Chapter 493: Thorn in the Flesh

Chapter 493: Chapter 493: Thorn in the Flesh

Imperial City, Xiaoliu Street, Qin Mansion.

These days, even the gatekeepers of the Qin Mansion could feel the oppressive atmosphere inside the house. Sometimes, passing by the Moon Gate, they would hear faint sobbing from within. No one knew whether it was a maid or that young lady of the family who was crying.

Even more frightening was that the master had returned with a dark, thunderous face every day recently, as if burdened by some monumental worry.

Yesterday, just because the family’s dogs barked a few times too many, they almost ended up being tossed into a pot for boiling. Now they still hid away in the woodshed, not daring to show themselves, having pissed themselves several times from fear.

It was as if a layer of dark clouds hung over the Qin Mansion, leaving everyone below anxious and trembling in their boots.

Just yesterday, there was news that one of the young ladies of the family had been bullied outside. It was no secret which lady it was—the servants could guess. Who else had recently left the house but Miss Qin Xiangyu of the third branch?

The servants mostly found the situation amusing behind closed doors, while only a few felt any sympathy. This Miss Xiangyu had never been kind in the Qin Family; with servants, she was always harsh, frequently beating and scolding, never showing a pleasant face. To the slaves, she was even worse, not treating them as people at all. Each year, three to five slaves died in Qin Mansion, almost always beaten to death on Miss Xiangyu’s orders.

Killing a slave was nothing more than smashing an unwanted vase with a hammer—not rare, she was rich and didn’t care a bit.

As a result, the servants became even more cautious and timid around Miss Xiangyu, desperate not to provoke her.

Yet someone so fierce was deeply doted upon at home—the main family members of the Qin Mansion were exceptionally indulgent toward her, including the master, who often sent her rare trinkets to show his affection.

Why would the Patriarch of the Qin Family be so good to a young lady from the third branch, even raising her in the main house? This wasn’t a secret. For years, there had been rumors: Miss Xiangyu was already betrothed to the Fifth Prince and would become a consort of the Prince’s Mansion. That kind of status was destined to be above others.

But considering Miss Xiangyu’s reputation with the servants in the Qin Mansion, those who spoke well of her only did so for show. In private, nobody liked her. Some even said, "What’s so great about marrying a man decades older? I hear the Fifth Prince’s own daughter isn’t much younger than she is."

Yet this Qin family young lady, destined for a privileged position in the Prince’s Mansion, was said to have been thoroughly humiliated this time—apparently rescued from the Xuanqing Guard’s dungeon.

No one knew who leaked this news. Anyway, the guards sent to escort Qin Xiangyu had all suffered for it—they were not only expelled from the house but also had their legs broken. From now on, unless they returned to farming in their hometowns, there was no way for them to survive in the Imperial City. As for the big mouth who started the rumor, no one knew for sure; it had certainly terrified all the servants in the mansion.

Beyond the Moon Gate, in the rear courtyard.

Last month, more than a dozen red carp had been released into the fish pond. Each was over a foot long; slow and lazy as they swam, but brilliant in color. Gliding through the water with the white carp already there, they looked like a colorful ribbon, delighting anyone who beheld them.

A winding walkway had been built over the pond, with a beautiful pavilion at its center. Now, at dusk, the evening breeze was cool—just right for taking respite in the pavilion.

Incense for mosquitoes was lit, the breeze was cool, cicadas sang, and stars sparkled above in the night sky. To be honest, it was a rare moment of clarity and comfort.

At that moment, a few servants stood far off the fish pond’s walkway, not daring to come near, while inside the pavilion two people—a man and a woman—were deep in conversation.

The two looked somewhat alike and were both middle-aged. The woman sat languidly on the pavilion chair, fanning herself with a painted fan. The man stood, gripping the pavilion railing, his expression somewhat anxious.

"Elder Sister, why don’t you make another trip to the palace to speak with the Empress? Try to explain things?"

The man was Qin Xiuyuan, currently the head of the third branch of the Qin Family. The woman beside him was the eldest daughter of the Qin Family, Qin Yurou, who, after her own husband’s disastrous misfortune, had now returned to her parents’ home.

Qin Xiuyuan was three years younger than Qin Yurou. He’d always known his older sister was formidable and had respected her greatly since childhood. Now, with his own daughter entangled in such a mess, he could only ask his sister for help to smooth things over.

"I picked Xiangyu’s name myself—I took the ’Yu’ from my own name and gave it to her. Of course I am fond of that child, but this matter has turned out terribly. You know full well what sort of place the Xuanqing Guard is. Are there any decent people inside? They are all cold-blooded and ruthless, with no fear whatsoever.

Xiangyu’s reputation is certainly tarnished by being locked up in such a filthy place. Even if she’s still a virgin, talk among outsiders will be nasty. In my opinion, her chances of entering Prince Shou’s house are slim."

Qin Xiuyuan naturally understood what his sister meant, but things couldn’t just end like this, could they? If the engagement with the Royal Family was annulled, Qin Xiangyu’s reputation would be utterly ruined—who would dare marry her? Even the Qin Family would suffer. Wasn’t the elder uncle’s constant distress all caused by this affair?

Now no connections were easily exploited; only pressure from above might work. Going through the Empress was the most promising option. As long as the engagement could be salvaged, Qin Xiuyuan would be willing to pay whatever price necessary.

"Elder Sister, you are the Empress’s favorite; you alone can come and go freely from the harem. Xiangyu’s matter can only depend on you, her aunt—for otherwise, her life is finished. Elder Sister, please help her just this once!" As he spoke, Qin Xiuyuan bowed deeply again, disregarding all dignity.

Qin Yurou reached out to steady him, sighed, and after a long time finally spoke: "Very well, I’ll risk my face and go to the harem. But let me make this clear: this concerns the face of the Royal Family. Whether it works or not is uncertain. If it fails in the end, you need to be mentally prepared—understand?"

"As long as you are willing to help, Elder Sister, then it’s as good as done, haha." Hearing his sister agree, Qin Xiuyuan straightened his back and grinned delightedly. He knew well how close his sister was to the Empress; as long as she delivered the message, and since Qin Xiangyu was still untouched, the Empress would most likely nod and ignore the rumors, and the marriage would proceed unimpeded.

Qin Yurou smiled, shaking her head as she pointed at her brother—a response to his flattery. Indeed, she was confident she could persuade the Empress to secure the marriage between the Qin Family and the Fifth Prince.

"But this can’t be settled so lightly. The Xuanqing Guard is just too outrageous—I suspect Fengri City’s people are abusing their power! Elder Sister, they might be targeting you, too!" Qin Xiuyuan also sat down, not shifting the topic but going directly to the heart of the matter—why the Qin Family was so humiliated this time.

"I don’t want to get involved in this matter—do you understand?"

"Elder Sister, can you really swallow this insult? Wasn’t it that person who ruined Ren Hai before? And I hear the Fifth Prince is at odds with that person in Fengri City as well. If you help arrange things for the Empress again, wouldn’t that mean..."

"Enough!"