Chapter 63: There Will Be Plenty of Time
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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In recent years, the imperial court’s overall policy on conferring and promoting nobility has been tightened.
After all, the titles of the nobility, unlike official positions, require officials to contribute to the country and the court to receive their salaries.
But the nobility is different. They do not work. The court allocates a portion of the treasury every year to support them. To put it bluntly, these people are parasites of society, unable to create value, only consuming it.
If they could just stay home, it wouldn’t be so bad.
However, the privileges of the nobility have led a large number of their children to develop a depraved and dissolute lifestyle, oppressing the good and harming the common people. They are not only parasites of society but also a scourge.
The current Emperor seems to have long been aware of the seriousness of this problem. So, from early on, he has been very cautious about conferring and promoting titles, doing so only for those with extraordinary merit. The benefits of the nobility have also been repeatedly reduced, so that those with the lowest rank, the Third-rank Baron, not only have meager salaries but also have had their fiefs taken back. They are essentially no different from ordinary commoners.
Speaking of the Emperor’s methods of suppressing the nobility, they ultimately ended in failure.
Because he could only control some of the lesser nobles, specifically the Third-rank Baron families. The truly powerful aristocratic families were not significantly affected. The Lin Family used to live comfortably, but their accelerated decline had much to do with the Emperor’s suppression of the nobility when he first ascended the throne.
Compared to the Third-rank Baron, the Second-rank Baron is slightly better off, with a fief and a higher salary, barely qualifying as the lowest level of nobility.
Although the difference in rank is only one level, the significance is entirely different. Now, even if someone wants to scheme against Lin Xiu, they have to be more cautious. It is basically impossible for something like the son of a Second-rank Baron being casually arrested and thrown into jail by the constables of the East and West City yamen to happen again.
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After Chief Steward Li finished reading the imperial edict and left with the reward money from Lady Ping’an, Lin Xiu was surrounded by his family.
“Xiu’er, what is going on?”
“Why did the Emperor suddenly promote me?”
“And reward us with a fief and servants…”
Lin Xiu knew that this was all thanks to Noble Consort, but he didn’t want to explain the details. If they knew that he had been schemed against, imprisoned again, and almost tortured, they would probably worry about him again.
Lin Xiu just smiled and said, “Father, have you forgotten? I said I would earn you the title of First-rank Duke. This is only a Second-rank Baron. What are you so excited about? The good days are still ahead…”
Ping’an Bo couldn’t help but pat him on the head and said, “Such words will be ridiculed by others. Don’t say them again.”
Despite his words, the corners of his mouth almost reached his ears. Although the promotion wasn’t due to his own merits, he was even happier than if he had been promoted himself.
Because he had a good son.
In other noble families in the Capital, if their offspring didn’t cause trouble for the family, it was already a blessing. Hoping for their sons to earn them a promotion was something they probably wouldn’t even dare to dream of.
Zhou Yun was unhappy with her husband patting their son’s head and pinched his waist, frowning. “Your son earned you the title of Second-rank Baron, and you still have complaints? Hit Xiu’er’s head again, and you will be sleeping in the study…”
Lin Xiu, worried that his parents would continue to question the reason for the promotion, excused himself, saying he was tired, and slipped away to his room.
He sighed inwardly. Noble Consort really meant what she said. From the time she said she would raise the Lin Family’s title to the arrival of the imperial edict, it hadn’t even been an hour.
The title of Second-rank Baron isn’t high, it could even be said to be very low. However, a newly promoted Second-rank Baron is different. This means that this Second-rank Baron has caught the Emperor’s eye. At least in the short term, anyone who wants to target Lin Xiu or the Lin household has to think twice.
Lin Xiu doesn’t want to scheme against others or be schemed against, nor does he want to painstakingly plot against anyone. He just wants to make money and cultivate, hoping that after Yang Xuan, no one will bother him again.
In the noble circles of the Capital, a small-scale commotion was caused today.
Ping’an Bo’s promotion to Second-rank Baron wasn’t suppressed by the palace, and within half a day, it spread throughout the noble circles of the Capital.
The matter of a Second-rank Baron wouldn’t normally attract the attention of the top nobles, but this Second-rank Baron was newly promoted, making it entirely different.
In recent years, the Emperor has been controlling the granting and promotion of noble titles. Only a few who have made truly great contributions have been promoted. Coupled with the fact that titles are lowered by one rank upon inheritance, the overall trend of noble titles has been downwards.
Under these circumstances, the fact that someone could go against the trend seemed extraordinary.
For a time, they all began to investigate what Ping’an Bo had done to make the Emperor make an exception and promote him. Of course, all they could find was that Ping’an Bo’s son had awakened the Ice Art and had been making ice for the imperial palace for the past month. That month had been incredibly hot for them. Although the Emperor promoting Ping’an Bo just for this seemed a bit excessive, it was justifiable.
It was just a Second-rank Baron, not a Second-rank Marquis or a Second-rank Duke. Perhaps it was a decision the Emperor made on a whim. It could only be said that Ping’an Bo was lucky.
After investigating clearly, everyone put the matter behind them.
The Lin household has been very lively these two days.
Previously, the house was very quiet, with no one visiting even during festivals. These past two days, however, people have been coming and going. Among these people, there are distant relatives, and even more are nobles from the Capital.
Some Third-rank Baron and Second-rank Baron households sent congratulatory gifts. These people usually had no dealings with the Lin household, but the gifts they sent this time were not insignificant, as if they were very familiar with each other.
