Chapter 275: The Future Is Boundless!

The two brothers went straight from soldiers to Four-Pin Tiger Valiant General and Four-Pin Tiger Brave General; others spend ten years grinding in study, but that pales in comparison to the great merit earned by risking one's life in battle.

The two brothers were enfeoffed in the Golden Throne Hall, rode horses through the streets for a day, and could be said to be in the utmost splendor.

The Emperor even specially bestowed two mansions on the two brothers and assigned them the positions of Commander of the Capital Patrol and Commander of the Suburban Military Camp.

They are men who wield military authority, and the reason is also that they are adopted sons of Yuan Jiaqi; they all come from humble roots, have no background, and there is no need to worry about any moves they might make.

Being an emperor is truly not easy; you must look ten steps ahead with each step, no wonder the lifespan of every emperor in history has never been long.

At the end of March, the two brothers returned home for a provincial visit; Prefect Wang and Zhu Xianling both came to the Qiao Family to welcome them, and Yuan Jiaqi also hurried back from Shexian.

A Four-Pin General and Prefect Wang are of the same rank, but wielding military authority makes a difference; even Prefect Wang must greet them with a smiling face.

Inside the living room, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi sat at the head, the others at the lower seats; the two brothers formally paid great respects to their parents, then bowed to the assembled guests.

Everyone sat together, chatting and laughing, and Yun'er briefly recounted what happened after he joined the military camp.

As for the incident where he fainted on the battlefield and then entered the border pass, he simply fixed his gaze on Qiao Mai, she gave him a smile, and he understood everything.

In mid‑April, the brothers returned to Jingcheng; as they left, Qiao Mai gave Yunfeng Two Hundred Thousand Silver Notes.

The Old Emperor also wanted to harvest wheat; he personally led people of the Imperial Household Commissioner to the Imperial Manor on the outskirts of Jingcheng to supervise directly.

"What great luck, husband is a Fifth Rank County Magistrate, son a Four-Pin General, and they're still so young, the future is boundless!"

"Alright, then later we'll bring those two old fellows from the Yuan family along?"

But I heard Qiao Mai is planning a three‑day wine banquet, so she intends to bring her wife along.

Don't think that getting a promotion makes him happy!

However, the old master and old lady were overjoyed, and Chuan'er was especially proud of his father; although everyone knew how his office was obtained, they were still very happy.

"It's because her husband is soft‑hearted, arranging for our son to work over there, with good food and high wages; he's gotten several circles fatter."

"Right, if you arrange it better, I'll host a three‑day Open‑Air Feast, treating all the townsfolk."

This is serious; what kind of official is the Ministry of Personnel? It's the top of the Six Ministries, a post that all officials have to curry with.

"Exactly, then tomorrow we'll go to the Town to inquire."

When Qiao Niang left, Shopkeeper Tong snorted.

For his wedding, his mother was surprisingly generous, giving Two Hundred Thousand Silver Notes at once; he knows how much the family earns.

Yuan Jiaqi was promoted and was very pleased; a First Rank official in Jingcheng is not easily provoked, but he is reluctant to leave the Shexian he just developed.

"You think her husband is soft‑hearted, that's wrong; if it weren't for that dead servant girl nodding, he would have let her two brothers stay there, at least she didn't ruin everything completely."

Seeing Qiao Mai doing better and the children at home becoming more accomplished makes his heart painfully uneasy.

Fortunately his son is no longer a child; seeing his son clever and cute, he begins to hope his son will achieve success, and strange thoughts arise in his heart.

"Why do it secretly? She can give to outsiders, but we are her biological parents, so we can eat openly; after all, it's an Open‑Air Feast, and she isn't watching there."

"Sigh~ I heard that servant girl is holding an Open‑Air Feast in the Town for three days; shall we sneak over to eat as well?"

"His father, we absolutely must not, when she gets a Divorce by Mutual Consent, go over and sever ties with her; look how glorious she is now?"

Damn, this is a First Rank official, and he also oversees appointments, evaluations, promotions, transfers, and bestowal of titles for officials.

"Rest assured, we'll definitely handle it for you."

