Wincing at the maid’s nagging, Qin Yining took a few more bites of the congee.
“You should do this for the prince, if not yourself. He’s sent away all of the women by his side to prepare for marrying you. Worried that you might be bullied, he sent away any contrary granny servants as well. He has no other womenfolk, so you’re the only one who can bear him children. If you don’t rest well and nurse yourself back to good health, what will you do in the future?”
Qin Yining almost spat her congee out at what she was hearing. She jabbed a finger at Bingtang’s forehead.
“You awful wench!” The girl thought for a moment. “Honestly, all of us should regulate our health. You all have grown older and reached the age to be wedded yourselves.”
‘I knew it’ crossed Xianyun and Jiyun’s faces. “I knew that the miss would pull us down with her!”
The group’s laughter and chatter dispersed much of Qin Yining’s dejection. As they chattered on, a granny servant suddenly called out loudly from outside, “Milord is back!”
The fourth miss jumped to her feet, threw down her bowl, and dashed outside for a look. She saw Qin Huaiyuan at the front, Cao Yuqing trailing him, and a group of hidden guards following behind them.
Qin Yining counted every single one of the guards, her gaze resting on the last to enter the manor: Jingzhe, Xiaoxue, Xiaoman, and Dahan.
She flashed a smile of relief.
Success!
“Miss!” The four Silver Masks assigned to her strode up and knelt for a grand gesture of greeting.
Jingzhe kowtowed. “My gratitude to the miss saving my life!”
“Please, spare the formalities and rise! Are you hurt anywhere? We’ll have the doctor look at you in a moment.”
Jingzhe shook his head quickly and refused to get up from his kneeling position. He tilted his head back at Qin Yining. “The miss is a courageous sage! The emperor didn’t make things difficult for us at all.”
The remaining Silver Masks all bowed respectfully to the fourth miss. “Our thanks to the miss!”
Although her scheme wouldn’t exempt them from suspicion or investigation, it would protect their lives.
The messenger pigeon she’d sent out that day had fomented rumors in the old Great Yan capital that only the Silver Masks knew where the Great Yan treasure was.
After Qin Yining met with Cao Yuqing, another story was passed down to the secret agents.
They’d once been brought into a secret chamber and individually hypnotized by experts. Some information was planted in their minds, to be released only by specific watchwords. Only then would they remember the contents of the information, of which everyone knew a different part.
There were twenty four Silver Masks in total, and only sixteen currently in the capital. As much as Li Qitian wanted to interrogate them with torture, he had to restrain himself.
As soon as word got out of anything happening to their brethren in the capital, the eight agents outside would never come back.
Whatever was tortured out of them wouldn’t be complete, either. How would Li Qitian locate the treasure then?
Given this, not only would the emperor not kill Jingzhe, he wouldn’t touch the rest of the Silver Masks either. He had to keep these secret agents safe so that he could find the treasure.
“Miss, you really are a female Zhuge Liang! We all respect you so much!” The Silver Masks laughed.
Chapter 392: Invitation (I)
Standing beneath the covered hallway with his hands behind his back, Qin Huaiyuan smiled faintly to see the hidden guards adore Qin Yining so much.
He didn’t fault his daughter for taking action without discussing things over with him first. On the contrary, he felt that the girl’s stratagem and resourcefulness were becoming ever more mature. Such a way that attained two objectives with a single move wasn’t something that would occur to just anyone.
Cao Yuqing stood next to the Qin patriarch and also grinned when she saw the man’s smiling profile. “The pupil has outdone the master. You have your heir, milord.”
“Indeed.” Qin Huaiyuan inclined his head. Though it was regretful that he didn’t have a son, what more could he wish for these days?
When it came to looks, talent, courage, wit, loyalty, empathy, sensitivity to politics, and brilliantly pinpointing the crux of a problem—his daughter had it all!
Such a wonderful and filial daughter left those good-for-nothing noble scions so far behind her that they ate dust in her wake! What was there to be proud of in birthing sons like that? Show some real skill and raise a smart and beautiful daughter instead!
