Qin Yining inwardly relaxed when she saw her father’s gaze turn peaceful again. “You knew this already, father, but you’re not made of stone, so of course you’ll have some feelings about it.”
The girl stood to see that the rest of the family looking back at her with different gazes than usual. It made her self-conscious and she shuffled behind her father, making Qin Huaiyuan break out in involuntary laughter. The others started chuckling as well.
The atmosphere eased from the heavy weightiness of earlier. The marquis looked at the expressions around him and then at Qin Yining by his side. A small smile graced his face. He was immensely gratified and proud that his daughter was so exemplary. He treasured her even more so.
“I talked a bit more than usual today so that we might recognize the reality of our times and understand the position we should occupy. Let’s not make the wrong move outside.” Qin Huaiyuan rose as his usual dependable, genteel self. He smiled. “Let’s go back to our residences and rest.”
“Alright.” Everyone rose to take their leave from the old dowager. The second and third branches headed back to their residences while Qin Huaiyuan and née Sun helped the old dowager back to her room. The matriarch was still caught up in the fear and touching turnaround from moments ago and needed quite a lot of soothing before Qin Huaiyuan could leave with his wife and daughter.
Father and daughter flanked née Sun. The madame’s shoulder touched Qin Huaiyuan’s arm as they walked. Thinner fabric was used in summer clothing, so the couple could sense each other’s warmth. The two looked at each other and smiled involuntarily. Qin Huaiyuan’s smile was as genteel and tender as usual. Née Sun blushed and her smile crept wider, creasing her eyes, swollen from crying, into slits.
Qin Yining quietly let go of her mother’s arm when she saw her parents thus and slowed down, taking her maids back to the Venerable Study Hall.
As Qin Huaiyuan and née Sun made their way back to the Garden of Tranquility, the madame asked how her husband had passed the days in the dungeon. Was he injured? Had he been tortured? How many meals did he have a day?
The marquis didn’t want née Sun to worry and glossed over things with a smile. He was very skillful in his responses, wrapping misdirection in a thick layer of comfort. The madame didn’t grasp any of the main points and even forgot what she’d asked. She paid attention only to Qin Huaiyuan’s smile and gentle tone.
When the two arrived back in front of the Garden of Tranquility, they saw a feminine form standing in front of the main doors, under the large lanterns. She was wearing a vermillion outfit, her lustrous locks combed up into multiple buns. Pearl dangles swayed gently and threw off soft radiance behind the buns.
The figure turned her head when she heard the footsteps, a warm and humble smile on her face. She curtsied. “This concubine greets the lord and madame.”
Née Sun’s footsteps halted and her expression chilled. Qin Huaiyuan nodded. “What brings you here at this hour?”
“This concubine heard that the lord has returned and came to greet you.” Cao Yuqing lifted her eyes, her limpid eyes tenderly seizing up Qin Huaiyuan. Her feelings for the marquis were obvious from her eyes, but he didn’t seem to realize.
“Thank you for your sentiments. I’m fine. The hour is late and bugs abound in summer nights. You should go back and rest.”
Cao Yuqing compressed her lips and fixed her eyes on Qin Huaiyuan for a long moment before bending her knee again.
“I will. Thank you for your concern, my lord. I won’t disturb the lord and madame’s rest any longer.”
“Mm.” Qin Huaiyuan pointed at a random serving girl. “Find a lantern and escort the lady back to her residence.”
The little girl immediately procured a bright lantern to show the way. Cao Yuqing looked deeply at Qin Huaiyuan again before turning away. Her back was ramrod straight, but the pearl dangles swayed in an almost fragile manner with the motion of her walk.
The deep look stayed in Qin Huaiyuan’s eyes for a moment longer before he smilingly walked inside with née Sun.
* * *
Chapter 193: Money for the Wife
Chapter 193: Money for the Wife
Heavy clouds obscured the moon in the depths of the night. A long awaited storm was brewing.
