Qin Yining looked at Qin Huaiyuan's calm expression and could only see bitterness and helplessness in his eyes.
Just like how a person cannot choose the family they were born into, the country they were born into, whether the country was strong or weak, whether it was peaceful or at war, there was also no choice.
Even if a person was extremely talented, if they were tied down by a fatuous ruler like the Dayan Emperor, there was nothing they could do. In Qin Yining's opinion, this was even more tragic than a woman marrying the wrong man.
"Father, don't be too sad. As a subject, you have already done your best for the Emperor. You have already fulfilled your loyalty. The Emperor is stubbornly clinging to his own course and is unwilling to make progress, so he can't blame others for grasping his weakness. The two countries have different standpoints in the war. Although we have been implicated by the Emperor, that is also our fate. "
The war had started again. This time, the enemy's troops were heading straight for the capital. If it was an ordinary woman, she would have been scared to tears. However, his daughter was able to see the situation so calmly and was even able to comfort him.
Qin Huaiyuan couldn't help but ask: "Sister Yi, aren't you afraid?"
Qin Yining raised his eyebrows and said: "Afraid of what?"
"You are the daughter of the Family Qin. With my identity, you can't even escape. If Little Wang Ye's troops really come to the capital, we will defend the capital with our lives. If we succeed, then everything will be fine. If we fail, then you will be implicated. I'm afraid that the men of our Family Qin won't be able to survive. I'm afraid that the women will end up like your maternal grandmother's family. This time, no one will come to save the women of our family like you did when you saved your maternal grandmother. "
"Father, I know what you are saying. However, it is too early to start worrying. Our country hasn't perished yet, right? If our country really perishes and that day really comes, I still have the courage to die. I'm not even afraid of death, so what do I have to be afraid of? I just need to go all out and fight. "
Qin Yining's words made Bing Tang and Ji Yun, who were standing behind her, tear up. Qi Tai, who was behind Qin Huaiyuan, was also moved.
Qin Huaiyuan took two deep breaths and ignored the hot tears in his eyes. He suddenly smiled and said, "You're right. Everyone dies eventually, so there's nothing to be afraid of. "
Qin Yining pursed her lips and smiled. The two shallow dimples on her cheeks made her smile look extremely sweet.
Qin Huaiyuan sighed and said, "Let's go. Let's go to Ci Xiao Garden first. There will most likely be news from outside soon. I'm afraid that I will be very busy in the coming days. The family must not be in chaos."
"Yes. Today, I ran out to walk the horse again. Originally, old madam didn't allow it. She said that I didn't have the manners of a young lady from a respectable family and lost the face of our Family Qin. Later, if old madam reprimands me, father will also intercede on behalf of daughter. "
"I've interceded for you many times, but I don't see that you've learned to be obedient." Qin Huaiyuan laughed.
Qin Yining raised her eyebrows proudly. Some little girls were arrogant and willful, but it was also the greatest trust and dependence she had on her father, Qin Huaiyuan. In the past, she wouldn't have been like this. In order to survive outside, she had to be careful in everything she did. If it weren't for someone who doted on and protected her, she wouldn't be so assured to "cause trouble".
However, she didn't know how long this protection could last in the face of war and the powerful and unreasonable imperial power.
Father and daughter returned to the inner residence together. As soon as they arrived at the Chuihua Gate, they heard the sound of flogging and the screams of old women begging for mercy.
Qin Huaiyuan and Qin Yining entered the Chuihua Gate one after the other. The old women in charge of the punishment saw them and stopped to salute them.
Qin Huaiyuan frowned and said, "What's going on?"
"Replying to the Marquis, it was the old madam who ordered these people to be flogged 50 times and driven out."
Qin Yining looked carefully and saw that the people being flogged were actually Mother Jin, Cai Ju, and Cai Lan, who served the Sun Clan.
She had only gone out for a while, so how did the people of the Sun Clan get flogged!
Qin Huaiyuan naturally saw that it was the wet nurse and maidservant of the Sun Clan who were being flogged. He said unhappily, "After 50 floggings, they're dead. Rather than driving them out, it's better to say that they're disposing of their corpses."
Normally, Qin Huaiyuan wouldn't say this in front of the old madam and embarrass her. However, now that the war outside had started again and the imperial court was about to face chaos again, not to mention the servants, even the masters were in a precarious situation. He couldn't bear to see these ruthless beatings and killings. He felt that with the chaos outside and the inner residence, one wave after another, it was really annoying.
Qin Huaiyuan walked towards Ci Xiao Garden with his hands behind his back.
When he said this, the biddy in charge of the punishment didn't know whether to continue the flogging or not. She just stood there blankly.
Fortunately, Qin Yining reminded her, "Do you still not understand Father's words? Don't flog them anymore. First, call the doctor to take a look. "
Only then did the old maidservant regain her confidence and respond.
Mother Jin, Cai Ju, and Cai Lan, who were being flogged, all breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Qin Yining was here, they would be saved. She knelt on the ground and repeatedly kowtowed to Qin Huaiyuan and Qin Yining, "Many thanks to the marquis. Many thanks to Fourth Young Miss for not killing us."
Qin Yining squatted down to support Mother Jin, "How could this be? I only went out for a while. How could you be flogged? "
Mother Jin gritted her teeth. Her face was pale from the pain, and cold sweat continuously flowed down.
