Return of the Swallow

Qin Yining looked at Qin Huaiyuan's calm face, from which he could only read bitterness and resignation.

Just like a person's family cannot be chosen, it is also impossible to choose which country to be born in, whether the country is strong or weak, whether it is peaceful or war.

A person, even if he has the talent of Jingtianwei, can be held back by a faint-hearted emperor like the Dayan Emperor, and there is nothing he can do. In Qin Yining's view, this is even sadder than a woman marrying the wrong person.

"Father, don't be too sad. As a courtier, you have done your best for the emperor, and you are already loyal. The emperor insists on his own way and refuses to make progress, and it is not for others to seize the handle. We have different positions, although we are implicated by the emperor, but that is also our life."

When the war resumed, this time the other party's soldiers and horses pointed directly at the capital. If it was an ordinary woman, I would have been scared to tears, but his daughter, who was able to see the current situation so calmly, could come to comfort him.

Qin Huaiyuan couldn't help but ask, "Sister Yi, aren't you afraid?"

Qin Yining raised his eyebrows and said, "What are you afraid of?"

"You are the daughter of the Qin family. With my status, you can't even escape. If the little prince's men really come to the capital, we will swear to defend the capital. If it succeeds, it's fine, if it fails. , you will be implicated. We are afraid that the men of the Qin family will not survive, and the women will be like the daughters of your grandmother and their family. daughters of our family."

"Father, I know what you said. But it's too early to start worrying and fear. Haven't we lost our country yet? If we really lost our country, I still have the courage to die. I'm not even afraid of death, what else should I be afraid of? Just let go of it now and give it a shot."

Qin Yining's words brought tears to her eyelashes when she said that Bingtang and Jiyun stood behind her. Qi Tai behind Qin Huaiyuan was also moved.

Qin Huaiyuan took two deep breaths before ignoring the hot eyes, and suddenly smiled, "That's right. People always die, and there is nothing to fear or worry about."

Qin Yining pursed her lips and smiled, the two shallow pear eddies on her cheeks made her smile extremely sweet.

Qin Huaiyuan sighed: "Let's go, let's go to Cixiao Garden first, there will probably be news outside later, I'm afraid that the next time will be very busy as a father, and the family must not be in chaos."

"Yes. I ran out to walk the horse again today. The old lady was not allowed. She said that she was too unworthy of a lady, and she lost the face of our Qin family. Later, if the old lady reprimanded me, my father is here It is also good to talk to my daughter.

"

"I haven't done much to intercede with you, and I haven't seen you learn to behave well." Qin Huaiyuan laughed.

Qin Yining raised his eyebrows proudly. The arrogance of some little girls is also the biggest trust and dependence on Qin Huaiyuan, his father. In the past, she would never be like this. To survive outside, she had to be careful and careful in everything. If it wasn't for someone to love and protect her, she wouldn't be so relieved to "cause trouble".

I just don't know how long these protections can last in the face of war, in the face of the strong and unreasonable imperial power.

The father and daughter returned to the inner house together, and as soon as they arrived at the Chuihuamen, they heard the sound of "crackling" from hitting the board, and the mother-in-law screaming and begging for mercy.

Qin Huaiyuan and Qin Yining entered the Chuihuamen one after the other, and the old woman who was in charge of the torture saw it and stopped to salute the two of them.

Qin Huaiyuan frowned and said, "What's going on?"

"Master Hou, it was the old lady who ordered these people to be kicked out with fifty slaps."

Qin Yining took a closer look and saw that the beatings were actually Mama Jin, Caiju and Cailan beside the Sun family.

She only went out for a while, why did Sun's people get beaten up!

Qin Huaiyuan naturally saw that it was Sun's wet nurse and maid who were being beaten, and said displeasedly, "After 50 hits, my life is gone. It would be better to say that the corpse was thrown out."

On weekdays, Qin Huaiyuan would not say this to his face to embarrass the old lady, but now that the war has resumed outside, the court will face chaos again, not to mention the servants, even these masters are precarious, the more he can't see these cruel When it comes to the killing, I feel that the outside is so chaotic, and the inner house is still so unresolved, which is really annoying.

Qin Huaiyuan walked towards Cixiao Garden with his hands down.

He said so, the old woman who was in charge of the torture didn't know if she would continue to beat her, so she just stood there blankly.

Fortunately, Qin Yining reminded him, "Don't you understand what my father said? Don't call me. I'll ask the doctor to come and have a look first."

The old woman only had the backbone, and she responded.

Mama Jin, Caiju and Cailan were all relieved to be beaten. As long as Qin Yining was there, they would be saved. Lying on the ground, he kowtowed to Qin Huaiyuan and Qin Yining again and again, "Thank you, Lord Hou, and thank the Fourth Miss for not killing her."

Qin Yining squatted down and went to help Jin's mother: "Why is this? I only went out for a while, why did you guys get beaten?"

Jin's mother gritted her teeth, her face was pale green with pain, and cold sweat kept streaming down.

"Yes, it's the old lady. She said that the madam had deducted the monthly money from the girl Huining on the farm. The lady didn't do it, so she naturally refused to recognize it. The old lady found out, yes, it was us who did it. ."

