50,000 taels, not only saved nearly a thousand disaster victims but also allowed their friend, Wang Youbao, to stand taller and not to mind being born out of wedlock anymore... In a word, worth it!
And this move was her husband’s doing.
An Jing grew more and more convinced of her husband’s excellence, with their intertwined fingers tightening involuntarily.
Xiao Changyi said nothing, just looked at An Jing as if he could never get enough of her.
Seeing that Xiao Changyi was only staring at her, deeply staring at her, her heart sweetened as if with The Peach Blossom’s brilliance, with a radiant smile instantly blooming on her face.
The ’Virtue’ word personally written by the Emperor had been mounted on a plaque, carried by several government officials.
"Hear the Emperor’s oral decree," the Lord County Magistrate announced, prompting Wang Youbao and his family members to kneel.
"Wang’s Treasure," the Lord County Magistrate continued loudly, "With a kind heart and deeds, you have saved nearly a thousand people from displacement; I am deeply gratified. I hereby bestow the word ’Virtue,’ hoping you will uphold this spirit forever, never changing even after a hundred years."
Wang Youbao immediately expressed his gratitude loudly, "Thank you for the great kindness; may the Emperor live for ten thousand, ten thousand, endless years. I shall not fail Your Majesty’s expectations!"
Afterward, Wang Youbao and his family members welcomed the Virtue plaque into the Wang Family Grand Hall, hanging it up high, where it was extraordinarily eye-catching, dignified, and imposing — visible to anyone who entered.
No sooner had the Lord County Magistrate finished delivering the Virtue plaque than he left with the government officials, and the onlookers dispersed as well; still, Wang Youbao and his clan couldn’t stop staring at the plaque, feeling exceptionally radiant.
Wang Youbao planned a banquet to celebrate having received the imperial Virtue plaque, to which friends and relatives would come.
But by the time An Jing and Xiao Changyi finished strolling around Sixteen Town and entered the Wang residence, they discovered Wang Youbao and his relatives still admiring the Virtue plaque, laughing inwardly.
No, it was An Jing who found it amusing.
Xiao Changyi found it speechless.
It was only after a family servant informed Wang Youbao that An Jing and Xiao Changyi had arrived that he diverted his gaze from the Virtue plaque and came to greet them with a smile all over his face.
Just before the banquet began, Yu Xiaoming hurriedly came in and reported to Wang Youbao, "Young Master, Miss Li has contracted a chill and cannot come."
Wang Youbao immediately asked anxiously, "Is it serious?"
An Jing watched Wang Youbao’s tense expression, the light smile on her lips deepening significantly.
Yu Xiaoming said, "The doctor has seen her; it’s nothing serious. A few doses of medicine should make her well."
Wang Youbao sighed in relief, but did not notice it himself, and ordered, "Have Auntie Wu take good care of Miss Li."
After Yu Xiaoming left, An Jing said, "Wuyu has always been healthy; how did she catch a chill? Later, I must go with my husband to see her."
Wang Youbao actually wanted to go see her as well, but he was tied up with the day’s festivities and couldn’t leave; visiting at night wasn’t appropriate, so he planned to go the following morning.
After dining at Wang Youbao’s place, An Jing and Xiao Changyi went to see Li Wuyu.
Wang Youbao had provided Li Wuyu with quite a spacious house, and he also had the family servant Auntie Wu attend to her. All the food Li Wuyu ate was prepared by Auntie Wu.
As soon as An Jing and Xiao Changyi entered the house, they heard Li Wuyu’s low coughing sounds, intermittent, indicating that the chill was quite serious, certainly not mild.
"Teacher, Teacher Father, why have you come?" Li Wuyu was lying in bed coughing, her complexion extremely pale. Upon seeing An Jing and Xiao Changyi, she struggled to sit up.