Early the next morning, Yan Chi left Xilin City for Chifeng Plain, leaving Qin Wan alone in Prince Rui’s Manor.
Though Fuling had arrived earlier to prepare the manor, she had only made the courtyards habitable. Since Qin Wan and Yan Chi would be living here long-term, the manor naturally needed thorough renovation. Qin Wan first inspected various areas of the manor. To avoid extravagance, she chose to first arrange the main courtyard, east garden, and two guest courtyards. She also selected two courtyards with few plants, planning to plant plum trees there. When they bloomed next year, they could enjoy plum blossoms in the snow, making the manor less gloomy and desolate than it currently was.
After spending several days making these arrangements, by the fifth day, just as Qin Wan finished lunch, Zhao Yan came in from outside. With Bai Feng following Yan Chi to Chifeng Plain, Zhao Yan had been left behind. Now, as the manor’s Chief Guard, he entered the east garden to report that the money Yan Chi mentioned from the prince’s manor had arrived.
Hearing this, Qin Wan hurried out to look. Outside the manor stood more than ten large carts, piled high with boxes covered in grass mats. Because of the grass coverings, they looked quite ordinary from afar – anyone passing by would think they contained common goods.
Qin Wan hadn’t expected so many carts and was momentarily speechless. She quickly ordered Zhao Yan to gather guards to help move everything. The ten-plus carts contained sixty to seventy boxes in total, each requiring three or four people to lift. Qin Wan had Fuling open the treasury, and by the time all boxes were moved in and arranged, it was already evening. While arranging meals for the soldiers who delivered the money, Qin Wan entered the treasury. The treasury had been built when the manor was constructed. Usually, families like Prince Rui’s would have treasures piled high in their treasury, but currently, Xilin City’s prince’s manor treasury was empty, now only containing the boxes brought today.
During the afternoon, Qin Wan hadn’t asked how much was brought, but she couldn’t resist her curiosity to come look.
Currently, Qin Wan only brought Bai Ying and Fuling with her. Upon entering, she had Fuling open the boxes. Fuling took the keys, also excited.
With a “click,” Fuling opened a box. As it opened, a warm golden light made everyone narrow their eyes. Fuling’s mouth gaped open, “Princess Consort… this… this is all gold…”
Qin Wan was also startled. She had thought with so many boxes, they should all be silver, but unexpectedly the first box opened was full of gold.
Qin Wan steadied herself, “Continue opening. He didn’t send an inventory, so we need to count everything carefully.”
Fuling enthusiastically continued opening boxes. The next one was also full of gold. Qin Wan had Fuling open seven or eight in succession, all packed full of fine gold. Fuling had never seen so much money and was utterly amazed, “His Highness has so much gold. If all this gold were laid out, it would make a mountain of gold!”
Qin Wan hadn’t expected this either. She had thought that in their hurry, they could only bring limited items. From the looks of it, Yan Chi had prepared long in advance.
The group stood before this mountain of gold for a while, all feeling an inexplicable tension. Soon, Qin Wan led the two out of the treasury.
Now Qin Wan no longer needed to worry about money. Over the next two evenings, she led Fuling and others in counting the gold they’d brought. The count revealed over 100,000 pieces of gold plus an entire box of silver notes. These notes were mostly from Yuzhou banks, adding up to several hundred thousand taels of silver. Qin Wan hadn’t expected Yan Chi’s private wealth to be so vast and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She had been worried before, but now it seemed Yan Chi qualified as a wealthy local magnate.
Qin Wan wanted to ask Yan Chi where this money came from, but this trip of his lasted ten days, with only two letters sent in between. Qin Wan knew the new camp’s establishment must keep him busy, so she was very understanding. Ten days later, the Xilin City Magistrate’s wife led the wives of other city officials and noble ladies to visit.
After Yan Chi had clarified matters last time, many people left the Xilin City government offices, but others also came forward volunteering to join Yan Chi. Though Yan Chi wasn’t present, Master Qi and the City Magistrate maintained order in the government offices, avoiding deadlock. This time marked Qin Wan’s first feast as Princess Consort.
The City Magistrate’s wife, Madam Yuan, was Dong Shuwen’s first wife, originally from Ding Prefecture. She had followed Dong Shuwen in Xilin City for many years. They had only one daughter, who married a Shuoxi army officer several years ago. That man was still in the Shuoxi main camp. Because of this connection, Madam Yuan was very open-hearted with Qin Wan.
“We should have come earlier to pay respects to the Princess Consort, but my husband said the prince’s manor was still being organized. If we came too early, we would only trouble the Princess Consort, so we came today. This humble one has brought these ladies today to show goodwill to the Princess Consort. Each of them has significant connections to the Shuoxi army and Xilin City…”
Though many came and Qin Wan knew none of them, with Madam Yuan’s help, the day’s feast went very smoothly. Though the prince’s manor wasn’t as refined as residences in the capital, it differed in style from other Xilin City mansions. After touring the garden, enjoying the snow, and feasting for half a day, the ladies came to know that the Prince’s Consort was kind and generous, while Qin Wan gained a better understanding of Xilin City. By evening, Qin Wan personally saw everyone out.