As for the Tian Family, Tian Laohan has a new love, so he naturally no longer bears a grudge against Qiao Mai, and now he doesn't dare to.

"Hmm."

This time the brothers returned home a second time, and they had to hold a grand celebration; after arranging the kitchen matters, she went straight to the Jingtai Restaurant.

As a result, the supervision was unimportant; the fields of the Imperial Manor were well tended, Nanfang received ample rain, and a mu of wheat yielded an astonishing one thousand jin, making the Old Emperor overjoyed.

That means nurture the son well; if one has no achievement, let the son achieve.

"Alright, there's no Regret Medicine sold in the world; I see that dead servant girl is determined not to acknowledge us—if she won't, so be it. I hope she and her brothers will have room for reconciliation later; when we're gone, her two brothers won't have to suffer anymore."

Qiao Mai no longer looked at him, got up and went to the kitchen to arrange the banquet.

Tian Sanzhuang saw no hope for the future; his arms and legs had been broken but healed, yet he still couldn't make big moves. Now he can serve as an official in the Yamen, still basking in his father‑in‑law's glory.

The emperor was truly pleased that Yuan Jiaqi achieved a great feat; secondly, the whole court's civil and military officials gave him too many covert tasks; thirdly, the Minister of Personnel was making private moves; fourthly, there had been no suitable candidates in recent years.

"One's own brother will certainly be favored."

"Put a banquet in front of your door as well, let everyone have fun together; we'll settle the silver with Shopkeeper Niu, make it look a bit more prestigious for me."

The more glorious the Qiao Mai household becomes, the more some feel uneasy; Qiao Shicheng and his wife at home are as sorrowful as if fried in oil.

Not long after they left, it was wheat‑harvesting season; north of Shexian and south of there, winter wheat was planted, ready for harvest in May.

She was even more reluctant about Qiao Mai; she had said she would not follow him to Jingcheng.

If I don't have Qiao Mai's glory, then let the son 【have it】.

It may be impossible for my son to surpass other's sons, but it's enough if he surpasses me; even becoming a provincial graduate would be far better than him.

Let him visit Zhen Guogong Fu more often, interact more with the Zhen Guogong, and see what demands the other side has.

Yunfeng kept everything in mind, and holding the Two Hundred Thousand Silver Notes felt heavy.

"Ah, that would require a huge spectacle!"

Have him use this silver to start arranging Betrothal Gifts, demanding the best of everything; they must prepare One Hundred and Twenty Carries, and if insufficient, write to her for more.

"I heard several of Yuan Family's brothers are also working over there?"

It turned out the mother had been silently protecting the brothers all along, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

Mayor Qian ordered the guards to drape the town's trees with red cloth, and also hired an opera troupe to perform; Tianshui Town became as lively as during the New Year.

This worry, he tried to advise his wife, but her words were like an imperial edict, not easily changed.

Shopkeeper Tong already knew she would come, "Qiao Niang, is your family planning a big event?"

Truly, his mother rescued him from the battlefield of the fallen; he says, all his wounds suddenly healed, a man who should have died now appears perfectly fine inside the border pass.

"There, it happened!"

An edict was issued immediately, promoting Yuan Jiaqi, retiring the Jingcheng Minister of Personnel, and transferring Yuan Jiaqi to Jingcheng as the new Minister of Personnel.

It seems the mother truly treats them as Dizi, and I couldn't help but feel a few steps closer to Qiao Mai, this mother, in my heart.

But after hearing that Yuan Jiaqi wanted them all to go to Jingcheng together, everyone shook their heads and refused.

How wonderful the home is: spring's gentle breezes and drizzles, summer's blazing sun, autumn's fallen leaves covering the ground, winter's heavy snowfall—one can see the different scenes of all four seasons in a year.

But once in Jingcheng, it's just rain after rain, the weather is damp, winter is so cold, and inside there are only charcoal braziers; without a heated kang they are all unaccustomed.

Not going, not going; now Yuan Jiaqi knows why his wife doesn't want to go.

This is one reason; also she dislikes socializing. Here are her friends and her career. If she moves away, what will become of this home? It's such a good home; she can't bear to leave it.