Qin Yining stood at the door of Cao Yuqing’s room, her fair hand raised, hesitating for a long time without knocking.

This matter was originally just her speculation and suspicion – there was no reason to come ask Cao Yuqing about it now.

Yes, Cao Yuqing had motive and this ability. But who said that having motive and ability meant she definitely did it?

“Why don’t you come in?”

Just then, Cao Yuqing’s hoarse voice came from behind the door.

With a creak, the latticed door was pushed open. Cao Yuqing wore plain white clothing with white silk flowers in her hair, standing expressionlessly at the door. Her charming eyes looked at Qin Yining without any warmth.

“Aunt Cao.” Qin Yining was somewhat embarrassed, but Cao Yuqing was a clever person who couldn’t be easily fooled.

Qin Yining followed Cao Yuqing’s steps into the room, leaving all the maids outside. Only then did she say in a low voice: “I heard something happened to the Dai family.”

Cao Yuqing placed a cup of hot tea beside Qin Yining and calmly sat down across from her.

“The Dai family matter was done by me.”

Qin Yining looked at Cao Yuqing’s slightly melancholy eyebrows and sighed softly: “Mm.”

Cao Yuqing was somewhat surprised.

Qin Yining had come looking for her – wasn’t it to question her?

“Why don’t you ask me? Why don’t you scold me for being cold-blooded and heartless?” Cao Yuqing stared directly at Qin Yining, her red swollen eyes filled with bloodshot veins again, tears swirling in her eyes. “That person deserved to die! Everyone in his family who slandered Qin Meng behind his back deserved to die!”

Qin Yining’s lips moved: “There were still innocent people after all.”

“Innocent?” Cao Yuqing laughed mockingly, tears sliding down from the corners of her eyes. “I still spared the old, young, women and children in their family! But what about Qin Meng? Who considered how innocent Qin Meng was? He lived honestly and uprightly his whole life, never doing bad things – who pitied him?”

Cao Yuqing suddenly stood up, her hands painfully grabbing her hair: “I’ve known Qin Meng for so many years and knew he was the most intelligent and upright man in this world. He didn’t want me to become a breeding tool, nor did he want to give me hope only to have me hurt your mother in the inner residence and change myself, so he was frank with me from the beginning.

“To this day I still love him deeply. I could give my life for him, but these were all my willing choices. Qin Meng never deceived or tricked me, never thought to use tender feelings to bind and exploit me.”

Cao Yuqing looked at Qin Yining with red swollen eyes: “Your father was a good man who acted without shame before heaven and earth. When he was murdered so cruelly, wasn’t he innocent!”

Qin Yining’s tears fell in streams.

The hatred in her heart was never any less than Cao Yuqing’s.

“Aunt Cao, if I also had your kind of skills, I might have gone to kill Dai Lin in the night too. I understand your feelings.” It’s just that she ultimately wasn’t as ruthless as Cao Yuqing.

Cao Yuqing had seen much bloodshed and violence. She was like a sharp blade – if held in the hands of a righteous person, she could do righteous deeds, just like with Qin Huaiyuan. But now Qin Huaiyuan was gone. The person holding the blade was gone. This sharp blade carried resentment, and Qin Yining wouldn’t be surprised by any bloody deeds it might commit.

Qin Yining wanted to persuade Cao Yuqing, but she knew that in Cao Yuqing’s current state, no one could dissuade her.

“Aunt Cao, please calm down these days. You look very unwell and need to recuperate. As for my father’s matter, let’s wait until the funeral is finished before making long-term plans.”

Cao Yuqing looked at Qin Yining and, confirming she wasn’t just temporarily appeasing her, slowly nodded.

“Alright.”

Qin Yining ate some rice porridge with Cao Yuqing, then went to the front courtyard memorial hall.

Not seeing the Second Master and Third Master, she asked a maid and learned that people from Shuntian Prefecture had come and were questioning them in the front hall.

“They said something happened to the Dai family last night, so the Shuntian Prefecture people came to our house to ask questions.”

After all, yesterday’s incident at the Qin mansion gate had been quite a commotion. If Ji Zeyu hadn’t arrived in time, who knows what would have happened – Qin Yining had actually swung an axe.

“Princess, will Shuntian Prefecture suspect our family?” Bingtang was somewhat worried.

“It’s fine. Even if they ask me, I’ll speak frankly.” Qin Yining sneered coldly. “Dai Lin offended many people. If someone comes to ask, I’ll ask back – which family holding a funeral wouldn’t be angry when a scoundrel like Dai Lin blocks their door to cause trouble and uses foul language to slander the deceased? Being suspected doesn’t mean I did it.”

Bingtang and the others all nodded, no longer continuing this topic.

Who knows what the Second Master and Third Master said, but the Shuntian Prefecture people didn’t come to question the women in the residence.

However, in the afternoon, Qin Yining received another piece of news that shocked the entire court and country.

“His Majesty has seized Duke Dingguo’s military tally. Now Duke Dingguo only holds his noble title and no longer manages court affairs.”

Qin Yining looked at Ji Yun who was reporting in utter shock: “Are you certain of what you’re saying?”

“Naturally certain – the news has already spread everywhere.” After Ji Yun finished speaking and bowed, she withdrew, leaving the side hall to the masters while leading people to carefully guard outside the door.

Qin Yining looked at the Second Master and Third Master beside her: “For things to turn out this way.”

The Third Master slammed the table hard: “This is truly absurd! A meritorious minister like Duke Dingguo has his power seized just for coming to offer incense to big brother – isn’t this telling everyone not to associate with our Qin family!”

