Chapter 150: Winds of Change (1)

The inn was brightly lit that night.

Everything had been fine until the sound of Qingzhu’s voice came from outside the door, announcing a personal letter from Lady Yao and requesting the young master to review it personally.

The letter was handed in. Qi Ying didn’t avoid Shen Xiling and opened it in front of her. She watched as the smile in his eyes abruptly vanished, the tender warmth freezing over into frost once more.

She struggled to describe his appearance at that moment. The atmosphere grew heavy, and she could feel his demeanor change—more severe than ever before.

She even felt a bit frightened and quickly glanced at the letter herself. After a few hurried glimpses, she too was shocked.

... Both Elder Brother Qi and Third Brother Qi had been imprisoned due to a major case involving usury and land consolidation. The emperor held the Left Chancellor accountable, and upon receiving this news, the chancellor fell ill and collapsed, now bedridden and unconscious.

Shen Xiling’s heart trembled violently, unable to react immediately. Meanwhile, Qi Ying, with a stern expression, summoned Qingzhu into the room and asked, “Where is the messenger who brought the letter?”

Qingzhu hastily bowed and went out to fetch the person. A servant from the Qi family entered, looking disheveled and covered in mud.

Qi Ying frowned and asked, “What happened?”

The servant, trembling and stuttering, recounted the events.

Lady Yao’s letter was originally written on the nineteenth day of the first month. A servant was dispatched northward but was ambushed by bandits halfway, detained in the mountains for over half a month. All his money was robbed, and he only managed to escape a few days ago, finally finding the second young master today.

The nineteenth day of the first month...

Today was already the twenty-third day of the second month.

So, what about the current state of the Qi family...

Shen Xiling’s heartbeat quickened, and in her panic, she looked up at Qi Ying. He had already slightly closed his eyes and, after a brief moment, returned to his usual composure.

After a short contemplation, he waved his hand at Qingzhu and the servant, saying, “Leave.”

Qingzhu appeared anxious and glanced at Shen Xiling, perhaps hinting that she should console the master. Though Shen Xiling understood, her mind was a mess, unsure of what to say or do, so she remained silent.

Qingzhu and the servant both exited the room.

The night was extremely quiet.

Shen Xiling watched Qi Ying sit down in the simple inn room, his expression stern yet somewhat weary. After standing there for a while, she gently walked over to him, silently pouring a cup of tea and handing it to him.

He seemed deep in thought and initially didn’t notice the tea she offered. When he finally saw it, he casually took it and gave her a faint smile, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

She knew that his heart was far from calm.

Shen Xiling pursed her lips and slowly sat beside him, looking at him under the dim light of the lamp and said, “Master… shall we return?”

Upon hearing this, he turned to look at her, his phoenix eyes dark and deep, his voice extremely low, asking, “Return?”

Return?

She knew his plans. After leaving Jiankang this time, he hadn’t intended to return. He wanted to fulfill his promise to her, to take her away from all troubles and live the life they both yearned for. But Jiankang was a massive whirlpool; once they returned, it would be hard to escape again. If they were to leave, now was the best opportunity. Missing it meant losing control of everything.

Shen Xiling naturally longed to leave with Qi Ying. She had yearned for such a life for so long. However, Jiankang still had his family...

His father and mother, his elder brother and younger brother... Now that they were in trouble, how could he possibly ignore them?

She understood the pain of lacking familial bonds and didn’t want him to experience the same. She also knew that if he abandoned everything to leave with her now, it would haunt him for life and become a knot between them.

Even if not considering Qi Ying, Shen Xiling herself was grateful. Lady Yao had personally hosted her coming-of-age ceremony, treating her like her own child. How could she not be willing to return for this?

Shen Xiling looked back at him, her gaze clear and pure. She smiled and nodded at him, her expression gentle yet firm, saying, “Yes, let’s return.”

Without complaint, without hesitation.

Qi Ying gazed deeply at her for a long time, his eyes filled with complex emotions, seemingly moved, seemingly sighing. But he said nothing, only pulling her tightly into his arms.

His breath was scorching, steady and enduring, making her realize the resilience and depth of this man’s character.

“I will definitely take you away,” he said, “Once this matter is resolved, we’ll go.”

He was resolute.

“I won’t let you down.”

That was his promise to her, a vow from a man to a woman.

These words made Shen Xiling’s eyes instantly moist. She reached out to hug him back, gently patting his back and said, “I know.”

I know.

I know what kind of person you are, perhaps better than anyone else in this world.

I know you won’t break your promise, because you always see everything as your responsibility.

I just hope you don’t make yourself suffer too much.

That’s all.

Through the long night, the two embraced for a long time, as if seeking solace from each other.

Half a month later, the delegation returned to Jiankang.

It took a month to travel to Northern Wei, but the return journey was halved, thanks to Young Master Qi’s orders to travel day and night back to Jiangnan.

No one dared ask why their superior was in such a hurry, as he had been stern and unapproachable these past half months, leaving no one bold enough to question, only following his instructions.

They arrived at Jiankang in the dead of night.

At this hour, the city gates were usually closed and no one was allowed entry. However, Young Master Qi, as the Chief Minister, was an exception. Upon seeing the token of the Privy Council, the gatekeeper respectfully allowed them passage.

The city gates of Jiankang were tall and imposing, like a massive cage. Shen Xiling sat with Qi Ying in the carriage, gazing through the window at the familiar gates, her heart full of mixed feelings.

