202 – Emperor Xiaohui’s Condition

Qin Mian and Lei Tie knew that Emperor Xiaohui would not let them go easily, but they had to go.

Emperor Xiaohui soon calmed down, “If my dear subject Lei and your (honorable) lady have suffered any sort of injustice, please don’t hesitate to tell Zhen. You can’t joke about this ‘resignation’ matter.”

Eunuch Li on the ground was covered in sweat, praying that Lei Tie would push the boat along the current¹ and take back what he had just said.

Lei Tie firmly said, “Your Majesty, your subject I and my wife have decided.”

The atmosphere in the imperial study was frozen for a moment.

At this time, outside the door came a nervous voice, “Reporting, Your Majesty. Prime Minister Wen has something urgent to seek an audience.”

“Announce!”

Prime Minister Wen strode in with a rare dignified and anxious face.

Emperor Xiaohui frowned.

Prime Minister Wen noticed that Eunuch Li was profusely sweating while on his knees, the State Defender Duke couple looked very serious, and Emperor Xiaohui’s face also appeared very unsightly. He was so surprised that he didn’t care to explore and strode to the front of the imperial table.

Emperor Xiaohui waved his hand to stop him from saluting. “Forego the formalities. What happens for my dear subject to be in such a hurry?”

Prime Minister Wen said with a heavy tone, “Reporting, Your Majesty. Your subject has just received an urgent report from Lingzhou. A few days ago, there was a big earthquake in Kui County, Lingzhou!”

“What!” Emperor Xiaohui was shocked, “What’s the situation?”

Prime Minister Wen presented the memorial [report] with both hands and explained, “According to the statistics of the local officials, at least 50,000 people have been missing or injured, and 80% of the houses in the county have collapsed. The local officials quickly responded and immediately dispatched soldiers to the rescue, but the situation is not optimistic.”

Eunuch Li quickly scrambled to take the memorial and passed it on to the emperor.

After reading the memorial, Emperor Xiaohui’s expression looked profound as he considered it a lot in an instant. Needless to say, the earthquake was bound to cause huge losses, but the time and place of this earthquake were very unfavorable. Shortly after the end of the battle between Great Xia and Tuluo, with a little carelessness, it might be used by observant people who wanted to make an issue of it. For example, spreading the rumor that Emperor Xiaohui was not protected by Heaven might cause civil unrest. In history, similar things were not uncommon.

“Your Majesty, what should we do now?” Prime Minister Wen anxiously said, “Kui County is at a peculiar location. The longer the action of the imperial court is delayed, the more unfavorable the situation will be.”

Emperor Xiaohui pondered for a long time. When his keen eyes passed over Qin Mian and Lei Tie, his expression suddenly relaxed. He waved to Prime Minister Wen.

“Zhen knew. My dear subject Wen, go to the side hall first to take a seat.”

“Yes.”

After Prime Minister Wen left, Emperor Xiaohui finally noticed that Eunuch Li was still kneeling on the ground, “Li Fushou, get up.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Eunuch Li quickly stood up and kneaded his knees in secret.

Looking at Qin Mian and Lei Tie, Emperor Xiaohui said in a deep voice, “State Defender Duke and Lady of the State Defender Duke, Great Xia can be considered strong, but there are still many hidden dangers. You have heard what Prime Minister Wen said just now. Even so, are you still asking to resign?”

Lei Tie cupped his hand and said, “Why don’t Your Majesty think about it from another angle? Only when the two of us leave, can others have the chance to grow up.”

Qin Mian also said, “Your Majesty, the medical skills of the imperial doctors in the Imperial Institute of Medicine are better qualified – your humble subject [I] is in fact, dispensable. Besides, your humble subject [I] has sorted out the prescription of Qingli pill and handed it over to the Administrative Assistant of Imperial Institute of Medicine.”

Emperor Xiaohui frowned in disappointment, “It seems that you have made up your mind… You can resign if you want, but Zhen has one condition.”

Qin Mian had a bad feeling.

Lei Tie said, “Please speak, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Xiaohui stood up. With both hands on his back, he walked out slowly from behind the imperial table and down the steps.

He said in a solemn tone, “Kui County of Lingzhou is near the border of Great Xia and Tuluo. So, why has Tuluo never chosen to attack Great Xia from Kui County since ancient times? That’s because Kui County’s mountain range is overlapped and the mountain path is rugged, which can be said to be a natural barrier of Great Xia. Since the earthquake occurred, Zhen worries that the people in Kui County will choose to move instead of rebuilding their homeland. If so, it is tantamount to having the gateway of the country opens wide – needless to say about the consequences. Therefore, Zhen wants you two to go to Kui County at once and rebuild Kui County in three years at most. As long as you can do this, Zhen will allow you to resign. How about it?”

Qin Mian inwardly cursed Emperor Xiaohui for being an old fox. He exchanged a look with Lei Tie and then asked, “Venture to ask, Your Majesty, how many times has an earthquake occurred in Kui County?”

Emperor Xiaohui looked at him in surprise. After a pause, he replied, “This is the second time in ten years.”

Qin Mian was shocked. There were two earthquakes in just ten years, but Emperor Xiaohui still didn’t approve of the civilian migration. This practice made him feel bitterly disappointed.

Emperor Xiaohui didn’t seem to care what he thought. After returning to the imperial table, he had calmed down. He took a sip of tea and asked in a low voice, “Have you considered it well?”

Qin Mian and Lei Tie look at each other.

Lei Tie said under his breath, “Listen to you.”

The corner of Emperor Xiaohui’s lips twitched. He pretended not to hear it.

