Duke of Zhenguan

The process of bestowing a title was very complicated. The official document for Lin Chuan's conferment of a baronship went through the process in three provinces and had just been delivered to the Ministry of Rites when Lin Chuan followed Cheng Yaojin to Luoyang.

The Ministry of Rites, together with the Imperial Household Department, the Imperial Clothing Bureau, and other departments, have just prepared the necessary documents, official seals, and official robes. Lin Chuan, who has returned from Luoyang, has been promoted to a higher rank!

Once the emperor gave the word, the officials below ran themselves ragged. After the Ministry of Rites returned the official document, the Ministry of Personnel rewrote the decree for Lin Chuan's conferment of a title.

The same process needs to be repeated.

Lin Chuan only learned about his promotion when he met Cheng Yaojin after finishing his shift at the Ministry of Works the next day.

Naturally, Cheng Yaojin dragged him back and they drank together all night.

The next day after finishing his shift, Lin Chuan invited Cheng Yaojin's family, Qin Qiong's family, and Yan Shigu and Yan Xiangshi's family to his home to celebrate.

"I never imagined that Lin Dalang was not only proficient in mathematics, but also so skilled in medicine!"

During the meal, Yan Shigu suddenly sighed softly.

"Master Yan, I really don't know much about medicine, let alone be considered highly skilled!" Lin Chuan said modestly.

"Two days ago, His Majesty summoned us to the palace and showed us a file from the Hundred Cavalry Division investigating a woman's difficult childbirth. It was truly shocking!"

If it weren't for your reminder, Lin Dalang, who would have thought that a woman giving birth just a few years earlier would be in such danger!

Otherwise, would Lin Dalang think that being granted the title of viscount was an easy thing to do?

Why did not a single official in the court object? In my opinion, this one merit alone is enough to warrant a marquisate! Yan Shigu sighed softly.

"Does the imperial court have a solution?" Qin Qiong, who had not attended court for a long time, asked with a frown.

"A thousand-year-old bad habit cannot be changed overnight! It's difficult!" Yan Shigu shook his head.

Yan Xiangshi turned his gaze to Lin Chuan and asked:

"What are your thoughts, Ogawa?"

"What the superiors do, the inferiors will follow. In my humble opinion, besides announcing it to the world, the most effective way is to have the powerful and wealthy set an example. That might have some effect!" Lin Chuan said.

"That makes sense!"

Yan Xiangshi nodded in agreement.

The banquet ended at midnight. As the host, Lin Chuan greeted the men, while Li Shi and Er Ya greeted the women. The women were in high spirits and drank just as much as the men.

As a result, both mother and son drank quite a bit, to the point that Lin Chuan couldn't get up the next day and was late for the first time since he became an official.

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Works, I heard the news that the Minister of Works, Dou Gui, had retired and that the new Minister of Works, named Duan Lun, would soon assume office.

At the same time, Yan Lide, the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Works Bureau, will concurrently serve as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, while the position of Director of the Ministry of Works will remain vacant.

Xu Chun secretly told Lin Chuan that he had heard some news from the officials of the Dali Temple that the former Vice Minister of Works and the Director of the Ministry of Works might be exiled to Fuzhou.

It wasn't a demotion, it was exile.

It is said that Li Shimin personally ordered the severe punishment.

Such punishment is too harsh for two officials who merely abused their power for personal gain.

But since they come from prominent families, and recently those prominent families in Luoyang did something stupid and were caught red-handed.

Even when Lin Chuan was not around, the Ministry of Works continued to operate normally. After Lin Chuan returned, he had no intention of taking over the work. Xu Chun was very capable and, in addition to his own job, also did a good job in Lin Chuan's work.

Every day he would get up early, run to the Qin family to practice with Qin Qiong for half an hour, and then go to the Ministry of Works to loaf around.

After his shift ended, he would occasionally go to the Cheng or Yan families for drinks.

Lin Chuan lived a very leisurely life.

The weather is getting hotter every day, and April is already halfway over.

The most puzzling thing for ordinary people in Chang'an was that many wealthy and powerful families postponed their wedding dates.

