Chapter 361
Qin Zhun tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep all night until he finally made up his mind, so the next afternoon the Qin mansion, Qin Jiu welcomed a rare guest.
Regardless if they were separated from the family, Qin Zhun was still Qin Jiu and Qin Zeyu’s biological uncle, and the siblings couldn’t just turn down their elders, so they welcomed him in the main hall and served him good tea.
Although Qin Jiu more or less guessed why Qin Zhun visited, she was still stunned by the other party’s attitude, he really looked like someone who came to visit for ulterior motives.
“Jiu’er, I came to see you this time because I want to ask the turnover of 150,000 taels of silver.” Qin Zhun said to Qin Jiu straightforwardly, though he used the word ‘turnover’ but in fact, he was ‘demanding’.
Qin Jiu embarrassingly said, “Second Uncle, I can’t make a decision since Eldest Brother is not here.”
As soon as he opened his mouth, all he said was 150,000 teals, and his tone was really loud!
Qin Zhun already expected Qin Jiu would not agree so readily. So, he justly said. “Jiu’er, I also know that Ning’er went to Minzhou, but water from afar quenches not fire*, and Jinzhou is also now in disorder because of the bandits, the imperial court wants to pacify Jinzhou but the treasury is empty, so as children of Daqi, shouldn’t we do our part for the country.”
(*slow remedy does not address current emergency)
“Of course!” Qin Jiu nodded confidently, “Second Uncle wants to do his best for the country, it’s a righteous act, and as a niece I definitely support it and surely grandma will not object to it too.”
Qin Zhun earnestly added, “Jiu’er, your grandma is already old, so there is no need for her to worry about this matter.”
“Second uncle is right.” Qin Jiu said perfunctorily, and with a smile ordered a servant to change Qin Zhun’s tea.
Seeing her avoiding the topic, Qin Zhun was a bit annoyed and said in a firm voice, “Jiu’er, I am your uncle, you can’t just break the bones and connect the tendons*. I had a difficult time today, so I came to you asking for the turnover, but you are still afraid that I won’t be able to make it?!”
(*blood related)
Qin Jiu’s body shrank, pinching her handkerchief, she pretended to cry. “Sniff, sniff, uncle, what are you talking about, I also know your having a difficult time, but eldest brother is not here, and my other brother is still so young…”
Qin Zeyu, who was still ‘so young’, almost choked on the tea and dared not drink it, and just silently looked at her sister.
“I am a girl, so how dare I call the shots… How about this, I see that the Magistrate, Lord Hu is wise and just, solving cases like some god. So, how about getting his advice for this?”
The girl in front of him was really not easy to persuade! Qin Zhun thought to himself. Seeing that Qin Jiu wanted to go to the court again, frightened, he hurriedly stopped her, “Jiu’er, this is a family matter, there is no reason to bother Lord Hu! If everyone bothered him with family matters, he wouldn’t have enough time even if he had three heads and six arms!”
Qin Jiu blinked in confusion, “Second Uncle, didn’t you say that we are Daqi’s children and that we should do our part for the country? Is this a country matter or a family matter?”
Qin Zhun: “….”
Seeing his uncle being led by his sister, Qin Zeyu was overjoyed and couldn’t help but hooked his lips upward.
Meanwhile, Qin Zhun’s complexion changes green and white as he commented to himself that this niece, he picked up from outside was a treacherous woman. Just like the saying, when a soldier meets a scholar it’s pointless to argue.
Helpless, Qin Zhun struggled to weigh the pros and cons for a while, and seeing that he really had no other choice, he finally kindly said. “Jiu’er, I know that you are looking for your family, and even if I’m your uncle, you’re still worried I’ll cheat so how about your uncle write IOU, you should feel relieved right?” Qin Zhun felt like his heart was being cut by a knife as he said this.
Qin Jiu slowly sipped on her tea, reflected on the tea water were her eyes, clear and bright.
She knew Qin Zhun was not lying to her on the matter about the imperial court wanting to suppress the bandits in Jinzhou.
The question was, why did the court want Qin Zhun to pay for the suppression of bandits?
Or rather, why was Qin Zhun “insisting” on paying? Was there any benefit to him?
Her gaze flashes as Qin Jiu said, “Of course, I believe in second uncle. I heard that the mountain bandits in Jinzhou are fierce and occupy the mountains like kings, and even the court can’t do anything about them…”
“Jiu’er, you can’t say that outside.” Frowning, Qin Zhun said, “A mere mountain bandit is nothing, but the treasury is empty, so the emperor could not send troops to fight them. We as subjects should naturally share the worries of the emperor.” Qin Zhun sounded righteous and upright.
Share the worries of the emperor? Qin Jiu recited these words meaningfully, but never a second did she thought that her second uncle who was only thinking about the dragon’s merit had this awareness. Wait, dragon’s merit!
An idea suddenly flashes into her mind, could this matter have something to do with Gu Jing?!
If Qin Zhun was raising money for Gu Jing…
The emperor, Gu Jing, and the money.
Qin Jiu put these three together and immediately understood: Gu Jing wanted to lead troops to suppress bandits in Jinzhou, but the national treasury did not have money, so he had to raise money on his own.
There was only one person in Daqi who could send Gu Jing to the army——
The emperor!
In other words, the emperor was emptying the gloves white wolf*?!
(*referring to deception methods used by scammers who go around cheating without making an investment)
Alas, this uncle emperor was too cunning!
Qin Jiu inwardly admired him and knew that once this money was raised, it was most likely that money would not be reimbursed then this also means that the Qin family was just giving his money away to help Gu Jing achieve success and fame.
However, one was willing to fight, and the other was willing to suffer, otherwise, why would Qin Zhun still want to spend money to buy a dragon’s merit, funny thing was he wanted to use the eldest house’s money in exchange. His abacus calculation was really on point!
When the country was in trouble, one could pay for their own money but they would not be stupid enough to become someone else’s money bag!
“Second uncle’s great righteousness makes me ashamed.” Qin Jiu pursed her cherry lips and sighed, “Ai, I want to help Second Uncle, but I really don’t have the cash on hand.”
Qin Zhun: “!!”
***
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