“Miss, Old Master Gu requests an audience.”
Chapter 401: Treasure (I)
“Old Master Gu? Which Old Master Gu?” Qin Yining rose, perplexed.
“The one who came to Great Zhou with us, the emperor’s strategist, Master Gu Shixiong. His granddaughter, Gu Chang, is the commandery prince’s concubine.”
“I see now.” Qin Yining frowned and paced around in the room, in spite of herself.
She and the old strategist normally had nothing to do with each other. Her father also had no interactions with him, so why the sudden visit?
It certainly was in relation to recent happenings in the palace.
Gu Shixiong had been Grand Preceptor to the Heir Apparent when the former Great Yan emperor had been crown prince. As decrepit and utterly useless the former emperor had been, he had always been very respectful towards his teacher. It could be said that Gu Shixiong was the former emperor’s most trusted confidante.
This character’s sudden arrival gave rise to many, many speculations from the Qin fourth miss.
“Bingtang, go to the front hall first and wait on the old master carefully. I’ll be over as soon as I change out of my clothes.”
“Understood.” The maid nodded and quickly stepped out.
Qin Yining put on a new outfit and was just about to head over when Jiyun came in, huffing and panting from the outside. Her hasty appearance startled the fourth miss as well as Xianyun and Qiulu, both helping their mistress with her hair.
“What is it?” Qin Yining looked back at the guard from the dressing table.
Jiyun sucked in two quick breaths before reporting rapidly in a hushed tone, “Miss, I’ve just come from the outside. Someone came from the palace to invite Madame Cao and all of the Silver Masks into the palace. Also, there’s a rumor in town.”
Flabbergasted, Qin Yining stared at Jiyun.
“Everyone’s saying that the former emperor’s treasure was found, but it was empty!”
“What?!” The fourth miss had no idea what to say.
The former emperor had robbed and pillaged his own people to amass an enormous sum at the end of Great Yan’s days. Everyone knew that he’d wanted to use this wealth to rise anew in a new location.
How would such a selfish person leave an empty treasure for himself?
“It’s true. News has spread everywhere that the men sent to Great Yan found only an empty hidey-hole.”
Qin Yining nodded. She finally understood why Li Qitian would suddenly keep Yuchi Yan, Li Yanyan, and Gu Chang in the palace.
The emperor really is a wily old fox!
First, he wanted to interrogate the real treasure location out of Yuchi Yan.
Second, he wished to use Yuchi Yan as a hostage. Even if the commandery prince didn’t know the location of the treasure, the emperor could curtail the actions of those in the know. After all, Great Yan’s treasure was to be left for the Great Yan royal bloodline.
Third, and most important, those who cared about Yuchi Yan would naturally spring into action after he was taken. All Li Qitian had to do was to observe who acted out of the ordinary to glean knowledge on who knew where the treasure was!
Therefore, the sudden visit from Gu Shixiong meant that it would certainly appear suspiciously out of the ordinary in Li Qitian’s eyes!
Qin Yining suddenly felt this to be a very sticky issue.
As an experienced official, Old Master Gu was certainly no fool. Paying a visit to the Qins at this crucial moment and asking for her specifically… was he doing this on purpose or purely by coincidence?
But no matter what he said, it would appear dubious in the emperor’s eyes.
The fourth miss quite suspected that this senior official wanted to drag the Qins down. After all, the family had landed on their feet in Great Zhou and was doing quite well for themselves!
“Miss, what should we do now?”
Seeing how solemn their mistress was, the maids were all slightly nervous. But they’d been through thick and thin with Qin Yining, so although they were nervous, they weren’t afraid.
The girl smiled comfortingly at them. “No worries, I have a plan in mind. Xianyun, Qiulu, stay in the room. Jiyun, come with me to meet Old Master Gu.”
“Understood, miss,” chorused the maids.
Jiyun followed Qin Yining to the front hall.
