The grand preceptor flushed beet red with indignation and his footsteps ground to a halt. He turned back to glare at Qin Huaiyuan, his beard shaking with anger. “Good, very good hmm! The Marquis of Anping has a fine temper! Perhaps the death of your old father-in-law has made you forgotten what attitude you should have when speaking with your current father-in-law??”
Qin Huaiyuan smiled faintly. “Surely you jest, Grand Preceptor Cao. I’d thought you’d forgotten that I was your son-in-law.”
“You!” The grand preceptor jabbed a shaking finger at Qin Huaiyuan. He swept his sleeves aside after a moment. “Just you wait!”
“There’s no rush, Grand Preceptor. I’ll be right here waiting for you.” Qin Huaiyuan smiled, a chilly clarity in his eyes.
The grand preceptor somehow felt all of his regained glory after restoration of his positions was completely stripped away by Qin Huaiyuan’s all-seeing eyes. He was a beauty stripped of her clothes, leaving nothing but humiliation behind.
They’d almost reached the main doors by now, and the grand preceptor saw Qin Yining standing in front of the flower-hung gate.
He couldn’t be bothered with paying attention to the Qin daughters, but Qin Yining’s charming appearance was so incredibly similar to a young Qin Huaiyuan, not to mention the deep grudge between the girl and the empress. The empress had wanted to consume a beauty to enhance her owns looks. She’d failed at getting her hands on Qin Yining, and two imperial concubines had died instead.
Grand Preceptor Cao disapproved of the empress’ methods, but that was his daughter. As wrong as the empress might be, the grand preceptor would never admit that things were her fault. He dumped all blame onto Qin Yining.
If it wasn’t for the girl angering the empress, why would the latter have ever done all that?
* * *
Chapter 204: An Enraged and Resentful Old Cao
Chapter 204: An Enraged and Resentful Old Cao
Grand Preceptor Cao looked at Qin Yining with a smile, his hands behind his back. “So it’s the Qin fourth miss. You almost became my granddaughter-in-law.”
The girl had fully caught the contentious conversation between the two men and knew what her attitude should be. She made a perfunctory curtsey.
“This little girl wouldn’t dare reach beyond her station. The Caos have a free and easy family culture, and Sir Cao has fully inherited the essence of the family teachings. This little girl possesses only shallow knowledge and has no courage or eye for talent. I’m not worthy of Sir Cao’s dashing and unbridled character.”
Grand Preceptor Cao’s face was immensely dark. He naturally knew that the empress had wanted the emperor bestow Qin Yining to his grandson, Cao Chengjun. But for some reason, his grandson had taken liberties with the Qin fourth miss in front of the emperor, and apparently tried to molest her as well.
The matter had irritated the emperor and the grand preceptor had even been summoned into the palace for a lecture. Imperial wrath had accused him of lax family governance and failing to raise his grandson properly. Qin Yining bringing up the matter again was a slap in his face!
“Good, good, very good! Like father like daughter alright! You’re just as sharp-tongued as Qin Huaiyuan.” Grand Preceptor Cao sniffed derisively.
Qin Yining flashed a smile. “Many thanks for your compliments, Grand Preceptor. I’m unworthy of them. I’m far inferior compared to the grand preceptor or the empress.”
The grand preceptor’s hand shook from anger. He felt it’d be too demeaning to argue with a little girl and knew that he couldn’t win a verbal spat with this pair of foxes. He decided to brandish his sleeve and leave.
There was no point in saying anything. He just wanted them to die!
“I won’t be sending you off. Farewell, Grand Preceptor!” Qin Huaiyuan bowed with a smile. Qin Yining also led her servants in curtsies.
In his fury, Grand Preceptor Cao set a fast pace out of the Qin Manor. If one only looked at his departing figure, he rather looked like he was running away instead.
Father and daughter sent the official off with their eyes. It wasn’t until their target was far away and the servants had closed the doors that Qin Yining burst out in laughter.
