bookcurios Chapter 164: Marquisship
Chapter 164: Marquisship
Twenty days later, the emperor finally issued an edict to confer the title of marquis on Yun Zhen. Yun Zhen was given the title of "Yimin Marquis", the second rank, and was granted a marquisate by the emperor. Yun Xi's deceased mother was also posthumously conferred the title.
The mansion was built according to regulations, with a three-room gate with a gold-painted animal-faced tin ring, and seven rooms each for the front hall, middle hall, and back hall.
Fortunately, the emperor also gave servants to serve, otherwise it would have been quite scary to live in this empty courtyard.
When Yun Zhen entered the courtyard for the first time, he saw the plaque with the words "Yimin Marquis Mansion" written by the emperor himself hanging on the gate, and tears welled up in his eyes.
He left home at a young age, joined the army, fought hard, and settled down in the capital. He took one step at a time, and never dared to think that he would one day be granted a title and become a prime minister.
The residence of an official was called a "mansion", and the residence of ordinary people was called a "house". The different signs on the door showed the difference in their status.
Yun Zhen set up an ancestral hall in his mansion, which contained only two tablets, one for Yun Zhen's mother and the other for his wife.
Yun Xi was a little surprised when she entered the ancestral hall. Where was her grandfather's tablet?
Yun Zhen took her to burn incense for the two deceased women, and then said a few words asking them to bless Yun Xi with all the best before leaving.
After leaving the ancestral hall, Yun Xi couldn't help but ask him, "Where is my grandfather's tablet?"
The original owner's whole world was her father. She knew nothing about other people or things in the family, nor did she know what the situation was like in her father's hometown.
Yun Zhen hesitated for a second and said, "Your grandfather is still alive."
Yun Xi: "..."
Yun Zhen: "I'm almost dead."
Yun Xi: "..."
Yun Zhen: "Even if he's dead, I won't offer him a tablet. He doesn't deserve it. Whether he's alive or dead, don't expect to get anything from me."
Yun Xi's curiosity was aroused, and she asked, "What bad things did he do?"
Yun Zhen smiled and said, "Your grandmother was his first wife. She died of illness when I was five years old. He later remarried and had three more children. They were very bad to me. I was able to grow up thanks to my own cleverness, and it had nothing to do with them. I went out to join the army when I was a teenager because I didn't want to live with them. I never went back after leaving home."
Yun Xi: "...I didn't expect you to be a poor little kid who has a stepmother and a stepfather."
Father Yun sneered, "How am I pitiful? They treated me badly, so I beat their children. Everyone had a hard time. They beat me, so I beat the other three. Later they didn't dare to beat me. They were afraid that I would beat the little ones to death. They didn't give me food, so I took it from the children. Anyway, I wasn't the one who starved in the end."
Yun Xi gave him a trembling thumbs up, saying, “You’re awesome, dad!”
"And how did you know he was dying?"
"Although I'm not going back, I still have a few childhood friends in my hometown who are my go-to sources. I know everything about the situation back home. A few days ago, they wrote to me saying that the old man is dying. The three kids at home are also useless and have a hard time."
"Then your childhood friend is pretty good."
"I gave benefits."
Yun Xi: "...Then he won't come to see you?"
"No, when I reported the death, they thought I was dead."
Then, Yun Zhen said to her: "You don't have to worry about these things. You have never seen him and have never eaten a grain of his food. Just treat him as if you don't have a grandfather. Besides, I was not called Yun Zhen before, but Yun Da."
Yun Xi: "... Yun Da..."
This name is so perfunctory, it's as if it doesn't exist.
Yun Zhen knocked on her head and laughed and scolded: "Don't shout nonsense. My later name was given by the old general when I settled in the capital."
"Oh."
Yun Zhen walked with her around the yard and told her during the chat: "I think Yan is a good kid. If you treat him well, your relationship should be good. The Mu family members are all good people."
"I know. He's very well behaved and very likable."
"That's good. You take good care of him, but don't interfere too much. You should hurry up and have a child of your own. Dad really has a title to inherit, and I will pass it on to your child in the future. If we work harder and make some contributions, the emperor will probably agree."
He is feeling quite high-spirited now!
"Dad, you are only in your 40s now. You can be a marquis for decades at least. Why are you in such a hurry?"
