Chapter 181: Orders in the Face of Danger
Qin Yining clenched her hands tightly. They were slightly clammy from sweat but not because of fear, and not of worry that her elders wouldn’t listen to the words of an unmarried girl. What she cared about was her father saying that the future was bleak if the emperor was angry.
What would the emperor be angry about?
Pang Xiao’s ambush, naturally!
However much benefits receiving his favor had brought her before would bring her the same amount of disaster after the fighting started. This would come down on her, a noble girl who barely set foot outside the manor, so what of her father, someone who’d overseen the peace talks?
The negotiations had indeed been a success, so although Great Zhou reneging on the agreement wasn’t Qin Huaiyuan’s fault, would the emperor see it this way?
Pang Xiao had a closer relationship with her, which, in times of peace, the emperor would think that an alliance via marriage was a good thing. But now that the prince was attacking, would the emperor possibly bear no ill will towards her at all? And wouldn’t Elder Statesman Cao and the empress take advantage of this to add fuel to the flame?
Father probably understood this as well, which was why he’d that the future didn’t look good. And in putting her in charge before he returned… he meant to entrust the family to her in case he didn’t return! From this she could tell that if he didn’t return, she was to take charge of the Qins and try her best to keep everyone safe.
Cold sweat beaded the girl’s forehead and her back grew damp, soaking through to her undershirt. Qin Huaiyuan couldn’t help but feel guilty pain when he saw his daughter calm, but ashen-faced. How old was she? She’d returned home for less than a year and hadn’t enjoyed much of a good life, but one thing had happened after another. Now she had to accept additional duties in the face of danger. Even a man might not be able to endure this pressure, yet here he was, forcing his own daughter to do so.
The marquis patted his daughter’s shoulder with barely concealed sorrow. Apparent from a soft, “my daughter’, he was unable to say anything else.
However, the expression on Qin Yining’s face grew more and more composed. She looked back seriously at the man. “Don’t worry, father. That’s all I need to look after this family to the best of my abilities and wait for you to come back.”
“Mm. You…”
“No!” The old dowager suddenly shouted harshly, having reacted to what was going on. “What do you mean by this, Meng’er? You’re acting as if your mother has died!” The matriarch shot to her feet, pointing a trembling finger at her son.