169 – First Rank Mandated Lady

Qin Mian got up to reply, “Answering to Your Majesty: yes.”

Lei Tie also stood up and stood side by side with Qin Mian. Yuanyuan and Manman followed to stand up.

Emperor Xiaohui gazed at Lei Tie for a moment with cryptic eyes as he renewed Qin Mian’s importance in his [LT’s] heart. He said in a light voice, “All sit while replying. There’s no need to be nervous. We’re just talking casually like ordinary people.”

Qin Mian and the others sat down again.

Emperor Xiaohui took a sip of tea and said slowly, “Zhen always feels a little tired recently. Zhen wonders if Qin-gongzi can diagnose Zhen.”

Eunuch Li’s face changed and he whispered, “Your Majesty?” When one does a diagnose, one has to get close to the body. It’s too risky for Your Majesty to allow people [we] aren’t familiar with to approach.

Emperor Xiaohui glanced at him fiercely. Eunuch Li bowed his head in revere and no longer spoke.

Lei Tie, seemingly unaware of it, said to Qin Mian, “Wife, I’ve been away from His Majesty for many years; I’m worried about His Majesty’s imperial body. Why don’t you take His Majesty’s pulse by hanging a thread?”

When the two looked at each other, their intentions interlinked. One must know, an attack was the best defense. Since they entered the Palace, they had stepped into the deep water of the Capital. Only by properly showing some advantages could they better protect their family. Blindly hiding strength would only make people think that they were weak and could be deceived.

“Qin-gongzi can even take a pulse by hanging a thread?” Emperor Xiaohui was surprised; his dim eyes were full of doubt. “Zhen heard that many years ago, there were doctors with excellent skills who could do this. But now, almost no one in Zhen’s Imperial Institute of Medicine has such skill.”

Qin Mian didn’t argue. His respectful smile exuded a confident and happy look. “It’s better if Your Majesty calls an ill attendant to let this commoner have a try.”

Emperor Xiaohui cast a look at Eunuch Li.

Eunuch Li quickly called a junior eunuch.

Emperor Xiaohui asked him to write down his experiences [of illness] on the paper. He noticed that Yuanyuan and Manman feel tired and spiritless. When he remembered that they had been on the road for more than ten days, he had some pity on them. He told Eunuch Li to prepare some snacks, fruits, and drinks that children like to eat. Fruit juices and other drinks had already spread to the Capital, but the fruity taste might not be as good as Leisurely Farmhouse’s.

Cautiously without any noise, two attendants brought a small round table and put it in front of Yuanyuan and Manman. The palace maids put snacks, fruits, and juices on the table.

Yuanyuan and Manman stood up, cupped their hands, and showed a pure smile to Emperor Xiaohui, “Thank you, Uncle Emperor.”

Qin Mian was secretly shocked and looked at Emperor Xiaohui without leaving any trace.

Lei Tie’s aura was slightly cold.

After Emperor Xiaohui was taken aback, he laughed and waved his hand to them. “Being called by Yuanyuan and Manman as such, Zhen suddenly felt that Zhen was a teenager. Yuanyuan and Manman, if you like to eat them, Zhen will ask the Imperial Kitchen to make more for you to take home.”

“Many thanks, Uncle Emperor.” Yuanyuan and Manman thanked him again and each picked a piece of pastry to give Qin Mian and Lei Tie.

Qin Mian gave a little smile and said in a soft voice, “You two eat; your Old Dad and I are not hungry.”

Yuanyuan and Manman ate by themselves.

Emperor Xiaohui saw that all four of them did not doubt if there was something wrong with the pastry; the smile in his eyes became a little more real.

When the junior eunuch finished writing, Eunuch Li tied a piece of thread to his wrist and handed the thread to Qin Mian.

Emperor Xiaohui and Eunuch Li then attentively stared at Qin Mian.

Qin Mian straightened the thread and put his fingers on it.

There was no worry on Lei Tie’s face; Yuanyuan and Manman ate the snacks with ease.

Qin Mian immersed in sensing it and said with confidence, “Reporting to Your Majesty: this junior eunuch should have been caught in the wind the night before yesterday. At this time, his body is weak, his mind is bleak, the inside of his mouth is tasteless, and he has slight nausea. He only needs to drink two doses of medicine to recover completely.”

Emperor Xiaohui took a close look at the paper on the desk and almost all of it was on point. He praised, “Good! It seems that those old beans in the Imperial Institute of Medicine should have a proper review of themselves.”

He didn’t ask Qin Mian to feel his pulse again. An Emperor would not easily let people he did not trust know his physical condition. Qin Mian naturally would not mention it with unknown interest.

Emperor Xiaohui put down his concern for Qin Mian and beckoned Yuanyuan and Manman, “Yuanyuan and Manman, come to Uncle Emperor.”

When Yuanyuan and Manman got the nod of their Old Dad’s approval, they ran up the steps and came to the dragon chair.

Emperor Xiaohui held one boy in each arm and asked them with a smile how old they were, whether they could read, what they usually liked to do, and what they liked to eat. Seeing that they were not afraid of him as others were, he was happy and liked them even more.

Yuanyuan and Manman were purely simple and honest, but also inherently intelligent. Occasionally, they came out with a few words of a child daring to do great mischief, which forced Emperor Xiaohui to burst into hearty laughter.

Emperor Xiaohui had a steelyard in his heart¹. Qin Mian and Lei Tie should not know what questions he wanted to ask in advance; they couldn’t have taught Yuanyuan and Manman how to answer in advance. Yuanyuan and Manman’s answers could only come from their consciences, so he believed they were pure and lovable.

Qin Mian and Lei Tie became supporting roles instead.

