Chapter 98: The Baron of the Mountains

ack.Pork White riceThey did want to eat, but where could they find any"Big sister, second sister, the three of you go to Xiao Jiu's place, get one thousand wen, then borrow a small cart from Mrs. Lin...After being taken aback for a moment, Zhao Deyi burst into laughter.

"What did you say Noble You mean, you're noble Hmph, woman, impersonating nobility is a capital crime!"

What are you talking about How could there possibly be nobility in a tiny village like this

Zhao Deyi didn't believe it.

However, Li Yuxi's next sentence shocked everyone.

“I am not a nobleman.”

"But my husband, Yang Lin, was personally bestowed the title of Relying Mountain Baron by the former emperor!!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Yuyao shouted: "Bring the imperial decree!"

Purple robes immediately held the imperial decree and walked forward, slowly unfolding it. Amongst the stunned gazes of the crowd, he recited aloud.

“By imperial mandate, the Heavenly Son has received from Heaven its Mandate. Now, there is a capable and talented individual named Yang Lin, who possesses a wide range of abilities, is cautious and prudent, kind and upright, knowledgeable about governance, compassionate and filial, deeply pleasing to this Emperor. He is hereby appointed as the Baron of K'ao Shan, granted with one village called K'ao Shan, and an estate of three hundred households. So decreed!”

After he finished reading, the scene fell silent.

Though the villagers couldn't quite understand it all, they could get the general idea of what the imperial edict was saying.

So, the emperor thought Yang Lin was a good person, so he granted him a title

But… how could this be!

Yang Lin grew up in a village nestled in the mountains, never leaving this Jianghe County. How could the emperor possibly know him and bestow a title upon him

So, not only Zhao Deyi and his men, but even the villagers who heard it, didn't dare to believe it.

"You, you're lying!"

Zhao Deyi glared at Yang Lin, snarling: “Good! You dare to forge the imperial edict It seems you truly intend to rebel!”

Yang Lin was also dumbfounded.

He was still waiting for Li Yuyao to admit she was a noblewoman, but how did she manage to produce an imperial edict The emperor even bestowed upon himself the title of… a vassal baron

Yang Lin was amused and confused.

This imperial edict, he himself doesn't believe!

"Be bold!"

Zi Yi shouted, "The imperial edict personally issued by the previous emperor, where do you, a mere county magistrate, have the right to speak up! My young master is a baron personally appointed by His Majesty, with an imperial decree as proof. Anyone who doesn't believe it, feel free to investigate!"

In a purple robe, carrying the imperial decree with confidence,

Zhao Deyi's tutor, Song Qian, hurriedly whispered, "Sir, the authenticity of the imperial edict can be verified at once. If he truly has a title, we mustn't act rashly."

"Oh Can you verify"

Zhao Deyi is just a low-ranking clerk. Let alone receiving an imperial decree, he hasn't even met the emperor.

Master Song Qian nodded hurriedly: "I read it in the book, there is a saying in the book, the emperor's holy decree, jade axis silk thread, embroidered with auspicious clouds and cranes, silver dragons flying at both ends, 'By Heaven's Mandate, I Prosper,' at the top, and 'National Title Month Year' at the bottom, written in vermilion ink and sealed with the imperial seal!"

"Alright, go and check it out. Expose these audacious scoundrels!"

Zhao Deyi waved his hand.

Song Qian hurried down his horse and stepped forward, respectfully taking the imperial decree from Zi Yi's hands. He examined it carefully.

Song Qian is a smart person. Although she works for Zhao Deyi, she doesn't cut off her own path.

He didn't believe the imperial edict was true, but he still wanted to verify it, so as not to follow Zhao Deyi and get burned along with him!

...As soon as Song Qian got the imperial decree in his hand, he was shocked.

Although I didn't look closely, the moment I held this imperial edict in my hand, I felt its weight. The surface was smooth and delicate, far superior to any crudely made counterfeit.

> Then check it according to the imperial edict's format as described in the book.

