Soon the female cousins arrived. Qin Yining and Qin Huining went to the flower hall with their sisters to chat and laugh. Though Qin Huining wasn’t very popular, the atmosphere wasn’t awkward.

In the blink of an eye, it was noon. A servant woman came to report, asking Duke Dingguo’s wife: “Old Madam, the lunch meal is ready. Shall it be served in the warm pavilion?”

Duke Dingguo’s wife said: “Serve it in the warm pavilion. Remember to go to the outer courtyard to invite the masters back.”

“Yes.”

The women all chatted and laughed as they went to the warm pavilion. At the courtyard gate, they happened to meet Duke Dingguo coming in with his grandsons.

The girls all bowed in unison. The eldest cousin Sun Yu, fifth cousin Sun Jie, and eighth cousin Sun Qin also greeted the women, then exchanged greetings with their female cousins before entering the room.

The warm pavilion was as warm as spring. The food was already prepared, with appetizing aromas filling the air. Duke Dingguo’s wife smiled and said: “Remove the screen. There are no outsiders here. Would Duke Dingguo really dine alone and forlorn with just three grandsons? Don’t you envy how lively it is on our side?”

Duke Dingguo laughed: “You know me best. Though I’m envious, you’ve already given instructions without me even asking.”

Everyone laughed at this.

Duke Dingguo and his wife took their seats first at the head table, with Sun Shi sitting beside Duke Dingguo’s wife, followed by two seats left for the eldest and second aunts. The eldest, fifth, and eighth cousins sat next to Duke Dingguo on his right side.

As for the young ladies, they naturally sat at another table.

The eldest and second aunts held serving chopsticks to serve food, but Duke Dingguo’s wife smiled: “Today we’re having a small family reunion meal. I don’t want you to stand on ceremony – you should also take your seats.”

The two sisters-in-law tried to decline, but Duke Dingguo smiled: “Listen to your mother.”

Though Duke Dingguo was gentle, he was the head of the household. When he spoke, no one would disobey, so the eldest and second aunts also took their seats.

Great families observed the rule of no talking during meals, so only the soft sounds of chopsticks and dishes could be heard.

After the meal was finished, servants helped everyone rinse their mouths. They moved to the flower hall to sit, and the atmosphere became lively.

Duke Dingguo stroked his beard and smiled: “Yining, how have you been adjusting to living at home these days?”

“Reporting to Grandfather, your granddaughter is doing well in everything. Mother thinks of everything for me thoughtfully and takes care of me meticulously. Huining has also taught me many things I didn’t know before. Now I can adapt to my current life.” Qin Yining answered obediently.

Sun Shi felt deeply comforted hearing this.

Qin Huining looked up at Qin Yining in surprise – what was she trying to do now!

Duke Dingguo smiled: “That’s good. You and Huining being so loving toward each other is also your mother’s blessing. If you encounter anything you need, or face difficulties you can’t handle, just have someone come tell your grandmother.”

“Yes. Thank you for your concern, Grandfather.” Qin Yining bowed gratefully.

Duke Dingguo smiled and waved his hand, indicating she could sit down without being formal.

Qin Yining sat in the empty seat next to Qin Huining, appearing calm and composed as if there was no friction between them at all.

Qin Huining tensed up all over. Whenever Qin Yining was beside her, she felt uncomfortable all over, yet had to force herself not to show any signs lest others see and laugh at her.

Though Duke Dingguo’s wife worried about outside matters in her heart, she could keep her composure.

But the second aunt, truly worried about her husband and sons and grandsons, couldn’t help but ask hesitantly: “Father, how is the situation at Xihua City?”

Duke Dingguo thought for a moment and said gravely: “The two armies are at war at Xihua City. Pang Zhixi employs cunning military tactics – we haven’t gained any advantage yet.”

Everyone’s hearts sank upon hearing this.

But the second aunt comforted herself, smiling: “Though we haven’t gained advantage, at least our family’s men are still safe and sound.”

Those staying behind could only have such simple hopes.

Duke Dingguo sighed: “I only blame my advanced age. Otherwise I would still go to Xihua City to dampen Pang Zhixi’s arrogance!”

“Grandfather is still vigorous despite your age – it’s just that your services aren’t needed yet.” Fifth cousin Sun Jie smiled.

Eighth cousin Sun Qin frowned: “Actually, the war is only one aspect. What’s truly infuriating is Great Zhou’s arrogance. Their Empress Dowager has a head wind disease – how shameless of them to still send people to notify us! What, they’re invading us and still want us to find doctors to treat their Empress Dowager’s illness? Do they think the whole world belongs to them! Yet the Emperor is actually scrambling to find famous physicians! This is simply…”

“Eighth Brother, watch your words.” Eldest cousin Sun Yu lightly scolded.

Only then did the eighth cousin remember there were various female cousins around, and he smiled awkwardly.

Qin Yining lowered her eyes and listened to all this, feeling as if a large stone was pressing on her heart. The Emperor was so incompetent, only knowing how to romance his demon empress and scheming against his ministers behind the scenes, never thinking of uniting the entire court against foreign enemies.

The people of Great Yan were stuck with such a foolish ruler – hoping he could straighten his spine and show backbone was less reliable than hoping he would die soon!

Just as the room was feeling oppressive, urgent footsteps suddenly came from outside.

“Duke! Chief Manager Wang from the palace has come with an imperial edict! He’s currently in the front courtyard!”

Another imperial edict?!

Duke Dingguo quickly ordered an incense table to be set up, and the whole family went to the front courtyard to kneel and receive the imperial edict.

