After Qin Yining’s marriage, she understood Cao Yuqing’s devotion and pain even more deeply. But Cao Yuqing was no ordinary woman—she lacked those petty feminine airs, and her carefree and magnanimous nature truly made Qin Yining both envious and admiring.
“You’ve really suffered for this.” Qin Yining sighed with emotion, yet didn’t know what else to say.
Strictly speaking, Cao Yuqing could be considered Sun Shi’s rival in love. Though Qin Huaiyuan had always treated Cao Yuqing with proper courtesy without any inappropriate behavior, if there were also a woman by Pang Xiao’s side who was willing to wholeheartedly sacrifice for him and protect him always, even if Pang Xiao didn’t develop feelings for that woman, as his wife, she probably wouldn’t feel comfortable about it either, would she?
However, though uncomfortable, she couldn’t bring herself to dislike someone who was so measured and unpretentious.
Cao Yuqing seemed able to see through what Qin Yining was thinking and smiled: “Don’t overthink it. This is also my duty—after all, I agreed to be your father’s guard. Since he has given instructions hoping I’ll lend you a helping hand, I naturally must do everything possible to handle what he’s arranged properly.”
Though she said this, people weren’t grass or trees—how could they be completely without feelings?
Qin Yining knew she was only saying this to make herself feel better, so she didn’t expose it.
Cao Yuqing then said: “While there are no outsiders present, let’s discuss serious matters.”
“Good.” Qin Yining said, “Do you know about the trouble with the treasure?”
Cao Yuqing replied: “I guessed something had happened. Because not one of the six agents sent out has returned word to me. I discussed this matter with your father, and he believes the loss of the treasure is already confirmed, but whether it was the Azure Sky Alliance turning traitor at the last moment or whether there’s a traitor among the silver-masked agents—the odds are fifty-fifty.”
Hearing this, Qin Yining asked: “Then what does Guard Cao think are the chances of the silver-masked agents betraying us in this matter?”
Cao Yuqing couldn’t help but laugh: “You’re really direct in your speech. I’m the leader of the silver-masked agents, so naturally I trust my subordinates. Perhaps you don’t understand us people yet, but I can tell you responsibly that after being selected, we all received training from childhood. Though it appears we’re selling our lives for silver, what the late emperor emphasized most in cultivating this group was loyalty—dedication to our missions.
“To put it plainly, though silver serves as the measure for our mission transactions, it’s not the most important thing in our lives. People who’ve been trained as tools—don’t expect us to develop too much interest in anything.”
Qin Yining understood and began to worry: “You mean those six people are unlikely to have betrayed us?”
“Correct.” Cao Yuqing said decisively, “I don’t know what the Azure Sky Alliance told you, and I truly don’t know what happened to them, but the current result is that the treasure has disappeared and the people have vanished. Now, without any evidence and just based on one word from the Azure Sky Alliance, you’re concluding that the silver-masked agents turned traitor—this is rather hasty.”
Hearing this, Qin Yining had to admit Cao Yuqing was right.
Setting aside how much Qin Huaiyuan trusted the silver-masked agents in his heart, just speaking of her own impression of the Azure Sky Alliance, it actually wasn’t very good. Earlier when they were dedicated to overthrowing the tyrant, this group of alliance members seemed like a makeshift troupe. Though most people were united by their hatred for the tyrant, after revenge was accomplished, many former “heroes” were mixed among the remaining people.
The former Azure Sky Alliance had been a rebel organization during Great Yan times, so most of its members lacked household registration, and many criminals of poor character would hide among them.
After Great Yan submitted to Great Zhou, this group without household registration became even more marginalized.
Great Zhou’s household registration system would definitely reference the former Great Yan registration. This group of “bandits” who couldn’t be registered before remained unrecognized criminals under Great Zhou as well.
Qin Yining wasn’t looking down on these people’s status, but rather felt that such a large organization lacked management and operated independently. These people wouldn’t listen to her and often played mind games with her, not truly trusting her.
This scattered Azure Sky Alliance, compared to the disciplined and professionally trained silver-masked agents, showed a clear difference in quality.
Though Qin Yining thought about many things, outwardly it was only a moment’s pause.
Cao Yuqing said: “Tell me about any situations here, and we can think of a strategy together. At home I often discussed matters here with your father, learning various concepts and viewpoints from him. If you trust me, when I encounter similar problems later, I can relay your father’s words to you.”
Hearing this, Qin Yining was overjoyed and said repeatedly: “Good, thank you so much.” She then detailed everything from finding the treasure along the way, being detained in the underground treasure chamber, how they were kept under house arrest on the mountain, how they managed to communicate information, then how they reached the old capital and Yang County, and how they handled disaster relief and prepared relief rice.
Finally, she spoke about what happened after Madam Liao’s visit.
