Xiangwu County, the official road.
"Not waiting for Yang Xu to come back?" Beside the carriage, Qiu Zongxi's aged face showed a rare hint of reluctance. In his youth, he had traveled throughout the Great Qing Dynasty, and in his later years, he stayed in Xiangwu County due to the Yang family's affairs.
Qiu Zongxi had never married or had children, and his attitude towards the younger generation of the Qiu family was indifferent. Although Zhan Feiyu had only been here for a few months, she had unexpectedly caught his eye. Now that she was leaving, Qiu Zongxi felt an emptiness in his heart.
Zhan Feiyu looked north. The Gobi desert stretched endlessly, leading directly north to the barbarian territories.
Qiu Feng had come prepared, and his whereabouts were still unknown. The Yang family had also received news that Qiu Feng might appear among the barbarians. Yang Xu had gone with Lin Jiang and others, partly to continue investigating Qiu Feng's whereabouts and partly for experience.
"We won't wait. If fate allows, we will meet again." Zhan Feiyu withdrew her gaze, burying her reluctance deep in her eyes. "Grandpa Qiu, it's windy outside. You should go back."
After speaking, Zhan Feiyu solemnly bowed to Qiu Zongxi, "Thank you, sir, for your careful guidance over the past few months. Xiao Yu bids farewell."
"The sea is vast for fish to leap, the sky is wide for birds to fly. This old man awaits news of your success in the imperial examinations." A resonant voice sounded, and Qiu Zongxi was the first to board the carriage.
After a while, He Sheng flourished the whip. The fine horse neighed, and as the sound of hooves arose, the clear sound of a zither began from behind. It was Qiu Zongxi, sitting in the carriage, personally playing "Yangguan San Die."
The carriage grew distant, and the zither music faded away.
Zhan Feiyu sat listlessly in the carriage. When she arrived, she had complained about the biting cold, but as she left, she only felt reluctance. Even the cold, so different from the south, now seemed endearing.
"When General Yang comes to the capital for his duties in the future, Young Master Xu can accompany him," He Nuan said gently, looking at the dejected Zhan Feiyu. This was how a child should be.
Zhan Feiyu nodded, having no desire to speak or recite texts. Fortunately, she had stayed up late studying the previous night, and the bumping of the carriage now made her feel drowsy. "A Nuan, I'm going to sleep for a bit."
"Alright," He Nuan replied, taking out a soft pillow and a blanket.
...
Zhan Feiyu's departure was sudden. When Qiu Zongxi returned to his newly renovated residence and heard the old housekeeper's report, his footsteps paused. "Xiao Xu is back?"
"No, General Yang received the news and rushed over," the old housekeeper shook his head. Young Master Xu wouldn't make it in time.
Yang Shoucheng, who was waiting in the courtyard, didn't hear footsteps and went to greet him. "Uncle Qiu."
"You chose to let Xiao Xu leave at this critical juncture. He didn't even get to say goodbye to Xiao Yu. When he returns, who knows how sad he'll be." Qiu Zongxi's accusatory tone clearly showed his displaced anger, as he was also reluctant to see Zhan Feiyu leave.
Yang Shoucheng gave a wry smile. He knew what Uncle Qiu meant. If Xiao Xu and Xiao Yu could indeed become engaged, Yang Shoucheng, as the father, would be happy to see it.
However, after months of interaction, Yang Shoucheng saw clearly that Zhan Feiyu clearly regarded Yang Xu as a close friend. Even Yang Xu hadn't realized his feelings. In the end, they were both just children.
"It's too late to say anything now that they're gone." Qiu Zongxi glared at Yang Shoucheng again, scolding him. Childhood sweethearts, innocent playmates, one skilled in literature and the other in martial arts. What a pity that this budding relationship was nipped in the bud.
"Uncle Qiu, they are young. It's not too late to talk about it in a few years," Yang Shoucheng quickly changed the subject. He had returned to see Zhan Feiyu off, but since he missed her, Yang Shoucheng informed Qiu Zongxi of the information he had just found about Qiu Feng.
Seated in the main seat, Qiu Zongxi listened, then picked up his teacup and took a sip. After a long while, he finally spoke, "So, Qiu Shao was unaware of Qiu Jinyu's identity as a barbarian spy."
"According to the current investigation, that is indeed the case, but Qiu Tai and his wife still need to be thoroughly investigated." Yang Shoucheng also breathed a sigh of relief.
Even though the third branch was involved in trouble, they were still surnamed Qiu. Moreover, the crime of colluding with the enemy and treason was a grave offense. If they were not careful, the entire Qiu family could be implicated, and even execution of the entire clan was possible. Fortunately, the situation had not reached the worst possible outcome.
With a still solemn expression, Qiu Zongxi put down his teacup and spoke slowly, "Regarding Qiu Jinyu and Qiu Feng, the Jinlong Guard must have submitted a secret memorial to His Majesty immediately. With Scholar Gu mediating in the court, and His Majesty's lenient attitude towards noble families in recent years, I don't think there will be major problems."
Years ago, Qiu Zongxi had saved His Majesty and Scholar Gu's lives. However, after General Yang's accident, Qiu Zongxi had unilaterally protected the three members of the Yang family, grandfather, father, and son. Logically, this life-saving grace had been used.
Now that the Qiu family was in trouble, His Majesty no longer needed to consider the past kindness. However, with Scholar Gu in court, Qiu Zongxi was indeed relieved. There would be no major issues, but the Qiu family would likely not be heavily relied upon in the next two years, and the Qiu family's enemies would take advantage of their misfortune to fiercely impeach the Qiu family.
"It's good that the third branch's collusion with the barbarians was exposed at the time of the Yang family's resurgence. It saves those in court from keeping an eye on the Qiu family," Qiu Zongxi, despite being far from court, still possessed the necessary acumen.
