Everyone suddenly understood. “The princess consort is still the most observant.”

Liao Zhibing spoke thoughtfully, “I still don’t understand the alliance leader’s intention. The alliance leader could have chosen not to tell him any of this. We could have done whatever we needed to do when the time came, which would also avoid the risk of information leaking.”

“Exactly.” Meng Qin also said, “If the alliance leader hadn’t said these things, he naturally wouldn’t inform on us. We could have buried Sakurai and returned home, regardless of what chaos befell the Mizusawa Kingdom.”

Qin Yining spoke unhurriedly, “I indeed could have chosen not to say anything. However, I think Sakurai also wouldn’t want to witness the people of this land becoming displaced and homeless. Moreover, after we leave, who would come to pay respects to Sakurai in the future? If this place becomes a battlefield and the people’s lives are lost, even if Sakurai is buried here, it would be nothing more than a solitary grave.

“I could indeed have chosen not to say these things. By saying them, I’m merely giving Hirasawa Sai a chance to prepare. As for whether he will actually prepare, and what kind of preparations he makes, all of this has nothing to do with us anymore.”

Everyone fell into silence.

They could see that Qin Yining hoped the people could live stable lives. She didn’t want the matter of burying Sakurai to cause unrest in the lives of the Mizusawa Kingdom’s people. But if Ishikawa Daimyo truly refused to allow it, they couldn’t possibly make this trip for nothing.

That’s why she would persuade Hirasawa Sai to find a daimyo who could seek welfare for the people of this land.

Ultimately, the princess consort possessed a tender heart.

Ji Yun accompanied Qin Yining back to the cabin. Seeing her brow constantly furrowed, she gently consoled, “Princess consort, please don’t worry so much. Don’t trouble yourself over this matter. Perhaps Ishikawa Daimyo will agree to your request.”

Qin Yining removed her outer robe, loosened her long hair, and leaned against the wooden couch. The orange lamplight illuminated her face, revealing all her worries.

“For the sake of face, he absolutely won’t agree to my request. If he agrees to bury Sakurai, wouldn’t that be admitting his mistakes from years ago? If someone seized upon those past events and investigated them closely, his actions would certainly be exposed to everyone.”

Ji Yun’s slender fingers were twirling the long hair at her temples. Upon hearing this, her movements froze. “Putting it this way, won’t we inevitably have to fight?”

“Not necessarily. Perhaps things will take a turn. Regardless, we must first meet Ishikawa Daimyo before considering the next step.”

“Then it depends on that Adachi Manya’s capabilities.” Ji Yun thought of Adachi Manya’s covetous gaze toward Qin Yining and felt disgusted. “If the princess consort didn’t still need to use him, I’d really want to gouge out his eyeballs.”

A gentle breeze blew through the porthole, causing the candle flame in the room to flicker.

Qin Yining’s water-like eyes narrowed slightly as she smiled and said, “No rush.”

The night passed peacefully. Gao Delai and Liao Zhibing went out to gather information. Even though Qin Yining had said Hirasawa Sai wouldn’t betray them, they still felt uneasy.

However, before they could gather any information about whether Hirasawa Sai had betrayed them, news spread that Ishikawa Daimyo was hosting a banquet for nobles at his residence.

The two saw many vegetable farmers and fishermen delivering vegetables, fruits, fish, and shrimp to the magnificent residence on the low mountain, and they hurriedly returned to the tower ship.

At this time, Qin Yining was receiving Adachi Manya in the front hall.

“Master Adachi is saying that your country’s daimyo wants to see me?”

“Yes.” Adachi Manya puffed out his chest, his smile revealing a hint of smugness, yet he forcibly suppressed his upturned lips, feigning depth as he said, “I told the daimyo about a friend who came from afar, bringing precious silk from the Southern Yan Kingdom. The beautiful ladies around the daimyo and the female relatives of the nobles would all be very interested in this. It happened that the daimyo hadn’t hosted a banquet in quite some time. Under my strong recommendation, the daimyo also developed some interest in you. Therefore, he specifically sent me to invite you.”

Without needing to think deeply, Qin Yining could guess exactly what Adachi Manya had said to Ishikawa Daimyo—nothing more than the usual rhetoric about recommending a beauty, which disgusted her just thinking about it.

A gentle smile bloomed on her beautiful face as she said shyly, “This isn’t appropriate. I’m just an ordinary merchant, while the daimyo has a noble status. How could someone of my lowly birth be qualified to meet the daimyo? Why don’t I entrust all the silk trading matters to Master Adachi? I can give you forty percent of the profits directly. Actually, if it weren’t for this long journey and my husband’s instructions at home, I could give you even more.”

Qin Yining’s tone was nervous, clearly appearing frightened.

Any ordinary person would be nervous when about to meet an important figure.

Seeing her act this way, Adachi Manya no longer doubted her identity. The forty percent profit was enough to move his heart, but what moved him even more was the opportunity to become the beauty’s intimate companion.

“You needn’t worry so much.” Adachi Manya smiled consolingly, his large hand patting Qin Yining’s shoulder. The sensation under his palm made his heart race with desire. “I’m here, aren’t I? You don’t need to be timid. Besides, at such banquets, you can both enjoy yourself and meet more nobles, creating more business opportunities. Are you afraid of language barriers? You don’t need to worry—don’t you still have me?”

Qin Yining used great self-control to avoid slapping this man across the face. Her hand in her sleeve clenched into a fist as she lowered her head shyly and stepped back slightly. “This would trouble Master Adachi too much.”

“Not troublesome at all, not troublesome. How could doing things for you be called troublesome?”

Qin Yining looked up at Adachi Manya.

Adachi Manya smiled with scholarly elegance.

Qin Yining gritted her back teeth, then broke into a radiant smile. “Since that’s the case, I’ll listen to you, sir.”

“That’s right.” Adachi Manya smiled. “The banquet is this afternoon. I’ll come to pick you up then.” He stood up, smiling as he said, “You can prepare well and bring some of the silk you want to sell, so the nobles can have a look.”

Qin Yining smiled. “Thank you.”

That smile was so sweetly beautiful it could dazzle anyone. Adachi Manya’s heart raced with desire, and he was already imagining various scenarios of what would happen after things were settled, when he would have the beauty pinned beneath him to do as he pleased.

Qin Yining observed his expression without betraying any emotion and escorted him off the ship.

After he had gone far, Ji Yun said worriedly, “Princess consort, shouldn’t we send the signal now to have Master Xie and the others come quickly?”

“Yes, princess consort.” Jingzhe also said, “Going to see Ishikawa Daimyo this time might end unpleasantly. If they all attack together, we’ll be in danger.”

Qin Yining shook her head. “We do need to send the signal, but you must act according to my instructions. Also, even if today’s talks break down, Ishikawa Daimyo won’t immediately do anything to us.”

Everyone didn’t quite understand, exchanging glances with puzzled looks in their eyes.

Qin Yining smiled. “Didn’t you hear Adachi Manya say that today’s attendees will all be nobles and their family members? Since Ishikawa Minao is someone who cares about face, he won’t suddenly attack a woman like me. If I propose settling the matter with open force, he will definitely accept the challenge head-on and won’t attack without warning, as that would damage the image he’s established in public.”