When Qin Xiaolin returned to the Duke's mansion, the Duchess had already learned from others that her grandson had not returned the previous night. "Lin-ge'er, what happened last night?" She knew that her grandson was not one to leave without explanation.
"Grandson thanks Grandmother for her concern. I'm much better now. Yesterday, I was asked by His Majesty to take care of some business. I encountered some trouble on my way back to the city, but luckily, I met someone I know who helped me out," Qin Xiaolin explained briefly.
"It's good that nothing happened. Be careful in the future, and take more people with you when you go out." The Duchess's face was full of worry. Her grandson sometimes helped the emperor with things that officials couldn't do in person. If he succeeded, he would be rewarded with gold, silver and jewels. Now, only the Duke of the Duke's family held an important position in the court. Some of her sons and grandsons held minor positions in the court, some had official titles, and others, like Lin Ge'er, did odd jobs.
Her father-in-law, General Dingyuan, was a brave, fearless, and exceptionally intelligent military leader. He had helped the late emperor quell the rebellion and consolidate the empire, and was therefore granted the title of Duke of Dingguo, a title that was inherited for three generations.
Now that the title of Duke's son has been passed down to the grandsons, the future of everyone in the Duke's mansion is uncertain. Currently, only the eldest grandson, Ying Ge'er, is serving as the Junior Magistrate of Jingzhao Prefecture, a fourth-rank official. He is currently twenty-three years old, and his prospects for advancement after being promoted to Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture are generally mediocre.
"Grandfather," the Duke said, returning from court. "Go to the study first, I'll have breakfast." "Yes." Although Qin Xiaolin held no official position, the Duke valued him the most, though outwardly he treated him equally.
Duke Dingguo, Qin Yu, was sixty-two years old. He was the Left General of the Golden Guard, a second-rank official, and held the rank of Grand General. He was in charge of patrolling the palace and the capital, as well as the management of beacon fires, roads, and water and grass. All the guards of the Imperial Guard and the outlying guards of the Imperial Guard were under his command.
An elderly man of extraordinary bearing walked in with his head held high and chest out. He was dressed in a brocade robe, adorned with gold and jade, and his face exuded a dignified and imposing aura. It was clear at a glance that he was a person of high moral standing and great prestige.
"Greetings, Grandfather," Qin Xiaolin bowed slightly to the seated Duke. The Duke calmly gestured to the chair on his right, "Thank you, Grandfather," and then Qin Xiaolin sat down.
"Xiao Lin, what happened last night?" "I fell into their trap last night. The account books weren't there. Those people were after my grandson's life. They must have seen through our intentions." "In that case, it might not be a bad thing. Who saved you?"
An ambiguous expression flickered in his eyes. Recalling the embrace he had fallen into before he lost consciousness, a strange emotion welled up in his eyes, as if he were recalling certain memories.
In just a moment, the man's voice and expression returned to normal; he was always accustomed to restraining himself in front of others. "Grandfather, it was Shen Xu's platonic friend. I've met him several times. Last night, someone threw poisonous smoke at me. Although I managed to hold my breath with my internal energy, I still inhaled some. When I was surrounded, he appeared, fought off the men in black, and took me home to be treated. The woman who treated me seemed to have good medical skills, and I woke up that night. However, I couldn't control my body, so I've caused my family to worry about me today." Qin Xiaolin sat there, as steadfast as a pine tree, seemingly unmoved by anything.
“We must thank them properly. Have someone go to the storeroom and select some gifts to send over,” the Duke of Dingguo pondered, his fingertips stroking the Buddhist prayer beads on his hand. “In that case, we should cease all contact with them. Just explain things to His Majesty. Sometimes, it’s not necessary to fight desperately; sometimes, playing the victim is the way to save your life.”
"Grandson will follow Grandfather's instructions," the letter continued. "Go now, and arrange the rest as you see fit." Looking at the secret letter before him, the Duke of Anguo couldn't help but recall the days before the emperor ascended the throne…
"Mother is well," Qin Xiaolin said as he stepped out of Wenyuan Pavilion. The Third Madam had been waiting for him for a long time, her eyes moist. "It's good that Lin-ge'er is alright. This morning I heard from the servants that you had disappeared. I was very worried. You don't need to work so hard in the future."
"Mother, rest assured, I will be careful and will be even more cautious in the future," Qin Xiaolin said after exchanging pleasantries with his mother. Then, he left, citing errands to run. Madam Xiao, the third wife, clutched her handkerchief tightly, her expression a mixture of worry and other emotions.
Just as he stepped out of the gate, he ran into Shen Xu. "Brother Qin, it's so good to see you back..." "Let's get in the carriage and talk. I have something to do."
Steward He had many gifts loaded onto the carriage. "Young Master, should we deliver these gifts, or should you go in person?" "I will deliver them. You may go back."
Qin Xiaolin first went to the palace to report the events of the previous night to the emperor. His Majesty did not blame him too much and rewarded him with some tonics to help him recover.
"Brother Qin, His Majesty didn't blame you, did he? He summoned me yesterday and asked me to investigate the money exchange. Sigh, do you think we scions of noble families are all we're good for?" "His Majesty has his reasons. As his subjects, it's unavoidable to share some of his burdens. Besides, didn't he reward us quite a bit?"
Qin Xiaolin lifted the car curtain and looked at the clear sky outside, pondering, "It looks like it's going to snow heavily in the next few days."
"Brother Qin, where are we going now?" Shen Xu asked, puzzled. "To Young Master Li's place, to thank him for saving our lives." "Oh, right, right, we should thank him properly. I'll go with you; it's been quite a few days since I've had time to visit them."
When the two arrived at the restaurant, lunch service had already ended, so they rested in the backyard. Taking a detour through the back entrance, they happened to run into Li Xi leaving. "Brother Li, where are you headed?"
Wearing her training clothes, Li Xi had a slight blush on her cheeks. She was tall and slender, and although her figure was thin, she looked very strong. Her casually tied high ponytail was a little messy, but it made her look young and energetic.
"Brother Chen, Brother Qin, greetings. I was just about to go practice." In the past few days, Grandpa Sun has often invited her to the back mountain of the academy, saying that he would supervise her practice. I don't know when it started, but Grandpa Sun has taken Li Xi's practice to heart.
But seeing the two handsome young men, she paused and said, "Please come in, it's too cold outside, much colder than yesterday." Let Grandpa Sun play by himself first; he's still as spry as she is, able to run faster than her.
Sweetie is now a competent maid, preparing tea and pastries perfectly. "Young masters, please," she said, and then went out. Recently, under Li Xi's guidance, her skills have improved considerably. She wields simple swordsmanship with great skill. Seeing this, Li Xi replaced her sword with a large one, which was indeed more suitable.
"Brother Shen, Brother Qin, please have some tea." "Brother Li, you're too kind. I came here specifically to thank you." Qin Xiaolin waved his hand, and servants brought in three large boxes. When they opened them, they were full of gold and silver jewelry, as well as some ornaments and a considerable amount of writing implements.
"This, this, Brother Qin, you're too kind. I was merely helping someone in need; it's not worth such a valuable gift."
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