Upon hearing these words, everyone set down their tea bowls and turned their gazes toward Qin Huaiyuan, clearly showing the respect the Qin family held for him.
Qin Huaiyuan smiled slightly. “These past days, while I was away from home, I’ve troubled Second Brother and Third Brother.”
“What are you saying, Big Brother? There haven’t been any major incidents at home these days, and there wasn’t much for us to do anyway. Besides, we still had Old Dowager, Sister-in-law, and Yining in the inner quarters. We’ve kept our gates tightly shut these days, declining all visitors and being as cautious as possible, only hoping that Big Brother could return safely. Now that Big Brother is unharmed, our entire family has its pillar of strength again.”
Second Master spoke with utmost sincerity, and everyone nodded in agreement.
Qin Huaiyuan shook his head with a bitter smile, waving his hand. “Second Brother, when you say such things, it truly makes your elder brother feel ashamed beyond measure. If not for my involvement, Second Brother wouldn’t have lost his position and been relegated to the Ministry of Rites.”
Upon hearing this, Second Master’s heart warmed, and he shook his head repeatedly. “Without Big Brother’s promotion, if the court colleagues hadn’t shown consideration for Big Brother’s sake, with my qualifications, it would have taken at least several more decades of grinding away like burning oil before I could reach the third-rank position in the Ministry of Revenue. I will never forget Big Brother’s help from the beginning. This current situation isn’t Big Brother’s fault either—Big Brother was also innocently implicated. How could we blame you? Besides, we’re family—why speak as if we’re strangers!”
“Exactly so.” Third Master also nodded.
Third Master held great respect for Qin Huaiyuan in his heart. Qin Huaiyuan was transparent and upright in his dealings. Even though Third Master was born of a concubine, Qin Huaiyuan had never used his position as the legitimate eldest son to oppress him. When Third Master became certain that he wasn’t cut out for scholarly pursuits and decided to take over the family business, it was still Qin Huaiyuan who arranged everything for him, secretly facilitating and smoothing countless paths to help him establish his footing. Therefore, Third Master had always been grateful to Qin Huaiyuan, and hearing Second Master’s words now, he nodded repeatedly.
Seeing her three sons getting along so harmoniously, Old Dowager smiled and lowered her voice to speak with Nanny Qin and Second Madam beside her. “Look at those brothers.”
Second Madam smiled with pursed lips.
Nanny Qin whispered in Old Dowager’s ear, “You’d be hard-pressed to find such harmonious brothers anywhere else in the capital. It’s all due to Old Dowager’s excellent upbringing.”
Upon hearing this, Old Dowager felt even more comforted. When people encounter joyous events, their spirits soar, and she was now glowing with health.
Qin Huaiyuan sighed here and said, “That Second Brother and Third Brother don’t mind shows your noble character. But ultimately, I understand that this matter happened because I made myself a target.”
Turning to address the entire family, Qin Huaiyuan said, “You all know that Great Zhou’s forces are now at our city gates, and Xihua City’s fate hangs by a thread. If Xihua City falls, the Huben Army will have no more worries from behind, and their next target will be the capital. His Majesty is now at his wit’s end, which is why he’s employing Imperial Uncle Cao to contact the Tatars. Imperial Uncle Cao and I have never seen eye to eye, so naturally, when His Majesty favors the Cao family, he must suppress our family. Although I’ve been released from prison and returned home, the days ahead will likely be fraught with danger.”
Upon hearing these words, everyone’s earlier relaxed expressions vanished.
The topic was heavy, so Second Madam and Third Madam wanted to dismiss the younger children first, especially since Qin Yining’s eleventh cousin was only seven years old, fearing the child might speak carelessly outside.
But Qin Huaiyuan waved his hand. “Second Sister-in-law, Third Sister-in-law, times have changed. There are some things the children should know too. I’ve already had people guard outside—our words won’t leak out.”
Eleventh Master Qin Zong nodded repeatedly, saying to Second Madam, “Mother, don’t worry. Your son is no longer small and knows what should and shouldn’t be said.”
