother taking action, she was naturally willing.

Jiang Wei then patted her head: "Then you go back to the carriage with Xuelian and wait for me."

"Okay." Jiang Xiaoxiao did not doubt her at all and followed Jiang Xuelian back to the carriage with peace of mind.

Before leaving, the guard thoughtfully sent the Princess/County Princess's seal and the imperial decree to their carriage, and promised that the Princess/County Princess's salary and rewards would be delivered shortly.

After Jiang Xiaoxiao got into the carriage, the smile on Jiang Wei's face faded.

She looked at the Right Commander with a calm gaze and said: "Does the Commander have anything else to order? If not, I have other matters to attend to."

Who knew that the Commander would not mind her suddenly cold expression at all and said indifferently: "Madam Jiang, do not worry. Duan Wang has already ordered that we have no other intentions in coming here this time, other than to convey the Holy Emperor's decree of conferment and the rewards."

Jiang Wei curled her lips coldly and did not speak.

If it were truly just to convey the Holy Emperor's decree of conferment and rewards, why send this Commander of the Imperial Guard?

Heh, do they really take her for a woman who knows nothing? (End of chapter)