Chapter 109 Forced Marriage
While she was filled with countless emotions, Qin Hongying looked sharply at Wei Cheng and said, "Old Master Ding's skillful hands have brought my second brother back to health, and his injuries are no longer a major concern. As for what happened back then, the younger generation doesn't know, and those who don't know the inside story don't know either, but do you and I not know the inside story?"
The Wei family was so arrogant back then, demanding that the second brother marry a concubine's daughter of the Wei family as his second wife was only one of their demands; there were also two, three, four, five, and six other demands.
Before Wei Cheng could speak, Qin Hongying said unhappily, "My second brother is a strong-willed man who hates being threatened. Years ago, bandits plagued the area around Bolei Mountain and Tianze Mountain Range. My second brother originally only wanted to send his men to suppress the bandits, but those two bandit leaders, ignorant of their own limitations, actually sent a message to my second brother, wanting an official position so they could have a legitimate title. They even boasted that if my second brother didn't agree, they would lead their troops to slaughter all the people in the surrounding area. Ha, guess what happened, Wei Wu?"
When Qin Hongying mentioned "Mount Bolei and the Tianze Mountains", Dai Li unearthed some old memories.
That happened more than half a year ago. At that time, she fled from Nankang County to Taiping County, where she was captured by Qin Shaozong. Upon hearing the news, the salt smuggler Li Zan's troops came, and Qin Shaozong took her to the mountains to hide.
Inside the small cave, the guard told her that Qin Shaozong had personally led the troops in that bandit suppression campaign, and several mounds of jingguan (a type of human pyramid) had been built. For the next ten years or so, neither of those places suffered from banditry again.
Wei Cheng seemed to have heard about this, and his face turned slightly pale.
Qin Hongying sneered, "My second brother was furious after receiving the message from the bandit leader. He cursed them for being delusional and immediately changed commanders before the battle, donning his armor and going into battle himself."
Qin Hongying emphasized the words "wishful thinking".
"Wei Wu, have you ever seen a Jingguan? It's a small mountain made up of countless heads, each one covered in blood. When the heads were cut off, the bandits stared wide-eyed, terrified, their eyes wide open in death. Several Jingguan stood in a row, the blood staining the surrounding land red, even forming red streams. The ground was so soft from being soaked in blood that if you stepped on it, blood would spurt out from beside your boot, and sometimes you could even see bits of flesh," Qin Hongying remarked, as if recalling the past.
Dai Li turned her head, a hint of suspicion barely perceptible in her eyes.
This young lady speaks as if she were there herself. But if Qin Shaozong were to take command, would he allow his sister to go with him?
Regardless of whether it was true or not, Qin Hongying's words were incredibly powerful. The Wei sisters' faces gradually lost their color, each becoming paler than the last.
Wei Cheng's lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a word.
Qin Hongying stared intently at her, her eyes conveying an even stronger veiled meaning. "So, those who threatened my second brother are really being presumptuous. My second brother has always been a tough nut to crack. If you speak to him politely, he might spare your life because you're obedient. But if you're ungrateful and insist on provoking him, then..."
Qin Hongying didn't say what it really was, but instead gave a cold laugh.
The Wei sisters trembled, like yellow leaves hanging from the treetops.
"Pingzhi!" Wei Cheng was initially startled when he saw the person beside him go limp.
But then she realized what was wrong, and with a sharp glint in her eyes, she went to help her up. “Pingzhi, what’s wrong? Is it an old ailment acting up again? Don’t be afraid. The best apricot grove in Yuyang is right here in this mansion. Your brother-in-law is magnanimous and kind-hearted. He will definitely be able to get you out of danger.”
Dai Li: “…t…”
Qin Hongying: "..."
Qin Hongying was so angry she laughed.
She married the eldest son of the Shi family, who was her father's subordinate, so it was considered a marriage of convenience. After the marriage, her husband's household was clean and tidy, and her aunts and uncles treated her like their own daughter. Her sisters-in-law respected and feared her, and even those with ulterior motives dared not scheme against her.
Just because you see someone less after you get married doesn't mean you can't understand them.
Thinking back to when her elder brother died in battle, for a period of time all the evil spirits and monsters from the Qin family's collateral branches came out and wreaked havoc in front of her.
However, that happened more than a decade ago. This Wei woman, after more than a decade, has made her relive the feeling of being tricked again, and with such clumsy methods.
"Aunt, this..." Qin Qinian was dumbfounded and didn't know what to do.
He subconsciously took a few steps forward, wanting to help Wei Pingzhi up, but then felt it was inappropriate.
Qin Hongying turned to Qin Qinian and said, "Qinian, you run fast, hurry up and find Master Ding. When he came to the mansion before, he was accompanied by two servants who knew medicine. Have one of the servants bring the acupuncture kit with you and revive the man first."
Qin Qinian ran out like a gust of wind.
Upon hearing the words "needle box," Wei Cheng clearly saw Wei Pingzhi's eyelashes tremble.