Gu Shixiong was more than seventy years old with a head of stark-white hair. Thin and lean, he wore straight, plain satin robes of navy-blue. He looked very much like an elderly teacher.
Qin Yining quickly sized her visitor up and curtsied respectfully. “Old Master Gu, apologies for keeping you waiting. This little girl truly has no manners, please do forgive me.”
Gu Shixiong smiled faintly and rose to offer cupped fists. “There’s no need to be so concerned with the formalities. It’s this old man who has imposed on you.”
Surprised by the great politeness, the Qin fourth miss came to a few swift conclusions.
“Please take a seat, Old Master Gu.”
“After you.”
After a round of pleasantries, Qin Yining insisted on taking a chair of lower status. She tilted her body sideways and occupied only half of her seat, displaying the utmost of good etiquette. The presentation greatly warmed Gu Shixiong’s heart.
“What insights might Old Master Gu have to impart with your visit today?”
“This old man wouldn’t dare have insights. I’ve come to impose today because I have a piece of good news for Miss Qin.”
The girl only smiled with composure. “What good news might the old master mean?”
Gu Shixiong stroked his snow-white beard and smiled quite benevolently.
“I trust that Miss Qin has already heard of the news as it’s everywhere in the city. Then men sent to Great Yan to locate our old nation’s treasure have found it, but they report it’s empty.”
“I have indeed heard of that.”
“Then what might Miss Qin think about this matter?”
Chapter 401.2: Treasure (I)
Qin Yining looked into the old official’s aged eyes; there was a sharp light hidden in them. She dimpled.
“I haven’t much of any thoughts. I’m just an unmarried girl. I work on my embroidery everyday and wait for my wedding. Why would I possibly pay attention to these affairs outside? These great matters are men’s matters. They have nothing to do with a little girl like me.”
Gu Shixiong choked on his next words.
Scanning Qin Yining’s uncommonly pure and kind face, he looked at the girl seriously for the first time ever.
She had a charming face blessed by the heavens, and intelligence bestowed by the gods, which was evidence of their bias. Speaking with her gave him the feeling of a tête-à-tête with wily foxes steeped in decades of court politics. But this was just an unmarried girl of sixteen years!
No wonder she was the daughter of Wise Pan An. Like father, like daughter!
Stroking his beard again, the old official chuckled.
“Miss Qin doesn’t need to mince words like this. This old man knows that you’re a smart child, and I knew of your intelligence back in Great Yan. I come with great sincerity today, and naturally hope that Miss Qin shows the same genuine heart in return.”
Not waiting for a response, he pressed on.
“The emperor did indeed find an empty hiding place, but the rumors outside aren’t all true. There are some details unknown by outsiders. There was no fortune in the hiding place, just a letter.”
“A letter?”
“Yes, a letter. One that this old man wrote to the emperor emeritus.” The look in Gu Shixiong’s eyes was deep. He paused. “I was charged by the emperor emeritus to build an underground palace for purposes of transporting and hiding the treasure. He wanted to flee and start anew a long time ago. That’s why he passed the dragon throne onto the Commandery Prince of Yan.
“However, in my heart of my hearts, I vehemently disapproved of the former emperor’s doings. T
herefore, I transported the treasure to a secret location, and left only a letter in the place that the emperor emeritus knew of. I told him that he had no right to and wasn’t worthy of this great sum. This fortune was for the new emperor to invigorate Great Yan with.
“Alas, this old man was still too naive. Great Yan destructed after the new emperor took his throne, and the true treasure became a secret that this old man couldn’t speak of in time.”
Qin Yining silently listened to the end of this story before smiling. “I understand Old Master Gu’s words, but why might you be imparting them to me?”
“Miss Qin, this old man is here to make a deal with you.”
“A deal?”
“Yes. The commandery prince has been invited into the palace and even now his condition remains uncertain. I can tell you the true location of the treasure, as long as you do not give this fortune to Li Qitian and save the prince and his family. As long as you can do this, the treasure will be yours, and yours alone.”
