Qin Yining was flabbergasted. “Does the Valiant Tigers specialize in raising men afraid of their wives? You’re actually not that bad — do they have to kneel on soy beans when they go home?”
Pang Xiao only lowered his head to look at her smilingly.
Qin Yining blinked before suddenly realizing what she’d said. She exclaimed softly in embarrassment and buried her face in her hands.
“So darling Yi finally views me as your man?” A happy laugh rumbled out of Pang Xiao.
His laughter sounded right by her ear, making her heart tremble as well. His voice was low and resonant, but her only reaction to that was a beet red face. She wanted to dig a hole and curl up in it, but the upward tug of her lips belied her mortification.
“Silly girl, just remember that I might scheme and plot against anyone in this world but you. I’m a man. Each word out of me is a nail cast in iron. I said I’ll marry you, and I will. Don’t worry about anything that lies between us, whether enmity between our nations or grudges between our families. If I can’t settle even these little things, what face would I have to ask for your hand in marriage? Just wait peacefully for me, understand? Our good days are to come.” Pang Xiao dropped a reverent kiss on her forehead.
Qin Yining laid quietly against his shoulder and nodded docilely. “I understand.”
He kissed the top of her head again. “Trust me and wait for me.”
“Alright, I’ll wait for you.”
I’ll wait for you no matter what the future brings. I won’t maneuver or plot, I won’t think about the animosity between our countries and families. I’ll just trust you.
* * *
Chapter 202: Reluctance to Part
Chapter 202: Reluctance to Part
The hour was growing late, Qin Yining had to return to the manor. Neither could the commander of the Valiant Tigers spend the night in the enemy’s capital. He had to travel through the night so he didn’t impact military affairs. Making this trip had already been the greatest of risks.
Huzi had long since readied horses in the yard.
Pang Xiao raised a cupped fist salute to Steward Zhong. “Thank you for taking care of my darling Yi during this time. It’s incredibly rare that you would remain so loyal to her in light of the circumstances. She’s a thorough planner and loves to worry about things. If it wasn’t for such a competent person like you by her side, she might’ve fallen to danger multiple times. I’m far away and can’t do much for her even though I want to. I’ll have to continue troubling you in the future. My thanks to you.”
The steward quickly returned the gesture, both flattered and stunned by the praise. “You’re too polite, Your Highness. It’s only right and proper that I’m loyal to the owner. I’m not worthy of your thanks.”
“You haven’t betrayed her in the face of danger. How are you unworthy of thanks?” Pang Xiao smiled faintly.
Complicated emotions assaulted the steward, who responded with a small smile as well. Logically speaking, the man in front of him was an enemy. He was here to destroy Great Yan and the steward should’ve hated him.
But somehow, the legendary god of slaughter was a loyal, outstanding, and hot-blooded man. The rumors were obviously highly inaccurate and the steward couldn’t bring himself to dislike the prince at all. He actually admired the prince’s magnanimity and devotion to relationships.
Pang Xiao was purchasing large numbers of real estate in the capital and had taken over most of the forfeited shops from Qin Yining. He basically owned half of the storefronts in the capital, a fact that made the steward believe even more firmly that talk of ‘looting and razing the city’ was just hot air.
The people wouldn’t be harmed and the capital wouldn’t be trampled into the ground. Steward Zhong actually even wished that the prince would hurry up and finish his conquest. The trash emperor and trampress were a blight on the nation and had long since lost the people’s hearts. Their lives might actually be better with a different emperor in charge.
The steward wished for a stable country, but the Great Yan royals could no longer guarantee that. They fleeced their own subjects and completely disregarded human rights. The Weichi clan had lost their qualification to reign over all.
The two exchanged some more pleasantries before Pang Xiao turned to Qin Yining. “Be careful in the days to come. Stay home if you can.”
“I know. You be careful as well.” The radiant setting sun dyed her cheeks an auburn red, imparting a shade of warmth to her pale-blue outfit.
