For a moment, Han Yingyuan felt uncomfortable under his youngest daughter’s gaze. Coughing softly, he said, “You understand everything in your heart, yet you still ask me?”
“Understanding is one thing, but asking is still necessary. After all, two human lives are at stake.”
Han Shengyu was clearly smiling with sweet innocence, but Han Yingyuan somehow sensed a touch of mockery in it, leaving him amused, annoyed, and helpless all at once.
Having a child who was far too precocious was troublesome in just this way; any attempt to gloss over things was easily seen through and slapped back into his face.
“It’s not just you and your eldest sister. Qingning from your Second Uncle’s family is also going to Jindu. Your Second Uncle will definitely write a letter asking you all to look after each other.”
“As long as they obey, having one more or one fewer daughter wouldn’t matter to them.”
Han Yingyuan was choked up once more. “You’re not very old, so how can your temper be so sharp?”
“After all, people always prefer to squeeze the softest persimmons.”
Han Yingyuan: …
He hadn’t raised a daughter; he had raised an ancestor for himself!
Thinking about the lives of Huiyu and Qingning, combined with the safety of the Han family, this trip to Jindu might depend entirely on Shengyu. Han Yingyuan immediately lowered his head. A gentleman should know when to bend and when to yield. She was his own daughter, so what did bowing his head matter?
In any case, Auntie Qiao had been sent away by him, so no one was around to see.
If no one saw it, it was as good as never having happened.
“If they all listen to you, are you willing to protect them?”
“Even if Sister Qingning throws a bit of a tantrum, I am willing to coax her. But as for Sister Huiyu, that’s hard to say.”
“When the nest is overturned, no egg remains whole.”
“Which is why they must obey.”
Han Yingyuan had tried his best, but he immediately gave up trying to persuade her and shifted his stance on the spot, saying, “You are right.”
Seeing that Han Yingyuan had relented regarding Han Huiyu, Han Shengyu instantly flashed a sweet smile. “Rest assured, Father. As long as Eldest Sister doesn’t drag me down or trip me up, I will certainly do my utmost to ensure that the three of us sisters return whole and unharmed.”
Han Yingyuan felt relieved. Although this daughter of his had a bit of a temper, she was true to her word, and she was also deeply filial toward him as her father. She certainly wouldn’t trick him.
Before Han Yingyuan could completely catch his breath, he heard his daughter add, “Father, tell me the truth about one thing. Why on earth was Cousin Jintang pushed into the water by the Second Prince? Even if the Second Prince’s mind was kicked by a donkey at a imperial palace banquet, he couldn’t possibly attempt to murder his own betrothed in broad daylight.”
Han Yingyuan’s expression grew solemn as well. Looking at his daughter, he said gravely, “Your eldest uncle only stated in his letter that the two of them acted impulsively and exchanged a few sharp words.”
“If he didn’t have a guilty conscience, why wouldn’t he tell the whole story? It seems the matter between Eldest Cousin and the Second Prince is not simple. And yet you still want us to go and meet our doom?”
“If this were your eldest uncle’s intention, I would have firmly refused. But this is Consort Little Yang’s will, and as a father, I am powerless.”
“Father, despite your immense talent, you are only willing to remain an Instructor. Second Uncle has been a county magistrate for ten years without moving an inch, and Eldest Uncle has been stuck in the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review for five or six years now, hasn’t he? What deadly secret does our old Han family hold that is passed down only to sons and not to daughters? Tell me, so I can at least prepare myself for death.”
Han Yingyuan truly wished he could find a block of tofu to smash his head against!
Father and daughter stared at each other, neither willing to back down.
“Allow your father time to think.”
“Allow you time to think until you have to collect our corpses?”
Han Yingyuan felt utterly defeated. Looking at his daughter with a impassive face, he said, “Back then, your grandfather supported the new policies and was framed by his political enemies. After resigning, he returned to our hometown and passed away from illness a few years later. He had an account book in his possession, and I estimate someone might be targeting it.”
“Time, location, person, event—it’s all vague and unclear. How is this any different from telling a beggar you left him a bag of steamed buns without telling him where you put it?”
That pierced right through his heart!
Han Yingyuan clutched his chest. “If I knew, would I still be huddled here working as an Instructor?”
“Tsk, you really are a fine son. Eating grapes and only managing to taste the skin. It seems only my eldest uncle knows about this matter.”
