Chapter 418: Preparation
Editor: Atlas Studios
Fan Zijin was not angry at all. He had been angry enough with him in the previous 12 years and had given up on his father in the subsequent five years. Hence, he did not mind at all and merely chuckled. “Father, don’t I have no choice? Uncle wants to marry Haoran to Minister Qin’s fourth daughter. Wouldn’t that be pushing Haoran into a fire pit? I had no choice but to get someone to publicize this in advance. Now that everyone knows that Haoran has already married, even if Minister Qin is powerful, he can’t very well force Haoran to divorce and marry his daughter instead, right?”
Shocked, Fan Siwen asked, “Qi Feng wants to become in-laws with Minister Qin? Why didn’t I know?” Then he looked at his son in surprise. “How did you know about this?”
“Qi Feng said it himself yesterday.” Fan Zijin turned to look at his mother. “Mother, I’m hungry.”
Madam Xia immediately said, “I’ll get someone to send food over now. You’ve been rushing your way for 20 days. Eat something warm, soft, and easy to digest to nourish your stomach first.” Seeing that her husband seemed to have something to ask her son, she sighed and took the initiative to leave to give the space to the father and son.
Fan Siwen turned to look at his grown-up son and felt a little uncomfortable. However, Fan Zijin said with a smile, “Oh right, Father, will the Spring Quarter Examinations be held next year?”
The Spring Quarter Examinations was supposed to be held last year, but because of internal strife everywhere, the Emperor had delayed the exam. As for how long it would be delayed, no one knew.
“The Ministry of Rites is already making preparations. The document should be issued in a few days.” Fan Siwen frowned slightly. “Not only will the Spring Quarter Examinations be held next year, but Your Majesty will probably also hold the Fall Quarter Examinations in order to pray to the heavens. Since you’re back, stay in the capital obediently. You’re not young anymore. One can become a xiucai1 at the age of 11, but you’re not even a juren2 yet. I don’t want others to say that my son is Shang Zhongyong3.”
Fan Zijin lowered his head and sneered, but he agreed on the surface.
Seeing his attitude, Fan Siwen couldn’t vent his anger. He wanted to teach him a lesson, but he was afraid that it would make him run away from home again.
Seeing that he had nothing else to say, Fan Zijin gave a sloppy bow and went down to eat. His men were already waiting in the front yard.
After eating, Fan Zijin went over to see them. The first thing he did was to say, “Buy a house in Lin’an Prefecture. In the future, we’ll do our dealings there instead.”
Although this was his home, it was not under his control. Used to the safe environment of the General’s Residence, he really could not stand the fact that someone could barge into his study and pry into his privacy at any time. Therefore, he decided to find another house outside.
The second thing was, “Pay attention to the shops in Lin’an Prefecture and see if there are any for sale. If there are suitable ones, buy them.”
This time, he brought back a few stewards that he had nurtured. Of course, Fan Zijin didn’t plan to let these people stay idle. He would be looking to let them manage shops and workshops.
He decided to expand his business in Jiangnan, but he did not know that the news that he had asked someone to release yesterday had angered Minister Qin and the Emperor.
The Emperor had received a letter from the Jingzhao Prefecture a few days ago that Qi Xiuyuan was seriously injured and urgently held a wedding to flush away the bad luck. He had originally believed 80% of it, and when he saw that Fan Zijin was so anxious to add their names to the genealogical tree, he believed it even more.
The Emperor asked, “Has the news spread outside?”
The eunuch who came back after hearing the gossip said, “Your Majesty, it’s all over the streets. I heard that Minister Qin was so angry that he smashed the things in his study when he returned home.”
As the eunuch served the Emperor personally, he naturally knew about the Emperor’s intentions. That was why he specially mentioned Minister Qin.
As expected, the Emperor was happy, but on the surface, he shook his head and said, “Minister Qin is too anxious. The Qi family only did that because of the urgency of the matter. They didn’t say that they would turn down this marriage. What’s there to be angry about?”
Stunned, the eunuch asked hesitantly, “But isn’t Assistant Commander Qi married?”
The Emperor shook his head and said, “Didn’t Assistant Minister Lu Zhen of the Ministry of Revenue marry two wives of equal standing? I think it’s not a bad title.”
