Qin Yining held Han Ge’er while Bingtang held Zhao Ge’er, and the two of them walked in circles together in the warm pavilion with its burning brazier.
While coaxing Zhao Ge’er, who was blinking his large eyes and looking around curiously, Bingtang asked in a low voice: “New Year is approaching. I wonder if the Prince will be able to return and reunite with you.”
Qin Yining smiled somewhat helplessly: “The Prince is entangled in military affairs, so there’s nothing to be done about it. It doesn’t matter if he can’t return for New Year. As long as he’s safe in the military camp, temporary separation is no big deal.”
“The Princess is truly open-minded. If it were others, young couples spending so little time together would probably be anxious long ago, afraid that some rift would develop between them. But you’re different – you’re not worried at all.”
“Being anxious wouldn’t help anyway,” Qin Yining laughed, kissing Han Ge’er in her arms. The child broke into giggles with his little mouth open, so adorable it could melt one’s heart.
“The court situation is tense right now – that’s just how things are. How could I demand that the Prince both handle external affairs and have enough time to stay home and accompany me? Besides, the Prince isn’t someone who flirts with women, and I know he won’t attract romantic entanglements. So what is there to worry about?”
Bingtang couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this: “The Princess and Prince understand each other, trust each other, and care for each other. Such feelings are truly enviable.”
To this day, Bingtang still hadn’t told Qin Yining about how Pang Xiao, to spare her suffering, would rather not have more children. She had personally witnessed the relationship between Qin Yining and Pang Xiao, watching them weather storms together. Now they were both silently sacrificing for each other – Qin Yining, to avoid causing Pang Xiao trouble, didn’t even tell him about such a major matter as her grandmother’s arrest, instead using her own schemes to resolve it.
If one could find such a good person, probably sacrificing one’s life for each other wouldn’t seem regrettable.
After coaxing the two children to sleep, Steward Zhong happened to return from outside.
Qin Yining went to the front hall to meet him.
“How are things with Lu Dehan?” Qin Yining asked with a smile.
Lu Dehan was one of the disaster victims that Qin Yining had helped by selling the “Ning Garden” that Pang Xiao had given her when Great Zhou’s forces besieged the city and Yan Dynasty suffered drought and famine.
Later, when Qin Yining followed her father to Great Zhou, people like Lu Dehan and Liu Jiu’er remained at her estate in Great Yan to work. Lu Dehan and Liu Jiu’er had known Qin Yining for a long time, and she had saved their lives, so they were utterly loyal to her. This time, needing someone with an unfamiliar face to sustain the soup kitchen, Qin Yining naturally thought of them. After discussing with Scholar Liao and Steward Zhong, they decided to employ Lu Dehan when the Zhao Wanjin and Zhao Yinuo brothers found it inconvenient to appear publicly.
“Lu Dehan works conscientiously and is honest. He’s already changed clothes and is dedicated to maintaining the soup kitchen. The disaster victims trust him completely. Please rest assured, Princess.”
“That’s good,” Qin Yining smiled.
“What the Princess is doing saves lives – it’s a good deed. Lu Dehan was also saved by the Princess initially, so when instructed to do such good work, he’s more than willing. He praises the Prince’s and Princess’s character endlessly. He keeps saying, ‘The Prince and Princess have done such great good deeds but can’t publicly claim credit – they’re truly suffering injustice.'”
Qin Yining shook her head with a rueful smile: “We’re not seeking fame. Some things would cause trouble if proclaimed openly.”
“But some people do good deeds precisely for reputation. Compared to your quiet work, those who only seek fame are inferior.”
“People who do good deeds for fame are still good people. If there were more such people, perhaps the pressure on our soup kitchen could be reduced somewhat.”
Lowering her voice, Qin Yining asked: “Have Zhao Yinuo and the others clearly investigated the prison conditions? Do we know where my grandmother and Zhao Wanjin are being held?”
Steward Zhong smiled: “They should have investigated clearly. Scholar Liao and Zhao Yinuo didn’t give me details – I imagine they’ll return shortly to report to you personally.”
Qin Yining nodded and continued chatting with Steward Zhong about matters concerning the estate and shops.
After half an hour, Scholar Liao and Zhao Yinuo also returned.
