The national treasury was empty to begin with. What could it bring out to feed three hundred thousand troops?
Qin Yining closed her eyes with a sigh. “The situation does look pretty bad. Bingtang, you have some history with the Prince of Ning. Why don’t you go look in on him and see what you can do?”
Bingtang had been hesitating earlier, wondering if her mistress would allow her to go visit the prince. The miss was Pang Xiao’s fiancé after all, and the prince had met with his injuries at Pang Xiao’s hands. The two were enemies.
But now, the maid felt that she’d been too narrow-minded.
“Understood, thank you, miss.”
“We’re a family, what are you thanking me for? Take two guards with you and be on your way. Tell the prince that I’m under imperial orders to stay in the residence and can’t pay him a visit. Please tell him to take care of himself.”
“I will.” Bingtang left with her medicine kit and explained the purpose of her trip to the guards at the door. She rushed off with two guards in tow, plummeting Qin Yining’s mood with her departure.
The Qin fourth miss was deathly afraid of something happening to the prince. But sometimes, what one fears the most is the matter to come visiting.
The next day, Bingtang came back with eyes puffy from crying.
“Miss, I’m afraid this is it for the Prince of Ning! He was in a feverish stupor when I left. His many blade and arrow wounds are infected and his fever won’t break. When I got there yesterday, he boasted proudly to me on how he gave little Prince Pang as good as he got. But come nightfall, he fell delirious and we can’t get any water or rice into him today. Miss, I’m, I’m really afraid!”
Qin Yining understood that Bingtang had a relationship with the Prince of Ning. It’d been the prince who’d stretched out a helping hand to the girl after the Tangs fell. He’d shouldered awful criticism and misunderstanding to keep Bingtang safely by his side.
If it hadn’t been for the Prince of Ning, Bingtang would’ve never escaped pursuit from the Caos. The Caos were used to doing absolutely anything and everything they wanted. The trampress had once steamed and eaten human flesh; it was entirely possible that they would’ve skinned Bingtang alive and pulled out all of her tendons if they’d gotten their hands on her.
Though the Prince of Ning was an unbridled and domineering sort, and rather lascivious, he still had a keen sense of what was right or wrong. He was only probably the only one who could lead the troops into battle against Great Zhou, so chaos was going to grip the armies if anything happened to him!
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Chapter 246: Petitioning the Heavens (I)
Chapter 246: Petitioning the Heavens (I)
Qin Yining was rather terrified by the prospect. Life was starting to feel like an avalanche in the face of a furiously rampaging storm. Destiny would grind the entire world into dust given enough time. Such a future inflicted the girl with utter helplessness. She was perched atop a leaf, balancing on the surface of a frothing ocean and about to capsize at any time.
“Bingtang, do you think there’s much hope for the Prince of Ning?”
Both Jiyun and Qiulu frowned when they heard the question.
Bingtang sniffled loudly and shook her head sadly. “His injuries are too severe and he’s lost too much blood. He’s not a young buck anymore, and his wounds are badly infected. It’s a tough situation for anyone to pull through. The emperor was there himself when I came back. All of the imperial physicians were there, brainstorming ideas, but the situation didn’t seem to be improving.”
Some things weren’t within mankind’s purview.
Qin Yining lowered her head sorrowfully and took Bingtang’s hand after a long moment, having the maid sit down next to her.
“Everyone has their own fate. What will be, will be. Just like all of us will become ill and grow old, so will all of us depart this world one day. The prince is a good man and puts his heart into everything he does. He’s lived his life according to how he would — cleaning house, defying invaders. Even if something does happen to him, it’s still a glorious ending for a general. Everything he’s done is an illustration of his moral integrity as a royal. He’s a hero, not a coward.”
