Volume One, Chapter Twelve: Princess, You Are Truly Beautiful!

Qin Sheng recovered from his shock, gazing at the pair of jade ruyi scepters presented by the accompanying eunuch, feeling as though they burned in his hands. Yet, he dared not defy the imperial decree.

With a bitter expression, Qin Sheng accepted the jade ruyi and proclaimed loudly, “Your servant Qin Sheng receives the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your gracious favor.” After speaking, he handed the jade ruyi to Qin Youde, stepped closer to Huang Jing, took out two banknotes each worth one hundred taels, and slipped them smoothly into Huang Jing’s hand, whispering, “Eunuch Huang, may I ask you something?”

Huang Jing accepted the money and nodded, “If I can speak of it, I will.”

Qin Sheng hurriedly asked, “Why did His Majesty suddenly bestow a reward?”

“I do not know,” Huang Jing replied.

Qin Sheng’s face stiffened, but he pressed on, “His Majesty said I donated a hundred thousand taels of silver to the court, but I truly do not understand.”

“I do not know,” Huang Jing answered once more.

Qin Sheng had given a hundred thousand taels to Princess Changle, intending to manipulate the princess and Qin Bao; this matter had angered the emperor, and naturally, Huang Jing would not reveal it. The money, he would take; words, he would not utter.

Twice rebuffed, Qin Sheng realized Huang Jing was not easily persuaded and said gratefully, “Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch.”

“I have not guided you,” Huang Jing replied with a sinister smile, hands clasped behind his back as he departed.

Qin Sheng watched Huang Jing leave. Suddenly, his gaze swept across nearby neighbors, who had gathered again in small groups.

“They say the Qin family has fallen, yet they quietly donated a hundred thousand taels to the emperor. Truly foolish and wealthy!”

“The retired emperor built a Daoist temple and sent people to collect donations, but Qin Sheng claimed he had no money. Now, with the nation in difficulty, he suddenly donates a hundred thousand taels—no wonder the emperor calls him a loyal subject.”

“Qin Sheng is part of the noble faction—has he pledged loyalty to the emperor?”

“That thick-browed Qin Sheng, I thought him a rough man, but who knew his mind was so deep, secretly pledging himself to the emperor.”

The voices of discussion rose and fell, and Qin Sheng’s expression grew increasingly grim.

When had he ever pledged loyalty to the emperor? He had never betrayed the retired emperor.

Yet the imperial decree was clear; everyone knew the Qin family had donated a hundred thousand taels. The rest of the nobles ignored the emperor’s plight, but he alone stepped forward. Not only had he betrayed the retired emperor, he had also shamed the other nobles.

We all refuse to step forward, yet your Changping Marquis House does? What are you up to?

Thinking thus, Qin Sheng’s heart burned with anxiety.

Frustrated, he strode back to his residence; Qin Youde, meanwhile, felt nothing amiss, instead joyfully cradling the jade ruyi as he returned to the grand hall.

Qin Youde’s face was bright with happiness as he announced loudly, “Father, His Majesty has honored you with a decree—clearly you are now favored in his heart.”

Qin Sheng looked into Qin Youde’s clear, foolish eyes and asked, “Do you truly believe that?”

“Yes!” Qin Youde lifted the pair of jade ruyi, delighted. “His Majesty’s reward has arrived; it must be a great fortune.”

Madam Wu also circled the jade ruyi, admiring, “Master, this is a blessing.”

Qin Sheng was already uneasy; now, seeing his son’s utter foolishness, he grew even more furious.

Adding to it, every misfortune stemmed from Qin Youde.

Had Qin Youde not impregnated a prostitute, the Sun family would not have withdrawn their engagement. Had he not offended the princess, Qin Sheng would not have lost a hundred thousand taels, nor would he have been ensnared by the emperor.

Rage boiling, Qin Sheng’s face became dark as water, and his right hand shot out like lightning, landing a slap on Qin Youde’s cheek.

With a thud, Qin Youde, caught off guard, stumbled to the ground, the jade ruyi falling from his grasp.

Crash!

One of the jade ruyi shattered into two pieces.

“It’s broken! The jade ruyi is broken!” No matter how foolish, Qin Youde understood the importance of imperial gifts—these were not to be sold or damaged, but passed down through the family.

Now, it was broken.

Qin Youde was flustered, and seeing that Qin Sheng was still angry, he reminded him, “Father, you broke the jade ruyi.”

Qin Sheng felt as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over him in midwinter, his whole body chilled, crouching down with unprecedented panic in his eyes.

The emperor was already displeased with him.

Now, the jade ruyi was broken—a sign of disrespect. News would spread, and censors would impeach him; at best, he would lose his title as Marquis of Changping, at worst, be exiled and prosecuted.