“So you mean the emperor has already brought troops to surround the entire old capital? But when I came, I didn’t notice these people.”
“They naturally have military camps and wouldn’t make overly conspicuous moves. They should be camping in hidden locations, breaking up large forces into smaller units.”
“Interesting.” Cao Yuqing smiled sarcastically. “These imperial minds work differently from us common people. In their hearts, don’t the lives of common people count as lives? I see this ruler who claims to be an enlightened monarch still chose the treasure when faced with a choice between disaster victims and treasure. If not for you and your husband racking your brains, spending money and taking blame, this place would have erupted in chaos long ago. Where would that person have had any energy left to search for treasure?”
Qin Yining also smiled bitterly upon hearing this.
“When you’re under someone else’s roof, we have no choice. Now the treasure has vanished into thin air. I’m also very worried about whether people on both sides might be in danger, and I really don’t know what to do.”
Cao Yuqing pondered for a moment: “In my view, there’s definitely a traitor who betrayed you regarding the treasure. And I believe it wasn’t done by the silver-masked agents. The subordinates we trained are like tools—they wouldn’t do such things. So, greed moves the heart—it’s very likely the Azure Sky Alliance found an excuse to hide the treasure and keep it for themselves, or they deliberately hid the treasure to lure people into a trap and catch them all.”
“I have the same suspicion.” Qin Yining sighed: “Though His Highness has no rebellious intentions, his enemies keep suspecting and being wary—there will come a day when they act. That treasure is too dangerous in enemy hands. If only the one above had a bit more consideration for the people, we wouldn’t have been forced into this desperate situation to seize the treasure.”
Precisely because they lacked sufficient manpower, with Pang Xiao’s people all under strict surveillance and monitoring, Qin Yining had no choice but to use external agents and Azure Sky Alliance members.
Who knew things would still go wrong?
Cao Yuqing patted Qin Yining’s shoulder: “Don’t worry. I’ll continue investigating these next few days. We agents have some secret communication codes between us. After I examine things carefully, I’ll come discuss with you again.”
Qin Yining’s eyes lit up with sudden understanding: “No wonder father arranged for you to come.”
Hearing this, Cao Yuqing couldn’t help but laugh: “Your father is brilliant in his calculations.”
Qin Yining burst into laughter. Cao Yuqing’s face also warmed as she laughed softly along.
Cao Yuqing was naturally extremely charming, and now laughing so beautifully. Though currently dressed as a man, her every gesture revealed a different kind of beauty through her heroic bearing.
Qin Yining watched with pleasure and couldn’t help sighing softly.
No wonder Sun Shi so disliked Cao Yuqing. The more one spent time with this woman, the more of her good qualities one discovered. Beneath this person’s beautiful appearance was a heart no less competitive than any man’s.
Cao Yuqing sat for a short while longer before leaving silently.
When Pang Xiao returned, sitting alone with Qin Yining in the quiet back office, Qin Yining whispered in his ear about the day’s events.
Pang Xiao was first astonished, then carefully asked about the contents of the note from the Azure Sky Alliance.
How could Qin Yining not be intelligent? After carefully reading that note twice, she could already recite it backwards. So when Pang Xiao asked, she recited the entire note from the first word.
Pang Xiao held Qin Yining’s shoulders, murmuring: “This matter may truly be getting out of hand.”
Hearing this, Qin Yining became somewhat nervous: “You mean His Majesty might already know about this?”
Pang Xiao analyzed carefully and finally said: “It’s not necessarily all bad news. At least now we’ve noticed that the Azure Sky Alliance people are highly suspicious.”
“You also think the Azure Sky Alliance people are more suspicious?” Qin Yining pressed.
Pang Xiao said: “I’m just speculating—it can’t be taken as certain. But the Azure Sky Alliance people’s actions are indeed puzzling. And I still haven’t figured out why His Majesty would insist with such certainty that he knows the treasure is definitely in Yang County. The roads to Yang County are truly difficult to travel. They were transporting such heavy treasure, not coming with empty carts. How exactly did they transport and hide the treasure without anyone knowing?”
Though Pang Xiao meant nothing else by this, Qin Yining thought of another angle.
“So you’re saying they probably planned this long ago? They had already found a hiding place for the treasure beforehand. Our earlier carrier pigeon messages instead became their signals, successfully avoiding outsiders while hiding the treasure?”
The more Qin Yining spoke, the more helpless she felt.
But Pang Xiao felt very sorry for her, pulling her into his embrace: “Don’t think too much for now. Let’s first see the results of Guard Cao’s investigation. When it comes to gathering intelligence and staying hidden, Guard Cao is far superior to me. She’ll definitely find clues.”
Indeed, just as Pang Xiao said.
The next day, when Pang Xiao went to inspect the soup kitchens, Cao Yuqing once again silently entered through the window.