Tears dripped down as Bingtang nodded. “I know. To be honest, having grown up in a family of medicine and learning the craft since young, I thought I had a better understanding of life than most. I’ve seen much of old age and sickness, and I’m not that sad whenever I come face to face with them. But this time, I couldn’t harden my heart when I watched the prince teeter between life and death. Though not everything he did was right, he’s still an upright, hot-blooded man at the end of the day. He’s worthy of being called that!”
Qin Yining nodded sadly, with Qiulu and Jiyun also joining in with their grief.
“I still can’t leave the premises, so go spend some more time with the prince. He treated you well before — we can’t forget our debts of gratitude. Besides, isn’t he well enough for now? Try your best, we may see a miracle yet.” Qin Yining rallied to encourage Bingtang. “You have immense talent and enough time left to try. If you still can’t save him after all that, at least you won’t have any regrets.”
Bingtang nodded heavily and wiped away tears to reveal a much more resolute look in her eyes.
“Alright. I’ll look over you first, miss. If you’re recovering well, I’ll head to the prince’s manor after writing another prescription for you. You’re still weak and losing all that blood has harmed your deeply. It won’t be a quick recovery, so you need to take care of yourself.”
“I know.”
Bingtang made a careful examination of Qin Yining’s pulse, the wound on her shoulder, refreshed the dressing of her injury, and double checked everything was alright before making a second trip to the Ning Manor.
Dusk fell as Qin Yining rested on the seat in front of a cupboard ensconced by turquoise veil. She was reclining on a large, soft, baby-blue body pillow and staring off into space while cuddling Riceball. Jiyun approached her mistress hesitantly.
“Miss.”
Qin Yining turned to see Jiyun standing outside a thin layer of gauze. She smiled. “Come inside, there are mosquitoes outside.”
“Mm.” Jiyun nodded and carefully rearranged the veils after coming inside, taking a place next to Qin Yining.
“What is it? You seem to have had something on your mind all day.”
Jiyun hesitated. “I do have some questions. I hope you’re not angry with me if I ask them, miss.”
Qin Yining smiled when she saw her guard thus. “Do you want to ask me about Pang Zhixi?”
Surprised, Jiyun nodded after a pause. “Yes, you’re so good at guessing, miss!”
“Not at all. It’s more like your thoughts are written all over your face.” Qin Yining sat up straight. “To be honest, I’ve been thinking about him over the past two days. Previously I felt lost and caught in the middle. I didn’t know what was the right thing to do. Take the Prince of Ning’s injury for example. If I’m on Pang Zhixi’s side, should I prevent Bingtang from treating the prince? Will Pang Zhixi be mad if he learns that I let Bingtang treat his enemy?”
Jiyun nodded with every word her mistress said. “Miss, I didn’t mean anything else by my questions. I just feel that you’re in a difficult position.”
“I thought so too, but I’m keeping an open mind about it all now.” Qin Yining stroked Riceball’s soft fur. “He’s a smart man and knew we were on different sides from the very first day he approached me. Even so, he still approached me. This means he’s thought of everything and has a plan in mind. He’s also told me before that he’ll take care of everything, that I only need to focus on being the Qin fourth miss. And so, I trust him.”
I trust that he won’t be mad and trust that we’re on the same page.
“Miss, I don’t understan
d.” Jiyun frowned.
“I just need to do the things that a Qin daughter would do. My surname is Qin and my father is of Great Yan. I am a Great Yan citizen before I am a Qin daughter. I won’t harm a fellow countryman for Pang Zhixi. Everything is up to ourselves in times of war.”
“But miss, what if my master wins? Won’t the Great Yan people will curse your name for being with him? Or what if my master loses? Will he blame your father, or you?”
“All of that can happen, but so what?” Qin Yining laughed softly. “I’m still me, and he’s still Pang Zhixi. We knew this day would come from the very first day we met. Since we were mentally prepared beforehand, what’s there to worry about? The nation’s affairs are the nation’s, and matters of the heart remain with the heart. I am well aware of the difference. I‘m sure Pang Zhixi is as well.”
