Yuchi Yan gazed in the direction Qin Yining had departed, his eyes bright and his expression amazed, so dazed that he didn’t hear Qin Huaiyuan’s words.
Seeing his expression, Qin Huaiyuan could guess what he was thinking and raised his voice slightly: “My daughter is unruly. Please forgive her, Your Highness.”
“Ah? Oh! What is the Grand Preceptor saying?” Yuchi Yan’s face flushed with heat, and he covered his mouth with a fake cough before saying: “Your daughter is pure and filial, a person of true character. What’s wrong with such a temperament? Compared to those delicate women, your daughter appears more spirited and heroic. It’s like painting plum blossoms—only by adding vigorous branches can one paint out the character. Your daughter’s character lies entirely in her temperament.”
“My daughter is willful and truly doesn’t deserve Your Highness’s praise. I will discipline her strictly in the future.” Qin Huaiyuan felt that Qin Yining’s behavior was too fierce and didn’t conform to the rules for a young lady from a great family.
But Yuchi Yan said urgently: “Grand Preceptor, please don’t constrain her. There’s nothing wrong with such a temperament.”
Such undisguised affection for Qin Yining made Qin Huaiyuan involuntarily study the sincerity in Yuchi Yan’s expression. Seeing his fair complexion flushed red, he couldn’t help but smile knowingly.
Who hadn’t been young before?
Only after years of court experience had Qin Huaiyuan’s heart been wrapped in layers of hard rock. Only when seeing such interesting reactions from young people would it evoke some memories from his youth.
The two continued walking on the stone path one after another, with their attendants following at a distance.
“The affair at Duke Dingguo’s mansion this time is truly lamentable. Father Emperor was frightened by Great Zhou and will use any means for temporary peace. Though I am Father Emperor’s son, I disagree with his actions. Unfortunately, Father Emperor won’t listen to anyone’s advice now and only heeds the Empress’s demands.” Yuchi Yan’s tone was full of dissatisfaction and helplessness.
Qin Huaiyuan naturally wouldn’t get involved in the relationship between the imperial father and son, so he just listened silently without taking a stance.
Yuchi Yan continued: “The Great Zhou envoys sent word back to their country many days ago. I expect we’ll have a reply within two days. Who knows what more trouble Emperor Zhou will stir up. I just hope Father Emperor can toughen up and not disappoint Sun Yuanming’s dedication.”
“His Majesty is wise and mighty. Naturally, he only acted that way after listening to others’ instigation.”
The emperor was the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven was sage. No matter what mistakes he made, they weren’t his fault—it must be others who led him astray.
Yuchi Yan smiled helplessly and nodded with a sigh: “Indeed.”
Qin Huaiyuan said methodically: “As for Yuanming, though he defied the imperial edict, he also used his own flesh and blood to once again ignite the hot blood of Great Yan’s people. This is more shocking than the manifesto from years ago. Your Highness must remember this line: ‘No disaster is greater than underestimating the enemy; underestimating the enemy nearly lost our treasure’…”
Upon hearing this, Yuchi Yan paused in his steps: “‘Therefore, when armies clash, the sorrowful will prevail.’ This is from the Dao De Jing.”
“Precisely.” Qin Huaiyuan walked leisurely with his hands behind his back. “The principle that sorrowful armies will surely win doesn’t come from nothing. Yuanming’s devotion unto death was to demonstrate his resolve and boost our morale. If His Majesty could make more of this incident and publicize his deeds, it would surely inspire the fighting spirit of Xihua City’s soldiers. In a battle against Pang Zhixi, there might still be hope for victory.”
Hearing this, Yuchi Yan felt invigorated and clapped his hands: “The Grand Preceptor’s strategies are indeed superior. As you say, Yuanming may have calculated this before his death, otherwise he wouldn’t have chosen such a resolute method. I will advise Father Emperor about this. Surely any man with spirit would be inspired.”
Qin Huaiyuan smiled and nodded, though his thoughts weren’t as optimistic as the Crown Prince’s.
If His Majesty truly had this intention, he wouldn’t be so submissive to Great Zhou’s envoys, showing none of an emperor’s dignity. His Majesty was now not only frightened by Great Zhou but also not considering future consequences.
One must know that Sun Yuanming had once become famous throughout the realm with a single manifesto. To put it bluntly, His Majesty was reviled among the people, while Sun Yuanming was seen as an upright, heroic figure.
Such a heroic person of character was sacrificed because of His Majesty’s incompetence and cowardice, all to curry favor with the enemy nation’s Empress Dowager. How many scholars were indignant, how many soldiers and civilians were heartbroken?
Qin Huaiyuan didn’t believe that Great Zhou’s imperial physician had truly prescribed a medicine requiring human brains this time. Emperor Zhou had always been full of schemes—this was probably his deliberate plan to sow discord between Great Yan’s ruler and ministers.
But when someone dug a pit, His Majesty jumped in without hesitation. What could they as ministers do?
Now court officials could see Great Zhou’s iron cavalry had already reached Xihua City. Everyone feared for their own safety, afraid of the city being breached and afraid they might be the next to be sacrificed.
The Crown Prince and Qin Huaiyuan discussed further how to respond to His Majesty. After the Crown Prince had memorized everything Qin Huaiyuan said, he took his leave enthusiastically.
Qin Huaiyuan watched the Crown Prince’s spirited departing figure and shook his head.
The Crown Prince was an honest person with deep accomplishments in calligraphy and painting. With such a temperament, if he were an ordinary wealthy family’s son or a noble family’s second son, there would be no pressure. Unfortunately, he was born to be Crown Prince.
