Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1727: Official Promotion

Malicious, truly malicious.

How could he lay such a cruel hand?

However, to Emperor Jingyuan, the only Prince he truly cared about was Chu Qianyuan, whom the Empress gave birth to, but unfortunately, Brother Yuan was already dead.

As for Brother Dun, the Eighth Prince born to Princess Consort Yi, Emperor Jingyuan might have some paternal affection for him, but he used him more as a warning to the older princes.

Letting them know that he has more than just these older sons, and if they don’t obey, he can raise a younger one to inherit the throne.

Ah Shu was deeply troubled, and after returning to her quarters, she burst into tears.

After crying, she called for the female official, personally packing a gift for the festival, instructing: “In a few days, it will be Mid-Autumn Festival. I begged for the Empress Dowager’s grace, and she permitted me to send gifts back to my family. These are for them; handle it with care and make sure the gifts reach the Meng Family tomorrow.”

The female official bowed and replied, “Yes.”

It is not an easy task for a concubine to send gifts back to her family. It requires pleading for grace and reporting before anything can be sent out of the palace.

Having received the Empress Dowager’s grace, Meng Shuyu was thus able to send the gifts smoothly to Duke Ying Mansion the next day.

Years have passed, and Duke Ying Mansion is no longer what it used to be. It still looks grand and majestic from the outside, yet entering inside, one can see worn-out traces everywhere, a sign that even the Silver for repairs is lacking.

The female official, having come from Duke Ying Mansion, felt quite discomforted to see its current condition.

“Princess Consort Yu sent gifts back home?!” Meng Shuyu’s parents were very pleased and personally met with the female official.

The female official saluted them: “To answer Lord and Lady Meng, the Empress Dowager granted grace, allowing Princess Consort Yu to send gifts back home.”

Lady Meng was overjoyed: “The Empress Dowager indeed remembers old ties. We were right to have the Lady follow the path of the Empress Dowager. I reckon it won’t be long before Princess Consort Yu will be in favor just like that girl from the Ran Family and bear a Prince.”

Yet, her joy didn’t last long before Meng Shuyu’s father found a letter written by Princess Consort Yu in the gifts. After reading it, the couple cried bitterly and cursed the Old Duke Ying: “Foolish idea, all foolish ideas from that old man… It’s over, the Meng Family is finished!”

Duke Ying Mansion did not revel in the festive gifts sent by Princess Consort Yu to her family; instead, the house erupted in cries, as if someone had died at home.

The Old Duke Ying, bedridden, regretted deeply after reading the letter sent by Princess Consort Yu… But what he regretted was not selling out the line of Duke Wei, but rather befriending the Old Duke Wei in the past, and regretting that Meng Shuyu was once betrothed to Wei Erlang!

However, it was too late for regrets. Now, if Duke Ying Mansion wants to rise again, they need to find new support.

But whom can they turn to?

The Emperor has acted as if Duke Ying Mansion didn’t exist for years and wouldn’t allow Princess Consort Yu to have children. Who would dare help such a mansion?

But the Old Duke Ying was indignant. His Duke Ying Mansion rendered great service to Great Chu, and now the Chu Family wants to treat them this way? Impossible. He won’t accept it!

Like a madman, the Old Duke Ying sought a way out for Duke Ying Mansion, even sending people to inquire about Xu You’s family’s sons, seemingly attempting to form an alliance with the Xu You family.

Emperor Jingyuan had continuously sent men to monitor Duke Ying Mansion to prevent it from contacting the line of Duke Wei. However, after years of surveillance, not only had he failed to use the mansion to find any surviving members of Duke Wei’s line, but he instead acquired such intelligence.

“Fools!” Emperor Jingyuan cursed, but then felt it was redundant to curse such fools.

Nonetheless, Emperor Jingyuan continued to have people watch Duke Ying Mansion, just in case.

In the following days, Emperor Jingyuan had secret discussions with Mai Cong and others, and finally, on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, agreed to Xu You’s request to cease fighting and rest for recuperation.

At the same time, he issued several decrees.

One was to bestow the title of Marquis Zhong Chu to Xu You, with an imperial decree granting an Iron Certificate, allowing his title to pass on forever without replacement.

