Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 22 The Angel Comes
Li Xian owns land.

Although he was demoted to a commoner, Li Xian was still allocated more than 30 mu of land, which made him even richer than Liu Jianjun.

But he's not good at... no, he doesn't even know how to farm.

Not only him, but his wife and children also lived a life of ease in Chang'an when they followed him, and they didn't know how to farm either.

Therefore, ever since Li Xian came to Liujiazhuang, those nominally owned lands have been left to fall into disrepair.

This is also the main reason why Li Xian lives such a poor life.

He had thought it over carefully. Rather than leaving those fields to lie fallow, it would be better to give them directly to the villagers of Liujiazhuang as a way of thanking them for their care over the past few days.

Besides, if he went back to Chang'an, he wouldn't need those lands anymore.

Li Xian looked at Liu Jianjun earnestly and said, "I really have no way to repay the kindness of the villagers. Those lands are just lying around anyway, so I might as well give them to them!"

"Have you thought it through?" Liu Jianjun asked.

"Think about it."

"Even if we go to Chang'an and successfully meet your grandfather, he still won't believe you?"

Li Xian's expression froze.

He hadn't thought of that.

Liu Jianjun seemed to have anticipated this, smiled, and said, "Alright, that's settled! You can rent your land to the villagers of Liu Family Village."

"rent?"

"Well, the land is still yours in name, but it will be handed over to the farmers to manage for you. The people who rent your land will pay you 30% rent every year. This way, the farmers will make a profit, and your land won't be left to fall into disuse. Even if you fail to make it to Chang'an this time, you'll at least have a way out!"

“No.” Li Xian shook his head. “One percent is enough.”

"Whatever," Liu Jianjun shrugged indifferently.

"So you agree?" Li Xian asked in surprise.

"It's your land, do whatever you want with it. I'm just giving you a suggestion." Liu Jianjun still had that nonchalant expression. "Alright, if you have nothing else to say, then get out."

"go out?"

Li Xian was a little confused. These past few days, Liu Jianjun had told him to recuperate, saying that there were some fungal infections outside, and hadn't let him go out. Why was he being allowed to go out today?
"The angel from Chang'an has arrived. He's under those two big Chinese toon trees in the village, and he's summoning you to receive the imperial decree!"

"Huh? Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" Li Xian hurriedly got up from the bed.

The angel from Chang'an has already arrived at Liu Family Village?

I hadn't heard a single word from them!
"Don't be so alarmed. You call yourself the Crown Prince? You're not as calm as me," Liu Jianjun teased with a smile.

"Shh! Don't say things like that now!" Li Xian quickly interrupted.

Things are different now. An envoy from Chang'an has come to Liu Family Village. If the rumor that he is the crown prince is still spread, it would be bad if it were overheard.

Liu Jianjun didn't say much and sat down next to Li Xian.

Li Xian looked at Liu Jianjun, who was sitting motionless on the spot, and asked with a puzzled expression, "Aren't you going out?"

"What would I do if I went out? I'd still have to kneel down!"

……

As expected, Liu Jianjun did not come out. Li Xianzhen could not understand Liu Jianjun's strange idea. People in this world considered it an honor to see angels, but he preferred to hide in his room and not come out because he disliked kneeling and worshipping.

Li Xian absolutely did not believe that Liu Jianjun was ashamed to face people; his skin was thicker than a city wall!
Of course, Liu Jianjun was unwilling to come out, and Li Xian would not force him; he came out on his own.

When Li Xian arrived at the two large ailanthus trees, he immediately saw the angels waiting there. Putting aside their attire and stance, just their demeanor alone showed that the people from Chang'an did not look as simple and honest as the villagers of Liujiazhuang.

The man stood in the middle of a group of soldiers and yamen runners, his nostrils flaring as if he were pointing to the sky. The soldiers and yamen runners around him fawned over him, but he merely nodded arrogantly and ignored them.