Qin Huaiyuan involuntarily broke out in hearty laughter and walked towards the old dowager and others who’d come out to welcome him.
“Old Dowager, look, I told you that the lord would be just fine. His Majesty values the lord very much so.” The second madame teased her mother-in-law as she supported the Qin matriarch’s arm.
A beaming smile spread over the old dowager’s face; she tugged on Qin Huaiyuan’s arm.
“The next time the emperor sends you out on a task, make sure you send word of it back home. Don’t let your old mother worry for nothing.”
“Understood, mother.” Qin Huaiyuan smiled with comforting ease. “We’ve finally gained a proper foothold now and won’t have to worry about much as long as we keep to our places and live out our days peacefully.”
“Really?” The old dowager gripped Qin Huaiyuan’s arm with delighted surprise.
Guilt and anguish washed over Qin Huaiyuan to see his elderly mother this way. “Naturally, as long as we keep to ourselves and don’t make any trouble.”
“That’s good, that’s good.” The old dowager nodded merrily and had Qin-mama tell the servants to prepare food.
After a reunion meal with the family, Qin Yining fell fast asleep after washing up.
A sound at the rear window startled Jiyun awake in the midst of her night watch. She whipped her head around to see Pang Xiao walk out from the washroom behind the bed.
The guard snickered to herself. After all these days, it was about time that His Highness came! She curtsied with a smile and left the room with a quiet opening of the door.
Pang Xiao took a seat on the side of Qin Yining’s bed, looking down at her through the light of lamp that cast off the warm hues of dusk.
The girl was on her side, her immaculate cheek pressed into a pillow indistinct under the candlelight. Her lips were slightly parted, revealing two larger front teeth. Her long hair scattered over the pillow made her palm-sized face appear even smaller. The shadows cast by her long lashes appeared as two fans on her cheeks.
The prince softly rubbed her cheek with his index finger. Qin Yining frowned and murmured a noise of complaint, shifting her face out of the way.
Pang Xiao huffed softly with laughter and drew close to kiss her on the cheek. Several days of utter exhaustion had landed Qin Yining in a state of extreme weariness. She would’ve woken up on any other day, but showed no signs of stirring today. A frown still crossing her forehead, she grunted softly before slipping even deeper into sleep.
The prince didn’t wake her and remained sitting quietly beside her. He’d occasionally twirl a strand of her long hair or lie on his side next to the bed frame if he got tired.
As the night dragged on, he kissed her again, this time on the lips.
“I’ll be leaving now. I’ll come see you next time,” he whispered.
Qin Yining’s even breathing was her only response. Pang Xiao chuckled once more before taking his leave out the window.
When the girl rose the next morning to wash up, she found multiple squiggly little braids on her head. When she yawned, she happened to meet Jiyun’s teasing look.
“What is it?” Qin Yining took the lake salt to brush her teeth.
Jiyun was ready off to the side with a handkerchief and whispered, “The braids on your head are the prince’s artwork.”
Qin Yining jumped and muttered,
“What?”
“You were sleeping so deeply last night that the prince didn’t wake you when he came. He sat next to you to watch you sleep. Maybe he played with your hair because he was bored, but you didn’t respond even after he braided so many of them.”
The fourth miss didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“This servant naturally had to retreat when His Highness came. You should ask him why he didn’t wake you up.”
Qin Yining blushed deeply and rolled her eyes at Jiyun. “You must’ve picked up some bad habits after spending all that time with Bingtang. You’re becoming ever more sharp-tongued!”
Jiyun chuckled even more happily to see her mistress embarrassed like this.
In great spirits because one enormous trouble had been taken care of, Qin Yining wanted to carve some time out to discuss business with Steward Zhong. But just as she changed clothes, a servant called out loudly from outside. “Fourth Miss, the senior madame urgently requests your presence in the front hall.”
