Xu had just returned to her parents' home and was complaining to her parents and brothers when a servant came to report that Cai Wenxuan had come to visit.
Madam Xu chuckled coldly, her expression mocking, "I told you he was a coward! He's so arrogant in the governor's mansion, but when he comes to the Xu family's door, he has to be a dutiful son-in-law."
Xu snorted and said, "I'm not going back. Let him wait at the door. I haven't been home for a long time, so I need to stay here for a few more days."
As she spoke, she took her maid and returned to her own courtyard, not intending to see Cai Wenxuan.
Seeing this, Xu's mother looked at Xu's father and asked, "Should we see him or not?"
Mr. Xu frowned, not taking his daughter and son-in-law's petty squabble to heart. He was troubled by the news coming from the mine and wondered if Cai Wenxuan's visit at this time was because he had a disagreement with his daughter or because he knew about the news from the mine.
He had always been satisfied with this son-in-law; although he was a bit timid, his cautiousness was commendable. However, since the discovery of the gold mine, Cai Wenxuan no longer needed to be humble as before, and even seemed to want to be on equal footing with the Xu family.
However, Cai Wenxuan's success today is all thanks to the support of the Xu family. Naturally, Xu's father would not allow an outsider to be so arrogant and powerful, even if that person was his son-in-law.
The relationship between the two sides had some subtle cracks, but because the gold mine involved their lives and fortunes, they tacitly avoided a complete falling out and maintained a delicate balance.
After thinking for a moment, Xu's father said, "Please invite them in."
Cai Wenxuan waited at the door for a moment before a servant came to invite him in. He looked at the servant's impolite expression, sneered inwardly, and strode in, flicking his sleeves.
When Mr. and Mrs. Xu saw Cai Wenxuan enter the hall, Mrs. Xu said sarcastically, "Why don't you two come back together?"
Cai Wenxuan heard this and naturally knew that his mother-in-law was mocking him, but he had no mind to pay attention to Xu Shi at the moment. He cupped his hands to Xu's father and said, "I received a letter from the Red-footed Falcon and have some things I would like to discuss with you, Father-in-law."
Upon hearing this, Xu's father knew that he had already received the news, so he straightened his expression, stood up, and said, "Come with me to the study to talk."
Cai Wenxuan nodded slightly to Xu's mother and then followed Xu's father to the study.
After a long pause, Xu's mother said, "Didn't he come to take Qiaoniang back?"
Qiaoniang was Xu's childhood name.
The servants exchanged glances, none daring to speak. Xu Shi, who was hiding in the courtyard awaiting news, was also inquiring about the situation at the front. While eating ice cream, she looked at the maid who had gone to inquire about the news: "How is it at the front?"
Her mother always doted on her, so she wouldn't easily forgive Cai Wenxuan.
Madam Xu was waiting for Cai Wenxuan to be scolded so she could beg for forgiveness, but the maid stammered, "Young master, please go to the study with the master."
"What are they doing in the study?" Xu asked, taken aback.
The maid shook her head and said she didn't know.
*
In the study, Cai Wenxuan suppressed his anger and said, "News has come back from the mine that Third Brother sent troops and killed ten soldiers. Is Father-in-law aware of this? What are your plans to do?"
Xu's father naturally already knew, but he didn't consider it a big deal. He waved his hand and said, "It's just a dozen or so soldiers. The Tatar Mountain area is full of cliffs and dense forests. Just dispose of the bodies quietly. Just keep it as if Sanlang is leading troops to suppress bandits. It's normal for soldiers to suffer some losses. Just give those dead soldiers a pension."
Seeing that he didn't take it seriously at all, Cai Wenxuan became anxious and said, "What exactly happened that day? Did hundreds of soldiers in the mine see and hear it? They are currently being kept in the mountains to mine, so they can be kept quiet. But if they are released one day, there's no guarantee that someone won't leak the news!"
In his opinion, this gold mine was so large that they could never spend it all in several lifetimes. It would be better to treat them like the officials and nobles who had previously clashed with the Xu family, offering them ample benefits to bind them to the same boat. With such a potentially disastrous outcome, coupled with the financial reward, these soldiers would naturally not dare to speak recklessly in the future.
However, the third son of the Xu family is arrogant and has killed more than a dozen soldiers. Even if it can be suppressed now, it is hard to guarantee that those who are on good terms with them will not hold a grudge and sow the seeds of future trouble.
To everyone's surprise, Xu's father's expression darkened as he said, "Who said we'd let them go? There are so many people in the mine. If even one of them leaks the news, we'll all be in trouble."
He twirled the jade thumb ring on his thumb and said, "The safest way is to tell them never to come out again."
Cai Wenxuan was shocked and looked at Xu's father in disbelief: "There are at least a thousand people at that mine."
The gold mine they discovered was divided into several mining tunnels, and the one where the accident occurred had more than a thousand soldiers.
Xu's father glanced at him with disdain, looking down on this cowardly son-in-law: "In a battle between two armies, losing a thousand men is not uncommon. Just blame it on the Tibetans."
Cai Wenxuan wanted to say something, but Xu's father raised his head and stopped him, saying in an unquestionable tone, "I know you are cautious in your actions, but those who achieve great things must be decisive. Womanly sentimentality is the worst thing you can do. I have already informed Sanlang about this matter, and he will handle it himself."
Cai Wenxuan suppressed his anger and said, "The Prince of Qin is still in Xizhou! If this gets out of hand and the Prince of Qin finds out, the consequences will be unimaginable."
Xu's father glanced at him and snorted, "You've been getting close to the Prince of Qin lately. I heard from Qiaoniang that the Prince of Qin's mistress even wants to marry her younger sister to you?"
Cai Wenxuan could be reckless in front of Madam Xu, but he still felt somewhat inferior in front of Xu's father, a veteran general. He explained, "The Prince of Qin and the Emperor are not on good terms. I thought of winning them over so that even if something were to happen in the future, this connection would allow the Prince of Qin to cover for us. It's just that Qiaoniang doesn't understand my intentions and only gets caught up in matters of love and romance..."
Upon hearing this, Xu's father did not refute it. He pondered for a moment and said, "After your interactions with him, what kind of person do you think the King of Qin is?"
Cai Wenxuan pondered and said, "The Prince of Qin is quite capable, but he is young and impetuous, and he dotes on his mistress. With his greed and the influence of his wife, he is not unmanageable."
Upon hearing this, Xu's father said, "You've won people over these past few days, but there's no need for a marriage alliance. Send them away as soon as possible to avoid ruining our important plans."
Cai Wenxuan had his own plans, and Xu's father was no fool; naturally, he wouldn't just stand by and watch him board the Qin King's ship and kick the Xu family aside.
Cai Wenxuan composed himself and said, "I understand, son-in-law."
Cai Wenxuan nodded, then brought up his daughter, saying in a commanding tone, "Qiaoniang is unhappy, so let her stay at home for a few days, and then you can come and take her back."
Cai Wenxuan's face stiffened slightly, his hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched into fists, but he calmly replied, "Yes."
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