The second elder master wiped off a forehead full of sweat and asked anxiously, “What should we do now? How are you able to still laugh, niece Yi? Didn’t we just offend the grand preceptor to the point of no return?”
Qin Yining and Qin Huaiyuan looked at each other.
“Don’t worry, second uncle.” The girl smiled. “Even if we treated the Caos with respect, they would still bully our family. Did I hear correctly just now that he wants to blame something about the Ministry of Revenue onto you and my father?”
The second elder master nodded. “The Ministry of Revenue has run a deficit for many years. There’s an old and bad habit at court of borrowing from this department. After so many years, there’s only lending slips and no silver at the ministry. The government needs money to fight the war, and the emperor needs talents and liquidity. The grand preceptor is trying to assign us the blame for the shortfall in silver.”
“Isn’t that smart of him. If he uses this as an excuse to say that father is incompetent when the government needs money, the emperor is sure to care very much. Things might take very bad if father becomes a target at this time.” Qin Yining frowned anxiously, her fretful look at odds with the disdainful confidence she’d had in facing the grand preceptor earlier.
Qin Huaiyuan shook his head. “This is just an illustration of disaster knocking on our closed doors. I’m already of a mind to retire and spend my days fishing, living out my days with the emperor, but my enemies still come looking for me. Don’t worry, second brother. They won’t show us mercy even if I kneel and beg. I did indeed impulsively say a lot of things today, but I feel so much better for it. Unfortunately, you’re being dragged into things because of it.”
The second elder master waved a hand. “Don’t say that, big brother. We’re a family. Your matters are my matters. Those who wish us harm will find any excuse to do so. This is just one more example of that.”
Qin Huaiyuan smiled wryly, devoid of the daring flair he’d possessed when talking to Grand Preceptor Cao. His shoulders drooped wearily, completely different from the man usually as tall and upstanding as a mountain.
Father, daughter, and uncle brought the servants through the flower-hung gate to the Garden of Loving Piety.
“The emperor relies heavily on the grand preceptor.” The marquis sighed. “Naturally, he wants to make use of his current power to cause trouble for us. I’ve fallen out of favor and with the emperor's personality, he won't hesitate to take my life if the grand preceptor gives him hope that the Tatars might come to our aid. I really…”
The second elder master almost teared up with distress. His big brother had spared no effort serving the country all of these years. Matters of nation and court had been his wholehearted focus, but look at the straits he was in now. Not only had he been stripped of all his positions and humiliated, but he was being kicked when down!
Qin Yining looked at her father and uncle, perturbed. She knew that it was beyond depressing for people who had been loyal to a fault all their lives to face such persecution, and persecution sanctioned by the emperor to boot. They wouldn’t be easily cheered up by a word or two by outsiders. She could only offer a smile.
“Don’t worry, father and second uncle. I think that things won’t get out of control here. Grand Preceptor Cao has no evidence and can’t raise anything to the emperor. We still have time to think of a plan.” The fourth miss’ gentle smile seemed like a sunflower bathing beneath the sun, giving one vibrant hope.
Qin Huaiyuan shook his head with a smile, wordlessly entering the residence.
These things had to be figured out on one’s own. It wasn’t as if she would be helping if she said more, so Qin Yining trailed behind her father to visit the old dowager.
All of the womenfolk were gathe
red in the old dowager’s residence. Qin-mama hastily passed on a message inside when she saw Qin Huaiyuan return and lifted up the pearl door curtain for the visitors. Jixiang lifted up the gauze inner door curtain. They quickly lowered the curtains after everyone had set foot inside to prevent insects from following them in.
The old dowager sat up when she saw her son.
“Meng’er, what did Grand Preceptor Cao want? Is something happening again? I feel that if it wasn’t for you, he would’ve brought his men in to raid our manor.”
“Not at all. Everything’s fine.” Qin Huaiyuan sat down next to his mother. “Don’t fret, it’s nothing major. The war requires silver and the Ministry of Revenue has absolutely none. He’s using the time I was the prime minister to pin the missing silver on me. But they have no evidence, so we’re safe for now.”