She quickly stopped her, saying, "There's no need to send servants. I just checked, and Pingzhi doesn't seem to have had a relapse of her old illness; she just fainted from fright. Why don't we find a courtyard for her to rest? She'll wake up naturally once she's rested enough."
“That’s not appropriate. My second brother previously said that a sick person should not move around on their own. If they accidentally bump into something and worsen their condition, it will be too late to regret it.” Qin Hongying said with a half-smile, “My second brother is a veteran with rich experience. He certainly wouldn’t be wrong. Wei Wu, you agree, right?”
Having just said "obedience will be rewarded with a way out," Wei Cheng now truly lacks the courage to shake his head.
The situation reached a stalemate. Dai Li witnessed a small-scale power struggle in the household and sighed repeatedly, realizing that being the mistress of a wealthy family was not an easy task.
Today I feel dizzy, tomorrow I have body aches all over; there's never a moment of peace.
Qin Shaozong wasn't here and didn't know what Dai Li was thinking. If he did know, he'd probably be furious.
Not long after, Qin Qinian returned with a servant carrying a medicine box.
"This young Wei looks frail and sickly, so don't be stingy and make sure to give her a few more acupuncture needles," Qin Hongying said with a smile.
Although he was called a servant, those who could accompany Ding Luying were certainly not ordinary physicians. The other party did not rashly insert needles, but first took his pulse. With this pulse, he knew what was going on.
There has always been much infighting among the wealthy and powerful, so the doctor dared not say too much, only cautiously saying, "Madam Qin, she is fine."
Qin Hongying urged, "Even if it's not serious, quickly give him a couple of acupuncture treatments to wake him up. My second brother is spending a fortune everywhere seeking famous medicines, and he's under a lot of pressure to support the family. There's no room left in the mansion to support anyone else."
Doctor: "..."
Dai Li touched her nose.
"Go ahead and stab her. I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong. Even if you hit a nerve and she becomes paralyzed, it doesn't matter. I have a generous dowry. At worst, I can take this woman back to Nanyu County, find her a manor, and send two or three maids to serve her for the rest of her life," Qin Hongying said calmly.
No sooner had these words been spoken than the person who had been "unconscious" stirred.
Wei Cheng gritted his teeth inwardly, but there was nothing he could do but pretend to be surprised and delighted. "Pingzhi, you're awake? Luckily it's just a minor ailment. If it had turned out to be something serious, how would I explain it to my brother-in-law? After all, you've served in the Marquis's mansion for so many years. Even if you haven't made any great contributions, you've certainly put in a lot of hard work!"
Qin Hongying didn't even bother to respond to her. "Since you're not feeling well, go back and rest more. Don't run around. Otherwise, if something bad happens, you'll only have yourself to blame for not listening to other people's advice."
After speaking, Qin Hongying called her nephew's name, "Qinian, see them out."
At first, Qin Qinian genuinely thought Wei Pingzhi was unwell, but after what happened later, even a fool could see the truth.
Feeling tricked, Qin Qinian was not happy, but since the other party was his elder, he could only say, "Aunt, please come with me."
Having witnessed this turn of events, Wei Cheng knew he couldn't stay any longer: "Qinian, your Aunt Pingzhi and I will head back first, and we'll come to see you another day."
Qin Qinian hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
After leaving the main hall, Wei Cheng revealed a sorrowful expression, "Qinian, the Wei family is your maternal clan, and this bloodline is unbreakable. We will always be in the same boat, and from now on, whatever you desire, the Wei family will spare no effort to plan for it for you."
Qin Qinian was sixteen years old, not old, but not young either.
At his age, people naturally gravitate towards him, whether it's eating, drinking, and having fun with him or helping him plan for the future. In short, a faction has formed with Qin Qinian at its core.
There were some things Qin Qinian wasn't unaware of. Just like now, even though Wei Cheng put it tactfully, he still understood the unspoken meaning.
The boy shook his head. "Aunt, you don't need to do that. Father has already made many decisions, and I trust his decisions. As his son, I only need to obey his arrangements."
Wei Cheng was exasperated. "Qinian! Yanzhou has already been taken over by my brother-in-law, and he will never stop there. You are my brother-in-law's only son, and no one else has the right to claim this vast family business. How can we just hand over this huge estate?"
Qin Qinian just smiled and didn't say anything.
Seeing his silly, carefree expression, Wei Cheng almost choked. "You treat others well, but what do they think of you behind your back? Qinian, even if you don't plan for your own future, you have to take care of your deceased mother and relatives. The honor and disgrace of the entire Wei family rests on your shoulders!"
Qin Qinian said with a headache, "Aunt, please let me off the hook. My eldest uncle, second uncle, and third uncle all have children, and my cousins are all older than me. It's not my place to bear the honor and disgrace of the Wei family."
Wei Cheng hadn't felt anything amiss when Qin Hongying had been subtly provoking her in the main hall. But now, listening to her nephew's words, she felt dizzy and lightheaded, and almost collapsed to the ground.
