Chapter 129: Not giving the Emperor any face at all!

It was already the Shen hour of the afternoon. Lin Jiaojiao had waited at the Song Mansion for Song Shijie and Lin Tiezhu to return from the morning court session. After finishing their late lunch and taking a short nap in her original room, a servant came to report, "Eldest Miss, the Emperor has personally arrived at the Song Mansion, saying he wishes to bestow the title decree upon you himself!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiaojiao did not get up. "What title decree or whatever? It's not like I asked for it. If he wants to confer it, he can; if not, he doesn't have to. Coming to the Song Mansion in person to bestow it—he's just doing all these things to move himself!"

The servant scratched his head in anxiety. He had heard rumors of this Eldest Miss's temperament before, but the Emperor himself had come to the Song Mansion to grant her a title, and she didn't care in the least, even going so far as to curse the reigning Emperor. She wasn't giving the Emperor any face at all!

She wasn't even afraid of offending the reigning monarch and implicating the Song Mansion!

Seeing the servant's dilemma, Lin Jiaojiao, though somewhat irritable, had no choice but to get up. She was served by a maid as she changed her clothes, pinned up her hair, and followed the servant toward the main hall to meet the man who caused her such annoyance.

Before she even reached the hall, she saw from afar the young imperial guards standing there, as well as Eunuch Gao, who was craning his neck in anticipation at the entrance!

Even if Eunuch Gao felt disdain for Lin Jiaojiao in his heart, this woman was truly the person living on the tip of the Emperor's heart.

Even after seventeen years, the Emperor still thought of her constantly. Because of the regrets left in his heart, he would often wake up from dreams, calling out in sorrow for Imperial Physician Lin to examine his illness...

Yet Lin Jiaojiao walked with a gait that showed no regard for anyone. When she reached the hall and saw her son, her elderly parents, and the Song Shijie couple with their children kneeling and waiting for her, she looked even less favorably upon Qin Yuan.

She bypassed that bright yellow figure from a distance and knelt down to receive the order, not even lifting her eyelids to glance at the middle-aged Emperor, Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan, however, was staring in a trance at this woman he had missed day and night. Though seventeen years had passed, her appearance and figure remained the same!

Only her temper seemed to have grown, and she exuded a certain aloofness of a mentor; he figured it was because she had taken in many disciples after opening her medical clinic.

Eunuch Gao curled his lips in dissatisfaction, but he still walked behind the Emperor, opened the imperial decree, and read the title document.

"We have heard that since Heaven and Earth were nurtured, the sun and moon have shone together. Husband and wife are the beginning of human ethics, and the Lady is the dignity of the Mother of the Nation. Now there is a woman, Lin Zhiyue, born of a noble family, with outstanding medical ethics and excellent child-rearing. She has raised the Piaoji Young General, Lin Tiezhu, who is a pillar of the nation, pacifying the chaos in the Southern Frontier and sharing Our worries, deeply loved and respected by all!"

"We, mindful that Lin Zhiyue also possesses a compassionate heart, having saved the common people from the sea of misery during the epidemic, have contributed to both the country and the family. Having heard of her deeds, We feel greatly gratified and hereby specially confer upon her the title of 'First-Rank Lady of Title' to honor her merits and spread her name! This is the decree!"

"Thank you for the Emperor's great grace!" Lin Jiaojiao and the gathered Song family members knelt to receive the decree, kowtowing to thank the Emperor for his kindness.

"Rise," Qin Yuan said, raising his hand, wanting to go over and help Lin Jiaojiao up, but Lin Tiezhu took a step ahead, helping his mother up before him. "Mother, your health is poor; rise slowly, be careful."

Qin Yuan was startled upon hearing this. "Why is your mother's health poor?"

Lin Tiezhu answered, "Mother was poisoned deeply back then, and her health has suffered lasting damage."

After speaking, he bowed to Qin Yuan and said, "Emperor, I beg your leave to help my mother back to her room so she can rest properly."

Lin Jiaojiao cooperated perfectly, walking with the heavy, slow steps of someone seriously ill. But after taking a few steps, as if remembering something, Qin Yuan's eyes brightened, seeing that she had words to say to him.

"Zhu'er, since the Emperor has personally visited the Song Mansion today and there are no civil or military officials watching, and those present are all your maternal family, go and fetch that jade pendant; I want to return it to the Emperor myself."

"Yes, Mother." After Lin Tiezhu agreed, he walked out of the room to retrieve the jade pendant.