Weary Great Yan soldiers had already dropped off to sleep outside Xihua. Only a few patrols were still up and about within the campground. Whooshing sounds suddenly broke through the air. The patrols didn’t have time to react before they were struck in the neck, dead before they could make a sound.
Under the cover of darkness, several hundred men wielding steel blades charged swiftly into the camp like panthers. Blades rose and fell onto unsuspecting targets.
Prolonged conflict had thoroughly exhausted the soldiers. They could finally enjoy a night’s worth of rest after beating back the enemy, but who would’ve thought that was a purposeful move from the Valiant Tigers?
Many lost their heads while wrapped in their dreams. It wasn’t until almost a hundred were killed when a random person woke up and saw the blood dripping off of enemy soldier blades.
“Ah—-“
“Ambush!”
“No! General Wang’s been killed!”
Chaos reared in the Great Yan campground. Screams and wails sounded, slashes and the thuds of weapons meeting flesh rose and fell, fires started burning everywhere…
The fighting lasted until daybreak. A light drizzle fell as Pang Xiao led his ten thousand Valiant Tigers into Xihua, swiftly taking control of the yamen and grain warehouses. He took over the city’s defenses and dumped all of the surviving key officials and their families into the dungeons. Heavy guard was reassigned for city protection and all captives were locked into the army campground.
At the same time, Pang Xiao issued further orders.
“The Valiant Tigers may not raid or loot from the people when in Xihua. They may not harass or rape women. They may not trample the fields. They can conduct regular business transactions for their needs and can’t accumulate debt. Anyone found in violation of these orders will receive one hundred canings according to military law.”
He pointed at two ashen-faced men kneeling within the tent. “These two raped women. Drag them out and do as the military law dictates. Make an example out of them!”
“Understood!” Soldiers acknowledged the orders and dragged away the two messily dressed men. Sounds of canes thwacking into flesh quickly travelled in from outside.
Zheng Pei frowned with disapproval. “Your Highness, treating the men like this will disappointment our brothers. They braved life and death with you on the battlefields. Why go to these lengths for such a small matter? One hundred canings will take their lives!”
Pang Xiao’s armor was dyed with blood and his face flecked with brown spots of dried blood. He arched his slender brow and narrowed his phoenix eyes dangerously. A murderous aura rose around him. He seemed to be a god of slaughter come straight from hell, wreathed with a more solemn air than usual.
Zheng Pei lowered his head. The remaining Valiant Tiger generals and commanders also snapped to stern attention.
“Then, has Sir Zheng received another secret missive from the emperor?” Pang Xiao asked smilingly, but the words felt like a slap to Zheng Pei’s face.
He was in Pang Xiao’s camp as the prince’s follower, which was why he was able to carve out certain status for himself as Pang Xiao’s strategist. He knew full well just how much the Valiant Tigers worshipped and trusted the prince. The prince was a living military command token. His word was more useful than a command token for deploying the troops, in the event that the emperor didn’t hand one over.
His authority would decrease if any of them learned what he’d done. Even though there was nothing logically wrong with his actions, he would still be branded a traitor, emotionally speaking.
The emperor was a paranoid sort and might not fully trust Zheng Pei, even if the strategist spoke only the truth. Pang Xiao was wily and sl
ippery, but he had a benevolent heart. If the strategist performed well, he’d receive corresponding protection.
Thus, Zheng Pei’s attitude now was markedly different from before. He quickly raised a cupped fist salute. “You must be jesting, Your Highness. What secret missive would the emperor have? I’m just worried about you, which is why I said what I said. The Valiant Tigers are a force you’ve raised, after all.”
Pang Xiao paced within the tent, cracking his whip loudly in time with his steps.
“We’re clashing with Great Yan to the end this time around. The emperor is determined to conquer this nation. Is he conquering it to end up with dead cities and razed land?”
Zheng Pei, Huzi, and the soldiers in the tent all looked at Pang Xiao. He stopped at the head seat, his hand on the hilt of his precious sword. “I made these decisions in preparation for His Majesty’s rule over Great Yan. The Great Yan emperor is worthless trash, subjecting his people to years of oppression and hunger in addition to prolonged chaos from war. They need someone to end these troubled times. If we’re less than their current government, what do you think the people will do then?”