Yun Zhen: "...It's up to you."
Not long after officially moving in, one morning, General Mu came with his whole family to celebrate for Dad Yun.
The old general was genuinely happy for Yun Zhen. Ensuring that his soldiers could live a good life after retirement had always been the goal that the Mu family had been striving to achieve.
Also coming to celebrate were some of Yun Zhen’s former comrades in the military camp, who had all retired for various reasons and were making a living in the capital or the surrounding areas under the care of the Mu family.
A group of rough men in the military camp gathered together to drink, and Yun Xi took the old lady, Mu Jinyan, and some of the veterans' families who came with them to eat and drink together.
The people who came were all down-to-earth ordinary people. Madam Mu, who had the highest status, was also very straightforward. Everyone was talking and laughing and was very happy.
Over the past six months, the veterans and their families have been living better and better because of Yun Xi. They are all grateful people, and they are grateful and respectful to Yun Xi from the bottom of their hearts.
Yun Xi also liked them very much! These aunts and sisters all had sincere smiles on their faces.
They are very real, not polite, not hypocritical, and say what is in their hearts. It is easy to deal with them.
After this gathering, Yun Xi reported to Madam Mu and said hello to Mu Sheng, saying that she would stay in the Yun Mansion for a few days. Her father had specially prepared a room for her, so she had to stay there.
When everyone left in the afternoon, Yun Xi stayed behind. Mu Sheng also wanted to stay, but was chased away by Yun Xi. Mu Jinyan, who had to practice martial arts with him every day, had to go with him. Before leaving, he reluctantly said, "Mom, please come back soon."
Life in the Yun Mansion is more carefree than in the Mu Mansion. After all, it is one's own home. Even though Yun Xi is an outsider, she feels that the Yun Mansion is more intimate and natural.
Father Yun recently bought two maids to take care of her. Before, they didn't have the means, and the child had to grow up with him, a grown man. Now that the conditions are better, he wants to arrange everything good for his daughter.
The two maids were named Xia He and Dong Xue. They used to be maids in wealthy families. When their master's family fell into poverty, they sent away a group of servants, and several of them were bought by Old Man Yun.
Father Yun had also inquired before buying them. The reason they were sold was not their fault, but because a prodigal son appeared in the master's family and not only could they not afford servants, but they also had to make some money by selling people.
Otherwise, many kind-hearted families would directly release their innocent servants with indentures, or allow them to redeem themselves, rather than selling them again.
Xia He and Dong Xue were not originally called this name, these were the names Yun Xi had given them. Her maids' names all contained the character "四季" (Four Seasons).
Father Yun even advised her to take them with her when she returned to her husband's house, "When you got married before, you didn't even have a maid as a dowry, so this is a good opportunity to make up for it for you."
Yun Xi couldn't stop laughing and said to her father, "There's no way I can make up for this later."
She did not plan to take Xia He and Dong Xueyu to the Mu Mansion. She already had several maids around her. She was not particular about ostentation and did not need a group of servants. These two maids could still help her if they stayed in the Yun Mansion.
"No need to take them to the Mu Mansion. Let them stay at home and help me. I'll think of some work for them. Before that, they can take care of you at home." Yun Xi said.
There was nothing that Yun's father did not agree to in his arrangements for his daughter.
Since Yun Xi got married, the father and daughter didn't have much time to talk alone. These days, Yun Xi stayed at her parents' house, and Mu Sheng was sent back to the Mu Mansion by Yun Xi. Even if he came, it would be in the evening. The father and daughter had plenty of time to chat.
Yun Xi didn't plan to do anything these days. She just stayed at home and chatted with her old father to pass the time. She spent a few days with her children and enjoyed the happy life of being a daughter spoiled by her father.
Dad Yun was used to being busy all by himself, but now that someone else was doing everything at home, he was completely idle and felt a little uncomfortable. He muttered to Yun Xi, "I'm not old yet, and it's a bit uncomfortable to just sit around at home like this."
Yun Xi was surprised and asked, "Why are you idle? Don't you care about the wine shop? Don't you care about the manor?"
"I'll just keep an eye on those things, there's nothing I need to do." Father Yun said, "Can you help me think about what else I can do?"