The Second Master said in a low voice: “Doesn’t this better show what kind of person sent Dai Lin? Perhaps if the Dai family hadn’t met with misfortune, Duke Dingguo wouldn’t have reached this point.”

They all couldn’t help but fall silent.

Cao Yuqing’s eyes narrowed: “So Dai Lin was very likely arranged by that person! When Qin Meng died, he didn’t even make a sound. Even though Qin Meng lost his life, it was never determined whether he died in service to the country or due to incompetence. This ambiguous attitude makes everyone afraid to step forward. When someone finally has the courage, they too must face displeasure!”

Cao Yuqing’s voice grew lower and lower, the final words seeming to squeeze out from between her teeth: “If he hadn’t sent people north to provide military provisions, this wouldn’t have happened! Now looking at his behavior, it’s very likely Qin Meng was actually killed by him…”

“Aunt Cao!”

Qin Yining stopped Cao Yuqing’s remaining words.

She looked around, signaling to Cao Yuqing that walls have ears.

Cao Yuqing took several deep breaths before suppressing her indignation, saying apologetically: “I’m sorry.”

Qin Yining shook her head.

It seemed Li Qitian was already confident of victory.

What was the situation in the south? Though she could receive news from the south, after all, with the long distance, by the time news reached her hands, much time had already passed. Perhaps Li Qitian had faster, more direct ways to learn of conditions everywhere.

So he was certain Pang Xiao wouldn’t act, which gave him the confidence to boldly seize Ji Zeyu’s military power? Otherwise, if he needed to use someone temporarily, could he shamelessly give commands again? Ji Zeyu wasn’t an ordinary person to be dismissed at will. Even if he would obey imperial edicts and remain loyal to Li Qitian, with Li Qitian’s suspiciousness, wouldn’t he be suspicious?

“If this is the case, our family’s matter has also implicated Duke Dingguo.” The Second Master sighed. “I’ve already requested retirement from my superiors. My colleagues all know I want to escort the coffin home, but not one has shown any response.”

The Third Master said: “Now with Duke Dingguo’s example, who dares say another word? Anyone who treats our family well will suffer together.”

Cao Yuqing’s hands clenched tightly, cold light flashing in her eyes. Seeing her expression was wrong, Qin Yining grabbed her hand.

Cao Yuqing’s hand was very cold, her fingertips trembling for unknown reasons.

Qin Yining squeezed harder, looking at Cao Yuqing warningly.

With difficulty, Cao Yuqing extracted herself from emotions immersed in hatred. She remembered what Qin Yining had said earlier – everything must wait until the funeral was finished. Whatever she wanted to do needed long-term planning.

After all, Cao Yuqing didn’t have confidence in infiltrating the palace and killing Li Qitian under heavy guard without bringing disaster to the Qin family.

“Princess! Second Master, Third Master!” A maid’s slightly anxious voice suddenly came from the courtyard. “Madam has returned and rushed straight to the memorial hall. Master told this servant to inform you that Madam’s condition looks very bad!”

Qin Yining’s heart jumped. She patted Cao Yuqing’s hand comfortingly and hurried to the memorial hall.

At this time in Ci’an Palace, Li Helan was holding the Empress Dowager’s hand and crying: “Mother, the Prince Consort was just kind-hearted. When passing by the Qin family and seeing people causing trouble at their gate, he just said a word. How did this become such a grave sin? We’re family after all. For Imperial Brother to seize the Prince Consort’s military tally so carelessly – what will outsiders say? How will they view our family?”

Li Helan covered her face and wept. She now only wanted to wholeheartedly please Ji Zeyu. The longer time passed, the more reluctant she became to give up Ji Zeyu’s handsome appearance and distinguished achievements. When Ji Zeyu encountered trouble but didn’t come to her for intercession, Li Helan naturally wouldn’t wait for Ji Zeyu to speak up and came to petition the Empress Dowager first.

If she could accomplish this matter, Ji Zeyu would at least remember her kindness, right? Ji Zeyu was so proud – perhaps as a Prince Consort, he was unwilling to let people think his high position and generous salary all depended on his Prince Consort status. Now that this incident had occurred, wasn’t it exactly the opportunity heaven gave her to perform?

Thinking of this, Li Helan cried even more sorrowfully.

The Empress Dowager rubbed her temples and said wearily: “Can’t you stop causing trouble for me?”

“How is this causing trouble? A son-in-law is half a son. What has Ji Zeyu done wrong? If Mother speaks a word for Ji Zeyu, it’s not just for your daughter but also for Imperial Brother. Who in court doesn’t know that Ji Zeyu can lead troops and fight battles? Perhaps Imperial Brother will need Ji Zeyu in the future.”

“When needed, he can be reinstated. Could Ji Zeyu really disobey imperial orders then?” The Empress Dowager pushed away Li Helan’s hand that wouldn’t let go and said: “I no longer want to meddle in these affairs. You’re my daughter – can’t you think of me?”

“Mother, please pity your daughter. I wanted to directly find Imperial Brother, but he won’t see me at all. Even if he did, he wouldn’t listen to what I say. Your words carry weight.”

The Empress Dowager laughed coldly: “What weight can my words have now? I can’t even protect my own grand-niece, let alone the Prince Consort. You should give up this idea.”

“Indeed so.”

Just as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, Li Qitian’s low voice came from the palace entrance.

Both the Empress Dowager and Li Helan were startled and quickly stood up.