Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 338 - 201 Substitute Punishment_3

Chapter 338: Chapter 201 Substitute Punishment_3

Qian Manjiang lifted a bowl of wine and drank it all in one gulp, saying, "I must also thank Young Master Ye for his kind words and Sir Ye for his recognition. I shall always remember this great kindness and will, henceforth, devote myself to serving Sir Ye and Young Master Ye with all my heart and soul."

Young Master Ye was very satisfied with his response, but still deliberately frowned and pointed at him, saying, "You said that wrong, didn’t you? Said that wrong, didn’t you? We must devote ourselves to serving the Emperor."

Qian Manjiang nodded silently, then drank one bowl of wine after another in dismay.

Young Master Ye asked, "Brother Qian, is there something troubling you?"

General Qian’s eyes reddened, and he sighed, "An official of the fifth rank can return home in glory and secure a future for his wife and children. But I... I can’t even return home, let alone bring a little money to my family, destined to fail my parents and wife... My father is lame, my mother is unwell, and my wife is also ill, not to mention my younger sister is still small..."

As he spoke, his voice began to choke up.

Ye Lin, upon hearing this, comforted him, "The young master knows, it’s all because you took the blame for me, making things hard for Brother Qian." He then put down his wine bowl and cursed, "Humph, when all is said and done, it’s still that old Liang’s fault for causing trouble. Originally, General Zhao reported you as missing after the battle, thinking that after you served a few years in prison, you would be able to return to see your elderly parents. But that old Liang submitted a memorial to His Majesty, detailing how miserably the families of missing soldiers were living. His Majesty, being compassionate, decreed that military camps at the frontiers verify the missing personnel. General Zhao had no choice but to report Brother Qian as fallen in Song River... Don’t worry, the day the third prince ascends the throne will be the day General Qian returns home in glory. By then, you won’t be a small official of the fifth rank anymore. I will talk to my father, and at the very least, arrange a post of a fourth rank officer for you."

Qian Manjiang had been looking down the whole time, suppressing the ambiguity in his eyes. Hearing the last part, he stood up and bowed deeply, saying, "First, I would like to thank Young Master Ye for his nurturing grace."

...

Meanwhile, in a five-courtyard complex in Capital City, the old Liang referred to by Ye Lin, Liang Zechong, was sitting in the west room of Wanhe Hall, accompanied by his mother Old Queen Grandma and the current Master Duke and Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army, Liang Yiqian.

After dinner, everyone returned to their own quarters, leaving only the four heads of the household to discuss important matters.

Old Queen Grandma asked, "Has Zhaozhao’s illness been completely cured?"

Liang Zechong nodded and smiled, "Yes, he’s fully recovered this time. Master Beikong and Doctor Zhang have both taken his pulse and confirmed that he’s completely healed."

Grasping her Buddha Beads, the Old Queen Grandma prayed, "The Bodhisattva blesses, the Bodhisattva blesses." She then wiped away tears, saying, "It’s just a pity that Old Great-grandpa passed away a few years too early and didn’t see this day."

Liang Yiqian consoled her, "Grandmother, don’t be sad, grandfather will surely see it from heaven."

Old Queen Grandma said, "When Zhaozhao fell ill, Old Great-grandpa was so grieved he cried. Such a strong man, and in all the decades I’ve known him, it was the first time I saw him cry. He said that with Zhaozhao’s illness, not to mention inheriting the title, he was afraid he couldn’t even pursue a career, and this was our Liang family’s eldest grandson."

She then asked Liang Zechong, "Could it be that Zhaozhao’s ’person of destiny’ has appeared? That would be his lucky star, we must treat them well in the future."

Liang Zechong laughed, "Mother, we all misunderstood the meaning of ’person of destiny.’ The master wasn’t referring to someone bound by fate to Zhaozhao, but to the Spiritual Objects that cured Zhaozhao’s stubborn illness... It is because the person of destiny found that Spiritual Object that Zhaozhao was able to recover."

Again, the Old Queen Grandma prayed, "The Bodhisattva blesses, Old Great-grandpa blesses, from now on, our Zhaozhao will be blessed with great fortune, living a smooth life."

Liang Zechong then spoke of the person of destiny being a young girl from the Qian family currently in Capital City, hoping that the Liang family would take good care of her. He admonished that only the heads of their household should know of this matter, and no one else was to be told. This was Master Beikong’s intention, to not bring disaster upon the girl.

Old Queen Grandma and Liang Yiqian, upon hearing this, nodded solemnly, promising to do so.

Afterwards, Liang Zechong’s tone shifted as he quietly asked Liang Yiqian, "Have you delivered the confidential letter I sent back to His Majesty the Emperor?"

Liang Yiqian replied softly, "It has been delivered, and His Majesty was very pleased with Master Beikong’s annotated scripture. He said he would surely govern the land to be prosperous and strong, with abundant resources, and hand over a Daqian as secure as a fortress to the young prince. The young prince is a disciple of the Old Fairy, so he will surely raise his descendants well. This will allow Daqian to continue flourishing for a hundred years, forever passing down the foundation of Daqian."

Liang Zechong shook his head, "His Majesty is wise, but he is too stubborn in his love for the elder and younger, to the Crown Prince, and this blinds him. If he continues to hold onto the idea of having Hongji descend the mountain to become the Imperial Great-grandson, he might instead harm Hongji. According to my recent visit to Daci Temple and listening to Zhaozhao’s usual talk, the Old Fairy seems to be emphasizing Buddhist teachings in educating Hongji. To be Emperor, one can be benevolent, but absolutely must not be excessively compassionate..."