“Imperial Uncle Cao speaks truly. Imperial grace is vast and mighty—we as subjects naturally must devote ourselves wholeheartedly to serve the country loyally and absolutely cannot do anything that would disappoint His Majesty. Imperial Uncle now bears the important responsibility of contacting the Tatars, so you must not fail the emperor’s trust.
“People’s energy is limited after all, especially for someone of Imperial Uncle Cao’s advanced years—one’s mind inevitably becomes muddled. You’re busy contacting the Tatars yet still have the mental capacity to visit our home as a guest, which is truly admirable. However, I must kindly remind you not to miscalculate or fail to distinguish priorities, lest you disappoint the emperor’s trust in you.”
Qin Huaiyuan’s voice remained as unhurried as usual, steady and refined, and listening carefully, it even contained a hint of laughter.
But in terms of words, each sentence pierced sharply into Imperial Uncle Cao’s heart, thoroughly mocking his actions of hugging the Tatar princess’s thigh to curry favor with the Great Yan emperor, then taking advantage of his restoration to power to suppress the Qin family.
Imperial Uncle Cao was so angry his face turned red and his ears flushed. His footsteps suddenly stopped as he turned back to glare furiously at Qin Huaiyuan, his beard trembling as he said, “Good, very good! Marquis Anping truly has fine character. Perhaps since the marquis’s former father-in-law died, you’ve forgotten what attitude you should use when speaking to your father-in-law, is that right?”
Qin Huaiyuan smiled slightly. “Imperial Uncle Cao jests. I thought you had already forgotten that I’m still your son-in-law.”
“You!” Imperial Uncle Cao was so angry his fingertips trembled as he pointed fiercely at Qin Huaiyuan. After a long while, he flicked his sleeves and said, “You wait for me!”
“Imperial Uncle, don’t rush. I’ll be right here, waiting for you.” Qin Huaiyuan smiled, his eyes cold and clear.
Imperial Uncle Cao felt that all the glory he’d enjoyed since his restoration, under Qin Huaiyuan’s penetrating gaze that saw through everything, was like a beauty stripped of her clothes—all beauty gone, leaving only humiliation.
At this time, several people had walked to the ceremonial gate, and Imperial Uncle Cao also saw Qin Yining standing before the hanging flower gate.
Originally he couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to the Qin family’s daughters, but Qin Yining’s handsome appearance was truly too similar to Qin Huaiyuan in his youth. Moreover, there was already deep resentment between Qin Yining and the empress.
Last time, when the empress wanted to use a beauty’s flesh to preserve her appearance, she hadn’t succeeded in using Qin Yining but had killed two palace consorts instead.
Imperial Uncle Cao originally disapproved of the empress’s methods. But he doted on his own daughter, and even if the empress did wrong, Imperial Uncle Cao was unwilling to admit it was the empress’s fault. He attributed all the blame to Qin Yining.
If Qin Yining hadn’t angered the empress so badly, how would the empress have acted this way?
Imperial Uncle Cao looked toward Qin Yining with his hands behind his back and smiled. “So it’s Fourth Miss Qin. You almost became my granddaughter-in-law once.”
Qin Yining had clearly heard the sharp exchange between Qin Huaiyuan and Imperial Uncle Cao. At this moment, she naturally knew her position. She only performed the proper courtesies and greetings according to etiquette, then smiled and said:
“This humble woman wouldn’t dare aim so high. The Cao family’s household style is free and easy, and Young Master Cao’s conduct especially inherits the essence of your noble family’s teachings. This humble woman is lacking in talent and learning—having neither courage nor vision, I consider myself unworthy of Young Master Cao’s free and unrestrained character.”
Imperial Uncle Cao’s face had already darkened like the bottom of a pot.
He naturally knew that the empress had wanted to betroth Qin Yining to his grandson Cao Chengjun in front of the emperor.
He didn’t know what Cao Chengjun was thinking, but he had actually molested Qin Yining right there in the court. It was said he didn’t just molest her with words but also with his hands. This matter had angered even the emperor, who later specifically called him into the palace to scold him, saying he didn’t manage his household strictly and didn’t properly educate his grandson.
