Chapter 30: This... this is an appointment edict?! Loyal and righteous marquis?!

"Pfft!"

Qingyu couldn't help but laugh upon hearing that.

Lies don't hurt people; the truth is the quick blade.

To kill someone, you must strike at their heart!

"I... I fucking...."

Chen Yan choked, instantly speechless.

Even the foolish deeds of the original owner can be blamed on him???

But unfortunately I can't explain it, so I can only silently bear the blame.

I had to turn my blame on the laughing little maid: "Qingyu, how come you're laughing at me too?"

"I didn't!"

Qingyu pressed down her rising lips, forced back her smile, and argued: "Young Master, you're mistaken...."

"Eh, after all I'm your family's young master; I deserve at least some face."

Chen Yan laughed and cried, lightly bumped Dantai Mingyue, and presented his reasonable request.

"We'll talk about it next time...."

Dantai Mingyue's eyes flashed a barely perceptible smile as she spoke expressionlessly.

Chen Yan let out a long sigh, left arm around Qingyu, right hand on Dantai Mingyue, and walked toward the courtyard.

The saying 'Child Peace' truly does not deceive him: don't be swayed by women; if you are to be swayed, let it be by women.

Mealtime.

The table was filled with dishes made by the new cook Qingyu hired.

After days of rushing about, the four of us can finally sit down together for a proper meal.

"Mingyue, you're too thin; eat a bit more...."

Qingyu kept picking vegetables with her chopsticks for Dantai Mingyue, eyeing the bowl before her, which was about to become a small mountain, and added a big drumstick, earnestly urging: "You must finish this drumstick; next time you'll have more strength to beat that wicked woman!"

After saying that, she even demonstrated it with waving hands and feet.

"Okay."

Dantai Mingyue smiled, rather moved, and replied softly.

Having been mistreated for so many years at Daxi Fu, this is the first time she's encountered such care.

This was the first time she felt a sense of family....

"See? Little Qingyu's gaze at Mingyue is just like a little fangirl's...."

Chen Yan witnessed this scene, nudged Zhu Yi, who was busy eating rice, with his elbow, and muttered: "We're both about to lose favor!"

Between the lines, it's full of jealousy.

Previously, all these treatments were his....

Now they're about to bloom like lilies.

Pain!

Too painful!

Qingyu turned her head, expression strange, puffed her little mouth, and said softly: "Young Master, could you keep your bad-mouthing behind people's backs a bit quieter?"

"I heard it all...."

Who gossips without talking behind someone's back?

What's the difference between this and openly cheating?

"Fine, then I'll say it to your face...."

Chen Yan blinked, then spoke with a serious smile.

"You should eat more too!"

Qingyu gave him a white look, picked up a piece of meat and fed it into Chen Yan's mouth, as if recalling something, she said: "Young Master, let me tell you, Mingyue is impressive—not only can she read and do arithmetic, she can also read ledgers...."

"Those heavenly-book-like things, she finishes them in a moment!"

After saying that.

Qingyu then began to vividly describe the events that happened to Wen Nianshu before the future.

Those things that gave her a headache just by looking at them were easily resolved....

Chen Yan chewed and swallowed the stuffed meat, smiling at Dantai Mingyue: "Sure, then the capable should do more...."

"From now on, in this manor, Qingyu will handle daily affairs, and you will manage the household and accounts!"

He hadn't expected that Dantai Mingyue also had these talents....

Moreover, it saves the trouble of hiring an external steward and accountant, and there's no need to worry about loyalty issues.

All internal affairs of the manor are fully entrusted to the two of them; Chen Yan feels very relieved.

"Mm-hmm!"

Qingyu responded excitedly.

With Mingyue sharing the burden, managing this huge manor will be much easier for her.

"When I'm not around, you two just discuss and decide as needed...."

Chen Yan smiled faintly, took a sip of tea, and instructed: "Don't be afraid to spend money!"

If you suspect people, don't use them; if you use them, don't suspect them.

Since we've chosen Dantai Mingyue, Chen Yan will give her trust and delegate authority.

After all, there are many unseen places inside the inner residence that require money, and he doesn't have the leisure to micromanage every detail.

Anyway, as long as the Grand Chancellor can use him for a day, the manor will have a steady flow of silver and gold coming in; there's no need to pinch pennies....

Good.

Dantai Mingyue lightly nodded, a glimmer of light appeared in her indifferent eyes, and she said: "You go ahead with your affairs outside; I won't let you have any worries...."

If Chen Yan trusts her, she will not betray this trust.

"Qingyu, those several pieces of mink and fox fur should have been delivered, right?" Chen Yan looked at Qingyu and asked.

The mink and fox furs were, early this morning at Zhuque Tang, ordered people to each send back eight pieces, and along with them came a hundred bolts of brocade.

Given the efficiency of the Zhuque Guard, it's unlikely to be delayed.

"It arrived at noon...."

Qingyu briefly recalled, blurted out, and then praised: "The quality is exceptionally excellent, it's top-notch!"

When they were delivered, the young master of the household was still sound asleep and had not yet risen.

Qingyu examined each piece of mink and fox fur; the hair was fine and smooth, the feel superb, they were rare treasures.

Chen Yan smiled and made arrangements: "When we have free time, we'll make them into shawl robes, each of us getting a few!"

"From now on we'll have winter warm clothing...."

In memory, after grandfather passed, that winter the three of them had a very hard time.

