The next day when Qin Yining rose, she invited Mu Jinghu to Shuoren Studio to talk.

Mu Jinghu had changed into a light blue fine cotton robe, his hair neatly arranged with a net, looking like an ordinary scholar.

This outfit was sent by Ji Yun at Qin Yining’s instruction, forcing him to wear it. Even so, he couldn’t bear to throw away the patched old clothes he’d arrived in, keeping them at the bottom of his chest.

“Young Master Mu, please sit.” Qin Yining met him in the study on the first floor of Shuoren Studio.

Mu Jinghu sat down in the round chair, curiously tilting his head to examine Qin Yining.

Qin Yining thought this young master was indeed as Ji Yun had privately said—truly quite unworldly. Where would a man stare at a woman like this?

However, Mu Jinghu’s gaze was very pure. Qin Yining could see he was merely curious, without any other intention, which made it impossible to feel any dislike toward him.

Qin Yining smiled: “Did Prince Pang send you here?”

Upon hearing this, Mu Jinghu seemed rather displeased: “That fox has no right to order me around.”

That fox…

These words seemed to contain quite a bit of resentment.

Thinking of Pang Xiao’s cunning and changeable nature, then looking at this somewhat simple and naive young master before her, Qin Yining felt she had found the truth.

This one had probably been thoroughly deceived by Pang Xiao.

“Uh, Young Master, please forgive my presumption. Then were you invited by Pang Zhixi?”

Mu Jinghu nodded: “I lost a bet to him before and owed him. He never asked me to repay it all these years, so I thought he’d forgotten. Then some days ago he suddenly found me and said he wanted me to protect his future wife.”

He looked at Qin Yining again and said: “You must be quite desperate to agree to marry that fox.”

Qin Yining…

Could she say she was speechless?

She herself didn’t know how she had developed such a relationship with Pang Xiao step by step. Speaking of it, she really seemed to have fallen into Pang Xiao’s trap step by step without realizing it. Now she wanted to withdraw but couldn’t bear to.

Qin Yining coughed, saying somewhat awkwardly: “To have such a martial arts master as Young Master protect me, this young woman is extremely grateful.”

“You haven’t seen me fight. You were unconscious that day—how do you know my martial arts are excellent?”

Qin Yining had gradually figured out Mu Jinghu’s nature. She knew this wasn’t sarcasm nor did it contain any other meaning, but was due to his straightforward nature—he asked questions as they occurred to him. She smiled: “Because Ji Yun witnessed Young Master’s capabilities. Though I don’t understand these things, Ji Yun said you subdued those three men with just two or three moves.”

Mu Jinghu nodded seriously: “My martial arts are indeed quite impressive. That fox said to protect you until he captures your country’s capital. Once he takes down Great Yan, we’ll be even. So I’m telling you in advance—don’t think I can protect you for life.”

What normal person praises themselves to their face? Who directly says things like “taking down Great Yan”?

It seemed this young master was unworldly to a certain degree. He was probably someone accustomed to solitude, rarely needing to interact with others, naturally straightforward and honest.

Qin Yining quite liked dealing with such people. Because when speaking with them, she needn’t consider verbal sparring or guess deeper meanings behind their words—she could just take them at face value and be direct.

So Qin Yining said seriously: “Yes, I understand everything Young Master said. But during this period, could I ask Young Master to also protect my family members? After this disaster, there aren’t many of my family left…”

Looking at Qin Yining’s pale complexion and thinking that the Qin family were the “fox’s” in-laws, Mu Jinghu nodded: “Fine, who told me I’m friends with that fox. I’ll protect you all in passing. But I repeat—I won’t stay long. Once your capital’s gates are breached, I’m returning home. I have many things to do in my mountains.”

Ji Yun, who was serving nearby, couldn’t help frowning upon hearing this. If someone spoke of the Great Zhou dynasty like this in her presence, she would have been angry long ago and wouldn’t have Qin Yining’s good temper.

But Qin Yining wasn’t angry at all. She nodded: “Good, Young Master has a straightforward nature and must be someone who keeps his word. In that case, I’ll trouble Young Master in the coming days. Though Young Master came here by agreement, this young woman must still formally thank you.”

As she spoke, Qin Yining stood and bowed to Mu Jinghu.

Mu Jinghu thought privately that the fox’s wife was much more proper than the fox himself, so he smiled and returned the bow.

Though Qin Yining was very weak from excessive blood loss, she went to the mourning hall daily to keep vigil and offer incense to her deceased relatives. Each time she saw such scenes, she would cry sadly. After several days, she appeared increasingly haggard, with dark circles around her eyes.

As their plan unfolded, news that the Qin family had nearly been exterminated by assassins arranged by the Zhou dynasty emperor spread throughout the capital, becoming common knowledge.

Condolence visitors came in an endless stream, including friends of the Qin family, court colleagues, and righteous people who, though not well acquainted, admired Qin Huaiyuan’s noble character.

After two more days like this, news that the Qin family would subject three assassins to death by a thousand cuts on the day of the funeral deliberately spread throughout the city with exaggeration, creating another storm.

This finally alarmed the Emperor and Imperial Uncle Cao, who had been silent for days.

“Your Majesty, this minister believes Qin Meng’s actions are too rash, lacking his usual steadiness. If those three assassins are subjected to death by a thousand cuts, it may provoke strong retaliatory feelings from Great Zhou. Now that the Huben Army occupies Xihua City, if we anger that Pang fellow, their offensive might become even more fierce.” Imperial Uncle Cao frowned as he bowed.

