The Han Dynasty Empress is a Ghost | Chapter 45 | The Title of Lady | Novela.app

A daughter of the Imperial House? What was so bad about being a daughter of the Imperial House! He had pretentiously granted her the title of Lady Huikang, yet she didn't even have a single fief to her name. Ajiao gave a hollow laugh. "I’m still young; I haven't thought that far ahead!" "True enough." After a brief exchange, Liu Che realized he could get nothing more out of her. "But don't go dreaming about being a Princess or a Grand Princess. This title of 'Lady' I’ve given you is already an exception. I’ve already received a memorial from the Chancellor the moment the news broke. Your current... this Chen family of yours is neither related to the imperial consorts nor a house of meritorious officials. To be granted the title of Lady is already more than enough." Ajiao failed to pry a fief out of Liu Che’s mouth and could only return in disappointment. Guo Tun carried Ajiao out and asked, "Young Mistress, where shall we go to play now?" Ajiao pressed her hand onto Guo Tun’s shoulder and studied him closely. The boy was fair-skinned and delicate, with red lips and white teeth—a pleasant sight. "Your surname is Guo? What is your name?" "Guo Tun." "Good, Guo Tun. Remember to call me 'Lord' from now on." Even if the title wasn't entirely official yet, she intended to solidify her position. If it didn't work now, there was always the future; she didn't believe Liu Che would stubbornly refuse her a fief forever. "..." Guo Tun was stunned. These words didn't sound like something a three-year-old girl would say. Moreover, for a Lady without a fief or even a family background to demand to be called "Lord" was simply too much. The title "Lord" was clearly reserved for the Chancellor. Although everyone currently flattered the Great General by calling the Marquis of Changping "Lord," and the Emperor tacitly allowed it, there was no precedent for a little girl daring to claim such a title. *Fine, that was indeed too arrogant and hasty.* Ajiao intentionally pouted and said, "But it was Grandpa Emperor who told me to say it! I said that’s how my family addresses Great-Uncle, so Grandpa Emperor said I should say it too. Waaah!" As she spoke, she grabbed Guo Tun’s clothes as if she were about to burst into tears. Hearing her rambling words, Guo Tun assumed the Emperor had been teasing her, and the ignorant child had simply mimicked him. He hurried to comfort her. "Young Mistress, please don't cry. For someone of your status, you should be addressed as 'Lady' or 'Noble Lady' in the future. 'Lord' is not a title for a young mistress." Ajiao rubbed her face with her chubby hands and said, "I don't understand!" Logically, once the Emperor issued the edict and the young mistress received the official documents, the form of address should change. However, the Emperor still called her "Young Mistress" every time he spoke. Furthermore, why had the Emperor ordered his master to send the documents to the Great General’s manor? Guo Tun didn't understand, but he didn't dare to overthink it. He could only coax Ajiao: "If the Young Mistress likes it, I will call you 'My Lady' when the Emperor isn't around. How does that sound?" "Yay, yay!" Ajiao clapped her hands and laughed. "Where does My Lady wish to go now? To play with the Princesses for a while, or..." "To the Hall of Coolness," Ajiao said, blinking. "I heard I’m going to live there! Remember the sedan chair!" *** Guo Tun had no choice but to seek the Emperor’s instructions. The Emperor simply ordered, "Since she wants it, go and summon it. Let her keep it for her use; there's no need to ask for permission next time." Guo Tun bowed and immediately went to make the arrangements. The Hall of Coolness was a place that required regular cleaning anyway, so this time it only needed a quick dusting and sweeping. By the time Ajiao arrived at the Hall of Coolness, the palace servants had already finished tidying up. The floor was still damp from being mopped. Guo Tun carried Ajiao directly into the bedchamber. Ajiao lay down on the bed and told Guo Tun to fetch the Prefect of the Grand Physicians to check her leg. After being moved around all day by Liu Che’s people, her leg was aching. Guo Tun’s heart skipped a beat. How did this little girl even know about the Prefect of the Grand Physicians? Nevertheless, he dutifully went to summon a physician. When the physician arrived, Ajiao was sitting on the bed eating loquats. This physician looked quite young, with bright, piercing eyes and hair as dark as spilled ink. Judging by his official robes, he was an Assistant of the Grand Physicians. Ajiao glanced at Guo Tun, inwardly sighing that she no longer even had the status to summon the Prefect for a consultation. The young Assistant Physician found Ajiao’s face very unfamiliar and wondered about her identity. Guo Tun reminded him from the side, "Lord Song, this is Lady Huikang, newly titled by His Majesty. Please take a look quickly. My Lady injured her leg previously and moved around a bit too much today; she says it hurts now." As he spoke, he rolled up Ajiao’s skirt and trousers, revealing the splints inside. Song Zhen crouched down to inspect the injury and asked carefully, "Does it hurt here, My Lady?" "A little bit!" Ajiao pouted. Song Zhen carefully felt Ajiao’s leg bone before saying, "My Lady need not worry. The splints have simply loosened." He looked up at Guo Tun and added, "My Lady is young, and her bones haven't fully set yet. She must not walk around casually until she is fully recovered, lest it affects her healing in the long run." He then gave several more instructions. Guo Tun noted them all down. "The Great General has arrived!" a round-faced palace maid ran in to announce. "Please, bring him in." Guo Tun walked out, saying to Song Zhen at the