174 – Princess Yanqing

Emperor Xiaohui thought of Qin Mian’s medical skills. After laughing, he pretended not to know, “My dear subject Yang, you muddleheaded! If you have an unmentionable disease, you should go to the Imperial Doctor of the Imperial Institute of Medicine. You can’t go to those itinerant quacks outside. What should you do if it gets worse… sigh.”

Almost all the ministers used the ceremonial tablets to block their faces as they snickered, stifling it so much that their faces turned red. The older ministers looked at Yang-daren with heartache and headache and muttered to themselves that he was a disgrace to the educated class. Of course, there were also some ministers, who had also saved money to send beauties to the State Defender Duke Establishment, turned grey-faced and were dissatisfied with the State Defender Duke and his Lady.

A minister kindly helped Yang-daren up.

“Reporting, Your Majesty. Your servant didn’t have [disease]…” Yang-daren’s face was as red as a monkey’s buttocks. His fingers trembled as he pointed to Lei Tie – he was very angry. “It’s, it’s the Lady of the State Defender Duke. He…”

Lei Tie asked in a cold voice, “Yang-daren, speak cautiously! What does it have to do with my wife?”

Some ministers were good at figuring out His Majesty’s meaning. When they saw Emperor Xiaohui smiling but not saying anything, they knew that the emperor was happy to see this. Someone boldly created a disturbance, “Yang-daren, do you mean to say that you’re like this because of Lady of the State Defender Duke? You can’t simply accuse Lady of the State Defender Duke. Without rhyme or reason, why would Lady of the State Defender Duke create trouble with you?”

One of the emperor’s most taboo things was that the ministers formed cliques for personal gain. How could Yang-daren say that it was because he sent beauties to the State Defender Duke Establishment, trying to win him over? He glanced at Emperor Xiaohui in fear. He rebuked himself and swallowed his pride, “This is just a misunderstanding.”

Emperor Xiaohui was well aware of the ministers’ shady methods, but he would not take it seriously when his ministers occasionally made some minor mistakes. If he had investigated everything, he would have been dead tired.

“Alright, if it’s a misunderstanding, solve it. What’s the point of making trouble in the court! Adjourn.” Emperor Xiaohui flung his sleeve and left.

When Emperor Xiaohui was far away, the ministers all burst out laughing. Some people deliberately asked Yang-daren if he really had an unmentionable disease, they could recommend a famous doctor…….

Yang-daren’s face was ghastly pale. When he looked back, he discovered that Lei Tie was gone and went after him.

“State Defender Duke, please stop! It’s a disrespect of this lowly official to have offended your honorable Lady, unintentionally. Can State Defender Duke ask your honorable Lady to give this lowly official the antidote?”

The other ministers dallied as their eyes peered furtively.

Lei Tie indifferently stared at Yang-daren, “Yang-daren, everything needs to be based on evidence. My wife is the First Rank Mandated Lady; how can you slander [him] at will? And this officer’s first rank is certainly not a decoration. Excuse my absence.”

With that, he walked away.

Yang-daren was so angry that his body trembled.

At noon of the same day, Qin Mian received a 1000-tael silver banknote asking for an antidote. He accepted it calmly and gently said to the manservant of Yang-daren’s household, “Tell Yang-daren that there is no antidote. It will be fine after three days.”

It was none of his business how Yang-daren threw things around in his house. Anyway, since then, no one had dared to squeeze in people into the State Defender Duke Establishment.

After a few days, it was the 15th day. On the 1st day and the 15th day of the month, the women of the Imperial Clan and the women of rank all went to the Palace to greet the Empress Dowager and the Empress.

As the First Rank Mandated Lady and also the first paying-respect day after the title was sealed, Qin Mian inevitably had to enter the Palace. In fact, he had been waiting for this day for a long time.

In the morning, Qin Mian and Lei Tie got up together. Qin Mian hummed a song as he put on the official clothes – his fighting spirit soared aloft. At first, Lei Tie wanted to say not to be afraid and he would take care of everything, but seeing that, he simply shut up. He gave his wife a kiss and lent him a hand.

After getting ready, the couple went to the Palace in a carriage. The ministers entered the Palace through the South Gate, while the women of rank could only enter the Palace through the North Gate. Lei Tie got off first, and the carriage took Qin Mian to the North Gate.

There were other women of rank in front of the gate. Qin Mian turned a blind eye to other people’s measuring gazes. After the palace attendants checked their belongings, he followed the other women of rank inside.

Since they were going to the Imperial Harem, Qin Mian couldn’t take Lei-Qin Le with him. Therefore, he took a junior maid from the sewing room into the Palace with him. The junior maid was very clever and followed behind Qin Mian with gifts.

They went to the Palace of Mother’s Consolation first. Qin Mian looked at the clothes of the women of rank and judged their ranks. After entering the Palace of Mother’s Consolation, he ignored other people’s ridiculing eyes and stood calmly behind Imperial Princess Consort Ming.

When Empress Dowager came out, Qin Mian knelt helplessly. He had no other choice. Unless his man was the Emperor, otherwise, as long as they did not leave the Capital, he had to kneel so frequently in the future.

Qin Mian was not surprised to feel a sharp gaze from above looking at him.

“Rise. Be seated.”

“Thank you, Empress Dowager.”

Empress Dowager looked at all of them and was surprised that she didn’t see Princess Yanqing. Yet, she was relieved. She looked at Qin Mian and said in a very gentle tone, “Are you Lady of the State Defender Duke?”