The Emperor paced back and forth several times with hands behind his back, angrily flicking his sleeve: “That Qin Meng has truly become confused. I never thought he’d have such reckless moments. Though so many in his family were slaughtered, which is indeed tragic and lamentable, he can’t completely disregard the country’s current situation! We’re urgently trying to contact the Tatars, yet instead of helping buy time, he dares do things that anger the Great Zhou people! He simply doesn’t put national rise and fall in his heart—and I considered him a loyal minister!”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.” Imperial Uncle Cao said worriedly: “The only solution now is for Your Majesty to personally intervene to persuade Qin Meng to abandon this idea.”

The Emperor nodded but didn’t issue an edict immediately.

He was somewhat reluctant to go to the Qin family. After all, given what happened there, who could guarantee no assassins were watching? If he rashly went and was injured by assassins, what would happen?

So after thinking for a moment, the Emperor still ordered: “Summon Qin Huaiyuan to the palace.”

Imperial Uncle Cao, understanding the Emperor’s concerns after brief consideration, said knowingly: “This minister is willing to go personally, which would also allow appropriate persuasion of Qin Meng along the way.”

“Excellent.” The Emperor nodded: “Then go immediately.”

“By your command.” Imperial Uncle Cao bowed and withdrew.

When the imperial study was empty of others, the Emperor called toward the back: “Master Gu.”

“This minister is here.” An elderly man with white hair and beard emerged from the inner chamber and bowed to the Emperor.

This was Gu Shixiong, the former Imperial Tutor who had been retired for years. Before retirement, he had also served as Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor. Only after his retirement did Imperial Uncle Cao assume the position of Grand Preceptor.

Due to this relationship, the Emperor trusted Gu Shixiong extremely. Though the Gu family couldn’t be called prosperous as cooking oil over fire these years, they were still one of the eight wealthiest families in the capital.

“Master Gu, the skilled craftsmen I ordered you to find—how is the search progressing?”

“Your Majesty, the people have been found and work has begun. However… Your Majesty, this old minister believes that with war currently raging, the wealth Your Majesty has recently acquired would be more appropriately invested in military affairs.” Gu Shixiong’s aged body trembled slightly as he spoke.

The Emperor frowned: “This wealth is what I legitimately obtained, and represents the goodwill of the people and merchants toward me. Moreover, I have decided how to dispose of this large sum of gold and silver. Master Gu need only handle your assigned duties. Or is Master Gu also going to defy my intentions?”

The Emperor had recently added several new taxes, thoroughly exploiting the merchants nationwide and scraping several layers of wealth from the people. Now he held an enormous sum of gold and silver.

He had entrusted this matter to confidants, so few people knew about it.

Seeing the Emperor’s insistence, Gu Shixiong wisely bowed: “This minister dare not. This minister was mistaken earlier. Your Majesty, as ruler of the nation, has the right to decide the destination of this silver. No one has the right to interfere.”

“Mm.” The Emperor stroked his beard with satisfaction. After speaking with Gu Shixiong for a while longer, he had his confidants secretly escort Gu Shixiong away.

At this time, Qin Huaiyuan also entered the palace with Imperial Uncle Cao.

Qin Huaiyuan had always understood advancement and retreat extremely well; otherwise, his outstanding talents alone wouldn’t have earned the Emperor’s trust for so many years. Therefore, when the Emperor summoned Qin Huaiyuan to the palace today, with Imperial Uncle Cao speaking with Qin Huaiyuan first, plus his own authority, he was very confident Qin Huaiyuan would follow his arrangements.

Who could have expected that upon entering the imperial study, Qin Huaiyuan would kneel and kowtow while tearfully describing the Qin family’s tragic state in heartrending detail.

“…Whatever Your Majesty commands this minister, this minister dare not disobey. But these assassins are too arrogant. The capital is at the Son of Heaven’s feet, yet under Your Majesty’s very eyes, Great Zhou assassins dare run rampant like this, not only arranging large numbers of assassins to come but also raiding this minister’s home! This clearly shows no regard for Your Majesty’s authority!”

“Your Majesty possesses all under heaven and your might shakes the world. Now that Great Zhou and Great Yan are at war, if we show leniency to these three at this time, wouldn’t we be telling the world that Your Majesty fears the Great Zhou dynasty? This minister, considering Your Majesty’s dragon authority, decided these three must die. Please, Your Majesty, see clearly!”

Upon hearing this, the Emperor wavered somewhat.

Though he greatly feared provoking the Great Zhou people and inviting fiercer attacks, he still needed to maintain face. The news of the Qin family’s plan to subject the assassins to death by a thousand cuts had already spread. If he openly obstructed it, he might be criticized behind his back.

But if he really let the Qin family flay those three, the Emperor was still somewhat afraid.

Thinking of this, the Emperor devised a compromise. Smiling, he helped Qin Huaiyuan up: “Qin my dear minister, I know and can understand your family’s situation, but death by a thousand cuts is too bloody and cruel. You can capture these three men and give them a thorough whipping before the graves on the funeral day as a warning. As for death by a thousand cuts, I think it should be avoided.”

PS: There will be two more chapters tonight. Power outages make update times unstable—please understand!