roccoschili Chapter 233 Receiving the Emperor's Reward
Chapter 233 Receiving the Emperor's Reward
Cen Jiexiao groaned inwardly. How could she respond? Say she shouldn't meddle in other people's affairs? Wouldn't that make her seem timid and afraid of trouble, and she wouldn't be able to gain a foothold in the academy in the future? Say she shouldn't have contradicted the emperor? But every word she said was true. If she went against her conscience, how could she be worthy of the name "Zhao Yin"?
Just as she was racking her brains, not knowing how to answer, Chai Zhen suddenly burst into laughter.
"Cen Jiexiao, Cen Jiexiao, you are so brave!" Chai Zhen said deliberately with a smile on his face, "You are just a small academy dean, and you dare to question my decision in front of the entire court. Do you still respect me, the emperor?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was confused for a moment and spoke without thinking. Please forgive me! I really didn't mean to contradict you, Your Majesty. It's just, it's just..."
"Just what?" Chai Zhen looked at Cen Jiexiao who was kneeling in front of him and asked with a deliberately stern face.
"It's just...it's just that I feel that all things have spirits and God is merciful. If innocent people are killed indiscriminately, I'm afraid..." Cen Jiexiao lowered her head and said tremblingly, not daring to say any more.
The smile on Chai Zhen's face gradually disappeared. He slowly stood up, walked to Cen Jiexiao, stretched out his hand to help her up, and said with relief.
"Thank you, Master Cen, and your Zhaoyin Academy! Also, please understand my appearance during the sacrificial ceremony. After all..."
"Your Majesty, please don't say that..." Cen Jiexiao's tears immediately fell. She choked and said, "It was this humble servant who contradicted Your Majesty first. It is only natural for Your Majesty to punish me in any way. This humble servant has no complaints."
"Punish you?" Chai Zhen smiled and shook his head. "Why should I punish you?"
"Ah?" Cen Jiexiao was a little overwhelmed. She raised her head and looked at Chai Zhen with a confused expression.
"You are just too kind." Chai Zhen shook his head helplessly, then said with a smile, "I was just teasing you! Don't worry, I won't blame you."
"Your Majesty..." Cen Jiexiao's tears flowed even harder. She didn't know what to say and could only keep saying "Your Majesty".
Chai Zhen smiled and patted Cen Jiexiao's shoulder, then turned to Yu Lan and said, "Yu Lan, come here."
"I'm here." Yu Lan quickly knelt down and answered respectfully.
"Your young lady is kind-hearted and cares about the people. She is a blessing to our Great Zhou!" Chai Zhen said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your kind words." Yu Lan lowered her head and replied respectfully.
"I think you are a promising talent. How about this? I will give you and Lord Cen a reward."
"Reward?" Cen Jiexiao and Yu Lan were stunned. They had never expected that Chai Zhen not only did not blame them, but also wanted to reward them?
"Your Majesty, this..." Cen Jiexiao wanted to refuse, but Chai Zhen stopped her.
"Alright, it's settled." Chai Zhen said with a smile, "Cen Jiexiao, Yu Lan, come forward and listen to your reward."
Cen Jiexiao and Yu Lan beside her could not believe their ears. Their minds went blank in an instant and they thought: What is His Majesty doing again?
But the two of them instinctively stepped forward and knelt down to listen to the reward.
"Cen Jiexiao, the dean of Zhaoyin Academy in Linkang Prefecture, Yuyang Province, and Yu Lan, the academy's steward, are kind-hearted, upright, knowledgeable, and caring for the people of the court. Therefore, I grant Cen Jiexiao a token of the Imperial Zhou Dynasty. Seeing this token is like being present in person. Furthermore, I appoint Yu Lan as a female inspector, seventh rank. She is to assist Dean Cen, the academic envoy, in making Zhaoyin Academy a better place and cultivating more pillars for our Great Zhou. The more talents you cultivate, the sooner the day will come when our Great Zhou will recover its homeland!"
As soon as Chai Zhen finished speaking, Cen Jiexiao and Yu Lan both stood there in a daze, looking at each other.
Cen Jiexiao felt her mind buzz with countless thoughts, and for a moment, she didn't know how to react. She stared blankly at Chai Zhen, as if she were a stranger. How could this young emperor, so furious at her defiance just a moment ago, suddenly become so gentle, even praising her? Was he truly not angry? Or was this just a deliberate gesture to mask his anger? Cen Jiexiao was filled with confusion and unease, wondering what Chai Zhen was up to.
Yu Lan was completely stunned by this sudden surprise. She had originally thought that her reckless behavior today would bring bad consequences to Cen Jiexiao, and even affect the entire Zhaoyin Academy.
But she never expected that, instead of being punished, she would even turn a disaster into a blessing, gaining the emperor's appreciation and being appointed a seventh-rank inspector! It was like a dream! Yu Lan's heartbeat quickened with excitement, and her breathing became rapid. She secretly pinched her thigh, and the intense pain made her realize that all this was real, not an illusion!
"Your Majesty, I… your humble servant is terrified. This Imperial Order is so valuable. How could I possibly deserve it…" Cen Jiexiao came to her senses and quickly knelt to decline. This Imperial Order represented a symbol of imperial power. Seeing the token was like seeing the emperor himself. How could she easily accept such an important item?
"My dear, there is no need to say more. Just take this Yu Zhou Ling. Consider it my support for Zhao Yin Academy and recognition of your efforts in educating talents for the country. In the future, I will have to rely on you to take care of Zhao Yin Academy!" Chai Zhen interrupted Cen Jiexiao with a smile and stuffed the Yu Zhou Ling into her hands without saying anything.
Cen Jiexiao wanted to say something more, but Yu Lan beside her secretly pulled her sleeve and whispered, "Dean, please stop talking. The emperor has spoken the truth, so just continue!"
Cen Jiexiao thought the same and stopped refusing. She knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace. Long live the Emperor!"
"Yu Lan, you too. The official uniform of this female inspector will be delivered to your residence in a few days. In the future, you must assist Lord Cen and cultivate more talents for our Great Zhou!" Chai Zhen turned to Yu Lan again and said with a smile.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my best and will not hesitate even if it means death!" Yu Lan was so excited that she was incoherent and kowtowed repeatedly.
Chai Zhen's eyes darted between Cen Jiexiao and Yu Lan, a subtle smile playing on his lips. Cen Jiexiao remained in her bowing position, her head lowered, her expression unclear. However, her straight back revealed a stubborn and unyielding demeanor. This reminded him of her impassioned speech when they first met, and he nodded silently. This Cen Jiexiao was truly interesting. Unlike those courtiers who only knew how to flatter, she dared to speak frankly and had the people at heart. She was a rare loyal minister.