197 – Bask in Happiness

After reading the information, Qin Wencai’s face paled and his hands trembled. He had never thought that Qin Jian, his eldest son, had secretly assigned killers to nab Qin Mian, who was only 12 years old at that time ten years ago! Fortunately, the two killers met their foes before they had time to start on Qin Mian. The clever Qin Mian took the opportunity to escape. It was a pity that he still couldn’t fight against bad luck. He was sold to a wealthy family by human traders to be a page. Two years later, he found a chance to escape again. He fled to Green Mountain Village and fainted because of illness. Later, he was forced to marry Lei Tie as a wife. Not long after, he had “memory loss” due to an unexpected incident…..

Qin Jian started on his brother for the sake of two medical books handed down from generation to generation by the Qin Family’s ancestors. One was the “Thousand Golden Prescriptions” inadvertently obtained by the ancestors, and the other was the “Collection of Qin’s Art of Healing” compiled by the Qin Family’s ancestors. These two medical books not only collected nearly a thousand miraculous prescriptions that the world didn’t know of but also contained nearly a thousand real medical cases, including some rare disease cases with their curative treatments.

In the Imperial Institute of Medicine, Qin Wencai had not the highest rank, but the highest status. He was also the personal imperial doctor of Emperor Xiaohui. The most important reason for these was that Qin Wencai had these two medical books – he could identify many diseases that other imperial doctors didn’t understand.

There were two extremely important rules in the Qin Family: first, before one’s first legitimate son is born, one can’t have a concubine-born son; second, these two medical books are only passed on to one’s legitimate son. However, Qin Wencai made a mistake when he was young. Compared with the justified legal wife, he preferred the gentle concubine, which led to the birth of the concubine-born son before the legitimate son, and even four years older than the legitimate son.

However, Qin Wencai did not dare to violate the second family rule even if he was a scoundrel. It was because he was very clear that the Qin Family’s ability to maintain its glory for generations was closely related to this rule. After his legitimate son was born, he was quite fond of his legitimate son because he was smart and quick-witted. Therefore, his attention gradually returned to the legal wife and his legitimate son. Even when his legitimate son was four years old, he began to teach him how to identify herbs, intending to put a lot of effort to train him. But unexpectedly, this caused the elder son Qin Jian to be jealous and unwilling to take things laying down. Before Qin Mian was born, his father’s most favorite son was him! As Qin Jian was getting older, with the concubine inflamed and agitated him from time to time, his heart became more and more distorted. Finally, at the age of 16, Qin Mian reached the end of his forbearance.

When Qin Mian happened to meet him that year, Qin Jian discovered that he had lost his memory. Besides, he was afraid of Lei Tie – he only secretly guarded against Qin Mian and tried his best to prevent Qin Mian from meeting Qin Wencai. After Qin Mian and Lei Tie left the Capital, Qin Jian left the matter behind.

Later, Qin Mian and Lei Tie entered the Capital again and he learned that Qin Mian was actually the Lady of the State Defender Duke. Qin Jian was really shocked and always on tenterhooks for a long time. Seeing Qin Mian did not have the intention of coming to the door, he could only restrain and try his best to prevent Qin Wencai and Qin Mian from meeting each other. Because he was afraid of Qin Mian and Lei Tie’s identity, he dared not deal with Qin Mian, but only dared to start from Qin Wencai’s side, even paid a high price to buy Qin Wencai’s attendant, so that he could report every particular gesture and behavior of Qin Wencai to him.

Unexpectedly, Qin Wencai and Qin Mian still met. To confirm Qin Mian’s identity, Qin Wencai even went to the western pass with Qin Mian. Qin Jian was truly afraid at that time. Once Qin Wencai knew Qin Mian’s real identity and that his disappearance were related to him, he would not only lose standing and reputation but also lose hope for the two medical books and miss the wealth accumulated by the Qin Family over the past few generations. As the result, Qin Jian secretly contacted killers and hired them to assassinate Qin Mian at a high price. He thought that when he contacted the killers, he had hidden his true identity very well. One didn’t have to think about it – the emperor was a man who covered the country with one hand and besides, the Capital itself was at the foot of the emperor. Wasn’t it easy for the emperor to find the person behind the curtain?

The booklet slipped from Qin Wencai’s hand. Qin Wencai knelt on the ground with a pale face. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say. “Your Majesty, your subject…”

Emperor Xiaohui sighed, waved his hand, and said in a light tone, “Zhen left him life for your sake. You’re excused.” After all, the inside information found by Emperor Xiaohui could be regarded as Qin Wencai’s family affairs. If it wasn’t for the fact that the person Qin Jian dealt with was the Lady of the State Defender Duke, who was also the meritorious official that had saved more than 10,000 soldiers, he would not have told Qin Wencai the information he found. This was also an account for the State Defender Duke couple to deal with.

“Your subject thanks Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live longer, absolutely long live!” Qin Wencai choked with sobs and withdrew with a confused mind.

Two flowers bloomed, one on each side. [On the other side]

After leaving the palace, Qin Mian and Lei Tie went directly back to the State Defender Duke Establishment.

Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin were not afraid of cold – they were playing with Golden Fur and White Spot at the gate of the State Defender Duke Establishment.

As their temporary guardian, Chen Mufeng accompanied them. Back then, Qin Mian entrusted his two sons to him in person, so now he naturally wanted to return the children face to face.

