Today was also the day when Mother Lu and her daughter Jiang Yuqing went to the palace to give thanks.
After so many years, Empress Qin was still as beautiful as ever.
When she first saw Jiang Yuqing, she was overjoyed, "You ungrateful child, you went to Suchuan and didn't come back for so many years. Didn't you know to come back and see me?"
Then she hugged her and looked her over carefully, "You've grown up and grown taller, and have become prettier too."
Jiang Yuqing smiled and said, "I have always been this pretty. And I've already grown up while you are still so gorgeous. Could it be that you ate some magical elixir for eternal youth?"
Empress Qin laughed at her joking, "After so many years of not seeing you, your sweet tongue has become even sweeter."
Then she sighed, "It's just a pity. Your Big Brother Yan is not here. Otherwise, he would have been so happy to know that you came back."
Jiang Yuqing said in surprise, "Huh? He's not in the palace?"
Empress Qin said, "No, he went to the imperial mausoleum on behalf of His Majesty last month for memorial ceremonies. It will still take a few more days for him to come back."
The young lady said in realization, "Big brother has grown up and must be very busy now. Then I'll go find him to play after he comes back!"
Empress Qin smiled meaningfully, "Good! When the time comes, he will naturally come to find you himself."
Empress Qin kept the mother and daughter to have lunch with her. She also rewarded them with piles of jewelry, clothes and accessories before letting them go back home.
Before they left the palace, Empress Qin did not forget to instruct Jiang Yuqing to come to the palace often whenever she had free time, saying that she had indeed been very bored over the past two years.
Only then did Jiang Yuqing find out that the only two princesses in the palace had both married out in recent years. There were also no new additions in the imperial harem over the years, let alone any new princes or princesses being born.
In Empress Qin's own words, it was boring and she couldn't even get into palace intrigues. Supervising those few unimportant concubines in the harem everyday made her want to fall asleep just sitting there.
Jiang Wenyuan was appointed as the Minister of Revenue. His whole mansion was filled with joy and celebration. The position of Minister of Revenue was a first grade position in the Great Xia dynasty.
The prefect position he previously held was a fourth grade position. Going from a fourth grade position to a first grade position was a five rank jump. It could be said that since the founding of Great Xia, Jiang Wenyuan was the only official whose promotions had been like riding a rocket.
Not only was he promoted so quickly, he was also convinced the civil and military officials of the entire court so that there was nothing they could say. This capability was not something ordinary people could emulate.
Officials and nobles who came to congratulate him streamed in continuously. Even his two old friends, Qin Jue and Yuan Yun, laughed and asked him to treat them to drinks. However, Jiang Wenyuan did not seem to be very happy. Instead, he seemed to be more worried.
Qin Jue joked with him, "With your series of quick promotions these past two years, we are all looking up at your back. Why do you still knit your brows so worriedly?"
Jiang Wenyuan gave a bitter laugh, "Others see me gaining rank, but I see the position as a responsibility. The duties of a Minister are heavier than a mountain. To be honest, I don't have much confidence that I can do a good job."
But Yuan Yun did not think so. He said, "Just based on what you just said, no one else but you should have this position. Jiang, I can see that you will do well." Qin Jue deeply agreed.
Jumping from the fourth grade position of a prefect to the first grade position of a Minister was a promotion of five ranks. If it was anyone else, they probably would have been crazy with joy already.
But this person was instead thinking not about how high his position was or how much power he held, but about how heavy the responsibility was that needed to be borne with this position. His mindset was simply unbelievable.
Just because of this mentality, His Majesty had not chosen the wrong person. Handing over the position of Minister to such a person would definitely be a blessing to all the commoners of Great Xia.
The next day, Jiang Wenyuan went straight to the Ministry of Revenue office to formally take over his post.
At noon, Jiang Yuqing’s senior apprentice brother Tian Guang and his son, as well as her second senior apprentice brother Guo Jie with his family of three, all came to Jiang mansion.
It was natural for disciples to come visit when their master returned.
They had wanted to come yesterday but there were too many people coming and going chaotically at Jiang mansion then. It was not a good time so they waited until today instead.
Guo Jie's son was just over one year old. His formal name was Guo Lingfeng while his milk name was Fengfeng.
The little one had inherited all the best traits from his parents’ side - big eyes, high nose bridge, fair skin. Having drank sufficient breastmilk, his body was chubby and exceptionally cute.
Jiang Yuqing had zero resistance against such cute creatures, especially Fengfeng's fat little face.
Jiang Yuqing really couldn't stand it and started touching it. As expected, it felt bouncy and smooth, just like jelly. The hand feel was impossibly wonderful that she suddenly understood why so many people enjoyed pinching her face when she herself was little. She thought to herself that babies’ faces were indeed very fun to pinch!
The child had just learnt how to speak simple words but he was very smart. When Jiang Yuqing took out a big apple and taught him to call her older sister in order to get it, he immediately remembered and shouted “older sister!”. The young lady was extremely happy and promptly stuffed the apple into his hands.
But shortly after, she realized something was off. Everyone else was trying hard not to laugh. Jiang Yuqing gave a start, finally reacting to what just happened.
That’s not right! Fengfeng was her second senior apprentice brother’s child. He should be calling her martial uncle instead of older sister. Getting him to shout older sister meant that she had lowered her own seniority!