In current times, securing a hereditary title without replacement is exceedingly rare.

But as for the title itself… Marquis Zhong Chu, if Xu You held no rebellious intentions, it might be fine; if he did, the words “Zhong Chu” would become quite nauseating.

Still, the ministers lavishly praised Emperor Jingyuan for his wisdom, generously rewarding meritorious officials.

Another decree reinstated Qi Yi, appointing him as Vice Magistrate of Long’an Prefecture.

This appointment looked innocuous, but Qi Yi was Emperor Jingyuan’s confidant. Sending him to Long’an Prefecture as Vice Magistrate evidently meant he was to watch General Xu, ready to report any signs of rebellion from Xu You immediately.

Another decree promoted General Cheng to the position of Second-rank General of Western Defense, to assist Xu You in guarding Daokou Camp.

This decree alone made it evident to any discerning person that Emperor Jingyuan was indeed fearful of Xu You’s rebellion, prompting him to rise a Western Commandery General to divide Xu You’s military power.

However, General Cheng was indeed highly capable. With Great Chu and the Rong bandits still confronting each other in Daokou Gully, placing such a skillful and valiant general in Daokou Camp meant even Xu You had no complaints.

The subsequent decrees entailed the ennoblement of General Dai and other commanders.

As for meritorious Troop Commanders, Company Commanders, Chief Commanders, and the like, there were no decrees; the Ministry of War wrote appointment letters, sealed them, and directly issued them.

Qin San Lang’s document promoting him to Troop Commander was mixed in with numerous appointment letters.

The ministers were startled. Had the Emperor gone mad again?

This Qin San Lang, who killed a royal general of the Rong bandits, accomplished such tremendous achievements, was merely made a Troop Commander?

But nobody would speak against it, for Qin San Lang was but a mudfoot; they didn’t wish for mudfeet to climb up and snatch positions from their children.

Emperor Jingyuan not only elevated Qin San Lang to just a Troop Commander but personally instructed Minister Dai to allocate him to Mu County to guard the first line with Xu You’s veteran soldiers.

Daokou Gully is in Mu County; following Mu County are Cunning County, Gaoshui County, and Shuohe County.

Qin San Lang, coming from the south as a Company Commander, despite his great achievements, was expected to be placed on the second or third line of defense due to his lack of experience.

Starting in Mu County, like a blade inserted among Xu You’s numerous close veteran generals, this… was Emperor Jingyuan intending for Qin San Lang to guard against Xu You, or redirect him to join Xu You?

This indeed posed a dilemma.

If that mudfoot didn’t handle it well, he might end up displeasing both ends, and be simultaneously gotten rid of by Xu You and Emperor Jingyuan.

However, the ministers didn’t care about the fate of Qin San Lang, though Qi Yi did.

Receiving the imperial decree not long after, Qi Yi learned of this news. With furrowed brows, he sighed: “If you wish to employ someone, yet make it this difficult for them, why not be sincere?”

Mrs. Qi knew he was referring to Emperor Jingyuan and worriedly advised, “Husband, please don’t speak such things, lest you suffer harm again.”

Qi Yi looked at Mrs. Qi and, seeing tears glimmering in her eyes, guiltily said: “Alright, I won’t speak anymore, don’t worry, Ah Shu.”

He smiled wryly: “Originally, I intended to take everyone south, but now I’ve implicated Ah Shu to suffer with me in the Northwest.”

Mrs. Qi shook her head: “No matter where we go, as long as our family is together, that’s enough.”

Ever since Qi Yi suffered at the hands of Emperor Jingyuan last time, the Qi couple decided that as a family, they must leave the Capital, no matter where they go, just leave the Capital!

She added with a smile: “Besides, returning to the Northwest isn’t so bad; we’ve spent many a year in the Northwest. Returning to our homeland now is indeed a blessing.”

Qi Yi nodded: “Indeed, it is a blessing. You don’t know this yet, but that Qin San Lang, who killed the Rong bandit general, is none other than the husband of the Second Girl of the Gu Family. Yes, the same Second Girl of the Gu Family we met while fleeing from famine, who saved our son.”