Qin Yining nodded approvingly, “Being cautious is proper. Earl Zhongyi is after all a high-ranking and powerful figure. In his eyes, you and I are all insignificant small fry that could be dispensed with. Having an extra preparation is good. However, I’ve actually always had a doubt hidden in my heart. Today I feel quite compatible with you two virtuous brothers, so I’ll speak frankly. Please help resolve my confusion.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiong and Shi Fang both straightened their expressions and nodded, “Please speak, Boss Qiu.”
Qin Yining smiled as she looked at the two men, “Earlier you brothers said you don’t know why Prince Zhongshun would pursue and kill Hall Master Qiao and the other brothers?”
Both men’s hearts skipped a beat, seeing that Qin Yining was showing courtesy before force. Just now everything went according to their wishes, agreeing to everything and giving them hope, but now she suddenly asked this question.
They thought she hadn’t thought of it for the moment!
Now seeing her composed and wise appearance, the two truly realized what a serious mistake they had made. They shouldn’t have treated this woman as an ordinary woman to deceive.
Both men thought of this point simultaneously and were momentarily speechless.
Qin Yining smiled bitterly, “Are you brothers unwilling to say? Fine then. Actually, I’ve had doubts for days. Since everyone is a member of the Azure Heaven Alliance, and Prince Zhongshun’s consort is the Alliance Leader, how could she let her husband pursue and kill Hall Master Qiao and everyone?
“I thought it over repeatedly for a long time before realizing that perhaps something inexplicable happened that made Prince Zhongshun’s consort want to kill her subordinates. As the Alliance Leader, she wouldn’t kill all her subordinates, so the group she killed must be those with different ideologies and conflicting opinions with her. Am I right in my speculation?”
Lu Xiong and Shi Fang exchanged glances and finally reached a silent consensus.
Both men rose simultaneously and knelt before Qin Yining.
“Boss Qiu, we didn’t intentionally conceal anything. It’s just that someone previously deceived you about this matter, so it’s been difficult to speak of.”
Qin Yining frowned and said softly, “What matter?”
Shi Fang and Lu Xiong supplemented each other as they said with difficulty, “Actually, the reason we know the whereabouts of this treasure has a cause. Originally, the Alliance Leader led us to seize the treasure, but when transporting it, she decided on her own to hand it over to Prince Zhongshun for disposal.
“The Azure Heaven Alliance exists to seek benefits for the common people. We never thought that one day we would become the imperial court’s lackeys. The Alliance Leader, being a woman who follows her husband after marriage, not only wholeheartedly supports Prince Zhongshun but repeatedly makes us work for Prince Zhongshun as well. We were already quite disappointed.
“Until she decided to hand over that treasure from Great Yan to Prince Zhongshun, we finally became disappointed in her. At that time, there was a Madam Liao in the alliance who devised a plan to transfer the treasure from the Alliance Leader’s hands. It happened to be during an earthquake, coinciding with His Majesty’s construction of the imperial mausoleum and transportation of stone materials, so Madam Liao found a way to hide the treasure among the stones.
“Now that Prince Zhongshun is pursuing and killing us, it must be at the Alliance Leader’s instruction. We uphold the Azure Heaven Alliance’s original beliefs, but the Alliance Leader resents us for transferring the treasure, considering us traitors to the Azure Heaven Alliance, wanting to put us to death.”
The two men spoke sentence by sentence, explaining their thoughts clearly.
Qin Yining, the Alliance Leader sitting here, was momentarily dazed. So this was how she appeared in their hearts.
Lu Xiong said, “Because of the Alliance Leader’s relationship, the entire Azure Heaven Alliance has become the imperial court’s lackey. For our original intentions, persisting on the righteous path is truly difficult, but Boss Qiu, you also know that to persist in truth, one often must pay painful prices.”
Qin Yining nodded, “I understand. With your explanation, all the doubts make sense. Actually, when Hall Master Qiao first came to tell me you were from the Azure Heaven Alliance and your Alliance Leader was a princess consort, I wondered why you didn’t ask your Alliance Leader for help since you knew the treasure’s whereabouts, but proceeded privately instead. I guessed Hall Master Qiao wanted to monopolize the treasure, and I just wanted a share. But now it seems you weren’t simply trying to monopolize the treasure, but didn’t want it to fall into the imperial court’s hands.”
Lu Xiong nodded shamefully, “That’s right. Now you know—we, along with the eight dead brothers, are all considered traitors in the eyes of the Azure Heaven Alliance members. Our ideals differ from the Alliance Leader and other Azure Heaven Alliance brothers.”
The implication was that if Boss Qiu hoped to establish connections with the princess consort someday through being an Azure Heaven Alliance member, this would be quite impossible.
Qin Yining understood and smiled bitterly, “I see. Well, this matter isn’t your fault. Since I’ve joined the Azure Heaven Alliance, we’re still brothers. That you can persist in your original intentions—it’s that princess consort Alliance Leader who involved too many court struggles, causing the entire Azure Heaven Alliance to change in nature. You may be few in number, but truth is in your hands. This isn’t your betrayal; rather, they’ve all changed. That I can join you is also my fortune.”
Lu Xiong and Shi Fang never expected this person to think this way and couldn’t help but breathe long sighs of relief.