This was Qin Wan’s first time handling such affairs, and she was somewhat tired, but being clever and quick-witted, she didn’t find socializing with these ladies difficult. That deep night, Yan Chi returned wearing the cold of the winter night.
By then Qin Wan had already retired and was drowsily falling asleep when she suddenly heard voices outside. As she tried to rise in her sleepy state, before fully waking, she was embraced by slightly cold arms. Qin Wan opened her eyes to meet Yan Chi’s smiling gaze, and only then did she rejoice!
Yan Chi held Qin Wan through the blanket for a while, then bathed and changed before lying down to talk with her.
“Why did you return today? Wasn’t it supposed to be half a month?”
Qin Wan leaned against Yan Chi’s chest, hearing his strong heartbeat.
Yan Chi stroked her waist and said, “Without battles, there’s no need for me to watch constantly. But having just arrived at Chifeng Plain, the soldiers work hard. If I left early, it would disturb morale. Now that the camp’s foundation is laid and temporary quarters are built, I could leave.”
Yan Chi never compromised on sharing hardships with his soldiers. Qin Wan hugged him sympathetically, “Do you need to go back?”
Yan Chi shook his head, “Not for now. I’ll go again when it’s finished, which will be over a month later.” After a pause, he added, “You had guests today?”
“Yes, the City Magistrate’s wife brought other officials’ wives. She’s very easy to get along with and helped me a lot today. Everything went smoothly.”
Yan Chi turned over to hold Qin Wan in his arms, “You’ve worked hard too. If you have any difficulties handling these matters, tell me early.”
Qin Wan laughed, “I’m your Princess Consort. How could handling these things be difficult? You needn’t worry.”
Hearing this, Yan Chi finally relaxed. After being separated for several days, their feelings of longing were naturally strong. After talking for a while, with the fragrant softness in his arms, Yan Chi couldn’t hold back anymore. Qin Wan had wanted to ask about the money, but where was the chance to speak? Soon, she was drawn by Yan Chi into endless passion.
Thus, it wasn’t until early breakfast the next day that Qin Wan had the chance to ask, “I’ve counted all the money sent. It’s much more than I expected. Was all this brought from the prince’s manor?”
Yan Chi was drinking porridge and smiled hearing this, “Of course not.”
Qin Wan looked puzzled, so Yan Chi explained, “Over these years, Father and I haven’t spent a bit of our salaries, naturally saving it all. Father and I rarely stayed in the capital. Though we had some reputation in Shuoxi, if we returned to the capital one day, there would be many variables. Therefore, Father prepared early. Adding the manor’s accumulated savings over the years, it’s naturally considerable. This time was urgent, so I didn’t bring the manor’s antiques, paintings, jade, and other treasures – those items would be too conspicuous. This money is just what the manor’s external businesses have saved over the years. There’s one source you know—”
Yan Chi smiled at Qin Wan, who raised her eyebrows, “I know?”
Yan Chi nodded, “Last year, after the case in Yuzhou, most of the Pang family’s property was confiscated. Confiscated criminal family property is sold by the government. The one who received the Pang family’s property was someone from Prince Rui’s Manor…”
Qin Wan’s eyes widened, “Ah, so that’s it. No wonder I saw many silver notes from Yuzhou banks.”
Yan Chi smiled, “Your husband is no ordinary warrior. Don’t worry about money.”
Qin Wan blinked, “I was thinking earlier, that I still have some properties in the capital left by the Second Master Qin, which Elder Uncle later gave to me to manage temporarily. Now that we don’t need to worry about these things, I thought of disposing of these properties.”
Yan Chi looked at Qin Wan as she continued, “What if we find a way to return them to Elder Uncle and the others?”
Hearing this, Yan Chi put down his chopsticks, “These days at Chifeng Plain, I received news of the Qin family. After their titles were stripped, they’re living in an estate outside the city. Your Elder Uncle has been ill, and others aren’t doing well either. At this sensitive time, the family dares not be too conspicuous.”
Qin Wan sighed hearing this, “When our news reaches them, Elder Uncle will probably be even more frightened.”
Yan Chi was silent for a moment, then said, “There’s another piece of news—”
Qin Wan quickly looked at Yan Chi, who said with a deep gaze, “Qin Chaoyu isn’t dead.”
Qin Wan’s eyes widened, “Not dead?”
“Right, not dead.” Yan Chi said gravely, “The person who died then must have been a decoy, probably to avoid implicating the Marquis’s Manor. News from the north says that in the last two battles, a young woman always accompanied the Crown Prince. The messenger described her appearance in the letter – it’s undoubtedly Qin Chaoyu.”
Qin Wan was stunned, “Actually not dead… this… this is wonderful news.”
Relief was Qin Wan’s first reaction. Though she hadn’t been close with Qin Chaoyu, she certainly hadn’t wanted her to die by burning.
Hearing this, Yan Chi held Qin Wan’s hand and said, “Not being dead is good news, but the situation with the Empress and Crown Prince in the north is not optimistic…”
At Yan Chi’s words, Qin Wan’s heart rose into her throat once again.