After over a month of continuous heavy rain, all the roads in Huichuan County had become muddy and impassable, greatly slowing the convoy’s progress. When the procession arrived at the newly purchased mansion’s entrance, there were no longer any outsiders in the residence, leaving only a scene of complete devastation.
In front of the courtyard gate, many Huichuan County residents craned their necks to peer inside, and even more people were discussing amongst themselves.
“I heard this is Prince Zhongshun’s residence. How could anyone come here to cause trouble?”
“Prince Zhongshun is a great hero—the court should treat him well. How could they allow petty villains to run wild at the Prince’s mansion?”
…
Qin Yining’s carriage slowly approached. The sound of rolling wheels made the people turn around, and they held umbrellas or wore bamboo hats as they moved aside to make way.
Qin Yining thought for a moment but didn’t immediately get out of the carriage. Instead, she first used a damp cloth to wipe away her disguise, then took off the outer robe of her men’s clothing and put on a light lotus-colored brocade wide-sleeved cloak that was kept in the carriage. Bingtang helped her let down her long hair and loosely arranged it into a bun secured with a silver hairpin, while Ji Yun brought spare embroidered shoes and wooden clogs to help Qin Yining change out of her men’s boots.
After quickly arranging everything properly, Ji Yun lifted the carriage curtain and got out first, holding an umbrella and bringing a wooden stool for stepping down.
Qin Yining supported herself on Bingtang’s hand, lifted the curtain with one hand, and stepped out with lowered eyes.
This was the first time the Huichuan County residents had seen Princess Zhongshun’s appearance at such close range, so there was a moment of silence around them.
Qin Yining stepped in her wooden clogs, her footsteps making soft crisp sounds. She turned to nod slightly at the onlooking people at the gate, while Bingtang and Ji Yun held umbrellas on her left and right as they escorted Qin Yining through the courtyard gate.
The residence was now in complete chaos, with broken porcelain and stools scattered everywhere on the ground. The potted plants under the corridor eaves had all been overturned, with flower stems broken and leaves trampled, mixed with soil and soaked by rain. The courtyard that had been carefully arranged was now in ruins.
Many maids, servants, and young attendants were covered in muddy water, and many bore injuries, supporting each other while groaning “ai yo.”
Qin Yining recognized several Elite Tiger Guards among them, all of whom had sustained injuries.
Seeing the extent of their wounds, she knew the attackers had definitely come with ill intent.
Qin Yining pressed her lips together, becoming even more certain there was something suspicious about this. For the opponents to injure the Elite Tiger Guards like this, they must have prepared in advance.
Arriving at the main hall, she saw Xie Yue rolling up his sleeves while a servant applied medicinal wine to his arm.
“Master Xie, are you injured?”
Seeing Qin Yining had returned, Xie Yue quickly pulled down his sleeve.
“Princess, you’ve returned? These are just minor injuries, nothing serious.” Xie Yue’s expression was grave as he invited Qin Yining to take her seat.
Qin Yining and Xie Yue modestly took their seats, and she frowned as she asked: “Master Xie, what exactly happened today? Who came to our residence to cause trouble?”
“Princess, the people who came today—you know them.”
“I know them?”
“Yes. When those people first barged in, I didn’t realize anything was wrong at first. I explained to them that this was the Prince’s newly purchased residence, but they were unreasonable and troublesome. Moreover, they announced the Lu family name, and only then did I realize the opponents were sent by Loyalty Earl’s wife.”
“It really was her…” Xie Yue’s words confirmed Qin Yining’s suspicions. “Did she come personally to cause trouble today? Did she show herself, or did she instruct others to come?”
“Loyalty Earl’s wife didn’t appear personally. From their appearance, they shouldn’t be Loyalty Earl’s subordinates. I believe they were people from Loyalty Earl’s wife’s maternal family, because the martial artists they brought called that person Master Bian.
“He brought over twenty martial artists, all highly skilled. Though the Elite Tiger Guards we left behind are not weak in martial arts, they were outnumbered and had to protect the safety of the household’s maids and servants, so they all suffered losses.”
“Why did these people suddenly barge in? What were they after?” Qin Yining’s brow was tightly furrowed, her red lips pressed tight, clearly suppressing anger.
Xie Yue sighed: “Loyalty Earl’s wife came to Huichuan County ahead of time to find a suitable residence for Loyalty Earl, and she said she had taken a fancy to our mansion. I explained to them several times that this is the Prince’s purchased residence and that the Prince would soon be coming to Huichuan County to take office, but they refused to listen. Not only did they beat our household staff, they also smashed everything they could break.”
Xie Yue’s tone was very heavy, clearly also on the verge of an angry outburst.
Having followed Pang Xiao through southern campaigns and northern battles for so many years, he had seen many people and many situations, but he had never encountered such an arrogant woman who bullied people right to their doorstep!
“For Loyalty Earl’s wife to act this way, this old man believes it must be at Loyalty Earl’s instigation. This also shows the Prince’s difficult position in both court and countryside—even a small Bian clan dares to shit on our necks…”
“Truly, the good-natured are bullied by people, and gentle horses are ridden by others.” Qin Yining pressed her lips together. “The Bian clan shouldn’t try to argue they didn’t know this was the Prince’s residence. To be able to gather so many martial arts experts clearly shows they came deliberately to cause trouble. This matter must also have Loyalty Earl’s secret instigation—otherwise, as a newlywed, Loyalty Earl’s wife couldn’t possibly be arranged to come to Huichuan County first. The Prince’s letter never mentioned that Lu Heng had also departed… Perhaps Loyalty Earl’s wife came specifically to handle affairs for Loyalty Earl.”