Only then did Second Madam and Third Madam nod and settle back down.
Qin Huaiyuan continued, “Our Qin family has always conducted ourselves properly and sat upright, but in these times, being a good person alone isn’t enough to ensure longevity. As a precaution, I must make arrangements in advance. Should anything happen to me, this household will be entrusted to Second Brother. Second Brother serves as an official at court and has considerable experience. At critical moments, he can grasp the situation and direction. The position of Qin clan patriarch—Second Brother can bear this responsibility, and you must all follow his arrangements when the time comes.”
“Master Marquis, you…” Upon hearing this, Madam Sun’s tears already welled up in her eyes.
Old Dowager also frowned, her face pale as she said, “Meng Ge’er, don’t speak nonsense. Nothing will happen to you—you’ll live to be a hundred.”
Smiling comfortingly at his mother and wife, Qin Huaiyuan said, “These current arrangements are merely for absolute security. This is how the world is now. As the clan patriarch, I must make the arrangements I should make. Mother, please don’t stop me.”
Old Dowager hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn’t interfere further, though all color drained from her face as she took out her handkerchief to quietly wipe her tears.
Qin Huaiyuan paid no heed to their tears and earnestly instructed Second Master, “Should I be assassinated in secret, Second Brother, you must immediately take the entire family and leave the capital, returning to our ancestral home. The sacrificial fields near the ancestral graves were purchased years ago. Though they cannot maintain our current wealth and prosperity, supporting our entire clan won’t be difficult. Even if His Majesty seeks to punish us and confiscate our property, he won’t seize our sacrificial fields. This way, the family’s lives can be preserved, and the Qin family’s ancestral rites can continue.”
“Big Brother…” Second Master’s heart trembled, and for a moment he didn’t know what to say.
It turned out that even in the past, when Qin Huaiyuan was still enjoying prosperity and success, he had already planned an escape route for the entire family.
“This is just one possibility.” Qin Huaiyuan sighed, looking at the old and young of the entire family, then continued, “If no one assassinates me in secret, but my political enemies make some moves and take the opportunity to step on me in court, then the situation might become even more serious. At that time, our entire family might be implicated. Duke Dingguo’s example might become a precedent for our family.”
At these words, the hall fell into deadly silence. Many people showed expressions of terror, and some of the younger children were frightened to tears. Even Old Dowager, Madam Sun, Second Madam, and Third Madam were all frightened pale.
If such a thing truly happened, the Qin family would be completely finished—they wouldn’t even have the qualification to return home to farm.
Qin Huaiyuan turned his gaze to Qin Yining. “Yining, you have Tianji Zi’s divination declaring you to have an extremely noble fate. Even for good luck, His Majesty wouldn’t harm you. When that time comes, you must find ways to protect all the female family members.” As for the male descendants, there would be no escape.
Qin Yining stood up and bowed seriously. “Father, rest assured. If that day truly comes, I will certainly shoulder my responsibilities. I know what Father worries about, and everything you worry about, I will accomplish.”
Looking at his beloved daughter, Qin Huaiyuan smiled with crinkled eyes and nodded. “Very good. With Yining being so sensible, Father is very relieved.”
Hearing Qin Huaiyuan’s tone of dejection and settling his affairs, Qin Yining was truly frightened into a cold sweat, but she maintained a serious expression as she said, “Father shouldn’t be too pessimistic in your thinking. The current situation hasn’t reached that point yet, and we still have considerable room to maneuver. Success depends on human effort. Even if Father has become disillusioned with certain people, you cannot lose hope in life itself. As long as a person still draws breath, they shouldn’t abandon hope!”
Qin Yining’s words struck right at Qin Huaiyuan’s heart, causing cracks to appear in his previously calm smile.
