The first ray of morning sunlight shone through the window onto the man’s face. Wen Qingwan patted Xiao Jin through the quilt, saying: “Uh, hurry and get up to receive the edict.”
He shook his head, trying to wake from the haze of sleep: “Wife, what edict are we receiving?”
Although he had long been awake, he truly did not know what kind of edict the Marquis’s household could possibly receive.
"How would I know? In our household only Father‑in‑law goes to morning court. Could it be that he has caused trouble?"
The more Wen Qingwan spoke, the more she felt this was possible. In her past life as the Crown Prince’s consort, she paid no heed to worldly affairs and never knew what crime the Marquis of Cheng’en had committed.
By the time she became Empress, the Marquis of Cheng’en had long since vanished from the court.
But she knew the Marquis of Cheng’en had not died, for when Wen Mingzhu married into the Marquis’s household, the man beside her was still only the heir apparent.
Since the Marquis of Cheng’en was not dead, it should not implicate her. Thinking this way, Wen Qingwan felt relieved.
Xiao Jin saw the little girl’s eyes change from worry to gradually bright, like a bay of lake water rippling under the clear morning light.
His throat bobbed but he dared not move. His eyes carried undisguised desire: “Wife, may I help you dress?”
His voice was deep, tender, and magnetic, brushing lightly across Wen Qingwan’s heartstrings. She felt she was about to fall ill.
So she turned over and leapt from the bed: “No, Jin Lan, come quickly and help me dress.”
"........."
Xiao Jin watched the little girl’s retreating figure, sighing endlessly in his heart. How could he ever move her tender heart?
By the time the couple reached the front hall, the Marquis’s household was already kneeling in the main chamber, awaiting the eunuch who bore the edict to read the imperial decree.
The eunuch holding the imperial edict saw Xiao Jin and his wife kneel, immediately opened it and read aloud: “By Heaven’s mandate, the Emperor decrees: It is heard that the eldest son of the Marquis of Cheng’en, Xiao Jin, is extraordinary in valor, complete in virtue and talent, skilled in both civil and military strategy.”
"Since the Marquis of Cheng’en has achieved nothing, his heir Xiao Jin shall inherit without change, and is hereby immediately conferred as the Marquis of Weiwu (Might). Thus decreed!"
After hearing the eunuch finish reading the imperial decree, the entire household burst into uproar.
Everyone in the Marquis’s household knew their title was precarious, uncertain when it might be demoted again.
Thus the old madam and the marquis were both slacking, living day by day without effort; the youths and half‑grown children followed their example.
They too muddled along, thinking effort was wasted, since no one in the capital wished to associate with their Marquis’s household anyway.
Yet today, hearing the eunuch proclaim the imperial decree with their own ears, they could not help but tremble in fear.
After all, this marquisate was won back through the toil and blood of the Xiao family’s ancestors.
If not for the hero that the Xiao family produced a few years ago, the emperor might have stripped away their title.
Everyone had thought that with the heir crippled, the emperor would abandon them. Unexpectedly, the emperor not only did not abandon them, but even changed their title from Marquis of Cheng’en to Marquis of Weiwu.
What a grand event, bringing glory to the ancestors!
Those in the Marquis’s household who were sensible, recalling the rumors and gossip, could not help but feel a chill down their spines even now.
After hearing the decree they felt immense relief; if not for the heir…
At this thought, everyone looked toward Marquis of Weiwu Xiao Jin, their eyes brimming with respect and gratitude.
Marquis of Weiwu, Xiao Jin himself was utterly astonished; he had thought his military merits had already been exchanged for barren land, and that he would never again be granted a marquisate.
He never imagined the emperor would bestow upon him the title of Marquis of Weiwu.
“Your servant receives the decree with gratitude!” Xiao Jin took the edict and answered respectfully.
The eunuch delivering the decree handed the edict to Xiao Jin and continued chanting: “By the Emperor’s oral command, Marquis of Weiwu Xiao Jin has rested enough; from this day forth he shall attend morning court.”