Qin Yining bringing this up now was simply slapping his face!
“Good, good, good! Truly like father, like daughter—equally sharp-tongued.” Imperial Uncle Cao laughed coldly.
Qin Yining smiled. “Thank you for Imperial Uncle Cao’s praise. This humble woman doesn’t dare accept it. Compared to Imperial Uncle and Her Majesty the Empress, this humble woman humbly admits defeat.”
Imperial Uncle Cao was so angry his hands shook. He felt it was too unseemly to quarrel with a young girl here, and he knew he couldn’t out-argue this pair of “fox” father and daughter, so he simply flicked his sleeves and left.
No matter what he said, it was useless. Right now he only wanted to destroy them!
“We won’t see you off. Imperial Uncle, take care.” Qin Huaiyuan smiled as he performed a bow.
Qin Yining also led the servants in bowing.
In his towering rage, Imperial Uncle Cao walked extremely fast. Looking at his back, it was more like fleeing in panic.
Qin Yining and Qin Huaiyuan watched him off until everyone had gone far away, the servants had closed the gate, and Imperial Uncle Cao’s figure could no longer be seen. Only then did Qin Yining burst out laughing.
Second Master wiped the sweat from his forehead and said anxiously, “What are we to do about this? Yining, how can you still laugh? Speaking like that just now—didn’t we completely offend everyone?”
Qin Yining and Qin Huaiyuan exchanged a glance.
Qin Yining smiled. “Second Uncle needn’t panic. Even if we treated the Cao family with courtesy, they would still bully our family just the same. I just heard the meaning in his words—he wants to pin some Ministry of Revenue matters on Father and you?”
Second Master nodded. “The Ministry of Revenue has had silver shortfalls for many years. Actually, there’s long been this crooked practice in our court—many officials borrow money from the Ministry of Revenue, leaving IOUs deposited there to balance the books. Now only the IOUs remain with no silver to be seen. The court needs money for war, and His Majesty needs money to find skilled craftsmen. When calculated this way, there’s not enough silver. Imperial Uncle Cao wants to use this matter to stab at our hearts.”
“He’s quite clever with his schemes, using this matter to say Father handled affairs poorly. When the court is in need of silver, His Majesty will naturally care more about this matter. If they push Father forward as a scapegoat, I’m afraid the situation won’t be good.”
Qin Yining’s brow furrowed with worry. Her anxious appearance was completely different from the person who had dared to confront Imperial Uncle Cao face-to-face just moments ago.
Qin Huaiyuan shook his head. “This is what they call ‘disaster falling from the sky behind closed doors.’ I’ve already resolved to live in seclusion, dwelling quietly and fishing, just waiting to live and die together with His Majesty. Yet they still actively come looking for trouble. Second Brother, you needn’t worry. Even if I knelt down and begged him now, they wouldn’t show our family mercy. Today in my impulse I indeed said many things, but speaking out was quite satisfying. I just feel bad that you’re being implicated and dragged into this.”
Second Master waved his hand. “Big Brother, what are you saying? Even without this matter, we’re still family. Your affairs are my affairs. For those who want to harm us, if they’re determined to hurt people, they can find excuses any way they want. This time is no different.”
Qin Huaiyuan smiled bitterly, completely lacking the spirited vigor he’d shown in front of Imperial Uncle Cao.
At this moment, he wearily slumped his shoulders, already completely different from the person who had always stood upright like a mountain.
The father, daughter, and uncle-nephew trio led the servants through the hanging flower gate and walked straight to the entrance of Cixiao Garden. Only then did Qin Huaiyuan sigh and say, “The emperor relies on him heavily, so naturally he wants to take this opportunity to harm our family. I see that the general situation is lost. Given His Majesty’s temperament, as long as Imperial Uncle Cao gives him even a little hope and says the Tatars might come to help, even if he asked His Majesty to immediately issue an edict demanding my life, His Majesty wouldn’t hesitate. I’m really…”
Hearing this, Second Master felt so heartbroken he nearly shed tears.
