CHAPTER 998: CHAPTER 996: THE PRINCELY HEIR IS QUITE OPEN-MINDED

According to Lady Ye’s explanation, this Death Exemption Token could only serve as a means for the family, when oppressed, to seek justice and speak up with this token, potentially reaching the emperor’s ear directly. Aside from this, its ability to protect the Marquis’s Mansion’s peaceful continuation seemed to be about all it offered.

This thought caused cold sweat to trickle down the Marquis Xinyong’s Heir’s forehead. How could things have turned out like this? For many years, their mansion had relied on the token’s prestige and spent year after year comfortably, enjoying various privileges that other households could not.

How come today, the token suddenly seemed useless?

Standing beside the Marquis Xinyong’s Heir was a person dressed like a scribe, who increasingly felt something was amiss. The atmosphere in the court was unusual; the Intendant of the Capital Prefecture and the officials from the yamen displayed inexplicable admiration and satisfaction towards Grandma Jiang, unlike how they typically treated noble female relatives.

This person was astonished and suspicious, with various emotions emerging in his mind. Listening further to Grandma Jiang’s rhetoric, letting her keep on speaking might risk the Marquis’s Mansion’s token having only its sole death-exemption use left. He secretly tugged at the Marquis’s garment.

The Marquis Xinyong’s Heir, still dazed and furious, snapped back to reality from the scribe’s tug. The case today couldn’t continue any longer, nor could Lady Ye be allowed to keep speaking here. If she continued, escalating the situation into a public spectacle, the token’s intimidation value would truly be nullified.

An elder himself and overwhelmed by heartbreak and disappointment, the Marquis Xinyong’s Heir was already on the verge of tears. What he held was the Death Exemption Token bestowed by Emperor Taizu. Shouldn’t such a thing wield absolute power?

How could it turn out to have virtually no use thanks to Lady Ye’s explanation?

Could it be that their ancestor, a persevering old progenitor, was fooled by Emperor Taizu?

......

The Marquis Xinyong’s Heir believed he withdrew early, yet what transpired during the court session at the capital’s yamen spread throughout the capital city in a day.

All day long, officials at all levels and various noble families in the city debated. This Grandma Jiang, completely disregarding decorum, married into another family and pregnant, still had the audacity to stride into the capital’s yamen’s main hall.

Where was the semblance of virtuous womanhood!

This... This utterly defied traditional values!

Nonetheless, Grandma Jiang’s formidability was factual, and she was genuinely untouchable. Even the Marquis Xinyong’s Mansion, holding the Death Exemption Token, was rendered utterly disadvantageous by her explanation, let alone other families.

Heedless to mention whom, the descendants, daughters, granddaughters, and daughters-in-law of you all, henceforth upon encountering that ferocious woman, must retreat preemptively. If unable to retreat, you must let her have her way with humility and sincerity, absolutely avoid provoking this woman.

Three consecutive days, memorials sent from the emperor’s hand, radiant with cheerful vermilion-ink notes, seemed to reflect his great mood even in the muscles and strokes of his writing.

The emperor’s handwriting, previously imbued with sharpness, now bore some roundness, attesting to His Majesty’s delightful mood.

Among the happenings lately in the capital, only the matter of the Death Exemption Token accounted for the emperor’s upbeat mood...?

Need one say more?

......

Originally thought that the lawsuit between the Marquis of Xin Yong and the Qi Family Mechanical Workshop was bound to be tough to resolve, becoming an uproar that wouldn’t die down, and some assumed the Lady Ye from the Jiang Family was finally encountering a hard wall, serving her a humbling experience. Surprisingly, a single court session at the capital’s yamen led to a cessation in hostilities.

