“Miss Qin, may you be well.” The eunuch cupped his hands within his sleeves and bowed.
Qin Yining knew that these palace eunuchs must never be offended—they were all the type who, if not sweet as sugar, would certainly be sour as vinegar. She immediately smiled with complete propriety, “This eunuch is well.”
The eunuch hardly dared accept Qin Yining’s courtesy and hastily stepped aside, smiling obsequiously, “Grand Preceptor Qin saw Miss here and specially ordered this servant to ask if there’s anything happening at home?”
Qin Yining’s face showed bitterness as she said, still shaken, “Today’s ceremony was so grand and solemn that our family’s old ancestor brought all of us out early, hoping to witness the imperial majesty. We never expected to encounter such events. Grandmother was worried about His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress’s safety, and also concerned about Father’s health, so she specially ordered me to come down and investigate.”
“Your mansion’s Old Dowager truly has a heart of pure loyalty and maternal devotion.”
The eunuch bowed toward the upstairs, then smiled, “His Majesty and the Empress have heavenly fortune, turning calamity into blessing and danger into safety. There’s nothing amiss, and Grand Preceptor Qin’s health is also unharmed. Please trouble Miss to convey this to your mansion’s Old Dowager.”
“Yes, thank you, eunuch.”
Qin Yining bowed again in thanks. As she raised her hand, using her wide cloak as cover, she slipped an embroidered pouch of ordinary workmanship but fine material into the young eunuch’s hand.
The eunuch seemed never to have encountered such skilled methods from a great family’s young lady. He was stunned for a moment, but feeling the weight in his hand, he knew there must be quite a few gold beans inside. His face bloomed with smiles as he discreetly pocketed the item.
“This servant thanks Miss Qin, thanks Miss Qin.”
“Eunuch, walk slowly.”
“You please stay.”
Qin Yining nodded slightly. As the eunuch turned to walk toward the carriage, she looked up in that direction.
Qin Huaiyuan had observed Qin Yining’s entire interaction and now wore a satisfied smile, nodding to Qin Yining before lowering the carriage curtain.
Only then did Qin Yining feel somewhat relieved.
It seemed Father would still need to enter the palace. With Father’s intelligence and capabilities, he would surely know that Mother was also currently in the palace. Perhaps when Father returned home, he would bring Mother back with him.
Qin Yining guessed the Emperor wouldn’t harm Mother. After all, he still needed to keep Mother waiting to see Father. Now that the peace negotiations had succeeded and Father hadn’t shown any traitorous behavior, His Majesty would set down the great stone in his heart and would certainly return the Grand Preceptor’s wife.
Having temporarily resolved her worries, Qin Yining went upstairs to comfort the frightened Old Mistress. After the Old Mistress had calmed somewhat, the family’s women returned to the Qin mansion.
Upon returning to the mansion, everyone gathered in the Old Mistress’s Kindness and Filial Piety Garden, all still shaken and filled with lingering fear.
The women had spent years never stepping outside the main gates, accustomed to comfortable, wealthy lives. When had they ever witnessed such scenes of slaughter? The more timid Sixth Miss was so frightened she lost control of her bladder on the spot, and even after returning to change clothes, she still had a fever.
The Old Mistress hastily ordered someone to brew calming and shock-settling medicinal soup, instructing everyone to drink a bowl.
None of the other sisters had such reactions—only Sixth Miss. She truly couldn’t bear the shame. Now she lay listlessly on the arhat couch in the Old Mistress’s inner chamber, her face red and head buried.
A dignified young lady of the inner chambers had actually been frightened into wetting herself—such a loss of composure made the Second Madam feel she had lost face, her expression extremely unsightly.
The Third Lady, wanting to squeeze the second branch, glanced at the serene-looking Qin Yining and sighed, “Yining is truly steady after all, taking after eldest brother-in-law’s temperament. When encountering situations, she doesn’t panic and can maintain her composure. Among our family’s girls, few can match Yining’s disposition.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Yining raised an eyebrow.
Was Third Aunt praising her or creating enmity for her?
Indeed, upon these words, everyone’s faces showed awkward expressions.
The Second Madam glanced at Qin Yining and wisely refused to take up the Third Lady’s thread.
Instead, Sixth Miss, lying on the arhat couch, suddenly sat up and glared angrily at the Third Lady.
She was, after all, a junior, and moreover a concubine’s daughter who had been confined multiple times by her parents. She didn’t dare oppose the third branch that controlled the economic lifeline, so she could only vent her anger on Qin Yining.
“Fourth Sister is naturally formidable. How could ordinary inner chamber young ladies like us match Fourth Sister’s worldly experience?”
The phrase “worldly experience” carried implications that were all-encompassing.
Combined with Qin Yining having just accompanied the peace negotiations, going as a beauty to be presented to Great Zhou’s presiding officials, such “worldly experience” became the greatest defilement and derogatory term in the eyes of proper young ladies.
Sixth Miss’s words caused various reactions among the sisters—some frowned, some worried, some showed disgust, and others like Qin Huining actually laughed out loud.
Even the serving maids in the room couldn’t help but blush at this situation.
If this were an ordinary woman, in such circumstances, she would truly wish to find a crack in the ground to hide in. Those with weaker tolerance might immediately crash into pillars or hang themselves to prove their innocence.
But Qin Yining merely smiled, “Sixth Sister flatters me too much. I have indeed witnessed more scenes. Setting aside that Sixth Sister has grown up at home and hasn’t seen the hardships of survival outside, even the scene of Father eloquently debating the scholars during the peace negotiations—something that should be recorded in poetry and books—I witnessed with my own eyes. Your sister is unworthy, but I truly have seen a bit more than Sixth Sister, and my courage is perhaps slightly greater.”