Jin's mother's words were intermittent, and it was obvious that she had been beaten hard.

Qin Yining knew that it was the old lady who was looking for trouble against the Sun family, and did not dare to touch the Sun family, so she took down a man to make a raft, and hurriedly urged Bingtang to come and have a look.

In the courtyard, Qin Huaiyuan had already walked down the corridor.

The maid turned back and said, "Master Hou is back." She raised the curtain respectfully.

Qin Huaiyuan went straight to the side of the old lady's usual banquet, and saw the old lady sitting cross-legged on the Luohan bed, Sun was kneeling on the ground, sobbing and crying, and the third wife was kneeling beside Sun, comforting her softly. The second lady was beside the old lady and bowed her head to beg for mercy. Qin Huaiyuan came in and heard the last sentence: "... After all, it was the person brought by my sister-in-law. Taijun should always leave the companion room to my sister-in-law!"

The old lady slapped the table: "There is no one in Dingguo's mansion, so is there no one in our Qin family? It's not enough to condone the group of slaves to treat my sister Hui harshly!"

Qin Huaiyuan came in without salute, sat down in an armchair, pushed away the tea bowl that Qin mama brought, and said indifferently, "If this commotion goes on like this, the Qin family will not be far away."

The old lady was so choked that she stared at Qin Huaiyuan in disbelief.

Qin Huaiyuan rubbed his brows and said tiredly, "Mother, things are chaotic in the house. I know that my mother worked hard, and it's right to deal with the corrupt comprador, but why is it involving innocent people? Now, we still don’t know where the future of our family lies. Why can’t the mother be considerate and considerate of the son and have fewer things. If the mother does this, where will she put her son?”

The old lady was stunned when she heard the words, and then she trembled and said with a pale face: "Meng Ge'er, what are you talking about, what soldiers are coming under the city?"

All the female relatives also silenced and looked at Qin Huaiyuan in horror.

At this moment, there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps outside, Qitai forgot the announcement, hurried to the corridor, pushed the door curtain and knelt behind the screen outside, and said in a trembling voice:

"Marquis! Prince Pang led a Hu Ben army of 10,000 people to raid the right post camp of our fifth army camp in the suburbs of Beijing. All the food and grass supplies were robbed, and the right post camp... the whole army was wiped out!"

Hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan closed his eyes tiredly.

The old lady screamed, "Oh my God! Isn't that capital..." Then she burst into tears, "What should we do, the people from the Zhou Dynasty called, they don't trust me, these bastards!"

When the female family members heard the words, their bones were softened with fright, and they collapsed on the ground, hugging their heads and crying.

Qin Huaiyuan stood up and went outside, regardless of the cries of the female family members inside, and said, "Get up and answer."

"Yes." Qitai stood up and touched the cold sweat on his forehead.

"What is the specific situation? Where did the Hu Ben army go after robbing the camp? Did they come straight to the capital?"

"Master Hou, we have found out that after the Hu Ben army robbed the camp, they went straight to Xihua City. This time, they came by surprise attack by 10,000 cavalry soldiers. , The surprise cavalry attacked directly from the rear of Xihua City, and attacked the front and back of the Hu Ben army outside the south gate of Xihua City. Without the rear supply, Xihua City will surely fall, and the next one will be the capital!"

Qitai lowered his head, anxious and sad, and tears almost fell.

Qin Huaiyuan sighed, "That Pang Zhixi can fight... Are there refugees in the city?"

"Yes, the emperor already knew about these things, and also knew that the refugees came to the capital, and now he has ordered the gates of the outer city to be opened, and the streets are full of refugees. The emperor arranged for Jing Zhaoyin to bring people from the military and horse divisions of the five cities to set up resettlement. Now, now..."

Before Qitai could finish speaking, someone hurried in from outside, "Master Hou, Master Hou!"

"What's the matter?" Qin Huaiyuan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the door with a calm expression.

The servant saluted: "There are people from the palace, the emperor's grandfather will enter the palace immediately!"

"understood."

Qin Huaiyuan pursed his lips and instructed Qitai, "Go and fetch my official uniform."

"Yes." Qi Tai saluted and ran to get the official uniform to prepare the carriage and horses.

Qin Huaiyuan turned around and entered the room, looking at the female relatives who were crying with fright, and said solemnly: "From now on, nothing should happen at home. I think everyone heard what Qitai said, and if Xihuacheng falls, , the next one is the capital city, the refugees have already poured into the capital city, you all take care of your own people, from now on, strengthen the defense of the house, even if you want to go out, you must be careful."

Turning to the old lady again, he said, "Mother, you are too old to worry about these things. From now on, everything in the inner house will be handed over to Sister Yi."

Qin Huaiyuan turned back and called Qin Yining, who had been standing at the door.

"come here."

Qin Yining walked quickly to Qin Huaiyuan: "Father."

"Yeah. Your grandmother, mother, and aunts are kind-hearted and soft-hearted, and they tend to get flustered when they are in trouble. I don't know when I will be back for my father, and I am afraid that the emperor will take anger. When the time comes, you should take good care of your father in the inner house, and discuss and deal with your second and third uncles on matters outside.