The carriage returned to the Qin family's residence, where a Qixi banquet was also being held. It was jointly organized by Madam Qin and Yun Niang. Although the Qin family was only just recovering, and many relatives hadn't arrived, there was no shortage of people in the capital eager to attend a banquet hosted by the Right Chancellor's府. Disciples and old acquaintances, close relatives and distant kin, had received invitations days in advance and were preparing to come. Even those without invitations were racking their brains to find some connection to get in and meet some important figures.

A large household has a large operating system, the entirety of which is hard to fathom for those inside or outside. The comings and goings, what words to write, what gifts to give, what letters to send, what to say, what paths to take, who to talk to, everything has its rules. At this time, the Right Chancellor's府, amidst a lively atmosphere, was operating layer by layer, complex but orderly. Guests were drinking, feasting, and laughing in the main hall, while maids, stewards, servants, gatekeepers, and cooks were busily performing their respective duties throughout the residence. Of course, once rules are established, there are always some who don't need to pay attention to them.

Qin Siyuan got out of the carriage, entered through the main gate, greeted the people in the hall, spoke a few words, and then headed towards the backyard. Stewards and servants followed him, reporting matters and receiving instructions. Those rules wound around him like countless complex invisible threads, as he moved towards the rear of the residence. But as he entered the study, he waved away the people around him, and they dispersed slightly, though the rules remained. The study was already lit. He closed the door, and the surroundings became quiet. He opened a hidden compartment in the bookshelf and took out two thin paper packages.

There were several hidden compartments in this room for archiving documents, but he remembered each one clearly. He placed the paper packages on the table and opened them under the oil lamp, looking at them for a while. They were all dossiers of some kind, recording unknown events. After a rough look, the old man ground ink for himself, took out paper, sat down, and began to write a letter.

The sounds of the banquet from the main hall could be faintly heard outside the window. The old man's hand was steady, and his thoughts were clear. He wrote two letters in total, with hardly any pauses. After writing them, he placed them in envelopes and sealed them. He was about to get up, but after thinking for a moment, he sat down again and wrote a third letter. He put these three letters into his sleeve, picked up the two packages of dossiers, and left the room. The steward and servants hurried over again.

"Did Qixian and Yubai come over?"

"Both young masters are waiting in the side hall."

"...Don't let irrelevant people get close."

"Yes, sir."

The group went to the side of the Chancellor's府, and while turning a corner of the cloister, they could see the lights of the main hall, and the lively laughter reached them. The side hall seemed relatively quiet. When the old man walked in, two young men stood up. One was wearing a scholar's robe, and the other was wearing a general's uniform. The military uniform meant that this person was the commander of a region, usually in command of an army, such as the Wu Lie or Wu De armies. Presumably, he was back in the capital at this time for reporting duties or some other reason.

"Master Qin."

"Master Qin..."

"Sit, no need to be so formal." The two men, one scholar and one soldier, stood up and saluted. Qin Siyuan waved his hand. "Qixian, Yubai, you both know about today's events, right?"

The young scholar named Fang Yubai nodded first: "Hangzhou has fallen. I have heard the arguments in the court today. Those people are short-sighted..."

Before he could finish speaking, the commander named Chen Qixian also frowned and opened his mouth: "I heard that Wang Bing and Yang Keshi were appointed generals to go north, and Grand Eunuch Tong went south. They will regret it sooner or later..."

"Regret is for later. The important thing is how to deal with it. I have already recommended you two to join the army. The official letter will be issued tomorrow. There are also Tang Sixian, Yu Rui, Shen Qipeng, Ji Haifang, and others. You know each other. Now Wang Bing is the commander, Yang Keshi is the supervisor, Sixian is the deputy general, then you, Qixian, and Yubai can assist you. The role you can play should not be underestimated. Although it will definitely be troublesome."

As Qin Siyuan spoke, he frowned: "I don't need to investigate to imagine that Tong Guan has already summoned his trusted aides to his residence and started to put pressure on Wang Bing and Yang Keshi. Given his nature, he must be saying that he has high hopes for the Northern Expedition, that this is an unparalleled feat for the country and the people, and that the country and the people are the most important thing. Although he... cannot go north temporarily, everyone must still work hard to fight for the country, recover Youyan, and when the day of success comes, he will drink with everyone and ask for rewards for the soldiers..."

*******************

At the same time, in General Tong's mansion, as expected, military officers gathered. Tong Guan was frowning as he spoke.

Although he was a well-known eunuch, Tong Guan was completely different from the usual image of a eunuch. He was tall and burly, with dark skin. He looked not only upright but also as if he were made of copper and iron, giving people an extremely tough feeling, and his voice was full of energy. Being able to climb to the position of commanding the world's troops as a eunuch, he had an air of霸气in his gestures. At this time, he was lecturing everyone about the events in the court today.