“It’s best that Boss Qiu thinks this way.”
Lu Xiong’s eyes rolled as he said, “In my view, we’re currently leaderless. Why don’t we have Boss Qiu become our Hall Master? In the future, when our brotherhood grows, we can do meaningful things together.”
Qin Yining found this both crying and laughing.
The three of them together, and they wanted her to be Hall Master? Wouldn’t this Hall Master position be like child’s play?
Shi Fang greatly agreed with Lu Xiong’s suggestion and nodded, “I think that’s reasonable.” He then seriously kowtowed to Qin Yining, “Hall Master Qiu.”
“Hall Master Qiu.” Lu Xiong also bowed.
Qin Yining suppressed her helplessness, helped the two men rise, and said shyly, “Since it’s so, I won’t refuse ungraciously. Please rise quickly, brothers.”
Seeing that one “Hall Master Qiu” appeased Qin Yining and made her no longer mind the concealment, Lu Xiong and Shi Fang both exhaled in relief.
Qin Yining then said, “To avenge our fallen brothers, we must act quickly. You two discuss—who will go to Earl Zhongyi to inform him of the situation?”
Shi Fang hesitated somewhat, fearing he would fall into deep trouble.
Lu Xiong was also afraid, but he thought more. If Lu Heng obtained the treasure because of this matter, he could attach himself to the prestigious Lu family, ensuring lifelong wealth and honor. Even if unsuccessful, he could simply escape in the end—no one was forcing him to retire at the Lu residence.
Lu Xiong said righteously, “I’ll go. Brother Shi and Hall Master Qiu stay outside to support me and await my news.”
Qin Yining and Shi Fang both nodded with considerable emotion, “Good. Lu Xiong, be careful. We’ll await your good news.”
“Yes, I won’t fail the mission.” Lu Xiong said earnestly.
After discussing strategies further, Qin Yining rose to take her leave. Shi Fang returned to his hiding place in the cellar, while Lu Xiong left Sitong Trading House first in the rain.
Qin Yining sat for a moment longer before departing with her guards and maids, bidding farewell to Manager Yin.
“These days will continue to trouble Manager Yin. Please keep watching the person in the cellar.”
“Please rest assured.” Manager Yin smiled and nodded, “If anything happens, this old man will immediately send someone to inform you.”
Only then did Qin Yining nod and board her carriage to return to the prince’s mansion.
Along the way, Pang Xiao sat in the carriage, accompanying Qin Yining in conversation, while Mu Jinghu maintained his disguise, sitting on the carriage shaft driving.
Qin Yining said in a low voice, “I never knew these people actually thought this way. No wonder Madam Liao suddenly changed her mind back then and hid the treasure away. In their hearts, I had sided with the imperial court.”
Pang Xiao’s large hand rubbed Qin Yining’s forehead, “Don’t think so much. You can lead everyone onto the right path, at least not having to be as cautious as before in Great Yan, constantly hiding from the imperial court. You’re now leading everyone on the proper path, and you once helped His Majesty reclaim the throne. This tremendous merit and honor belongs to you and the Azure Heaven Alliance. You’re doing excellently as Alliance Leader—why should you deny yourself because of a small group’s thoughts?”
“I know, I understand the reasoning, but hearing these words still makes me somewhat uncomfortable.” Qin Yining smiled, “That they didn’t tell the truth doesn’t matter much. Now we just wait to see Lu Heng’s reaction.”
Pang Xiao also nodded, “I think, given Lu Heng’s character, regardless of whether he believes this treasure exists, he’ll personally investigate. Once he investigates, he’ll fall into this trap and never climb out.”
Qin Yining said, “Since ancient times, wealth moves people’s hearts. Even the head of the prestigious Lu family cannot be exempt from this.”
Pang Xiao also smiled and nodded.
The carriage didn’t return directly to the prince’s mansion but circled around the city several times before switching to a prince’s mansion carriage in a quiet alley halfway.
Mu Jinghu and the servant acting as coachman wore rain gear and hid to one side.
Qin Yining took the hands of Zi Yuan and Han Xiao to alight, then stepped on a wooden stool with Pang Xiao’s assistance to board the carriage.
Just then, someone suddenly walked past the alley entrance.
Bian Ruohan, wearing a cloak and accompanied by numerous maids and old women, came walking toward them. Seeing people switching carriages in the alley, she looked over curiously.
Upon seeing a woman with handsome features dressed in men’s clothing, Bian Ruohan looked twice more out of curiosity. When her gaze fell on the tall, ordinary-faced guard who reached out to help the cross-dressed woman, Bian Ruohan’s eyes showed some mockery.
So this woman was having an affair with that guard!
Though Bian Ruohan was curious, she didn’t want to meddle and continued walking forward with her people.
At this moment, the sound of the carriage moving came from the alley. Bian Ruohan suddenly turned back to see the other party’s carriage had already departed.
Bian Ruohan clicked her tongue twice, “Such a beautiful woman actually likes wearing men’s clothing and seducing an ordinary-looking guard.”
The maids and old women accompanying her dared not speak much. They were all new to serving Bian Ruohan and knew the fate of the previous servants—how would they dare act presumptuous?
Who knew that after walking a few steps, Bian Ruohan suddenly stopped.
“That’s not right… those two maids beside that person, why do they look so familiar…”