The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Holy Decree

The reason Yu Shikui managed to suppress his murderous urge was because what this Brocade Young Master said was all true.

His mother was just a concubine’s daughter from the Marquis Anning Mansion with a very low status. His father was the son of a lord, and aside from his hereditary title, all other titles were inherited at a lower rank. By the time it reached Yu Shikui’s grandfather’s generation, the title had reached its end. To revitalize the family’s fortunes, his father went to great lengths to marry this concubine’s daughter from the Marquis Anning, yet only secured an eighth-rank small official position.

Yu Shikui was much more clever than his father. After finally passing the scholar exam, he found little hope of becoming a tribute scholar, so he decided to take his maternal grandfather’s path, submitting posts and seeking meetings every day, doing his utmost to please.

When Marquis Anning fell ill, he was even more devoted than anyone else, not only emptying chamber pots for a month but also doing even more filthy and repugnant tasks. Although he was not fond of the concubine’s daughter’s son, he was still a grandson. Furthermore, Yu Shikui hinted in his words that if he found success in the future, he would surely repay his grandfather’s family, even changing his surname to the Marquis Anning’s surname Yu! He almost literally angered his grandfather to death!

Persistence pays off; Marquis Anning was moved by his sincerity.

First, he sought out a well-known teacher from the Capital to teach him, and as a result, he only managed to become a last-place tribute scholar but gained the qualification to participate in the palace examination. Later, Marquis Anning used his connections and influence, spending heavily to obtain predicted exam questions, which were luckily accurate for him. Still, he only scored second to last in the third-tier rankings, nearly failing the exam.

However, with the assistance of Marquis Anning, Yu Shikui’s career flourished. Despite being in his thirties and barely making the cut as a scholar ranked last in the third tier, he had a more successful official career than Shang Jingwang, who ranked high in the second tier more than two decades ago and is now in his forties.

But these memories of groveling to Marquis Anning back then were what Yu Shikui least wanted to recall. Now, they were laid bare by this young man in luxurious clothes, in front of so many people, triggering not just anger, but a seething hatred within him.

The Brocade Young Master took out a folding fan from somewhere, shook it with elegance, and casually said, ”I just arrived and heard you loudly speaking ill of me. Now that I’m standing right in front of you, how come you pretend not to see? Have you dumped too many chamber pots for Marquis An Ding, and it has ruined your eyes?”

Everyone was taken aback. The person they were discussing earlier?

The second son of the Prince Kang Mansion, Huangfu Jinxuan?

Only Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin were not surprised, but they were a bit startled to see him here. After all, as Yu Shikui mentioned, he was a true prodigal, notorious for his reckless behavior. The Capital City is thousands of miles from this Northern County Wangshan Town!

Huangfu Jingchen even turned sideways to avoid confronting Huangfu Jinxuan.

This obvious avoidance caused Xia Wenjin to be slightly taken aback. However, considering that he was impersonating this second-generation ancestor’s name, and now encountered the real person, wanting to avoid was only natural, so he didn’t think too much of it.

Shang Jingwang was utterly stunned. If he still held a glimmer of hope before, seeing this ”Young Master Jin” now, along with Huangfu Jingchen’s reaction, he realized that this was the real deal.

Yu Shikui, who was extremely angry and ready to seize this Brocade Young Master, was shocked upon hearing his identity.

Marquis Anning was a notable figure in the Capital, but compared to the Prince Kang Mansion, he couldn’t be more insignificant.

He could ignore ordinary people, but he could not ignore people from the Capital, let alone the Prince Kang Mansion.

However, a flash of gloom passed through his eyes as he pointed at Huangfu Jingchen in the exclusion zone and laughed coldly, ”Today is truly amusing. How come so many are impersonating the second son of the Prince Kang Mansion? There’s one over there, and now another one here. I suspect both are impostors!”

Upon hearing that someone was impersonating him, Huangfu Jinxuan looked visibly displeased. Who did they think he was? Even in this remote countryside, someone dared to impersonate him? Someone must be courting death.

Meanwhile, Xia Wenjin’s eyes lit up, and he called out, ”Second Young Master, traveling such a great distance to Northern County Wangshan Town must mean you have important matters. Wangshan Town is truly fortunate to host someone so distinguished!”

Huangfu Jinxuan found the voice quite pleasing, crisp and pure, like a clear spring falling into mountain creeks, and couldn’t help but glance over, only to see a frail-looking youth, which immediately lessened his interest. However, the flattering words lightened his mood. Though he was a prodigal, he wasn’t dumb. After having revealed Yu Shikui’s past, Yu Shikui still doubted his identity, hinting at his malicious intentions.

He extended his hand to the right: ”Hand it over!”

The guard on the right immediately took out a beautifully decorated scroll case from his chest. He took a yellow scroll from the case, raised it high with his right hand, and shouted sternly, ”The Holy Decree is here. Yu Shikui, aren’t you going to kneel and receive the decree?”

Yu Shikui’s face changed dramatically. The Holy Decree?

How could the Holy Decree arrive at this moment?

However, the dazzling yellow color didn’t look fake, and besides, he actually had a hunch that someone who dared to expose his secrets so ruthlessly, showing him no respect, must be the true second son of the Prince Kang Mansion. Feeling both angry and helpless, he reluctantly left his seat and knelt down on the ground.

Upon hearing that it was the Holy Decree, Wen Hao on the other side dared not keep his bow drawn and hurriedly knelt. Shang Jingwang also quickly knelt upon hearing it was the Holy Decree, as did the present soldiers and generals, forming a dense sea of kneeling figures.

The commoners in the isolation area also naturally knelt down. They had never seen a Holy Decree in their lives, nor did they know the proper etiquette for receiving a decree, but kneeling seemed right.

Huangfu Jinxuan asked, ”Where is the Huainan Prefect? Where has he gone?”

Shang Jingwang in the back was still in a daze. Huangfu Jingchen quietly nudged him. Calling out to Shang Jingwang separately suggested that everything he had previously planned was now actually in motion.

Shang Jingwang hurriedly moved forward and kneeled behind Yu Shikui.

Huangfu Jinxuan, displeased, said, ”You’re the old man Shang Jingwang? Why are you hesitating? Kneeling back there, how can you hear this young master read the Holy Decree? Step forward, step up!”

Shang Jingwang had no choice but to move forward a distance, ending up in front of Yu Shikui.

Huangfu Jinxuan impatiently said, ”A bit more, a bit more!”

Advancing further, Shang Jingwang was only about a 10-foot distance from his horse.

Huangfu Jinxuan dismounted and personally walked to Shang Jingwang, opened the scroll, revealing the five-clawed golden dragon pattern on the back, and read from it: ”By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Huainan Prefect of Jiazhou Northern County, Shang Jingwang, did not shy away from filth and epidemic, risking his own safety for the love and benevolence of the people, alleviating the suffering of Wangshan’s citizens from the plague, extending the grace of the Emperor to even reach the foot of remote areas, and providing wellbeing to the common people amidst great calamities. As reported by the Imperial Censor, I am greatly pleased. Upon the cessation of the epidemic, you are commanded to return to the Capital for further commendation and rewards! Hear and obey!”

Shang Jingwang could hardly believe his ears. Did the Emperor really know about his self-risking involvement in combating the epidemic? He hadn’t had the chance to enter the Capital for years, not even for official reporting, and now there was a specific decree praising him, with instructions to return to the Capital after the plague for rewards?