âAppeal for imperial justice? Do you intend to sue the Northern Ji officials?â Apart from being shocked, the third elder master couldnât really wrap his mind around the idea. He urged lowly, âThis isnât a good idea. They didnât reveal themselves from beginning to end, and their men always had cloth wrapped around their faces. They didnât let any clues slip. We have no evidence and are strictly going off of our analysis. How will we win our lawsuit?â
The second elder master stroked his beard and smiled with a shake of his head. âThird brother, youâre being silly. Since we have no evidence, how would niece Yi sue them?â
The third elder master wasnât a fool; heâd simply been too shocked moments ago. He understood what his niece intended to do after some quick thought and looked worryingly at Qin Yining.
âNiece Yi, third uncle understands what you want to do. But this wonât be good for your reputation...â
âThird uncle, itâs been a rough and bumpy road since Iâve returned home. Iâve experienced a lot, and my reputation was no more the moment I set off for war negotiations with father. And who knows what the people say about me, given how the Faithful Prince of the First Rank and the now-Commandery Prince of Yan treated me?â
Qin Yining smiled wryly. âMy reputation is what it is. It doesnât matter if itâs âruinedâ or not. If our family can be plucked from this mess, itâs no big deal to sacrifice just a single me. The winds and tides of the Great Zhou court are capricious and treacherous. Everything is very complicated. Our family has no foundations in Great Zhou and no backer. Itâll be hard enough to keep the family in one pieceâwhat remaining energy do we have for a power struggle between those two factions?â
One would often achieve exactly the opposite effect if only the facts of the situation were laid out and logic the only tool employed. The other party would never do what the speaker wanted then.
The most effective negotiation tactic was to have the other party understand how much they stood to gain from what should be done. Using tangible benefits to guide the other party down the desired path was most optimal.
Indeed, the two Qin men looked at Qin Yining with gratification. Theyâd wanted her to enter the palace on the familyâs behalf. Now that theyâd thought things through, they wanted her to refuse, also on the familyâs behalf.
It was an injustice to her no matter how they cut it.
âNiece Yi, if we really do this, Iâm afraid itâll affect your future marriage.â The second elder master was an upright individual and Qin Yining was his junior. He clearly laid out the pros and cons of what she wanted to do.
Qin Yining smiled gratefully. âSecond uncle, I understand your concerns. But who can remain safe when family and home is ruined? Only when the Qin clan prospers will I do so as well. Besides, when my uncles rise in the world, how will you possibly just look on if I canât find a husband then?â
Infected by her playful smile, the second elder master grinned as well. He sighed as he promised, âDonât worry, I know how much youâve done for the family already. Due to consideration of family safety, this time youâre sacrificing a glorious future in the palace and ruining your own reputation. I remember everything youâve done. All of your matters are second uncleâs matters in the future as well.â
âThatâs right, your third uncle may not be skilled in much else, but Iâm decent enough at business. You wonât go hungry in the future as long as I have even a bite to eat,â promised the third elder master too.
Not all girls could withstand the temptation of fortune and grandeur beckoning right at them. There were countless examples of girls sacrificing family and relationships when it came to their own future.
The Qin men sighed when they thought of this.
Qin Yining knew that sheâd managed to convince them to draw the same battle lines as her. She heaved a sigh of relief.
Whether it was for the Qinsâ future or because sheâd promised Pang Xiao she wouldnât leave him, she really couldnât enter the palace at this time. Now that sheâd reached an understanding with her uncles, she wouldnât be fighting a lonely battle when it came to her family.
The womenfolk didnât understand her thoughts and she wouldnât be able to change their minds by herself. But with her uncles also present, sooner or later, the old dowager and others would come around.
Having made a decision, she further discussed the detailed with her uncles.
She finally sighed when wrapping things up. âAlright then, just leave it to me, uncles. Donât show yourselves too often in this matter.â
The Qin men wouldnât feel easy leaving this in just anyone elseâs hands, but Qin Yining had always been dependable. Both nodded after momentary consideration.
The girl rose to send them off, running into the âunreasonable and rudeâ butler along the way. Fully carrying out the act, the Qin men further confirmed that Qin Yining no longer enjoyed Pang Xiaoâs favor.
The two left sighing and shaking their heads.
Qin Yining took Jiyun and Bingtang back to Snowtrace Garden with her, carefully going over everything that had happened. She quietly wrote down what she was planning to do.
Court wasnât dismissed until very late today.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
It wasnât until after the sun had set that a serving girl came with a message. âHis Highness has returned and wishes you to serve tea in the study.â
The Qin fourth miss immediately understood that Pang Xiao must have something he wanted to discuss. She hurried to the outer study.
Xu Weizhi and Xie Yue were also on their way in. The two parties greeted each other and entered the study together.
Pang Xiao had Huzi arrange for a guard outside.
âEveryone, please sit down.â The prince smiled.
Her eyes sparkling, Qin Yining dimpled back. âYour Highness is in high spirits. You mustâve successfully joined the council.â
Her merry eyes brought and answering smile to Pang Xiaoâs face. âItâs all thanks to your wonderful plan.â
âSo Your Highness has resolved this crisis?â Xie Yue asked excitedly. âHurry and tell us, Your Highness! What happened at court today?â
Pang Xiao was in a great mood and started his story with a grin.
As it turned out, Li Qitian had summarized Pang Xiaoâs achievements in conquering Great Yan at the start of the grand court session. He closed out the remarks with compliments and, âWe are extraordinarily delighted that the Faithful Prince of the First Rank has pacified the south and thus bestow...â
A Northern Ji official interrupted loudly before the rewards could be announced.
Li Qitian was very irritated at being cut off at the height of his enthusiasm, but there was an image of a reasonable, wise monarch who listened to his subjects to uphold. He naturally wouldnât stop an official from speaking, so swallowed the rest of his words and asked about the interruption.
This particular official was someone of mediocre status in the Northern Ji faction. Yet today, heâd cast off his customary prudent caution and loudly impeached Grand Secretary of the Hall of Preserving Harmony, Zhou Min!
Zhou Min was the father of the empress and a solid Li Qitian supporter. As a royal father-in-law and the Secondary Grand Secretary, heâd already been tapped as the next leader of the Grand Secretariat. Heâd be able to take his new position as soon as it was vacated.
Used to coasting proudly through the days, it was mind boggling that someone would want to impeach him at the grand court session!
Rendered completely senseless, so too was Li Qitian absolutely baffled.
Before the two could recover, the Northern Ji officials whoâd gotten word that âthe emperor wants to sweep all Northern Ji influence out of the councilâ jumped out in squads, tag-teaming all of Zhou Minâs heinous crimes.
There were ten combined counts of grand felonies such as embezzlement, disregard of imperial authority, and treasonous intentions. The rest ran the gamut from disrespecting elders to carrying off women to causing others to commit suicide from showing lack of mercy. There was even an uproar over the fact that the patterns embroidered on his underwear violated regulations!