Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 92: Chapter 92 Gender of Sin 92

Officials appointed by the Emperor, regardless of location, must enter the Capital City to thank in person. Naturally, Qin Shuangshuang must also go. Mrs. Bai’s imperial title is due to Qin Shuangshuang’s appointment, so she is technically exempt from entering the Capital City to express gratitude. However, Qin Shuangshuang thought that visiting the Capital City could be both a leisure trip and an opportunity to broaden her horizons, so she decided that the entire family should go to the Capital City together.

Even Fang Yao and Qin Miao temporarily entrusted their responsibilities to a few capable managers, planning to accompany Qin Shuangshuang to the Capital City. Then, Qin Shuangshuang would go with General Qi to express gratitude, while they would tour around the Capital City, experiencing the grandeur beneath the Emperor’s feet.

General Qi is the Border Guard General. When the Emperor decreed their appointments, he specifically stated that General Qi need not enter the Capital City to express gratitude. General Qi, being perceptive, would naturally not truly refrain from going to the Capital City. Instead, he submitted requests again and again to meet the Emperor in person to express his gratitude.

General Qi suppressed the barbarians who had troubled the border city for hundreds of years since the previous dynasty; such a feat could almost be described as a threat to the sovereign. Even though he is trusted by the Emperor, the Emperor couldn’t help but be more mindful of him.

This time, when the Emperor issued the decree, he simultaneously appointed two trusted generals as City Defense Generals for the two nearby border cities next to Feiying Pass. This move was intended not only as assistance to General Qi, but more so as a measure to divide power and keep an eye on him.

However, General Qi’s influence in the border city is firmly established. Even if he does nothing, as long as he is in the border city, the Emperor’s envoys trying to divide General Qi’s authority is impossible. So the special allowance in the Emperor’s decree, permitting General Qi not to enter the Capital City to express gratitude, was merely a test.

If General Qi remains loyal to the Emperor, he would naturally go to the Capital City without hesitation, facilitating the other two trusted generals in establishing their footing and dividing power in the border city. If General Qi harbored any scheming thoughts or intended to become a local despot with his troops, he would undoubtedly take the decree’s suggestion and not go to the Capital City.

Although General Qi was born into a poor family, he is extremely intelligent. He knows well that a subject who poses a threat to the Emperor, unless rebelling, will never meet a good end, not to mention that having too much authority is not favorable for a subject.

When a subject’s power is excessive, even if the current Emperor can tolerate it, the next Emperor may not. Thus, the division of General Qi’s power by the Emperor is not entirely out of fear; it also serves to protect this trusted servant from being purged by the next Emperor.

This time, not only did General Qi go to the Capital City himself, but he also brought all his trusted generals to express gratitude. Such a grand gesture represents his complete openness of the border city and Feiying Pass, allowing the Emperor to act at his will, thereby demonstrating his loyalty.

Qin Shuangshuang’s entire family was busy preparing for the journey to the Capital City, except Fang Zhongyi, whose spirits were not high. Qin Shuangshuang, Fang Yao, and Qin Miao were too young to ask, but Mrs. Bai had no such qualms and went directly to find Fang Zhongyi.

When Mrs. Bai found Fang Zhongyi, he was fully absorbed in selecting feathers for arrows. It was only after Mrs. Bai sat opposite Fang Zhongyi that he noticed her presence. He was startled, put down his tools, and smiled, saying, ”Why did you come over? Have you packed everything?”

Mrs. Bai smiled gently, ”I noticed you’re not in a good mood, so you wouldn’t feel like packing. What’s been bothering you these past two days? The children noticed and are concerned.”

Fang Zhongyi raised a hand to wipe his face and sighed, ”My mental fortitude is getting worse! Letting you all notice. It’s nothing, really; I just don’t want to go to the Capital City but don’t know how to tell you.”

”Why don’t you want to go to the Capital City?” Mrs. Bai was truly surprised. The Capital City, beneath the Emperor’s feet, is the most flourishing and glorious place. Even those who don’t intend to settle there wouldn’t refuse a chance to visit and broaden their horizons.

Fang Zhongyi sighed, ”It’s not really much. I was born into a poor family and had some luck in my youth to study under a Jianghu person, learning martial arts.”

Fang Zhongyi shrugged, showing a slightly self-deprecating smile, ”In my youth, filled with ambition, I learned martial arts intending to repay the court like the ancients and even passed a martial champion exam. I didn’t know that becoming an official would be difficult, with severe political strife. I didn’t understand court rules or control my words, inadvertently offending the Prime Minister, who was the pet of the former Supreme Emperor, leading to my dismissal as an official and banishment from the Capital City!”

Recalling the disgrace of being driven out of the Capital City, Fang Zhongyi couldn’t help but frown tightly, pausing for a moment before continuing, ”When I was banished from the Capital City, the Prime Minister strictly forbade me from setting foot in the Capital City for life. Now I fear that going to the Capital City would bring troubles to Shuangshuang, so I must avoid going.”

When Fang Zhongyi wouldn’t speak, Mrs. Bai was always worried. Now that Fang Zhongyi voiced his concerns, Mrs. Bai relaxed with a dismissive attitude, ”Oh! I thought you were hiding something major from us! Is it worth keeping it in for so long over just this? I can stay with you at the border city, letting Shuangshuang and her sisters enter the Capital City themselves. Do you still worry about their safety?”

Fang Zhongyi awkwardly scratched his head, coughed, and explained, ”I saw how excited you all were and didn’t want to dampen your spirits, so I couldn’t bring it up!”

Mrs. Bai chuckled, ”What’s so unspeakable about it? We are family, and there is nothing that cannot be said. Since you’re embarrassed, I’ll explain to the children, and they’ll understand you.”

Of course, Qin Shuangshuang and the others understood Fang Zhongyi, and they took turns comforting him. They set off toward the Capital City with an entire carriage full of things Mrs. Bai had meticulously packed, accompanying General Qi and his considerable entourage.

One must say the Emperor is exceptionally considerate towards his loyal ministers, specifically decreeing that General Qi should slowly proceed to the Capital City to avoid exhaustion from the journey’s rush. Naturally, General Qi wouldn’t truly dawdle on the journey; the decree was a blessing, but his rapid travel demonstrated his loyalty.

Traveling with urgency and haste, the group eventually reached the Capital City at the fastest speed possible. Being a trusted confidant of the Emperor, General Qi first entered the Imperial Palace to meet the Emperor. Qin Shuangshuang and the soldiers brought by General Qi were also privileged to be quickly summoned by the Emperor.

Qin Shuangshuang, being a woman, was even granted a special audience with the Emperor, who questioned her briefly. Qin Shuangshuang responded properly and performed lifting a stone lion with bare hands at the Emperor’s request, satisfying his curiosity before releasing her.

Only after leaving the Imperial Palace did Qin Shuangshuang finally breathe a sigh of relief, feeling that meeting the Emperor was more exhausting than battle. Fortunately, she wouldn’t be involved in further matters; she only needed to wait for General Qi to spend a few days fostering relations with the Emperor before accompanying him back to the border city.

However, within a few days, Qin Shuangshuang regretted her decision, for she found the atmosphere in the Capital City very tense! While the common people went about unperturbed, the interactions among higher officials were oddly unusual, with some even trying to recruit Qin Shuangshuang, making her feel a storm was brewing!