Qin Yining was quite surprised. What kind of person would seek her out but couldn’t come openly, requiring her to secretly meet at Manager Zhong’s residence?
She walked slowly along the covered walkway for a few steps, then sat sideways on a beauty’s rest beside her, supporting her chin with her fair hand while showing a thoughtful expression.
Since this person could find Manager Zhong’s residence, they must be extremely familiar with her daily whereabouts, knowing that her trips to Manager Zhong’s place for business discussions were common and wouldn’t arouse suspicion. The fact that they didn’t come to find her directly was sufficient proof that their upcoming conversation must be secret.
Since Manager Zhong could send someone to invite her, it meant this person was completely trustworthy.
After thinking it over, Qin Yining felt the most likely person to act this way would be her maternal grandmother.
Since learning of her maternal grandmother’s identity as the leader of the Azure Sky Alliance during her last outing, they hadn’t seen each other since.
Could it be that her maternal grandmother had business with her?
Thinking of this, Qin Yining hurriedly ordered a carriage prepared. After informing the Old Dowager, she quickly left with Ji Yun and Bingtang, arriving at the Zhong family’s gate shortly after.
Assisted down from the carriage by her maid, the gatekeeper immediately welcomed Qin Yining inside as warmly as usual: “The owner has finally arrived! Just now the manager was waiting at the gate for you for a while. There must be important big business to discuss. This humble one congratulates the owner on smooth and prosperous business!”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
Qin Yining smiled warmly, tilting her head slightly to signal. Ji Yun immediately took out a purse from her sleeve and grabbed a handful of coins to give to the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper thanked her repeatedly and respectfully led Qin Yining toward the study.
Manager Zhong had already received word from his servants and came to meet her at the courtyard gate of the study.
“The owner has arrived.” Manager Zhong smiled as usual, saying: “A big merchant has come from the south with a major business deal that requires the owner’s decision, which is why we invited you here.”
Qin Yining smiled and nodded: “Living in the inner quarters, my knowledge is shallow. I’m only here to listen and learn a thing or two from Manager Zhong.”
Manager Zhong quickly bowed: “I wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare.”
The Zhong family servants following behind felt admiration for their master. This was the legitimate daughter of Marquis Anping, the person favored by Prince Zhongshun of Great Zhou, yet she was so courteous to Manager Zhong—it showed just how capable their master was.
Manager Zhong then waved to dismiss the servants.
Qin Yining also instructed Ji Yun and Bingtang: “You two guard outside. Don’t let anyone approach.”
“Yes.” Both Ji Yun and Bingtang nodded seriously.
Qin Yining then followed Manager Zhong up the steps into the study.
Manager Zhong’s study wasn’t as spacious as Qin Huaiyuan’s, but it was also kept clean and elegant. The bookshelves held classics and historical collections arranged by category, and some account books were piled on the desk.
At this moment, a tall figure in gray robes stood with his back to them by the window, seemingly admiring the several beds of bamboo visible through the half-open window.
Qin Yining’s brow furrowed slightly in confusion. The visitor wasn’t her maternal grandmother?
Why did this person’s silhouette look somewhat familiar?
It wasn’t until the person turned around and she saw his features that Qin Yining stared in shock, quickly performing a curtsy: “This subject-daughter pays respects to Your Highness. Not knowing it was His Highness the Crown Prince who honored us with his presence, please forgive any impropriety.”
Yuchi Yan quickly reached out to gesture for her to rise, gazing at her intently: “Please rise quickly, no need for such formality. You are the Grand Tutor’s daughter, which makes you like a junior sister to this prince. Why be so distant?”
Qin Yining stood upright, lowering her head: “There are distinctions between ruler and subject, superior and inferior. Proper etiquette cannot be abandoned.”
