Chapter 364
Earlier, Qin Zeyu actually did not understand some parts of the talk but since it was inconvenient to ask, he waited for the outsider to depart before directly asking, “Third sister, why does second uncle need so much money? Is it really for the expedition?”
In Qin Zeyu’s opinion, if the country was in trouble, and needs help to quell the chaos, he had no problem if the family contributes some money but it was not to the point of making wedding clothes for others and happily watching people getting married*.
(*so busy that one doesn’t get any benefits, but instead contributes to other people’s good deeds.)
Also, second uncle may sound so righteous, but in fact, he was just obviously selfish and wanted to “use” their eldest house name grandly in the name of national righteousness.
“Aiyo, our A’yu has really grown up!” Qin Jiu complimented with a smile and casually explained, “I’m afraid it’s for the second prince.”
Qin Zeyu pensively touched his nose, “Second uncle is so eager to compete for the dragon’s merit…”
Suddenly, Qin Zeyu remembered what happened when the family separated, and as if a thunderbolt hit him, he finally understands something. “Third sister, was second uncle been sending money to the second prince?”
Qin Jiu nodded as she ate cherries, “If these things are left in second uncle’s hands, sooner or later they will be scourged, so it’s better for us to take them back.”
Picking up the ledger book, Qin Jiu was casually flipping , looking like a money fanatic as her eyes sparkled like black gemstones.
“Third sister,” Qin Zeyu leaned over and looked at Qin Jiu with a salivating face, “I heard that a new restaurant has opened on the west side of the capital, how about we go and have a nice meal today?”
“Go! It’s on me!”
The Qin siblings went out to eat a big meal together, on the other hand, after Qin Zhun left the Qin mansion, he immediately went to the second prince’s residence without stopping, sending the total of 250,000 taels of silver he had gathered, which of course was far from enough to eliminate the bandits. But Lord Chengen and his supporters were also diligently raising enough money.
And in just five days, Lord Chengen asked the emperor for an order at the morning court.
“Your Majesty, the people in Jinzhou are in turmoil and are not living well, and this caused the ministers and I to be alarmed and anxious at this, so we went and do our part for the court. In the past few days, the ministers have generously donated money and raised 500,000 taels of silver.”
“I request Your Majesty’s permission to send troops to pacify the bandits in Jinzhou and return peace and prosperity to our Daqi.”
Lord Chengen spoke with impassioned enthusiasm, like a virtuous minister for the county and the people. Then, waited for the emperor’s reply with bated breath.
Meanwhile, the other ministers’ expression varies, some looked at the emperor with burning gazes like Lord Chengen, while some felt that Lord Chengen and his supporters were really generous people, some calmly waited and others pondered what was the emperor thinking…
At this time, the emperor looked really moved as he said, “Since my ministers were worried about the country and the people, I am pleased. I allow it.”
Lord Chengen breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he hears the emperor’s next words, “Pass on my decree, appointing the second prince to supervise the troops, with Wang Lizhi leading 30,000 soldier of our military to Jinzhou, to suppress the bandits.”
It’s done! The corners of Lord Chengen’s mouth curled up. They were not surprised that the emperor sent Wang Lizhi to lead the troops, the second prince has never led an army before, so the emperor must have sent a military general as the commander-in-chief. While having the second prince as the military supervisor was enough, after all, as long as Jinzhou was pacified, the credit would still belong to the second prince!
On that same day, when the official imperial decree came out, Qin Zeyu who was hanging out with his friends outside, immediately learned about it.
He also understood the reason why his second uncle was so anxious to get the money.
Qin Zeyu also concluded that his sister was the smartest, and profiting from someone’s misfortune was beautifully done!
With the money in place, everything was easy to handle and the Ministry of War was able to move quickly, so on the second day of the sixth month of the year, food and rations were delivered first, then three days later, the thirty thousand soldiers from the military camp led by the second prince, Gu Jing, and Wang Lizhi departed to Jinzhou. The emperor ordered the Ministry of Rites to see off the army on his behalf.
This scene shocked the entire capital, the common people who saw these also went to see the army off, hoping to see what the rumored infatuated second prince looked like.
The bandits in Jinzhou had troubled the emperor for nearly a year, and now that the problem could be solved without spending a penny, he was obviously happy. And for several days, he chatted with the empress happily.
Within a few days, Empress Wei learned about “black eating black*” from Qin Jiu who entered the palace to greet her and cheerfully relayed the story to the emperor.
(*seize the property obtained by others by the same improper means)
Emperor: “…”
After being momentarily surprised, the emperor sighed. “It seems that the late Marquis’s brilliance and wisdom were inherited by Xia Jiu.” Looking at Qin Zening and Qin Zeyu, these brothers, were both stupid and senseless.
Empress Wei felt happy when she thought about her little niece, however regretfully, she couldn’t give birth to a little padded jacket like her.
Taking a sip of tea, the empress suddenly remembered something and said, “Your Majesty, Xiao Jiu’s hairpin day will be next month. It was a good thing that the family separated but now that it’s like this, what should I do with Xiao Jiu’s ceremony? Both Zening and Zezhi are still in Minzhou.”
She couldn’t just take her niece to the palace and handle it herself, because if she really does, she may need an imperial envoy.
A while later, on the same day at the Qin residence, a servant ushered in two momo from the palace brought by Xiao Kouzi herself, “Third Miss Qin, the empress specially ordered Ming Li momo and He Miao momo to conduct your coming of age ceremony.”
It was only then that Qin Jiu remembered she’s turning fifteen soon. In ancient times, the coming of age-ceremony also known as the hairpin day was the most important day besides wedding.
Li and He momo smilingly bowed to Qin Jiu, they both knew that Empress Wei favored and loved this niece, so they were all polite and smiling. The two of them said;
“Third Miss Qin should just relax, the main guest and the host of the ceremony will be arranged by Empress Wei, if third Miss Qin has any good friends, you can invite them to be your companion.”
“The empress said, after Third Miss Qin’s coming of age ceremony, the wedding date will also be put on the agenda.”
“That’s why this servant and He momo were instructed by the empress to talk about the ceremony.”
“If there is anything you don’t understand, just tell this servant. Don’t be polite.”
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