Qin Mian thought for a moment, then asked, “Venture to ask, Your Majesty, if both of us find a more suitable location to guard the border nearby, is it possible to migrate Kui County?”

“Yes.” Emperor Xiaohui reminded, “But, in this way, three years is not enough.”

Qin Mian inwardly cursed him for being brazen.

“Good. We accept this condition. ”

Emperor Xiaohui nodded, “Zhen is going to draw up the decree. You can set out as soon as possible.”

Qin Mian and Lei Tie went out of the Palace separately. Lei Tie went to the military camp; Qin Mian went to drop his two sons out of school. All that was left was some trivialities.

For the convenience of Lei Tie and Qin Mian, Lei Tie’s identity as the State Defender Duke and the State Defender Grand General was preserved; Emperor Xiaohui dismissed Qin Mian from the official post in the Imperial Institute of Medicine and appointed him the new magistrate of Kui County.

As soon as the imperial edict was issued, the people in the Capital were in an uproar. No matter how capable Qin Mian was, his main identity was the “Lady/wife” of the State Defender Duke. How did he become a magistrate?

When the imperial decree that stated the emperor ordered Qin Mian and Lei Tie to rebuild Kui County was out, people suddenly realized: So that’s how matters stand.

Qin Mian was very interested in being a magistrate. He was also a man. Not to mention doing a meritorious service, he also wished to devote himself to work and make an all-out effort. He could develop Green Mountain Village, so he might also have the ability to develop a county.

It took Qin Mian and Lei Tie a day to deal with everything in the Capital. They took their two sons, a wolf, a bear, a golden eagle, nine armed servants, and ten thousand elite soldiers to set out. It was good to have a magical space. Gold, silver, pearls, and other treasures, as well as the gold and other rewards given by Emperor Xiaohui, were put in the space – there was no need to use carriages to carry them that would attract people’s eyes.

Steward Fu and Aunt Fu were old. They stayed to take care of the State Defender Duke Establishment.

On the day of departure, Chen Mufeng, Zhangsun He, Zhangsun Hong, and Lei Xiangzhi’s family all came to see them off.

The “cry baby” Zhangsun Hong’s tears flowed like a stream. Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin were both moved and amused. They simply entrusted him the two pots of shy grass which were gifted by Chen Mufeng to show that their friendship was still there. Only then Zhangsun Hong stopped crying and smiled.

Emperor Xiaohui stood in the crowd in casual clothes and watched Qin Mian and Lei Tie go away.

Imperial Prince Ming sighed under his breath, “Elder Brother, I truly didn’t expect you to let them go.”

Emperor Xiaohui said with a faint smile, “Zhen—I certainly can’t bear it, but what Lei Tie said also has some truth. With them here, no one else has a chance to stand out. I just hope their ability can make some people feel more sense of crisis.”

Imperial Prince Ming slightly nodded, “Elder Brother’s words are reasonable.”

Qin Mian and Lei Tie rode at the top front – one was high-spirited and the other was majestic-looking, causing the pretty faces of the girls tinted in red, who then became more daring to throw down the handkerchiefs smoked in fragrance from the second floor [of some buildings].

The fan in Qin Mian’s hand seamlessly flapped several times; the handkerchiefs fluttered leisurely to the rear of the procession.

Qin Mian casually glanced at the crowd and saw Qin Wencai standing side by side with a middle-aged woman – both had eyes on him. Qin Wencai’s eyes were red while the woman had tears in her eyes.

Qin Mian was taken aback. He put on a faint smile and slightly nodded [to them].

The woman’s tears flowed even rapidly. She waved with the look of blessing and relief.

The procession began to speed up when they got out of the Capital.

Several horses in the household had been raised with the spiritual spring water for a long time – they were strong, healthy, robust, and swift. They ran fast and steadily as they dragged two carriages.

All the ten thousand elite soldiers were chosen by Lei Tie himself. They were all his followers who were convinced of him.

They spent the first daylight hurrying all the way.

After sunset, the procession stopped and camped in an open space. The soldiers had their own division of labor. In a short time, the campfires in the camp lit up, and the smell of rice-flour noodles floated along with the evening wind, shrouding the whole camp.

The skills of White Spot, Golden Fur, and Golden Eagle were particularly noticeable at this time. They ran/flew into the distant mountain forests and brought back more than a dozen prey after several trips back and forth.

Qin Mian left only half a deer for his family and asked Lei-Qin Zhong to bring the rest to the soldiers.

The soldiers had heard that the general’s wife was approachable. Now that they saw it with their own eyes, they thought so, too. They even felt a little bit closer with Qin Mian.

While waiting for the meal to be ready, Qin Ruiqi and Lei Ruilin, like birds out of a cage, ran with White Spot and Golden Eagle into the woods to play. It seemed that Golden Fur was quite fond of fireflies. It stood alone in the distance, with a pair of innocent little eyes chasing the luminous spots. After aiming, it reached out its claws and accurately grabbed them. It carefully stared at them for a while before letting them go. Grabbed and let go……

Not to mention them, even Qin Mian felt relaxed after he left the Capital. He was dressed in white and sat on the branch of a tree, holding a green flute in his hand. The melodious sound of the flute floated in the woods, which made people feel like they were coming out for sightseeing.

“My Lord and Lady, there is a river not far away.” Lei-Qin Zhong and Lei-Qin Shun came back with sweat, holding torches.

“Just in time, I can give the two ‘little monkeys’ a good wash later.” Qin Mian helplessly looked at the two sons who madly ran around.

Thanks for the treats! 😉

Footnotes