“Miss! This is terrible!”

Urgent footsteps sounded in the courtyard. Hearing this, Qin Yining, who was arranging her hair in the tower room, frowned slightly. Still holding a jade pearl earring she hadn’t had time to put on, she stood up and pushed open the latticed window to look down.

“What’s the matter? Why are you making such a racket?”

A young maid stood at the door with a flushed face, hands braced on her knees as she gasped for breath. Looking up at Qin Yining, she panted and spoke in broken phrases: “Xihua City has fallen. They say, Prince Pang, killed many, many, many people, and chopped off their heads, hanging them on tall poles, placing them on the city gate towers for the common people to see. Now, everything outside is in chaos. All the common people are fleeing. Prince Pang is going to kill his way in, and our, our heads will all be chopped off and hung on poles for public display!”

As the little maid spoke, she collapsed weakly against the doorframe and sat on the ground, crying in terror.

The faces of everyone in the courtyard changed, and maids and servants were already crying in fear with their heads in their hands.

Qin Yining slowly closed the window and sat back at her dressing table, looking at her face in the bronze mirror for a long while without speaking.

Had this day finally come?

Although she had long suspected this might happen, when it actually arrived, Qin Yining still felt a sense of unreality, her heart hanging high with an empty feeling.

Bingtang and Song Lan’s faces were already deathly pale.

Qiu Lu was trembling even more, spilling half a bowl of the tea she was holding.

Only Ji Yun remained relatively calm. She took the jade pearl earring from Qin Yining’s hand and put it on for her, then took a white jade orchid hairpin to place in her hair before hesitantly speaking: “Miss, His Highness he…”

Qin Yining smiled bitterly and gently waved her hand to interrupt Ji Yun’s words, saying quietly: “I know. This isn’t his fault. This is war, not child’s play. If Great Yan’s soldiers had the chance to charge into Great Zhou, they would do the same. This isn’t any individual’s fault, but war’s fault. I just wonder when such days will end.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Yun lowered her head, feeling both moved and sorrowful. With the country on the verge of collapse, anyone facing such bewilderment and helplessness would feel terrible. What was rare was that despite her sadness, her young lady could treat this matter rationally and calmly.

Song Lan’s voice trembled as she asked: “Miss, what should we do?”

“There’s nothing much we can do except take things one step at a time.” Qin Yining stood up, took several deep breaths to force herself to gather her spirits, and said: “First, let’s go to Xingning Garden. It’s almost time for the daily reports. No matter how chaotic things are outside, life must go on.”

“Yes.” Seeing Qin Yining remain calm and unperturbed, the maids could also settle down somewhat.

On her way to Xingning Garden, all the servants Qin Yining encountered looked as if disaster had struck, appearing grief-stricken.

If things were like this even within Marquis Anping’s estate, one could imagine what the streets outside would be like.

As usual, she listened to the servants’ reports, handled some household matters, and distributed the management tokens.

Qin Yining noticed several servants hesitating, as if they had something to say, and she could already guess most of what it was about.

“Nanny Li, Nanny Fang, do you have something to say?”

Seeing Qin Yining ask directly, all the managing servants and women stopped their departure.

Nanny Li and Nanny Fang hesitantly came forward and bowed.

Nanny Li had a gentler, more mild temperament, while Nanny Fang was more formidable. She immediately smiled ingratiatingly: “Miss truly has keen insight. This servant indeed has some matters, but doesn’t know whether they should be mentioned.”

Qin Yining smiled gracefully: “Nanny Fang, please speak freely.”

Nanny Fang said: “It’s like this—I have a nephew in the south who has prospered in business these past two years. He wants to bring our whole family south for development. We’ve just decided to depart in the next few days. Since I have duties in the estate, I’m worried about leaving suddenly, but I also want to reunite with my nephew in the south, so I’m somewhat hesitant.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining nodded understandingly.

The maids and servants in the room all cautiously observed Qin Yining’s expression.

Qin Yining’s pale fingers gently rubbed the edge of the tea bowl cover. After a long while, she said: “Nanny Fang is an old servant who has served the estate, working tirelessly for the Qin family. Now that you have such a good opportunity, how could the master not release you?”

Nanny Fang was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately hurriedly placed the management token she had just received back on the small table beside Qin Yining, then turned to leave.

Qin Yining watched Nanny Fang’s figure, raised her beautiful eyes, and looked at the other managing servants.

Many people instinctively averted their eyes, not daring to meet Qin Yining’s gaze.

“What about you? Are there any whose families have made other arrangements and wish to resign now?”

Upon hearing this, Nanny Li also stammered: “Miss, I, my daughter and son-in-law are also in the south, and they also, also want to bring me there for retirement.”

“Mm. Nanny Li is also getting on in years. Indeed, it’s time for comfortable retirement.”

Seeing Qin Yining say this, everyone thought there was hope. Four or five people immediately stepped forward, all claiming family emergencies that prevented them from continuing their service. Those who were indentured hoped to buy back their freedom, while those who had come voluntarily also hoped to take their leave.

The faces of the four people beside Qin Yining—Bingtang, Song Lan, Qiu Lu, and Ji Yun—all became extremely ugly.

What family emergencies? Clearly, seeing the situation turning bad, these people planned to pack up and flee!

The Qin family had always treated them well, but in times of crisis, they didn’t remember their master’s kindness and only thought of saving themselves!

Yet Qin Yining remained exceptionally calm, nodding slightly: “Since that’s the case, I understand the situation. Today, while it’s still early, let’s handle things this way.”

Qin Yining stood up and instructed: “Immediately have all the servants in the inner quarters gather in the large open space in front of the back garden. Tell them I have something to say.”

The managing servants agreed and immediately ran out.

Qin Yining also told Song Lan: “Go to the outer courtyard and see if my father is home. If he is, please ask him to come. If not, then Second Uncle, Third Uncle, or Big Cousin, Second Cousin—whoever is available should come.”

“Yes.”

Song Lan also hurried out.

Once everyone dispersed, the bright flower hall immediately became quiet, with only Qin Yining and three maids remaining.

Madam Sun, who had been listening from behind for a long time, finally couldn’t contain herself. She quickly walked out and took Qin Yining’s hand: “Yining, what can we do? Great Zhou has occupied Xihua City, and I can see these managing servants are just planning to abandon their duties. If they leave, our large household…”

Qin Yining comfortingly patted Madam Sun’s arm and smiled: “Mother, don’t panic. You can’t force a cow to drink water. Today is a good opportunity to speak plainly, removing the chaff and keeping the grain. With the current tense situation, having too many people would actually be disadvantageous for our family. Streamlining would be a good thing.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Sun finally nodded.

Soon, news reached all quarters.

What had originally been Qin Yining alone giving instructions had now become a gathering of Old Dowager and all the masters from the second and third branches in the spacious open area of the back garden. All the maids and servants from the inner quarters came, even the young girls who hadn’t yet put up their hair.