Safe for now? The color drained from the old dowager’s face as she grew livid with anger. She found it hard to breath.
Qin-mama hastily helped her mistress lie down and coaxed soothingly, feeding the old dowager some water before the matriarch’s complexion improved.
“Do the heavens wish for our family to end? Meng’er is an honest and upright official, how would he ever embezzle? He’s just trumping up a charge so he can condemn us!”
The matriarch’s words brought tears to the eyes of the womenfolk. They were now a scattered bunch after Qin Huaiyuan had been forced out of power. Those who’d close to him no longer visited. The family knew that it’d be incredibly difficult to have anyone speak on their behalf, given what had happened.
Given Grand Preceptor Cao’s renewed position as the foremost official, how would he not make full use of this opportunity to take revenge? Whoever had power at court had the right to speak. The second elder master was an inconsequential official and Qin Huaiyuan was now a nobody, and the Qins didn’t have a single person willing to speak for them!
The group’s expressions were the height of bleak desolation. Just as they all remained silent, with some crying quietly, Qitai’s voice suddenly sounded from outside.
“Milord, milord!”
Qin Huaiyuan rose and peered through the screen window to see Qitai standing beneath the covered hallway. The apprehension on his face was clear to see.
“What is it?”
“Milord, the crown prince has come to visit and bumped into the grand preceptor in front of the main doors. The two got into an argument and are now cursing at each other! Please go take a look!”
“I see.” Qin Huaiyuan looked blankly for a moment before turning with a rueful smile. “The crown prince has held his tongue against the grand preceptor for a while as well. He doesn’t dare show his temper normally, but it seems like it’s all come to a head today.”
The third elder master nodded. “I agree. I’ve seen the crown prince interact with grand preceptors, grand tutors, and other personnel assigned to him. He’s the closest to you. So now that the grand preceptor wants to use this time to blame the revenue shortfall on big and second brother, the crown prince will naturally step forward to speak on your behalf.”
“Indeed. The crown prince is candid and straightforward, an outstanding man with significant talent in drawing. What a pity that he was born in the wrong times and the fates are against him…” Qin Huaiyuan’s smile faded and he sighed. “If it’d been times of peace, he would’ve made a fine crown prince to hold down the fort with a couple loyal subjects by his side. But these troubled times of war and suffering leave him no room to showcase his talents at all.”
The second master piped in. “To say something incredibly disrespectful… the country might have a chance if the emperor passed his seat onto the crown prince, executed the trampress and the Caos, and had big brother help the crown prince.”
“With father’s wits, there’s nothing that a ten thousand strong Valiant Tigers can do against our thirty five thousand strong army. Great Yan might not lose. But the emperor listens to traitors and hopes for faraway help. The seat of commander-in-chief is still empty even now. How does an army without a head fight the Valiant Tigers?” Qin Yining grew angrier the more she spoke. She itched to grab the trash emperor and give him a few dozen slaps. Maybe she could beat some clarity into him!
* * *
Chapter 205: War
Chapter 205: War
What would Qin Huaiyuan, an official for multiple decades, think when even a little girl was thus? The trash emperor had disappointed the marquis’ talent and proved unworthy of the lord’s loyalty.
“Never mind this. The crown prince should have vented enough of his ill will by now. I’ll go take a look.” Qin Huaiyuan exited the house with a flourish his sleeves.
“Did Meng’er say all that just now to purposefully delay going out?” The old dowager suddenly realized what had been going on.
The second elder master smiled in affirmation. “Big brother probably felt that the crown prince had suffered too much frustration lately. If he’d gone out earlier, His Highness would’ve gotten the short end of the stick. He might as well just turn a blind eye. The grand preceptor can’t do anything to the crown prince anyhow.