“Your Highness is wise.” Everyone lifted cupped hands with respect when they understood.
Pang Xiao nodded. “It’s been a tough day for everyone. You should all rest.”
“Understood.” The crowd departed, leaving only Pang Xiao and Huzi in the tent before long.
Huzi walked up merrily to help Pang Xiao out of his armor. “Your Highness, I had people prepare hot water earlier. You should go take a shower.”
“Mm. Any news from the capital?” Pang Xiao asked with a neat shrug out of his blood-stained war robes. Baring a fit upper body and clad in black silk pants, he headed behind a divider. Splashing sounds could be heard shortly after.
Huzi rolled up his sleeves to wash his master’s hair and back. “Jiyun hasn’t sent us anything for a long time, it’s actually our scouts who reported back a bit earlier. I didn’t say anything because you were busy with the battle.”
Pang Xiao stretched out his arms to lean back on the wooden tub. He closed his eyes. “Lack of news from Jiyun means that things are very tense at the Qin Manor. With old fart Weichi’s temper, he probably vented his anger at the renewal of war onto the Qins. Grand Preceptor Qin’s likely been stripped of his position and his life may even be in danger. As for the Caos…”
He paused. “Old fart Weichi is probably out of ideas and even looking to the Tatars in his panic. The Caos must be in favor again.”
Huzi picked up a hand towel to rub Pang Xiao’s back and responded with great admiration. “You’ve hit the nail on the head, master. The scout’s report was exactly what you said. Grand Preceptor Cao is back in favor and in his former position. Master Qin has been demoted but retains the position of marquis. He was thrown into the dungeons for a while. When we ambushed their output, that terrified the civilians into fleeing for the capital. But even then, their trash emperor refuses to take out any silver to feed and house then.”
Huzi stopped apprehensively at this point. “And, and, and the fourth miss…”
“Out with it. Stop acting like a girl.”
Huzi rolled his eyes. Don’t get angry when I tell you, my dear master. The guard quickly blurted out how Qin Yining had sold off all the precious baubles in Ning Park and was feeding and housing the refugees at her residence.
Pang Xiao digested the information silently.
Huzi quietly continued wiping his master’s back, not daring to say a word. He must want to explode from anger!
But the prince burst out laughing after a moment.
Oh man. Has anger cooked my master’s brains?
“My darling Yi spends money like water. It looks like I need to accumulate more wealth for my future wife. We can’t run out of silver after I take her home, now can we!”
Huzi: ……
“Tomorrow, post orders to arrest the corrupt officials, the ones that the people call ‘scalpers’ and ‘demons’, as well as the unkind moneybags in Xihua. Oh right, take the ones who’ve been resisting the most violently and are likely an unstable element. Execute them all and display their heads on pikes. Confiscate their wealth for the army and exaggerate news of what’s been done. Have it spread into the capital.
“Your Highness, didn’t you just say that we should have the Great Yan people think that Great Zhou is kind?” Huzi was perplexed.
“I have my reasons. Just follow my orders.”
Although the guard still didn’t understand, he nodded seriously. “Understood.”
* * *
Chapter 194: Scattering After a Fall
Chapter 194: Scattering After a Fall
“Miss! Horrible news!”
A frantic pattering of footsteps entered the yard. Up in the attic, Qin Yining frowned at the disturbance. Holding a dangling pearl earring that she hadn’t had time to put into ear, she peered out of the window.
“What is it for you to be yelling like this?”
A serving girl panted in front of the door, her hands on her knees and face beet red. She looked up at the miss and huffed out, “Xihua, Xihua’s lost. Apparently, little prince, Pang, killed a lot, a lot of people. He chopped, off their heads, and put them on pikes. He stuck them, over the city gates, for people to see. Everything’s crazy outside. All of the people, are running away. The prince is coming! Our, our heads, will all be chopped off and put on pikes!”