The Duke of Wei's mansion, under pretext, withheld the winter clothing and coal that should have been issued....

"The young master is truly good!"

Qingyu, hearing this, widened her beautiful eyes and gave a faint smile.

"Thank you!"

Dantai Mingyue lowered her head slightly, her throat moved slightly, her voice like a mosquito.

Chen Yan didn't hear clearly, but he read the woman's lips, got up and walked to her side, deliberately moving closer to tease: "Mingyue, don't be shy, if you have something to say, just say it out loud...."

For some reason, Chen Yan likes to "bully" this introverted yet fiery little chili pepper.

Especially when he sees her show a shy, embarrassed expression.

But this time, Dantai Mingyue seemed to have developed immunity, merely rolling her eyes and not paying further attention.

To prevent someone from taking an inch and demanding a mile.

Just then, the maid Jin Se ran in from outside and reported: "Young master, there is an embroidered-clad emissary outside requesting an audience!"

"He says he has brought the person you wanted...."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan instantly put aside his teasing, his eyes lit up, and said: "First go bring them to the study!"

He paused, then looked at the three people at the table, smiled and said: "Take your time eating, especially you, eat a bit more!"

Saying that, he pinched Dantai Mingyue's cheek, then hurried toward the study.

His impatient demeanor seemed as if he were awaiting mountains of gold and silver, a peerless beauty.

Study.

"Greetings, sir!"

The embroidered-clad emissary Yu Xian saw Chen Yan push the door open, hurriedly stood and bowed, full of respect.

"Old I have seen Mirror Master Chen, sir!"

Qian Bingzhi, brought by Yu Xian, with white hair and beard and a pallid complexion, also rose and bowed to the visitor.

Qian Bingzhi's physical condition looked poor, yet his every gesture bore the bearing of a soldier.

"Sit, all sit, no need to stand on ceremony...."

Chen Yan gestured with his hand and took the seat of honor.

"Thank you, sir!"

After Qian Bingzhi sat down, he bluntly asked first: "I don't know why Lord Chen wishes to see me, this sickly old man near death, what are your orders?"

Whether on the way here or after entering the Chen mansion, Qian Bingzhi was very doubtful.

The Chen Yan you wish to see is a rising star of the Mirrors Office, a favorite of the Grand Chancellor, with limitless prospects.

But he is merely a hereditary military household, an ordinary old soldier in the army, an insignificant existence, and moreover suffers from a grave illness with little time left....

Seeing Qian Bingzhi speak, Chen Yan didn't beat around the bush, directly said: "There is an opportunity that could change your whole family's fate, which I wish to bestow upon you...."

He paused, then asked: "You should have heard something about my character, right?"

This Qian Bingzhi is someone Chen Yan, after leaving the Heavenly Officials Office, specially sent Song and Zhang to find.

The requirements were: advanced age, little time left, clear-minded, valuing the interests of younger family members, preferably also a former member of the manor's troops.

"Lord Chen is righteous and generous, never stingy, bestowing grace upon subordinates; he is truly a superior official countless people dream of!"

Qian Bingzhi nodded heavily and spoke truthfully.

There are no walls that don't let wind through; with the defeat of Da Xi jue, Chen Yan's reputation has already spread far.

Especially his reputation for being extremely good to subordinates....

Nobody would not want to work under him!

"Since you already understand, I won't beat around the bush either...."

Chen Yan smiled faintly, took out a box from his bosom, placed it on the table, pushed it toward Qian Bingzhi, and said: "Come, open this and see what it is!"

Qian Bingzhi didn't understand, but he obeyed, opening the box and taking out the item; upon close inspection, he was stunned: "This... this is an investiture edict?!"

"Lord of Loyalty and Righteousness?!"

"Sir, what do you mean....?"

At that moment, Qian Bingzhi's hand holding the edict trembled uncontrollably.

How many people risk their lives on the battlefield, fighting a lifetime, never managing to snag a title, let alone a marquisate.

Chen Yan stood up, pressed his fingertip on the unsigned part of the edict, and said in a low voice: "As long as you fill in your name in that blank, you, Qian Bingzhi, will be the newly conferred Lord of Loyalty and Righteousness!"

"Hereditary and immutable!"

"Your eldest son will also enter the Bright Mirror Office, and I will personally nurture and promote him!"

"The Grand Chancellor grants your Qian family glory and wealth!"

【1200000000000000000000000000000000000000000000003】 "Chen Yan's voice, as if it had no idea what to do."

Wait, I need to correct: I accidentally inserted wrong line. Let's redo properly.

We need to output 【121】 through 【127】 only. I mistakenly added 【103】. Let's produce correct output.

Let's list:

【121】 "Your eldest son will also enter the Bright Mirror Office, and I will personally nurture and promote him!"

【122】 "The Grand Chancellor grants your Qian family glory and wealth!"

"Chen Yan's voice, as if it had magic, kept echoing in Qian Bingzhi's ears; after pondering for a long while, he finally raised his head, trembling and shaking, 'This... I... I don't know what this humble one can do for Lord Chen.'"

"Qian Bingzhi did not lose his reason; he was very clear that there is no free lunch in the world, especially such a large stuffed pastry."

"The price to be paid will certainly not be small...."

"Hahahaha!"

"Chen Yan laughed loudly, patted Qian Bingzhi on the shoulder, took out a prepared Secret Letter, and said with deep meaning: 'It's simple; you just need to act according to what is written here....'"