Wherever Marquis Cheng’en is present, there is no peace, and soon people co to greet and exchange pleasantries.
Qin Liuxi tily excuses herself, as she hadn’t planned to stay long anyway. She had already made a splash by supporting Qin Yuanshan at the tea house, and now having tea with Marquis Cheng’en would spread the news, and by tomorrow, the Qin family would be all astir!
Her willingness to stand up for the old man was out of goodwill and respect for the elderly, but it didn’t an she intended to bring connections to the Qin family, allowing everyone in the Qin family to benefit, or act in her na, causing her trouble. So things need a little warning.
Qin Yuanshan saw Qin Liuxi sitting cross-legged inside the carriage, her back straight, and asked: "When did you arrive in Shengjing?"
"A couple of days ago."
Qin Yuanshan hastily: "Then why haven’t you returned ho?"
Qin Liuxi looked at him with a half-smile: "Naturally, because I have outgrown the age of needing family by my side for happiness."
Qin Yuanshan’s old face flushed, deflated, his back hunched.
This was to draw a line, wasn’t it!
Qin Liuxi said casually: "The Qin family has been exonerated, even if not all the family property has been returned, it shouldn’t be to the point where you can’t even hire two servants. You are a fourth-rank official, an elder, yet you only bring one servant who doubles as a driver when going out? Aren’t you afraid that sothing will happen and you won’t have enough hands! Shengjing is under the Emperor’s feet, full of powerful people and those who look down on others. Being low-key is fine, but if you encounter sothing unscrupulous, you’re the one to be bullied!"
She couldn’t believe that in such a large Qin family, they couldn’t hire an additional driver and servant, and that he, the head of the family, would go out with less than a young girl, with only one person accompanying him, it’s outrageous.
Qin Yuanshan explained: "It was my oversight, thinking I was just coming to et old friends, so I didn’t bring many people, not expecting such a fuss." He glanced down at his inconspicuous attire, chuckling: "People are indeed judged by their appearance. Not to ntion this, by the way, your legitimate mother also returned to Li City a few days ago, had you co a few days earlier, you would have seen her."
"Hmm."
"How did you get acquainted with Marquis Cheng’en and them? I heard Heir Mu is a person of light fate, always wearing a talisman, is it because of this?" Qin Yuanshan asked tentatively.
"I knew Heir Mu long ago in Li City, as for his father, I only t recently." Qin Liuxi recalled why she got to know Marquis Cheng’en, and what she missed and lost because of it, her face turned cold.
Qin Yuanshan didn’t know what upset her, not daring to speak for a mont, after a pause, he whispered: "Was Marquis Cheng’en just now trying to test if you could help the Empress nurture her body?"
Qin Liuxi glanced at him, half-smiling: "What, you want to make this rit?"
Qin Yuanshan’s face flushed, promptly shaking his head, saying: "That’s not the case, I an, even if you can, don’t do it, afraid sothing might go wrong and you get implicated."
Qin Liuxi raised her eyebrows: "This is a great rit, if successful, the Qin family could soar to great heights, such an opportunity for imnse fortune, and you want not to do it?"
"Even imnse fortune must be held securely first." Qin Yuanshan sighed: "Although I have been restored to the Beijing Circle, the center of power, after being wronged by the Saint, I’m not as I was before. Otherwise, how could those people dare to be so sarcastic? But this is beside the point, at my age, I don’t know when I’ll be gone like your grandmother. Sitting in this position is just holding on until your father finishes mourning and resus, so there’s soone in the family to take over, not leaving the family without an official."
Qin Yuanshan leaned against the carriage wall, saying: "Your father has average skills, even if he resus in the future, reaching fourth-rank would be his limit, I dare not count on him. As for your second uncle and third uncle, even less so, they are just commoners, your third uncle is disabled and has no prospects, your second uncle at most can get a superficial position, achieving nothing great. While they mourn these years, I should nurture a few children well, as long as one can succeed, the Qin family won’t fall."
No, there’s already one who’s succeeded, the Qin family won’t fall.
But relying on Qin Liuxi isn’t feasible, she is a female crown, has little emotional connection with the Qin family, offering a bit of support behind is her rembering her lineage, acknowledging this kinship. No more than that can be expected; daring to think more would be their greed.
Thus, the future of the Qin family must still depend on the grandsons, can only rely on them. Sons should have responsibility, depending solely on a sister who’s beco a female crown, how long can one really rely on that?
"Your father’s generation can only maintain status, and your brothers, the eldest is only eighteen, not to ntion being illegitimate, still re commoners, the rest even younger. Even if imnse fortune cos, how could they hold it?"
Qin Liuxi said: "You are uncommonly clear-headed."
Qin Yuanshan showed a bitter expression: "After experiencing exile, the Qin family cannot bear more trouble."
"But you mustn’t let your backbone bend. You are a fourth-rank official, appointed by the Saint, the Saint has no issue with you, yet those of lower rank dare to suppress you, that is your own doing. Being cautious is right, but overdoing it results in a stoop, and your descendants, too, can’t stand tall!" Qin Liuxi coldly said.
In her view, Qin Yuanshan beca timid after being exiled once.
Kindness invites bullying.
Though she isn’t mingling in officialdom, she knows that among Da Feng officials, many never reach fifth rank or remain stuck at fifth rank unable to move, he being a fourth-rank, living in fear, who would take him seriously?
Qin Yuanshan said: "You are indeed right, it is my issue."
"After today, the word will spread, probably many will try to approach you. You must remain steady, neither arrogant nor impatient. You know official matters better than I do. You have nothing to be guilty about, there’s no need to curry favor. Since you are the only one in officialdom these years, being a loyal minister isn’t bad, stability is crucial." Qin Liuxi said: "I won’t be in the capital, nor Mother. In the Qin family, the second branch is most troubleso and restless, you must always watch and warn. Though currently mourning, it’s not suitable to act outside, but don’t let them misuse my na ss around outside, if they provoke , I won’t acknowledge any blood relation."
Qin Yuanshan straightened.
The second branch has many people, frequent argunts, he knows, also arrogant, if they really learn that the Qin family has aligned with Marquis Cheng’en, fear they would soar, who knows what they might do.
Qin Liuxi is both warning and threatening!
"I know."
Qin Liuxi snorted: "A family without proper conduct, disaster isn’t far away. A family’s back courtyard that isn’t calm, ssy, with too many won, problems increase, easy for others to exploit. In Qin Mingmu’s generation, reset family rules, forty without sons before taking a concubine, and marrying a worthy wife. Since we can only count on this generation, so things must be rooted in the fundantals, from details, with family harmony and unity, can prosperity be achieved."
Qin Yuanshan felt a rush of excitent; to suggest, perhaps she wouldn’t remain indifferent?
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