Chapter 2444 - 2418: Bestowal of Titles

Manbao smiled, "I know, look at this, the travel allowance given by their family is one ingot more than that of the State Duke Pi’s mansion."

Manbao opened the pouch and gave one to Liu Sanniang.

Liu Sanniang did not refuse and kept it in her own pouch.

Manbao got on the carriage, and upon returning to the side gate of the Zhou Residence, she took out a silver piece and handed it to the coachman, "You should take Sanniang back to the palace."

The coachman hesitated, but Manbao laughed and said, "Take it, today I have a joyous occasion, consider it joy money."

Upon hearing this, the coachman immediately accepted the money, smiling and saluting Manbao, "Congratulations, my lord, on your promotion."

Clearly, the news from the morning court session had already spread through the palace.

Manbao nodded with a smile and let him and Liu Sanniang leave.

Manbao and Imperial Doctor Zheng had agreed that she could enter the palace tomorrow, but Liu Sanniang obviously couldn’t, she still had work to do.

After watching their carriage leave, Manbao turned around, and the porter who had already opened the gate greeted her diligently, carrying her medicine chest, "Miss Man, Old Master Zhou, Mrs. Zhou, and the rest of the Zhou family are all at home."

Previously, the side gate of the Zhou family was always closed because Old Madam Liu was concerned that the porter might not keep secrets tightly enough, fearing they would leak, so the porter stayed inside, only letting outsiders know when they knocked.

But ever since the porter was punished by Bai Shan last time, things have changed. Old Madam Liu selected three tighter-lipped individuals to guard the side gate together; now, the gate is mostly open, and like porters of other families, they would sit on the threshold watching the street traffic, even knowing the number of times the neighboring Du family sent their carriages out per day.

As soon as Manbao entered, she caught the eye of Old Zhou sitting near the courtyard gate. He immediately put down his tobacco pipe and ran forward, asking, "Why are you back at this hour?"

Manbao glanced at the position of the sun, knowing the palace messenger hadn’t arrived yet, said, "Dad, there’s good news for our family today."

Old Zhou, "You’ve got promoted again?"

Manbao, "...Not exactly a promotion."

"Oh," Old Zhou’s hope dropped a bit, he asked disappointedly, "Is it because the emperor gave another reward?"

"Dad, you are so knowledgeable."

Old Zhou boasted, "Of course, it’s all your Grandma Liu’s telling. She said you achieved something great this time and told us to make preparations early. I thought you would be promoted again and wondered if you could get a closer piece of land for division, then we could grow vegetables..."

"Although I wasn’t promoted, I was given a title,"

Old Zhou didn’t quite understand, "What title?"

"Miss Man, someone from the palace is here." Manbao had no time to explain when the porter guarding the side gate hurried over.

A junior attendant followed behind him and came in, saw Zhou Man standing there with her medicine chest, and smiled, "Lord Zhou is at home, that’s great, the imperial decree will be here in a quarter hour, you should prepare."

Manbao courteously acknowledged and asked the porter to notify the steward to open the main gate.

Then she pulled her father back to prepare for receiving the decree, "Bring mother here, quickly prepare the items for receiving the decree."

The Zhou family was not receiving the imperial decree for the first time, they’re quite experienced. Old Zhou hurried with Ms. Qian to prepare the incense table. By the time they finished, the messenger had arrived.

This time, the one delivering the decree was an official from the Ministry of Rites, although followed by attendants.

The official wasn’t familiar with Zhou Man but treated her courteously, smiling at her before spreading the imperial decree to read aloud.

Manbao led the Zhou family to kneel and listen to the decree; it was lengthy, and except for Manbao, Zhou Lixue, and Zhou Ligu who were home on rest, no one understood what the decree meant.

"...Warm and just, with integrity; respectful and scholarly, compassionate in medicine, humble and obedient, meritorious to the country, hereby bestowed as the Liyang Township Mistress..."

Zhou Lixue and Zhou Ligu were stunned, but the decree was not over and continued, "Honoring the virtuous labors, an established tradition of the court; raising family virtues, the utmost filial piety of children... Zhou Jin, foster father of the Chongwen Pavilion editor and Imperial Hospital Doctor Zhou Man, righteous and charitable, sincere in conduct... Thus specially granted as a Grand Doctor of State Affairs, greatly enhancing the light of the countryside, enjoying the pleasures of retirement."

Now it was Manbao’s turn to be stunned, she looked at the Ministry of Rites official in surprise, so this was the main reason for the Ministry official’s visit?

But it wasn’t over yet, the person holding the decree paused, swallowed, and continued, "The mother’s diligent labor, dutiful in educating; court’s special favor, particularly heavy in commendation... Ms. Qian, foster mother of Chongwen Pavilion editor and Imperial Hospital Doctor Zhou Man, wise and knowledgeable, respectful and courteous... hereby specially granted as Luojiang County Gentry, bearing the noble grace, eternally exemplifying the family model."

Manbao’s eyes were filled with tears, and she respectfully kowtowed to the decree with a particularly loud thud, sincerely saying, "Subject thanks the emperor for his great grace!"

The decree officer smiled, closed the decree, handed it to Zhou Man, and congratulated, "Lord Zhou, congratulations to you."

Then saluted the still confused Old Zhou, and said, "Doctor Zhou, may I come later to request a cup of celebratory wine?"

Manbao immediately replied, "I will send the invitations to the Ministry of Rites soon."

Upon hearing this, the decree officer laughed heartily and agreed immediately.

Manbao had only prepared one pouch, but that was clearly insufficient, fortunately, Zhou Lixue and Zhou Ligu, being clever, had already quietly retreated, pulling Junior Ms. Qian along, whispering, "Mother, we need to prepare two more red envelopes and more copper coins, take all the remaining copper coins at home out, and we’ll give a few to everyone outside later."

Junior Ms. Qian, "...Give so much?"

"Oh, Mother, it’s not just one decree, there are three people included."

Junior Ms. Qian was puzzled, but she still went with her son to fetch money, and while Manbao was speaking, they brought a bundle of money to distribute.

The accompanying inner attendants and guards only declined briefly before accepting it into their arms. It was joy money, to refuse would be bad.

Everyone dispersed happily.

Only then did Old Zhou speak, "Did that official drink? Why did he call me doctor?"

Zhou Lixue, "Grandpa, the emperor just granted you the title of Grand Doctor of State Affairs."

Old Zhou’s heart fluttered with fear, "What does this mean? No wonder I seemed to hear my name just now."

Manbao immediately reassured him, "Dad, this is a title of favor, just a title."

Zhou Lixue explained, "Grandpa, haven’t I often said I would become an official to earn a noble title for my mother, well, this is a noble title. You’ve received Little Aunt’s favor and became a Grand Doctor of State Affairs, you’re now of rank, you won’t need to kneel before the county magistrate, and he’ll even call you ’Old Master’."

Old Zhou widened his eyes in shock, feeling a bit dizzy, he swallowed hard and asked, "Why am I the one receiving favor? What about your mother?"