The little girl sagged to her knees, leaning against the doorframe and started bawling from terror. In the yard, everyone’s expression changed drastically. Some maids and granny servants held each other as they cried from fear as well.
Qin Yining slowed closed the window and sat back down in front of her vanity. She stared silently at herself in the bronze mirror for a long while.
Has this day finally come?
Although she’d anticipated this future, it still felt surreal when it actually arrived. Her heart was stuck in her throat and the bottom of her stomach seemed to have dropped away.
Bingtang and Songlan were also white as a sheet. Qiulu shook like a leaf, sloshing out half of the tea from the cup she was holding. Only Jiyun kept her head, taking the pearl dangle from Qin Yining and putting it onto her mistress. She brought out a white jade hairpin shaped like an orchid flower and slid it into the fourth miss’ hair.
“Miss, the prince, he…” Jiyun started hesitantly.
Qin Yining smiled wryly and waved lightly to cut the maid off. “I know, I know. This isn’t his fault. This is war and not child’s play. Great Yan soldiers would do the same thing if they had a chance to charge into Great Zhou. It’s not anyone’s fault, but the war’s fault. I’m just wondering when these days will end.”
Jiyun lowered her head, touched and pained. Their world was about to shatter and break. No one would feel good with such helplessness and trepidation on their shoulders. It was impressive that her miss could treat the matter calmly and logically, despite how sad she might feel about it.
“Miss, what should we do?” Songlan’s tone trembled.
“There’s nothing much we can do. Let’s take each step as it comes.” Qin Yining rose and took a few deep breaths in to forcibly raise her spirits. “Let’s go to the Garden of Tranquility first. It’s almost time for the daily reports. As chaotic as things are outside, life still goes on.”
“Yes.” Some calm returned to the maids when they saw how self-possessed the miss was.
As she made her way to the Garden of Tranquility, Qin Yining passed by servants who felt the sky was caving in on them or that their funerals were not too far off. If it was like this in the Marquis of Anping Manor, then it was easy to imagine what a mess the streets would be.
The fourth miss listened to the reports as usual and handled some daily affairs, collecting and distributing command tokens as needed. When she saw some of the granny servants hesitate, seemingly wanting to say something, she could more or less guess what was on their minds.
<
br /> “Li-mama and Fang-mama, do you have something to say?”
The other overseers and servants stopped when they saw that Qin Yining had brought the subject up. Li-mama was a diffident person whereas Fang-mama was more assertive. The latter smiled apologetically. “You are truly wise, miss. This servant does indeed have some matters, but I don’t know if I can speak of them.”
Qin Yining dimpled. “Please, say what’s on your mind, Fang-mama.”
“Well, it’s this. I have a nephew in the south whose business has done well over the past two years. He wants the family to move down with him. My family’s due to set off in the next couple of days, but I work in the manor and don’t think it’d be good to leave just like this. However, I would like to be with my family, so I’ve been wondering what to do.”
Qin Yining nodded understandingly. The other serving girls and granny servants all looked cautiously at the fourth miss’ face.
She ran her finger lightly across the rim of the teacup lid and thought for a moment. “Fang-mama is a senior servant who’s given the manor her best effort for many years. Now that you have a good place to go to, how would we possibly not let you go?”
The old servant was overjoyed and quickly returned the command token she’d just received to the square end table by Qin Yining’s hand. The fourth miss trained her eyes on the former servant who’d turned to leave, then flicked her gaze at the other overseers. Many subconsciously shifted their eyes away, not daring to meet her eyes.
“And all of you? Do your families have other arrangements and you’d like to take your leave?”
When hearing that, Li-mama stammered out, “Miss, my, my daughter and son-in-law are in the south as well. They’d like, like me to go to them for retirement.”
“Mm. Li-mama is at an age to just relax and enjoy life as well.”
Emboldened, others stepped forward when they heard the fourth miss’ words. Five more walked up to say that there were matters at home they had to take care of. Those who’d sold themselves hoped to receive their release papers, and those who’d flocked to the Qin banner wanted to take their leave.
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