Chapter 97. A Twenty-Year-Old Duke

le, extending his hand and saying, "This is Zhou Zhengyang, the eldest son of the Zhou family in the county town, Young Master Zhou!"Mr. Yang, regarding the tofu from your household, we have conducted...Li Yuxiang gritted her teeth, she decided to do it this way!

Even if the other party could verify the authenticity of the imperial edict, it would take at least a few months to check with the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

And right now, the situation is urgent and we can only go all in.

Just as Li Yuyao was about to pick up her brush and personally write the imperial decree, Ziyi beside her said, "Your Majesty, this servant has another way."

"Oh"

"The process of bestowing an official title is complex and involves many procedures, but I can give your son a knighthood!"

Zǐ yī de huà ràng Lǐ Yù yáo yǎnjīng liàng.

"Yeah!"

When it comes to Yang Lin, she's usually so composed and collected. But this time, she couldn't help feeling flustered.

Upon being reminded by Ziyi, Li Yunyao suddenly realized.

The difference between titles and official positions, she naturally understood it very well.

Having a title means becoming a nobleman and enjoying privileges! Even without an official position, one is not someone those small clerks in minor counties can bully.

Titles are mostly granted to members of the royal family and those who have made great contributions. Although it is only an honor and a status, the privileges that come with it are very real.

For example, one might not bow to officials, be exempt from punishment for minor offenses, have their own territory, or even directly petition the emperor!

Just having the ability to petition the emperor directly would be a huge deal! It would mean being able to write letters to the emperor and file complaints at any time.

Of course, the emperor could not personally handle these trivial matters. Therefore, whenever a nobleman wrote to the emperor, regardless of the reason, the final outcome would inevitably favor the nobleman.

Because the emperor himself is the greatest nobleman in the land! Noblemen and noblewomen are their own kind, and one could even say that they are the masters of this world. Officials are merely there to assist the master in managing the world.

So, even the smallest rank can reach heaven and make many officials without rank wary.

Li Yuxiang started writing as soon as she picked up her pen.

But what kind of title should they give him

Li Yuxiang wanted to do things in one go, directly bestowing Yang Lin with the title of Duke!

But she also knew that it was too fake.

Any duke or marquis, those are all important ministers of state. They either have made great achievements themselves, or their ancestors have accomplished unprecedented feats.

A twenty-year-old duke That's too fake!

Even if the other party has no right to inspect, a title that is too absurd is unacceptable.

Ultimately, Li Yuyao could only bestow upon Yang Lin the smallest rank of nobility...

After sealing the jade seal and allowing the ink to dry, they carefully placed the package back into the well. With the imperial edict in hand, the two hurried back to the front courtyard.

The front yard was still a standoff between the commoners and the yamen officials, especially with Zhao Deyi egging them on. The yamen officials deliberately provoked the commoners, taking advantage of the opportunity to beat those who stood in their way. For a time, many commoners were beaten and screamed in pain.

The archers from the village outskirts and nearly a hundred yamen guards have also entered the village, setting up their positions, completely encircling the commoners.

As the situation became clear, Zhou Kun grew increasingly excited and shouted, "Yang Lin, you are cornered with no escape. Why don't you confess your guilt and accept punishment"

Zhao Deyi also sneered: "You villagers from Koushan Village, listen well, my patience is limited. I'll give you three breaths of time. If you dare to obstruct my tax collectors again, kill them where they stand!"

"Whoosh!"

The constables drew their swords from their waists and pointed them at the common people.

"One."

"Two!"

Seeing that the constables were getting serious, the villagers' faces changed dramatically.

But none of them made way, instead they stiffened their chests and blocked the yamen officers' advance with their own bodies.

"Come on! If you want to catch Yang Lin, step over my corpse first!"

"Fellow countrymen, if they dare to lay a hand on us, we will fight them to the death!"

"Swear to defend Laoshantun village to the death!!"

Cheers shook the heavens, and the villagers were filled with fervent passion.

Upon seeing this scene, Zhou Kun and Zhao Deyi were also greatly shocked.

All the common folk they had ever met would cower in their presence, not daring to even breathe.

These people from the reliable mountain village, aren't they afraid of death Yang Lin was also touched.

"Guard unit!"

He shouted.

"Here!"

"Here!"

"Here we go!"

On either side, the guards shouted and stepped forward, crossbow in hand.

Yang Lin shouted: "If they dare to touch our villagers again, shoot them! Don't let any of them go!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!!"

Though not neat, its extremely loud voice echoed through the night.

Zhou Kun and Zhao Deyi were completely shocked.

Although the guard team only had thirty men, their days of training and the battle with the bandits had made them completely different from those officials who had never even fought bandits and only bullied the common people. Their killing intent and imposing manner instantly wiped out Zhao Deyi and his men's little confidence.

Zhao Deyi and Zhou Kun are both dumbfounded now.

Originally, they tried to provoke Yang Lin into violence, even willing to kill a few civilians if necessary!

Now, seeing hundreds of villagers with tear-filled eyes, their emotions running high; the guard members, each holding crossbows, swords, spears, and radiating a murderous aura, every pair of eyes seemed as if they would devour them alive…

Thus, not only the yamen servants, but even Zhou Kun and Zhao Deyi were all scared away.

The word "three" reached his lips, but after half a day of struggling, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Now they finally understand, once they actually kill someone, Yang Lin will definitely be furious.

But if that were the case, Yang Lin would definitely go all out and kill them!

Although there were over a hundred guards with swords and bows behind them, when facing these common people, they just didn't feel like they had any chance of winning for some reason.

Cold sweat trickled down unconsciously. Even the menacing officers brandishing their swords seemed instinctively unwilling to approach.

Just then, Li Yuyao and Ziyi walked over.

"Dare you, Zhao Deyi! Are you rebelling"

As soon as Li Yuhua stepped out, she started by putting a label on the other party.

But her cold voice, full of majesty, carried an irresistible power. In this tense standoff, it was like a bolt from the blue, stunning everyone to silence.

After being stunned for a moment, Zhao Deyi came to his senses.

"What did you say"

"You say that I, the official, want to rebel How dare you!"

Zhao Deyi opened his mouth to retort, but his retort was so feeble.

"Humph!"

"Still not admitting it"

"What are you doing"

"To bring troops to harm nobles for no reason, is this not treason"

As soon as Li Y Yao uttered these words, not only Zhao Deyi and the others, but even Yang Lin and the rest were taken aback.

What A noble

Yang Lin stared blankly at Li Yunyao.

He guessed that Li Yuhua might have some tricks up her sleeve.

I didn't expect Li Yuyao to be a noble, though.

Yang Lin also knows some historical knowledge. He knows that in ancient times, the difference between nobles and commoners was vast!

Even ordinary officials can't afford to offend the nobility.

At this moment, he finally understood. It turned out that his wife was a noblewoman!at all and ended up working to pay off their debts. In the end, they didn't even receive a penny for themselves!Such extravagant behavior, even she who had been an emperor, found it unbelievable.Yang...