Qiu Feishan also understood the meaning in his words, smiling as she said: “With Your Highness being so wholeheartedly devoted to the people, we can feel at ease. Today’s visit to pay respects to Your Highness serves two purposes: first, since we’ll all be making our living in the same territory from now on, we should at least get to know each other. Second, there is also a matter for which I seek Your Highness’s assistance.”
As she spoke, Qiu Feishan reached her hand back.
Seeing this, the maid reluctantly pulled out a wooden box from her bosom and handed it to Qiu Feishan.
Qiu Feishan then stood up, placing the wooden box with both hands on the table in front of Pang Xiao, and bowed as she said: “Your Highness, today this humble woman wishes to request that Your Highness, when suppressing the bandits, also lend a helping hand to our Sitong Trading Company. Because the bandit troubles are so rampant, Sitong Trading Company has had goods leaving the city robbed for many consecutive periods, causing tremendous economic losses. Our Sitong Trading Company can barely continue operating.
“I know my request is somewhat demanding, but considering that Sitong Trading Company has always been a merchant house devoted to serving the country, and has also made certain contributions to the Pingnan Army, I earnestly beseech Your Highness to please lend us a hand.”
Pang Xiao raised an eyebrow, looking at the wooden box on the table.
Qiu Feishan opened the wooden box, revealing a stack of banknotes inside, with the topmost one being worth a thousand taels of silver.
“These are all banknotes cashable on sight, with a hundred notes in total. Although the Pingnan Army under Your Highness’s rule never takes so much as a needle or thread from the common people, suppressing bandits is a major undertaking that requires feeding men and horses. We cannot let the brothers go hungry while protecting the people’s safety.
“This small token of appreciation is merely to provide the brothers with some thin gruel. Please accept it, Your Highness. Oh, and also, the previous promissory notes between Sitong Trading Company and your esteemed army are hereby cancelled. Since soldiers protect the homeland and defend the country, it is proper and fitting for us useless merchants to contribute some military funds to everyone.”
Qiu Feishan remained elegant and gentle, speaking courteously with a humble posture, yet looking at her expression, there was not the slightest trace of servile groveling. It was as if nobility was something carved into her very bones and blood. This made people feel that such a way of asking for help was not detestable at all, but rather admirable.
Pang Xiao snapped the wooden box shut with a pa sound, pretending to ponder: “Well, providing some protection to Sitong Trading Company’s transport teams in passing wouldn’t be difficult… Very well, this prince agrees to your request. I never imagined Sitong Trading Company was such a loyal and patriotic merchant house. This prince will report this matter to His Majesty and arrange for Sitong Trading Company to receive commendation.”
Qiu Feishan smiled and bowed: “Thank you, Your Highness!”
“Manager Qiu need not be so courteous. The military and civilians should be one family after all.” Pang Xiao laughed heartily while speaking in official rhetoric.
The two then sat down again and began chatting casually.
Qiu Feishan praised Pang Xiao’s past distinguished military achievements. Pang Xiao humbly replied that it was merely a soldier’s duty.
Pang Xiao commended Sitong Trading Company’s extensive business dealings, and Qiu Feishan modestly credited it to ancestral blessings.
Qiu Feishan also praised Pang Xiao’s righteous deeds during disaster relief, to which Pang Xiao righteously declared it was all in service to the people.
Pang Xiao also praised Qiu Feishan for managing Sitong Trading Company so orderly at such a young age, and Qiu Feishan in turn said it couldn’t compare to Your Highness managing an entire army, which required far more effort and concern.
The people following both sides were already sighing in amazement as they listened.
They couldn’t imagine there were so many praising words in the world, nor could they fathom how thick the other party’s face could be. After shaking hands and making peace, complimentary and flattering words flowed from their mouths without the slightest hesitation, and all were perfectly targeted, making people feel thoroughly comfortable.
Huzi: What a shameless woman, incomparable to our princess consort, actually being so slippery!
The maid: Truly a shameless scoundrel! Simply a marketplace ruffian, and yet he can become a prince – is Heaven blind?
What Mu Jinghu was thinking about, however, was how he would describe Sitong Trading Company’s manager to Qin Yining when he returned. His expressive abilities were somewhat lacking…
The conversation ended in a pleasant atmosphere. When Qiu Feishan rose to take her leave, she had already been upgraded in Pang Xiao’s words to a righteous merchant serving country and people.
When Qiu Feishan left the military camp, the bright moon was already hanging high.
The early spring night was still very cold, and the clear moonlight cast a gentle glow over her brocade cloak.
Qiu Feishan walked ahead with her usual steady pace, while the little maid beside her spoke indignantly: “Miss! Why did you give that Pang fellow silver! He’s nothing but a bandit, a robber! A mere peasant – how is he worthy of you lowering yourself like this!”
“Bi Ying. Shut your mouth.”
Qiu Feishan gently scolded, and Bi Ying immediately closed her mouth, lowering her head and not daring to say another word.
Advisor Liu asked: “Miss, since you’ve elevated Pang Zhixi like this, you must already have the next step planned, right?”
What he didn’t voice was that ever since Sitong Trading Company started doing business, they had never suffered such a major setback. The losses caused in the old capital were enormous, and these people would probably all face punishment from the master when they returned.
He couldn’t believe that after such a major incident, Qiu Feishan could still remain so composed. Not only did she not fight Pang Xiao and the Pingnan Army to the bitter end, she even proactively sent silver to buy the Pingnan Army’s protection.
