Qing Mulan, can you speak with a bit of conscience, please?
Jin Feng said, “Did I trick you into going in? I told you the little dark room was terrifying, but you refused to believe it and insisted on trying it yourself. I could not even pull you back, and now you are blaming me instead?”
“Oh dear, it is almost dark. My brother must still be waiting for us at home.”
Qing Mulan knew she was in the wrong, so she forcibly changed the subject. “Let us hurry and leave!”
After saying that, she closed the carriage window.
The Ninth Princess watched the two playfully bantering, her face full of smiles.
If only they could always be this happy…
Qing Mulan had guessed correctly. By the time Jin Feng and the others arrived at the Qing residence, Qing Xinyao was becoming impatient.
The female soldier that Qing Mulan had sent back to report had returned half a day ago, yet Jin Feng and the others had still not arrived.
He was just about to take some men to see what was going on when the steward reported that they had arrived.
Qing Xinyao hurried to the entrance. Seeing the carriage approach, he quickly went to greet them.
He first cupped his fists in greeting to Jin Feng. “Mr Jin!”
“Lord Qing!”
This time Jin Feng had come with matters to discuss with Qing Xinyao, so he quickly dismounted from his warhorse and returned the courtesy. “When we set off, something sudden happened at the camp, which delayed us a little. You must have been waiting anxiously, my lord?”
“Not at all. I have only just returned from outside myself.”
Qing Xinyao smiled and waved his hand.
The Ninth Princess and Qing Mulan stepped down from the carriage, and the group entered the Qing residence together.
The Qing family had been rooted in Xichuan for several decades. Their mansion was built on a very grand scale, and it had clearly been designed by a master. There were rockeries and unusual stones, gardens and small ponds, everything complete, yet without the ostentatious vulgarity of the newly rich. Everything appeared very natural.
Under Qing Xinyao’s guidance, Jin Feng and the Ninth Princess entered a side hall.
“My brother originally planned to host you in the banquet hall for dinner, but I felt it was too large. With just the few of us, we would not even hear each other speak clearly. Since we are all family, we do not need dancing girls to liven things up, so I asked my brother to entertain you both here.”
Qing Mulan explained, “The room is a bit smaller, but we are all close, so it is more comfortable this way. Oh, and I had them set up a round table just like at Mr Jin’s home!”
“Actually, dancing girls would be fine.” Jin Feng said with a smile.
Truth be told, he had only read about it in history books, how feasts in great feudal families were extremely extravagant.
He had never experienced it himself.
“Haha, if you like dancing girls, Mr Jin, when you leave later I will take you to choose a few.”
Qing Xinyao revealed a smile that all men would understand. “A new batch arrived at the Hanxiang Pavilion a month ago. They are all well trained.”
“Thank you for your kind offer, Lord Qing, but there is no need.”
Jin Feng had only been joking, but he had not expected Qing Xinyao to actually offer him dancing girls.
He quickly waved his hand, his face reddening.
If he really took a few dancing girls back, he truly would not know what to do with them.
Build a song and dance troupe for the escort team?
“You need not stand on ceremony, Mr Jin,” Qing Xinyao said. “Rest assured, I have been busy with official duties lately and have not had time to visit myself. You can help me appraise them.”
“Brother, stop persuading him. Back in Guangyuan, who knows how many famous courtesans offered themselves to him, yet he did not visit a single one.”
Qing Mulan said, “He just talks flirtatiously. When it comes to the real thing, he cannot manage it.”
“Hey, Qing Mulan, who are you looking down on?” Jin Feng felt a vein throbbing on his forehead.
Qing Mulan’s words carried too much innuendo. If Qing Xinyao had not been present, Jin Feng would definitely have retorted.
“Alright, you two stop fooling around. I am hungry.”
The Ninth Princess took the lead and walked to the table, casually pulling out a chair.
“Your Highness, would you like the seat of honour?” Qing Xinyao pointed to the seat facing the door.
“With just the few of us, why bother with higher and lower seats?”
