Although it wasn't evening yet, the fu was already brightly lit. The palace lanterns hung high, making the shadows even darker.
The servants outside the second gate all gathered in front of the door when they heard the news. The men were stronger than Qin Yining. The servants and guards also rushed over after hearing the news.
However, Qin Yining was the legitimate daughter of Qin Huaiyuan and the legitimate master of the fu. Even if these people had a hundred times the courage, they wouldn't dare to attack the young miss. They could only surround Qin Yining and didn't dare to make a move.
At this time, Qin Yining's long, shapely eyebrows were furrowed, and her cherry lips were tightly pursed. She had just fought with the servant girls and older female servants. Now, her hairpin was late, and she was sweating profusely. If she continued to waste time with these people, she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to gain the upper hand when people from the inner residence chased after her.
"Get out of the way! Otherwise, I will tell my father that you intend to disrespect me! "
"Fourth young miss, we are just following orders. Old madam said that you are not allowed to go out." The guard had a bitter expression.
Qin Yining's expression eased slightly, but her voice was still strict, "You dare to meddle in the matters between masters? Aren't you afraid of implicating the family? If you get out of the way, I will explain it to my father. Old madam is old and is only suitable to manage the matters of the inner residence. She can't manage the matters outside. Moreover, don't you know who is the master of this family? "
Everyone looked at each other in dismay. Finally, they hesitantly made way for Qin Yining.
Qin Yining saw the time, lifted her skirt, and quickly ran out.
At this time, the servant girls and older female servants in the inner residence finally caught up to the door. They were panting as they supported themselves against the wall and panted with their hands on their waists. Their mouths were dry as they pointed in the direction of Qin Yining. For a long time, they couldn't say a word.
This fourth young miss was too good at running. They didn't see her use much strength, but she raised her leg and left them far behind.
They saw that she had already disappeared. This group of servants from the outer courtyard were still foolishly standing there. The servant girls and older female servants were also very helpless. They could only return to report to old madam.
When old madam heard that Qin Yining had broken out, she was so angry that she lost her temper again. The whole set of blue and white porcelain tea set in the room was smashed until not a single one was left intact.
While the old madam was throwing a tantrum, Qin Yining had already arrived outside the fu. He saw Master Zhong, Bing Tang, and Song Lan standing next to a horse carriage at the corner of the street, craning their necks to look in front of the fu gate.
Seeing that Qin Yining had come out, she hurriedly waved at her. Bing Tang lifted her skirt and ran over to support Qin Yining. "Miss, are you alright? Thanks to Sister Song Lan calling for me, the two of us slipped out while no one was paying attention. Just now, we saw a lot of people rushing towards the second gate. We were worried that Miss wouldn't be able to break out. "
"Don't worry, they won't dare to touch me."
While they were talking, Qin Yining arrived in front of the carriage.
"Master Zhong, let's get in the car first. We'll talk on the way."
"Yes."
Qin Yining smiled gratefully at Master Zhong. He had Bing Tang and Song Lan sit with the driver outside, leaving Master Zhong to talk in the carriage.
The carriage quickly rushed in the direction of the imperial palace.
Inside the carriage, Master Zhong was still a bit reserved.
Qin Yining smiled and said, "Master Zhong is an elder, so I'm just talking to the head shopkeeper."
The word "elder" woke Master Zhong up.
They were old enough to be grandfather and grandson, not to mention they were master and servant. No one could criticize them.
Master Zhong relaxed and said with a serious expression, "I've already sent people to inquire about the matters in the palace. It's true that the eldest madam of the honored fu had a direct conflict with the empress and was sentenced to death in a fit of anger. She hasn't been executed yet, so she should be locked up somewhere. We need to wait for the emperor's orders. "
Qin Yining frowned and said, "Is there really such a thing?"
"Does Master have suspicions about this matter?"
"At first, I did have suspicions. No matter how muddle-headed the emperor is, he still cares about his face. My father just came back from a successful peace negotiation for him. How could he kill the wife of a meritorious official in the blink of an eye?"
Master Zhong shook his head and said in a low voice, "Our emperor's actions can't be judged by ordinary people's style."
In order to protect himself, the emperor didn't even care about his face. Could it be that he hadn't done enough to harm the loyal and good?
Qin Yining's brows were almost twisted into knots. He said anxiously, "Master Zhong, do we have a way to save my mother's life? Do we have any connections in the palace? "
"Master only has to give orders. As long as I have the ability to do it, this old man will not refuse. Moreover, Zhao Yun Agency's connections are Master's connections. " Master Zhong smiled when he said this, "Before coming, I heard about the matters in the palace. I guessed that Master wouldn't just stand by and do nothing. He would definitely think of a way to save the eldest madam. Therefore, I've already arranged for people to bribe the guards at the gate. When the time comes, we'll get the clothes of the eunuchs and think of a way to sneak in and steal the eldest madam out. "
Qin Yining looked at Master Zhong's wrinkled but smiling face that was very affectionate and sincere. His nose was sour and his tears almost flowed down.
Master Zhong was an outsider, but he was still able to think of a way for her without caring about his own safety because of her previous efforts.
Old madam had been with her mother for nearly thirty years, but she was still so cold-hearted.
The coldness in the fu was already beyond Qin Yining's imagination. With a comparison, it was easier to see who was close and who was distant, and who was reliable.
The carriage was narrow, but Qin Yining still bowed to Master Zhong, "I can't thank you enough for your kindness."
