The Martial Doctor

Lin Miao leaned down, pressing his lips against those soft, slightly cool cherry lips, kissing gently. Soon, Liuli’s delicate body began to heat up, and the blush on her pretty face became deeper and deeper.

"My lord..."

Lin Miao bent down and scooped up Liuli in his arms.

Inside the Hibiscus canopy.

Liuli once again experienced that ethereal feeling, completely immersed, more indelibly than the first time.

"My lord, let me serve you, won’t you?" Liuli shyly lay on Lin Miao’s arm, gently tracing across that solid chest.

That night, Lin Miao enjoyed Liuli’s utmost tenderness.

The next morning, Liuli sat radiant before the mirror, dressing up. The reflection showed her in a gauzy robe, her eyebrows and eyes exuding a captivating charm.

She knew her good days had begun.

Her status was formally established, and her position in the Lin residence was naturally incomparable to before. She even spent more time with Lin Miao, second only to Sun Youwei.

Her qualifications were above those of the Lianxin and Liansuo sisters.

If ranked according to age among the concubines, she should be below Sun Youwei. In actual age, she was the eldest among the ladies.

However, Sun Youwei was the legitimate wife, the main lady of the Lin residence, so as a concubine, her status could not surpass Sun Youwei no matter what.

Lin Miao had not yet officially married, therefore he couldn’t take concubines; he had to wait until after marriage to formally take concubines.

Currently, three people are confirmed openly: Liuli and the sisters Lianxin and Liansuo. As for Shi Yin, she was of servant status, according to Da Li Dynasty law. If she wanted to become Lin Miao’s concubine, she needed to buy her freedom. The issue was her servitude was with the Imperial Music Bureau, and buying her freedom from the Sinful Slave Bureau wasn’t enough; certain conditions were required.

Of course, there was another way; Lin Miao could use his achievements to redeem her. That way, Shi Yin could regain civilian status and naturally become Lin Miao’s concubine.

Actually, it’s merely a matter of status, with little impact on Shi Yin’s life, but her children’s status would be affected.

Lin Miao would naturally deal with this, but it couldn’t be rushed. He needed to find out why Shi Yin’s family was convicted and what achievements were needed for her to regain a regular civilian status.

Shi Yin was only her stage name, and as for her original name, he remembered her surname was Yuan, and perhaps her name was Yin.

She was born not long before her family was convicted, then she was adopted by the Sinful Slave Bureau under the Imperial Music Bureau. Due to her young age, she was sold off at three years old. Her name, Yuan Yin, was given by her first buyer. After being moved twice, she was bought by Si Miaoxue at ten, entered Huaye Tower, and was taught by Liuli.

In name, she called Liuli sister, but actually, Liuli cared for her almost like a mother.

The identities of Si Miaoxue, Yue Mei’Er, Baili Yuyao, and Ji Fei’Er could not be made public, so openly, he currently had one wife and three concubines, besides one maid (Shi Yin).

In the Da Li Dynasty, there were regulations; officials taking concubines was also limited. Ordinary people could take concubines, but at most one, registered with the government, possessing a certain legal status.

Civil and military officials below seventh grade (including seventh grade) could take one more concubine.

Sixth and fifth grades increased to three.

Fourth grade could take four.

Third grade allowed one more equal wife, four concubines.

Second grade added one equal wife, up to five concubines.

First grade added one lady as wife, another equal wife, five concubines.

Exceeds rank like prince or duke with titles, one legitimate wife, two ladies as wives, up to six concubines.

Ladies as wives and equal wives could receive a court decree, and annually the court would provide a stipend, but concubines wouldn’t, unless elevated.

This means, besides the emperor, a man could have up to nine named women, unnamed ones wouldn’t count.

Unnamed ones, even if they gave birth, wouldn’t matter for girls. For boys, they couldn’t be endowed or inherit a title.

To be endowed or inherit a title, one needed either a formal status or be raised by another as their child.

Concubines with formal status, though not having the same rights as the wife, still had certain rights. The main lady could punish or even strip the concubine of her status for disobedience.

