Chapter 83 - 68: Drafting a Decree in the Study
"If you don’t call it a promotion, what do you call it?"
Ms. Zhang grew wary. "You’ve always been so lofty. Don’t tell me you think Xian’er entered the palace to chase fame and fortune, tarnishing your reputation? If that’s what you’re thinking, I’ll have a thing or two to say to you." The original owner’s birth mother had died early, and this second wife had been arranged by the grandmother. Though she had never had children of her own, she doted on Jiang Xian as if she were her own flesh and blood.
Jiang Ke was both exasperated and amused, lamenting how women loved to overthink things:
"This is my promotion."
"They say promotion comes with wealth. So, did our family get rich?"
A County Magistrate’s salary was forty-five taels of silver, and with the corruption prevention silver, it was enough to live a very decent and respectable life in Meize County. But as for getting rich, that was still a long way off. A look of regret appeared on Ms. Zhang’s face. "Just a promotion without the wealth? That’s a bit disappointing."
Jiang Ke couldn’t stand the way she talked about money and scoffed, "According to the old saying, after ’promotion and wealth’ comes ’a dead wife.’ How come you never mention that part?"
"It’s not like you haven’t had one die on you before."
Jiang Ke, who was rumored to be cursed to have his wives die and had, in fact, already lost his first wife: "..."
’Ever since Old Mrs. Jiang passed away and my sentimental daughter went to the capital, the talk in this house has gotten more and more careless.’
Jiang Ke decided not to argue with her. Beaming, he began to explain to his wife, "I was only a Deputy County Magistrate before. While the County Magistrate and Deputy County Magistrate are only one rank apart, I was a subordinate official, and now I’m the official-in-charge! It’s a world of difference. From now on, I’ll be the top man in Meize County! I won’t have to bow and scrape to Magistrate He anymore! I’ve waited so many years, and I’ve finally been promoted!"
By the end, his eyes were brimming with hot tears, and his face was split in a grin of pure ecstasy.
He wasn’t good at navigating the official circles; his relationships with everyone were always lukewarm.
The person he had interacted with most frequently in his life was He Jiaoyu.
He had originally thought that since he knew the He Family’s background and had some leverage over them, he could arrange a reliable and good marriage for his daughter. He never expected their ambitions were so great that they went to the capital to latch onto someone more powerful. From then on, they became mortal enemies with the He Family. He also cut all ties with He Jiaoyu, and the Jiang family became even more isolated and lonely.
"Now that you are a County Magistrate, husband, is becoming a court official in the capital still far away?"
"...Very far."
Jiang Ke didn’t know how to explain to his wife that if his official rank were in the harem, he’d be a mere concubine. He forced himself to sound cheerful. "Don’t worry, your husband will strive to do better and make his position bigger and stronger... It’s not that hard. See? Didn’t I just win the Emperor’s appreciation today? I have talent, and the Emperor can see it."
This was pure self-deception.
The talents of an eighth-rank official were even harder for the Emperor to notice than the beauty of a low-ranking concubine.
But then, Ms. Zhang gave him a suspicious look. "Husband, I don’t understand court matters, but I was there listening when the imperial edict was delivered just now."
The imperial edict from the Emperor was very clear. It praised Jiang Ke for raising his daughter well, followed by a long, flowery spiel. The gist was that the daughter of the Jiang family was gentle, virtuous, and generous, beautiful and intelligent, and a master of both painting and calligraphy. She had presented a loose-leaf notebook to the court, which greatly pleased ’Zhen’. Seeing that her father had diligently fulfilled his duties for many years as a Deputy County Magistrate, he was being promoted to County Magistrate. It was hoped that he would guard against arrogance and impatience and continue to shine in his new post.
The parts praising Jiang Xian made up three-quarters of the edict.
Only at the end was Jiang Ke’s talent mentioned with a perfunctory note of expectation, making up the remaining one-quarter.
Anyone with ears could tell why the Emperor was promoting him.
After all, the Emperor was a man who made his preferences very clear.
He couldn’t deign to speak more than a few sentences about a mere Green Bean and Sesame Official, so he just went with his gut and filled the edict with praise for Jiang Xian. If you listened with your eyes closed, you would have thought it was an edict for Jiang Xian’s promotion. Jiang Ke flushed with embarrassment and raised a sleeve to hide his face. "My daughter’s success is my greatest contribution."