Chief Manager Wang’s face was grave as he slowly unrolled the bright yellow imperial edict and proclaimed loudly:

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Empress Dowager of the superior state Great Zhou is ill. Seeking famous physicians, a good prescription has been found – consuming the brain of an intelligent person can eradicate the ailment. It has been heard that Hanlin Academy Lecturer Scholar Sun Yu is resourceful and wise, with clever thoughts and both wisdom and courage, worthy of great use. He is hereby specially enfeoffed as ‘Earl Anguo,’ rewarded with a thousand taels of gold, to go to Great Zhou to treat the Empress Dowager’s illness. By Imperial Decree!”

Silence filled the courtyard…

Chief Manager Wang’s shrill voice seemed to scrape across everyone’s hearts like knives.

Duke Dingguo’s body trembled as he knelt prostrate on the ground. He raised his head: “May I ask Chief Manager Wang, what is this?”

Chief Manager Wang sighed lightly: “Duke, please don’t blame this slave. This slave is also following orders. Let this slave be frank with you. You know Great Zhou’s envoys have come, right? The envoys just had an audience with the Emperor, saying that Great Zhou’s physicians gave their Empress Dowager a prescription – to cure her head wind disease, she must eat the fresh brain matter of the world’s most intelligent person.”

Speaking to this point, Chief Manager Wang’s eyes also showed tears, but he held them back and lowered his voice: “The Great Zhou envoys specifically told the Emperor ‘we heard your country has someone very good at writing manifestos – he’s the smartest, we want him.’ The Emperor agreed…”

By this point, the eldest aunt had already fainted with rolled-back eyes. The female cousins were all frightened into tears, frantically pressing acupoints to revive her. The second aunt supported the trembling Duke Dingguo’s wife, and everyone’s faces were ghastly pale.

Qin Yining clenched her fists, supporting the trembling Sun Shi while steadily watching what else the edict-bearing Chief Manager Wang would say.

Duke Dingguo felt his head buzzing, his aged voice becoming even hoarser: “How… how can this be…”

“Duke, the Emperor has decreed that to appease Great Zhou and preserve Great Yan, this is also a helpless measure.” Chief Manager Wang sighed, holding the imperial edict with both hands toward the silent Sun Yu: “Lord Sun, please accept the edict.”

Sun Yu’s expression didn’t change at all. Instead, he turned around and went to his mother, who had just awakened, to support her.

“Mother, don’t cry.”

The eldest aunt’s eyes were bloodshot as she gripped Sun Yu’s hand tightly: “My son, my child, don’t go! We can’t go! We cannot accept this edict! Don’t go! You’re not allowed to go!!”

Sun Yu’s eyes filled with tears as he comfortingly held his mother in his arms, patting her back: “All right, all right, Mother. I won’t go.”

But the imperial edict had arrived – what could be done if he didn’t go?

Everyone panicked.

Qin Yining’s mind raced as she grabbed Sun Yu’s sleeve, keeping her voice extremely low: “Cousin, accept the edict first. We’ll discuss the rest and think of countermeasures later!”

Qin Huining, panicked and tearful, also whispered: “Yes, yes, yes! Great Zhou is so far away – who there would recognize what you look like? We can find someone else to go in your place!!”

Their words gave everyone a glimmer of hope.

Yes, in this crisis, they had all panicked.

The eldest aunt nodded repeatedly: “Right, right, accept the edict first, then we’ll think of a solution!”

Duke Dingguo’s wife and Sun Shi also breathed sighs of relief.

But Sun Yu smiled slightly and slowly stood up: “I, Sun Yuanming, as a human being, am an upright man who stands tall between heaven and earth. I walk the righteous path and sit properly. Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother – I refuse to live ignominiously.”

He turned around and walked quickly toward Chief Manager Wang, sneering coldly as he swept the imperial edict to the ground.

“Great Zhou bandits! You invade our territory, slaughter our people, and bully our sovereign! You want my brain matter to cure illness?! Dream on! I would rather smash it to pieces than give it to them!”

As his words ended, he suddenly threw himself violently against the nearby stone platform!

Immediately there was a loud crash, red and white matter splattered, blood stained his blue robe, and his thin body collapsed at the foot of the steps.

“Ahh!!”

“Yuanming!”

“My son!!”

No one had expected Sun Yu to be so resolute.

Duke Dingguo’s wife, the eldest aunt, and second aunt all screamed and fainted.

The girls either hugged their heads crying or collapsed unconscious – the scene was complete chaos.

The fifth and eighth cousins threw themselves on Sun Yu’s corpse, beating their chests and stamping their feet, crying out in anguish and shouting his name…

Duke Dingguo’s whole body trembled as he looked at his most beloved grandson’s corpse and the mess on the ground. Suddenly he pulled at the corners of his mouth in a forced smile.

“Good, good, Yuanming is a man of the Sun family, a man with backbone. Grandfather didn’t love you in vain! Grandfather didn’t love you in vain…” Duke Dingguo’s tears streamed down his face as he fell to the ground sobbing.

Chief Manager Wang wiped tears with his sleeve, saying anxiously: “Duke, what can be done about this? If the Emperor blames us, what can be done!”

Duke Dingguo’s wife had been revived by Bingtang’s silver needles and was being supported by Qin Yining and Sun Shi. Hearing this, she laughed coldly:

“Things have come to this – what can be done? The Duke Dingguo lineage is full of loyal martyrs, wholeheartedly devoted to serving the country, never failing the imperial grace for a single day. The Emperor… is wise and will surely be moved hearing of my grandson’s heroic deed.”