Pang Xiao smiled. “Don’t worry, the one who can kill me hasn’t been born yet.”
He reached out a hand, wanting to stroke her cheek, but settled for patting her head lovingly given the others present. “I’ll be off, dearest Yi.”
Qin Yining nodded docilely, the reluctance in her eyes giving Pang Xiao the urge to just swing her onto his horse and ride off. He purposefully averted his eyes and took in a few deep breaths to tamp down his longing. He took the reins from Huzi and turned back to flash a smile at her, shaking the whip in his other hand. “We’re off!”
The two led their horses out of the yard and cantered off in a cloud of dust after they cleared the door.
Qin Yining and Steward Zhong remained where they were, looking at two departing figures draped in the rays of the evening sun until the dust settled once more. They stopped looking when only golden-russet soil greeted their eyes.
The girl was downcast, feeling like a pail of cold water had been dumped on her previously light mood. She felt empty and lost.
Seeing the fourth miss’ despondency, Steward Zhong shook his head. “Miss, I’ll take you back?”
Qin Yining nodded. “It’s about time to return anyhow.”
The carriage avoided the crowds on the way back, leaving her to quietly go over Pang Xiao’s every word and gesture earlier.
The sadness of parting didn’t afflict the steward. He was only filled with the joy of knowing that home and city would be safe. He clapped loudly. “We don’t have any worries this way now. I can tell the family not to be in such a hurry to leave.”
Qin Yining dimpled. “Indeed. It’s a pity that we can’t share this information with the people. They wouldn’t believe me even if I told them.”
“Not only would no one believe you, miss, but you might even be labelled a traitor. This wouldn’t be a good thing for your family either.”
“Indeed, so sometimes it really is such a heavy feeling of helplessness. We can tell there’s more things at play beneath the surface, but we can’t say anything. The people selling their homes and lands to flee will continue to do so, because only after escaping will they feel safer.”
Steward Zhong nodded, equally resigned. After a moment, he asked another question. “Miss, we have a lot of farmland after selling off the shops and houses. Since we have silver again, do we keep buying more farmland?”
Qin Yining thought silently for a moment. “Why do I think I’m profiting off of a national calamity? I bought their land before so they could flee with silver in their pockets, so I didn’t bring the price down too much. But now that we know full well the city will be safe, I’m…”
“Miss.” Steward Zhong interrupted with a smile. “You’re very kindhearted. But if you don’t buy their land, they’ll probably set off on their path with empty hands. They have their hearts set on running away. If the country does fall in the end, won’t all land without an owner end up in the hands of the Great Zhou emperor?”
The girl nodded, forced to agree with the steward.
“Plus, we only know that Great Zhou won’t raze the city or raid the people — little Prince Pang wouldn’t have used an alternate identity to purchase property otherwise. But you’re still the daughter of Wise Pan An, and the Institute of Luminous Charm is such a unique business. It’s not a given that the new emperor won’t confiscate the Qin family properties. After all, the prince did refrain from putting his own name on the deeds. He probably doesn’t want his emperor to know of
his wealth either.”
“I understand.” Qin Yining sighed. “What are the good farmlands around the capital going for now?”
“Lands that went for twelve silver an acre now still lack buyers at even two silver an acre. The fields around Huizhou are even worse off. What was worth twenty to thirty silver an acre before has no buyers at even five silver.”
The fourth miss frowned. “Then like we discussed before, please go ahead and purchase land at the most reasonable price we can swing. Use up all of my silver. This way, at least the people can still work in the fields if they want to come back in the future. They might not own the land anymore, but they won’t starve to death if they’re a tenant.”
“Precisely. You’re not a black-hearted merchant, miss. In my opinion, you can resettle the people at Ning Park onto these fields and farms in the future.”
Qin Yining nodded as well. “They’ll have livelihoods this way. Although I feel guilty because I really do feel that I’m making money at the expense of the nation, there’s nothing to be done about it. But one thing to keep in mind. Pang Zhixi being able to find you to buy the shops means that we haven’t concealed our actions deeply enough. Hide the field purchases as deeply as you can so that no one can trace it back to us.”
