Since the Mu Jinghu and Qiu Feishan couple had no relatives or friends, only the Pang Xiao couple and their two children came. Qiu Feishan simply called over the respectable servant women from the household to join in the lively basin-adding ceremony.
When someone added longan to the basin, the midwife declared: “Young master is the reincarnation of the Literary Star, destined to achieve the highest honors in three successive examinations.”
When someone added lotus seeds, the midwife immediately proclaimed: “May you bear noble sons continuously.”
Qin Yining didn’t mind that all the gold and silver added to the basin would go to the midwife. She added silver ingots shaped like top scholar caps and golden melon seeds, making the midwife’s eyes gleam with delight. Even her voice became much more spirited when reciting auspicious phrases.
After the basin ceremony, the midwife deftly bathed Yan Ge’er. The moment the midwife’s rough, water-dampened hands touched the baby’s tender, pale pink skin, he immediately burst into loud wails.
The midwife laughed heartily: “The basin resounds! The basin resounds! Great fortune and prosperity! Auspicious and fulfilling!”
After completing the entire procedure, Yan Ge’er had cried until his little face turned red. Once the midwife and elderly nanny carried out the ritual offerings and paper money to be burned and tidied up the ceremonial items, Qiu Feishan urgently urged Mu Jinghu to bring the child to her.
Qin Yining and Pang Xiao then took their leave with Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er.
On the way home, the two discussed matters, and upon arriving home, Qin Yining wrote a letter to Liao Zhibing, entrusting him with investigating the situation in Huichuan County.
Pang Xiao ordered someone to deliver the letter to Manager Zhong, then arranged for people to invite Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi to the mansion.
That evening, the study in the outer courtyard was brightly lit.
Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi had arrived earlier and were waiting in the hall. As footsteps approached from far to near outside the door, both men quickly stood up.
The door curtain lifted, and Pang Xiao led Qin Huaiyuan into the room.
Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi performed deep, respectful bows that swept the ground.
“We greet Lord Qin.”
Qin Huaiyuan modestly returned their courtesy: “Gentlemen need not be so formal. I am not a cabinet minister and do not deserve such address.”
“You are worthy, most worthy. Lord Qin has the world in his heart and possesses great wisdom and strategy. You fully deserve this address.”
Pang Xiao smiled and invited Qin Huaiyuan to take the seat of honor: “Father-in-law, please be seated.”
Qin Huaiyuan smiled and nodded, then turned to invite everyone to sit.
Qin Yining stood behind Qin Huaiyuan and Pang Xiao.
Pang Xiao said: “I’ve invited father-in-law and the two gentlemen here today to discuss our return to the capital.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan sighed softly. In the lamplight, his eyes that seemed to see through worldly affairs looked warmly at Pang Xiao.
“Have you already decided?”
Pang Xiao smiled and nodded: “Father-in-law, you surely understand both mine and Yining’s circumstances and thoughts. We have no path of retreat.”
How could Qin Huaiyuan not understand these difficulties? It was just that in his heart, he still hoped his children could stay away from danger.
But reality often ran counter to expectations.
“So be it. I originally hoped you could avoid the strife, but things have reached this point—there truly are no other choices.” Qin Huaiyuan looked at Pang Xiao, his voice gentle, though his usually wise brow carried a few traces of sharpness.
“Zhixi, since you’ve made this decision, you must have already thought through your future path. Since you don’t plan to avoid the sharp edge, then you must meet difficulties head-on. In doing things, the greatest taboo is wavering indecisively. Since you cannot endure it and cannot escape it, what you must do next is completely remove the mountain pressing down on your heads. Otherwise, you will have no burial ground.”
Originally, Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi had been speculating about what precious advice Qin Huaiyuan might give them. No matter how they planned, it should still be bound by the constraints of ruler-minister relationships. They never expected him to speak such shocking content right from the start, as if determined to astonish with every word.
Everyone clearly understood what the mountain pressing down on Pang Xiao’s head was.
Qin Huaiyuan was right—once they chose to directly face imperial power, what they had to do would probably be even more difficult than overturning mountains.
Pang Xiao tilted his head and smiled: “I understand what father-in-law means.”
Qin Huaiyuan smiled: “You need not feel too much pressure. I know you have the people’s safety at heart—otherwise, over these years you’ve had countless opportunities to point your sword at that person. You didn’t want to raise the calamity of war, yet you’ve been forced to create quite a bit of war’s calamity.
“The affairs of this human world are mostly matters of helplessness. Sometimes you and I feel things can be planned and calculated, but how do we know that your calculations aren’t heaven’s predetermined inevitability?
“A person’s entire life seems to be pushed forward by fate—just as when I used a counter-espionage scheme against the Northern Ji Kingdom to protect Great Yan; just as when your birth father was once feared by the court, and the Northern Ji emperor took advantage to eliminate dissidents.
“Your current situation is exactly like your father’s situation back then: distinguished military achievements, fame spreading far and wide. The four words ‘achievements that overshadow the master’ aren’t sufficient to describe the pressure you’re causing His Majesty now.
“You’re a smart child. Since you’ve chosen to return to the capital, you must have thought it through thoroughly. Once decided, there’s no chance for regret. Now that you’ve made this decision, if you regret it later, those who will be buried with you will be Yining and all those under you who trust and willingly follow you.”
Qin Huaiyuan spoke these words extremely seriously. Though somewhat verbose, they were all from his heart.
Pang Xiao could understand Qin Huaiyuan’s thoughts and grasped what he wanted to express in his seemingly meandering words.