Three days later, the Marquis Xinyong’s Heir openly issued a declaration, stating that the Marquis Xinyong’s Mansion, blessed with overwhelming imperial favor through generations, should set an example by adhering to court’s policies and laws. Thus, by coming to the capital, served as a warning to the world, announcing that no matter the nobility, strict adherence to court laws was necessary. The Marquis Xinyong’s Mansion willingly accepted the yamen’s verdict and agreed to compensate the Qi Family Mechanical Workshop with a certain sum of silver taels according to lawful amounts, with no dispute.

The Marquis Xinyong’s Heir acted swiftly in pivoting course, although the true nature of events was known to many nobles in the capital, a majority of uninformed individuals readily accepted it. Surprising many, some perceived the Qi Family Mechanical Workshop as struck with good fortune, encountering such reasonable nobles; others praised Marquis Xin Yong for not wielding power indiscriminately and showing humility.

On this day, upon returning from work, Jiang Yifan described the Marquis Xinyong’s Heir’s talk and the reaction of uninformed people to Ye Xinyan, prompting her amusement.

The Marquis Xinyong’s Mansion, bearing Emperor Taizu’s immunity token, had not committed any major offenses nor incurred much public grievance over these years, and endured prosperously till now. Clearly, there is a reason for it. Simply from this adaptability and keen situational insight, and their willingness to speak bluntly despite appearances, they are unlike most noble families.

Perhaps due to pleasant spirits, Ye Xinyan ate half a bowl more for dinner.

After dinner, the two took some rest. By now, the sun was nearing the westward horizon, alleviating the heat of the ground. Adhering to the doctor’s advice, Jiang Yifan accompanied Ye Xinyan for a stroll in the courtyard.

After a short walk of an incense-stick-length time, she began to feel a wave of abdominal pain.

The initial pain wasn’t severe but dull. Ye Xinyan thought, this time it might truly be childbirth. She found the pain bearable and merely paused her steps, continuing to lean on Jiang Yifan while pondering if she should inform him.

However, as her solitary son showed no reaction, Jiang Yifan, Madam Yin, and the servant women from Song Ping’s Household were each waiting anxiously, every little sound startling them.

Better not. If not speaking, she could stroll the courtyard a while longer and get more fresh air. If she spoke, Jiang Yifan might immediately send her to bed, where she’d have to lie until the child was born. Having heard stories of labor lasting over a dozen hours, wouldn’t she be stuck lying down for ages?

The two continued walking, as Jiang Yifan noticed Ye Xinyan slowing down, her face looking increasingly off. Upon inquiry, it became clear Ye Xinyan was experiencing intermittent abdominal pain.

Panicked, Jiang Yifan promptly steadied Ye Xinyan, intent on carrying her indoors.

With Ye Xinyan’s resistance, two grandmothers who had been trailing from afar caught up, and upon hearing Ye Xinyan’s description of her state, knew it was nearing birth but not yet time.

The grandmothers also stopped Jiang Yifan, settling Ye Xinyan on a stone bench in the courtyard, while dispatching someone to summon the imperial doctor and preparing the birth room, calling for the midwife housed in the backyard.

Standing by Ye Xinyan, Jiang Yifan offered her his reassurance. Though surrounded by grandmothers from the Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion and the palace continually comforting both, Ye Xinyan herself showed little signs of distress, yet Jiang Yifan remained unreasonably tense.

Imperial Doctor Hu indeed had destiny with Grandma Ye, as he was on duty again today. After checking Ye Xinyan’s pulse, he reported no issues and advised if tolerable, she should continue walking slowly in the courtyard as body activity aids delivery.

Watching Jiang Yifan carefully guiding his wife through laps in the courtyard, Imperial Doctor Hu sincerely nodded in admiration. This Grandma Jiang truly was a remarkable woman; despite her unconventional speech and conduct, she was clever, brave, and tremendously resilient.

Once pregnant, women typically feel weary, but Grandma Jiang had only rested for over a month for ensured gestation, never delaying tasks. Now, she further adhered to the recommendations from both the doctor and grandmothers, enduring pain while walking slowly, proving her superiority to elegant ladies.