Jiyun turned over the miss’ words in her mouth. Understanding dawned a moment later and she nodded. “You’re so open-minded, miss. I’m much less than you in this regard. I admire your personality very much so.”
“How am I being open-minded? I’m just going with the flow.” A resigned smile spread across Qin Yining’s face. “What’s done is done and we have no ability to change anything. The only thing we can do is to follow heaven’s will and do our best. Do you not see it still? Such is life, and it’s over very quickly. If there’s something you can grab onto right now, hang on tight and don’t let go.
“Even though Pang Zhixi and I have gotten to this stage, I won’t resent him because of the hostilities between our countries. Neither will I set a trap for him. If I really had these thoughts, then I wouldn’t have struck up a relationship with him in the first place. As for differences in position, well, we are enemies right now. We might have to meet each other face-to-face one day, but even so I’ll only fight him in a fair and square way.”
There was some heat on Jiyun’s cheeks. She had been slightly worried that Qin Yining would leverage her identity to entrap Pang Xiao. After all, the prince wasn’t on his guard against the girl. If she was loyal to her country to the bitter end and wanted to set something up for Pang Xiao, it would be difficult for the prince to escape a trap.
She hadn’t voiced her question plainly, but Qin Yining had astutely answered it anyways.
The miss smiled faintly when she saw her guard thus. “I’ve always felt that we can play with power, play with schemes and plots, but we can’t play with emotions — particularly someone who is genuine to me.”
“You’re so very right, miss. It’s my fault for thinking otherwise.”
“Not at all. You’re very loyal and it only makes sense that you would ask these questions.”
This teased a smile out of Jiyun and she changed the subject. “Now that your one hundred disciples are settled in and the front hall has been cleaned up, the emperor says that we can receive visitors starting tomorrow. With the rumors in the outside world, there will be many worshippers here to pray for good fortune.”
“Thank goodness for those one hundred oh-so-wonderful disciples outside! I can’t be bothered to deal with the crowds. I’m no holy girl or a priestess. The gig will be up as soon as I open my mouth.”
“You’re so smart miss, that the people will believe you as long as you’re not sprouting nonsense.”
Footsteps sounded as soon as Jiyun finished speaking. Mistress and guard looked at each other, then both looked downstairs through the window screen.
The guard on duty at the flower-hung gate was downstairs and raised a cupped fist salute to the ladies. “Reporting to the honored master, large masses of commoners have gathered outside the temple and are raising a fuss to see you. The guards don’t dare let them in because of how late it is, but they’re also refusing to leave. More and more people are gathering and they’re blocking off the entire entrance.”
“What are people doing here so late at night?” Qin Yining was immensely surprised. “The emperor gave orders for the temple to be open only starting tomorrow.”
“This humble guard went to ask them and learned that there were great difficulties when purchasing grain in the city today. The merchants have increased prices to ten taels of silver per half kilogram!”
“Ten taels?!” Qin Yining clucked her tongue in amazement. Everything was clear to her! She’d underestimated just how blackhearted the merchants could be. She’d thought they’d only raise the prices slightly, but it seemed that they planned on hoarding grain as a rare commodity!
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Chapter 247: Petitioning the Heavens (II)
Chapter 247: Petitioning the Heavens (II)
“Ten taels of silver is enough to buy an acre of rich fields! Are the merchants crazy?! This is daylight robbery!”
The guard was likewise huffy. “Those knavish merchants are definitely blackhearted! Who can afford to eat rice at ten taels of silver per half kilogram? Rumors are everywhere that the former emperor sold off the stored and tax grain, robbed the nation’s coffers dry, and stashed all the money in an unknown location.
“Both the army and the people are panicking. They think that we’ll run out of food soon and no one can afford the merchants’ prices. This is why they thought of you, honored master. You’re the holy girl ordained by the Soothsayer herself, the one who can protect the country, the one personally anointed by the emperor. You can talk to the gods, so the people want you to ask the gods if we’ll make it through this crisis.”