Some well-informed people heard about the notices posted at the county government offices of Chang'an County and Wannian County. Although they were skeptical, they spread the word to others that it was very dangerous for women to give birth so early.

However, too few ordinary people are literate, and information passed down orally is extremely easy to deviate from its original meaning. Some people even heard the content as the government wanting to collect a poll tax.

Changes have occurred, but they are slow.

Recently, Li has stopped mentioning Lin Chuan's marriage proposal much, and she no longer seems as eager as before.

Moreover, ever since Zhao Fu and Zhao Gui brought their wives and children to Tonghuafang, there were suddenly eight more people in the family, and naturally, there were more things to do, so she no longer went to the noodle shop to help.

Another reason for this is that after Li took Er Ya to the Yan family a few times, she finally realized, with a gentle reminder from Madam Yan, that she was already a person of power and wealth.

As Lin Chuan's mother, what would people think of Lin Chuan if they knew that she still worked at a noodle shop every day?

Concerned about her son's reputation, even if it was only a possibility, Mrs. Li decided to stop going to the noodle shop.

Furthermore, she put the matter of buying maids on her agenda.

A son should have someone to serve him, and a daughter should also have someone to serve her.

On the morning of October 18th, Li took Er Ya to the noodle shop and called Lin Jiu and Tian Shi. The four of them prepared to go outside Chang'an to see if there were any suitable candidates.

Then the accident happened.

As evening fell, Lin Chuan was leisurely flipping through a history book borrowed from the Yan family in the Ministry of Works' office when Xu Chun suddenly strode in, bowed, and said:

"Master Lin, there's a man outside who calls himself Zhao Gui. He says he has urgent business with you!"

Lin Chuan frowned, got up, and strode to the door with Xu Chun.

"My lord, the old lady is injured!"

Lin Chuan's mind went blank for a moment, and he asked urgently:

How serious is it?

"The old lady is fine, just some scratches. But Lin Jiu, who went out of the city with her, is seriously injured! He has three broken ribs and may have damaged his internal organs!" Zhao Gui replied, bowing.

"Follow me!"

Lin Chuan gave a shout and led Zhao Gui toward the Imperial Medical Bureau.

"Master Lin!"

Upon seeing Lin Chuan appear at the door, Physician Liu, who was organizing the prescriptions, stood up and bowed with a look of surprise.

"Doctor Liu, my ninth uncle has been seriously injured and I would like to ask you to take a look!" Lin Chuan cupped his hands and said, getting straight to the point.

"good!"

Physician Liu was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly went to pack his medicine box.

They rushed back to Tonghua Lane with Physician Liu, only to find Madam Li standing anxiously at the door waiting for them.

Upon seeing Lin Chuan, he called out anxiously:

"Big Brother!"

"Mother, are you alright?"

"It's just a scratch on your hand, it's nothing, your Ninth Uncle..." Li said softly.

"Mother, I've invited Physician Liu from the Imperial Medical Bureau to come and examine Uncle Jiu. He'll be alright!" Lin Chuan comforted him.

"Over here!"

Madam Li quickly led Physician Liu inside.

Upon arriving at the front yard, Lin Chuan saw Lin Jiu and Tian Shi, whose face was covered in tears.

At this moment, Lin Jiu was too weak to speak. His face was covered in blood, his left cheek was swollen, and a dark red bloodstain ran from the corner of his eye to his earlobe.

Physician Liu dared not be negligent. He first pried open Lin Jiu's eyelids to take a look, then reached out to check his pulse, before softly speaking to Lin Chuan and the others who were surrounding him:

"He shouldn't be in any danger to his life!"

After confirming that Lin Jiu's life was no longer in danger, Lin Chuan had Physician Liu treat Lin Jiu's injuries inside the house, while he called Li Shi outside and asked softly:

"Mother, what happened?"

"It's my fault for taking out the money bag, and then a group of vagrants targeted me. If it weren't for your Ninth Uncle standing in front of me..." Li said with a look of lingering fear.

"Where is he?" Lin Chuan asked, frowning.

"They ran away after the officials arrived!"

After hesitating for a moment, Li said:

"It seems they caught two..."