“You always observe propriety so strictly.” Yuchi Yan smiled bitterly: “Regarding that day’s incident, this prince was presumptuous and thoughtless to speak such words before everyone. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Qin Yining knew he was referring to when she was forced to go to the peace negotiations, and the Crown Prince had hurriedly come to see her off, saying something about how the Crown Princess position would definitely be hers. That day’s such blatant confession had indeed attracted some criticism, and most importantly, it would cause trouble for her father, which was why she had sternly refused on the spot.
She hadn’t expected that the Crown Prince still brooded over that day’s events.
“Your Highness speaks too seriously. This subject-daughter was improper. If I have offended Your Highness in any way, please forgive me.”
“Not at all.” Yuchi Yan sighed: “That day, this prince was indeed misled by others’ instigation and was thoughtless. It won’t happen again.”
Seeing the Crown Prince being so cautious with Qin Yining, Manager Zhong understood quite a bit. Since he had claimed they were discussing business, he couldn’t leave directly, so he went to the side room, leaving this place to the two of them.
Qin Yining invited the Crown Prince to sit, taking a seat in the lower position herself: “What urgent matter brings Your Highness here today?”
Only then did Yuchi Yan remember his purpose for coming, saying urgently: “Miss Qin, the demon empress wants to kill you—you must be careful!” His words came like scattered pearls: “My people just received news that the demon empress acted coquettishly before Father Emperor, requesting a medicinal catalyst to preserve her youth. She said that Tianji Zi told her it must be the exquisite heart, beautiful bones, and fragrant flesh of a woman born on a certain date, ground up and consumed. Tianji Zi calculated that person to be you, and Father Emperor has already agreed! Given Father Emperor’s way of doing things, he will definitely make his move against you in the next couple of days. You, you must escape quickly!”
Qin Yining was struck speechless, her face gradually losing all color.
She had thought the demon empress would definitely seek revenge against her.
Since her father ascended to the position of Grand Tutor, various grievances with the Cao family had already been established. Ever since the demon empress caused her eldest cousin to kill himself by striking a pillar and destroyed the Sun family, plus the incident at Changchun Garden where the demon empress was publicly humiliated, given her willful nature, Qin Yining would have praised her restraint for waiting until now without making a move.
But she never imagined the demon empress would want to kill her, and using such a bloody method!
She certainly knew how to apply what she learned. When Great Zhou demanded Sun Yu’s brain matter as a medicinal catalyst, the demon empress immediately wanted her bones and flesh as a medicinal catalyst. Did she not fear that such instigation of the foolish ruler would again invite curses from people throughout the realm?
Yes, the demon empress simply didn’t care!
The emperor was the master of the realm. With the emperor’s protection, couldn’t the demon empress do whatever she pleased?
And to a foolish ruler, probably everyone in the realm was his private property, all like pigs and dogs that could be slaughtered at will.
Wasn’t there a saying: “When the ruler demands a subject’s death, the subject cannot refuse to die”? Her life as a small woman was simply worthless in the foolish ruler’s eyes.
Back then, such a large household as Duke Dingguo’s manor could be destroyed at will—what was she in comparison?
“Your Highness, are these words true?” Qin Yining tried her best to remain calm, but her voice was still somewhat hoarse.
Yuchi Yan nodded solemnly: “The person this prince arranged to serve in the imperial study heard it personally.”
“Why didn’t you go tell my father about such a matter, but instead hurried to tell me?” Qin Yining’s clear eyes looked at him.
Yuchi Yan was startled, then his face reddened: “I, I was so anxious that I forgot…” He didn’t even refer to himself as “this prince” anymore.
Seeing him like this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but shake her head and smile. It seemed the Crown Prince truly had no talent for court affairs and such matters.
“It’s just as well that Your Highness came to tell me. Telling my father about this matter might have undesirable effects.”
“Right, right. The Grand Tutor is utterly loyal after all. I also don’t want the Grand Tutor to have conflicts with Father Emperor. It’s just that Father Emperor has already agreed to the demon empress… Miss Qin, you must escape quickly!”