“But as unfavored as the crown prince might be, he’s still a royal descendent and the emperor’s son. The grand preceptor is just a subject. He’s much too full of himself and overly arrogant to argue with a prince!” The second elder master laughed coldly.
The family quite agreed, but what else could they do now other than criticize the grand preceptor in private?
“It still won’t do for things to continue this way.” Qin Yining remarked pensively. “Grand Preceptor Cao knocking on our doors today with this accusation means that he might visit again another day to raid our house. We need to be extremely careful. I think the grand preceptor wants to make use of when the emperor needs the Tatars to whittle away at us.
“Now that father’s been forced to take a leave from politics, the only one left at court with a slight sense of justice is the crown prince. The others are too busy protecting themselves. Who would risk offending the grand preceptor to speak up on father’s behalf? If things continue to develop this way, we’ll have to take this pail of dirty water sooner or later.”
The girl paced worriedly, thinking the matter more frightening the more she thought about it.
Grand Preceptor Cao held the reins of power now, backed by the emperor and trampress. He wasn’t lacking in either motive or authority. If the grand preceptor took things a step further and spewed random nonsense at court, her father wouldn’t be able to even defend himself since he was at home!
“Daughter Yi speaks rightly, what should we do?” Née Sun was growing worried.
Furious storms were about to descend upon them. The family was gathered together and the men no longer avoided talk of politics around the women. This allowed the womenfolk to fully experience the schemes and plots of court in a way that they’d never had before, and understand how difficult their men had it in the outside world. Although fear gripped their hearts, everyone was trying to think of solutions.
Qin Huining, quiet up to this point, looked hesitantly at Qin Yining. “Fourth Miss, you’re familiar with the crown prince. Perhaps you should leverage this relationship on father’s behalf? The crown prince is the crown prince after all. Perhaps he can help some if he speaks up for father.”
The foster girl flushed hotly when she collected everyone’s gazes. She quickly tried to explain. “I’m, I’m just worried about father. I want to help some too. I don’t mean anything else by it. I’m just saying whatever I’m thinking of.”
Qin Yining too had thought that the foster girl was looking to cause trouble, but she only read fear in the girl’s face this time. There was no sense of hostility or maliciousness.
The Qin fourth miss was particularly sensitive to looks from others and pointed hostility. It’d been something innately bred into her thanks to her upbringing. Now facing a placid Qin Huining, she only nodded and responded blandly, “I’ll consider it.”
Qin Huining heaved a visible sigh of relief when she heard this. Chaos was about to engulf the world and she had to remain with the Qins to ensure her own safety. Qin Yining’s status was unshakeable now, whether in terms of the family’s hearts or morality. Even if the foster girl still didn't want to accept things, she wouldn’t be so dumb as to continue smashing an egg against a rock and make life difficult for herself.
She had to fawn over the fourth miss like she used to do with the old dowager and née Sun. Qin Huining offered a tentative smile to the noble girl.
Qin Yining looked away and continued analyzing the situation.
“I think it’s fine if I don’t reach out to the crown prince.” That was her answer after a while. “The crown prince will surely stand out on father’s behalf, just like he’s giving tit for tat with Grand Preceptor Cao right now. But his abilities are limited and his words don’t carry enough weight. This matter won’t be resolved with asking the emperor for mercy either. We have to pull the rug out from beneath them.”
The second elder master nodded as well. “I agree. The crown prince isn’t someone who’d ignore what’s happening to us, but he’s limited to what he can do at the moment.”
Qin Huining was beet red by now. The color had crept to even her ears. She’d offered this idea because she wanted to acquit herself in front of the family and salvage some of her reputation. But to think that her idea had been the worst of the worst!
The sixth miss pulled on Qin Huining’s hand and smiled at her in comfort. The foster girl returned a smile that was even uglier than a teary face.
Qin Yining didn’t notice the small interlude. She was running her fingers over the red bean bracelet on her hand and thinking deeply. This was a habit she’d formed recently, to unconsciously toy with the beans whenever she needed to consider something.
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