However, if the main wife wanted to dismiss a concubine, it required the husband’s consent; she couldn’t fully exercise that power alone.

Similarly, if the husband wanted to take a concubine, he needed the main lady’s, that is, the wife’s approval, with her signature and fingerprint required on the marriage certificate for concubinage.

Lin Miao was a sixth-grade Chengdelang, though it was an honorary post, he could take three concubines – Lianxin, Liansuo sisters, plus Liuli, just three.

As for Shi Yin, she was not yet decided.

Furthermore, taking concubines would be a matter of the following year. He and Sun Youwei had to wait until the mourning period was over to officially marry.

"How was it, were you satisfied last night?" Lin Miao walked behind Liuli, placing his hand on her slender shoulder, leaned in and asked with a smile at her ear.

Liuli’s face instantly lit up with bright blush. Although she was used to such straightforward remarks along the way, when others spoke to her that way, she still felt embarrassed from the depths of her heart.

"You’ve worked hard for a year. Rest at home these few days."

"Yes, I understand, my lord."

"Liuli, didn’t you spend the whole night in the lord’s quarters last night?" Lin Miao was headed to the clinic for duty, and after Liuli was washed and dressed, she naturally returned to her room.

Planning to take a nap, after this long night, plus the exhaustion from travel, she truly was worn out.

Unexpectedly, Shi Yin came over at this time.

She could only muster up energy to converse with her: "You little girl, teasing your sister now, won’t be much different for you in the future."

"Liuli, how do you have the courage to take that step, I just don’t dare." Shi Yin sighed.

"You think because of your lowly birth you are unworthy for the lord, right?"

Shi Yin nodded, acknowledging her status and Lin Miao’s, and what a bright future awaited him.

She was a woman born of servitude, how could a phoenix match a wild chicken, she was somewhat insecure deep down.

"Sister, you’re mistaken by thinking that way. Although we were poorly born, we have self-respect and integrity, unlike those who fell into depravity, this is what allowed us the opportunity to rise up and pursue our happiness, the lord treats us with boundless grace, no matter how we repay him, we can’t. Being able to serve by his side is our honor." said Liuli.

"Liuli, tell me, what kind of women does the lord actually like?"

"You’re at home every day, how could you not know?" Liuli couldn’t help but laugh, this girl asking her such questions.

"Liuli, I mean in that aspect..."

"In what aspect?" Liuli laughed, this girl seemed reluctant yet desired more understanding.

Though indeed, Shi Yin should learn more about that aspect.

In a blink of an eye, another year’s end arrived.

Three days left until the new year, according to tradition, all clinics in the city closed for rest on this day.

Of course, for urgent life-saving emergencies, this wasn’t included.

Liuli returned, naturally required to compensate. These days, upon returning in the evenings, Shi Yin regularly visited Liuli’s room, sometimes staying a while and leaving, other times resting there.

People within the residence mostly knew this, seeing it didn’t comment much, though Shi Yin bumped into them twice, since then she didn’t visit Liuli at night.

All was peaceful within the residence.

After a year of busy work, finally came time for a new year.

Helian Wanwan sent eagle mail to her sect; she wouldn’t return this year, staying at the Lin residence to celebrate the new year with her disciples Lianxin and Liansuo.

Anyway, she had no family, her parents deceased long ago, family relations were thin, not even as close as sect brothers and sisters.

Most importantly, she needed Lin Miao’s help to advance to the Tianyuan realm.

Recently, she stayed at the Lin residence, not stepping outside, taking the medicine prescribed by Lin Miao, honing her cultivation, striving for a breakthrough.

Then there was Dongguo Sun, this fellow originally stayed well at the Lin residence, tinkering aimlessly, nearly set the place on fire using the Celestial Fire Furnace claiming alchemy.

Lin Miao sent him to the manor outside the city, where space was ample, even if some houses burned down, it wouldn’t matter, moreover, he was alone, free to tinker recklessly.