The girl blinked and adjusted the jade hairpin in her hair. She pushed open the door to ask, “What does my mother need from me?”
“In response to the miss, a mama’s just arrived from the palace with a decree from the empress dowager. The imperial majesty wishes to see the senior madame.”
Anxiety gripped Qin Yining. How come she hadn’t heard anything about this??
Quickening her footsteps as she was deathly afraid her mother would come off worse in the exchange, she reached the front hall to see née Sun conversing with a forty-some year old granny servant clad in the uniform of a palace servant.
The mama curtsied when she saw the girl enter the hall. “Greetings and good health to Miss Qin. This servant is surnamed Chen and serves the empress dowager. Her Imperial Majesty would like to invite Madame and Miss Qin into the palace for a visit.”
Though bafflement gripped her, Qin Yining maintained a look of startled flattery. “A summons from the empress dowager! We, we haven’t prepared for this and are worried we’ll offend Her Imperial Majesty.”
Chen-mama smiled. “You jest, Miss Qin. Her Imperial Majesty knows that Master Qin is His Majesty’s right hand man. She’s been seeking an opportunity to meet you. It so happens that the various aristocratic womenfolk are entering the palace today to make their greetings. The empress dowager had this servant come to invite you and Madame Qin. There is really no need to be nervous.”
It was impossible not to be nervous! Née Sun was so high strung that the palms of her hands were slick with sweat. She really wanted to say that since Qin Huaiyuan was still at morning court, they had to wait for his return to make such a decision. But that remained unsaid, even she knew that voicing such words would be inappropriate.
Qin Yining had regained her composure by now. No matter what the empress dowager wanted to do, she wouldn’t demand their lives at the end of the day. Since their survival wasn’t in doubt, nothing else mattered all that much.
“Then our thanks to Chen-mama.”
“Not at all.” The granny servant smiled to see Qin Yining accept so readily. “The carriage is ready, set specifically by Her Imperial Majesty to receive you. Will you come this way with me?”
“Of course.” Qin Yining agreed amiably and turned back to Jiyun “Go tell the old dowager of this.” She left with Jiyun and Bingtang, helping née Sun out the door in the palace servant’s wake.
Chapter 393: Invitation (II)
When the Qin womenfolk reached the front door, they discovered an opulent carriage already waiting for them.
“Madame Qin, Miss Qin, please enter the carriage.” Chen-mama had other palace servants move over a footstool and personally helped both of them into vehicle, then carefully closed the curtains tight.
Bingtang and Jiyun would make the trip next to the mama.
Inside the carriage, née Sun clung nervously to her daughter’s hand. She whispered in a worried, low voice. “What do you think the empress dowager wants with us girls? Does it have something to do with your father entering the palace two days ago?”
“Don’t worry, mother.” Qin Yining took her mother’s hand in return and patted it. “The emperor values father greatly, and the empress dowager may not have invited us for anything major. She may just want to get to know us. We haven’t had much chance to visit with her since moving to the capital, after all.”
Née Sun could finally relax when she heard this. “I’m at ease hearing you say that.”
The girl smiled at her mother’s exaggeration. “It’ll be fine. Just relax, mother. Even if there is something, it won’t threaten our lives. We just need to watch our words and actions.”
Née Sun nodded solemnly.
The carriage soon reached the palace doors. Née Sun and Qin Yining alighted to transfer into a small litter. They soon arrived at the empress dowager’s Palace of Serene Piety, in the company of Chen-mama and other palace servants.
The two Qin womenfolk adjusted each other’s outfits and left Bingtang and Jiyun outside before setting foot on crimson, raised platform in front of the palace.
One was greeted with an enormous nine-legged, bronze brazier embossed with flower motifs as soon as they set foot through the doors. A mixture of pine needles, mint, and Indian sandalwood burned within, dispersing a refreshing fragrance.
Mother and daughter lowered their heads, following Chen-mama’s footsteps on the scarlet carpet with blossoming peonies until they reached a side palace.
