Mrs. Qin and Qin Chuqin came to Qin Chuyuan's bedside after Minister Qin left: "Fortunately you two are fine. Yesterday when I heard that you two fell into the water and went missing, and A-Yuan was also stabbed, my heart was gripped with anxiety. Thank goodness the Heaven has eyes and allowed you two to return safely."
"We made Mother worry." Qin Chuyuan said.
"Strangely, you have been injured again and again this year. Could it be that you have offended an evil spirit? Tomorrow Mother will find a feng shui master to take a look, see if there is a problem with the layout of your courtyard, and consider adjusting the layout." Mrs. Qin said with knitted brows.
The speaker had no intention, but the listener took it seriously. Qin Chuqin had delicate thoughts. Afraid that Palace Xiaohua would overthink, she quickly changed the subject for her mother, although her mother did not have any malice.
"Mother, Xiaohua and the others were out for a day and night, they must be tired too. Let's go back first and let them rest early."
"Alright, it's getting late too. Xiaohua you should rest early. I'll leave A-Yuan to you then." Mrs. Qin San said.
"Alright."
Qin Chuqin supported her mother, and the three of them--her father and mother--walked out together. Before leaving, she said to Gong Xiaohua: "Xiaohua, rest well."
Gong Xiaohua nodded.
The attempted assassination of the Crown Prince and Prince Wei was a huge incident, but Gong Xiaohua did not have much concern over it. She knew her own standing, with her current status she did not have the ability to wade into the turbulent waters of the imperial family. As for the role the Qins played in this muddy water, that would be left for Minister Qin and Qin Chuyuan to handle.
Although Minister Qin was somewhat conservative in family affairs, his utmost priority was the interests of the family, which was clear as day. As long as he did not harbor any strong personal ambitions and desires, the Qin family would not easily decline under his leadership.
And for Qin Chuyuan, she now had some understanding of him too. On the surface he appeared as a aloof and refined noble son, but who knew how many unknown means he hid inside. Just like the Qin main family—although she had little contact with them and did not understand much, she could sense that all the scheming of the main house members combined was still not comparable to a single Qin Chuyuan. No wonder Minister Qin both loved and hated this grandson of his, often going against him and whipping him with threats, yet in the end it was more thunder than rain, leaving the main house resentfully grinding their teeth.
Qin Chuyuan gave her control over his intelligence organization. If it was in the past, she would have had no need for it. Because the Gong and Li families were low-ranking insignificant households, with her background she would not have formed any deep enmities, even if there were any conflicts they would just be small skirmishes.
But ever since she became affiliated with the Qins, she caught the attention of the Lins, making the Lin family her biggest enemy, as well as the current concubine of the Sixth Prince, Lin Yueru. Usually, as long as she had people keep an eye on the situations of the Gong and Li families, as long as they stopped harassing her family, she would also not take the initiative to cause trouble.
In other situations, if they were not extremely crucial, she would not need to utilize this organization.
Ever since Nanlong Prefecture, there had been no news about mishaps befalling the second ranked assassin in Wuji Sect. She did not know if the other party was laying low, or if no one in the Dayi Dynasty was capable of confronting him yet.
In this assassination attempt, flaws were beginning to show. She hoped to uncover the truth behind the scenes.
Gong Xiaohua took two days off to rest and recuperate. Qin Chuyuan was injured taking a knife for her, she would stay at the Qins for two days taking care of him, lest he looked at her resentfully for being ungrateful.
The Gongs knew about the assassination attempt on Qin Chuyuan and her. On the second day after they returned, Madam Gong came to the Qins to visit her daughter and son-in-law. When Madam Gong arrived, she happened to see many people busily moving things around in the courtyard.
Gong Xiaohua and Madam Gong walked from the back courtyard towards the main building where she lived with Qin Chuyuan.
"What are all these people in the yard busy doing?"
"Qin Chuyuan's mother said he had an unlucky year, so she invited a feng shui master to assess the courtyard."