The two scrolls were made of jade, of extremely fine quality. As they unfolded slowly, one could see the intricate silver dragon patterns fluttering across them.

Looking back at the scroll, the auspicious clouds and cranes are vividly depicted. At the top, it clearly reads "By Heaven's mandate and Earth's will, the Emperor!" The entire imperial edict is also written in vermilion ink.

In the colophon, it reads: "Autumn of the twenty-eighth year of Xuande!" Above it is the imperial seal, "Treasure of Mandate..."

Not a single flaw!

Song Qian's hand trembled uncontrollably, and her breathing became increasingly labored.

Really! This is actually true!

He had never seen a real imperial edict before, but the one in his hand was exactly the same as the one described in the book!

As for suspicions that the papal bull is a forgery

How is that possible!

This imperial edict's craftsmanship is simply not something that could be produced in this remote, impoverished region!

Even the shops in Jianghe County wouldn't have such skillful craftsmanship.

Moreover, the book he had read was not a famous classic, so it was difficult for ordinary people to know the exact format of an imperial decree. Even if someone tried to forge one, it would be impossible to do it flawlessly.

In a flash of inspiration, Song Qian made a life-altering decision!

"Thump!"

He knelt directly in front of Yang Lin.

"At your service, Lord. My name is Song Qian."

"Bang bang bang!"

Saying that, he bowed to Yang Lin.

"My Lord, today's events were orchestrated by Zhao Deyi. He intended to provoke you into harming someone, putting you in danger. I can attest to this for you, my lord!"

Song Qian is extremely decisive. After determining that this imperial edict was genuine, he immediately realized that Zhao Deyi was finished!

Making up his mind to change allegiance, he did so in a flash.

At this moment, everyone was dumbfounded.

Yang Lin was still dazed, wondering how he had become a lord. And Zhao Deyi's people actually believed the imperial edict and knelt before him in front of everyone This clearly showed they were rebelling!

This is a good thing.

"Get up!"

Yang Lin gave a nonchalant wave of his hand and sighed, “I originally planned to live among you as an ordinary person, but what I got in return was brazenness.”

"No more pretending! It's time to reveal the truth! I, am indeed Baron of the Mountain!"

“Zhao Deyi, you intentionally attempted to harm me and provoked me without reason. Do you know your crime”

Yang Lin looked up proudly, pointing at Zhao Deyi across from him, his bearing perfectly controlled.

Even though he has never eaten pork, he has seen pigs run. In his previous life, he had seen all sorts of high-ranking officials on television. He knew how to speak in official jargon and feign authority. Even if he couldn't learn it perfectly, he could at least imitate it pretty well.

Although he himself was clueless, with the holy relic in hand and the opponent's men turning against him, of course he had to show the demeanor of a lord!

Zhao Deyi and Zhou Kun were completely dumbfounded.

Although Zhao Deyi cursed Song Qian, calling him a traitor and wishing all sorts of misfortune upon his ancestors, he also knew that Song Qian was a master opportunist!

He could publicly denounce himself, sever ties with his own side and join Yang Lin in front of so many people. This shows he has absolute confidence.

So, the Imperial Edict is actually true

Is Yang Lin really a nobleman bestowed by the emperor

Although he's only the youngest baron, he's still a nobleman!

There has never been a single noble family in Jianghe County.

Even if he were not just a county magistrate, but even the county magistrate himself, he would not dare to offend a nobleman.

Zhao Deyi was dumbfounded.

Zhou Kun was dumbfounded.

And at this moment, the clerks were even more dumbfounded and at a loss.

The people they were going to capture transformed into nobles, even Song the Master bowed down before them. How dare they make a move now

However, Zhao Deyi came back to his senses very quickly after a moment of daze.

If Yang Lin were truly a nobleman…

Then he absolutely had to be killed!

"Come, everyone! Yang Lin is impersonating the imperial decree and attempting treason. Kill this traitor!"ang Lin swallowed, it was impossible to say he wasn't moved.But he also understood that there's no such thing as a free lunch."Well, what do you want"He wouldn't naively believe that Liu Youcai would...