Tian Xiang finally pieced together the general situation, though his thoughts were somewhat muddled. “Princess Jinyang is actually that formidable?”
The Jiao Army soldier nodded. “Indeed. Their repeating crossbows are incredibly powerful.”
Tian Xiang frowned and, after a moment, asked, “Can you confirm that Qu Zhaozhen is really headed this way?”
The Jiao Army soldier was beginning to lose patience. “We don’t know the specifics either. However, if Qu Zhaozhen does come to attack you, you can ask the Jiao Army for help. But we won’t be helping for free.”
Tian Xiang cursed inwardly but showed nothing on his face. He indicated that he understood. “I see. If we can’t hold out when the time comes, we’ll certainly ask the Jiao Army for assistance. I hope you’ll lend us a hand then.”
The Jiao Army soldier tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Anything else you want to ask? If not, I’m going back.”
Tian Xiang nodded and instructed a servant, “See this warrior out.”
After the Jiao Army soldier left, the council hall fell silent for a moment. At length, Li Wei spoke. “Your Majesty, shouldn’t we start considering how to arrange our defenses?”
Chen Ning let out a cold laugh. “Didn’t Qu Zhaozhen go to Chongzhou? The Jiao Army said they’re only suspicious. She may not actually be coming to attack us.”
Li Wei frowned. “But what if she really does come? If what the Jiao Army says is true, Qu Zhaozhen is now fighting with her back to the wall and has nowhere left to retreat. She’ll inevitably do whatever it takes to seize Anwu. We have to take precautions.”
Tian Xiang nodded. “That’s right. No matter what, we must prepare our defenses in case of the worst.”
He looked around at everyone. “What do you all think would be the safest way to arrange our defenses?”
At Xianglu County, Qiu Tai was reclining on a lounge chair while a maid fanned him from the side.
He let out a satisfied sigh. “The people of Xianglu County certainly know how to enjoy life. Who came up with this chair? It’s unbelievably comfortable.”
The young servant chuckled in agreement. “I think so too. Old Master Qiu will surely be delighted when he receives your letter.”
Qiu Tai’s face was filled with pride. “Of course he will. I’ve never felt so capable of shopping before. These two courtyards are absolutely the best, and I bought them both.”
As he spoke, he clicked his tongue. “It’s just a pity that the shops aren’t for sale. Otherwise, I would have bought a few of those too.”
The young servant smiled reassuringly. “Renting is just as good. We’ve rented the biggest shop on South Street. Once the renovations are finished, we can open for business.”
The shop was truly enormous—a two-story building with a rear courtyard. It could be used to store goods as well as house people.
The young servant sighed again. “Shopkeeper Chen really is impressive. He must have connections, or we wouldn’t have been able to rent such a good shop.”
Qiu Tai preened. “Heh, see? Let’s see what the old man has to say now about me not knowing how to make friends.”
“I also sent a letter to Brother Kang. Good brothers should share their blessings. It’s just that his family deals in grain, and the grain business won’t be easy here.”
The young servant sighed once more. “I never expected grain to be so cheap in Xianglu. The people here really do live well.”
Qiu Tai was somewhat distracted. “Yes.”
He rubbed a scar on the back of his hand, his voice tinged with melancholy. “I just wonder where Lady Hua is. I can’t stop thinking about her.”
Hua Ruo had given him that scar when she beat him. His other wounds had all healed, but this one still retained a faint pink hue, just like his feelings for her—soft, sweet, and tinged with pink.
Whenever he missed her, he would look at the scar. Ah, this was probably what people meant by a sweet burden.
For Hua Ruo’s sake, he had remained chaste all this time and never joined his good-for-nothing friends in their debauchery. He wanted to give her the best version of himself.
When Qiu Dao received the letter, he was so angry that his teeth ached.
He had sent his son out with so much money and so many medicinal materials, and it hadn’t even been that long before the boy was asking him for more money again?!
Did Qiu Tai really think his money grew on trees?
Old Master Qiu frowned. “What are you angry about? He only spent a little money to buy two courtyards. That’s a good thing.”
Qiu Dao: “…”
His son’s lack of restraint was largely the result of his own father spoiling him.
Every time Qiu Dao tried to beat the boy, his father would shield him, always giving the same outrageous excuse: “Whose fault is it that you’re useless and only managed to give me one grandson? If you’d had several children, I wouldn’t spoil this one so much.”
Every time his father said this, Qiu Dao felt like dying.
He was useless?
No. Clearly, it was his wife who was at fault. How could he possibly be useless?