Li Xian also noticed that standing next to that man was a middle-aged official in a light blue official robe with a handsome beard. That man was the magistrate of Huacheng County. Li Xian had only seen him when he first arrived in Bazhou.

However, he did not meet Li Mingshi, which suggests that an imperial edict of this caliber would not require the accompaniment of a local prefect.

Li Xian finally met the village head of Liujiazhuang.

When the imperial edict arrived, everyone in Liujiazhuang had to come out to receive it. The village head was busy setting up the incense table, burning incense, lighting candles, preparing offerings, and carefully placing the stone of amnesty on it. He was also busy calling on the villagers to take attendance. He was extremely busy.

The people of Liujiazhuang had clearly never seen anything like this before. They were busy and at a loss under the village head's arrangements, and some even looked around in the direction of the angel, but were quickly reprimanded by the village head.

Commoners are not allowed to face the Emperor directly, not even if he is an angel.

However, Li Xian did not see the tiger girl. The imperial edict arrived, and the women were required to retreat.

Upon seeing Li Xian approach, the village headman hurriedly ran over and asked, "Wooden Man, have you seen Gou'er? An imperial edict has arrived in the village, and everyone in the village must kneel down to receive it!"

It seems this village head is unaware of his own identity.

Thinking of Liu Jianjun's lazy nature, Li Xian smiled and said, "Don't worry about Liu Jianjun. The emperor doesn't care if a few people are left out and don't listen to the imperial edict."

The village head was getting anxious and said, "This is a saint, an angel from Chang'an! Gou'er, that kid... Well, you can read, right? Call out his name for me, I'll go call him!"

As he spoke, the village headman shoved the roster into Li Xian's hands, but Li Xian quickly stopped him and whispered, "This imperial edict is for me."

The village head was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding.

Li Xian smiled and continued, "These past few days, I have been fortunate to receive the care of the villagers. I... was once the Crown Prince, but now I am returning to Chang'an. When I say that the Emperor does not care, then he truly does not care."

Without paying any attention to the village head who was standing there dumbfounded, Li Xian composed himself, walked up to the angel, and solemnly said, "Li Xian, a commoner, greets the angel!"

The angel turned his head, his gaze falling on Li Xian. He looked Li Xian up and down, as if confirming his identity, and finally nodded, letting out a lukewarm "hmm" before announcing, "Li Xian, receive the decree!"

Li Xian immediately knelt down and shouted, "Li Xian, a commoner, respectfully hears the sacred teachings!"

At this moment, all the villagers of Liu Family Village and all the soldiers and yamen runners knelt down and shouted, "Long live the Emperor!"

The angel then unfurled the imperial edict and solemnly proclaimed: "I, having received the mandate of Heaven, rule over the eight directions, and bear the divine decree to care for the people. Thanks to the blessings of Heaven, and the grace of Earth..."

"I have heard that the Bashan Mountains are shrouded in mist, and the Shu Rivers are nourished by spiritual energy. In the wilderness where you reside, a gardener has presented a strange melon to the prefecture. Its vines are like gnarled dragons, and its fruit is the size of a jar, weighing over three jun (a unit of weight), with green patterns forming a pattern. The governor reports that this is an omen of the earth's benevolent energy bestowing blessings, a sign of the earth's vitality offering good fortune..."

"This fine fruit shall be delivered immediately, in a yellow oxcart carried by post, and shall arrive in the capital within ten days. The messenger shall wait at the western inner garden of Danfeng Gate. No prefectures or counties along the way shall obstruct the journey. However, the entourage shall not exceed twenty people, and the use of red banners and drums is prohibited..."

As Li Xian listened to the angel read the imperial edict, his excitement grew increasingly uncontrollable.

It really did!

My father summoned me to Chang'an with a winter melon!
Liu Jianjun's method really worked!

After the angel finished reading the imperial edict, Li Xian respectfully kowtowed, then prostrated himself on the ground, raised his hands above his head, and excitedly shouted, "Your subject Li Xian receives the edict!"

……

(End of this chapter)