Qin Mian got up and left his ranks. He cupped his hands and said, “Replying, Empress Dowager. Yes, I am. It’s a great honor for the humble me to be able to pay respect to Empress Dowager. I’ve brought a humble gift and hope Empress Dowager kindly accept it.”

Empress Dowager said with a slight smile, “Present it.”

Qin Mian took the red brocade box from the junior maid’s hands and handed it to the awaiting palace maid.

“Reporting, Empress Dowager. This product is a beauty cream this humble me had concocted. Not only has it the effect of nourishing the skin, but it can also retain the elegant fragrance for a long time when applied once.”

“Oh? It has such efficiency?” Empress Dowager’s expression was dull. As an empress dowager, what kind of good things had she never seen? She didn’t take Qin Mian’s words to heart. However, Qin Mian was the Lady of the State Defender, so she still had to give him some face. She motioned to the palace maid.

The palace maid opened the box. Inside were eight small and exquisite porcelain jars: four white and four blue in the same shape.

“There are eight different fragrances. Just smear a little on your face and rub it over.”

Empress Dowager said with a smile, “Lady of the State Defender Duke is very thoughtful. Reward.”

After that, nothing unpleasant happened as Qin Mian had imagined before. Empress Dowager chatted with several other people and then asked them to withdraw.

They then went to the empress’s Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

The empress was only seven points beautiful, yet she was noble and generous, making others very comfortable. She had a talk with several high-ranking women of rank, including Qin Mian.

Qin Mian presented six jars of beauty cream. The empress also rewarded him with a lot of good things.

Qin Mian marveled at his successful entrance to the Palace. He could not help suspecting that the reason why Lei Tie was recalled to the Capital was very complicated. He warned himself that he should be more cautious in the future.

Anyway, his goal of entering the Palace had been achieved.

Three days later was the day Princess Yanqing invited Qin Mian to a gathering. Princess Yanqing was not married and still lived in the Palace. Emperor Xiaohui and Empress Dowager were on guard against her provoking people of the State Defender Duke Establishment. Since she was a woman, the place where she invited Qin Mian was not in the Palace, but in the Second Prince Establishment.

There was a garden in the Second Prince Establishment, which collected more than fifty kinds of exotic flowers in the world. In the fourth lunar month, all kinds of flowers were in full bloom. Holding a small gathering in the name of appreciating flowers would not arouse people’s suspicion.

Qin Mian picked out two items from the rewards given by Empress Dowager and the empress and asked someone to wrap them nicely. Afterward, he rode on horseback to the Second Prince Establishment.

The servants of the Second Prince Establishment respectfully invited him in and took him to the main hall to pay an official visit to the master.

Second Prince, about 25~26 years old, had a handsome face and a gentle look. Meanwhile, Second Princess Consort had an excellent charm and was demure and courteous.

Alas, since they were willing to help Princess Yanqing build a bridge, Qin Mian was hostile toward them. No matter how approachable they were, he only talked about some events. There was one thing that he always found strange. Since Princess Yanqing chose the Second Prince Establishment as the meeting location, she could have let Second Princess Consort send the notice to Qin Mian in her name. Why was the signature on the notice in the name of Princess Yanqing? Was Princess Yanqing really so brainless, or was the relationship between Second Prince and Princess Yanqing not really close?

The emperor’s affairs were complicated. Qin Mian put this question in his mind and stopped thinking about it. When the time was ripe, he would find the answer.

After the greetings, Second Princess Consort took Qin Mian to the garden to admire the flowers.

Second Princess Consort introduced the identities of the ladies to Qin Mian. Qin Mian found that they were all third and four ranks, and none of them was higher than him. Perhaps, Princess Yanqing or Second Princess Consort had some scruples.

Those who were ranked lower than Qin Mian did not dare to bother Qin Mian. Qin Mian enjoyed the flowers leisurely for a while. The other people around him unconsciously went away, leaving him alone. He sat down at the stone table and shook the folding fan.

When Princess Yanqing arrived, she saw a handsome and charming young man sitting at the stone table calmly. The gentle long-drawn breeze fluttered his black hair and white clothes together. He seemed very leisurely and comfortable.

The jealousy and hatred in Princess Yanqing’s heart suddenly rolled up. No matter how good his facial features were, he was just a villager. Lei Tianren didn’t even pay attention to her, a dignified princess, but then he lived with a man like a husband and a wife, which was equivalent to ruthlessly slapping her in the face for the second time. How could she not hate him?

“Are you Lady of the State Defender Duke?” Princess Yanqing raised her head and approached with an arrogant face.

“Exactly. Who are you?” Qin Mian guessed the identity of the person who came but feigned ignorance as he asked. He measured her secretly and almost laughed. He always thought that the woman who dared to woo his man must have extraordinary capital, but this princess obviously let him down.

The maid behind Princess Yanqing immediately scolded, “Audacious! Why haven’t you salute when you see Princess Yanqing?”

“What?” Qin Mian looked up and down at Princess Yanqing with disdainful eyes, and truthfully sneered, “This Lady thinks you don’t want to live anymore. Look at you; neither a beautiful face nor a beautiful figure. Yet you dare to pretend to be Princess Yanqing?”

Second Prince and Second Princess Consort, who were eavesdropping behind the flowers, looked at each other in amazement. For a moment, they didn’t know what kind of mood they were in.

It was the first time that Princess Yanqing was criticized in this way. She was stunned and looked down to check herself.