"They all know the imperial decree has arrived, yet they're still making a fuss. This is disrespect towards the sovereign!" Tian Kangtai seemed furious. He loudly ordered into the courtyard, "Don't be polite with them. Seize these lawless ruffians!"
The people at the Xie residence, having received the order, stopped playing with the Hao family's servants. Each of them displayed their true skills, and in a flash, a large number of people fell to the ground.
They were all Hao family servants.
Hao Wei was held captive and couldn't move. After he cursed a few times, a smelly pair of underpants was stuffed into his mouth.
Hao Wei, choked by the stench, rolled his eyes and almost passed out.
Where did these underpants, unwashed for eight hundred years, come from!
Were they just ripped off someone's body!
Hao Wei, unable to breathe from the stench, found his anger temporarily quelled.
The thirty-odd servants and guards of the Hao family, including Hao Wei, were dragged to a corner of the courtyard.
The courtyard was cleaned, and an altar was set up.
It was only a matter of time before the Emperor enfeoffed his young master. After Tian Kangtai returned to the capital yesterday, he had already given instructions to prepare all the necessary items for receiving the imperial decree.
"Is it an imperial decree of reward?" Xu Hengyi whispered to Xie Jiang, "When His Majesty summoned you, did he say what he would reward you with?"
"All blessings, whether thunderous or dewy, are heavenly grace. Whatever His Majesty bestows is what it is. How can I be picky?" Xie Jiang said casually.
Xia Zeshi said, "Xie Jiang first eliminated the bandits of Huanglan Mountain, then brought tens of thousands of mountain dwellers to submit to the court. Now, the sweet potato harvest in Ninghe is abundant. Any one of these achievements can be considered a great feat. His Majesty should have a generous reward this time."
Hong Tao, holding the imperial decree, walked up the steps and stood firm. After everyone in the courtyard had knelt in proper order, he cleared his throat and opened the imperial decree to read.
As usual, it began with praising Xie Jiang's merits, essentially reiterating what Xia Zeshi had just said, and then briefly mentioned Xie Jiang's commitment to serving Da Yu.
The imperial decree did not mention the Xie clan's intention to submit.
This was because, according to Xie Jiang, the formal envoy sent by the Xie clan would arrive in two more days.
The envoy sent by the Xie clan was indeed still on their way. The Xie clan's envoy and the people sent by Da Yu to inquire about Lan Yong's whereabouts had departed almost at the same time Lan Yong boarded his ship. However, Da Yu's people were in a hurry to return to the capital with the news and had traveled faster.
This imperial decree was an acknowledgment and commendation of Xie Jiang's personal contributions to Da Yu.
By the end, Xu Hengyi could not help but open his mouth wide and lift his head.
He was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Nanhai, granted the former residence of Prince Qing, and bestowed with fifteen hundred mu of land.
He could understand a generous reward, but to be enfeoffed as a marquis just like that?! So casually?
Xie Jiang was now the Marquis of Nanhai!
Just last night, they were companions hanging out in gambling dens and brothels. After a trip to the imperial palace, they had transformed into a noble marquis!
Xu Hengyi doubted his life.
Xia Zeshi thought more deeply. Xie Jiang's merits alone were not enough to be enfeoffed as a marquis in one go, but Xie Jiang also had the Lan Yong Xie clan behind him.
"Young Marquis Xie, please receive the decree."
Hong Tao closed the imperial decree and handed it to Xie Jiang with a smile.
Xie Jiang feigned respect and gratitude towards the Emperor, accepted the imperial decree, and placed it on the offering table.
"How can Eunuch call me Young Marquis Xie? Ruan Ziji's father is the Marquis of Anyuan, and he is the heir apparent to the Marquis of Anyuan, the future Marquis of Anyuan, so everyone calls him Young Marquis. I am not the heir apparent to the Marquis of Nanhai; I am the Marquis of Nanhai myself."
Hong Tao laughed heartily. Only children disliked being called young. Hong Tao quickly corrected himself, "Yes, yes, Marquis Xie, Marquis Xie!"
He then congratulated Xie Jiang repeatedly.
Tian Kangtai handed over a bulging purse.