If the old master learned of this matter, the consequences would be unthinkable!
Qiu Feishan smiled slightly, saying only lightly: “You needn’t worry. Actually, I still have another plan. Before leaving, the old master instructed me about another matter. I feel it’s almost ready.”
“Oh? What plan?”
Qiu Feishan smiled as she looked at Advisor Liu.
Advisor Liu immediately lowered his head, not daring to ask another word.
However, since the master had lost so much silver yet could still be so cheerful, this matter must be more important than the silver.
Or perhaps she had deliberately intended to lose this sum of silver?
When Mu Jinghu returned to the Qin manor, it was already midnight. Wanting to tell Qin Yining about Qiu Feishan but afraid of disturbing her rest, he could only give up.
In fact, Qin Yining hadn’t slept well at all during the night. Both children had slight fevers the night before, and she, Bingtang, and the wet nurses had taken turns caring for them throughout the night. Only when the children’s fever broke at dawn could she finally rest easy and take a brief nap.
Because she was still worried about Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er, Qin Yining only slept for an hour before getting up again to check on their condition. When she heard the maid report that Mu Jinghu was requesting an audience, Qin Yining was somewhat surprised.
Mu Jinghu would not easily come to seek an audience with her. Ever since Pang Xiao had asked Mu Jinghu to protect the household, Mu Jinghu rarely went out, and being somewhat solitary by nature, he also disliked moving about in the residence. He most enjoyed finding a spacious, empty place to practice swordplay, or else holing up in the outer courtyard’s study, where he could spend an entire day drinking tea and reading books.
For him to come seeking her out today, there must have been something at the military camp last night.
Qin Yining rubbed her aching temples and quickly said: “Please invite Young Master Mu in.”
Shortly after, Mu Jinghu hurried in. Seeing the dark circles under Qin Yining’s eyes, he couldn’t help but ask directly: “You didn’t sleep well last night?”
“Yes, both children had slight fevers, so I didn’t sleep either.”
Upon hearing it concerned the two little treasures, Mu Jinghu couldn’t help but become anxious. The children were only two months old, their bodies small and soft little bundles. Last time when Pang Xiao asked him to hold one, he hadn’t even dared to touch them. If they developed fevers and fell ill, what would happen if something went wrong?
“What about now? Have their fevers broken? I still have some medicine from my senior uncle – see if it might be useful for them?”
Mu Jinghu was so worried that Qin Yining couldn’t help feeling grateful.
Mu Jinghu was someone with upright and pure intentions, without so many complicated thoughts, and he had excellent character and kept his word. She had escaped danger several times with Mu Jinghu’s great assistance. Although Tianji Zi always did things that annoyed people, Mu Jinghu truly owed them a debt of gratitude.
Qin Yining said gratefully: “Don’t worry, they’re much better now. Their fevers have broken, and the wet nurse has taken them to sleep.”
Only then did Mu Jinghu relax, nodding: “That’s good then. Pang Zhixi at the military camp is also thinking about you all. If he knew the children were ill, he’d probably be distracted. Oh, by the way, he really liked what I delivered last night. He touched the bundle several times and didn’t unwrap it in front of me – I imagine he’s planning to look at it quietly by himself.”
Mu Jinghu spoke these words that made Qin Yining feel embarrassed in such a straightforward tone, but it was simply because he was too direct by nature, not because he had other intentions. Qin Yining could only clear her throat and nod: “Thank you.”
“No need to be polite.” Mu Jinghu said, “By the way, there’s another matter. I saw Sitong Trading Company’s manager last night.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Yining immediately became serious: “Where did you see her? What kind of person is she?”
“She’s a woman, tall, dressed in men’s clothing. I think I’ve seen her at Governor Yang’s side. She brought two people to the military camp to see Pang Zhixi and even bribed him.”
Mu Jinghu recounted last night’s events in detail, finally saying: “I could tell that woman is no simple character. After suffering such a huge loss, she could still keep her composure and give Pang Zhixi gifts. In her words, she didn’t mention Pang Zhixi robbing Sitong Trading Company’s goods at all, but instead said she wanted to pay silver to ask Pang Zhixi to help protect her merchant caravans. She’s not simple, and she has malicious intent. You all need to be careful.”
Qin Yining nodded: “I understand. Thank you.”
“No need to be polite. What I mean is, well, you should also pay attention.”
Qin Yining blinked in confusion: “What?”
Mu Jinghu coughed and said: “Actually, this isn’t really my place to say, but I saw that Manager Qiu is quite attractive. After suffering such a huge loss, she could still give Pang Zhixi silver – maybe she’s taken a fancy to Pang Zhixi. You’re at home knowing only to care for children and manage the household. Don’t work so hard without paying attention and let someone stab you in the back.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Yining felt both surprised and grateful, joking: “Aren’t you Pang Zhixi’s good brother? People always say it’s perfectly normal for men to have three wives and four concubines. How is it that you’re the one reminding me to be on guard?”
Mu Jinghu shook his head: “It’s not the same thing. You and Pang Zhixi are different. Pang Zhixi hasn’t given you the stable life of an ordinary woman, so how can he have the face to demand that you tolerate his three wives and four concubines like an ordinary woman would? You’ve suffered so much for him and nearly been killed several times. You didn’t blame him, and not divorcing him when you returned to Great Zhou was already giving him face. If he can’t control himself when he sees a different beauty, then he’s in the wrong.”