The more Qin Yining heard, the deeper the furrows on her forehead became. She could feel a future migraine throbbing already.
She wasn’t some sort of ‘holy girl’ at all! She’d turned herself into a talisman back in the day because she’d been out of ideas to save herself. Who knew things would turn out this way? Not only had she been forced to become a nun, but she been upgraded to the ridiculous title of ‘holy girl’, and she couldn’t deny or resist any of this!
Ask the gods?
If she could, would she need to stay in this gilded cage?
Expecting her to suddenly sprout a gilded tongue and commune with the gods was expecting a donkey to dance!
“Miss, what are you going to do?” Jiyun was rather worried. “This is very tricky. The emperor himself bestowed your title. If you don’t make an appearance, you’ll end up deeply offending the emperor. But if you don’t do a good job after meeting the people, it’ll be bad for your own reputation.”
Of course the miss knew all that, but what could she do at the moment? She was caught between a rock and a hard place. She’d never thought that a ploy to prevent herself from being eaten would cause this sort of disaster for her later.
“Don’t announce my presence. I’m going to sneak a peek and then decide.”
The guard outside the window immediately assented.
Qin Yining rose, still holding Riceball, and went downstairs with Jiyun and Qiulu.
The white marble platform offered a view of the foot of the mountain. All of the lights in the main hall at the bottom of the mountain were lit and reflected in the lake’s waters. Even when one was physically located at the peak of the mountain, it was easy enough to imagine just how luminous and magnificent the main hall must be. Surely it was as beautiful as a palace of the immortals.
As her gaze travelled across the lake and to the outside, only the restless shifting of a dense mass of heads could be glimpsed. They were too far away for her to make out words, but the faint buzz of conversation was audible all the same.
“It’s past curfew, but the people refuse to leave. This is more than a ready sign of how chaotic things are within the city. Men from the Warden’s Office are all congregated at the doors.”
“You’re very right, honored master. The Warden’s Office has indeed sent men to guard the doors, but no one’s listening to them. They can’t really make a move against the people either. That would cause an even bigger disturbance. They don’t know what to do at the moment.” The guard was also worried by the situation outside.
“Miss, what
will you do with so many people?” Qiulu asked.
What should she do? Receive them? Don’t receive them?
The people wouldn’t leave even if she ignored them. And even if it hadn’t been her original intentions, she was now a holy girl to them.
But if she did receive them, what kind of answer could she give them? She couldn’t make any decisions, so what could she do?
“Let me think about this.” Qin Yining pursed her lips and sank into deep thought.
Jiyun and Qiulu didn’t dare interrupt her train of thought. They stood meekly to the side, occasionally shooing away an errant mosquito with a wave of the velvet fan.
At the same time in the Marquis of An Manor, Qin Huaiyuan shot to his feet when he heard Qitai’s report. He circled several times in place like headless fly. “Bad, this is bad!”
“Indeed, milord. Xuan Su Temple has been surrounded by tens of thousands of people. If the situation isn’t handled properly, they might just charge in! As skilled as the imperial guards posted there might be, how many will they be able to restrain by themselves? Thousands of people will be able to stampede right over them!”
“Is there any movement from the Ning Manor? Is the emperor still there?”
“The emperor has already returned to the palace and the Prince of Ning is still unconscious.”
A tight furrow crossed Qin Huaiyuan’s forehead. Behind his back, his hands balled into fists.
If this matter wasn’t handled appropriately, it really could turn into a public grievance and result in Qin Yining’s death. And even if the crowd’s mood didn’t turn ugly, a ruined reputation for Qin Yining might turn into something that Great Zhou and the Tatars could make use of or other complications.
“Ready the carriage, let’s go to the royal residence. We can’t just sit here at home. Let’s go check out the situation.”
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