Super first rank?

The old dowager felt a surge of jealousy in her heart.

Back in the Great Yan dynasty, what hadn’t she seen? She had originally hoped that after coming to Great Zhou, she could rely on her eldest son to achieve glory once again, but now her eldest son had become estranged from her. The imperial mandate that she had never received had been obtained by a granddaughter who had married out of the family.

Being both a princess consort and holding an imperial mandate – even the old dowager felt envious looking at it all.

It wasn’t just the old dowager who felt envious. Beside her, Qin Huining kept her head lowered, but in reality, she had almost pierced her palms with her fingernails.

Everything that Qin Yining was enjoying now should have rightfully belonged to her!

Previously, she had been the Fourth Miss of the Qin family. Everything she had possessed had been stripped away by Qin Yining’s appearance!

Now one of them was living under someone else’s roof in the Qin household, while the other was a princess consort. This stark difference made Qin Huining feel an even stronger sense of defeat – that she would never be able to catch up in this lifetime – along with resentment at having what rightfully belonged to her stolen away.

The scene fell into an eerie silence for a moment.

Seeing the old dowager’s expression, Qin Yining knew what she was thinking. Since standing for too long made her back ache, she returned to sit beside Sun Shi.

The old dowager saw that she had walked away on her own before the serious conversation was finished, and her face darkened. “I haven’t finished asking my questions, and you just walk away like that? Is this your good upbringing? Sun Shi!”

Sun Shi, who was innocently called out, gave the old dowager a big eye roll and only focused on holding Qin Yining’s hand while quietly inquiring about her experiences outside.

The old dowager’s face instantly turned purple with anger.

Qin Huining and Eighth Miss hurriedly attended to her, one offering tea and the other patting her back.

After the old dowager took a sip of tea, she finally caught her breath. Pointing at the mother and daughter Sun Shi and Qin Yining, she cursed: “With this kind of upbringing, what kind of good children can be raised? In the future, she’ll probably give birth to someone who can anger her own mother to death!”

Just as her words fell, a low, displeased male voice came from outside the door: “What’s going on here?”

The door curtain was lifted, and Pang Xiao stepped in first. Meeting the old dowager’s still-uncollected harsh expression with just one cold glance, he made the old dowager swallow the rest of her words in her throat, immediately frightening her so much that she couldn’t utter another curse even if it killed her.

“I never expected that after Sister Yi returned home, she would provoke the old dowager to such anger. This is indeed quite unfilial. However, Sister Yi is this prince’s consort. If she has done wrong, it is naturally this prince’s fault as well. Let this prince apologize to the old dowager on Sister Yi’s behalf.”

Pang Xiao walked forward with a smile, cupped his hands, and performed a bow. “The old dowager is an elder of the family and most magnanimous. For the faults of us younger ones, you need only turn a blind eye and give us a chance to reform, don’t you think?”

Pang Xiao’s words were beautifully spoken. As a prince, he had apologized and bowed to the old dowager, showing sufficient respect and filial piety. Others watching felt very approving of Pang Xiao in their hearts. Second Master and Third Master both nodded with smiles on their faces, thinking this son-in-law was excellent – noble in status yet not putting on airs, extremely filial and well-mannered.

But the old dowager’s suffering was known to no one.

She was nearly scared to the point of wetting herself by Pang Xiao’s sharp, blade-like gaze!

She finally understood. These people who led troops in battle all had blood on their hands. They were the type who would dare to cut someone down the moment they became displeased and their eyes turned fierce! Although Pang Xiao was bowing to her, he was simultaneously warning her not to touch his bottom line!

The old dowager was so frightened that her face turned pale, she shook like a sieve, and cold sweat flowed down.

Seeing this, Pang Xiao asked with a face full of concern: “What’s wrong with the old dowager?” He looked to Qin Huaiyuan for help: “Father-in-law? Did I say something wrong?”

Qin Huaiyuan sighed helplessly and said: “It’s nothing. The old dowager’s health hasn’t been very good these past few days. When Sister Yi went missing some days ago, the old dowager became very upset, and since then she’s had various ailments. She still hasn’t recovered even now. Seeing her granddaughter now, she’s probably just too excited.”

This explanation preserved the old dowager’s dignity.

After all, the old dowager was getting on in years and had become confused, always doing disrespectful things, even trying to push Eighth Miss toward Pang Xiao. Everyone, including Pang Xiao, understood this clearly.

Speaking this way, it was still a son considering his mother’s face.

Pang Xiao immediately nodded and respectfully stepped back to the side, showing full respect for his father-in-law Qin Huaiyuan.

After the old dowager caught her breath, she felt she had lost face. She wanted to make a few more cutting remarks at Qin Yining, but every time she looked over, Pang Xiao would look back with a half-smile as if sensing something. The old dowager would be frightened into trembling and would avert her eyes to avoid Pang Xiao’s gaze.

After several such instances, the old dowager no longer dared to show any provocative expression.

Qin Yining and Sun Shi observed all this. Sun Shi couldn’t help but lower her head to suppress her laughter, while Qin Yining helplessly rolled her eyes at Pang Xiao. However, there was truly no anger or destructive power in that eye roll – it was more like a coquettish reproach.

Being on the receiving end of that look made Pang Xiao’s heart itch, and he smiled with delight, restraining himself a bit and no longer frightening the old dowager.

This was only because she was Qin Yining’s own grandmother. If it were anyone else who dared treat his wife this way, he would have already slapped them across the face to see who would still dare to be arrogant.

“Master, Master, a eunuch from the palace has come outside, saying he’s here to deliver rewards to the young mistress.”