Hong Tao was naturally happy to share in such good fortune. He squeezed it subtly in his hand. This time, it wasn't gold ingots. Judging by the feel, it should be a bag of pearls. Hong Tao felt even more satisfied. Who wouldn't like dealing with such generous families?
"Eunuch Hong Tao, is this imperial decree real? Is Xie Jiang really enfeoffed as a marquis?" Xu Hengyi asked in disbelief.
Hong Tao said, "Young Master Xu San, what are you saying? Would this servant dare to forge an imperial decree?"
Xu Hengyi circled Xie Jiang, looking him up and down from all angles, his eyes filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred. How long would he have to strive to be enfeoffed as a marquis like Xie Jiang?
Hao Wei, pinned in the corner of the courtyard, along with the thirty-odd servants and guards of the Hao family, were also stunned by this turn of events.
Xie Jiang was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Nanhai?! Someone like him could also be enfeoffed as a marquis? Was there any justice left!
Hong Tao turned around, took the land deeds and house deeds from the tray held by a young eunuch behind him, and handed them to Xie Jiang.
"Here are the deeds for fifteen hundred mu of land, and a manor. It's in Jinzhou, not too far from the capital."
"It's not that we didn't want to grant you land closer, but there isn't that much land available around the capital..."
The land near the capital had long been divided among the dukes and nobles of the capital, leaving nothing left. Hong Tao said to Xie Jiang with a smile, "Jinzhou is beautiful with its mountains and clear waters; it's also a good place."
Xie Jiang showed no dissatisfaction. He happily accepted them and handed them to Tian Kangtai to put away. "With so much land, it's perfect for planting sweet potatoes."
She was not lacking in land.
Xia Zeshi said, "Plant more chili peppers."
"His Majesty is looking out for Marquis Xie. Knowing that the residence Xie Jiang is staying in is not large, he specifically granted the former residence of Prince Qing. That is a residence built to the specifications of a prince..."
"Granting me a prince's mansion? I, a Marquis of Nanhai, can live in a prince's mansion?"
Xie Jiang was extremely flattered, and even if he wasn't, he had to feign surprise.
The Emperor granting him a prince's residence also clearly indicated that after the Xie clan officially submitted to Da Yu, the Xie clan would likely be granted the title of king.
This was as expected.
If they offered the lands of the four southern continents to Da Yu, would it be acceptable not to grant them the title of king?
Hong Tao, for the sake of the bag of pearls, said solicitously, "How can one not live in a residence granted by His Majesty? Marquis Xie, rest assured and move in. Marquis Xie has not been in the capital for long and probably doesn't know where the former residence of Prince Qing is. This servant will take Marquis Xie to see it."
"Let's put off seeing the residence for now; there's no rush. Although His Majesty has granted me a residence, my current small residence is also a residence. How can I let people barge in casually? I will handle this matter first."
Xie Jiang, with an expression of anger at being wronged, turned to look at Hao Wei in the corner.
"This..."
Hong Tao was not in a position to comment on such matters.
Xu Hengyi, being perceptive, said, "If Eunuch Hong Tao has other matters to attend to, perhaps you can attend to them first. I know where the former residence of Prince Qing is. Is there any place in the capital I don't know? I'll take Xie Jiang there."
Hong Tao immediately felt that Young Master Xu San was very sensible, and his smile deepened. "Then I will trouble Young Master Xu San."
No one intended for Hong Tao to be involved. Tian Kangtai politely escorted Hong Tao out.
As Hong Tao turned to leave, he heard Xie Jiang's voice, "What is the crime for assassinating a marquis in Da Yu?"
Hong Tao thought to himself, wasn't this just a brawl between people? And Marquis Xie was the one who won. How did it become assassination of a marquis?
But since Marquis Xie was a new noble in the court, whatever Marquis Xie said was what it was.
It had nothing to do with him anyway.
Xu Hengyi said, "That crime is not light. Should it be sent to Shuntian Prefecture or Dali Temple?"
Xie Jiang said, "Send it to Shuntian Prefecture. I'm familiar with Shuntian Prefecture."
Xia Zeshi lowered his head, suppressing a smile. "Does Shuntian Prefecture want to be familiar with you?"