Chapter 417
Qin Hengxuan and Meng Ruqing were especially afraid Fang Zichen wouldn't acknowledge them. If he harbored resentment toward them but they didn't get the chance to explain in time, Fang Zichen would probably immediately send someone to take the three children back, and then hide far away from them. And a letter couldn't possibly explain things clearly in just a few words.
Some matters were urgent, yet they also left one feeling timid and uneasy. Clearly, a single letter could have cleared everything up, and all their troubling doubts could have been explained. Clearly, they were desperate to acknowledge their son and ask if the child knew what had happened back then. And yet they didn't dare put brush to paper, always finding one worry or another.
Faintly apprehensive, faintly afraid.
Meng Ruqing held the brush for a long time without daring to write a single character. In the end, after much deliberation, Qin Hengxuan packed forty thousand taels of silver notes, and Meng Ruqing wrote a letter to Zhao Ger, to be delivered along with the imperial guards.
Qin Hengxuan also personally dispatched Qin Shiyi, who was responsible for gathering intelligence and handling confidential matters for the Qin family.
Though it hadn't been confirmed, the Qin family couldn't wait.
That afternoon, a Qin family soldier from the border, a bundle on his back and letters from Old General Qin, Old Madam Qin, and Meng Ruqing in hand, rode like the wind, racing back to the capital with utmost urgency.
The young soldier wore a full suit of armor, and on his helmet was the prominent, eye-catching emblem of the Qin family. No one dared block his way.
After half a month of hard riding, the letters were delivered to the Shen residence, the Left Chancellor's residence, and the imperial palace respectively.
Old Madam Qin had brought a considerable dowry when she married—over twenty carrying poles' worth, three estates, and six shops. Now one estate and three shops sat idle. Last month, the second branch had written, obliquely saying they wanted them. Their legitimate daughter was marrying into the Vice Minister of Revenue's household, and the shops under the second branch's name were in poor locations and small in size—too shabby for a dowry. The groom's family was giving generous betrothal gifts, so theirs must be generous too, otherwise it would be a slap to the Shen family's face.
So the second branch had shamelessly said that since Old Madam Qin wasn't in the capital anyway, and those shops were just sitting idle or rented out, why not transfer them to the second branch?
They said "transfer," but the second branch was just using fine words. They knew Old Madam Qin had always been generous—would she really demand silver from them?
Old Madam Qin did indeed look down on those few shops. She sent the deeds back — but to her eldest brother, asking him to help add to the second branch's legitimate daughter's dowry when the time came.
But before the Second Branch's legitimate daughter had even married, another letter came.
It said to forget what she'd said before. Now that she had a grandson — and a grandson who loved money — she could no longer spend so freely. Her three great-grandsons also ate a great deal; a few jin of rice per meal wasn't even enough. She needed to keep those shops for her grandson's future.
"Eldest Brother, when the time comes, just help me add a little silver. Not too much, a few hundred taels will do. Times are hard for the family now. Send the deeds back to me."
Meng Ruqing's letter to the Meng family briefly explained the situation — that for now it was only the Qin family's guess, but he felt Fang Zichen was his son. He asked them to help sort out his properties in the capital as well, as he wanted to give them to his son.
After reading the letters, both the Shen and Meng families were stunned for quite a while.
As the saying goes, "outsiders see more clearly." Privately, they had both assumed the child was probably long gone. At first glance at the letters, their first thought was that someone must be trying to swindle the Qin family.
But then they saw the name — Fang Zichen.
That was absolutely impossible—Fang Zichen wasn't that kind of person. Moreover, the letter also mentioned the matter of Dandan and Qin Hengxuan, and both families recalled that back then, the child had been "not seen alive, and no body found if dead."
The two families were overjoyed beyond words. Though many pieces of the puzzle remained unclear, there was no such coincidence in this world.
After reading the letter, the Left Chancellor's wife burst straight into tears.
"I said it back then — why did I feel so close to that Fang boy and Guaizai the moment I saw them? So it turns out he was my own grandson. And I... I didn't even recognize him!"
The Left Chancellor slapped his thigh: "Who could have imagined it! That rascal must have lied about his age. Aiyo, Madam, why did you hit me?"
The Left Chancellor's wife glared: "Don't call my dear grandson that. He must have had his reasons for doing so."
The Left Chancellor said meekly: "Alright, alright, I won't call him a rascal."
The Left Chancellor's wife said, "Xuan'er says it's only a guess, but I think there's no mistake. That Fang boy loves money, and Guaizai, Gungun, and Dandan each eat enough for three. Raising them must cost a fortune. I need to give Qing'er more to take with her. Husband, what do you think we should give? A courtyard, a shop, or just silver notes?"
The Left Chancellor said: "Silver notes. Last time I gave silver notes, that father and son smiled so wide their eyes disappeared. They even said I was straightforward. If you give them anything else, that Fang boy will just turn around and sell it."
The letter to Xia Jinghong was written more tactfully. Old General Qin said he had been gravely wounded, that it had been a narrow escape from death. Though he had pulled through now, he was extremely weak.
Reading the letter, Xia Jinghong's temple throbbed.
Earlier they'd said they didn't tell him because they feared he would worry. So why write to tell him now?
It was simple — he was injured. Didn't the Emperor need to express his condolences?
And how does one express condolences?
Obviously, by sending large quantities of tonics and supplies!
Just saying "Uncle Qin, you've worked hard" wouldn't do. That wouldn't show sincerity or that he valued him.
Both letters, through and through, conveyed one message: they wanted rewards.
Xia Jinghong held up the letters and read them over and over, wondering if they were fake. But they were indeed in Old General Qin's own handwriting.
Still, what had gotten into Old General Qin? With such a large family fortune, he had never been like this before. Why was he now eyeing his own already depleted treasury?
But since they'd asked, there was no way around a heavy payout.
Xia Jinghong had lived in the Qin family for many years and regarded Old General Qin as a teacher. Now, as long as the man was safe, he could endure any pain—even emptying his own little treasury.
Empty it!
The matter of Deputy General Lu's defection had already been reported by Qin Hengxuan earlier. Deputy General Lu held second rank and was truly a court minister. To deal with someone like him, it only needed to be "reported."
Deputy General Lu had defected, joined the enemy forces, and turned against their Da Xia army, causing thousands of casualties. This was a grave crime. Xia Jinghong had already issued the decree two days ago — extermination of nine clans.
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Qin Hengxuan and Meng Ruqing busied themselves until evening again. Checking the hour, they were about to go rest and accompany the children for dinner. But when they arrived at Old General Qin's tent, they found it empty—even Old General Qin was gone. Laughter came from the kitchen area. When Meng Ruqing and Qin Hengxuan went over, they saw Guaizai, Gungun, and Dandan sitting bare-bottomed in a large pot, while Old Madam Qin and Uncle Tang were bathing them.
Old General Qin couldn't bear to be apart from the children for even a moment. Now, supported by Qin Yi, he had come over and was watching happily from the side: "That Fang boy is clever after all. Bathing them this way, my little grandsons won't get cold."
Meng Ruqing and Qin Hengxuan were momentarily speechless. They crowded around and saw Gungun and Dandan sitting there, their bellies folded in rolls, so fat it was somehow hilarious.
That night, Old General Qin tried to coax the three children into sleeping with him, but Gungun and Dandan refused. This grandpa liked to bite people—their faces still hurt. Old General Qin was terribly disappointed. In the end, Guaizai stayed behind, and only then did Old General Qin cheer up again.
He recovered well. Within a few days, he could play with Gungun and Dandan. Occasionally, when Guaizai exercised, he could even offer a few pointers.
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