His Majesty had not yet established a crown prince, and all adult princes in the palace were anxious, as were their maternal relatives and ministers with deep ties to the princes.
The establishment of the crown prince was a game of chess. Winning meant achieving merit for supporting the emperor, and becoming a marquis or prime minister was within reach.
The Yang family, a general's family with military power, was a target for the princes. However, General Yang and Yang Shoucheng were upright and incorruptible, making them impossible to win over. Perhaps they would turn their attention to the Qiu family, which was closely related to the Yang family.
"Just the day before yesterday, I received a secret letter from the Qiu family. These people plan to win over the Qiu family by arranging marriages," Qiu Zongxi said with a look of disgust. He detested these unscrupulous individuals who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
The young ladies of the Qiu family also studied, but they grew up in the inner quarters. They lacked Zhan Feiyu's intelligence and alertness. How could naive young girls resist the traps set by those with ulterior motives?
Once caught, not only would their lives be ruined, but they could even implicate the entire Qiu family, even if they were from collateral branches.
The topic shifted back, and Qiu Zongxi glared fiercely at Yang Shoucheng again, slapping the table and angrily questioning, "What kind of business is this you're running! If Xiao Xu were here, he might have even gone on an educational tour with the little girl. Where does he need to go for training? Why send him to the barbarians!"
"I'm telling you, those people dare to target the Qiu family's young ladies. Xiao Xu is a piece of fat meat in their eyes. Just you wait, all sorts of honey traps will likely be staged one after another!" Qiu Zongxi said indignantly.
How well he had planned it back then. With Xiao Yu around, who would dare to snatch her fiancé? The little girl claimed to be a scholar, but when she fought, she was fierce. Didn't Qiu Jingyuan suffer a defeat?
Once again the target of displaced anger, Yang Shoucheng drank his tea with a stern face. Uncle Qiu was getting old and his temper was even worse.
Zhan Feiyu had no idea that Qiu Zongxi was venting his anger on Yang Shoucheng because of her departure. They were discussing important matters, but after a few sentences, Qiu Zongxi managed to bring up Zhan Feiyu's departure and then lectured Yang Shoucheng again.
When discussing important matters again, he would force a connection to Zhan Feiyu and use it as an opportunity to continue scolding Yang Shoucheng.
Three days later.
Suzhou, noon, heavy rain poured down.
What is called a narrow road for enemies, Zhan Feiyu finally witnessed it.
"What do you want? In broad daylight, do you intend to make a move?" Qiu Jingyuan suppressed the unease in her heart. Seeing Zhan Feiyu reminded Qiu Jingyuan of the bloody scene at the Qiu residence when she had knocked the person down and then added a sword thrust.
Zhan Feiyu looked at the outwardly fierce but inwardly timid Qiu Jingyuan. "Miss Qiu, you are thinking too much. It's simply a matter of first come, first served."
The shopkeeper beside them had his eyes darting around. Zhan Feiyu had indeed entered the inn first and had also requested the last two superior rooms.
Shopkeeper Zhu had managed the inn for many years, and this was the first time he had seen a master willing to let his servants stay in superior rooms. This clearly indicated they were not short of money.
As for Qiu Jingyuan and her entourage who arrived later, Shopkeeper Zhu was even happier. Zhan Feiyu only had four people, but Qiu Jingyuan had at least forty people at a glance. This was a big business.
"Why don't the two young ladies listen to what this humble one has to say." Shopkeeper Zhu chuckled, his eyes gleaming with greed, looking at Zhan Feiyu and Qiu Jingyuan as if they were two gods of wealth.
Qiu Jingyuan feared Zhan Feiyu, but she didn't pay attention to an innkeeper. She snorted and said arrogantly, "What do you want to say?"
Rubbing his hands, Shopkeeper Zhu appeared obsequious, but his eyes flickered with shrewdness. "It suddenly started pouring rain outside, and I estimate that several inns are already full. Now, there are only two superior rooms left. Why don't the two young ladies take one room each?"
This way, the more than forty servants accompanying this young lady could also stay in the inn. If this rain continued for a few more days, eating and staying in the inn, Shopkeeper Zhu wished he could take out his abacus and calculate how much money he could earn.
Under normal circumstances, Qiu Jingyuan would never agree. She was a young lady of the Qiu family from Qianzhong Dao. Let alone one superior room, she could even drive everyone else out of the inn.
But Qiu Jingyuan dared not confront Zhan Feiyu directly. At this moment, she agreed, "One room is fine."
Zhan Feiyu was not the type to bully others with her status. If Qiu Jingyuan were still as rude and unreasonable as before, Zhan Feiyu would not have yielded a single room. But since Qiu Jingyuan was not being unreasonable, Zhan Feiyu also took a step back, "Alright."
"Cousin, your status is so noble, how can you suffer such a grievance!" Suddenly, a voice of righteous indignation rang out.
Zhan Feiyu turned her head and saw a young man in luxurious attire walking over. He looked around twenty years old, but his demeanor was even more imposing than Qiu Jingyuan's that day.
Walking over in a few steps, Qian Shipeng closed his fan with a click.
Although it was February, the weather in Longyou Dao was still freezing. Using a fan in such cold weather was not a display of elegance; in Zhan Feiyu's opinion, it was a sign of a troubled mind.
Standing tall, Qian Shipeng looked down at Zhan Feiyu, glancing at He Nuan and He Sheng beside her. With only three or four attendants, she must have come from a humble background.
The daughters of scholarly families and official families had the same demeanor as Cousin Qiu when they traveled. From the maids and servants serving them to the guards protecting them, without thirty to forty servants accompanying them, could they be called aristocratic families?