"Master, you mustn't do this!" Master Zhong hurriedly supported him and said, "If it wasn't for Master, my family would have already been taken revenge by those people from Qingliu. My family would have been ruined and my family would have been destroyed. Perhaps the grass on my grave would have grown a foot tall. How could I still sit here and talk to you? It's not my style to not repay kindness. Master, you don't need to be so polite with me in the future. "
Qin Yining used his sleeve to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes and said, "Okay, I won't mention it again in the future."
"What is Master's plan after saving her?"
"If someone is lost in the palace, there will definitely be a thorough investigation. I can only arrange for my mother to escape. As for me, I can't leave. At that time, there will be a separation. " Qin Yining was somewhat downcast, but in the blink of an eye, he pulled himself together, "But no matter what, as long as I'm alive, there will be a day when we meet again."
Master Zhong nodded when he heard this. He admired Qin Yining's tenacity and indomitable character when he was in danger.
While they were talking, the carriage had already arrived at "Gui Lin Lou", the restaurant closest to the palace under Zhao Yun Agency.
At this time, there were still many diners in Gui Lin Lou. Qin Yining didn't dare to show his face in public, so he first went to the rear courtyard to wait for news.
Who knew that not long after, Master Zhong would come back with even more despairing news with a serious expression.
"Master, our people just found out that not long after you left Qin Manor, someone from the palace went to pass on a message. The matter with First Madam has become serious. Instead of being sentenced to death with poisoned wine, it has been changed to being publicly displayed outside the gate at noon tomorrow."
Qin Yining's mind exploded when he heard this. The white porcelain cup with a lid fell from her jade-white hands and landed on her legs. The hot tea splashed all over her legs and then fell to the ground with a sharp shattering sound.
"Miss!" Bing Tang and Song Lan hurriedly came forward and checked her skirt for fear that she would be scalded.
Fortunately, it was winter and she was wearing thick clothes. Otherwise, if this cup of hot tea splashed on her legs, she would have been scalded.
Master Zhong sighed and said, "Master, don't be too sad."
Qin Yining took a few deep breaths and forced himself to calm down. His voice trembled slightly as he said, "Master Zhong, have you heard the reason for this?"
The method of being sentenced to death with poisoned wine could be announced as a sudden death to the outside world. It could still be considered as preserving the dignity after death.
However, the punishment of being publicly displayed outside the gate at noon didn't even give the person a chance to cover it up.
Being publicly displayed was different from beheading.
Beheading was just beheading.
Being publicly displayed, however, was beheaded and hung the head high on a wooden pole for public display.
This was the punishment for great villains.
What crime did the Sun Clan commit?
Master Zhong said, "It's said that First Madam insulted His Majesty and called him a fatuous ruler. She said that His Majesty specialized in killing loyal people and that he should have died earlier …"
Qin Yining covered his forehead. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
No matter how strong she was, she was still a young girl who hadn't reached marriageable age. Even if she had seen the fickleness of human nature, when faced with such a big matter, it was still difficult for her to make a decision.
"Where's my father? Has my father returned to the fu? "Her father must have a way to save her!
Master Zhong shook his head, "I haven't heard any news of Grand Preceptor Qin returning to the fu."
Could it be that her father was implicated and locked up?
Qin Yining stared straight at the flickering candlelight. He supported his forehead with his hand and was lost in thought.
Although Bing Tang and Song Lan were anxious and angry, they didn't dare to speak carelessly and disturb Qin Yining. They could only anxiously stand to the side.
After a moment, Qin Yining's gaze became firm.
"No matter what, I can't watch my mother die. Even if she scolded the incapable ruler and was suspected of disobeying her superiors, it was only because she spoke the truth. The decline of Duke Ding's fu was unjust. The incapable ruler did this because he was ashamed of being scolded and became angry out of shame. But the more he does this, the more people will scold him. "
"Yes, Madame is right." Master Zhong said in a low voice, "But what can you do, Boss?"
"No matter what, I have to try my best. However, Master Zhong can't participate in the following matters. You just have to help me ask around in the underworld if there are any brothers in the underworld who are willing to risk their lives for my mother if we offer a large sum of money. I believe that with a large reward, there will be brave men. As long as there is enough money, there should be some chivalrous men who can't stand the incapable ruler's actions. "
"You want to raid the execution ground!"
"Yes." Qin Yining nodded.
Master Zhong pondered for a moment and nodded, "Our Zhao Yun Agency doesn't have much, but we do have connections. I will immediately ask around. Boss, you can rest for now. We will do our best. You don't have to strain yourself too much. "
Qin Yining said gratefully, "You have to be careful this time. Don't get involved and implicate yourself. If there is anything, just push it to me. When the people are hired, you don't have to participate in this matter. Just focus on being the head shopkeeper of Zhao Yun Agency. "
"Miss, what are you saying? I, Old Zhong, am not the kind of person who forgets favors."
"I know the head shopkeeper's character. But you're not alone. You still have a family to take care of. Listen to me. Don't get involved in this matter. Just instruct a few more people and go around to hire people. "
Master Zhong opened his mouth, but swallowed his words in the end. He nodded heavily and quickly walked out.
Bing Tang went to find a dress and helped Qin Yining change into it.
"Miss, don't worry. Rest for now. No matter what you do tomorrow, you have to conserve your energy to have the strength, right? "
Qin Yining pursed his lips and nodded. After a while, he said, "You can all leave. I want to be alone."
PS:
Yi Ning: My mother, how can you say the truth!
Pang Xiao: Thinking of Little Bunny, I'm happy!
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