"If you’re talking about contributions, the one who carried her for ten months deserves the credit. Why don’t you go burn a couple of incense sticks for ’big sister’ right now?"
"..."
"If you won’t go, I will. She needs to be told that Xian’er has been promoted."
The Jiang family had always kept memorial tablets to honor the deceased.
With that, Ms. Zhang went to burn incense and kowtow to the original owner’s birth mother. Kneeling before the tablet, she murmured an update, "After Xian’er went to the capital, she won the Emperor’s favor and has secured her footing in the harem. She’s a Noble Lady now. You can rest in peace in the netherworld." She paused, then muttered, "My husband also got promoted by the Emperor because of Xian’er. It’s truly a case of when one person achieves greatness, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!"
Jiang Ke walked in just in time to hear his wife comparing him to livestock.
※
「Meanwhile, back in the Imperial Palace.」
While the Emperor was drafting the edict for Jiang Ke’s promotion, he specifically summoned Jiang Xian to Qiankun Palace to attend to him and have her grind his ink.
Jiang Xian had changed into an aqua-green brocade robe. On her wrist, she wore the Bixi Bracelet gifted to her by the Empress. It made her hands, as she ground the ink stick, seem whiter than snow. Examined closely under the white candlelight, they looked as tender, flawless, and delicate as jade—slender and captivating.
The Emperor only needed a single glance to feel his mind start to wander.
When other concubines came to attend to him, they all tried to whisper sweet nothings and speak of romantic trifles. But Jiang Xian, who was the most seductive and bewitching when receiving his favor, was now focused solely on grinding the ink. After it was ready, she took out the ink stick, wiped it carefully with a cloth, and put it away.
It was as if grinding ink for him was the most important task in the world.
The Emperor watched her silently, waiting for her to start seducing him.
He waited for a long time. She didn’t.
This time, the Emperor had truly misjudged her. To Jiang Xian, work was the most important thing in the world. That was true for her, and she assumed it was true for others. So, when the Emperor summoned her to his "office," she genuinely focused on her work, with no thought of getting cozy with the "boss" at the workplace.
The Emperor dipped his brush in the ink, drafted the edict, and waited for her to notice what was special about it.
But after she finished grinding the ink, she just stood aside with her hands lowered, as docile and still as a beautiful statue. He couldn’t help but ask, "Xian’er, why are you so quiet today?"
"Your Majesty is busy. How could I dare to disturb you?"
In truth, the Emperor wasn’t busy today at all.
He had specifically set aside time today to have Jiang Xian accompany him properly. But he maintained his imperial reserve and didn’t point this out, deciding to tease her instead. "Just calling Xian’er over to do a palace maid’s work, without even having time to talk to you... you must be terribly bored."
Jiang Xian shook her head, a very slight movement to keep her cool earrings from swinging against her cheeks. "My greatest wish is to be by Your Majesty’s side. Even just standing here is a reward for me. How could I possibly be bored? Please don’t say such things, Your Majesty, you overwhelm me. I’m also afraid that if you truly believe that, you won’t let me attend you next time."
As she finished speaking, Jiang Xian activated her Little Pitiful Halo.
’Being a worker who has to keep the boss company is perfectly normal. Getting some face time with the boss is always a good thing.’
Seeing her earnest words and adorable expression, the Emperor was delighted, but also felt a pang of heartache. ’I must have been bored out of my mind,’ he thought, ’teasing my beloved concubine for no reason and making her feel wronged. Look how pitiful she seems!’ He immediately pulled her into his arms. "Once Zhen is finished drafting this edict, I will be free for the rest of the day."
The Emperor sighed inwardly.
’Xian’er is so honest and knows her place. She’s been in here for so long but hasn’t once glanced at the memorials or the edict. She’s so proper.’
’Ah well, my beloved concubine just has this single-mindedly devoted nature. I’d known that for a while, hadn’t I?’
’She would never pry into court affairs.’
"Really?"
Jiang Xian looked up from his embrace, her face full of joy.
But in reality, a minute earlier, Jiang Xian had already used the corner of her eye to read the entire edict and knew her father had been promoted.