For many years, Qin Huaiyuan had devoted himself wholeheartedly to the country, worrying and wearing himself out, investing all his heart and mind in court affairs. Who would have thought that now he would end up in such a state—not only stripped of his official position and forced to reflect on his mistakes, but also bullied by dogs when the tiger falls to the plains!
Qin Yining looked worriedly at Qin Huaiyuan and Second Master.
She knew that for someone who had devoted his entire life to serving the court loyally, to now be suppressed to this extent by His Majesty’s indulgence of Imperial Uncle Cao was truly heartbreaking. This kind of thing couldn’t be consoled by a few words from others.
Qin Yining could only smile and say, “Father and Second Uncle, don’t worry. I think this matter might not necessarily spiral out of control. After all, Imperial Uncle Cao currently has no evidence and cannot impeach Father before His Majesty. As long as he can’t impeach you, we still have time and can always think of a solution.”
Qin Yining smiled slightly. Her warm smile gave people the feeling of sunflowers bathing in sunlight, making them feel full of vitality and hope.
Qin Huaiyuan smiled and shook his head without saying more, then entered the second gate.
Such matters could only be known by those experiencing them. Qin Yining knew that no amount of persuasion would help, so she followed along to see the Old Dowager.
At this time, all the female family members had gathered in the Old Dowager’s room.
When Nanny Qin saw Qin Huaiyuan return, she hurriedly went inside to report, then personally lifted the pearl curtain at the doorway for Qin Huaiyuan, Second Master, and Qin Yining. Ji Xiang lifted the gauze door curtain inside.
Once inside, servants immediately skillfully lowered the gauze curtain, keeping out any mosquitoes that might fly into the room.
When the Old Dowager saw Qin Huaiyuan, she hurriedly sat up.
“Meng Ge’er, what exactly did Imperial Uncle Cao come to do? Has something else happened? Looking at today’s situation, if you hadn’t stopped him, he would have brought people in to raid our home.”
“That won’t happen. See, nothing’s wrong.” Qin Huaiyuan sat down beside the Old Dowager. “You needn’t worry. It’s nothing serious. It’s just that now they need silver for the war, and the Ministry of Revenue can’t produce the silver, so they’re bringing up some old matters from when I was prime minister. Perhaps they want to blame all that missing silver on me. But they don’t have concrete evidence either, so for now it’s fine.”
For now it’s fine?
Hearing these words, the Old Dowager was so angry her face turned ashen and she could barely breathe.
Nanny Qin, standing beside the Old Dowager, quickly supported her to lie down, gently persuading her and giving her some water to drink. Only then did the Old Dowager’s complexion improve slightly.
“Isn’t this Heaven wanting to destroy our Qin family? Meng Ge’er is an honest official—how could he do such things as embezzlement! This is called ‘when you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext’!”
The Old Dowager’s words made all the female family members in the room unable to help shedding tears of anxiety.
Now their family was like a fallen tree with scattered monkeys. After Qin Huaiyuan was forced to retire, those who had been close to him in the past no longer visited. Everyone understood the situation and didn’t disturb each other. Now that such a big incident had occurred, hoping for someone willing to speak a word for Qin Huaiyuan was simply extremely difficult.
But Imperial Uncle Cao now held power again and dominated the court alone. How could he not take this opportunity to seek revenge?
Whoever held office in the court had the power to speak.
And Second Master was now just an unimportant official in the Ministry of Rites, while Qin Huaiyuan had lost his position entirely.
Their Qin family now didn’t even have a single person in the court to speak for them!
Everyone’s faces were indescribably bitter.
Just as everyone was silent and the Old Dowager, Sun Shi, and several others were quietly shedding tears, Qi Tai’s voice suddenly came from outside.
“My lord, my lord!”
Qin Huaiyuan stood up and looked out through the gauze window.
He saw Qi Tai standing in the corridor, his anxiety clearly visible under the lamplight.
“What is it?”
“My lord, His Highness the Crown Prince has come to visit and ran into Imperial Uncle Cao at the gate. The two of them clashed verbally and are now cursing at each other. Please go take a look quickly!”