Starting from a thatched cottage, the farmer embarked on the road to wealth through imperial examina

The wedding procession shuttled through several main roads in Shengjing City. The signboard with "Imperially Granted Marriage" alone attracted many people along the way to watch.

The neighborhood where the Wang family lives is even more festive. The guests and friends who came to congratulate today have packed the Wang family's yard to the point where no one can get through.

When the wedding procession arrived at the Wang family's gate, the sound of firecrackers popped simultaneously on many street corners. Today, almost all members of the Dongcheng Bingmasi were dispatched to maintain order along the streets, and all the places where firecrackers were set off were guarded by runners from the Dongcheng Bingmasi.

At a wedding of this scale, the guests are either rich or noble. Once any mistake is made, the impact will be huge. The four deputy commanders of the East City Military Division are all in every corner of the Wang residence at this time, paying close attention to any unusual movements on the scene.

When the bridesmaid helped the bride out of the sedan chair, the scene was filled with noise and everyone stretched their necks, wanting to catch a glimpse of the bride's beautiful face. It was a pity that the spring breeze disappeared at this moment, but it did not affect everyone's excitement at all.

The bride stepped over the fire basin, then crushed the tiles and walked towards the gate of Wang's house. Many people from Wang's family came. At this time, all the aunts and uncles threw beans on the bride's way, wishing the newlyweds many children and a rich life.

When they were approaching the steps of the Wang residence, the bridesmaid supported the bride and stepped over the saddle. The bride then walked up the steps in front of the crowd and officially entered the Wang residence.

Under the auspices of the best man, the newlyweds completed the complicated wedding ceremony. When the best man was about to shout "Send her to the bridal chamber", they heard a shrill voice singing loudly from the gate of Wang's residence.

"The imperial edict has arrived——"

Suddenly, a large group of people knelt down in the courtyard of Wang's house. Wang Xinkuan, who had just finished the wedding ceremony, considerately supported the bride and knelt on the mat hastily placed by the maid, and immediately the whole place cheered.

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

The angel holding the imperial edict read out the edict, which contained words of blessing to the newlyweds and some rewards.

Wang Xinkuan and his wife bowed to express their gratitude and took the imperial edict. Just when everyone thought that Wang Xinkuan was indeed trusted by the emperor, they heard the eunuch who had just announced the edict take out another imperial edict and sing it in a somewhat shrill voice.

"Your Majesty has issued an order. Wang Xinkuan, the co-governor of Xuyang Prefecture, is here to receive it."

Everyone was a little surprised. Wasn't the imperial edict just read out? How could there be another imperial edict? However, among the guests present, there were many officials, ranging from the second or third rank to the sixth or seventh rank. When these people heard the angel singing Wang Xinkuan's official position, they knew that this imperial edict was naturally related to Wang Xinkuan's position.

Although some people did not understand the reason, when they saw people in the center kneeling down, others followed suit.

Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng were standing not far behind Wang Xinkuan. They followed Wang Xinkuan and his wife and knelt down again. However, they looked at each other in confusion and shook their heads slightly. Then they heard the angel holding the imperial edict begin to read it, and the courtyard suddenly became quiet.

"The Emperor, in accordance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: Wang Xinkuan, the co-magistrate of Xuyang Prefecture, took up his post when the disaster struck, and was able to demonstrate his loyalty and diligence. When the floods were raging, you supervised the relief and comfort to save the people, and the plague was completely eradicated, and the displaced people were settled in their hometowns. In less than half a year, all the abandoned things were rebuilt, and the people praised you. I am pleased with your ability, and I specially promote you to the rank of the fourth-rank Xuyang Prefecture Magistrate, in charge of the prefectures and counties. I admire your hard work day and night, and forever strengthen the foundation of the country. I admire you!"

As expected, Duke Wei's information channels were very well-informed, and among the guests and friends present, very few had received the gossip earlier. The original prefect of Xuyang Prefecture was a son of the Empress Dowager's family, but due to his incompetence in dealing with the flood in Xuyang Prefecture and his mediocre performance in the subsequent post-disaster reconstruction, His Majesty originally planned to dismiss him, but out of consideration for the Empress Dowager's feelings, His Majesty planned to transfer him away from the capital to a remote prefecture to continue serving as prefect. The Empress Dowager nodded only after she saw that the successor was Wang Xinkuan.

But these people did not expect that His Majesty would issue an edict to promote Wang Xinkuan to the position of prefect of Xuyang Prefecture on the day of his wedding.

Wang Xinkuan once again thanked the emperor for his grace and accepted the imperial edict. Except for a very few people who had received the inside scoop in advance, everyone else at the scene was shocked and astonished.

Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng had never expected that their fourth senior brother had just been promoted from the sixth rank to the fifth rank Tongzhi half a year ago. Just half a year had passed and he was promoted again. A 27-year-old fourth rank prefect, I wonder how many people would be envious of him!

Before everyone in the yard could fully recover from their shock and astonishment, the angel who announced the decree took out another imperial edict and sang it loudly.

"Your Majesty has issued an order. Cai Zhengqing, the former Imperial College Priest, has received the order."

Everyone at the scene was wondering if they were hallucinating. They looked at each other, but saw a look of confusion in each other's eyes.

Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng turned their heads at the same time and looked at Mr. Cai who was originally sitting on the left side of the main seat. They saw that Mr. Cai had stood up. Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng hurried forward to support him. Everyone in the main hall supported Mr. Cai and walked forward, and made way for him.

Mr. Cai came before the angel announcing the imperial edict and knelt down respectfully. Then everyone in the main hall followed suit and knelt down again. The people in the yard also knelt down, and then the angel announcing the imperial edict began to read the imperial edict loudly.

"The Emperor, in accordance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: Cai Zhengqing, the former chief priest of the Imperial College, inherited the knowledge of the great scholar Wu Daoyuan, and carried on the essence of the Zhuo and Si rivers, and revitalized the orthodox lineage of Luoyang and Fujian. He was in charge of the school and honed the literati, and after retiring to the forest and the mountains, he still taught the scriptures. He is specially promoted to the position of Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, and is granted the white jade seal with a dragon button, the Thirteen Classics Commentaries, and the woven gold cloud crane silk. He is also given an additional 200 dan of rice per year, and the "Contemporary Literary Master" archway is built. You should support the spring examination, promote the holy learning, and forever be a model for the world. I decree this!"

As soon as the angel finished reading the imperial edict, the entire front yard of the royal residence was silent as if the pause button had been pressed. Everyone in the room looked at Cai Zhengqing in disbelief as he stretched out his hand to take the imperial edict from the angel.

Mr. Cai looked calm, but a faint smile appeared on his face involuntarily. Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng, who were nearby, saw a hint of surprise in Mr. Cai's smile.

"I would like to congratulate Grand Tutor Cai. I will definitely visit you someday to ask for a drink!"

The angel who announced the decree handed the imperial edict to Mr. Cai with a smile and congratulated him. Mr. Cai smiled and nodded at the angel with a kind face.

"You are too polite, Eunuch Guo. I will definitely prepare a bed for you some other day."

After reading the imperial edict, Eunuch Guo smiled and said goodbye to Mr. Cai and the Wang father and son.

Ye Changyan and Liang Jingcheng did not come back to their senses from their great joy until they saw Eunuch Guo off. Unable to suppress the smiles on their faces, they supported Mr. Cai and sat back in their original seats.