With a light touch, she redirected everyone’s attention back to Sixth Miss wetting herself.
Sixth Miss’s face flushed bright red as she stared at Qin Yining, tears quickly gathering in her eyes.
Qin Yining hastily coaxed, “What’s wrong with Sixth Sister? Please don’t cry. My father’s successful negotiations are a glorious addition to the historical records—this is a great joyful occasion for our family. Why is Sixth Sister crying? Or are you concerned about… that little matter of yours? It’s nothing serious. Please don’t take it to heart. Who would gossip about your affair outside? Even Grandmother, who loves you dearly, wouldn’t let people talk nonsense.”
Sixth Miss was so angry that tears streamed down her face as she began sobbing.
The more she said this, the more it proved that the matter of Sixth Miss wetting herself had already spread throughout the entire mansion. People didn’t speak of it, but everyone knew!
The Old Mistress rubbed her aching forehead and angrily scolded, “All of you behave yourselves! After such a major incident, you still have the heart to bicker! You can’t help the family but only create trouble. What use are you worthless girls!”
Seeing the Old Mistress’s anger, everyone stood up respectfully to bow.
“Old Mistress, please calm your anger.”
Sixth Miss also sniffled as she got down to join everyone in bowing.
The Old Mistress frowned, about to scold, when Nanny Qin brought up a brass tobacco pipe filled with fresh tobacco.
The Old Mistress’s attention was diverted, and the stifled anger in her heart remained suppressed. After taking several puffs, she felt somewhat more comfortable.
Qin Yining smiled at the appropriate moment, “Old Mistress needn’t worry. I just met with Father, and he’s now entering the palace with them. There’s probably a banquet in the palace, and he’ll return to the mansion soon. Then you’ll naturally be able to reunite with Father.”
Observing expressions and colors, she saw that though the Old Mistress’s face showed slightly more pleasure, she still frowned. So she continued, “Our family is now in a position of prosperity like oil boiling and flowers blooming. Father has achieved such unprecedented merit this time that His Majesty will surely reward him. When that brings glory to our family name, it will also show Old Mistress’s excellent child-rearing.”
These words made the Old Mistress feel much more comfortable. She took several puffs of her pipe and hummed in acknowledgment, her anger finally subsiding.
Seeing that Qin Yining had pleased the Old Mistress with just a few words, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
The Third Lady then began flattering cleverly, and everyone followed with echoing agreement.
Only Sixth Miss cried grievously.
Qin Huining sat beside her, whispering consolation. The two would occasionally look up at Qin Yining, then whisper together again.
Qin Yining didn’t care at all what they said behind her back. Only incompetent people, truly not daring to confront directly, would gossip behind others’ backs.
Now, having traveled with Father and witnessed such grand scenes, having also experienced killing and bloodshed, she felt her heart had broadened considerably. Such trivial matters of chicken feathers and garlic skins could no longer catch her eye—they were merely matters of “meeting soldiers with generals, meeting water with earth.”
What she worried about now was Father and Mother.
And this assassination—exactly who had orchestrated it.
She didn’t care if someone wanted the dog emperor’s life, nor did she care whether the demon empress lived or died. What she cared about were those people dressed as Great Zhou soldiers specifically targeting Father.
Would these people, having failed once, try again?
If the Great Yan official who had just successfully presided over peace negotiations were assassinated, wouldn’t that be provocative to both Yan and Zhou?
Great Zhou people would think Great Yan looked down on Great Zhou or wanted to renege on debts.
Great Yan would also suspect whether Great Zhou wanted to tear up the peace treaty.
If Great Zhou and Great Yan continued warfare, who would benefit?
Was it the Miao territories bordering Great Yan?
Or the Tatars north of Great Zhou?
At this time, the palace didn’t have the banquet scene Qin Yining had imagined.
The imperial study was so quiet that a falling needle could be heard.
Qin Huaiyuan knelt on the mirror-like black marble floor, his expression grave as he lowered his head.
The Emperor paced back and forth in front of Qin Huaiyuan with his hands behind his back.
“Excellent, truly excellent! We have devoted ourselves completely to this country for thirty-five years, and now it’s repaid with assassination! And those who assassinated Us are all from this group!”
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.” Qin Huaiyuan kowtowed.
“Calm anger? How do you expect Us to calm down!”
The Emperor angrily grabbed the secret report that the silver-masked people had delivered earlier and casually threw it in front of Qin Huaiyuan, “Look for yourself! How can We calm down!”
Qin Huaiyuan’s heart lurched violently. Looking down at the content of the secret report, he was immediately shocked and his face turned deathly pale.
“Your Majesty!”
Prostrating himself, Qin Huaiyuan kowtowed three times forcefully, “This subject and his family are completely loyal to Your Majesty, absolutely without divided hearts. Even if Your Majesty orders this subject to die, this subject would have no hesitation whatsoever! Please, Your Majesty, see clearly!”
Seeing that the usually ethereal and immortal-like Qin Huaiyuan was truly anxious, the Emperor’s mood slightly eased.
After thinking carefully, a smile appeared on the Emperor’s face, completely opposite to his previous rage. He gently helped Qin Huaiyuan up with one hand.
“Qin beloved minister’s devotion to the country, We naturally know. Now your wife is being entertained in the Empress’s palace. You’ve also seen this secret report. Those people dared to attempt assassination—We certainly cannot leave them alive. Next, as long as you accompany Us in performing this play well, We will be at ease and will certainly reward and employ you generously.”
Qin Huaiyuan felt his hands and feet go cold.
But he had no choice. He could only lower his head and say, “Everything according to Your Majesty’s commands. This subject would not hesitate even unto death!”