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These are all matters of social etiquette, which Lin Xiu understood, but the constant stream of visitors from morning till night made him irritable and unable to cultivate peacefully.
So, Lin Xiu left the Lin residence and headed towards Pear Flower苑 with Sun Dali.
When he was feeling restless, only Caiyi’s voice could bring him inner peace.
At the entrance of Pear Flower苑, Sun Dali said, “Young Master, how long will you be? I will come back to pick you up then.”
Lin Xiu asked strangely, “Aren’t you waiting here?”
Sun Dali glanced at him and said, “Young Master, are you sure you want me to wait here? What if Second Miss comes back and sees…”
Lin Xiu waved his hand without hesitation and said, “Go, go now, go far away, don’t appear near here, come back to pick me up in an hour…”
Dali finally understood, which made Lin Xiu very pleased.
Although Lingyin was currently at her grandmother’s house and wouldn’t be back for a while, one should always be prepared. Lin Xiu didn’t want to be caught red-handed by her at a critical moment.
When he entered Pear Flower garden, it was unexpectedly not open for business.
Lin Xiu walked in and asked a young girl, “Are you not open for business today?”
When the young girl saw Lin Xiu, her eyes lit up, and she immediately said, “You’re here, Young Master! I’ll go call Sister Caiyi!”
The girl rushed into the backyard like a whirlwind, and not long after, Caiyi hurried in. She looked at Lin Xiu with concern and asked, “Young Master, are you alright?”
Lin Xiu then realized that after he was taken away from Pear Flower garden that day, he had forgotten to come back and report his safety after leaving the palace.
He looked at Caiyi apologetically and said, “I’m sorry, I’ve been busy these two days and forgot to tell you. I’m fine.”
Caiyi breathed a sigh of relief and said, “It’s good that you’re fine, it’s good that you’re fine…”
Lin Xiu looked at the empty hall and asked, “Why aren’t you open for business today?”
Caiyi explained, “Because there was a murder case in the building two days ago, the authorities sealed the place off and haven’t yet told us we can reopen.”
This order should have been issued by the East City yamen. Lin Xiu said, “I’ll go to the yamen and urge them later. The case is over; this can’t go on. It’s not easy for you to make money. Every day you don’t open is a day’s less business…”
Not long after, in a private room on the second floor of Pear Flower garden, Caiyi made a cup of tea for Lin Xiu and asked with a smile, “Will Young Master teach me a new song today?”
Lin Xiu said, “Let’s not rush that. Have you practiced the music score I gave you last time? How does it feel?”
Caiyi nodded and said, “I’ve been practicing every day. Those music scores are really useful. After practicing for a few days, I can already feel a kind of power emerging within me…”
Then, she walked to a cabinet, took out a book from it, and handed it to Lin Xiu with both hands, saying, “I’ve copied this music score. I’m returning this book to you, Young Master.”
Lin Xiu put the book away. This was borrowed from the Arcane Arts Institute and had to be returned on time.
Then he said to Caiyi, “Miss Caiyi, would you mind if I took your pulse again?”
Caiyi didn’t speak but proactively extended her hand, rolled up her sleeve, and revealed her snow-white wrist.
Lin Xiu placed three fingers of his right hand on her wrist. The next moment, a smile appeared on his face. The power within him finally reacted.
His guess was indeed correct. The reason why he couldn’t copy Shuangshuang’s ability last time was that his ability had awakened for the first time, and the number of abilities he could copy had reached its limit. After his second awakening, his ability had greatly increased and he could now copy more abilities.
But soon, Lin Xiu realized a problem.
Too slow!
The speed at which he copied Caiyi’s ability was too slow, slower than copying Dali and Haitang’s. Logically, he had awakened once more than before, so even if the speed didn’t increase, it definitely shouldn’t decrease!
But soon, Lin Xiu realized the problem.
It was the problem of contact area.
When taking her pulse, he was using his fingertips to make contact with Caiyi’s wrist. Taking a pulse was different from shaking hands; the area of contact between their bodies was too small, so naturally, it took longer. It probably wouldn’t be finished in a quarter of an hour.
But taking a pulse for a quarter of an hour was still difficulty explainable. If he took a pulse for an hour or half an hour, even a fool could see there was a problem, right?
As expected, he still needed to get closer to her.
Thinking of this, Lin Xiu decisively withdrew his hand.
He wasn’t actually in a hurry to acquire Caiyi’s ability. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future. Moreover, he currently had some concerns.
Since there was a limit to the number of abilities he could copy during his first awakening, there would also be a limit for his second awakening. Although Lin Xiu currently didn’t know how many, there definitely would be one.
Under these circumstances, the acquisition of abilities must be prioritized.
Li Bozhang’s Thunder Power was, of course, something he wanted to obtain whenever possible. There was also Xue Ning’er; he had missed an opportunity with her, and he didn’t know when the next one would be. He had to seize it.
On the other hand, there was no rush with Caiyi. There would be plenty of time between them, and this way, he would have one more slot for an ability.
At this moment, Caiyi suddenly looked at Lin Xiu and said, “Young Master.”
Lin Xiu raised his head and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Caiyi silently lowered her head, her face slightly red, and said, “I saw in a book that arcane arts cannot be diagnosed through pulse-taking…”
Lin Xiu was stunned for a moment and said awkwardly, “Is that so…”
Caiyi nodded and said, “I’ve read several books, and they all say so…”
It’s true that people shouldn’t read too many books. Lin Xiu suddenly stood up and said, “It’s getting late today. I’ll go to the yamen and urge them for you. It wouldn’t be good if they leave for the day…”
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