A young servant came from outside with a beaming smile to relay the message.

Hearing this, everyone was very pleased and went together to the front courtyard.

The eunuch delivering the imperial edict read the decree conferring upon Qin Yining the super first rank imperial mandate, and laid out all the rewards of gold, silk, jewelry, and other items one by one.

After the whole family had joyfully looked them over and given a large tip, the eunuch left with a smile.

The whole family was in the front courtyard, naturally engaging in another round of congratulations. The glory a woman could achieve in her lifetime, apart from the ladies in the palace, probably reached no higher than this, right?

Qin Yining was not yet twenty years old and was already a super first rank mandate holder. Not only was she a princess consort, but she also had such a husband who treated her well and adored her. Now she was even pregnant.

It seemed she already possessed everything that women throughout the realm would envy.

The family was talking happily together. Sun Shi held Qin Yining’s hand, practically beaming with joy. The old dowager, meanwhile, looked at all that real gold and silver with envy.

Second Madam even said: “It’s still because our son-in-law is valued by His Majesty. Knowing that after court he would surely come to visit first, the rewards were sent over.”

Second Madam’s words were originally meant to compliment Pang Xiao.

But when Qin Huaiyuan and Pang Xiao heard them, they understood that Li Qitian was monitoring them.

Sending the imperial favor directly to the Qin residence for Qin Yining was telling them that His Majesty already knew of their close association.

By rights, it should be perfectly acceptable for a father-in-law and son-in-law to have a good relationship.

But this particular pair of father-in-law and son-in-law, Qin Huaiyuan and Pang Xiao, were unusual. They had originally worked together to stage a performance of discord, successfully getting Li Qitian to personally decree the marriage between Qin Yining and Pang Xiao.

If Li Qitian knew that when these two got together they were like real grandfather and grandson, often giving each other advice and sharing information, his intestines would have turned green with regret long ago.

And now, Li Qitian probably already knew.

Because of Qin Huaiyuan’s inaction in today’s great court assembly – not helping Li Qitian’s faction impeach Pang Xiao – Li Qitian should have already figured things out.

Thinking of this, Pang Xiao looked at Qin Huaiyuan with worry: “Father-in-law…”

Qin Huaiyuan patted Pang Xiao’s solid shoulder and smiled: “It’s nothing to worry about.”

His smile was calm, as if he didn’t care about any of this at all. Seeing that Pang Xiao was still looking at him, he couldn’t help but smile: “I’m not young anymore either. I’ve reached the age to enjoy grandchildren.”

Qin Huaiyuan’s sudden words actually showed he already had thoughts of withdrawal from worldly affairs. Hearing this made Second Master and Second Madam quite worried.

Qin Huaiyuan was currently in his prime years and serving as Minister of Rites. In the future, entering the cabinet as prime minister was within reach, yet he was having such thoughts – it was truly puzzling and regrettable.

Just then, urgent hoofbeats came from outside the courtyard gate. Immediately the main gate opened wide, and a eunuch dressed in gray entered. Seeing that people were all present, he announced an edict.

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: All males of the Qin clan currently serving as officials in court are hereby dismissed from their positions and shall never again be employed. This is decreed!”

This single sentence struck the previously lively courtyard into silence.

Except for Qin Huaiyuan, who maintained his composure, everyone else wore expressions of indescribable shock.

Among the in-laws, besides Qin Huaiyuan, Second Master Qin Xiuyuan was also an official. Although Qin Yining’s male cousins were not yet officials, they were all actively preparing to take the imperial examinations to pursue official careers.

With this imperial edict, all the family’s future prospects in the court were completely severed.

Although the edict’s meaning was to dismiss the officials Qin Huaiyuan and Qin Xiuyuan, and the “never to be employed” referred to these two, not including Qin Han, Qin Yu, and others, once this precedent was set, who would dare promote anyone surnamed Qin?

Qin Huaiyuan accepted the edict with a calm expression and gave thanks.

Qin Xiuyuan was also stunned for a while before thanking and accepting the edict.

In the complete silence, the old dowager suddenly burst into loud tears: “Oh my! How can this be, how can this be! Didn’t His Majesty just reward our young mistress with an imperial mandate? How can he turn around and strip her father of his official position! What’s going on!”

The old dowager’s outcry voiced the question in everyone’s hearts. But questioning an imperial edict was a grave crime. Second Madam and Nanny Qin immediately and tacitly covered the old dowager’s mouth.

The eunuch delivering the edict had originally wanted to reprimand her, but seeing the imposing Pang Xiao standing with his hands behind his back, he was immediately frightened into swallowing his words.

Who would dare provoke this person! If things went badly, he might kill him on the spot, and he could guarantee that when His Majesty found out later, he would only say “Well killed!” His death would be for nothing!

The eunuch didn’t dare linger in this place and didn’t want to hear what he shouldn’t hear, so he immediately took his leave – his departing attitude was much more respectful than when he had entered.

Pang Xiao ordered people to see the eunuch off. When everyone returned to the main hall, this time no one covered the old dowager’s mouth, and she began crying loudly.

“What a catastrophe! How can this be! The son I cultivated for so many years has actually been dismissed! Just a moment ago Sister Yi received rewards, and immediately after, Meng Ge’er and Xiu Ge’er were dismissed. What are we to do! How can our Qin family lineage ever achieve glory again!”

The old dowager’s crying made Second Madam’s eyes red as well.

Sun Shi was even more stunned, staring blankly while holding Qin Yining’s hand.

Qin Huaiyuan patted Second Master’s shoulder and said: “Second brother, this time your elder brother has implicated you.”