Seeing her master’s family being bullied to such an extent by someone like Imperial Uncle Cao, Ji Yun was already nearly beside herself with hatred, wishing she could directly slaughter the man.
Hearing Qin Yining ask such a question, her eyes lit up with excitement as she said in a low voice: “Miss, just give the word and I’ll act tonight—I’ll definitely kill that old bastard!”
Qin Yining didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at these words: “Assassination?”
“Yes, assassination!” Ji Yun said through gritted teeth. “A scourge like that—every day he dies earlier would save how many lives!”
“This matter won’t do.” Qin Yining shook her head. “Setting aside how many guards someone as life-cherishing and cautious as Imperial Uncle Cao would have around him—you might not necessarily succeed and would very likely forfeit your own life. Just speaking of what happens after killing him?”
Ji Yun was stumped by Qin Yining’s question and shook her head.
“Just killing him wouldn’t end the matter. The demonic empress is still there, the foolish ruler is still there, the Cao family’s descendants are still there. Who’s to say there won’t be Imperial Uncle Cao’s successor among them? What if whoever inherits Imperial Uncle Cao’s mantle is even worse than him? At least with the current Imperial Uncle Cao, I already understand him very well. If we had to deal with a new opponent, we’d have to spend time getting to know them all over again. Better to find a way to take them all down in one fell swoop, don’t you think?”
Ji Yun nodded in agreement, then followed Qin Yining for a few more steps before suddenly stopping: “Miss, you mentioned removing the fuel from under the cauldron before, and now you’re talking about taking them all down… could it be that you want to destroy the entire Cao family?”
Qin Yining didn’t deny it.
In fact, what she wanted to destroy wasn’t just the Cao family, but also the demonic empress and the foolish ruler!
Although for her as a subject of the Great Yan Dynasty, wanting to kill the foolish ruler was treasonous.
But the foolish ruler was without virtue. Not only did the common people suffer, even her father had been trampled into the dust with no way to rise again.
Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile.
Her current thoughts could probably finally align with her grandmother’s and the people of the Azure Heaven Alliance.
Yet Qin Yining’s calm demeanor made it seem as if they were merely discussing what dishes to eat today or what flowers to embroider.
The Cao family held great power with deeply intertwined relationships in court that were extremely complex. Even Qin Huaiyuan was now suppressed completely, and Qin Yining was just an unmarried young lady. Ji Yun really couldn’t imagine what methods Qin Yining could possibly have.
But somehow, even without knowing exactly what Qin Yining planned to do, Ji Yun still felt that whatever Qin Yining said could definitely be accomplished.
“The Cao family doesn’t have any decent people. Those who deserve destruction must be destroyed. It would be great if the Young Prince were here now—leading troops to level their entire household would be no trouble at all.”
Bingtang also nodded repeatedly: “That’s right, if the Young Prince were here, would the Cao family dare be so arrogant? He would have slapped them into submission long ago! Even that dog emperor acts like a mouse seeing a cat when he encounters the Young Prince. Could the Cao family possibly rank higher than the emperor?”
Qin Yining gently squeezed Ji Yun and Bingtang’s hands: “Don’t speak such words carelessly anymore. The situation is becoming increasingly tense, so we must be even more careful.”
“Yes.” Both Bingtang and Ji Yun realized their words just now could potentially bring great disaster to Qin Yining, so they both fell silent.
Qin Yining said in a low voice: “While it’s true that overwhelming force can solve problems, life must still go on. There’s no need to harm the jade vase while trying to hit the mouse. Sometimes using your brain to solve problems isn’t very difficult either.”
“That’s because Miss is smart enough,” Bingtang said quietly. “Do you think just anyone would have such ability?”
Qin Yining chuckled.
After thinking for a moment, she said: “Tell them to prepare the carriage. We need to make a trip to Prince Ning’s mansion.”