Four years ago, she had first met him here. Three months ago, when they left through this gate together, she thought she would never return. Unexpectedly, after only a few days of separation, they had to come back.

It felt like fate.

Upon entering the city, Qi Ying instructed Bai Song to drive Shen Xiling back to Fenghe Garden first, while he and Qingzhu changed horses to rush back to the main house. Before getting out of the carriage, Shen Xiling suddenly felt a strong wave of unease and couldn’t help but tightly hug him, burying her face in his chest and asking, “…When will you return to Fenghe Garden?”

Her voice trembled slightly, and Qi Ying could sense her anxiety. He hugged her gently and reassured her, promising, “I’ll return soon, to see you.”

His voice was as deep and steady as usual, but unlike before, it failed to comfort Shen Xiling. Her worries turned into reluctance to part with him, clinging to him until the horse outside neighed impatiently. Only then did she reluctantly let go, leaning against the carriage window watching him mount his horse and quickly disappear into the thick night of Jiankang.

Neither of them knew what their reunion would be like.

The Qi family, a prestigious clan for a hundred years, had a grand ancestral mansion as imposing as ever. The vermilion gates were majestic, and the stone lions at the entrance were as dignified as ever. The lanterns in front of the mansion were delicate and bright, casting long shadows of the returning traveler.

The servants at the gate heard the sound of galloping hooves and knew someone was arriving. Upon seeing the second young master return, they were surprised and even teared up, choking back sobs, “Young Master has returned… Please, please enter quickly!”

Qi Ying furrowed his brow and strode into the mansion.

Inside, the carved beams were as they had always been, everything seemingly unchanged. However, the atmosphere was cold and solemn, tinged with desolation.

The main hall was empty. Qi Ying thought for a moment and headed towards his mother’s Jiaxi Hall.

Before entering, he heard Hui’er crying, and his mother’s voice, low and consoling.

Why was Hui’er here?

The maidservants waiting outside Jiaxi Hall reacted similarly to the gatekeepers. Their previously lifeless eyes brightened upon seeing the second young master. They curtsied and joyfully ran inside to inform Lady Yao. Soon, his mother’s voice came from within, trembling slightly, asking, “Is Jingchen back?”

Upon hearing this, Qi Ying immediately entered, passing the screen to see his mother.

In just less than two months, Lady Yao had grown much thinner.

She was a very beautiful lady, harmonious with her husband, with accomplished and filial children, living a blessed life. With no worries, her face bore hardly any signs of aging. However, in these two months, she had aged dramatically, silver streaks appearing at her temples and dark circles under her eyes, looking utterly exhausted.

Upon seeing Qi Ying enter, her eyes welled up, and she stood up, but almost stumbled after a few steps. Qi Ying quickly supported her and helped her sit down. Lady Yao burst into tears, burying her head on her son’s shoulder and sobbing, “Jingchen… Jingchen…”

Overcome with emotion, his mother couldn’t speak. While comforting her, Qi Ying felt a weight on his knee—it was little Hui’er, clinging to his leg, her face tear-streaked, crying incessantly, “Uncle, Uncle finally came back. Please save Father and Mother, Uncle…”

During the half-month journey, he had limited knowledge of the situation at home, only aware of the news from his mother’s letter. From Hui’er’s words, it seemed something had happened to Eldest Brother’s wife as well?

Qi Ying suppressed his doubts and used one hand to comfort the little girl, wiping her tears and reassuring her, “Uncle is back. Everything will be alright. Hui’er, go to sleep. When you wake up, everything will be fine.”

Hui’er clung to him desperately, crying so hard she struggled for breath. Qi Ying signaled Qingzhu, who immediately left the room to call for Hui’er’s wet nurse. Once the nurse arrived, she carried the exhausted little girl away.

Though small, Hui’er seemed to understand fear and worry. Before leaving, she extended her little finger to Qi Ying, crying, “Uncle, pinky promise with Hui’er.”

Qi Ying hooked fingers with her, and the little girl finally calmed down somewhat. It seemed she trusted her second uncle completely, believing that whatever he promised would surely come true.

Seizing the opportunity, the wet nurse carried the little girl away.

By this time, Lady Yao’s emotions had stabilized somewhat. Qi Ying poured his mother a cup of calming tea, which she drank before finally beginning to recount the origins of this calamity.

The root of the problem lay naturally with Third Son Qi Ning.

In recent years, he had befriended Fu Ran, the illegitimate son of the Fu family. Somehow, over the past year, he got involved in their family’s private loan business.

Engaging in illicit activities like private loans was something every family dabbled in to some extent, including the Qi family. For instance, some of the collateral branches had touched it. However, the Qi family maintained a clean reputation, and the main line stayed away from such dealings. They also imposed stricter controls on the collateral branches compared to other families. Even when they did engage in improper activities, they were careful not to attract too much attention.

But what Qi Ning had done this time was different.

Not only did he lend money at an exorbitant interest rate of four-tenths, but he also compounded the interest, resulting in massive amounts owed. Unable to repay, peasants were forced to mortgage their land, which he subsequently seized, amassing thousands of acres.

As a concubine-born son, where did he get so much money? Naturally, he borrowed heavily from outside moneylenders, unbeknownst to the family. The moneylenders weren’t fools. Although they knew he was a Qi family son, they wouldn’t lend large sums of gold and silver easily without collateral. He must have provided some form of guarantee. Whether driven by madness or instigation, he audaciously forged his eldest brother’s private seal on the promissory notes.