"What do you mean Qin Chuyuan's mother, she's your mother-in-law, you have to address her as Mother. In families like these, you need to be prudent, don't give others a chance to pick on your faults."
"Don't worry Mother, I only speak like this in front of you."
"That's more like it." Only then did Madam Gong feel relieved. The two continued walking forward.
"You're right too. Our young master is good looking, but he's also too unlucky, and his health is weak--getting injured again and again. Xiaohua, take care of him more in the future. Men getting injured too many times will damage their own health, and it will still be us women suffering misfortune in the end." Madam Gong looked around, seeing only Chunyun and no one else. She quietly murmured in Gong Xiaohua's ear, still with some concern in her expression.
Gong Xiaohua: Could she be hearing this right? Weren't ancient women supposed to be modest? Turns out married women, whether in ancient times or modern times, were equally unrestrained!
"Ahem, Mother, how has Xiao Nan been recently? Did anything unusual happen these two days?" She successfully steered her mother's attention away.
"Nothing much really, just that his body keeps feeling cold then hot."
His wound must be infected: "I'll go back with you later to take a look."
"Alright."
Soon, the two arrived outside the bedchamber.
Inside the room, Qin Chuyuan was currently reclining on the bed. Next to the bed sat a beardless middle-aged man—the Crown Prince's personal eunuch Eunuch He, with a little eunuch standing behind him.
"Sir Qin, the Crown Prince has been busy recently eradicating evildoers around us, so he cannot come to the manor personally to see you. Please pardon the Crown Prince. These are some premium supplements the Crown Prince sent me to deliver, and told me to convey that Sir Qin may recuperate with ease."
"Please relay my thanks for the Crown Prince's concern."
"The Crown Prince instructed me to definitely thank Sir Qin and General Gong in person for their staunch assistance that day, allowing us all to grasp a lifeline and avoid becoming the souls killed by the assassins' blades. I wonder, where might General Gong be?"
"My wife's family came to visit." Qin Chuyuan explained.
"How unfortunate, but since it is so--" Suddenly a servant's voice from outside cut off Eunuch He's words.
Outside.
"Mistress, Madam Gong."
"Hmm? Your young master has a guest?" Seeing the wide open room door and an unfamiliar man sitting inside, Gong Xiaohua softly asked the servant by the door.
"To report to Mistress, it is someone from the Eastern Palace."
"I see. Mother, let's come back later." Gong Xiaohua said softly to Madam Gong.
As the two prepared to leave, Eunuch He inside the room knew Gong Xiaohua was outside and immediately rushed out to stop her.
"General Gong please wait."
"This old servant is the Crown Prince's personal eunuch. The Crown Prince specially instructed me to thank General Gong for the life-saving grace in person." Having said this, he bowed deeply to Gong Xiaohua. Then he took a brocade box from the hands of the little eunuch behind him, opened it and held it out before Gong Xiaohua.
"This exquisite iron-forged sword was specially ordered to be forged by the best blacksmiths in the capital. It slices iron like clay—a generous gift from the Crown Prince to the General. Presenting a sword as a reward for your bravery, may the General please accept it."
Gong Xiaohua looked at the beautiful and precious sword in the box, about a foot long and inlaid with all kinds of gems.
"The Crown Prince thinks too highly, protecting the Crown Prince is the duty of us officials. I dare not take credit, I ask that the Eunuch please return to relay my gratitude for the Crown Prince's kind intentions." Gong Xiaohua declined.
"The Crown Prince emphasized that I must deliver the gift to the General personally, otherwise when I return empty-handed the Crown Prince will have my head. Please do not make things difficult for me General." Eunuch He bowed deeply in front of Gong Xiaohua, clearly indicating that he would not get up if she did not accept it.
"Then please convey my gratitude to the Crown Prince on my behalf." After hesitating for a moment, Gong Xiaohua finally accepted the box.
"The General is too courteous. This servant has completed my mission, I shall take my leave to avoid disturbing the General and your esteemed father. Farewell." Eunuch He happily said.
"Have a safe trip."
After exchanging courtesies, Eunuch He departed with the little eunuch next to him.