Even though the corners of the eunuch’s mouth twitched, he still lowered his head and said, “Your Majesty is wise.”
However, Minister Qin did not at all think that the Emperor was wise, but he was not too angry about this matter. He was not very satisfied with this marriage to begin with. Now that the Qi family did this before he started discussing the marriage with them, it was exactly what he wanted. However, in order to shut His Majesty’s mouth and occupy a favorable position, he still picked two things that were not too expensive and smashed them after returning home. Then, life went on as usual for him.
Unexpectedly, the Qi family did not anger him, but the Emperor did. To think the Emperor wanted his daughter to be Qi Haoran’s co-wife when he already had a wife!
So be it. He didn’t mind at all, but could he change the candidate? Qi Haoran was only a fourth-grade junior general, but he could actually make his daughter his co-wife?
At the very least, it should be someone at the level of his big brother, Qi Xiuyuan, right?
However, he had never been openly against the Emperor, so he could only hint that Qi Haoran’s status was not high enough, in hopes that the Emperor could choose someone else from the Qi family.
It was unknown if the Emperor was pretending not to understand, or if he really didn’t understand, but he didn’t say anything.
Minister Qin could only leave with a stiff expression. This time, the two of them did not tell Qi Feng. In their opinion, Qi Feng was incompetent. Anyway, since Qi Haoran and the others were about to enter the capital, they could talk about it when they entered the palace to pay their respects.
Yesterday, the Emperor finally received a commendation request for the West Camp’s meritorious service. Despite being severely outnumbered, they had defeated the enemy and killed more than 3,000 Jin soldiers in Fuping County. This was a rare battle achievement, so he naturally had to seek credit. And the person who deserved the most credit was Qi Haoran.
However, the Emperor skipped his name and rewarded his subordinates. Then, he commended Qi Xiuyuan for deserving the most credit. Coupled with the military merits he had accumulated previously, he officially promoted him from a Grade 2B general to a Grade 2A general, second only to General Yuan.
The Emperor secretly wondered if Qi Haoran would fall out with Qi Xiuyuan if he knew that Qi Xiuyuan had snatched his military merits. Yes, perhaps not the first time, but what if it happened too many times?
He also didn’t know if Qi Xiuyuan could survive this time. The Emperor thought that if he couldn’t, he would prop up a new general. This time, he had to promote someone who would obey him entirely. If Qi Xiuyuan did survive, the trap he set up now would be useful.
The decree to summon Qi Xiuyuan’s family and Qi Haoran back to the capital along with the reward memorandums were sent, and the date for their return was strictly set. They had to arrive before New Year’s Eve.
It was already the eighth of October, and it was exactly a month and a half before New Year’s Eve. The memorial was sent to Jingzhao Prefecture at full speed, and it would only take 15 days to arrive.
When Mu Yangling and the others received the imperial edict, they heaved a huge sigh of relief, as if the stone that had been hanging over their hearts had finally been lifted.
Qi Xiuyuan put away the memorial and said to the two of them, “Time is tight. Pack up and set off in five days. Ah Ling, go home when you’re free. You can stay there for two days.”
They had already instructed the servants to slowly pack their luggage. Now that they had packed everything they needed to bring, there was nothing to do for the remaining five days other than bidding farewell to everyone.
Mu Yangling brought Qi Haoran home for two days and hugged the twins in her arms for a long time. When the two children knew that their older sister was going on a long trip and would probably not come back for a long time, they hugged her arm and wailed loudly.
Xiulan stood beside her cousin and wiped her tears. Bowen and Xiuhong’s eyes were red. Mu Yangling could only promise that she would write to them often. “Bosi, Kejia, you have to learn to read quickly so that you can write to me. Otherwise, you won’t understand anything I write.”
With tears on their faces, Bosi and Kejia nodded pitifully and hugged Mu Yangling’s arm tightly. “Sister must not forget Bosi (Kejia).”
“Of course not! You’re my treasures. How could I forget you?”
When they came out, Mu Yangling was covered in sweat on a cold day. Qi Haoran reached out to hold her hand tightly and the two of them left side by side.