No one else had noticed, only his daughter had discovered that he was indeed disheartened—disheartened with His Majesty, disheartened with the court, disheartened with the dark future of the Yan Dynasty. He had strived for so many years, and even though His Majesty was incompetent and muddled, he had never harbored treasonous thoughts, only wanting to fulfill his duties properly, hoping to assist His Majesty in governing the Yan Dynasty well and allowing the common people to live stable, peaceful lives—that would have fulfilled his life’s ambition.
But what about now?
His Majesty remained incompetent, Great Zhou’s iron hooves still threatened to crush Great Yan, and the common people he was dedicated to protecting were treated like livestock by His Majesty. When refugees entered the city, they had no roof tiles overhead for shelter and no mats beneath for bedding. Each day they were given only one meal of thin gruel. Children and elderly who died of illness were left collapsed in the streets and carted away by the wagonload to mass graves for cremation.
His Majesty’s actions weren’t even as good as his daughter’s!
His daughter, having no money, knew to sell valuable items to feed the refugees, yet His Majesty, such an important person, didn’t understand this—having money but not using it to save the people, instead spending it on clothes and jewelry for that demon empress.
After he was released from the Ministry of Justice prison, people he had arranged informed him of all His Majesty’s actions during those days. At that moment, Qin Huaiyuan truly felt as if his burning heart had been dug out and thrown into an ice pit. He had been foolish in the past, actually maintaining hope for such an emperor.
However, since ancient times, “a virtuous woman does not marry twice, and a loyal servant does not serve two masters.” He, Qin Meng, was born at an unfortunate time and didn’t encounter an enlightened ruler, but he also didn’t want to become a treacherous minister.
He was disheartened and no longer wanted to take action or work for such an emperor. Though he wouldn’t betray, he also didn’t want to exert himself anymore.
He thought these thoughts were understood by no one and that no one could see through them, but Qin Yining had seen through them.
The scene fell into deadly silence once again, with everyone quietly watching Qin Yining and Qin Huaiyuan, seemingly understanding Qin Huaiyuan’s current desolate state of mind.
Second Master and Third Master both furrowed their brows tightly.
Old Dowager, Madam Sun, and the others felt heartache for Qin Huaiyuan and began crying sorrowfully.
Qin Yining stood up, slowly walked to Qin Huaiyuan’s side, gradually knelt down, placed both hands on Qin Huaiyuan’s knees, and looked up at him.
“Father, you’re disappointed in those people, disappointed in this world. Your life’s ambitions have all been destroyed by that person. I understand the bitterness in your heart. If that person were an enlightened ruler, if that person could realize your ambitions, even if he used you completely and made you into a stepping stone, though your heart would ache, you wouldn’t feel regret or resentment. But that person is mud that can’t stick to the wall—he doesn’t even have such thoughts, yet he despises your dedication and persecutes you.”
Qin Yining’s eyes were bright and clear. Though she didn’t utter the words “incompetent ruler,” everyone knew what she was referring to.
Qin Huaiyuan looked down at Qin Yining, his hands resting on his knees gradually clenching into fists.
“Father, I grew up among common folk. During the war years in Liangcheng, I truly saw too much of that darkness. Human life was cheapest—in one household with seven children, four daughters and three sons, to feed the whole family, the mother was forced to start selling her daughters, beginning with the eldest.
“At first, when the market was good, they could still sell the eldest daughter for one or two taels of silver. Later, when times were bad, ten pounds of buckwheat flour was enough to trade away the youngest daughter. The grain obtained was used to continue feeding the three boys in the family. The mother’s heart ached, the brothers felt guilty, because their lives were bought by selling their relatives. But these people, even in such hardship, would still live with all their might, striving until their very last breath.
“Even if Father is no longer Prime Minister or Grand Tutor now, even if our family won’t be wealthy and prestigious in the future and has to farm, our whole family still has their lives, don’t we? Having life is the greatest capital. Why should Father be so pessimistic? Why lose hope?”
Qin Huaiyuan suddenly asked with a choked voice, “What about you?”
Qin Yining was startled.
Qin Huaiyuan asked again, “What about you? How did you survive?”