If previously Qin Yining still had some friendship for Lu Heng—after all, they had shared life and death together—later, because of Lu Heng’s romantic intentions, Qin Yining had begun keeping him at a distance.
Now he not only held different political views from Pang Xiao but was actually using such despicable methods. Qin Yining’s remaining friendship for Lu Heng was also being worn away.
Xie Yue sighed, looked back at the people still gathered outside the main gate who hadn’t left, and said: “Princess, this old man should first take people to persuade the folks outside to disperse.”
Qin Yining nodded: “Good, I’ll trouble Master Xie.”
Xie Yue stood up, supporting his waist as he went down the steps with trembling steps.
He was, after all, getting on in years. Today he had been injured in the arm and had taken a fall, so now every few steps made his legs ache.
Those Elite Tiger Guards who had often dealt with Xie Yue in the army saw this and were already furious beyond measure. Tang Xiu and the others followed behind Xie Yue in indignation, not caring that they were soaked through by the rain, as if only this could extinguish the anger in their hearts.
In the heavy rain, an elderly man walked tremblingly at the front while the maids and servants in the courtyard were still cleaning up the mess throughout the yard in the rain. Everyone was covered in mud, their faces and hair full of rainwater and dirt, looking especially miserable.
The onlooking people at the main gate couldn’t help but shake their heads and sigh upon seeing this.
Xie Yue came to the gate and cupped his hands: “Everyone, fellow villagers and elders, this old man is the steward of the Prince’s residence. As you can all see, our residence has been struck by bandits, and the rain is still falling so heavily. Apart from women and children, there are only wounded in the residence, so we cannot properly receive everyone. Fellow villagers and elders, please return home. This will also prevent you from catching cold from the rain and wind.”
Though Xie Yue appeared aged and frail, his eyes were full of kindness. His words were both helpless and pitiful, yet without any trace of a Prince’s residence steward’s arrogance.
Having observed for so long, the crowd had already formed a good first impression of the Prince’s residence staff, knowing that even the servants in Prince Zhongshun’s household were very reasonable people.
Moreover, their household had encountered trouble today, so it wasn’t appropriate for them to block the gate watching the excitement.
“This old gentleman is right. Everyone should disperse and stop blocking the Prince’s residence gate.”
“Yes, old gentleman, please take good care of yourself.”
…
The people sighed and dispersed one after another.
Though they had all left, news of such an incident at the Prince’s residence gate quickly spread.
Tang Xiu and the Elite Tiger Guards had by now taken up their weapons and formed ranks in front of the main building.
“Princess, the Lu family has gone too far! Just give the word, Princess, and we’ll immediately go raid their household!”
“Yes, Princess! Taking advantage of our absence from the residence, this group acted so brazenly!”
“Those people have no regard for law or even the Prince. Please give your orders, Princess! As long as you speak, even if I have to risk this life, I must seek justice!”
…
They were all hot-blooded men from the military who had always revered the Prince like a deity. The Prince had already been mistreated by His Majesty in the capital, as if to be trampled into the mud, and now in tiny Huichuan County, even a county magistrate who hadn’t yet taken office dared act this way—how could they endure it?
Qin Yining walked to the entrance and pushed away Ji Yun’s hand that was holding an umbrella for her, allowing the rainwater to fall on her face.
She was equally angry. The Lu family’s actions were truly excessive.
But after calming down, she had to act cautiously. The people before her were all Pang Xiao’s trusted confidants, Elite Tiger Guards loyal to Pang Xiao. They were all living, breathing lives, and any decision she made concerned these people’s life and death—she couldn’t let them take risks.
Thinking of this, Qin Yining raised her hand: “I have my own considerations about this matter. We cannot act rashly. You should all go bathe and change clothes first, drink some ginger soup to warm yourselves, and don’t catch cold. When I’ve thought of a strategy, there will be times when I need to trouble you all.”
“Princess…”
“Please follow my arrangements.”
Seeing Qin Yining’s insistence, Tang Xiu turned to arrange for everyone to act according to her instructions.
Everyone’s hearts held suppressed anger with nowhere to vent.
At the same time, in a large mansion next to the county office in Huichuan County, Bian Ruohan was reclining on a noble consort’s couch having her nails painted by a maid when she heard footsteps outside and immediately sat up.
“How did it go?”
The person who came was named Bian Tong, a distant relative from the same clan as Bian Ruohan’s maternal family. Now nearly forty, he was tall and sturdy with sharp features. From his confident stride, one could tell he was a martial artist. By clan relationships, Bian Ruohan should call him Uncle.
However, Bian Tong’s branch of the family had long since declined, while Bian Ruohan had married well. She put on airs and didn’t use family terms of address, just ordering him about and sometimes calling him by name. Bian Tong didn’t argue with Bian Ruohan but instead acted extremely obsequious.
“Madam, the matter has been accomplished. That household is indeed Princess Zhongshun’s arranged residence.” Bian Tong smiled: “Madam prepared thoroughly. I took the martial arts experts we hired and caught them completely off guard.”