“Hurry, hurry, put it away,” Qin Sheng glanced around, quickly collecting the jade ruyi, determined to find someone to repair it quietly. Looking at the equally panicked Qin Youde, he grew ever more furious.

Knows nothing! Only knows how to frequent brothels—utter fool.

Qin Sheng pulled off his belt, grinned fiercely, “Fool, you failed to hold the jade ruyi properly. Today, I’ll enforce family discipline.”

Screams echoed in the hall.

Pleas for mercy resounded without end.

Madam Wu’s tearful sobs provided a mournful accompaniment.

After a long time, Qin Sheng, aching and exhausted, stopped, scolding, “Wretch, you are to reflect behind closed doors. Otherwise, do not blame me for enforcing family law again.”

Madam Wu called for help, assisting the miserable Qin Youde away.

Qin Sheng sat alone in the hall, his mood still unsettled, his mind in chaos. Because of the emperor’s scheming, the retired emperor’s people would surely visit—how should he respond?

Should he hide away?

But one can dodge the first day, not the fifteenth!

Claim he was coerced?

Yet the Qin family had always declared they were poor, and now, in one breath, donated a hundred thousand taels—everyone knew they had money.

Annoyed, Qin Sheng cursed, “It’s all that wretched Qin Bao’s fault; had he married Shen Meng, none of this would have happened. That damned wretch!”

Yet no matter how irritated, Qin Sheng had to consider his strategy.

…

Inside the imperial palace.

Huang Jing returned to report, entering Zhangtai Palace and bowing to Emperor Xuanwu. “Your Majesty, the decree has been delivered. You should have seen it—Qin Sheng was utterly stunned.”

Emperor Xuanwu spoke coldly, “Qin Sheng may be a father, but he behaves nothing like one. He favors concubines over his wife, violating propriety—he deserves his fate.”

Huang Jing replied, “Your Majesty speaks truly.”

A smile flickered in Emperor Xuanwu’s eyes. “The nobles have always been my father’s base, and now that Qin Sheng has offered himself, how could I not stir the waters?”

He ordered, “Wang Wu!”

“Present!” Wang Wu stepped forth from the shadows.

Emperor Xuanwu instructed, “Arrange for people to spread the news—say Qin Sheng is loyal and patriotic, donating a hundred thousand taels to aid the court. Stir up public opinion, claim that the Qin family’s wealth rivals that of merchants.”

“At once!” Wang Wu hurried away.

A sharp light flashed in Emperor Xuanwu’s eyes; this time, Qin Sheng’s leap forward was a chance to divide and destabilize the nobles. Even if the goal wasn’t fully achieved, he could at least create chaos, preventing them from adding trouble to his own affairs.

…

Diecui Garden.

Qin Bao returned from the princess’s residence, organizing his next steps and mapping out his network.

To establish himself in Liang, he had to weave his own web.

With enough connections and influence, he could remain safe and secure.

As Qin Bao pondered, footsteps approached; Wang Thirteen entered and said, “Young master, there’s new information outside, concerning the Qin family.”

Qin Bao instructed, “Speak.”

Wang Thirteen replied, “There’s talk outside that Qin Sheng presented a hundred thousand taels of silver to His Majesty. His Majesty had people announce that Qin Sheng is deeply concerned for the nation, his loyalty evident, and rewarded him with a pair of jade ruyi.”

Qin Bao’s brows rose in surprise.

The emperor had given a reward.

No—something was off.

In times of fiscal hardship, if Qin Sheng had truly donated such a sum, it would not have been merely a verbal commendation and a pair of jade ruyi as reward.

There was something wrong with this reward.

Qin Bao recalled Qin Sheng’s gift of a hundred thousand taels to Wang Caiwei; with the money sent to the emperor, it prompted imperial action.

Qin Sheng gave money, clearly seeking connections.

He was scheming.

Now, the emperor had exposed the matter; the Qin family would be roasted over the flames, with many coming to demand money.

An open decree left Qin Sheng caught in a dilemma—truly a clever move.

Understanding this, Qin Bao paid it no further mind, returning to write the fifth chapter of “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.”

As dusk fell and he prepared for dinner, Wang Thirteen returned, saying, “Young master, the princess has arrived.”

Joy welled in Qin Bao’s heart as he rose to welcome her.

He hurried to the entrance, where Princess Changle, Wang Caiwei, awaited him.

Today, Wang Caiwei wore a pale pink long dress, her hair styled in a lofty cloud bun, her slender waist cinched tightly, accentuating her curvaceous figure.

Her alluring face was adorned with a faint smile, both sweet and teasing, noble and radiant, exuding an irresistible charm.

Qin Bao gazed at Wang Caiwei, momentarily entranced, and exclaimed, “Princess, your attire today rivals that of a celestial maiden—unparalleled in beauty.”