Besides, his father seemed to have forgotten that he himself was also an only child, with no brothers or sisters. If anyone was useless, then it was a family tradition!
Old Master Qiu had no idea that his son was ranting inwardly. His mood was quite good as he said, “Make the arrangements for me. I’m going to Fengzhou as well. Take your mother with me.”
Qiu Dao was startled. “Father, we don’t even know what the situation in Fengzhou is like yet. It would be safer to remain in Sizhou.”
Old Master Qiu glared at him. “Didn’t Qiu Tai say it was a good place? Hurry up and make the arrangements.”
Qiu Dao said, “But Qiu Tai is still a child. How can you take his word seriously?”
Old Master Qiu immediately took offense. “He may be a child, but why can’t his words be trusted?”
He waved his hand. “Get everything arranged at once. And bring plenty of money. Don’t be so stingy. If you weren’t so tight-fisted, would Qiu Tai have needed to ask you for more money? I really don’t know what kind of father you are.”
Qiu Dao: “…”
Old Master Qiu had already begun making plans. “Qiu Tai’s rented apothecary is so large that we might as well open a clinic there too. I have nothing else to do, so I can examine patients and treat their illnesses.”
His eldest grandson was opening a shop in a new place, so of course he had to support him and help him establish a foothold.
Then he remembered something and added, “Assign me ten apprentice pharmacists. No, make that twenty. I’ll take them all with me.”
Qiu Dao: “…”
His father’s medical skills were better than his own, but these days, he rarely treated patients anymore.
Qiu Dao said helplessly, “Father, we should still consider this carefully. How about I send someone to Fengzhou to look into the situation first, and then we can decide?”
Old Master Qiu impatiently replied, “What’s there to investigate? Get everything ready. I’m leaving in three days.”
Qiu Dao was driven out by his father in a daze. Feeling deeply frustrated, he decided to find his mother and ask her to talk some sense into the old man.
However, before he could even enter his mother’s Fushou Courtyard, her personal nanny informed him that she was not receiving visitors and that he should go back where he came from.
Qiu Dao: “…”
He silently withdrew and, with nowhere else to turn, went to complain to his wife.
Before he could enter the inner courtyard, he heard a commotion inside.
Qiu Dao was startled and hurried in. Before long, he saw servants busy carrying all sorts of things around.
“What’s going on?” he shouted.
Only then did the nanny notice him. She quickly bowed and said, “Master, this was ordered by Madam.”
Qiu Dao frowned, then felt his heart jolt violently as he sensed that something was wrong. Ignoring the chaos in the courtyard, he hurried into the inner room.
Sure enough, he found his wife directing her personal nanny to pack their belongings.
“What are you doing?” He hurried forward.
Wang Xianyun turned to look at him and explained, “Qiu Tai sent a letter, didn’t he? He said he missed me, and I miss him too. I might as well go see him.”
Qiu Dao felt the veins in his forehead throbbing. “When did Qiu Tai ever say he missed you in that letter?”
It had clearly been nothing more than an ordinary letter asking for money!
Wang Xianyun paused, but her expression did not change. “Husband Qiu, you don’t understand the bond between a mother and her son. He may not have written it outright, but every word between the lines revealed his deep longing for his mother.”
Qiu Dao was speechless. “Darling, A-Tai has only just arrived there and hasn’t even settled in yet. Won’t going over now just add to his troubles?”
Wang Xianyun disagreed. “Husband Qiu, you really don’t understand. It’s precisely because he hasn’t settled in that he needs me, his mother.”
“Ah, he’s still a child after all, and he didn’t think things through. If he had come to me, his mother, before he left, would he ever have found himself short of money?”
She pointed to the two wooden chests that had already been placed on the table. “Look, they’re filled with gold nuggets and silver ingots—more than ten jin of each. I had them prepared for him, and I’m taking them along this time.”
Whenever she thought about it, her teeth began to ache with anger. Qiu Tai had probably been worried that she would object to his going to Fengzhou, so apart from Qiu Dao, he hadn’t told anyone.
Qiu Tai had always been cheerful and had many friends. He was often out and rarely home, so she truly hadn’t known that her son had gone to Fengzhou. It wasn’t until several days had passed without seeing him that she learned the rebellious boy had already set off.
And then there was Qiu Dao, that treacherous husband of hers. He was always calling her “darling,” yet he hadn’t breathed a word to her about their son leaving for Fengzhou—a matter of such importance.
Just then, the matron in charge of the storerooms entered and asked, “Madam, how many chests of copper coins should we bring? How many bolts of cloth? And should we bring the carriages as well? How many?”
