Chapter 48 Free and Alive
Crystal clear snowflakes fell, and the ice crystals landed on the palm of my hand and instantly melted into a pool of water.
Qin Xiangning danced with joy, chasing snowflakes everywhere, even until a light layer of white mist floated over his head and eyelashes, yet he didn't feel the cold. The rest of the general's residence was filled with worry over this sudden snowfall. According to normal weather, the first snowfall would be at least another two weeks away, but this year's weather was unusual, and the previous official post station was unprepared, which caused a headache for everyone in the Qin residence.
"Big sister! Big sister! Look!"
Qin Xiangning picked up two insects covered in snow from the ground and handed them to Qin Xiangnuan as if they were treasures. "What is this?"
“It’s an ant.”
Qin Xiangnuan rubbed Beibei's head and motioned her to go play with Zou over there.
The originally hard and barren land soon became white because of the snow. Wang Qiang walked to Qin Xiangnuan's side. "Miss Third, are you worried?" He looked in the direction Qin Xiangnuan was looking and found that Qi was keeping a certain distance from the people in the Qin Mansion. She sat far away in a corner, holding Qin Xiangsong, looking a little pitiful. "She really deserved it. She ignored Miss Third's kindness..."
"I don't want to care about her anymore."
Wang Qiang thought Qin Xiangnuan was being ruthless and wanted to help, but he didn't expect her to speak directly, "It's hard to change people's hearts. That's her nature. Even if I put all the food in the general's mansion in front of her, she wouldn't be grateful. Instead, she would think I was scheming and hiding the better ones. If that's the case, why should I bring bad luck upon myself and make myself miserable?"
"The reason I protected the people in the General's Mansion along the way was really because of Daddy."
Qin Xiangnuan spoke calmly. Only with Wang Qiang, a man who had nothing to do with the original owner, could she open up a little and express her true thoughts and ideas. "Anyone from the General's Mansion was exiled because of my father. I will naturally take care of them, but since she thinks everything is now the Qin family's fault, I don't need to be polite to her anymore. We can just live our own lives and just keep up appearances."
"From today on, Qi Shi will never get even one more steamed bun from me."
"I will only give her according to the originally agreed amount. If others feel sorry for her and give a little, I can't stop them, but I won't give her anything more." Qin Xiangnuan wanted to tell Wang Qiang the story of Mr. Dongguo and the wolf, but she didn't say it out loud. She just stared ahead with disappointment in her eyes.
This long winter has just begun, who knows what we will face in the future?
How many of these people from the General's Mansion could safely reach the border? Meeting with Qin Guang, nothing could be known.
"By the way, I have one more favor to ask of you."
Qin Xiangnuan suddenly remembered and cast her eyes on Wang Qiang. Seeing him about to salute, she raised her hand to stop him. "Gu Mingqi won't give up. I guess even though he doesn't dare to send assassins openly, he's bound to resort to some subtle tactics in the dark. I trust your intuition. If you feel something is wrong, you must tell me immediately. Sometimes I overlook something that could be dangerous."
"You believe me?"
Wang Qiang hunched over, his single eye gleaming with excitement as he asked, "Does Third Miss really think I'm capable of shouldering such a heavy responsibility?"
"Of course, you were someone my father trusted in the past, and you helped me more than once in Savage Valley. Your alertness is far sharper and more powerful than that of my cousins. Of course, you are the only one I can rely on." Qin Xiangnuan said softly. Knowing people and using them well, and trusting people when you employ them, these were the principles and dogmas she used to follow when she was an agent, and they have not changed to this day.
She trusts her intuition.
"Mr. Wang will definitely not let down the Third Miss's trust."
Wang Qiang finished speaking, then he leaned on his homemade stick and went around to inspect the surroundings. Beibei ran over from Zou's side, spreading her palms like she was offering a treasure. Qin Xiangnuan looked at the small space she had made for the ants with a few grains of rice. "Beibei, do you want to raise them? But they are very fragile and can easily die."
"If Beibei leaves them here, will they live well?"
Qin Xiangning blinked her two big eyes like black grapes and asked in a childish and innocent tone.
Qin Xiangnuan didn't know how to answer for a moment, so she could only pick up Beibei and put her in her arms. "Maybe, they will be freer."
"But Beibei feels that living well is what's important."
Beibei pouted, lowering her head to play with her hair unhappily. Her voice was slightly nasal as she spoke muffledly, "Back when I was in the mansion, I was so bored. I had to study with the teacher every day and couldn't play with my friends. Mother said girls had to learn needlework in the mansion and weren't allowed to go out and rob bird nests. I thought to myself, I must run away, and silently made a wish to the Moon Goddess."
"Maybe the Moon Goddess really heard Beibei's wish, so everyone came out..."
Beibei's eyes were red. She probably felt that today was caused by her wish. Her nose was red with guilt. "But now Beibei can really rob bird nests. Beibei misses the old days. In the past, we had enough food and warm clothes. Auntie and Second Aunt didn't have to live frugally, and neither did Grandma. We could eat a lot of delicious food and didn't have to eat steamed buns."
"So, I think it's best for Beibei to take them with him."
After Qin Xiangning finished speaking, she looked at Qin Xiangnuan with eyes full of expectation. Under her gaze of such honest and pure eyes, Qin Xiangnuan had no way to refuse. She could only nod and took out the handkerchief embroidered with bamboo knots from her arms, "Then let Beibei take care of it."
"Beibei, don't think too much. The Moon Goddess might have heard your wish and found another better place for us to live. Now it's just a process. It's a little hard and difficult for a better future." Qin Xiangnuan said to Beibei. There was a little confusion in her eyes, but she nodded heavily. Her attention was soon attracted by the ants, and she ran to the side to busy herself.
Qin Xiangnuan stood in the wind and wrapped her clothes.
The hairpins in her hair swayed twice, making a crisp sound. Sometimes it's nice to be a carefree girl. At least you don't have to think too much, and your shoulders don't have to bear too much. Her eyes flickered gently, and then she felt someone watching her. When she met Liu's eyes, Qin Xiangnuan nodded slightly, tilted her head, and smiled brightly, "Yes, she has a mother now."
"There's no need to envy others."
Qin Xiangnuan took a deep breath and slowly raised her hand. When a piece of ice crystal fell on her palm, the cold touch made her squint her eyes, shrink her neck, and smile, revealing her small white teeth.
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