Qin Yining hurried to Sun Shi’s side, who was kneeling on the ground crying inconsolably, and forcibly helped her up. “Mother, please go home first!”

“I must petition the Emperor! I must go to the Ministry of Justice prison! On what grounds, on what grounds…” Sun Shi sobbed and shook her head.

“On the grounds that it’s an imperial edict! The decree came from the Emperor himself – who would you petition?” Qin Yining gripped Sun Shi’s shoulders with both hands, applying some pressure as she lowered her voice. Each word seemed to be squeezed through gritted teeth:

“Mother! The imperial edict has been issued and cannot be reversed. We are merely women, and moreover, we are members of the Qin family. Our actions will affect the life and death of everyone in the Qin family! Mother, do you want everyone in the Qin family to be buried alongside grandfather and the others?”

“How can you be so cold-hearted!” Sun Shi looked at Qin Yining in disbelief, pushing her forcefully with both hands. “Do you want me to watch helplessly as your grandfather and the others die?”

This time, Qin Yining stood firmly in place. Unlike before, she didn’t yield to Sun Shi’s force and release her grip. Instead, she tightly grasped Sun Shi’s shoulders until the pain made her furrow her brows and forget to shed tears.

“Yes, perhaps I am cold-hearted. Though I’ve spent these years growing up in the mountains, I also survived in the marketplace as a child. I’ve experienced true matters of life and death, seen the kind side of human nature, but more often, I’ve witnessed the true and ugly side of human nature.”

“When great calamity strikes, even if my father has the heart to help Duke Dingguo’s mansion, is the Emperor someone who would listen to remonstrations? Mother, think about it – father is also the pillar of our household. Would he oppose the dragon’s wrath and put his own family on the fire?”

“If my father, who is the current Grand Tutor, cannot accomplish this, how could mother, a noble lady confined to the inner quarters, possibly do so?”

“If you take action now, you’ll only drag the Qin family down with them!”

Sun Shi stared blankly at Qin Yining, tears flowing again: “Then we can only watch as your grandfather, your uncle, and your cousins are beheaded? Your third cousin’s youngest son is only five years old!”

Tears also welled up in Qin Yining’s eyes: “Mother, this is reality. Listen to me – go back to the mansion now, claim illness and refuse visitors. Don’t see anyone, and if the Old Madam insists on seeing you, you must no longer argue with her. Mother, you must recognize the reality – from now on, you have no natal family!”

No natal family.

No backing.

Sun Shi’s pride and support all these years, what she most often mentioned when quarreling with the Old Madam and Qin Huaiyuan, was her natal family and her father.

From now on, no one would ever support her again.

Her natal family had fallen!

Seeing Sun Shi’s blank stare, Qin Yining knew her words had taken some effect and hastily instructed Nanny Jin:

“First escort madam back to the mansion. Be sure to persuade madam not to have any direct conflicts with the Old Madam or anyone else. We’ll discuss everything after I return home. News of the Sun family’s situation will soon be known by everyone, and the Qin family’s fortunes will also change soon.”

“Yes, Fourth Miss.” Nanny Jin nodded solemnly. For the first time, she deeply felt that even without the master’s favor for madam, even if madam lost her natal family’s support, as long as Fourth Miss was there, they still had a pillar of strength.

Qin Yining then instructed the coachman to unhitch one of the carriage horses, saying, “I’m going to find Manager Zhong. I might return late, so please manage things when you get back.”

Bingtang nodded: “Yes, miss, please don’t worry. I’ll also take good care of madam.”

Qin Yining flicked the reins and rode off.

Qin Yining had never learned proper horsemanship, but she had dealt with wild horse herds and ridden wild horses before. Therefore, controlling such a domesticated horse wasn’t difficult, and she quickly reached Manager Zhong’s home.

Manager Zhong wasn’t home.

Seeing Qin Yining’s arrival, a servant immediately ran to the Yuesheng Inn to find Manager Zhong.

Manager Zhong had also learned of Duke Dingguo’s mansion’s troubles by then. Hearing the servant’s message, he galloped home at full speed. Without waiting for Qin Yining to speak, he already knew what she wanted to do.

“Master, please rest assured. I’ll immediately arrange for ready cash and do whatever it takes to ransom the old master and the ladies from the teaching workshop.”

Seeing Manager Zhong’s sincere expression and that he wasn’t afraid of bringing trouble upon himself, Qin Yining felt both comforted and grateful.

“Then I’ll trouble Manager Zhong. Although ransoming people is urgent, what’s more critical is whether we can immediately send doctors and midwives to the teaching workshop. My fifth cousin-in-law is about to give birth, and my eighth cousin-in-law has probably gone into premature labor from the shock.”

Manager Zhong was startled and quickly nodded: “Yes, yes, our Zhaoyun Company has many connections if nothing else. I’ll arrange it immediately! Ming Jie, stay here and listen to the master’s instructions. Saving lives is like fighting fire – I’ll go establish connections first.”

“Good. I entrust everything to Manager Zhong.” Qin Yining bowed in gratitude.

Manager Zhong waved his hand and ran out as if his pants were on fire.

Qin Yining saw Manager Zhong to the door, watching him hurry away before sitting down with furrowed brows.

A man in his thirties had been standing with his head lowered. Only now did Qin Yining have time to examine him.

He was of medium build, wearing a fine cotton jacket and a six-panel cap, with an honest face but shrewd eyes.