The old man carefully took stock of the girl’s expression as he spoke, trying to glean some clues from her expression.
However, her reaction was much too steady. Such a large sum of riches didn’t even quirk her eyebrow.
“This little girl understand Old Master Gu’s sentiments, but a weak girl like me only needs a husband. As for the treasure or whatever, I have no interest in that, and want even less to be embroiled in the complicated struggles of court. Please understand where I come from, Old Master Gu.”
The girl’s words caused Gu Shixiong’s expression to change drastically.
Money and silks have moved hearts since the days of eld. He’d been highly confident before arriving that there wouldn’t be anyone in the world immune to the siren call of wealth.
His tone grew agitated. “Don’t be so quick to refuse this old man, Miss Qin. According to my knowledge, you’re soon to be wed to the Faithful Prince of the First Rank. The prince’s accomplishments are so tremendous that they threaten to eclipse his master. Li Qitian has always been on his guar against the prince, and a future of great turmoil is inevitable. If there really comes a day when the prince’s value is completely consumed and he is to be discarded, won’t it be helpful for you to have this treasure available to you?”
The old senior was already speaking quite conservatively. The treasure was such an enormous sum that the Great Zhou emperor was trying everything beneath the sun to find it!
Anyone who possessed it would have a lifetime of inexhaustible riches and perhaps even be able to pass it down to their descendants.
Qin Yining was a woman, one that was to wed Pang Xiao, someone who very possibly would meet with danger. Gu Shixiong had brainstormed all possible reactions before he came, but it’d never crossed his mind that the girl wouldn’t be swayed at all in the face of this colossal fortune.
Having spent so many years at court, the old official’s observation skills were highly perfected. He could absolutely tell that Qin Yining’s unwavering heart wasn’t a pretense at all, that she meant her words!
Who in this world didn’t love money??
“Miss Qin, you and I are both of Great Yan. Since this old man has come knocking today, I come with a genuine heart. I won’t mouth anything false in front of you.
“I will never hand this treasure over to Great Zhou.
“The previous emperor was decrepit and incompetent. I saw it all clearly and know that he wasn’t worthy of this treasure.
“This old man can’t help the Commandery Prince of Yan with much, much less than give the treasure to him. The prince isn’t particularly attuned to politics at all. Perhaps he’s destined for a life of mediocrity.
“But no matter what, I can’t bear to see anything happen to him on my watch.
“I know of your talents, Miss Qin. Please save the prince. The treasure will be yours out of gratitude. There are no downsides for you, no?”
Chapter 402: Treasure (II)
“Old Master Gu’s loyalty is truly to be admired.” Qin Yining sighed with a faint smile. “There are so few like you in this world, those who forget not their old masters, even at the expense of their personal safety.”
“Not at all. This is nothing. There is no future for the path of my career. I am but a candle light flickering in the wind. The truly admirable one is your father Minister Qin. He has yet to return after entering the palace on behalf of the commandery prince, hasn’t he?”
Veneration filled Gu Shixiong’s face.
However, Qin Yining’s mind was clear. This was a threat.
Even if she didn’t want to save the commandery prince, there was no way she wouldn’t care about her father.
These people who cut their teeth on politics at court are really too crafty!
Li Qitian’s spies were certainly keeping an eye on the Qins now; perhaps the emperor already knew of Gu Shixiong’s visit.
The Qin fourth miss also knew that the old official wouldn’t be so dumb as to not surmise his every move was under the emperor’s surveillance.
Yet he’d purposefully done all this today and even made such a request—plainly to drag the Qins down with him.
The girl narrowed her eyes in deep thought.
Was the old man not afraid that she’d spread word he knew the treasure’s location?
Was he really willing to part with such a tremendous fortune, just like that?
Was he not concerned that she’d take the large sum and just give it to Pang Xiao?