"...Fang La's banditry and the disaster in Hangzhou are imminent. To quell foreign troubles, we must first eliminate internal chaos. The Emperor sent me south precisely because he attaches great importance to this matter! But... today, the most important thing for our Wu Dynasty is not suppressing bandits. The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun have been lost for nearly two hundred years. Our Wu Dynasty has lost its northern barrier. We, as officials and soldiers, should feel a sense of urgency every day! To ally with the Jurchens to attack the Khitans, I have been planning this for several years. Now is a perfect opportunity for men to make contributions, achieve eternal achievements, and have their names go down in history. All of you going north should wholeheartedly assist Marshal Wang and Yang in recovering the northern lands. I will quell the rebellion and go north as soon as possible. Although I cannot accompany you at this time, my heart for building merit and killing enemies is with you all..."

*****************

"Wang Bing and Yang Keshi are not here, but after he said that, those two will know what to do. This Northern Expedition will definitely be delayed a lot, wasting money and food. Because they know that if they take credit from Grand Eunuch Tong this time, even if they are glorious for a while, they will inevitably be retaliated against by Tong Guan in the future, and their end will be miserable."

In the Qin residence, Qin Siyuan said, taking out the two dossiers and three letters.

"But the Emperor also has high hopes for this Northern Expedition. If they are incompetent and achieve nothing, perhaps Tong Guan will compensate them later, but when the Emperor is angry, they must take it."

He put the things on the table, and Qin Siyuan's face turned cold: "Tong Guan will say some good words for them. If it's just the Emperor, he can protect them temporarily. But if it's the Emperor, plus me and Chancellor Li, they have to think about whether they can take it... I have some evidence of their crimes here. They are arrogant, demanding, and extorting, and their families are causing trouble in their hometowns, bullying men and women. I don't care. These alone are not enough to convict them. Even if they are convicted, it will only be some minor punishments. But if you add the Northern Expedition..."

"After you go north, you can show this letter to Sixian and the others and tell them my thoughts. Although the south is turbulent now, most places have already reached the autumn harvest. I will guarantee the supply of all grain and military supplies in the rear. Anything the army wants can be provided. Grit your teeth and ensure that this battle is fought well. I will arrange for people to stir up trouble everywhere on the border, and you can also take action when the opportunity arises. The battle must be fought. Do not miss the opportunity."

The old man paused: "After the battle starts, or if Wang Bing and Yang Keshi have any problems before that, show them these two documents and two letters, and then tell them that I want a victory, a victory against the Jurchens, no matter the cost. A narrow victory or a pyrrhic victory doesn't matter. It must be the kind of victory that can determine the situation. If they win, I, Chancellor Li, and even the current Emperor will do everything to protect them, to ensure that their names go down in history and that they have a lifetime of wealth. I, Qin Siyuan, don't lie. But if they don't fight, if they dare to lose, you also tell those two that I and Chancellor Li will do everything to ensure that not even dogs or chickens remain within their nine generations. In order to...warn the next person who takes their position..."

His voice was not loud, but it was resolute. The two students spoke with the old man for a while longer, and then left with their orders. The old man sat in the side hall for a while, and someone came with a lamp. It was Madam Qin, dressed in full regalia, holding a small bowl in her hand. As a couple for decades, seeing Qin Siyuan's expression, the old woman understood the seriousness of the matter. However, she just placed the small bowl on the table.

"I saw your expression in the front hall just now, and I was afraid you hadn't eaten again. I took some time out just now and asked. I heard that Qixian and Yubai have already left, so I came to see you. This is all your favorite food. These quail eggs are made very well. Eat a few first."

The old man nodded and picked up his chopsticks: "I've troubled you, Madam."

The side hall became quiet. The old man ate a few mouthfuls of food and remembered something, turning his head and saying, "Hangzhou has fallen..."

The old woman blinked: "Ah... Then Qian Xiwen, and that child Li Heng, they must be there now..."

"Yes, I originally thought that the Wu De Army in Hangzhou was also an elite force. Even though it had suffered an earthquake before, they should have been able to hold off a bunch of rioters. Who knew... before the reinforcements from both sides arrived, it fell first. Alas, every time Fang La breaks through a place, he almost slaughters the officials, gentry, and wealthy households. Now that Hangzhou has fallen, the surrounding area is full of rebel troops. I only hope... they can escape and be safe..."

He sighed and looked out of the side hall. Outside the courtyard wall, the starry sky thousands of miles away was also revealed in the sky above Bianjing. A firework rose into view and exploded.

On the same Qixi Festival, Jiangning City, thousands of miles away, also had a lively and festive atmosphere. On the Qinhuai River, decorated boats were on display, and flower cars paraded through the streets and alleys. On a small building by a slightly remote river bend, a cool breeze was blowing through the terrace with several lanterns hanging on it. Two women were holding a small begging-for-skill banquet, dressed in white clothes and white skirts. The one with long hair flowing down was Nie Yunzhu, and the other one, wearing a goose-yellow dress, was now playfully dancing with her hands clasped together like a snake.

Not far away were the bright lights of the city. Occasionally people and carriages passed by on the riverside road. As the silver light flowed through the sky, Yuan Jin'er's dance merged with the surrounding orange lights, forming an extremely pleasing scene. Nie Yunzhu just watched with a smile, casually plucking the guzheng beside her, just for fun. It's just that her smile always seemed a bit forced and distant. This woman's heart was no longer here.