Noticing Qin Yining’s scrutiny, the man bowed: “Greetings, master. This humble person is Jing Ming Jie. My mother works in the kitchen at the mansion.”

So it was him!

When Qin Yining was confined to the ancestral hall, Nanny Jing had brought her meals and messages. Later, Nanny Jing had also brought her news, mentioning at the time that she had a son working as a third-rank manager under Manager Zhong.

“So you’re Manager Jing.”

“I dare not claim such a title. Thanks to Miss Master’s care, I’ve been able to learn business from Manager Zhong.” Jing Ming Jie bowed.

Qin Yining knew that Manager Zhong was discerning in his affairs. Anyone he would arrange for her use must be someone he trusted completely.

Since she employed people without suspicion, Qin Yining said directly: “The Zhaoyun Company originally owned two brothels. One was converted into a restaurant, and one remains empty. Is that property currently being put to any use?”

“In response to master, that property serves no purpose – we only keep people there to watch the house.”

Qin Yining calculated the number of women in Duke Dingguo’s mansion and considered the size of the two inns under Zhaoyun Company. Arranging for people to stay at the inns would be inappropriate.

First, the inns couldn’t accommodate them all, and second, with people coming and going at the inns, it wouldn’t be safe.

Since she was going to ransom them, she needed somewhere to place them. Her maternal grandmother’s family no longer had any men, so she certainly couldn’t separate these people.

Thinking it over, among Zhaoyun Company’s vacant properties that could accommodate all the Sun family women, only the building that had originally served as a brothel would suffice.

“Manager Jing, please arrange for people to clean that house thoroughly and prepare all necessary bedding, clothing, and daily necessities. Keep track of all expenses and report them to Manager Zhong.”

Jing Ming Jie understood Qin Yining’s meaning: “Master intends to house the Sun family ladies there? That would be suitable. The house has already been renovated and is perfect for habitation, though we should arrange for some guards. Master needn’t worry – I’ll see to the arrangements immediately.”

Qin Yining nodded, telling Jing Ming Jie to hurry, while she waited for news in the outer courtyard study of Manager Zhong’s house.

It wasn’t until dark that Manager Zhong returned. Upon entering, he said: “Fortunately we went in time. If we’d been any later, that lady might have died with her child. She just finished giving birth – they say it’s a daughter, and both mother and child are safe. I’ve made arrangements at the teaching workshop, and we can bring everyone over tomorrow.”

Qin Yining’s anxious heart finally settled, and she bowed several times in gratitude: “It’s all thanks to Manager Zhong.”

“Master speaks too highly of me. My family’s lives were all saved by master. Moreover, the old master treated me well in the past, and master is a heroic woman of righteous character, doing virtuous deeds. I truly have no reason to stand by and do nothing.”

Qin Yining stood up and thought for a moment: “Since Zhaoyun Company has such extensive connections, can you speak to people in the Ministry of Justice prison? If possible, at least send word to my grandfather and the others, informing them that fifth cousin-in-law safely delivered a daughter.”

Speaking of this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but sigh: “It’s a girl – that’s good. If it had been a son…” she feared the Emperor might not spare even a newborn.

Manager Zhong also sighed deeply upon hearing this: “News of Duke Dingguo’s mansion has already spread throughout the capital. Everyone privately knows that Duke Dingguo’s family is wronged. Many scholars who previously admired the Duke’s heir’s talent have begun submitting joint petitions. Let’s hope the Emperor will listen to the people’s voices and show leniency.”

“Let’s hope so.” Hope kindled in Qin Yining’s heart, but carefully recalling what Uncle Cao had said today and analyzing the Emperor’s character, that hope showed signs of crumbling.

“I only fear the Emperor will think Duke Dingguo’s family deliberately incites the people, making his wariness even greater…”

Manager Zhong’s expression grew stern, his heart also hanging in suspense.

After arranging affairs here and informing Manager Zhong that she had instructed Jing Ming Jie to prepare the house for the Sun family ladies, Qin Yining prepared to return to the mansion.

Having been out all day, with mother returning home early, she wondered if such a tremendous change might cause some incident when facing it.

Moreover, Qin Yining knew that the Old Madam was someone who would curry favor with the powerful and avoid disaster with the keenest eye for advantage. Her previous tolerance toward Sun Shi was largely because Sun Shi had Duke Dingguo’s mansion backing her.

Now that Duke Dingguo’s mansion was being prosecuted, the Old Madam would probably become fearful and detest everything connected to Duke Dingguo’s mansion, worried it would bring disaster to the Qin family.

Not only would Sun Shi’s status in the Qin family plummet dramatically.

Even she, as a granddaughter who had received property from the Sun family, would probably be viewed with suspicion by the Old Madam. Especially since she had immediately gone to ransom and support the Sun family women.

She had previously worked hard to earn the Old Madam’s favor, but this incident might destroy it all overnight.

But she felt no regret, nor did she think it a pity.

Even if the Old Madam grew tired of her, she could still live well. She couldn’t possibly abandon the lives of Duke Dingguo’s mansion’s women just to please the Old Madam. She ransomed them not to curry favor, but to help her mother fulfill her filial duty, and also for the affection Duke Dingguo’s mansion had shown her.

Qin Yining returned to the mansion.

Just as she entered the gate, she was stopped by Qi Tai, who had been waiting at the gatehouse.

“Fourth Miss has returned! Master instructed this servant to wait here for Fourth Miss. Master wants you to go to the study as soon as you return – he says he has something to discuss with you.”