“Grateful for Your Majesty’s boundless grace.” Xiao Jin received the emperor’s oral command, answered with reverence, and personally handed over a red envelope to send off the eunuch who bore the decree.
He hurried back to Wen Qingwan and asked eagerly: “My lady, am I now the Marquis of Weiwu?”
“Yes, Jin’er, you have become the Marquis of Weiwu.” Before Wen Qingwan could speak, Old Madam Xiao joyfully said.
Old Madam Xiao’s face shone with irrepressible pride, and she clasped her hands together, bowing several times toward the heavens.
“Congratulations, Marquis.” Wen Qingwan offered a dry congratulation, while he grinned like a fool over the title.
“Share in the joy, my lady—this day is mine only because of your blessed fortune.” Xiao Jin said, gripping the young wife’s hand tightly.
He didn’t care much for the title itself, but he relished how his young wife could walk beside him with dignity.
He turned his head toward the Old Marquis and, in a rare gentle tone, asked: “Father, did you say something to His Majesty during morning court?”
“I told His Majesty that my virtue did not match the rank, that Jin’er was far stronger than his father, and asked that the marquisate be passed to you. Who would have thought the emperor not only agreed readily but even changed the title’s name.”
The Marquis of Cheng’en spoke with ease, saying that though his virtue did not match his rank, he felt not shame but pride.
Standing beside father and son, Wen Qingwan cast a mind‑reading charm and instantly grasped her father‑in‑law’s thoughts.
Within, the Marquis of Cheng’en recalled how at morning court he had spoken tremblingly, asking that heir Xiao Jin inherit the marquisate, all the while fearing the emperor’s wrath.
After he finished speaking, the civil and military officials of the court all wore mocking expressions, waiting to see him made a fool.
Who would have thought the emperor not only took no offense but was amused by his display, and at once drafted a decree before all.
This was the first time in over twenty years since ascending the throne that the emperor smiled and praised him.
The entire court was dumbfounded, and several ministers knelt, pleading with the emperor to rescind his decree.
In truth, the court ministers did not know that the Marquis of Cheng’en was the Emperor’s brother‑in‑law, his first wife being the youngest daughter of the Rector of the Imperial Academy.
The Rector’s eldest daughter was the emperor’s dearest love in his youth, but the Rector himself was only a fifth‑rank official.
His daughter was destined never to be crown princess; not even qualified as consort, she could only be a concubine to the crown prince.
Back when he was crown prince, the emperor wished to betroth the Rector’s second daughter to the Hanlin Reader of that time—who is now the prime minister.
But the Rector’s second daughter instantly took a liking to the Marquis of Cheng’en, who at that time was young and ignorant of such twists and turns.
He thought himself as handsome as a jade tree in the wind, the only flaw being his family had no silver.
The Xiao household, after a century of splendor, began to decline; in his father’s time the former emperor reduced their rank, and his father spent each day drinking and grumbling.
He sold off all the valuables in the household to support the servants, and spent the rest on wine.
In the end the marquis’s household was but an empty shell; his father passed away, leaving the three of them—widow and orphans.
Since a noble lady was willing to marry him, he half‑reluctantly accepted.
After the marriage, he saw his wife’s dowry being used to support the marquis household’s servants; feeling uneasy, he happened to receive silver from a noble lady to spend.
He only wished to lighten his wife’s burden and give her a good life; whenever silver was offered, he accepted it without question.
As the saying goes, “One’s hand is tied when taking from others, one’s mouth softened when eating from others.” Having accepted favors, he would deliberately yield three parts.
Even when others went too far he dared not speak out, and in the end someone schemed to sleep with him.
He did gain a little benefit, but never in his dreams did he expect to drive his wife to death with anger.
Because his illegitimate son was only three months younger than his legitimate son!
In a fit of anger, his father‑in‑law took his two sons back to the ancestral home to farm.
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