“No worries! Be at ease, miss. I know what to do now that the future isn’t so uncertain.”
* * *
Chapter 203: Embezzlement
Chapter 203: Embezzlement
The manor doors weren’t tightly shut as usual when Qin Yining returned to the manor. They were half open, with the footman stooped despondently by the stone lions by the door, almost completely curled up on himself like a quail.
Next to him, dressed in Cao clan uniforms, were two men frostily guarding the door. It seemed more like the Cao Manor than the Qin Manor.
Qin Yining’s heart skipped a beat and she frowned ferociously. Something was amiss. What are the Caos pulling now?
Steward Zhong also noted the abnormalities and quickly called out the groom, “Keep going, don’t stop.”
The groom was the steward’s confidante and knew a little about the conflict between the Qins and the Caos. He didn’t slow down at all, instead turning into a nearby alley and halting only when they’d found a quiet corner.
“Miss, there might be something happening at home. Don’t be in a rush to go back yet, let your people probe the situation first.”
Jiyun interjected, “Don’t worry, miss. Wait here. I’ll sneak back in for a look. I won’t alarm anymore and I’ll come straight back.”
“Be careful.” Qin Yining pulled on Jiyun’s hand with worry. “Your own safety is more important. We don’t know what’s happening in the manor, so don’t take any risks if you sense there’s too many enemies or the situation is turning bad. There will always be another way.”
Jiyun nodded, touched. Qin Yining had never been the sort to disregard the lives of those around her in pursuit of her own goals. She’d merely respected the fourth miss before and viewed Pang Xiao as her only master, but now viewed Qin Yining as her mistress.
“Don’t worry, miss. My levitation skills are quite good. I won’t seek out trouble. Simply probing the situation should be easy enough. I’ll be back shortly.” The guard smiled reassuringly at the Qin fourth miss and hopped off the carriage, making for the manor.
The skies had fully darkened by now. All was quiet within the alley, and the steward didn’t give instructions for the groom to light the lanterns. It was pitch black within the carriage.
Bingtang took Qin Yining’s hand comfortingly and murmured, “Don’t worry, miss. It’ll be fine.”
“Mm, it’ll be fine. Let’s wait and see.” The fourth miss’ tone was calm enough, but she was unsettled.
She’d already thought of many possibilities in this short period of time. Her father had stayed indoors after being reprimanded by the emperor and been commanded to reflect on his wrongs. He’d rebuffed all guests and spent his days fishing and reading. It was as if he was no longer a Great Yan official.
Although he didn’t say anything, Qin Yining knew her father’s thoughts given how she constantly kept him company. The disillusionment and dejection he was suffering through wasn’t anything that anyone else could understand.
He was full of wisdom and stratagems, but was a sparkling pearl that had been cast into the dark. Qin Yining knew that her father was often torn between loyalty and aspirations.
If Qin Huaiyuan was someone who only cared about the prosperity of his family, promotions, and wealth, he had more than a thousand ways to ensure his own fortunes.
But his aspirations were peace beneath the heavens and happiness for the people. Someone with the trash emperor’s talents would never help Qin Huaiyuan realize his ambitions.
The dog emperor only saw his subjects as tools to strengthen his reign so that he could do whatever he wanted. He used the authority of a liege to cull wealth from his people, knowing only pleasure and was less than useless when it came time to play his part as emperor.
Take the current circumstances for example. He was primarily concerned with maintaining face and hoping for a lucky break, so it didn’t matter that the army of 350 thousand was left to their own devices outside the city walls, and that the seat of commander-in-chief still sat empty. Instead, he had the frame of mind to restore the position of someone who everyone knew should be avoided, and contact the Tatars for help.
The Tatars were far away. Would they really pose a double threat to Great Zhou when Tatar cavalry crested the mountaintops? Regardless, Great Yan would’ve fallen long before then.