Eunuch Li had his head drooped while his eyes filled with surprise. It was the first time that he saw the Emperor was on intimate terms with children. Once again, he affirmed in his heart that the Defender State Duke was truly worthy of his reputation as the new noble in the Capital.

About two or three moments later, Emperor Xiaohui asked Qin Mian’s group of people to kneel in peace².

“State Defender Duke and Lady of the State Defender Duke, when you have time, often bring Yuanyuan and Manman into the Palace to see Zhen. Are Yuanyuan and Manman willing?”

Yuanyuan did not speak, only nodded.

Manman grinningly said, “Gege and I will also bring snacks for Uncle Emperor.”

Qin Mian inwardly sweated.

“Hahaha… Alright!” Emperor Xiaohui laughed out loud. “You all kneel in peace. State Defender Duke has just returned to the Capital; Zhen will give you three days off-duty.”

“Many thanks, Your Majesty. Your subject asks for leave to withdraw.”

Eunuch Li arranged a junior eunuch to send off Qin Mian’s family to the Palace’s entrance.

In the carriage, Qin Mian looked at Yuanyuan and Manman, worried. As the saying went, to be in the king’s company was tantamount to living with a tiger. Yet, he couldn’t directly ask Yuanyuan and Manman whether they like the Emperor or not, let alone ask them to guard against the Emperor. Once the two children showed their guarded stance in front of Emperor Xiaohui, something that priorly would not happen would happen.

Lei Tie took his hand and appeased him, “Wife, don’t worry. Yuanyuan and Manman can feel who is really good to them. They are smarter than we know.”

Qin Mian thought of the words “one’s conscience” and laughed with relief. He and Lei Tie had always been forward and positive in their education of Yuanyuan and Manman. He should believe in Yuanyuan and Manman, for no reason at all. The two children were not likely to say offensive words – it was better to let nature take its course. Even if something happened, he and Lei Tie could hold up a sky for the two children³.

“I understand.”

Lei Tie gently kissed his eyebrows. His indifferent voice contained reassuring power, “You and the children can do whatever you all feel happy about. Leave the rest to me.”

“Alright!” Qin Mian raised a natural and unrestrained smile, “We want to live in the Capital as happy and comfortable as when we were in Green Mountain Village!”

As the two communicated, the two little boys –who knew when– had fallen asleep in the swaying of the carriage.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the State Defender Duke Establishment. Uncle Fu and Chen Fu came out together. Although Chen Fu only came to help temporarily, he was as considerate as a real steward, which was clearly because of his master’s instruction. Qin Mian noted Chen Mufeng’s friendship in his heart.

Chen Fu led them to the main courtyard of the inner chambers. Lei Tie put the soundly asleep Yuanyuan and Manman on the bed and was pulled by Qin Mian to have Chen Fu and Aunt Fu show them around their new home.

The State Defender Duke Establishment was located in the north and faced the south, covering an area of about 100 mu. The whole compound had pavilions, terraces, and open halls – richly ornamented buildings in ancient styles. After entering from the front gate was the foreyard. The council office, reception room, storehouse, and stable were all in the foreyard. There were a small garden and a large-scale training ground in the yard. The opposite buildings on the left and right of the front gate were the gatekeeper’s residence and the servants’ residence. Passing through the training ground was a festooned gate.

The festooned gate was the only passage between the inner chambers and the outer courtyard.

After the festooned gate was the inner chambers. The winding corridors on both sides surrounded three courtyards: the main courtyard, the east courtyard, and the west courtyard. The main courtyard covered the largest area, with a garden and a small training ground. It was unknown if Emperor Xiaohui gave this house to Lei Tie because of his military officer status. For the Qin Mian family with a relatively small population, this kind of house was just the right size. The main courtyard was Qin Mian and Lei Tie’s residence; after Yuanyuan and Manman had grown up, they could live in the east courtyard and the west courtyard respectively.

The most praiseworthy thing was that the furniture in the house was complete. Qin Mian hardly needed to worry about it. If he felt something was inadequate, he would just change it.

In the back of the inner chambers, there was a small courtyard with a row of rear-covered buildings⁴. The open space in the courtyard was not small.

As Qin Mian strolled around with Lei Tie, he also excitedly talked to him about the plan of redesigning the State Defender Duke Establishment. Concerning Qin Mian’s plan to open up a vegetable plot in the third courtyard they entered, Lei Tie’s expression didn’t change as he nodded in agreement and chimed in. Chen Fu’s footing stumbled.

Just as they were about to ask Chen Fu what was the matter with those servants, the manservant came to report that there was an imperial edict.

The few people quickly went back to the main hall of the foreyard. Chen Fu told the servants to quickly set up the incense altar.

Qin Mian mulled to himself what the hell Emperor Xiaohui was doing. In a short of a month, he gave them three imperial edicts. In certain parts of the Capital, he feared that some storms had brewed.

Noticing Lei Tie’s thoughtful expression, he asked, “A-Tie, do you know what’s going on?”

Lei Tie asked, “Wife, do you know that the mother or wife of the first to fifth rank officials will be granted an imperial mandate if there is no unforeseen event?”

Qin Mian’s steps paused, and his mouth twitched. “Do you mean that this imperial edict is to confer upon me the First Rank Mandated Lady?”⁵ If so, he must reassess Emperor Xiaohui.

Lei Tie nodded.

There was no time for them to say more. The messenger of the imperial edict had already come in. Indeed, it was the imperial edict to confer upon Qin Mian as the First Rank Mandated Lady. Along with the imperial edict, there was a red Mandated Order Document in the shape of a scroll with jade shafts and a set of the First Rank Mandated Lady’s dress and personal adornment.

Footnotes