The second and third elder master were also frowning tightly. “How do we pull out the rug from beneath them?”
“If we want to remove the ultimate source of trouble,” Qin Yu joined in, “Then we need to prove that senior uncle’s innocent.”
Qin Han nodded. “Precisely. Senior uncle’s been an honest official for so many years and really shouldn’t have to shoulder this kind of unwarranted blame. The Ministry of Revenue lacking silver has nothing to do with us. Can they push responsibility off of themselves with so many pairs of eyes watching them? We’ll be able to get to the bottom of this!”
“That may be the case, but how do we prove that senior uncle’s innocent?” Qin Yu’s wife piped up.
Everyone fell silent once more.
The old dowager was leaning against a large cushion as she watched her sons and grandchildren brainstorm together. They were a united strand of rope in the face of trouble. She almost cried at the touching sight.
When she’d been in charge of the inner residence, she sometimes felt that each branch of the family had their own goals and concerns. They were a pile of loose sand, so it was tremendously surprising that they could come together like this in the face of trouble.
Now that she thought about it closely, it’d all seemed to start when Qin Huaiyuan had been thrown into the dungeons and Qin Yining taken control of the residence. It seemed like her granddaughter was quite a character! Thank goodness for her during that time. The matriarch looked smilingly at the fourth miss.
“Granddaughter Yi, what do you think?”
Qin Yining hadn’t thought that the old dowager would look to her, especially with a benevolent look, as if nothing ugly had ever happened between them. She didn’t mind improving relations with her grandmother, so she responded honestly, “I think that we can prove that father’s innocent, we’ll just have to go through some additional effort to do so. It won’t be easy to do so either. But I’ve actually been thinking just now what removing the ultimate source of trouble really means.”
Qin Han looked at her. “What does fourth sister think is the final solution?”
Qin Yining smiled and answered softly, “My final solution involves spilling blood, so it’s best not to talk about it.”
Her voice was pleasant to the ear and her smile easy, but the nondescript way she flung out ‘spilling blood’ sent chills down backs.
The second elder master adopted a stern look. “Niece Yi, do you mean…”
“It’s enough that we understand certain things. There’s no need to say them out loud.”
The only way to keep Qin Huaiyuan safe and forever more was to send everyone who wanted to hurt him to the underworld.
Qin Han sucked in a deep breath when he thought this through. The sixth, seventh miss, and Qin Huining also understood, their faces draining with color when they did so.
Née Sun put her arm around Qin Yining’s shoulders and patted her cheeks lightly. “A girl shouldn’t talk about killing and blood. Don’t have such a violent air around you.”
Qin Huaiyuan had finished sending off the crown prince and was walking along the covered hallway. He happened to hear Qin Yining’s words and raised a hand to stop Ruyi from announcing his presence. He paused to listen further.
Qin Yining smiled. “I’m just saying. It’ll take a lot of effort to prove father’s innocence. Why don’t we take the same amount of effort to put all of our worries to rest once and for all?”
“That sounds easy, but this is just all talk. Do you know how difficult it’d be to really do that? That’s a large tree that’s unmovable even with many people encircling it! Don’t talk about this in the future, niece Yi!” The second elder master lectured solemnly.
Qin Yining nodded with a smile and didn’t argue, but passionate feelings to take action rose in her again.
Could they really not kill their enemies? Really?
* * *
Chapter 206: Setting Up a Plot (I)
Chapter 206: Setting Up a Plot (I)
Over the next couple of days, the Qin Manor was completely upended by Grand Preceptor Cao.
He came with men almost everyday, first to mock and insult Qin Huaiyuan, then taking things a step further to personally search the manor for evidence of embezzlement. Even locked and unused residences were rifled through, to say nothing of the old dowager’s Garden of Loving Piety.