Feminine chatter and laughter sounded out before they walked through the lattice openwork, arched door.
It looked like the empress dowager had invited others as well.
Both Qin Yining and née Sun heaved silent sighs of relief.
“Reporting to Your Imperial Majesty, Madame and Miss Qin have arrived.” Chen-mama curtsied.
The conversation in the room instantly died down. Qin Yining could feel the gazes of everyone upon them.
The empress dowager declared benevolently, “Hurry and invite them in.”
“Understood.” The granny servant showed the way with a smile.
Qin Yining kept firmly to her place behind née Sun, focusing on the tips of her shoes. They went through all the proper motions of taking measured steps, curtseying in greeting, kowtowing, and saluting the empress dowager’s good health.
As soon as the Qin womenfolk entered the room, those already inside fixed their attention on the newcomers.
There were plenty of rumors swirling about Pang Xiao carrying off Qin Yining as soon as she arrived in Great Zhou. Many of them had long envisioned her to be a vixen, a seductress. Even though many had seen her when she entered the city, due to her usual low profile and keeping to herself, they’d forgotten about that initial, stunning glance.
Now observing her dressed in a plain, pastel lake-green outfit, her dainty steps elegant and her figure slender and genteel—it gave one an exceedingly comfortable feeling, even if they couldn’t see her face because of the lowered head. Genuine or otherwise admiration flourished.
“Oh do rise. This must be the Qin girl? Come closer so this forlorn one can take a look.” [1] The empress dowager reached out to Qin Yining with a smile.
The girl quickly responded with her right hand and placed it on the empress dowager’s slightly wrinkled hand adorned with a ruby ring. She bent her knee again after walking closer. “Greetings and good health to Your Imperial Majesty.”
“Ah, what a lovely girl. They all say that Minister Qin is known as Wise Pan An. Others say that Miss Qin looks exceedingly like the Wise Pan An in his youth. It now seems that the rumors are quite true. Come, lift your head so I can take a look.”
Qin Yining swallowed her discomfort at being assessed like goods in a marketplace and lifted her head to look at the empress dowager’s chin.
The imperial majesty blinked, then rubbed the back of the girl’s hand lovingly. “Aiyaya, what an exquisite girl. She outshines all of you.”
; A young girl to the side giggled. “The empress dowager doesn’t like us anymore after seeing such a beauty.”
“That’s right, Her Imperial Majesty is so biased. She only likes younger sister Qin.”
The round of jokes provided the perfect cover for Qin Yining to take a quick look around and assess the surroundings closely.
Apart from her and née Sun, there were two other young woman and two middle-aged noble women. It looked like an outing of mothers and daughters. Some skepticism blossomed in her heart.
When the empress dowager let go of Qin Yining’s hand, she took née Sun’s instead and struck up an intimate conversation. She asked if the Qin madame was settling in well and if she’d run into any difficulties. The other madames echoed each word of care.
Qin Yining took her place off to the side with the other two young girls.
The empress dowager was quite a caring conversationist and the hours of morning passed in casual conversation. At one point, Qin Yining even fielded a few questions of Great Yan culture and customs. The girl responded with impartial objectivity.
When it was midday, Chen-mama came in to report, “Reporting to Your Imperial Majesty, the meal has been prepared and the banquet set up in the western side palace. Please make your way there.”
“I see.” The empress dowager rose, holding née Sun’s hand. She smiled into the Qin madame’s look of startled flattery. “Let’s go and enjoy our meal.”
“Understood. Thank you for bestowing a banquet upon us.” The womenfolk chorused and bent their knees before following the empress dowager to the side palace.
Mouthwatering savory aromas wafted through the air of the side palace instead of the usual burning incense. Exquisite crockery with patterns of traced gold gleamed on a massive round table. Various dishes were a delight for all the senses.
After the empress dowager sank into the head seat, she motioned for everyone to take their seats as well. But how did the group dare sit at the same table with the imperial majesty?
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