Only then was Lin Jiaojiao willing to look at Qin Yuan. Seeing this, Song Shijie helped his parents and left the hall silently with his wife and children.

Eunuch Gao was also tactful; he followed them out and stood guard at the door, allowing the Emperor and Lin Jiaojiao to have a short chat.

Seventeen years had passed, and Qin Yuan now looked like a middle-aged monarch. He had some white hairs on his head, several deep lines on his face, and a protruding belly.

Lin Jiaojiao looked at Qin Yuan's protruding belly, and her heart missed her husband Lu Zhenting's eight-pack abs even more.

Qin Yuan did not notice her melancholy, assuming it was the sadness of meeting again after many years.

The man who originally exuded imperial majesty now had much more tenderness, pity, and guilt in his eyes upon seeing Lin Jiaojiao.

"Lady Lin, My sleep has not been good for these past ten-plus years. Could you take My pulse and write a prescription so that I may sleep without worry?"

"Emperor," Lin Jiaojiao bowed to him, then slowly lifted her eyes to meet Qin Yuan's gaze, speaking unhurriedly.

"Your sleep problem is caused by irregular diet and excessive thinking. I have already ordered Qingdai to send Yun Mountain medicinal herbs to the Imperial Palace. Let the Imperial Physician write a prescription for you, supplemented by the Yun Mountain herbs, and you will be much better after taking it."

Qin Yuan stared at her intently, his eyes almost unable to move away from Lin Jiaojiao. "Lin Zhiyue, it seems you still care about Me."

Lin Jiaojiao was almost angered to laughter by his self-conceit. This sounded very familiar... wait, wasn't this what Pei Aosong had said before?

These two were truly putting on an act of deep, unrepentant love!

Seeing Qin Yuan about to step forward and grab her hand, Lin Jiaojiao retreated several steps. "Emperor, this subject has a husband; I ask the Emperor to conduct himself with dignity."

Qin Yuan's pupils shook, and he was unable to speak.

Lin Jiaojiao continued from where she left off. "Emperor, the precious herbs sent to the palace are for this subject to show concern for your hard work as a wise monarch for the people; there is no other meaning."

By the time she finished speaking, Lin Tiezhu had returned with the jade pendant. Lin Jiaojiao took the pendant and presented it with both hands. "Emperor, this jade pendant has traveled across the country with this subject, witnessing the suffering of the world."

"Now, this subject returns the pendant. I hope that whenever the Emperor sees it in the future, you will think of your subjects across the land, empathize with their plight, and rule for the people as a wise monarch for generations to come!"

Qin Yuan looked down at the jade pendant, his eyes slightly moist. After a moment of hesitation, he gently picked up the pendant and said the word "good" three times.

"I will keep your advice in mind. I will keep this jade pendant, think of the people, and be a wise monarch for generations who can enter your heart!"

Qin Yuan knew well that even if he liked the person before him, her heart did not belong to him. Thinking of the consequences of forcing her to stay in the palace back then, he never wanted the incident of Lin Jiaojiao being poisoned to repeat itself.

Now, he only prayed that he could become a wise monarch and enter her heart once more!

After Qin Yuan accepted the pendant and understood many things in his heart, he departed for the palace.

After the Song family respectfully saw the Emperor off, the terrified servants finally breathed a sigh of relief. "The Eldest Miss is truly remarkable; to contradict the Emperor like that and still be perfectly fine!"

Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Jiaojiao prepared to leave with Lin Tiezhu to return to the Lin Shaojiangjun Mansion.

"Won't you stay for dinner before going back?" Song Mu held Lin Jiaojiao's hand, wanting to keep her, but Lin Jiaojiao shook her head gently.

"Upon returning to the capital this time, I had Steward Guo go ahead to buy back the old Lin family residence. I came here first this morning to pay respects to my parents and haven't gone back to see how the renovations are coming along. Once the renovations are finished, I will definitely come in person to bring Father and Mother over to take a look and have a housewarming meal."

Song Shijie nodded. "Then I will escort you and your son back!"

Lin Jiaojiao agreed and boarded the Song family carriage, heading home in the evening glow. But before they even reached the gate, from more than ten meters away, they could already hear noisy sounds.

Leading them was Zhao An, who was pushing and shoving with the servants, shouting, "My master is the biological mother of the Piaoji Young General; why can't she enter the mansion!?" ===== CHAPTER 130 =====