Chapter 389: Chapter 29: Scheming (First Update)
Hong Sheng led the Vanguard Camp and finally met up with the main forces, naturally receiving high praise from Governor Liu, who had heard of the renowned reputation of the "Ghost" bandits.
Looking at the brave, wise, and benevolent Hong Sheng before him, Liu Daneng couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: What a pity he’s under Prince Ke; once this campaign is over, he’ll probably return to the Capital. After all, there’s no room for advancement in the Northwest.
Moreover, the Northwest might truly be without any war for the next ten years; having such a young commander here for his retirement seems a bit of a waste.
But returning to the Capital is not bad either. At least they’re connected through the Qin and Su families, they won’t become distant.
Because of this, Liu Daneng was willing to lend support to this junior, and he naturally said a lot of heartfelt words to Hong Sheng, who was deeply moved.
Liu Daneng felt he expressed his regard for Hong Sheng to the fullest, and after he moved himself, he took the battle casualty list that Hong Sheng handed him, treating it as official business.
Liu Daneng had become numb to this; there’s a saying, "Mercy doesn’t command soldiers, kindness doesn’t hold power," yet he still showed a painful expression as he carelessly flipped through it.
Appearances must be kept, especially in front of the direct leaders of these fallen soldiers.
While looking, Liu Daneng comforted, "Don’t be too sad, sacrifice is necessary to protect home and country. Unluckily, today it’s them, tomorrow it might be you or me.
They should be thankful to be part of our Northwest Army. Their families can be settled well. I privately kept a tenth of the gold and silver treasures you gained this time for you all, besides the official reports, no one dares to embezzle it. This can be considered an explanation to those brothers who died in battle."
Hong Sheng was truly grateful this time, "Thankfully, you are here, Uncle, or I wouldn’t know how to report back to the brothers who fought desperately with me!"
Liu Daneng waved his hand, "Why bother with these formalities? Who are we to each other? Your Aunt Qin... What the heck!"
Liu Daneng was speaking, then got stunned by a name that caught his eye, feeling his head was square.
At that moment, the thought in his mind was, "My wife will definitely divorce me!"
Hong Sheng saw the expression on Governor Liu’s face and quickly asked, "Uncle Liu, what’s wrong?"
Liu Daneng pointed dreamily at a name on the casualty list, "How did he die?"
Hong Sheng looked at the direction of his finger, the name was clearly "Ruan Yu," his eyes shrank, but luckily Liu Daneng didn’t notice, Hong Sheng quickly masked his emotions, sorrowfully saying, "On the way back, he encountered a pack of wolves... Ruan Yu... didn’t even leave a body behind!"
Leng Xiao had already advised him before that speaking too much would lead to mistakes, better to clench on one reason.
Liu Daneng knew that wolves on the grassland attack caravans when there’s no food, and they usually attack in packs.
How did Ruan Yu get so unlucky as to encounter starving wolves just as he was about to return?
Sister Miao committed suicide; Ruan Yu’s died too; both were cared for under his wife’s persuasion, and now, how would he face his wife!
And now, the news of Princess Yonghe setting herself on fire must have reached Great Chu; who knows how worried his wife must be.
...
Such explosive news, the Northwest must have already heard of it, only Mrs. Qin was pregnant at her old age, and though Sister Zhen and Xuan were extremely saddened, they kept it from Qin.
Until the details spread back, the entire Northwest was in turmoil, they knew they couldn’t hide it anymore, and indeed, despite their repeated warnings to the mansion’s servants, someone found a loophole.
It was just about a month before the New Year, Qin was already five months into her pregnancy, visibly showing. After hearing the news of her niece’s self-immolation, she stirred her fetus so much that her two children were scared to death, even Sister An, who was married and pregnant, specially returned home.
Since news of Qin Miao’s passing, Qin, as an aunt, removed the festive crimson pomegranate-seed canopy and joyous decorations from her room, changing them to simple ones!
When Sister An returned, Qin was leaning against the warm kang reading a letter, with a snow fox fur rabbit’s headband embedded with a deep blue gemstone, making her pale face even more bloodless.
Sister Zhen and Xuan accompanied Sister An into the Warm Pavilion, Qin heard the noise, put away the letter without a trace of emotion, then seeing Sister An enter, her face sank, "Such nonsense, you’re already seven months pregnant, how could you go out in this cold weather! Even though it just snowed yesterday, with your husband not here, why didn’t the people beside you stop you!"
Qin married when Sister An was four or five, people say being a stepmother is difficult, with no good intentions, but Qin’s character and education didn’t allow her to ruin Sister An’s upbringing.
One could say, Sister An was taught by Qin herself, only separated from a biological mother-daughter bond by blood.
Yet the saying goes, the bond of nurture surpasses the bond of birth, not to mention Sister An was born without a mother.
Thankfully, Liu Daneng was a good father, getting help from his friend’s wife, Mrs. Zhao, was Qin Shidao’s wife, teaching some maids and grannies for his daughter, she wasn’t brought up astray.
Sister An had complex feelings for her maternal family. Though they treated her well, anyone would feel distressed having an aunt always jumping to be her stepmother.
Later, when her father married Qin and she returned home, she finally knew what it was like to have a mother.
Listening to Qin’s words, she wasn’t scared, approached and took Qin’s arm to sit down, "Mother knows to care for my body, how could you not think of your own.
The incident with cousin has made us all sad and worried, but the baby inside you is my sibling too. Even if cousin is watching from heaven, she’d surely wish you well. Besides..."
Sister An paused, Qin immediately called the servants out of the room.
Only then did Sister An say, "Mother, you know cousin’s personality, right? She’s not one to commit suicide. Perhaps now she’s like a bird released from its cage, a horse unbridled, enjoying herself!"
Sister Zhen and Xuan clapped their hands at this, eyes bright, "Yes, Mother, we’re caught in the fog!"
Qin looked at her stepdaughter now, satisfied at heart, yet her face remained solemn, "It’s all speculation, don’t talk to anyone about this. Whether sister Miao faked death or really died, just assume she’s truly gone, or there’ll be no escape from the crime of deceiving the emperor.
You must continue to act deeply saddened, and I’ll remain bedridden from grief. I want to see who dared plot against me this time."
Speaking of this, Sister Zhen and Xuan also wore angry expressions, seeing Sister An puzzled, Sister Zhen quickly explained, "My brother and I were afraid mother would be saddened and stir the fetus after hearing cousin’s news. We had vigorously warned the servants not to gossip, even closed the mansion to guests, yet someone found a loophole.
Mother was just taking her usual walk in the garden... heard two maids gossiping beneath the flower wall, stirring her fetus then. When the maids and grannies left, seeking them afterward yielded no traces!"
Listening, Sister An was infuriated, "Does our house actually have such ungrateful people? Mother’s health is the priority, if they can’t be found, sell off all suspects."
Qin patted her hand, "There are some leads, don’t worry, take care of yourself, and give me a chubby grandchild!"