Yuan Jin'er naturally understood this. In the past few days, news of the Hangzhou earthquake and Fang La's banditry had more or less reached Jiangning. As long as you had the will, you could always find out. Sister Yunzhu had been concerned about these matters all day long. At first, although she remained calm on the surface, she was already panicked in her heart. Now, even that panic could no longer be suppressed and was completely written on her face. If it weren't because she also knew that worrying was useless, she would have packed her bags and left home long ago, heading straight for Hangzhou.

Because of this, Yuan Jin'er tried to laugh as much as possible every day, trying to make her sister happy. The effect was naturally limited, but there was nothing else she could do at the moment. On the other hand, she also felt a bit of hatred for the live-in scholar who had gone silent in Hangzhou. If it weren't for him, if Sister Yunzhu hadn't met her, everything would have been over, and everyone would have been unburdened...

The two were the main characters of this small banquet, and Yuan Jin'er's maid, Kou'er, was responsible for bringing various things. Halfway through the banquet, Yunzhu's married maid, Hūtáo, also came over. Hūtáo seemed to be in a bad mood. She talked to Kou'er while busy outside, and then just joined the gathering as usual. However, Yuan Jin'er noticed Hūtáo's abnormality. During a trip to the toilet, she stopped Kou'er outside to ask.

Kou'er also frowned: "Hūtáo said, Hūtáo said... Her Er Niu just heard news brought by merchants from the southeast, saying that... the southeast is all in chaos. I heard that Hangzhou was captured, and the surrounding area is full of bandits. Many bandits have risen up in rebellion. No one... no one can escape from there..."

"What..." Yuan Jin'er's eyes widened, and she didn't know what kind of mood she was in for a moment. Before she could summarize it, Yunzhu's voice came from behind: "You said... what?"

Turning around, Yunzhu was standing there at the door, looking at the two mistresses and maids. Her face was as white as paper, and her thin body was swaying slightly. It seemed that the white clothes and white skirt were actually glowing slightly, making her seem a little transparent, as if she could evaporate and drift away from this world at any time.

That was naturally an illusion. Just as Yuan Jin'er had such a feeling in her heart, Yunzhu picked up her skirt and rushed out. Jin'er screamed "Ah——" and suddenly wrapped her arms around her waist, desperately pressing her head against her body, shouting, "Kou'er! Prepare the carriage! Prepare the carriage! Prepare the carriage—Sister Yunzhu, I'll go with you, I'll go with you——Ah ah ah ah ah——"

Soon after, the carriage drove through the city streets and stopped in front of the Princess of Cheng's residence. Two women got out of the carriage and rushed into the gate, and were then stopped by the guards. The beautiful woman in the white dress, who was in the lead, was trembling slightly, crying and clasping her hands together in prayer. The woman behind her also followed up. After waiting for a while, someone walked out of the residence gate and welcomed the two women in. They saw Kang Xian in the side hall. As soon as Yunzhu saw the old man, she ran over, crying and kneeling down. Jin'er, who was following closely behind, also knelt down with her. Kang Xian quickly came over and helped the two up...

At the same time, near Hangzhou, there was no festive light.

The Milky Way stretched across the sky. In the winding mountain roads, only a few torches illuminated the surrounding roads, looking like fireflies from afar. Only when they were close could one hear human voices, footsteps, and the sounds of carriages and horses. Many people were crowded together on this winding mountain road, which usually didn't have many people, stretching into the darkness in the distance.

As the sound of hooves galloped past from the darkness not far away, Ning Yi, holding a child in his arms and supporting Su Tan'er's hand, was walking towards the front of the fleeing crowd in the middle, surrounded by almost all the people belonging to the Su family. He had suffered some minor injuries in the battle in Taiping Lane, but they had all been bandaged and were not serious. At this time, apart from the seemingly endless walk, there was only the wound on his right arm, which throbbed with the pulse, faintly conveying a trace of pain.

At this time, the vicinity of Hangzhou was full of displaced people, who had scattered from the time Hangzhou City was captured, and who had originally been driven over by Fang La. Things like order had disappeared, and there was slaughter and fighting everywhere. Only this group of people could be considered the largest group of fugitives. Among them were armies, guards gathered by Ning Yi from wealthy merchants and gentry, and so on. Most of those with permanent property had joined this team. They were also the focus of Fang La's army's attention. Behind them, there should be several armies, chasing this way with the momentum of breaking the city. They had been discovered once on the way and fought a small battle. Some of the old, weak, women, and children were left behind in the escape, and may now be dead.

The starry night gradually faded, and dark clouds gradually covered the Qixi night sky again. Before long, a knight came on horseback, holding a torch, and was ordered to invite Ning Yi to a place a little further ahead of the team to discuss matters. Ning Yi nodded, took his wife, and went that way. When the night wind blew, he also felt a little cold, possibly because he had been working hard for days and had caught a cold...

************

I got up today and opened the book review section and was shocked. It was all red. Then I quickly went to code with shame. But after coding this chapter, it was already half-past one. Uh, this chapter feels pretty good ^_^

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