Qin Yining didn’t believe for a split second that Gu Shixiong truly meant his words of giving her the treasure so that she could help her future husband defend himself in the future.
But upon second thought, some things grew clearer.
Firstly, if she didn’t agree to help, then he naturally wouldn’t tell her where the treasure was. The he would still be the only one in possession of that knowledge.
Once she revealed his secret knowledge, he could just take his own life. The treasure would die with him, benefiting no one at all. Thus, he truly wasn’t afraid of being outed.
Secondly, if she agreed to help and saved the commandery prince, Gu Shixiong would most likely think of a way to make her give up the treasure in the end. Even more so, he’d meddle in her wedding and have her bestowed onto Yuchi Yan. Then the treasure would be her dowry, and the commandery prince would still end up being the beneficiary.
Lastly, the old man still wouldn’t be afraid if she agreed to help, saved the prince, and gifted the treasure to Pang Xiao.
He could just provoke Li Qitian so that the emperor was even more wary of a moneyed Pang Xiao. Chaos would be stirred into Great Zhou as well.
Therefore, after a bit of analysis, Qin Yining realized that the old official wouldn’t come out worse for the wear no matter what he did.
Even if none of the three situations happened because she’d declined the treasure, his arrival had already planted the seeds of suspicion.
As expected of an experienced official, his plan of attack was flawless!
It took only a quick breath for Qin Yining to analyze all of this. She continued to remain silent for a long while before responding slowly, “Old Master Gu, this is a very serious matter and my father isn’t home. Please give me time to think this over.”
Gu Shixiong felt rather disappointed as he took in the girl’s charming face. It looked like women would be women after all. He really shouldn’t have hoped that a woman would have the same decisiveness and means as a man.
“There’s nothing for it. This old man really does have no other plans at hand. Please think it over carefully, Miss Qin. I await your good news.”
Qin Yining nodded with a beaming smile.
Having run out of things to say, the old official took his leave.
The Qin fourth miss didn’t turn around until she saw her guest to the entrance of front yard.
It was impossible to hide his visit anyways. With Gu Shixiong’s previous status in Great Yan and Qin Huaiyuan’s
absence, it would be suspicious if she didn’t receive guests on behalf of her father. People might think she was feeling guilty.
That was the furtherest thing from the truth.
With how shrewd and crafty old man Gu was, and how wholeheartedly thorough he was in dragging the Qins down with him, she was at a momentary loss of what to do.
She knew that she had to think of something, and quick. Otherwise, the next person summoned to the palace would be her when this travelled into the emperor’s ears.
Preparations were underway for her wedding with Pang Xiao; a crushing defeat here was wholly unacceptable!
Qin Yining sat on the heated platform next to the window, cross-legged and her lips pursed. She hugged a soft, pale-purple sateen cushion to herself and sank into deep contemplation.
Also present for the happenings earlier, Jiyun felt this was an extremely troublesome matter. Seeing her mistress confounded by the problem, she whispered, “Miss, the lord isn’t at home now and this isn’t something for more people to know about. Why don’t you go ask the prince? Surely he’ll think of an appropriate solution to help you.”
Qin Yining understood the guard’s good intentions and smiled. “You make sense, and I’m sure the prince will think of something for me. But his identity is special and the times sensitive. If I go ask him now, won’t I drag him down with me as well?”
“Miss, the prince won’t mind.”
“Even if he doesn’t mind helping me with my troubles, I don’t want to add to his.”
Qin Yining paced back and forth with her hands behind her back for two hours before coming up with a response. She turned back with shining eyes. “Jiyun, go search out a simple and old wooden box for me. Find some nails as well. Bingtang, grind some ink. Oh right, I need some vermilion sand as well.”
“Understood.” The girls knew their mistress had a plan and rushed off with their orders.
After getting everything ready, Qin Yining ordered, “Send a calling card to the Gus and say that I’ve thought things through. I have urgent business with Old Master Gu.”
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