Qin Huaiyuan had already anticipated that the emperor was unlikely to heed the Crown Prince’s advice.
But even if the hope was slim, they had to try their best. They as ministers dared not speak up, but the Crown Prince was after all the emperor’s only heir. Even if the emperor was furious, at most he would scold him a few times—at least he wouldn’t drag the Crown Prince out for execution.
Qin Huaiyuan called over Qi Tai: “Go instruct people to pay attention to palace movements these next few days. After the Crown Prince reports to His Majesty, observe His Majesty’s attitude.”
Qi Tai nodded in agreement and quickly withdrew.
Qin Huaiyuan then returned to Xingning Garden.
In Xingning Garden.
Sun Shi had just seen the doctor, whose diagnosis was identical to Bingtang’s. Only then did Qin Yining feel at ease. She helped Sun Shi lie down to rest and said: “Mother shouldn’t anger herself easily. Great anger harms the body. Is your own health more important, or is it more important to quarrel with others?”
Sun Shi said weakly: “I’m clumsy with words and never come out ahead at crucial moments. Anyway, I’m thoroughly disheartened.”
Qin Yining smiled: “Don’t think so much. You’re living with Father, not with others. As long as Father treats you sincerely, isn’t that enough? Think about these past days—for eldest cousin’s matter, how much has Father helped at Duke Dingguo’s mansion? When grandfather and grandmother both fell ill, and fifth cousin and eighth cousin were at a loss, wasn’t it Father who guided and supported them? Father’s willingness to do so much for the Duke’s mansion—isn’t it all for you?”
Hearing this, Sun Shi felt very comfortable and even showed some smile: “Are you telling the truth?”
“Naturally it’s true.” Qin Yining nodded earnestly, took the bird’s nest congee that Nanny Jin brought over, and fed it to Sun Shi while talking, continuously saying:
“Father and Mother were young spouses who have been deeply devoted for many years. Haven’t you weathered many storms together? Though I’ve been home for a short time, I can see that Father is very considerate and respectful toward you.”
Sun Shi had just taken medicine and had no appetite, but listening to Qin Yining’s words, she ate most of the bowl of bird’s nest congee, and even her previously gloomy complexion gradually cleared.
Nanny Jin smiled so widely her teeth showed, secretly thinking that blood relatives were indeed most caring, knowing to think wholeheartedly of their birth mother. She also joined in persuading: “Fourth Miss speaks truly. Madam was just temporarily angry and didn’t think it through. Really, isn’t it just that simple? Madam lives with the Master, and if the Master cares for you, what else could be so important?”
Sun Shi nodded, and all the afternoon’s pent-up melancholy dispersed. She smiled broadly and touched Qin Yining’s nose tip.
“No wonder your grandmother says you see things clearly. Isn’t it just so? When we went back together, your grandmother only doted on you and wouldn’t dote on me.”
Qin Yining laughed: “Grandmother dotes on me because she loves you. Without you, where would I come into it?”
Sun Shi couldn’t help laughing, covering her mouth as she smiled, and her complexion returned to its usual appearance.
Qin Huaiyuan stood in the corridor, hearing the conversation inside clearly. His face flushed somewhat uncomfortably. After thinking, he didn’t enter the room but turned and left.
Cai Ju and Cai Lan, who had been ordered by Qin Huaiyuan not to make a sound, exchanged glances and couldn’t help smiling.
After Sun Shi finished the congee and rinsed her mouth, Qin Yining and Nanny Jin helped her sleep.
The incident of Qin Yining knocking out Qin Huining’s tooth and throwing her into the back garden’s lotus pond only became known the next day.
Listening to Nanny Jin’s objective description, Sun Shi looked at herself in the bronze mirror for a long time before sighing.
“Hui Jie’er is still a child after all. Later, open the storehouse and select two bolts of fashionable fabric to send to Hui Jie’er for making new clothes. Also, please invite an imperial physician to examine Hui Jie’er carefully. The weather is so cold—we shouldn’t let a young lady suffer lasting damage.”
“Yes.” Nanny Jin smiled in agreement, though secretly she approved of Fourth Miss’s actions and felt extremely satisfied.
Such an ungrateful ingrate was clearly a troublemaker. If she wasn’t properly disciplined, she might truly grow into a source of family chaos. Only someone as formidable as Fourth Miss could control her.
Regardless of how Qin Huining fell ill with a cold and was bedridden, or how the Old Dowager and Sun Shi felt sorry for her.
On Little New Year’s Day, when all families were joyful, the Crown Prince was punished to kneel outside the imperial study for a full two hours. He fainted from cold before His Majesty allowed him to be carried back to the Eastern Palace under house arrest.
This news quickly spread throughout court and country.
Along with this news spread Emperor Zhou Li Qitian’s national letter.
Nobody knew how Great Zhou managed it, but the national letter appeared like imperial proclamations, posted overnight in the streets and alleys of the capital and nearby towns. It contained bold declarations angrily condemning the Yan Dynasty emperor for his sinister intentions, refusing to even give one person’s brain fluid to Great Zhou’s Empress Dowager, showing no sincere desire for peace. It also threatened to definitely level Great Yan and capture the emperor for slow execution.
The people were frightened, angry, cursing the incompetent ruler, cursing Great Zhou—various opinions boiled over.
After the emperor learned of this news, he was so frightened his face turned deathly pale. First, he carefully wrote a letter of apology and ordered it sent to Great Zhou by urgent courier.
After careful consideration, he summoned Chief Eunuch Wang: “Transmit Our decree: summon Xihua’s defending generals Sun Haicang and Sun Haijing along with their families to the capital. Additionally, dispatch General Wang Hui to rush to Xihua to assume the position of defending general.”