Chapter 130: Nicely Done
The guards and eunuchs outside the study rushed in en masse as soon as they heard the commotion. A feeling of slight relief flashed across their hearts when they realized it was only a display of imperial temper, but their relief was quickly drowned by terror at the revelation. Trembling, they carefully took up positions around the study, not daring to draw closer to talk the emperor down.
Their liege’s temper had grown more and more violent lately, and it often rampaged out of control when his emotions ran high. The head eunuch in charge of the study had only spoken a single word of restraint last time before he was dragged out for twenty beatings of the plank. If the eunuch hadn’t accumulated a good amount of authority and greased some palms beforehand, he wouldn’t even be alive now!
The emperor exhaled comfortably after he’d smashed everything he could smash to smithereens.
“Bring me the divine pill from Priestess Liu.”
“Understood.” The head eunuch immediately took out an exquisite box, wrought of gold, and offered the inky-black medicine pill inside it with both hands.
The emperor tossed it back with a drink of chilled wine and immediately felt highly refreshed. His mood took a turn for the better and he laughed heartily.
“The empress certainly made a good recommendation with Priestess Liu. Have her reward the priestess as she will. She can take what she wants from my personal storeroom.”
“Understood, this servant will go immediately.” The head eunuch’s face was wreathed in placating smiles. He also took advantage of his momentary reprieve to murmur orders to young eunuchs to clean up the mess all over the floor.
The emperor thought for a moment more. “And, go deliver an imperial decree tomorrow. The favor I bestowed on the Qins isn’t to be considered fake. Née Sun now has a title of the paramount rank and what should be awarded to her cannot be found lacking. I’ll write the new signboard to go up over the doors tomorrow. Have it made and delivered. Also, raise a tablet in honor of née Sun tomorrow in front of the Qin Manor. Relay my instructions after you deliver the rewards tomorrow.”
“This servant hears and obeys.”
The emperor wrote out the words ‘Marquis of Anping’, which the head eunuch personally delivered the next afternoon, along with the tablet heralding née Sun’s new rank and various boxes of gold, silver, and jewels.
The old dowager was drinking a bowl of almond milk when she heard the news and couldn’t sit still in her happiness. As a result of her excitement, she ended up spilling half her bowl.
“Quick, quick, set up the receiving table and have all of the females head out to the front of receive the imperial decree!” She turned around to instruct Qin-mama to help her into formalwear and makeup. The joyous atmosphere spread quickly from the inner residence all the way to the outer residence.
The head eunuch was used to acting as the occasion dictated, so after he relayed the imperial decree and delivered the rewards, he felt no hesitation in asking about née Sun and Qin Yining when he didn’t see them.
“Old Dowager Qin, where might the marchioness and Fourth Miss be today?”
The old dowager blinked once, and pasted a wide smile on her face. “Thank you for your concern, gonggong. The marchioness isn’t feeling well and needs to rest quietly. My fourth granddaughter happens to own businesses outside the manor and says that they’re the quietest place around and most suitable for resting. She’s serving her mother there. We haven’t had time to bring them back due to the tight schedule of the imperial decree.”