Chapter 494: Handle

Chapter 494: Chapter 494: Handle

Although Qin Yurou had not been in the Qin Family for many years, her status within the Qin Family had never wavered.

Before marriage, she was the eldest daughter, managing internal affairs, and was renowned for her strictness. Later, after marrying into the Wen Family, leaning on the Wen Family as a powerful tree, the authority of the Cultivation Race was no less than that of the current Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. In addition, she possessed substantial martial force, which was more direct than other powers, earning her deep respect from her family members.

Afterwards, when the Wen Family was destroyed and Qin Yurou fled back to the Qin Family for refuge, she ought to have become a fallen phoenix inferior to a chicken. Yet Qin Yurou quickly clung to the Empress’s thick thigh, and who dared belittle her in the slightest?

Now, before Qin Xiuyuan could finish his words, Qin Yurou sternly rebuked him, leaving him stammering, unable to speak.

"Foolish! The Xuanqing Guard is Your Majesty’s personal guard; even the Left Minister dares not meddle recklessly, let alone a widow like me? Besides, the matter of the Wen Family was deserved, Renhai... Renhai was merely a fish caught in the crossfire, why continue to resent the Xuanqing Guard?

If you still care for your Xiangyu, then keep your mouth shut. Spouting off about the Xuanqing Guard’s faults will only end up harming yourself."

Though Qin Xiuyuan feared his elder sister, the fury in his heart could not be suppressed. He slammed the railing beside him and said bitterly, "Are we to let that damn bastard with the surname Shen off so easily? I refuse to accept it!"

"Hmph, what if you don’t accept it? Do you truly intend to go head-to-head with the Xuanqing Guard?"

"Why not? That Shen fellow is but a Deputy Thousand Households, barely thirty years old, at most a disciple of Jiang Cheng. What is there that’s untouchable about such a man? He merely exploits his Xuanqing Guard identity to make a fuss. I don’t believe he cannot be dealt with."

Qin Yurou seemed a little angry, turned her head away, and said nothing, making it clear she did not wish to engage with Qin Xiuyuan.

But Qin Xiuyuan didn’t give up; he knew the position his elder sister held in the family—if she stood by him in this matter, the odds would be far higher. Whether appealing to the Empress or persuading their uncle, he’d have much better leverage. Besides, he considered his sister shrewd, and this matter could benefit from her careful weighing.

"Sister, can you really watch Xiangyu suffer such injustice? Besides, doesn’t the old saying go ’cut the weeds and remove the roots’? That Shen fellow is clearly a vicious, shameless scoundrel. Watching his usual ways, it’s obvious our family will have no peaceful days ahead, having to watch for him at every moment. Doesn’t that make your heart ache?"

Qin Yurou still remained silent.

"Sister, Renhai died at that bastard’s hands, you truly... Pa!"

Before the words finished, he took a slap across the face. Qin Xiuyuan shut his mouth, for he saw his sister’s eyes bloodshot with rage and her face twisted with hostility. Yet he knew that most of this anger was not aimed at him, but stirred up by his words, directed instead at the tragedy of Wen Renhai’s death.

"Sister, we are family. Renhai’s death has left us all with a suppressed fury, only we never dared bring it up to you. But now that Shen bastard is pushing further, intending to make enemies of our Qin Family! Look at Xiangyu’s grievance—doesn’t it prove the matter? If you still harbor thoughts of repaying hatred with virtue, then in the end, the Qin Family will be the ones to die!"

Qin Xiuyuan was practically crying, though inwardly making his own shrewd calculations. A slap meant little; as long as his sister was willing to help, a few more would not matter.

Qin Yurou painfully closed her eyes, tears streaming down both cheeks.

"Sister, you... Ai..." Qin Xiuyuan wanted to comfort her but couldn’t find the words. He hated to see his sister sorrowful, yet did not wish his schemes to go to waste.

For a long while, as darkness enveloped the sky, Qin Yurou finally opened her eyes. At this moment, it seemed a ruthless streak had awakened within her, utterly unlike her previous indolent demeanor.

"Sister, have you thought it through?"

Qin Yurou rose from her chair, walked to the pavilion’s edge, grasped the railing, and said in a deep voice, "The tree longs for stillness, but the wind will not cease. You’re right—not hearing or asking does not mean the matter will pass. That Shen fellow already sees me and the Qin Family as his enemy. If we do nothing, his tail will grow too large to control, bringing chaos instead."

Upon hearing this, Qin Xiuyuan was ecstatic, hurriedly getting up to stand behind his sister, echoing, "Sister, you are right! We cannot let that Shen bastard off so easily! If you could speak to the Empress, I guarantee..."

Qin Yurou waved her hand, interrupting him again, and said, "This matter is not suitable to bring before the Empress. This is a private vendetta—what use is seeking the Empress? If we sought help, it would be one thing, but to complain? Especially when this ’private feud’ stems from a major case of the Dynasty—seeking the Empress is the same as courting death."

"Ah? Then—then what should we do?"

"The Empress cannot be approached, but there are others. The Fifth Prince already harbors longstanding grudges against that Shen fellow; we only need to transfer Xiangyu’s grievance onto him. With the Fifth Prince’s temperament, he will never let Shen off lightly."

"Sister, how could the Fifth Prince share Xiangyu’s indignation?"

"Imagine: your own woman is wronged, and it is publicized everywhere. If it were you, could you ignore it? Moreover, it concerns someone with whom you already have deep-seated animosity—such a slight cannot be tolerated, for it ultimately concerns your honor. Surely you understand now?"

Qin Xiuyuan’s eyes lit up: "I understand! This is a matter of saving face. The Fifth Prince will be forced to go all out against Shen."

"Exactly. But that alone is not enough."

"Elder Sister, is there more? If you need errands run, just instruct me, I will handle it myself."

"Depending solely on the Fifth Prince’s power is insufficient, nor is there a weighty enough excuse to deal with Shen. We must add fuel to the fire." Pausing, Qin Yurou continued, "Using Xiangyu’s case as the pretext, weren’t there a few Black Shirts killed as well? Locate the families of those Black Shirts, give them money, have them come to the Imperial City to intercept the Minister of Justice’s carriage and file a complaint. Accuse Shen of wantonly killing innocents and abusing power.

Additionally, let Father help out. If he can establish a connection to the Left Minister, pulling Shen’s faults from the top down will create sufficient momentum. Then, we just might succeed in dealing with Shen."

"The Left Minister? The Ministry of Justice? Is... is that really possible?" Qin Xiuyuan felt uncertain; their Uncle, Qin Wenhe—Qin Yurou’s father—did not have enough influence to drape himself in the mantle of the Left Minister and the Ministry of Justice, did he?

"As long as Father agrees, it can be done. The Xuanqing Guard is arrogant and has embarrased Father and his peers several times. Now, there are plenty of people eager for a chance to have the most prominent member of the Xuanqing Guard die with no grave to his name. When the Fifth Prince, Left Minister, Ministry of Justice, and ’victims’ all step up, even if the Xuanqing Guard wants to protect him, it won’t be possible."

This is borrowing power?

Qin Xiuyuan was no fool, just a little slow to respond. Now, after hearing his sister’s words, he finally caught on, his excitement clear on his face.