Rebirth and Reversal of Fortune

Chapter 114 Glory Abounds, Su Jinxiu's Worries

In the capital, Xiao Ling's fame was at its zenith. People recounted his heroic deeds in the streets and alleys, and children imitated his heroic figure on the battlefield while playing.

In the imperial court, the emperor praised Xiao Ling highly, bestowing upon him countless treasures and honors. "Xiao Ling, you are a meritorious official of the nation. I will ensure that your name is forever recorded in history," the emperor's voice echoed in the hall.

Xiao Ling knelt down to express his gratitude, "Your Majesty's great kindness is truly appreciated. I will dedicate myself to serving you with utmost loyalty, even unto death."

However, this honor also attracted countless envious glances.

"Hmph, Xiao Ling is just lucky for the moment," a jealous minister muttered privately.

“That’s right. We don’t know how long his current glory will last,” another minister chimed in.

Xiao Ling knew what these people were thinking, but he chose to respond with tolerance and magnanimity.

The Marquis's mansion was always bustling with visitors, who came in an endless stream.

"General Xiao, I have long admired your name and have come to pay you a visit today." A wealthy merchant presented a generous gift with a beaming smile.

"Lord Xiao, this is just a small token of my appreciation. I hope you will accept it." An official said obsequiously.

Su Jinxiu assisted Xiao Ling in dealing with these social interactions, reminding him, "Husband, you must be careful and not be deceived by these false sentiments."

Xiao Ling nodded in agreement.

But trouble continued to arise. Some ministers who were jealous of Xiao Ling joined forces to deliberately trip him up in court.

"General Xiao, your proposed border defense plan is extremely costly and may be difficult to implement."

"Lord Xiao, is there any exaggeration in your account of your military achievements this time?"

Faced with these difficulties, Xiao Ling argued with reason and used facts and evidence to leave them speechless.

At the same time, some rumors about Xiao Ling also began to circulate among the public.

"I heard that Xiao Ling was actually a coward on the battlefield and only won because his soldiers fought desperately."

"Xiao Ling's achievements are so great that they threaten the emperor's position; he may be plotting a rebellion."

These rumors spread rapidly, greatly damaging Xiao Ling's reputation.

Xiao Ling decided to personally step forward to clarify the rumors.

"I, Xiao Ling, am utterly loyal to the imperial court, as Heaven and Earth can attest. Those rumors are nothing but malicious slander by those with ulterior motives."

His honesty and steadfastness earned him the trust of some, but rumors continued to spread in the shadows.

Just as Xiao Ling was troubled by these matters, a secret letter was delivered to him.

"General Xiao, be careful of the people around you."

Xiao Ling stared at the secret letter, lost in thought. Who was pulling the strings behind all this? Was it an enemy in the court, or a traitor hidden among his own ranks?

Just as Xiao Ling was preparing to delve deeper into the investigation, another major event occurred in the imperial court…

Night fell in the study of the Marquis's residence. Su Jinxiu frowned, lost in thought by candlelight. While Xiao Ling's glory in the court and on the battlefield filled her with pride, it also filled her with worry.

"My husband is now so famous, I wonder how many people are secretly jealous and plotting against him," Su Jinxiu murmured to herself.

She recalled the faces of those who appeared to be obsequious but were actually harboring ulterior motives in front of the Marquis's mansion recently, and felt increasingly uneasy.

"Madam, please don't worry too much. The general will surely handle it," the maid beside her whispered comfortingly.

Su Jinxiu gently shook her head: "You don't understand. The struggles in the imperial court are far more complex and dangerous than those on the battlefield."

The next day, Su Jinxiu decided to personally visit some ladies from prominent families who had long-standing ties with the Marquis's mansion, hoping to glean some useful information from them.

“Sister Su, your general is enjoying great prestige these days, but you must be careful of those who try to trip you up in the shadows,” a lady said, holding Su Jinxiu’s hand with a worried expression.

Su Jinxiu nodded: "Sister is absolutely right, that's exactly what I was worried about."

After returning from her home, Su Jinxiu felt even more heavy-hearted.

At this time, Xiao Ling was busy dealing with court affairs and was not fully aware of Su Jinxiu's worries.

"My lord, you must be extra careful these days," Su Jinxiu couldn't help but remind him during dinner.

Xiao Ling smiled and said, "Don't worry, Madam, I know what I'm doing."

However, things developed much faster than they had imagined.

One day, Xiao Ling proposed a reform in court, which was met with strong opposition from many ministers.

"Xiao Ling, your suggestion is utterly outlandish and will shake the very foundation of the nation!" a minister roared.

Xiao Ling argued forcefully: "This suggestion is for the long-term development of the country, and I hope that you gentlemen will give it serious consideration."

But the ministers wouldn't listen and joined forces to impeach Xiao Ling to the emperor.

Although the emperor trusted Xiao Ling, he couldn't help but waver under the pressure from many ministers.

Su Jinxiu was extremely anxious upon learning of this.

She began to secretly investigate the ministers who opposed Xiao Ling, trying to find incriminating evidence against them.

During this process, Su Jinxiu encountered numerous difficulties.

Someone deliberately gave her the wrong information, and someone threatened her.

"Madam Hou, I advise you not to meddle in other people's business, or you will bear the consequences!"

But Su Jinxiu did not back down, knowing full well that her actions concerned the future of the Marquis's mansion and Xiao Ling.

Just as Su Jinxiu was diligently searching for clues, Xiao Ling encountered new troubles at court...