Lin Shuyi took on the burden of the household and personally attended to the medicine by Lin Qi’s bedside.
Not long after the imperial physicians left, an imperial decree arrived summoning Lin Qi to the palace the next day.
The entire Lin household became uneasy.
Lin Qi had guarded the frontier for many years. This time, the enemy forces vastly outnumbered his own. He had defended the city desperately until he was struck by arrows and fell unconscious. His subordinates fought with their lives to carve out a bloody escape route and carry him away, while the three frontier cities ultimately fell into Xiongnu hands.
The Emperor had intended to hold him accountable, but upon seeing the arrow shafts still protruding from Lin Qi’s shoulders, he found himself momentarily speechless.
Ruler and subject fell into silence.
The Emperor sighed. “The Lin Army has always been invincible. After your passing, do you have a candidate in mind to succeed as commanding general?”
“Deputy General Tian Qi may be worthy of the role. He has followed this minister for many years, is familiar with border affairs, comes from a clean family background, and has no powerful backing. His elderly mother and brothers are all in Bianjing and may be controlled by Your Majesty.”
“Before you even returned to the capital, court officials had already recommended Liu Jinli and Wang Zhong. If one of those two were chosen, which would you support?”
Lin Qi frowned. The Imperial Consort’s surname was Liu, while the Wang family was related by marriage to the Empress’s maternal clan. Behind these two men stood the factions of two imperial princes. He could not tell whether the Emperor was testing him or had some other intention.
“This minister still recommends Tian Qi. The frontier is no place for trifling matters, especially Yijin Pass in Bazhou. If it falls, the northern Xiongnu could march straight south and shake the very foundations of our nation.”
The Emperor stared at Lin Qi for a moment. “Then we shall proceed according to your recommendation.”
“Boyu, these years have been hard on you.” The Emperor rose from the dragon throne, walked to Lin Qi, and personally helped him to his feet.
Boyu was Lin Qi’s courtesy name. Hearing the Emperor address him so intimately moved him deeply.
“To partake of the sovereign’s salary is to bear the sovereign’s worries. This minister would die ten thousand deaths without regret.”
“When chaos erupted at the frontier years ago and thirteen prefectures fell to the enemy, I suffered for lack of anyone capable of defending the borders. The dukes were all aged, and among the younger generation of military nobles, only you could shoulder such a responsibility. In order to give that woman a proper status, you volunteered to go to the frontier and recover the lost territories. You left for five years. I once promised you something, and I shall now fulfill it.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Among the noble households of the capital, those who heard the news all lamented that the Lin family was likely headed for decline.
After Lin Qi left the palace, the Emperor issued an official decree: Lady Xia, wife of the Marquis of Pingyang, was granted the title of a Second-Rank Imperial Lady, with stipends equal to half the rank of a marquis.
After receiving the imperial edict, Xia Ning understood that this honor had been purchased with Lin Qi’s life. The bitterness in her heart was overwhelming.
Lin Qi had returned to the capital and entered the palace. Not only had the Emperor refrained from blaming him, but he had even bestowed honors upon his wife. Some of the older officials who knew the Lin family’s circumstances—especially those from military households—were filled with emotion.
Back then, Xia Ning’s divorce from Lu Yuanshan had caused an enormous uproar. Not long afterward, Lin Qi had brought Xia Ning into the marquis residence in a grand bridal procession carried by eight bearers, while Lu Yuanshan married Qinghe County Princess, the only daughter of Prince Shou.
People had said that the husband and wife were equally opportunistic, both greedy for status and prestige.
Lu Yuanshan was a civil official serving in the capital and cared greatly about his reputation and dignity. After hearing the rumors, he had exploded in fury at Lin Qi after one court session, demanding to know whether he and Xia Ning had been secretly involved long before the divorce.
Enraged, Lin Qi directly broke Lu Yuanshan’s leg.
At the time, Lu Yuanshan served as a Censorate official. Under Tianqi law, assaulting a censor or remonstrating official was forbidden. The Emperor flew into a rage and ordered Lin Qi to receive twenty strokes of the rod in court.
From that moment on, the Lu and Lin families became irreconcilable enemies.
A few years later, Lin Qi departed beyond the frontier to guard the borders.
Now, a merchant’s daughter who had married into a marquis household had received an imperial title in such a high-profile manner, and the old scandal was once again dragged into public discussion.
The imperial edict lavishly praised Lady Xia, saying she was “noble yet frugal, diligent and proper in conduct, capable of assisting household rites, dignified and harmonious in bearing, and benevolent in fostering familial harmony.”
Naturally, people no longer criticized Lady Xia. Instead, they condemned Lu Yuanshan for abandoning his first wife in pursuit of a more prestigious marriage.
Such sensational aristocratic gossip spread wildly through every teahouse and tavern in Bianjing.