Qin Yining was actually quite nervous inside, because she couldn’t be certain of her father’s attitude toward Duke Dingguo’s mansion’s affairs.

Her father was a composed, reserved, and exceptionally shrewd powerful minister. Such a person would definitely not be soft-hearted.

She was determined to save the Sun family women.

She wasn’t afraid of the Old Madam’s opposition, because no matter how much the Old Madam objected, she couldn’t effectively obstruct her actual actions.

But her father was different.

If father was determined to oppose her, he would certainly have ten thousand ways to control her actions.

Anxiously following Qi Tai to the outer courtyard study, just as she entered the courtyard gate, she saw two beautiful maidservants dressed in light blue fine cotton vests waiting under the corridor – they were Mo Xiang and Dan Qing.

Seeing Qin Yining arrive, the two curtsied. One went inside to announce her, while the other came forward.

“Fourth Miss, greetings. Master instructed this servant to wait here for you.”

“Thank you, Sister Dan Qing.”

Dan Qing carefully lifted the dark green bamboo-patterned warm curtain for Qin Yining. Qin Yining nodded with a smile before entering the study.

Qin Huaiyuan was wearing a light gray Daoist robe with an ink-blue brocade jacket trimmed with gray fox fur draped over his shoulders. He sat cross-legged on a black lacquered arhat couch by the window, reading.

“You’re back? Come sit.” Qin Huaiyuan turned a page of his book.

Qin Yining first performed proper courtesies before sitting on the other side of the arhat couch, accepting the tea Mo Xiang brought and placing it on the small table beside her.

The maidservants all withdrew.

Qin Huaiyuan continued reading while multitasking: “What did you do today? Tell me about it.”

Though Qin Yining had been mentally prepared, her heart still couldn’t help but skip a beat. She quickly stood and bowed her head: “Reporting to father, today I originally heard that eldest uncle and second uncle had returned, and wanted to pay respects to my two uncles. Unexpectedly, when I accompanied mother to the Duke’s mansion gate, we encountered the house raid.”

“Mm.” Qin Huaiyuan gently closed the book and placed it on the small table. The cover showed the two characters “Zuo Zhuan.”

“Uncle Cao led people to raid the house and announced that all Sun family males, regardless of age, would be executed, the women sent to the teaching workshop, and servants sold after three days. The watching crowd was in an uproar of indignation, and Uncle Cao even had someone killed on the spot to silence the discussion.”

Qin Huaiyuan said: “And then?”

“Then Uncle Cao ordered everyone taken away. Grandfather and grandmother, uncles and aunts, cousins and their wives – it was a scene of life and death separation, very… mother cried bitterly in grief. We were seen by Uncle Cao.” Though Qin Yining downplayed it, she had to tell her father that Uncle Cao had discovered them, so he could be mentally prepared if anything happened.

Qin Huaiyuan pondered for a moment, nodded and said: “And you? Did you do nothing after that?”

Qin Huaiyuan’s voice was deep and warm, seemingly containing a smile, but Qin Yining distinctly felt a chill rising from her spine. She quickly knelt and bowed.

“Please don’t be angry, father. At that time, fifth cousin and fifth cousin-in-law were a young couple who didn’t want to be separated – the scene was truly pitiful. In the soldiers’ rough handling, fifth cousin-in-law was knocked down in the crowd and went into premature labor. Father also knows the Sun family’s innocence, so I truly couldn’t watch fifth cousin-in-law lose her life like that. Therefore, I immediately had people find connections and saved fifth cousin-in-law’s life. Fortunately, fifth cousin-in-law gave birth to a daughter…”

Qin Yining quickly glanced at Qin Huaiyuan, but his expression remained the same throughout, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

Qin Yining could only continue sincerely: “As for my arranging the ransom matter, I feel it’s harmless. Since the Emperor issued an edict for the Sun family’s convicted women to serve as slaves in the teaching workshop, he’s waiting for Zhaoyun Company’s ransom services. There’s probably no second organization in the court with the right to ransom convicted women from the teaching workshop, right? Unless… unless the Emperor failed to notice that Zhaoyun Company had already been given to me.”

The Emperor truly didn’t know.

He was probably regretting it deeply by now – he should have thought about Zhaoyun Company’s business when raiding the Duke’s mansion.

Qin Huaiyuan coughed once before saying softly: “Impudent.”

Though his voice wasn’t loud, the authority in his words was considerable.

Qin Yining quickly kowtowed: “Yes. Your daughter knows her mistake and shouldn’t have discussed the Emperor behind his back.”

Qin Huaiyuan was both amused and exasperated by her behavior, forcibly suppressing the urge to let his lips curve upward: “Do you think discussing the Emperor is your only mistake?”

Qin Yining pressed her lips together. When she raised her head, her clear eyes were like a clear spring, full of confusion as she looked at Qin Huaiyuan.

“Your daughter didn’t disobey imperial orders or do anything excessive. The Emperor governs the world with benevolence and filial piety. Even if Duke Dingguo is guilty, matters of convicted women giving birth have never been ignored throughout history. I think even if I hadn’t acted, the Emperor would have sent people to save fifth cousin-in-law upon learning of it. Moreover, I’m originally the owner of Zhaoyun Company. When new convicted women come to the teaching workshop and Zhaoyun Company is short-handed, there’s nothing wrong with ransoming them. Weren’t the rules for Zhaoyun Company’s ransom services established by the imperial family?”

“You little rascal!” Qin Huaiyuan picked up the “Zuo Zhuan” and gently tapped Qin Yining’s forehead: “You’ve made all the reasoning yours.”

It didn’t hurt at all.

There was even a hint of indulgence in it.