door, "Lord Song, please write the prescription first. I will go to greet the Great General." Song Zhen nodded with a smile. Ajiao tugged at the round-faced maid’s skirt and asked, "Sister, what is your name?" The maid replied respectfully, "This servant is called Yu Li." Ajiao smiled. She did indeed look like a koi fish, with a very auspicious and cheerful appearance. "Great-Uncle!" Ajiao beamed at Wei Qing as he walked in. "Ajiao, why is Lord Song here? Are you sick?" Wei Qing walked over to Ajiao and crouched down to check on her. Song Zhen had only become an official in the medical department in recent years; though young, his skills were exceptional. Wei Qing had met him a few times and remembered him. "Leggy hurts." Ajiao pushed her little leg toward Wei Qing. Wei Qing paused and looked at Song Zhen. Song Zhen explained with a smile, "The Marquis need not worry. There is no major issue with My Lady. She simply moved around too much today. I have already reset the bone. She just needs to continue resting. As for this prescription, just brew it and have her drink it once a day." Song Zhen presented the prescription to Wei Qing. Wei Qing took it, glanced over it, and smiled. "I don't understand these things, but I appreciate Lord Song’s trouble!" With that, he handed Song Zhen a gold fruit. Song Zhen bowed to Wei Qing and left to prepare the medicine. Wei Qing patted Ajiao’s head and asked, "Ajiao, was it fun in the palace today?" "It was fun! I played with Run and Bo today. They have so many toys, and the Consort’s pastries were delicious. I’ve never seen them before." Wei Qing smiled. "You can keep playing with Run and the others in the future." "And there’s Grandpa Emperor. He’s having clothes made for me. I said I wanted to make some pouches for my brother too. Xia Zhu said everyone gives the baby pouches when he turns one month old. And Brother Guo Tun—Grandpa Emperor said he’s mine now. And Sister Yu Li..." Ajiao prattled on, picking out a few events from the day to share. "Then, have you met Her Majesty the Empress?" "Who? I don't know her." Ajiao shook her head. Seeing this, Guo Tun stepped forward to add, "Marquis, she has met her, but the Lady likely doesn't recognize her." "My Lady?" Wei Qing nodded. "It’s nothing. Lord Guo, I must trouble you to look after Ajiao. This child is young and doesn't know the ways of the world. If she does or says anything wrong, please help smooth things over." "What are you saying, Marquis? Guo Tun will certainly do his utmost to care for My Lady." Wei Qing took two small pouches from his robe, one large and one small. "Lord Guo, this is a small token of my appreciation. It will be hard work for you from now on. As for the other one, please use it to help My Lady manage things within the palace." Ajiao’s eyes darted around, and she intentionally giggled. "Great-Uncle, Ajiao wants some too!" She had just been worrying about having no money to grease palms in the palace; Wei Qing’s arrival was truly timely. "Ajiao can have some to play with." Wei Qing took out a few and handed them to her. "Be careful, you can't eat these!" "These are for my brother." Ajiao divided the gold fruits into two piles. Wei Qing smiled. "Have you been to the Crown Prince’s palace yet?" "The Crown Prince’s palace? What kind of place is that?" Ajiao didn't even look up, focused on playing with the gold fruits. "Not yet," Guo Tun said. Wei Qing nodded. Since Yang 得意 said Ajiao had a precious destiny, why hadn't she been taken to the Crown Prince’s palace? Instead, she had been brought to the Hall of Gracious Herbs. Seeing Wei Qing fall silent, Ajiao didn't speak either. This Wei Qing, from her few days of interaction, was truly interesting. Although he was as humble and polite as the rumors suggested, he was usually very quiet. He seemed a bit dull, and more than that, he appeared to be weighed down by hidden worries. Logically, someone who had become a powerful figure of the current dynasty solely through his own abilities should be full of high spirits. Even if he wasn't, why did he seem so overly cautious? Although she had heard in recent years that the Wei family’s power was great and Liu Che was somewhat wary of them, from what she saw today, while Liu Che was consistently cool toward Wei Zifu, he was quite close to Wei Qing—after all, they shared many years of bond between sovereign and subject. "Great-Uncle, then you take me to the Crown Prince’s palace to play. I haven't been there yet!" Ajiao tugged at her little braids. "I cannot take you. When His Majesty has time, he will naturally take you." With that, he stood up. "I have just seen His Majesty and cannot stay long. Ajiao, stay here comfortably. I’m leaving now." "Hmph, hmph, waaah!" Ajiao felt that at a time like this, a child ought to cry a little. "Be good, Ajiao. I’ll come to see you again when I have time." *** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation ---|---|--- 宗室女 | Daughter of the Imperial House | A female member of the imperial clan. 食邑 | Fief | Land or households granted to a noble, from which they collect taxes/rent. 君侯 | Lord | A respectful title for high-ranking officials or marquises. 女君 | Lady / My Lady | A respectful title for a noblewoman or the mistress of a house. 清凉殿 | Hall of Coolness | Qingliang Hall; a palace building. 太医令 | Prefect of the Grand Physicians | The head of the imperial medical department. 太医丞 | Assistant of the Grand Physicians | A high-ranking official in the imperial medical department, second to the Prefect. 金果子 | Gold fruits | Small pieces of gold cast in the shape of fruits, used as currency or rewards. 玉鲤 | Yu Li | A palace maid's name, meaning "Jade Carp." 宋臻 | Song Zhen | The name of the Assistant Physician. 郭旽 | Guo Tun | The name of the young attendant/eunuch. 惠草殿 | Hall of Gracious Herbs | Huicao Hall; a palace building.