That won’t do. She had to correct him. Snatching the apple back from the child’s hands, she said, “No, that’s wrong. Call me again, this time say martial uncle. Martial - uncle!”
Fengfeng stared blankly back at her, not comprehending her intention.
Jiang Yuqing could only patiently demonstrate again, “Martial - uncle, martial - uncle.”
“Oh!” This time, the little one responded brightly and loudly. As his voice rang out, the entire room burst into laughter. Well, she had directly lowered her status straight into becoming a junior now.
Jiang Yuqing: "..." What sin had she committed to deal with such difficult children these days?
In the end, Jiang Yuqing still gave that apple back to him. Because the child was pursing his lips with eyes brimming with tears, looking prepared to cry loudly if she didn’t give in.
She knew that she was useless at placating little children, so she had to admit defeat when she should.
After the lively and joyful lunch, everyone gathered together to chat and shared about what had happened over the years.
However, the incident where Jiang Yuqing fell into a coma for half a year due to magical backlash became a taboo that everyone intentionally avoided. It was simply too distressing.
When they asked Jiang Yuqing what her plans were for the future, she replied that she intended to rest for a period of time first. She planned to walk around and sightsee at places in the capital city. Then she would consider going back to the Anhe Medical Center to work depending on the circumstances.
Everyone voiced their agreement and even encouraged her.
The little girl had endured too much and lived too wearily over the years. Burdened with far too many things, she had also been exhausted from working too hard. Letting her go experience the life of an ordinary young lady, making some same-age friends, might not be a bad approach.
The next day, Li Deshun also specially took leave from the palace to see her. The father and daughter pair chatted for half a day before he finally returned to the palace after lunch.
Although Jiang Yuqing had lived in the capital for two years previously, she had been little at that time. Furthermore, she was always busy daily with matters at the Anhe Medical Center and the Imperial Pharmacy so most places in the capital she had never gone to before.
As for friends, the few that she did make had all gotten married and started their own families with children. It was not convenient for them to go out anymore.
Thus, she asked Steward Zhao specifically and carefully inquired about which places in the city had good food and play areas. Taking notes in a small book, she did not bring any escorts. Riding Little White Ten, she went around punching the checklist in her book.
She first brought her wooden box to the palace gates. Stroking the box, she softly said, “This is the palace already, where the Emperor lives.
It’s so majestic and grand. Unfortunately, I can’t bring you all inside! Let’s just admire the scenery from out here, alright?”
Looking around, she continued, “See, that’s the Meridian Gate. All the ministers have to dismount from horses or carriages there when entering the palace daily to attend court sessions. Then they would walk in from that gate over there...”
She dropped by the Imperial Academy. Walking around its perimeter, she narrated, “Comrades, look! This is the famous Imperial Academy. All the scholars presented to court by Great Xia have walked out from here. If they pass the palace examinations after, they would become imperial scholars. My father was also one who walked out from here.”
At this, her voice became somewhat softer, “If reincarnation truly exists, I hope that all of you can be reborn into families where you can study books and learn to read and write. That way, the probabilities of you needing to step onto battlefields again would drastically decrease.”
She also participated in an auction at Baoyue Tower. At the end, she grumbled to her box, “It’s just a white fox pelt, yet they still fought so fiercely to bid sky high prices for it. Simply insane.”
Pausing for a bit, she continued, “Unfortunately, it’s not summer now. When summer comes and the lotus blossoms in Baoyue Lake open up, only then would it be truly beautiful.
But it doesn’t matter. From now on, we will be living long term in the capital city. Our residence also has a huge lotus pond. You can see the flowers blossom every year if you want.”
After going to Shengping Building, which was said to have the best rooms in the capital, she booked a private room and ordered all the signature dishes there.
After all the dishes were served, she touched the box and said, "These are all signature dishes here, I heard they were very delicious, let's all try them!"
Later, she went to the most famous snack street in the capital and visited the night market. She even went to the famous song and dance house to watch performances.
She said, "I heard the young ladies here are the most beautiful, today let's open our eyes. After watching, we should go back home, don't think too much ha..."
At some point, a rumor had emerged in the capital that the little princess of Jiang Guogong's mansion was crazy. She often ran around with a shabby wooden box, talking to herself.
The rumor spread quickly and soon even reached the palace and entered Li Deshun's ears.
Li Deshun certainly could not bear to see his precious granddaughter being slandered like this. He immediately went to the Ministry of Revenue to find Jiang Wenyuan and asked him what was going on.
Jiang Wenyuan was confused. Having just taken over the Ministry of Revenue, he was busy with work everyday and did not even have time to pay attention to marketplace rumors.
Seeing his reaction, Li Deshun realized that he knew nothing about it, so he told him about the rumor.
Jiang Wenyuan was furious when he heard it. What kind of heartless bastard was spreading rumors about his daughter? Saying that she was crazy? You are the crazy one! Your whole family is crazy!
He suddenly realized why everyone had been looking at him sympathetically these days. So this was the reason.
At the same time, Empress Qin also heard about this rumor. She didn't care to investigate and immediately rushed to the imperial study, yelling at the Emperor, "Your future daughter-in-law is being slandered and no one is doing anything! You need to handle this!"
As soon as the Emperor heard it, he banged on the table, "Go find out who is spreading rumors and eating their fill. Also, call Jiang Wenyuan over and ask him what is going on. His own daughter is being portrayed like that yet he does not care."