The Ninth Princess waved her hand. “Everyone sit quickly.”
“Then we shall listen to Your Highness,” Qing Xinyao said, making an inviting gesture to Jin Feng. “Mr Jin, please!”
“After you, Lord Qing!” Jin Feng returned the courtesy and sat to the left of the Ninth Princess.
The Qing siblings also took their seats in turn.
The steward clapped his hands, and maidservants filed in, setting out a large table full of dishes.
Surprisingly, more than half were stir-fried dishes.
“Having heard from Your Highness and Mulan that you prefer stir-fried food, Mr Jin, I had some prepared in the same style. Please taste them and see if they suit your palate.”
Qing Xinyao pointed to the table as he spoke.
“You are too kind, Lord Qing.”
Jin Feng was polite with his words, but inwardly he became wary.
Qing Xinyao had not first attended to the Ninth Princess but had instead addressed him first. Clearly, there was something he wanted to discuss.
Jin Feng had also come to the Qing residence with a matter he wished to ask Qing Xinyao’s help with.
After noticing this, Jin Feng decided not to speak first. He would wait for Qing Xinyao to raise his matter, then decide his strategy accordingly.
Ever since he had drunk alcohol in Guangyuan and sung the Internationale, Jin Feng no longer drank outside.
Qing Xinyao tried to persuade him once, but seeing Jin Feng’s firm attitude, he did not press further and had someone replace the wine with fruit tea.
“Thank you, Mr Jin, for your righteous assistance this time, and also for taking care of Mulan for so long. Mulan has a lively and wilful nature, so she must have caused you no small amount of trouble.”
When all four had eaten until half full, Qing Xinyao lifted his teacup. “Since returning from Xihe Bay, she has become much more obedient. It seems you have put in considerable effort. I substitute tea for wine and toast you a cup!”
“It was my duty.” Jin Feng raised his teacup, stood, and clinked it with Qing Xinyao’s.
Qing Xinyao set down his teacup and said, “Actually, besides expressing my gratitude to you today, Mr Jin, I have one more request.”
“At last he is getting to the point!”
Jin Feng grumbled inwardly, but his face remained impassive. “Please speak, Lord Qing. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse.”
“Then I shall be direct,” Qing Xinyao said. “To be frank, Gada and Danzhu were close allies. Danzhu died in Xichuan city, so Gada is very likely to send troops again, and next time it will certainly be more than twenty thousand men.
The rainbow divine light and hand grenades that you used this time, Mr Jin, have great deterrent power against the Tubo people. I would like to purchase some from you.”
Jin Feng understood at once. He put on an expression of difficulty and said, “Lord Qing, I will not hide it from you. Mulan should know that the hand grenades are still in the research stage. I have not yet found the right formula, so I cannot produce them in large quantities. The rainbow divine light is the same. It is extremely difficult to make.”
This was half true and half false.
The hand grenades were indeed still in research, but he could almost mass-produce the fireworks.
However, in negotiations, if one revealed one’s full hand at the start, how could one bargain?
“Mr Jin, please think of a way.” Qing Mulan also joined in persuading him.
The Ninth Princess said nothing, but she looked up at Jin Feng.
They were indeed very worried about Gada attacking again.
Jin Feng had already obtained the second-class military quota he wanted. The Ninth Princess did not know what else she could use next time to persuade him to help.
Without Jin Feng by her side, she truly lacked confidence against Gada.
“Mr Jin, have you not always been worried that explosions might injure you while preparing the gunpowder?”
Qing Mulan said, “I can ask my brother to find some death-row prisoners from the jail and have them conduct the experiments. It will definitely go much faster.”
Hearing this, Jin Feng frowned slightly.
“Do not worry. I will have my brother specially select those who have committed heinous crimes and must die anyway!”
Qing Mulan knew Jin Feng was not the type to take lives lightly, so she quickly added, “If they successfully produce what you want, Mr Jin, we can spare their lives. It would still be a good deed!”
