The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 1137 - 259: Sinner Through the Ages_4

"As for women not being allowed to hold office, which contravenes ancestral rules, I’ve indeed called all my beloved officers today to discuss this matter. Rules are made by people, and if they can formulate them, so can I. Beloved Officer Pei serves the country and the people with extraordinary fidelity and valor, surpassing many men in her capacities. How could she not hold office!?" Xiao Guangzhao spoke with dominating authority.

Shen Bi and several others were shocked, "Emperor! Allowing women to enter court and hold office is a significant matter that requires careful consideration!"

"Emperor! general Pei has made outstanding contributions and rightfully deserves recognition, but if it’s because of General Pei that women are allowed to enter court and hold office, I fear that the traditional boundaries between men and women will be thrown into chaos!"

Everyone knelt down and pleaded, "Please reconsider, Your Majesty!" Pei Qin could hold a nominal position and manage the Manufacturing Bureau, but making it official for women to hold office would truly be disruptive!

Pei Qin, however, felt differently, knowing that during the flourishing Tang period, there had even been a woman emperor and many female officials! But such changes would need a transition period, for if done rashly, there could indeed be major chaos. Thus, she too knelt down, "Please reconsider, Your Majesty!"

"My decision is final!" Xiao Guangzhao said, frowning deeply, and ordered them to leave.

Pei Qin’s eyebrows knitted together, and she couldn’t help but bitterly speculate. Previously Xiao Guangzhao had retained control without giving her real power, and now he wanted to establish female officials for her sake, intending to disrupt the court and gender norms. Was this pushing her into a storm, making her a sinner through the ages?

Mo Heng felt a surge of murderous intent.

Seeing his expression change, Pei Qin quickly pulled him away. She wasn’t about to foolishly continue kneeling! Let those loyal and good officials kneel instead!

In the carriage, Mo Heng held her tightly, "You’ll fall ill once you’re home!"

Pei Qin looked up at his face, sculpted as if from jade but surrounded by a chilling aura, "Why should I fall ill once I’m home? I’ve already fallen ill in the palace! Frightened! I’ve practically lost my soul!"

"Don’t talk!" Mo Heng suddenly shouted harshly.

Pei Qin paused.

Mo Heng held her tightly, his eyes dark and haunting, "Don’t talk!"

Pei Qin winced from his tight grip, looked up, held his face with a smile, leaned in, and kissed his lips. As she touched them, she felt an icy chill seeping through. She paused, then wrapped her arms around him, invading his mouth, their tongues intertwining.

Mo Heng, fearing he might lose control, allowed her to lead the kiss, "Don’t talk anymore!"

Pei Qin messed with his handsome face with both hands, "Really stupid! I came here looking for you! Did you think you could get rid of me so easily!?"

"Even so, don’t talk!" Mo Heng held her tightly; he couldn’t bear the thought of truly losing her! He needed more time, just a bit longer, he would exhaust every means to find a way to cure her!

Unseen by Pei Qin, his eyes reddened, and amidst her rolling eyes, she responded, "Fine! Definitely won’t talk about it anymore!" Those transmigration gods often lose their souls and such, she had nearly died from poisoning before and hadn’t felt her soul slipping away, probably toughened up over time!

Once back home, Pei Qin claimed illness, and people from the Mansion of General Zhaoyong rushed out one after another seeking doctors, seeking famous physicians.

Pei Qin lay in bed, with a white silk canopy overhead, having someone tie a thread around her wrist and extend it out for the incoming physicians to conduct pulse diagnosis through the thread, "I am ill! Terribly, terribly ill! Check me out, what illness do I have!"

Doctors came and went, each one baffled. General Pei, who told you about pulse diagnosis through a thread? Even if they were famous physicians, such a method was overly complicated! Besides, she wasn’t ill at all! Speaking so energetically, yet claiming to be terribly, terribly ill!

Some physicians, shrewder, directly asked Pei Qin, "General Pei, what do you think you’ve contracted?" You tell us what your ailment is, and we’ll confirm it for you!

Pei Qin earnestly replied, "I think I’ve contracted leprosy! It’s contagious!"

"You contracted this disease... how did you acquire it if no one transmitted it to you?" a nearby physician asked incredulously.

"I was scared into it!" Pei Qin replied.

Several doctors twitched collectively, "Alright, General, you are ill! Indeed severely!"

"Mm! That’s more like it! Hurry up and prescribe me some medicine! Give me the kind that tastes sweet when boiled!" Pei Qin’s eyes twinkled merrily.

Boil into something sweet? That’s sugar water! The doctors looked at each other, none too eager to write that prescription.

Mo Heng just sat by, having each doctor write a prescription before finally letting them leave.

Then, Zhang Gengshan personally led people to the major drugstores to gather the prescribed medicines, hauling back large bags of various drugs.

Soon, the news spread. Pei Qin was ill, terribly, terribly ill! Many renowned physicians and doctors had attended, the gathered medicines enough to last from daily meals till the New Year.

Just then, an imperial edict arrived from the palace, along with an honorary plaque and a bestowed archway for the "Generation’s Heroine." The plaque was hung at Tiance General Mansion, and the archway built outside on the street in front of Tiance General Mansion.

The gathered populace cheered in approval, General Pei was indeed a legendary deity general, even if she was a woman! Her record and merits were undeniable!

They too were concerned about what illness had struck Pei Qin, how she had collapsed ill after leaving the palace without even summoning the Imperial Physician yet!

Some speculated maliciously that Pei Qin’s influence had unsettled the Emperor and now, with peace reigning, the emperor resorted to poisoning the well to kill Pei Qin. "The king wants his servant dead, the servant can’t but die!" Suddenly, those who thought they’d guessed right were heartbroken, desolate, and grew resentful within. Wa Ci had infiltrated the borders, Great Chu was on the brink of destruction, there was no one else capable of repelling foes and restoring the nation, Pei Qin, a woman, had been pushed to lead troops into battle, it was she who had supported the Emperor’s ascent to the throne, yet he resorted to such betrayal!

Those with overactive imaginations, seeing the Ministry of Labour already surveying and preparing to erect the arch, were once again confounded. What in the world was happening?

Pei Qin was now sitting cross-legged on her bed, eating and chattering with Dan Mingzhu and others.

Dan Mingzhu looked at her and asked, "Sister Peiqin! What if the Emperor summons you tomorrow, what will you do?"

"I’ll be on my last breath!" Pei Qin replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Yet, the next day at the early court, Xiao Guangzhao decreed and personally sent people to carry Pei Qin, "Even if only half a breath remains, you must attend the court!

Pei Qin pulled a face, cursing inwardly her ancestors for eighteen generations, and turned to draw out a three-meter white silk, "Let’s go!" I’m not afraid of you!