The Marquise: I Earn My Own Worship

"Oh, I understand what Lord Ma means. This means that from now on, any official seeking leave must first ask permission from their superiors, compile a written request, and then a medical officer will come to confirm whether the relative is ill. After the medical officer confirms the illness and issues a medical certificate, the official can then take the medical certificate to the Ministry of Personnel's Records Office to obtain a leave note, and finally, can they apply for leave and return home."

After saying this, he smacked his lips and said, "But this process is really cumbersome. If some family members are seriously ill... well, wouldn't it mean that I can't even see my family members for the last time before I get the leave slip?"

Seeing that the officials had strange expressions, Xie Qingyang bowed to Lord Ma.

"I've heard that Lord Ma is very particular about rules. I'm lucky enough to see it today. It's really eye-opening!"

Xie Qingyang now works as a clerk in the Ministry of Personnel's Duty and Records Department, mainly responsible for the attendance of officials.

Lord Ma could tell that Xie Qingyang was mocking him, as he was just a small clerk of the sixth rank.

He glanced at Xie Qingyang with disdain and a squint.

"Thank you, sir, for your good words. I personally believe that national affairs are more important. Master Duan's actions are tantamount to prioritizing family over country. This is extremely disrespectful!"

As soon as these words were spoken, many people started cursing in their hearts.

It's just a few days of leave, but you make it seem like you've committed a crime. It's really an exaggeration. Mr. Duan is so unlucky. When did he offend these two evil stars?

Yang Ju and Ma Guo are both from the Ministry of Rites, and they usually like to talk about rules.

Let’s not talk about those things in the past, like the fact that the chief official had to eat first before lower-ranking officials could start eating. What a broken rule! We were all officials in the current dynasty, but he had to create a hierarchy.

Bah, stinky old weasel, rotten rat!

Everyone despised him in their hearts, but did not dare to show it on their faces.

Just when there was silence, a voice rang out.

"I think you are all not as good as Master Ma. His last name is better than yours!"

Mr. Guo spoke and said with a smile.

No one reacted at first, but when they realized what it meant, they began to laugh in their hearts.

Ma Guo's face turned blue and purple, but because Mr. Guo had a high status, he didn't dare to act rashly.

The King of Chu also began to laugh in his heart, but they were all his subjects, so he could not favor one over the other.

Elder Guo reported, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Lord Duan had come to the palace to seek medical treatment. Everyone along the way knew that Lord Duan was frail and had a persistent cough. Lord Duan's family is now supported by only his two sons, and Lord Duan himself is struggling. It is said that after returning home, he was so distraught over his mother's frailty that he is bedridden."

"In my early years, I worked with Lord Duan. Lord Duan devoted himself to the public and the country despite his illness. He was always worried about you until his last moment."

The newly appointed officials did not know that Lord Duan was seriously injured and died in an assassination attempt while protecting the current emperor.

Speaking of this, the King of Chu also felt a little sad. Although Duan Chongming was not very smart, he was very loyal.

His descendants also inherited their father's legacy, so it is not a disgrace to him.

"Now, Marquis Duan's wife lies in state, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, fulfilling her filial duty. It's a pity that Marquis Duan lived a life of loyalty and bravery, yet had few children. Duan Shishi has neglected public affairs due to personal feelings, and this is a crime. However, he was filial and virtuous, and his actions are excusable. Today, the world is governed by filial piety, and we should be grateful for this filial kindness. Your Majesty will have to judge Duan Shishi's fault."

Seeing that it was almost done, the Emperor of Chu glanced at Ma Guo and Yang Ju, paused for a moment, and then looked at Mr. Guo.

"Minister Guo's words are reasonable. Duan Qing is a model of filial piety and virtue for all ministers. I know that the Duan family has few descendants. Now that all family affairs have fallen on Duan Qing, it is difficult to handle both. Those who work with him should be more tolerant."

Several officials who worked with Duan Jing'an came forward to intercede for him.

"Master Duan is diligent and meticulous in his duties, never slacking off for a single day. Even when he was attending to us, he wrote to us to inform us of official matters. Master Duan is always caring and considerate to us, and he is kind and polite. We, the officials, have not had the slightest complaint."

The Emperor of Chu nodded and praised him a few times.

Turning to Ma Guo, he said, "I know that Ma Qing always puts state affairs first, but sometimes there is no need to be too harsh."

Ma Guo looked ashamed and stepped forward, kowtowed and confessed his guilt.

The Emperor of Chu waved his hand to signal him to stand up. Yang Ju, who was standing aside, wanted to say something, but when he saw the man in front of him signaling to him, he stopped talking.

"The Duan Hou's wife is already old, and the days of her children and grandchildren growing older are numbered. How could I possibly separate such a family?"

After the court session, all the officials left the court one after another.

"Humph!"

Ma Guo looked at Xie Qingyang and snorted coldly, flicking his sleeves

"Thank you for your eloquence, sir. I have learned a lot today."

Xie Qingyang saluted with neither arrogance nor servility, "Master Ma, you are joking. I am just doing my duty."

"Tsk, Master Xie is still too young. I advise you to take care of yourself first. Listen less and do less in official circles. What if..."

"Master Ma!"

There was a hint of threat in Ma Guo's tone, and Xie Qingyang's face turned slightly pale. At this moment, a voice interrupted him.

Ding Haimo and Bai Shiwang walked down the ladder step by step, and Ma Guoguan, who was of a lower rank, had to step forward and salute.

"It turns out to be Lord Ding and Lord Bai."

Bai Shiwang looked at Xie Qingyang and said with a smile, "There are a few problems with yesterday's record. Come with me to check them out."

So he nodded to Ma Guo and left with his men. Ma Guo's face changed instantly, and he looked at the backs of the two men leaving with some resentment.

Although Ding Haimo is not good at speaking, he is not someone to be trifled with as he has reached his current position.

"As the saying goes, if you can't clean your own house, how can you clean the world? Lord Ma, instead of worrying about whether irrelevant people have done their official duties well, you might as well worry about the people in your own house!"

After saying that, he left.

Ma Guo was even more angry, but he didn't take Ding Haimo's words to heart.

As a result, the next morning, the third son of the Ma family was imprisoned for robbery, oppression of the people, and occupation of hundreds of acres of fertile land.

The series of events involved many dirty things, and the Ma family complained bitterly for a while, and tried to use their connections to get the person out.

But once you enter the Internal Prison Division, you will be in the Ministry of Justice's territory. If you want to rescue someone, sorry, you are bribing your colleagues, which is an even more serious crime.

Mrs. Ma was so frightened that she fell ill that day, and Ma Guo was so busy that he was dizzy.

Let’s put this aside for now. After all the officials left the court, an imperial decree came from the palace.

It was a reward sent to Duan Bo's mansion. Now Ma Guo, Yang Ju and all the officials in the court who had come to attack Duan Jing'an were slapped in the face.

*

Lu sent the people from the palace away, waved away the servants with a tired look on her face, and turned to walk towards Bisong Courtyard.

Inside Bisong Courtyard

"Miss, you'll feel better once your fever goes down. When you wake up, give you some liquid food and moisten your lips with salt water. Boil this medicine for half an hour and drink it when you wake up."

Old Xu gave Suqiu instructions, and Suqiu wrote them down one by one.

Song Shengfu and Xuan Ge'er were guarding by the side. Xuan Ge'er looked at the girl lying behind the bed curtain with a worried look on his face.

"Grandma, when will my sister wake up?"

Song Shengfu touched Xuan Ge'er's hair lovingly. Xuan Ge'er looked at her with tears in his eyes.

"It's almost there, sister's fever has gone and she will wake up soon."