Zhangsun Hong was also there – he played together with Golden Fur and White Spot.

At the side, Chen Mufeng watched the three little boys playing, yet he didn’t feel bored.

Steward Fu and all the servants in the State Defender Duke Establishment stood at the side in preparation to welcome the two masters.

“Clip-clop-clip-clop…”

The approaching sound of the horse’s hooves made everyone looked up.

Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin rushed over.

“Dad! Old Dad!”

Golden Fur and White Spot happily followed.

Qin Mian and Lei Tie bent while mounted, and each picked up a son and put at the front.

“Son, do you miss Dad?” Qin Mian kissed Qin Ruiqi on his cheek with a “pop”.

Qin Ruiqi’s paralyzed little face suddenly tinted with blush.

Qin Mian spontaneously laughed, “Hahaha…”

Lei Ruilin looked at Lei Tie with curled lips filled with hints, “Old Dad.”

Lei Tie’s movement stiffened.

“Hahaha…” Qin Mian buried his head on his son’s small shoulder and broke into laughter.

Qin Ruiqi looked at his Didi’s act like a spoiled child and Old Dad’s embarrassed expression – a sliver of a smile emerged on the corner of his lips.

Not far away, Chen Mufeng saw Lei Ruilin’s pathetic expression and burst out laughing.

Lei Tie lightly coughed, put his hands under his youngest son’s armpits to lift him, and handed him to his wife – the meaning was self-evident.

Qin Mian smiled as he kissed his youngest son’s cheek very loudly, “Satisfied?”

Only then Lei Ruilin giggled and was taken back by his Old Dad and placed at the front.

Zhangsun Hong had never seen Lei Ruilin with that kind of look. He made a funny face at Lei Ruilin, wouldn’t admit that he was envious – his dad would never kiss him.

When the horses ran into the gate, Qin Mian and Lei Tie jumped off with their sons in their arms.

“Respectfully welcome Old Lord and Lady back home!”

“Forego formalities.”

Lei Tie slightly nodded and went to Chen Mufeng.

“[We] have troubled you to take care of Ruiqi and Ruilin – thank you very much.”

Chen Mufeng said with a smile, “I’m returning the two little boys to you completely intact.”

Qin Mian felt the small faces of the two sons and laughed heartily as he said, “I can see that you really took care of them very well. Their faces are chubby.”

Both Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin subconsciously felt their faces.

Qin Mian and Chen Mufeng laughed.

Lei Ruilin said, “Dad, Old Dad. I want to see the foals.”

“Didn’t your Old Dad send the two foals back? You haven’t seen them yet?” Qin Mian was a little surprised. He thought the two little boys could not wait and ran to see them first.

Qin Ruiqi said, “Didi and I want to see them with Dad and Old Dad.”

Qin Mian gave a wee of a smile and gratefully hugged his son’s shoulders. “Then let’s go. Together we go. Hong’er, do you want to come with us?”

Zhangsun Hong nodded, “En, thank you, Uncle Qin.”

Thereupon, three big ones and three small ones went inside together.

Both of Qin Mian’s hands held Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin. Although the two little boys previously thought that they didn’t need adults to hold their hands as they had grown up, because they had not seen their father for a long time, they wanted to be close to him. Not only they did not protest, they even held their father’s hands tightly.

Lei Ruilin looked at Lei Tie beside him, then held his hand and smiled at him.

Lei Tie slightly nodded.

Chen Mufeng and Zhangsun Hong walked at the back. Looking at the family of four enveloped in a joyful atmosphere in front of them, they inexplicably felt that they were somewhat superfluous.

Not a while later, they came to the stable.

The two foals had been placed in the stable and cleaned by the servants. They were eating the fodder in the trough with their heads down.

“So beautiful!” exclaimed Zhangsun Hong when he saw the two foals; his eyes full of envy.

The eyes of both Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin brightened. They let go of their father’s hand and ran to the stable.

Chen Mufeng carefully measured up the two foals and commented, “The bones of these two horses are really good. Caught in the Western Barbarian?”

“Yes.” Qin Mian said with a smile, “A-Tie and I went to the grassland of the Western Barbarian to catch them.”

Qin Mian and Lei Tie combed the bones of the two foals with spiritual qi. Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin sensed the familiar aura on their bodies. When they reached out to touch the foals, the foals not only didn’t dodge but also had docile looks.

Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin felt the white and soft mane of the foals and loved it.

Zhangsun Hong couldn’t help reaching out to the foal in front of him.

Little did he know, the foal snorted, glanced at him, and hid its head.

Zhangsun Hong’s stretched hand stiffened in midair; a wounded expression on his face.

“Hahaha…” Lei Ruilin simmered with laughter. He hugged the neck of the foal, feeling proud that it was only close to him.

After all, Zhangsun Hong was a child of an influential family – his upbringing was not ordinary and therefore, his bearing was not ordinary. He took back his hand after he was temporarily stunned. Holding back the aggrieved mist in his eyes, he calmly said, “Didn’t you say that you’re going to hunt with your Dad and Old Dad after getting the foals? The two horses are so small; they must not run very fast.”

Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin both had cultivation. How could they not see that the two foals have been improved by their father? Qin Ruiqi confidently said, “[They] run very fast.”