*
Dai Li returned to the main courtyard and found Qin Shaozong there.
I don't know when it started, but he increasingly preferred to work in the main courtyard.
The letters were moved here in reply. While Dai Li was taking a nap, Qin Shaozong would sit at his desk in the outer room, handling official business. Sometimes, when guards brought urgent letters into the mansion and couldn't find him in the study, they would immediately come to the main courtyard.
Upon seeing Dai Li return, Qin Shaozong asked, "Madam is back. How did things go?"
Dai Li said frankly, "It was quite exciting."
Qin Shaozong paused slightly as he picked up his brush, and because of this pause, a stroke on the not-so-smooth mulberry paper became noticeably disjointed.
After writing the character expressionlessly, Qin Shaozong put down his brush and patted the spot next to him. "Come, Madam, tell me why you say it's wonderful?"
Dai Li didn't think much of it; she was used to it.
When this person was handling official business in the main courtyard, he would occasionally assign her small tasks, such as sealing letters with clay.
Dai Li walked over and sat down, sighing, "A tongue like a dragon's spring, capable of killing without drawing blood. You weren't there at the time, so you don't know how formidable your sister is. With just a few words, she brought Wei Pingzhi back to consciousness after he had fainted and was about to stay at the mansion."
After briefly explaining, Dai Li praised Qin Hongying's fighting ability, saying, "Hongying is quick-witted and handles things with ease. She truly deserves to be the mistress of a prestigious family."
Qin Shaozong was certain; he could indeed hear the relief in her few sighs.
Thankfully, she wasn't the one dealing with these troublesome matters.
Qin Shaozong's face darkened slightly. He sent Hongying to Yuyang not to frighten her into keeping her at arm's length as the mistress of the house. "There won't be so many problems in the future."
Dai Li muttered something under her breath.
The voice was soft and muffled, but Qin Shaozong heard it clearly.
She said: It's not up to you.
Ultimately, if she didn't agree, she simply wouldn't take the position of mistress, so he had no say in the matter.
Or it means that the mistress is very busy and won't actually be less busy just because he says "there's not that much to do".
"Seal it with clay." Qin Shaozong placed a stack of letters in front of Dai Li.
Dai Li began to work on the sealing mud.
Qin Shaozong stopped writing the letter and sat to the side, rolling up her naturally hanging skirt ribbon with one hand, twirling it between his fingers, and watching her as he played with it.
For some reason, Dai Li felt uneasy under his gaze at that moment, and her sixth sense alarm went off.
She had helped him seal letters before, and he had watched her before.
But, this time it felt quite different.
If we were to use a metaphor, it would be like being watched by a hungry tiger in the night. Those tiger eyes, gleaming with a sinister light, scrutinize every inch of you, occasionally touching something with their nose, as if considering where to strike.
After sending three letters in a row, Dai Li could no longer bear his gaze, which was so different from his usual one.
I don't know what this person is planning, but it's definitely about her and probably not something good for her.
"Qin Changgeng, I suddenly remembered that I have some things to tell Zhouzhou. I'll go find him first. I'll take care of these letters for you when I get back." Dai Li put down her things and was about to leave.
The man who had been playing with her belt by circling his fingers now grabbed her belt and tugged at it lightly.
Dai Li paused slightly.
He immediately released his grip, and the crimson sash billowed out. Then, a large, dark hand with distinct knuckles reached out, precisely gripped Dai Li's arm, and forcefully pulled her back from her precarious position.
He controlled the force of his pull back very well, ensuring that Dai Li sat back in her original position without falling towards him.
"Madam, I have something important to tell you." Qin Shaozong added when he saw her gaze drifting towards the door, "This matter involves Qin Yanzhou."
Dai Li was stunned. "Is it related to Zhouzhou? What is it about?"
“The amount of musk is insufficient,” he said.
"How is that possible?" Dai Li's first reaction was to question it.
She knew exactly what each herb and its required quantity was on the three lists written by Mr. Ding.
Later she learned that the musk and he shou wu that Qin Hongying brought that day were things she had been saving since she was young, for more than 20 years, and they were all in those two brocade boxes.
The quantity is definitely enough; she has seen it with her own eyes.
"Insufficient quantity." Qin Shaozong repeated these three words. His tone was calm, yet undeniably authoritative.
As Dai Li gazed into those light-colored eyes, her heart stirred, and she suddenly felt a sense of absurdity, as if she were calling a deer a horse.
He said that even "sufficiency" can become "insufficiency".
“Qin Changgeng…” Dai Li’s heart skipped a beat.
Qin Shaozong stared intently at her: "Musk is expensive and it's not safe to leave it outside, so I put it into the storeroom of the Marquis's mansion. And this storeroom can only be opened by the mistress of the house, besides me."
Author's note: I'm here! [hugs]
Please, please provide nutrient solution. [Hands clasped in prayer]
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