Even a girl stuck in the inner residence could clearly see all of this. Even Qin Yining found their current circumstances ludicrous and damnable, much less Qin Huaiyuan. She was sure that her father had long since mentioned to the emperor anything she could think of. But the results were her father being censured and told to reflect.
Qin Huaiyuan knew that her father no longer had any hopes for the trash emperor now. In fact, his heart was probably dead.
What kind of threat would someone whose heart was like ashes, completely lacking ambition, merely wanting to spend his days fishing and reading, waiting to live and die with his country, and even lost all of his positions and tangible power possibly pose to the Caos?
Qin Yining’s thoughts spun furiously and she bit her lip unconsciously, slowly breathing out with frustration.
“This only goes to show that the kind are always bullied. My father’s desire to be sidelined is so obvious, but the enemy refuses to believe it, much less consider our feelings. He’ll only take advantage of our weak position to get a few kicks in. Therefore, my thoughts have always been that if there’s a way, I must become stronger. Only this way will I be able to speak with a loud voice. We’ll just be stomped on otherwise.”
“Your’e right, miss.” Steward Zhong nodded with immense agreement and then sighed. “Don’t worry too much, the marquis’ reputation is still there. The Caos can’t really do much.”
Qin Yining could only console herself with that for now, but her hands still grew clammy despite the hot summer weather.
Jiyun returned before long.
“Miss, I snuck into the manor and discovered that Grand Preceptor Cao is in the outer study with his men, the marquis, and second elder master. Everything is fine in the inner residence apart from the old dowager suffering some fright. The senior madame and second madame are waiting on her. The outer study has been surrounded. I didn’t dare alarm the occupants so I couldn't get closer to eavesdrop. I came right back after that. But in my opinion, the manor is safe enough for now. Perhaps the grand preceptor has something to discuss with the marquis.”
The fourth miss heaved a sigh of relief at that. As long as the grand preceptor wasn’t here to raid the Qin Manor. If he really had the courage to do that, that meant the emperor was ready to make moves against them.
“What would you like to do now, miss?” That was the steward.
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br /> “I’ll go back then. If anyone asks, say that I went to visit some of the sick refugees at Ning Park. Handle this matter for me, we can’t reveal Pang Zhixi’s movements, no matter the cost.”
“Yes, don’t worry miss.”
Qin Yining returned to the manor with Jiyun and Bingtang after giving some more instructions to the steward.
The Cao family guards at the door flicked a few looks at Qin Yining. They didn’t block her way. She passed through the main doors and headed for the inner residence door, as was her custom.
However, she’d just rounded the corner when footsteps sounded behind her. A low, resonant voice denounced frostily, “…it has to do with the Ministry of Revenue, which was once under your purview. Even though that was a long time ago, do you really think that you could keep proof of your embezzlement from everyone? Qin Meng, don’t think you got away with it! Me being here means that I know that you led your second brother in embezzling from the government! Think long and hard over the next few days. The emperor has treated you well, so turn back when you can!”
“You speak rightly, Grand Preceptor Cao. His Majesty is vast and mighty, so we subjects naturally have to do all that we can for country and liege. We can’t do anything that would bring us shame before our ruler. Now that you have the grave responsibility of contacting the Tatars, make sure you don’t let the emperor down.
“But we all have our limits, and for someone as advanced in your years like Grand Preceptor Cao, it’s inevitable that you’re occasionally muddleheaded. It’s most impressive that you have time to pay me a visit despite how busy contacting the Tatars must be. But I must give you a reminder out of goodwill. Don’t make the mistake of misjudging what’s most urgent and has highest priority. Don’t disappoint the emperor’s trust in you.”
Qin Huaiyuan’s voice was calmly measured, reserved, and refined as always. There even seemed to be faint tones of amusement. However, his words were sharp jabs at Grand Preceptor Cao. They thoroughly jeered at the grand preceptor hugging the Tatar princess’ thigh to curry favor with the emperor, and the fact that the Caos couldn’t wait to stomp on the Qins when the former was in power again.
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