“Prince Ning’s mansion?” Bingtang asked in surprise. “Miss, you’ve only met Prince Ning once before. Are you going now to seek his help for the Marquis?”
“Mm. Although we’ve only met once, I should still try to find a way to attempt it.” Qin Yining said, “I’ve thought it over thoroughly. Someone who has sufficient sense of justice, would worry about this country’s rise and fall, and carries enough weight when speaking before the emperor—aside from Prince Ning, there’s no need to consider anyone else.”
“That may be so, but Prince Ning isn’t a simple character after all. How could Miss convince him with just a word or two?” Bingtang understood Prince Ning quite well.
Qin Yining smiled and shook her head: “I can’t be certain of anything, but for now, we can only ask Prince Ning to intervene. My father is currently suppressed to the point where he doesn’t even have a chance to speak back. We must have a voice in court to speak for my father. Even if we can’t persuade His Majesty to change his mind, at least we must ensure the Cao family can’t say whatever they want to confuse His Majesty’s judgment.”
“Prince Ning is a hot-blooded man. Though he has some minor faults, he’s upright and knows to repay kindness. He’s actually someone who could be entrusted with this matter.”
After thinking, Ji Yun asked: “Miss, should we send a calling card first and arrange a time to visit tomorrow? Also, shouldn’t you discuss this with the Marquis?”
Qin Yining waved her hand: “If I send a calling card, I probably won’t be able to see Prince Ning. Prince Ning is so slippery—afraid of getting involved in trouble, he would just refuse to see anyone from our Qin family. If I go suddenly, perhaps I’ll have some chance. As for my father, let’s not discuss it with him for now. If my business doesn’t work out well, then it has nothing to do with anyone else in the family. It’s something I’m doing myself. If I let my father know and something goes wrong, it wouldn’t be so simple anymore.”
Hearing this, both Bingtang and Ji Yun smiled: “We were just saying Miss’s mind isn’t simple—your considerations are so thorough.”
“You two are just good at talking nonsense.” Qin Yining laughed teasingly.
Qin Yining took Bingtang and Ji Yun out in the carriage. After thinking, she didn’t head directly to the prince’s mansion, but first went to fetch Manager Zhong.
Manager Zhong had deep experience and wide connections. Having him by Qin Yining’s side would provide another person to consult with.
In the carriage, the four of them had already quietly analyzed several types of reactions Prince Ning might have.
Qin Yining also thought of several ways to ask Prince Ning for help, even deciding that if all else failed, she would use emotional manipulation—no matter what, she had to convince Prince Ning to help.
The carriage traveled along, getting closer and closer to Prince Ning’s mansion.
Qin Yining lifted the window curtain to look outside and saw that not far ahead were Prince Ning’s mansion’s back garden and side alley. Strangely, at the back garden’s side door, two figures were gathered together.
It was a young man and woman. The man wore ordinary fine cotton cloth straight robes, was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, and appeared quite thin. Because of the distance, Qin Yining couldn’t see his face clearly, but from his bearing she sensed this person seemed somewhat decadent and stooped.
The woman beside him was about twenty-one or twenty-two years old, wearing the light green jacket with peach-colored trimmed vest that only female officials in Prince Ning’s mansion wore.
The woman spoke with the man and they embraced, first hugging, then kissing. After exchanging a few quiet words, Qin Yining saw the woman take out a cloth bundle from her bosom, weigh it in her hands, and give the item to the man.
At this time the carriage had slowly approached—going further would alert them. Qin Yining quietly instructed the driver to stop.
The man stuffed the bundle into his robes, hugged the woman for another kiss, then hurriedly departed.
The woman carefully checked if there were other people nearby. After confirming it was safe, she slipped through the side door.
Qin Yining narrowed her eyes: “Manager, please help investigate what that maid and that man do, and what their relationship is.”
Manager Zhong nodded: “That’s not difficult. We have people we know around here. We’ll know with a few questions.”
“Mm, then let’s wait for news and not go to the prince’s mansion yet.”