Qin Yining touched her forehead. When she looked at Qin Huaiyuan again, the filial affection in her eyes almost seemed to transform into warm springs that could immerse Qin Huaiyuan within them.

Warmth filled Qin Huaiyuan’s heart as he said: “Get up. Dan Qing just had people prepare osmanthus sugar cakes. Keep me company while I have some.”

Qin Yining wasn’t picky about food and enjoyed eating everything, but osmanthus sugar cakes were her particular favorite.

She hadn’t expected father to know this, and to consider that she’d been busy all day without time to eat?

Qin Yining was deeply moved, smiled and agreed, then stood up and sat in her previous position.

Dan Qing and Mo Xiang brought in various pastries and gently placed them on the small table.

Qin Huaiyuan first picked up a piece of osmanthus sugar cake.

Seeing this, Qin Yining also took a piece and bit into it.

It was fragrant and soft upon entering her mouth, not overly sweet or cloying. The delicate sweetness improved her tense mood considerably after a whole day. She couldn’t help but develop an appetite, eating four pieces in succession and drinking a bowl of tea before feeling some substance in her stomach.

When she looked up, she discovered that Qin Huaiyuan was merely holding that one piece of cake without eating it, but smiling as he watched her eat.

Qin Yining immediately understood that Qin Huaiyuan was afraid that if he didn’t make a move, she wouldn’t dare to either, so he had picked up a piece just for show.

“Father.” Qin Yining called out with emotion.

The girl’s bright, clear almond eyes were moist, touching people’s hearts and making them involuntarily soften. That handsome appearance seemed familiar, so similar to what he had seen of himself in the mirror when young. Such a clever and lovely child was the only possible bloodline he could have in this life, the sole continuation of his existence.

Qin Huaiyuan’s large hand couldn’t help but stroke her head again. Her eyes filled with delight and laughter, and she instinctively nuzzled his palm like a small animal, causing Qin Huaiyuan to chuckle.

So raising a child had this kind of pleasure.

Although his daughter had come home already fourteen years old, at an age suitable for discussing marriage.

But in Qin Huaiyuan’s eyes, she was just a clever and cunning little child.

If the world were at peace, Qin Huaiyuan truly wouldn’t mind however much trouble his daughter caused. Children being mischievous, getting into trouble outside, then crying as they come home to find father – he could use his abilities to help her solve problems and earn the child’s admiration and adoration. How wonderful that would be.

Unfortunately, they weren’t born in the right times.

“Full?” Seeing Qin Yining stop moving, Qin Huaiyuan asked.

Qin Yining nodded, her cheeks rosy.

Qin Huaiyuan then adopted a serious expression: “What you did today, though unassailable in terms of morality and reason, you forgot what kind of situation you’re facing.”

Qin Yining lowered her head and honestly said: “Reporting to father, I didn’t forget. It’s just…”

“Just that you wanted to do it, so you did it?”

“Mm.” Qin Yining nodded: “I just didn’t want to do things against my conscience, didn’t want to live a lifetime of regret and guilt. I know I took some risks, but I believe the Emperor also values his reputation. Even if he wanted to find fault, he would seek a righteous pretext to place himself on the moral high ground. I thought it through thoroughly and felt there was nothing improper, which is why I acted. It wasn’t that I didn’t consider our family’s situation.”

Glancing at Qin Huaiyuan and seeing his expression unchanged, Qin Yining continued: “Moreover, I am father’s daughter, and father is now the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor. If something happened to your daughter’s maternal grandmother’s family and your daughter stood by indifferently, clearly having the ability to save fifth cousin-in-law but unwilling to act, what would the world say about our family? What would they say about father? Wouldn’t we become ungrateful wolves who are greedy for life and afraid of death? Your daughter didn’t want momentary fear to stain father’s lifetime of unblemished reputation.”

Qin Huaiyuan was silent for a moment, neither speaking, scolding Qin Yining, nor reproaching her mistakes. Only after a while did he say: “What do you plan to do next?”

Seeing that Qin Huaiyuan didn’t object, Qin Yining’s anxious heart finally settled, and her respect and admiration for her father’s character grew even stronger.

She knew that if Qin Huaiyuan didn’t want her to save people, he would have ten thousand ways to erase what she had done before, ensuring no one could find any leverage against them.

Since father didn’t stop her, it meant he tacitly approved of her actions and would help her handle the aftermath.

It was just that some things she could do, but Qin Huaiyuan’s position made it inconvenient for him to do them.

Qin Yining was somewhat excited, her mind becoming active. After thinking, she said: “Reporting to father, what’s urgent next is mother’s situation, and then the execution three days hence. In our dynasty, when people are beheaded, unless the Emperor gives specific orders, they’re basically thrown into mass graves. There’s no rule against people helping to collect the bodies.”

Hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan said: “I thought you would ask me to plead with the Emperor for mercy, to spare your grandfather’s family’s men.”

Qin Yining smiled bitterly: “It’s easy for me to ask you, but it wouldn’t be easy for you to ask the Emperor.”

The Emperor was frightened by Great Zhou’s diplomatic letter and would definitely find ways to appease Great Zhou’s anger. The Sun family had the misfortune of hitting the knife’s edge at exactly the wrong time – the Emperor had made up his mind to use them as scapegoats.

When a person is afraid, with his own life on one side of the scale and others’ lives on the other, he would naturally choose to preserve himself. Even if Qin Huaiyuan talked until his mouth was dry, it would be useless. He might even bring trouble upon himself, and if things went badly, could harm the entire Qin family.

Qin Yining wasn’t foolish. That father could tacitly allow her to do some things for the Sun family behind the scenes was already something she was very grateful for.