“Princess, we’ve investigated everything clearly. We’ve seen the old alliance leader’s cell, and we’ve also figured out where my elder brother is being held.” Zhao Yinuo’s expression was extremely grim. Without waiting for Qin Yining to ask, he said: “The old alliance leader’s life isn’t in danger, and she hasn’t been tortured, but the cell where she’s imprisoned is a wooden cage where one can neither stand straight nor lie down. A person can only curl up inside. They don’t beat or scold her, and no one interrogates her, but it’s truly unbearably uncomfortable! When our brothers investigated, they discovered that the old alliance leader’s temples have gone white, and she looks completely haggard.”
Qin Yining’s heart clenched upon hearing this. She gripped her sleeves tightly, and the sweat from her palms soaked the fabric.
Her worry and anxiety couldn’t be revealed even slightly before her subordinates. If she lost composure, how could she command others? But the stabbing pain and unease in her heart couldn’t be suppressed no matter what.
“What about Hall Master Zhao?”
“My brother is doing well. He suffered some superficial injuries and was whipped, but my elder brother is highly skilled in martial arts, cultivating both internal and external techniques. These surface wounds can’t touch his foundation. Moreover, he’s already caused two major incidents in prison, killing two death row inmates with connections who deliberately provoked him. This has angered Registrar Gao so much his nose is practically crooked.”
This was the second ring in Qin Yining’s entire plan.
After making Registrar Gao incur the dissatisfaction of all the poor, she would use prison incidents to incite the dissatisfaction of the wealthy.
The two men Zhao Wanjin had killed were ones Qin Yining had investigated beforehand.
Which wealthy family or official household didn’t have some sordid, dirty affairs? Many masters who had beaten people to death or broken laws could simply pull strings and arrange for substitutes to serve their prison sentences. With enough maneuvering outside, even death row inmates might be released after a year or two.
Most of these people serving prison sentences in place of their masters were loyal servants, or thugs bought with heavy gold, plus some second-generation wastrels with backing. These people formed a unique group within the prison.
Their imprisonment wasn’t real imprisonment. Apart from poor living conditions, after bribing the jailers, eating and drinking well in prison wasn’t impossible.
She had initially told Zhao Wanjin to find those with connections and backgrounds in prison – truly evil ones – and kill two to establish authority.
Registrar Gao was specifically in charge of local criminal justice and arrests, and seemed quite influential. If these well-connected prisoners lost their lives under Registrar Gao’s watch, then the wealthy would also direct their ire toward Registrar Gao.
Qin Yining said: “Thanks to Hall Master Zhao, but he did suffer injuries for this. If there’s a way, find an opportunity to send him some medicine, at least so his foundation isn’t harmed.”
Speaking of this, Qin Yining added apologetically: “After all, it was for my arrangements that Hall Master Zhao was injured. I truly feel terrible about it.”
“Hey! What are you saying, alliance leader? We’re people of the martial world – when we come out to mix, we must value loyalty. Not to mention injuries, to rescue the old alliance leader, even losing arms and legs would be worthwhile. Besides, we’re all rough people with thick skin and hard bones. Such minor surface wounds are nothing at all. Please don’t take it to heart, alliance leader.”
“You don’t mind because you value loyalty. But I cannot feel at ease watching Hall Master Zhao suffer. I can only find ways to compensate after the plan succeeds.”
Qin Yining still felt very sorry.
Zhao Yinuo waved his hand casually. Qin Yining was a benevolent alliance leader who would never joke with the lives of subordinates like them. Even minor injuries to them made her feel guilty – what about matters involving mortal danger?
Being able to follow such a benevolent alliance leader was also a blessing for alliance members like them.
On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth month, snow began falling in the former capital. Heavy snow fluttered down, covering the entire grayish former capital with a layer of white velvet carpet. Those buildings that had collapsed and tilted after the earthquake, and the cracked, mottled powder walls, looked even more decrepit.
At this time, the servant women in Governor Yang’s residence were all very busy.
Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve. Although the residence had been thoroughly cleaned on Little New Year, today’s heavy snow was half-melting upon hitting the ground, turning into muddy mess when stepped on. Governor Yang loved cleanliness – if the master became displeased, they wouldn’t be able to have a good New Year.
When Registrar Gao was led into the residence by a servant, he saw servants and maids bustling about the entire courtyard.
Following the blue stone brick path to the outer courtyard study, a servant went in to report, and soon emerged saying: “Registrar Gao, the Governor requests your presence.”
Registrar Gao quickly composed his expression, straightened his clothing, bowed his head and hurried through the warm curtain into the room. Turning around a curio shelf, he saw Governor Yang seated behind a large redwood desk reading. He immediately lifted his robe hem to bow down, kowtowing: “Greetings to Governor Yang!”