The so-called search was just a pretty name for wrecking the Qin belongings. All manner of bookshelves and cabinets were turned inside out, items thrown to the ground to be trampled on. Even the Venerable Study Hall, where the girls were now living in, wasn’t spared. The Cao men dragged out winter clothing sitting in trunks, to say nothing of books and valuables on the decorative shelves. Wreckage prevailed in all of the residences, making it seem that robbers had looted the marquis’ residence.
A minor mistake that the second elder master made in the Ministry of Personnel and Rites resulted in Grand Preceptor Cao filling an accusation with the emperor. The grand preceptor implied that the second Qin elder master was in cahoots with Qin Huaiyuan’s embezzlement. Given the emperor already in a rage, he didn’t even bother asking for proof before lambasting the second elder master.
Aside from Qin Huaiyuan keeping his position of marquis, there was no other Qin member who could speak up at court. Whatever Grand Preceptor Cao said went; the Qins didn’t have a chance to defend themselves.
It was normal for Qin Yining to lose her appetite and some weight during the summer time. However, the events of the past few days filled her with so much anger that she was unable to eat for two days. Thankfully, she was young and healthy, but someone like the old dowager grew sick with anger and had to take medicine for a few days before somewhat recovering.
Qin Huaiyuan had also never suffered such disgrace in his life. As a man, he didn’t have the face to live with the shame of not being able to provide his family a quiet sanctuary at home! Having no other recourse available to him, an exceptionally furious Qin Huaiyuan kept sending petitions to the emperor.
And yet, the imperial response was, “Grand Preceptor Cao is investigating the whereabouts of the Ministry of Revenue’s silver and the embezzlement case on Our orders. Our beloved subject should think of the greater picture and cooperate with harmony.”
Cooperate?
The Qins would be swallowed whole if they cooperated any further!
The marquis refused to stand for this. The more the grand preceptor harassed the Qins, the more petitions Qin Huaiyuan sent.
The emperor had sent him a dozen verbal edicts a day when the marquis had overseen the peace talks at Xihua. What prevented him from mimicking those actions in the capital?
Therefore, Qin Huaiyuan sent two petitions into the palace almost everyday. He would even send three or four if Grand Preceptor Cao was particularly out of line on a given day.
……
Perhaps the marquis’ sincerity moved the emperor, or the imperial majesty finally became fed up with all the disturbances. On this day, the emperor made the rare move of having Grand Supervisor Wang deliver a verbal edict.
The summer afternoon sun was blistering hot, cooking the stones on the courtyard in front of the Qin Manor, making it slightly painful to kneel on them. Qin Yining and the womenfolk frowned when the heat attacked their skin through insubstantial summer clothes.
The fourth miss was kneeling in the back, lifting worried eyes to look at Qin Huaiyuan at the very front. An exceedingly familiar scene floated to the front of her mind.
It’d been at the Duke of Ding Manor when she and Qin Huining, along with their mother, had knelt in the midst of the Sun females. Grand Supervisor Wang then had delivered an imperial edict that called for Sun Yu’s head. That had set into motion Sun Yu’s tragically heroic charge and the beginning of the end for the Suns. The sight of red and white matter splattering into gory flowers was one that would never be wiped from her mind.
It was Grand Supervisor Wang again today, and the Q
ins were just like the Suns, helpless and hapless fodder on the chopping block.
Qin Yining could feel née Sun shaking next to her. It was plain to see that the fourth miss wasn’t the only one who found the scene horrifyingly familiar. She offered an arm in support and a reassuring squeeze, imparting some reassurance to the senior madame.
Grand Supervisor Wang brandished his sleeve with a smile. “Marquis of Anping, I’m here to deliver the emperor’s verbal edict. I’m to thoroughly convey His Majesty’s words without missing a single one, so please listen carefully.”
“I will, many thanks to the honorable gonggong.” Qin Huaiyuan gestured solemnly.
The eunuch’s shrill voice rose in a close imitation of the emperor’s tones.
“In light of your years of hard work, We were not going to admonish you for recent actions. But to think that you exhort others to think of the nation and refuse to set a personal example when it comes to a simple investigation? Or is it that you really have embezzled the ministry’s silver and are feeling guilty??