Assaulted mentally by his own daughter and poked right where it hurt, Han Yingyuan nearly jumped out of his skin. “Your grandfather simply fell ill and passed away before he had the chance to tell me!”
“You had a wonderful father.”
Han Yingyuan: …
Bring him his three-foot long sword!
Could he just run himself through with it?
“Eldest Uncle holds the secrets of our old Han family, and perhaps that fatal account book as well. Who knows what he and his daughter did in Jindu to make the Second Prince resort to murder in public? Now we are expected to clean up their mess, and if we aren’t careful, we might even lose our lives in the process. This deal… the price just went up!”
Han Yingyuan was so infuriated by his daughter’s dramatic pause that he was nearly sent to an early grave.
“How much more?” Han Yingyuan was confident in his financial footing; he had deep pockets and was not short on money.
“First, the Han family’s guard force takes orders only from me.”
“That’s fine, but your eldest sister must also have a few people to protect her.”
“You can assign additional people to her for that, but to prevent anyone under her from growing overly audacious and challenging me, you may only give her one guard.”
How was that any different from giving her none at all?
“Two?”
“Deal!”
Han Yingyuan: Duped again!
“Second, money makes the world go round. In Jindu, we will be strangers in a strange land, with an Eldest Uncle whose allegiance remains uncertain. How many turns that wheel can make depends entirely on whether your money is up to mark.”
“Ten thousand…” Catching the beaming smile on his daughter’s face, Han Yingyuan corrected himself, “Fifty thousand taels, and not a single copper more.”
“Fair enough.”
Seeing his daughter agree so readily, Han Yingyuan felt certain he had given too much, feeling thoroughly frustrated.
“Third…”
Is there no end to this?
Han Yingyuan glared at Han Shengyu, telling her to tone it down.
With both manpower and money secured, Han Shengyu was in a splendid mood. Changing the topic, she said, “I’ll let you know once I think of it.”
Han Yingyuan maintained a polite smile and stood up almost immediately. “I shall make a trip to your eldest sister’s place. You go ahead and pack your things to prepare.”
Auntie Qiao walked in carrying the tea, only to catch a glimpse of Han Yingyuan’s somewhat desolate figure hurrying away. She murmured to her daughter, “How come he left without drinking a single sip of tea?”
“Father is worried about the trip to Jindu. How could he be in the mood for tea?”
Hearing this, Auntie Qiao looked at her daughter with a worried expression. “Your father’s heart is filled with love for his daughter. So, what did he say?”
“He gave us people and money to ensure our safety. Don’t worry.” Han Shengyu held up her palm to signal a number.
Auntie Qiao’s eyes lit up. “Master is truly generous this time. You will definitely be able to return safely.”
In Auntie Qiao’s eyes, there was no problem that silver could not resolve. If a problem couldn’t be resolved, it was simply because there wasn’t enough money.
Seeing Auntie Qiao turn all smiles in an instant, Han Shengyu thought that being simple-minded wasn’t without its perks; it made life easy and relaxed, and she was easy to comfort.
It was unknown what Han Yingyuan had said to Lady Guo and her daughter, but there was no commotion over there. Without waiting for the letter from Second Uncle Han to arrive in Yongding City, she and Han Huiyu had to set off ahead of time.
Her father would write a letter to Second Uncle asking for Qingning to meet up with them on the road.
On the night before their departure, Han Shuyu showed up at her door.
Looking at the maidservant Jixiang, Han Shengyu remarked, “In weather like this, she’s waiting outside for me?” Has she lost her mind?
“Indeed, Young Lady, please go out and take a look quickly. It’s freezing outside. If Second Young Lady catches a chill, you and Auntie will be in trouble again,” Jixiang said anxiously.
Sometimes Han Shengyu truly didn’t know what was going through that young girl’s head. Coming to find her at a time like this—was she here to hurl some harsh words?
Nevertheless, she put on her fox-fur cloak, pulled up the hood, pushed open the door, and walked out.
Under the moonlight, the cold wind blew fiercely. Han Shuyu stood beneath a pomegranate tree in the distance, her figure desolate and standing all alone.
Han Shengyu took a glance, feeling a subtle and peculiar mood, even feeling vaguely guilty for no reason—yet she hadn’t done anything at all, had she?