"It seems so. The student remembers him saying he was recently promoted and has been busier than before~"
"Even when busy, he still has time to personally welcome Master Hua. It looks like this friend of yours is quite close to you, Master Hua?"
After teasing, Lin Qingge raised her eyebrows in surprise as she watched the Imperial Guards continuously pouring out from the city gates.
"Master Hua, are you sure your friend is here to welcome you, and not to arrest you and bring you to justice?"
"He… shouldn't be.
But just in case, this student will take his leave now.
Tomorrow morning, this student will report to the prefectural office without fail, and will not delay your duties, my lord~"
With that, Hua Jinrong signaled the driver, An Yi, to turn the carriage around. He looked as if he were fleeing from a shrew chasing him.
Lin Mo Yuan and Murong Bai, who were also in the carriage, did not stop him. They let the carriage change direction and head towards the outskirts of the city.
"Tch, running away?"
The newly appointed Prime Minister, standing on the carriage shaft, clicked his tongue ungracefully. Then, he winked at Zhang Ziliang, the commander of the Imperial Guards, who raised his hand and dismissed the temporarily summoned guards.
At this moment, Lin Qingge's carriage had arrived.
Lin Qingge, who had hastily changed into official attire, had barely stepped off the carriage when a deep, somewhat impatient, magnetic male voice rang out:
"This is Lin Jingxing Lin, the new Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture. From now on, do not bother this Prime Minister with trivial matters. You should all go to this Lord Lin instead."
...
Feeling that the other party was shirking responsibility and having gathered evidence, Lin Qingge's lips twitched, and she vaguely knew who the person before her was.
To hold the position of Prime Minister at such a young age, looking at the entire Great Xia, there was no one else but that particular person.
With this thought, she cupped her hands in a salute and said,
"Your subordinate, Lin Jingxing, greets the Prime Minister!"
"Mm."
He let out a cool syllable from his nose. Feng Qingchen, uncharacteristically, did not scold her. Instead, before the astonished, and even terrified, eyes of all the officials, he lightly supported the newly appointed Prefect.
"Lord Lin, you have traveled far. His Majesty's granted residence has already been prepared. The streets of the capital are complex.
Commander Zhang, you will personally escort Lord Lin and his party back to the residence later."
"Yes."
After giving this instruction, Feng Qingchen yawned and returned to his carriage.
After this newly appointed Prime Minister's carriage departed, the civil and military officials who had followed from the morning court swarmed forward to converse with Lin Qingge.
Setting aside the fact that this Lord Lin had risen from a mere ninth-rank county magistrate to a fourth-rank Prefect in less than half a year, even the fact that the usually aloof Prime Minister Feng treated him with such warmth and care was enough to show that he was no ordinary person.
He might very well become the Emperor's second most favored official, after Feng Qingchen.
Therefore, it was definitely wise to curry favor with him as early as possible.
However, Lin Qingge herself, the object of this favor-seeking, maintained an awkward yet polite smile, nodding to officials she didn't recognize and didn't particularly want to know. Finally, she walked up to the Minister of Justice, Lord Xu Changling, and bowed deeply.
"Your student, Lin Jingxing, pays respects to his esteemed teacher.
Upon arriving in the capital, your student should have visited your residence to pay his respects. It is this student's fault for troubling you to personally come to the city gates to welcome me."
Upon hearing this, Xu Changling smiled, "Jingxing, you are too kind. This official was merely following the crowd.
Although I did intend to support you, I did not expect Jingxing for you to gain the appreciation of Prime Minister Feng. It seems my efforts were redundant."
"How could it be redundant?
Even if you don't see your student, you must see Miss Xu, right?"
"Indeed. It has been too long since I last saw Si Yun, and this official cannot sit still. I wish I could have guarded here last night."
While Lin Qingge was making small talk with Xu Changling, Zhang Ziliang walked over, patted Lin Qingge on the back, and said with a hearty laugh,
"Lord Lin is truly a dragon among men. To have reached the position of Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture in such a short period is truly impressive!"
Lin Qingge, who was almost sent flying by the pat, managed to steady herself and pulled at her stiff lips, "General Zhang, you flatter me. Your subordinate is merely a tiny bit luckier than others.
And General Zhang, you are not bad either. Your subordinate has not yet congratulated General Zhang on your promotion to Commander of the Imperial Guards."
The Commander of the Imperial Guards held a third-rank position, so in front of General Zhang, Lin Qingge still had to refer to herself as 'subordinate'.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ziliang burst into laughter,
"Your mouth is still as eloquent as ever, you brat."
With that, he intended to pat Lin Qingge on the back again, but she subtly avoided it.
After the welcoming incident at the city gates.
Lin Qingge and her party were led by Zhang Ziliang to a residence near the imperial palace.
Looking at the grand calligraphy of "Lin Residence" on the plaque at the entrance, Lin Qingge wondered if she could be considered to have brought honor to her ancestors.
At this moment, a young eunuch emerged from within, his head bowed, and knelt before Lin Qingge's carriage, "This servant, Cai Quan, pays respects to Lord Lin, Madam Lin, and Young Master Lin!"
"Uh—"
Feeling as if her lifespan had been shortened, Lin Qingge alighted from the carriage. The young eunuch stood up and continued,
"Lord Lin, this servant is acting under His Majesty's orders as the steward of the Lin Residence. If you and your family require anything, feel free to command this servant."
"His Majesty's benevolence is vast. Not only did he grant us a residence, but he even provided a steward. Truly considerate."
Lin Qingge said as she picked up Lin Zimo, who was peeking out, and then entered the residence with Leng Ningyue.
As she walked inside, Lin Qingge realized she had been too shallow.
The opulence of the residence's furnishings and decorations far exceeded her impoverished imagination. It was not an exaggeration to say it was fit for a prince.
"Reporting to Lord Lin, this residence was originally granted by the late Emperor to the Eldest Princess and her consort. Unfortunately, the Eldest Princess was frail and passed away early.
As for the consort, he was indifferent to fame and fortune. Later, for reasons unknown, he incurred the Emperor's wrath and died in prison that very night. Thus, this residence lost its masters and remained vacant.
It was not until recently that His Majesty decreed that this residence be bestowed upon you, Lord Lin, that this long-dormant residence saw the light of day again.
Of course, these things this servant heard from my adoptive father, Eunuch Cai."
"No wonder it's so luxurious."
But was it truly acceptable to grant a residence once lived in by a princess to a mere fourth-rank Prefect?
Lin Qingge did not voice this latter half. She and Leng Ningyue went to the backyard, with the master bedroom still designated for Leng Ningyue and Lin Zimo, while she herself slept in a side room.
As everyone had just settled down, an imperial eunuch arrived from the palace to deliver an edict.
"His Majesty has decreed that Lord Lin Jingxing and his wife and child be summoned to the palace to meet the Emperor.欽此!"
Listening to the eunuch's shrill voice, Lin Qingge said, "Thank you for Your Majesty's grace," and turned to go back to her room to change.
A moment later, the family of three, neatly dressed, boarded the dispatched carriage and entered the palace.