“…your malpractice is an affront to Our trust in you, and you’ve corrupted Our only crown prince as well!
“The crown prince of before was one polite, respectful, learned, and genteel, but now he dares shout and holler at Us! Your actions have been an immense disappointment, so how dare you come crying with accusations against the elder statesman…”
The Qins were kneeling on the ground in the grand gesture of greeting, their foreheads touching the stone tiles and thoroughly taking in all of the grand overseer’s words. Utter silence reigned. The condemnation were invisible blades that sliced their hearts to pieces.
Qin Yining lifted her head to sneak a look at her father. His tall posture had collapsed; he was hunched in on himself, about to crumble any second from the unbearable pressure. After a moment, his dry voice rang out. “Many thanks to Grand Supervisor Wang. Please relay my sentiments to His Majesty that we thank him for his admonishments.”
Grand Supervisor Wang sighed. “Don’t be overly fixated on this, sir. Just take a small step back. Have you forgotten how the Duke of Ding ended up? You’re a marvelously talented person, there’s no need to be caught up in the details of right and wrong at a time like this.”
The eunuch had served the emperor for many years and was highly adept at observing people, if nothing else. He was witnessing first hand how the Caos were instigating conflict between the emperor and Qin Huaiyuan, but there was nothing he could do about it. It was a sign of his conscience and his respect for the marquis that he volunteered this reminder.
Qin Huaiyuan naturally understood the intricacies within and was grateful for the grand supervisor’s thought. He saw the eunuch out the door himself and gifted a generous red envelope.
The womenfolk helped each other to their feet. Tears were already streaming down the old dowager’s face. “This is going too far, this is much too far! They’re bullying us we have no one else to rely on! Do the heavens wish to end the Qins?!”
Née Sun was reminded of what’d happened to her own family. Heartache gripped her when she thought of Qin Huaiyuan’s defeated posture from moments ago. Tears trickled down her face as well.
Everyone returned to the Garden of Loving Piety, a pallor of depression and unease cast over all. Some faces were pinched with anxiety while others cried silently. The soft sounds of sobbing quieted down only after Qin Huaiyuan returned to the residence with the second and third elder master.
The marquis wasn’t like before, wanting to discuss matters with everyone. He calmly greeted the old dowager, comforted his mother a bit, and then excused himself for a nap.
Naturally, the old dowager didn’t voice a single word of protest and dismissed everyone.
Qin Yining, Bingtang, and Jiyun were leaving the Garden of Loving Piety when the fourth miss suddenly stopped. “Who do you girls think can help my father at this time?”
Jiyun had been itching to charge over and visit terror and violence after seeing how Grand Preceptor Cao was oppressing her mistress’ family. Her eyes lit up when she heard the question and she whispered, “Miss, just give me the word and I’ll do it tonight! I’ll take care of that old fart!”
Qin Yining didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “An assassination?”
“Yes, an assassination!” Jiyun spat out through grit teeth. “The sooner a pestilence like that dies, the more lives we save!”
“We can’t do that.” The fourth miss shook her head. “Setting aside how many guards the cautious grand preceptor must surely have, there’s still no guarantee of success. You might lose your own life. And so what if we succeed?”
* * *
Chapter 207: Plotting (II)
Chapter 207: Plotting (II)
Jiyun wasn’t sure where her mistress was going with this and shook her head.
“Things won’t be over if we kill only him. The trampress will still be there, the trash emperor, the Cao descendants, and probably Grand Preceptor Cao’s heir amongst them. What if whoever succeeds him is even worse? At least we’re very familiar with the statesman now. We’d have to take time and effort to get to know a new opponent. It’d be better to think of a way to get rid of them in one fell swoop, wouldn’t you say?”
The guard nodded in agreement and followed her mistress automatically before screeching to a halt. “Miss, you talked about erasing the ultimate source of trouble before, and now you’re saying to get rid of them in one fell swoop… are you… are you thinking of destroying the entire Cao clan?”