“Father-in-law, rest assured. I know what I want and what I should do. In the end, I’m not some noble and selfless person either. Just as Yining once said to me, there’s no right or wrong in this world. People simply have different standpoints. He’s not wrong to eliminate threats after achieving his goals for the sake of his position, and I’m not wrong to resist oppression so that everyone around me can survive—it’s just different standpoints. Neither of us needs to be more noble than the other.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan, Xie Yue, and Xu Weizhi all looked toward Qin Yining.
Qin Yining smiled slightly: “Father, rest assured. Though the situation is tense, it hasn’t reached a life-threatening point yet. When we return to the capital this time, I worry His Majesty will seek excuses to impeach the prince. When the charge of disobeying imperial edicts comes down, combined with past matters in a cumulative punishment, I fear it will strike at the very foundation.”
Qin Huaiyuan nodded and smiled: “Since you can raise this point, you must have some ideas. Please share them for us to hear.”
Qin Huaiyuan’s tone reminded Qin Yining of when she was unmarried and would often accompany her father in his study for conversations. Each time, her father would patiently teach her, whether about getting along with people in the inner quarters or analyzing current affairs. She could always get the best answers from her father.
Qin Yining smiled with curved eyes: “Is father testing daughter?”
Qin Huaiyuan obviously also remembered those times and couldn’t help but smile even more warmly: “Tell us your thoughts so everyone can discuss them together.”
“With father and the two gentlemen here, I’ll throw out a brick to attract jade, sharing my thoughts for everyone to discuss together.”
After considering for a moment, Qin Yining said: “My thinking is that before arriving in the capital this time, we need to do two things. First is finding leverage, and second is creating momentum. Let me first speak about this momentum creation…”
The study fell completely quiet. Though Qin Yining’s voice wasn’t loud, each word fell like pearls on a jade plate, clear and audible. Xu Weizhi and Xie Yue listened while unconsciously leaning forward, their eyes full of contemplation, gradually showing flashes of brilliance.
Qin Huaiyuan stroked his beard with one hand, wearing a slight smile on his face.
Pang Xiao turned back to watch Qin Yining’s animated and spirited appearance as she spoke eloquently, unable to hide his admiration and affection.
When Qin Yining finished explaining her detailed plan, Xu Weizhi first applauded: “The princess consort’s considerations are thorough. She truly deserves to be Lord Qin’s bloodline—calling her a female Zhuge Liang wouldn’t be excessive.”
Xie Yue also said: “This method is feasible. Though somewhat risky, returning this time already means facing danger. We’ll be walking in the open while His Majesty must protect his reputation, so naturally it won’t be more troublesome than being outside.”
Qin Huaiyuan nodded: “This old man also has several thoughts for you to note when you reach the capital.”
Qin Huaiyuan methodically explained all the possible unexpected situations he could think of, along with solutions for dealing with those circumstances.
Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi listened while occasionally asking questions or adding points. After the group’s discussion, though the future remained uncertain, everyone now had a foundation in their hearts.
At least they now had a general direction and wouldn’t be completely in the dark.
After settling these matters, Pang Xiao respectfully inquired about Qin Huaiyuan’s departure date.
Qin Huaiyuan sighed: “Naturally, the sooner the better. It should be within the next few days. Though we can exchange letters afterward, the mountains are high and the roads far—beyond reach. From now on, you’ll have to walk your own path.”
Standing up, Qin Huaiyuan cupped his hands and bowed to Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi: “I must rely heavily on you two gentlemen in the future. This old one entreats you both.”
Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi quickly stepped aside and respectfully returned the courtesy: “Lord Qin, please don’t do this. We are both the prince’s advisors. Offering counsel and strategy for the prince is our duty. Moreover, the prince has always treated us with sincere hearts and great trust. Being able to follow the prince in this endeavor is the fortune of our lifetimes. How could we deserve Lord Qin’s bow?”
“This old one acts as a father. You are both their elders and naturally deserve this courtesy.” Qin Huaiyuan bowed again.
Both sides continued bowing and returning courtesy, creating a somewhat amusing scene, but it was more moving than anything else.
At this moment, Qin Yining truly realized that she and Qin Huaiyuan might never see each other again after this parting.
Not just Qin Huaiyuan—her mother, her relatives, her children…
If this endeavor failed and she and Pang Xiao were buried in the mountains and rivers, her family would have to live in that desert oasis forever.
“Father.”
Qin Yining walked around to the front, lifted her skirt hem, and knelt on both knees, kowtowing properly.
Pang Xiao also knelt beside Qin Yining and performed the great ceremony.
“Father, your daughter is unfilial—I cannot give you peace of mind, cannot serve at your knees with joy, and instead have burdened you to leave your homeland with no home to return to. I’ve made you shoulder the fate of the entire family and help care for the children…” Qin Yining’s tears fell like pearls, “Daughter feels guilty. If something happens to me, I may be unable to repay father in this life. I hope father takes care of himself, eats more meals, adds or removes clothing as needed, cherishes his health, and enjoys this life without further burdens.”
As Qin Yining spoke, she kowtowed heavily.
Pang Xiao also followed with kowtows.
Upon hearing this, tears swirled in Qin Huaiyuan’s eyes but never fell. He supported both Qin Yining and Pang Xiao with his hands: “Good children, father understands your difficulties. Moreover, things may not turn out as badly as you imagine. Rest assured, father will take care of the household, and father will also carefully teach Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er. You just focus on your endeavors outside without worries.”