As the sky gradually darkened, Qin Yining had to return to the manor.
And Pang Xiao, the commander of the Huben Army, also couldn’t stay overnight in the capital. He had to rush back through the night to avoid delaying military affairs.
His ability to come to the capital this once was already an enormous risk.
In the courtyard, Huzi had already prepared the horses.
Pang Xiao cupped his hands toward Manager Zhong and said, “During this period, I’m grateful that you’ve taken care of Yining. It’s remarkable that even in such circumstances, you remain so loyal to her. She has a delicate mind and loves to worry about things. If she didn’t have someone as capable as you by her side, she might have encountered danger several times. I’m far away, and even with good intentions, sometimes my reach exceeds my grasp. I’ll have to trouble you to continue supporting and assisting her in the future. Thank you.”
Manager Zhong hurriedly returned the courtesy, saying with surprise and honor, “Your Highness is too polite. This old man’s loyalty to my master is only proper—I cannot bear Your Highness’s thanks.”
“In times of danger you did not betray her—how can you not deserve a word of thanks?” Pang Xiao smiled slightly.
Manager Zhong felt a mixture of emotions in his heart, only returning the smile.
From a national perspective, the person before him was someone who had come to destroy Great Yan—an enemy whom he should have detested.
But somehow, the prince who was legendary for being fierce and malevolent turned out to be a passionate man who valued relationships and righteousness. Manager Zhong only felt that rumors misled people. He couldn’t generate even a bit of dislike for him, but instead greatly admired his frankness and loyalty.
Moreover, Pang Xiao had purchased a large amount of property and shops in the capital. Not only had Qin Yining sold all her shops to him, but he had also privately purchased many more. It could be said that now half the shops in the capital city belonged to him. This made Manager Zhong even more certain that rumors about “massacring the city” were false.
Since the common people wouldn’t suffer and the capital wouldn’t be razed, Manager Zhong actually secretly began hoping that Pang Xiao would hurry up and attack.
The foolish emperor and demon empress were bringing disaster to the country and people, having long lost popular support. Perhaps changing emperors would make life better for the common people.
He hoped for national stability.
But when the Yan Dynasty’s imperial family could no longer guarantee the peaceful lives of the people, when they began ruthlessly exploiting them without treating people as human beings, the Yuchi family no longer deserved to sit on the high platform where people obeyed them.
After the two exchanged more courtesies, Pang Xiao turned to Qin Yining and instructed, “You must pay more attention to safety during this period. Try not to go out unless absolutely necessary.”
“I understand. You must also be very careful.” The gorgeous evening glow made her face appear flushed and rosy, and her light blue jacket was also dyed with warm colors.
Pang Xiao laughed. “Don’t worry. The person who can kill me hasn’t been born yet.”
He reached out his large hand wanting to touch her face, wanting to be intimate with her again, but with so many people around, in the end he only lovingly patted her head.
“Yining, I’m leaving.”
Qin Yining obediently nodded. Her bright, watery eyes were full of reluctance, looking at him so directly that Pang Xiao wanted nothing more than to simply take her up on his horse.
Pang Xiao deliberately looked away from her, taking several deep breaths to suppress his reluctance to part from her. He took the reins that Huzi handed him, turned back to smile at her, and waved the riding whip in his hand.
“I’m going!”
The two led their horses out of the courtyard, mounted skillfully after leaving, and rode away in a cloud of dust.
Qin Yining and Manager Zhong stood in place watching their silhouettes bathed in the evening glow until the dusty road returned to calm again. All that met their eyes was the golden land rendered by the sunset, and only then did they withdraw their gaze.
Qin Yining’s heart was filled with melancholy. Her originally light and cheerful mood felt as if cold water had been poured on it, leaving only emptiness.
Seeing her dejection, Manager Zhong shook his head and said, “Master, shall I escort you back?”
Qin Yining nodded. “It’s about time.”
Boarding the carriage and avoiding crowds all the way back, Qin Yining was still thinking about Pang Xiao’s every word and action in the carriage.
Manager Zhong had no sorrow of parting, only excitement at learning that the capital could be preserved. He clapped his hands and said, “In this way, we have no worries for the future. I can also tell my family that they don’t need to leave in such a hurry.”
Qin Yining smiled gently. “Yes, it’s just a pity we can’t convey this news to the common people. If I spoke out, they wouldn’t believe it either.”
“If Master spoke out, not only would no one believe it, but you’d also be branded with the reputation of treason. This would definitely not be good for Master’s entire family.”
“Yes, so sometimes it’s helpless. Even when you can clearly see something, you can’t speak of it. Those common people who should sell their houses and land to flee for their lives will still have to flee. Only by escaping will their hearts be at ease.”
Manager Zhong also nodded, equally full of helplessness.
After thinking for a moment, Manager Zhong asked again, “Master, we’ve already bought much farmland. Now that we’ve disposed of the shops and houses and have silver in hand again, should we continue buying farmland?”
Hearing this, Qin Yining was silent for a long while before saying, “Doing this, how do I feel like I’m profiting from the people’s fat and blood, making money from national disaster? Previously when I bought their farmland, I wanted to let the common people take the money and flee. When I bought their fields, I certainly wouldn’t press the prices too low. But now, knowing there won’t be a massacre, yet I…”
“Master.” Manager Zhong smiled as he interrupted Qin Yining’s words. “Master has a kind heart, but if you don’t buy it, they probably won’t get even a single coin in the end and will have to leave empty-handed. They are determined to flee now. If the city is truly broken and the country destroyed in the future, won’t the ownerless farmland still benefit the Zhou Dynasty emperor?”
Qin Yining nodded, having to admit Manager Zhong was right.
Manager Zhong continued, “Furthermore, now we only know that the Zhou Dynasty people won’t massacre the city and won’t seize the wealth that originally belongs to the common people—otherwise Young Prince Pang wouldn’t have assumed another identity to send people to purchase property. But you are still the daughter of ‘Wise Pan An’ after all, and the situation with the Zhaoyun Agency is special. There’s no guarantee that Emperor Zhou won’t confiscate the Qin family’s assets. Didn’t you notice that when Young Prince Pang purchased these shops, he used another identity? I think these properties are ones he won’t let their emperor know about either.”
“I understand.” Qin Yining sighed and asked, “What are the current prices of good farmland around the capital?”
“Good farmland around the capital that used to cost ten taels of silver per mu now sells for two taels with no buyers. Not to mention the excellent farmland in nearby places like Huizhou—land that was originally worth twenty or thirty taels per mu, now five taels of silver can’t find buyers.”
Qin Yining frowned. “Then Manager Zhong, go ahead and purchase them. Try to give reasonable prices—for those around the capital and near Huizhou, continue as I said before. Use up all my silver before stopping, converting all the silver into farmland. In the future, if these common people have the opportunity to return, at least they can still come farm the land. Even if the land is no longer theirs, they can survive as tenant farmers.”
“Exactly so. Master isn’t a black-hearted person who exploits tenant farmers. From what I see, those people living in Ning Garden can be arranged to work on your farmland and estates in the future.”
Qin Yining also nodded. “At least we can keep them fed and clothed. Although I feel guilty, feeling like I’m profiting from national disaster, this is also unavoidable. But Manager, remember to do things more carefully. If Pang Zhixi could find you to buy shops, it means we didn’t hide the shop matter deeply enough. For the farmland matter, you must hide it securely—preferably so no one can trace it back to us.”
“Yes! Master can rest assured. Now that I have a foundation in my heart, I know what to do.”