Qin Yining didn’t deny it. And actually, she didn’t want to just get rid of the Caos, but the trampress and trash emperor as well!
Although her thoughts were high treason given her status as a Great Yan citizen, she had no other recourse given the sheer lawlessness of the emperor. The people were suffering, and even her father had been trampled into the ground.
An involuntary smile crossed Qin Yining’s face. Her thoughts were likely the same as those of her grandmother and Azure Justice by now. But if one looked at her calm demeanor, they’d think that she was just discussing what to eat or embroider today.
The Caos were influential and had an exceedingly complex network at court. Even a great official as Qin Huaiyuan was firmly suppressed now, so what could an unmarried girl like Qin Yining do?
Jiyun at least, was completely stumped. But for some reason, even if the guard didn’t know what was to be done, she felt that anything the fourth miss spoke of was doable. “There isn’t anyone good amongst the Caos. They should be utterly destroyed. If only His Highness was here! It would be so easy to just raze them all into the ground.”
Bingtang nodded fervently. “That’s right, how would the Caos dare act like this if the prince was here? He would’ve flung some hefty slaps over a long time ago and made them stop! Even that dog emperor is like a mouse meeting a cat when he sees the prince. Can the Caos be any better than the emperor?”
Qin Yining lightly squeezed Jiyun and Bingtang’s hands. “Don’t say stuff like this in the future. Things are very tense now, so we have to be alert all the time.”
“Understood.” The two realized that their words just now could’ve brought serious trouble down on their mistress’ head.
“Although there are instances of one prevailing against many enemies, life still goes on,” Qin Yining murmured lowly. “We don’t need to break a jade vase for the sake of killing a rat. It’s just as easy to resolve things with a quick plot sometimes.”
“That’s because you’re smart enough, miss,” Bingtang whispered back. “Do you think everyone can do that?”
Qin Yining burst out laughing. “Have them prepare the carriage. Let’s visit the Prince of Ning Manor.”
“The Ning Manor?” Bingtang was taken aback. “You’ve only ever met the prince once, miss. Are you going to ask him to help the marquis?”
“Yes. Although we’ve only met once, it’s still worth a try. I’ve thought about it a lot. The Prince of Ning is the only p
erson with a sufficient sense of justice who’d worry about the future of the nation, and who’s able to speak in front of the emperor. There’s no one else we need to consider.”
“Even so, he’s not a simple character. Will he be convinced with just a few words?” Bingtang was quite familiar with the prince.
The fourth miss shook her head with a smile. “I’m not certain of anything, but I can only ask the Prince of Ning for help now. My father has been suppressed so thoroughly that he doesn’t have the slightest opening. We need to have someone who will speak up for him at court. Even if we can’t convince the emperor to change his mind, we need to make it so that the Caos don't say anything to mislead the emperor further.
“The Prince of Ning is a hot-blooded man. Although he has a few quirks, he’s an upright and principled person who knows to repay gratitude. He’s someone we can rely on for this.”
Jiyun thought for a moment. “Miss, why don’t we send a calling card first? And should we discuss this with the marquis first?”
Qin Yining waved a hand. “We likely wouldn’t be able to see the prince if I sent a calling card. He’s a slippery fellow and probably wants to avoid trouble. He’d refuse to see anyone from our family. I might have a chance if I just suddenly show up instead. I won’t discuss this with father yet. If I botch things up, then it has nothing to do with the family. But if father knew about it beforehand, things wouldn’t be so simple then.”
The two girls smiled after hearing this. “We knew that you’re a smart one miss! You think of everything so thoroughly!”
“You two know how to run your mouths!” Qin Yining smiled accusingly.
When she left with Bingtang and Jiyun, the fourth miss thought for a moment and decided to swing by Steward Zhong’s first before making for the Ning Manor. The steward was a worldly person with a wide network. He’d be another person to bounce ideas off of.
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