"Yes, it was the old madam. She said that Madam had embezzled the monthly allowance of the Huining girls in the fields. Since Madam didn't do it, she naturally didn't admit it. The old madam found out that it was, it was us who did it. Thus, she became angry. "
Mother Jin's words were intermittent. It could be seen that she had been flogged fiercely.
Qin Yining knew that the old madam was looking for trouble to target the Sun Clan. He didn't dare to touch the Sun Clan, so he used the servants as a raft. He didn't ask any more questions and hurriedly urged Bing Tang to quickly come and take a look.
In the courtyard, Qin Huaiyuan had already walked to the corridor.
The maidservant replied inside, "The marquis has returned." Then, she respectfully lifted the door curtain.
With a calm face, Qin Huaiyuan went straight to the side room where the old madam usually held banquets. He saw the old madam sitting cross-legged on the arhat bed. The Sun Clan was kneeling on the ground and sobbing. Third madam was kneeling beside the Sun Clan and was gently comforting them. Second madam was beside the old madam, bowing and pleading for leniency. Qin Huaiyuan came in and only heard the last sentence, "… After all, those people were brought by eldest sister-in-law. There's no one left in Duke Dingguo's Fu. The old madam should leave the accompanying room for eldest sister-in-law!"
The old madam slammed the table, "There's no one left in Duke Dingguo's Fu. Could it be that there's no one left in our Family Qin? Are we going to condone those wicked servants to mistreat my Sister Hui?! "
Qin Huaiyuan came in and didn't salute. He sat down on the armchair at the side and pushed away the teacup that Mammy Qin had brought over. He said coldly, "If this continues, the Family Qin won't be far from having no one left."
The old madam choked and stared at Qin Huaiyuan in disbelief.
Qin Huaiyuan rubbed the space between his eyebrows and said tiredly, "Mother, the matters in the inner residence are chaotic. I know that mother has worked hard. It's right to deal with the corrupt comprador. But how can innocent people be involved? Now that the war has started again, the soldiers will soon arrive at the city gate. We don't know where our family's future lies. Why can't mother be considerate of your son and make less trouble? If mother does this, where will your son be? "
Hearing this, the old madam was stunned. Then, her whole body trembled and she said with a pale face, "Brother Meng, what did you say? What soldiers will arrive at the city gate?"
All the womenfolk also stopped talking and looked at Qin Huaiyuan in horror.
Just at this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside.
Qi Tai forgot to report and quickly ran to the corridor. He lifted the curtain and knelt behind the screen in the outer room. He said with a trembling voice,
"Marquis! Little Wang Ye led ten thousand men of the Tiger Army to launch a surprise attack on the right sentry camp of the five army camps on the outskirts of the capital. All of their provisions and supplies were stolen. The right sentry camp … was completely wiped out! "
Hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan closed his eyes in exhaustion.
The old madam cried out in alarm, "Heavens! Then wouldn't the capital … "Then, she started to cry." What should we do? The people of the Zhou Dynasty attacked us. They didn't keep their word. Those bastards! "
Hearing this, the womenfolk were so scared that their bones went soft. They collapsed on the ground and cried while holding their heads.
Qin Huaiyuan stood up and went to the outer room. Ignoring the weeping of the womenfolk inside, he said, "Stand up and reply."
"Yes." Qi Tai stood up and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"What's the specific situation? Where did the Tiger Army go after they attacked the camp? Did they head straight for the capital? "
"Replying to Marquis, our people found out that after the Tiger Army attacked the camp, they headed straight for Xi Hua City. This time, they launched a surprise attack with ten thousand cavalry. They stole the provisions and left. Right now, the supply route between Xi Hua City and the capital has been occupied. The surprise cavalry attacked from the rear of Xi Hua City and the Tiger Army, who was heading straight for the south gate of Xi Hua City, attacked from the front and rear. Without the supplies from the rear, Xi Hua City will fall in a few days. The capital will be next! "
Qi Tai lowered his head. He was anxious and sad. Tears almost flowed down his face.
Qin Huaiyuan sighed. "That Pang Zhixi knows how to fight … Are there any refugees in the city?"
"Yes, the Emperor already knows about this. He also knows that refugees are coming to the capital. Right now, he has already ordered the outer city gates to be opened. The streets are full of refugees. The Emperor arranged for the capital governor to lead the five cities' warden's office to set up a settlement. Right now … "
Before Qi Tai could finish speaking, someone rushed in from outside. "Marquis, Marquis!"
"What's the matter?" Qin Huaiyuan stood with his hands behind his back. He looked calmly at the door.
The servant saluted and said, "Someone from the palace came. The Emperor asked Marquis to enter the palace immediately!"
"I know."
Qin Huaiyuan pursed his lips and ordered Qi Tai, "Go and get my official robes."
"Yes." Qi Tai saluted and rushed to get the official robes and prepare the carriage.
Qin Huaiyuan turned and entered the room. Looking at the womenfolk who were crying in fear, he said in a deep voice, "From now on, nothing is allowed to happen in the family. Presumably, everyone heard what Qi Tai said clearly. If Xi Hua City falls, the capital will be next. The refugees have already flooded into the capital. You all need to take care of your own people. From now on, strengthen the defense of the mansion. Even if you want to go out, you must be careful. "
He turned to the old madam and said, "Mother, you are old. You shouldn't worry about these things. From now on, everything in the inner residence will be handled by Sister Yi. "
Qin Huaiyuan turned and called Qin Yining, who had been standing at the door.
"Come here."
Qin Yining walked quickly to Qin Huaiyuan. "Father."
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