Cold Encounter with a Madman - Chapter 14

Yan Zhi’an’s abilities were known throughout the country. After entering government service, she presented a mine to the imperial court, which led the Emperor to hold her in high regard.

Xun Qi had heard of Yan Zhi’an’s reputation before, all through the Madman. The Madman had praised Yan Zhi’an several times, admiring her capabilities. After all, such talent appeared in the Yan family only once every hundred years, and Yan Zhi’an had extended the prosperity of the Yan clan.

After Yan Zhi’an chided her, Xun Qi lazily leaned closer. Her fair, delicate face was moving to behold. Yan Zhi’an reached out to stroke it, saying earnestly, “This matter requires a gift for talent.”

“I know.” Xun Qi did not force the issue. Relying on her, she rubbed against her mother’s palm and said seriously, “This kind of talent in the Yan family is not something inherited by the children, is it?”

The skills Yan Zhi’an possessed were things her own children might not necessarily inherit. Perhaps in this generation, no one would inherit them at all.

Hearing this, Yan Zhi’an remained silent for a long time, because her grandfather did not possess the talent either, yet her great-grandfather had been able to find mines. One generation possesses the gift, two generations are left in the dark, and the fourth generation must look to the heavens. This was the rule of the Yan family.

However, Xun Qi said, “Regarding gunpowder, one only needs the formula. The Madman taught me many things, including many different formulas. Everyone can learn this.”

Yan Zhi’an narrowed her eyes. The water pavilion was as still as water. The bamboo branches in the room were bathed in warm yellow light, and the charcoal in the brazier crackled. Yan Zhi’an stroked the girl’s skin, savoring the words she had just spoken.

Xun Qi appeared honest, but she had a deep mind and understood how to discern her own interests better than most. Such a disposition was not unlike that of the Empress herself. Human hearts were as treacherous as demons. She needed Xun Qi to rely on her and trust her. In the future, among a multitude of officials, how would Xun Qi come to trust and respect her?

Her palm rested on the girl’s smooth skin, which felt like a peeled egg. She laughed and said, “Then you must strive to break this rule.”

A look of bewilderment appeared in Xun Qi’s clear, moist eyes. Yan Zhi’an reached out to flick her nose, her tone doting, “Try it.”

“Okay.” The girl was immediately overjoyed, and her heart felt warm.

Yan Zhi’an reached out to pull the girl into an embrace and patted her back. “Go to sleep. You have work to do for me tomorrow.”

This one sentence rescued Xun Qi from the deep pit of practicing calligraphy. She stood up excitedly, bowed to her mother with perfect manners, and led the maids back to her room.

Yan Zhi’an did not like staying up at night, and she did not like to overwork herself, as staying up late would damage her skin. Therefore, after Xun Qi left, she went to bed as well. Both of them slept soundly through the night.

When they woke up the next morning, Yan Zhi’an received a list. The handwriting looked like crab scratches, and she did not need to look twice to know who had written it. She called Wushuang over. “Gather these things within half a day.”

Wushuang received the order and left.

After she left, the children from the various branches of the family came to pay their respects for the New Year. More than a dozen children walked in, chattering noisily, calling out “Aunt” in unison.

Xun Qi narrowed her eyes, remembering what Seventeenth Lady had told her, and could not help but look at them more closely, memorizing their features.

After they left, she leaned against her mother and asked, “Which one does the Yan family want you to adopt?”

“It must have been that loose-lipped Seventeenth Lady who told you,” Yan Zhi’an sighed. “Naturally, it would be one from the eldest branch.”

Yan Zhi’an’s life had long ago escaped the control of the family. Wang Mingqing needed to prove herself to escape her own family, but Yan Zhi’an did not need to. Therefore, she had no intention of marrying. The members of the Yan family felt she should adopt a child to teach them the art of finding mines. They had selected a child from the eldest branch, and in two years, when she turned thirty, they would hold the adoption ceremony.

Whether she adopted or not, she did not care. Would having her own child change her destiny? No, these were just trivial matters of no importance.

Yan Zhi’an was calm, without a ripple of emotion. She looked at Xun Qi, who soon steadied her voice. “I do not like them.”

Yan Zhi’an laughed inexplicably, and Xun Qi blushed. “What are you laughing at?”

“Your temperament, that is,” Yan Zhi’an found it interesting. “I do not like people who compete with me, either, but you must keep things you dislike in your heart; do not speak them aloud.”

“I know, but I must tell you,” Xun Qi insisted. “If I do not tell you, you will continue to be close to them. If I do not say anything, you will not know my mind. Therefore, I must tell you.”

The girl’s lips were red and her teeth white, and her words were clear and firm. This made Yan Zhi’an perk up. Her logic was sound; she was not a worm in her stomach. If she did not speak, how would she know her thoughts?

“You are right, Young Successor Yan. Very good, I encourage you.” Yan Zhi’an lowered her head and unhooked the ink-jade pendant from her waist, handing it to her. “This jade pendant is unique, and you are unique in my heart. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes.” Xun Qi happily accepted the jade pendant, playing with it in her palm, her face beaming with a sincere smile.

A single word of unique was enough to make her this happy. Yan Zhi’an sighed silently. The ink-jade pendant was originally a pair, but one was broken, making this one unique. What a gullible child!

In the afternoon, Wushuang gathered the items. Xun Qi requested a clean room, ducked inside, and ordered that no one be allowed to approach.

Yan Zhi’an ordered Wushuang to guard the door, to rush in and drag the girl out if anything went wrong, and also to keep others from entering to ensure Xun Qi was not disturbed.

With her subordinates busy working, Yan Zhi’an began to audit the Yan family’s accounts.

On New Year’s Day, all branches of the family were in a festive mood, but upon suddenly hearing the news that the accounts were being audited, everyone turned ashen-faced. Yan Zhi’an was not easy to fool; even though she had been far away in the capital, she had remained in control of every move the branches made. Because of this, no one in the family could rest easy.

Yan Zhi’an examined the past year’s ledgers. It would have been better if she had not; as she checked, she looked at the enormous sums and felt suffocated for a long time.

She asked the Old Grandfather, “The combined expenses of the various branches are higher than the Imperial Court of the Empress. What have you all been doing?”

“The Empress is but one person, while the Yan family has hundreds. Naturally, it costs more,” the Old Grandfather said dismissively. “The Yan family can afford it; why be so concerned?”

Not to mention one Yan family, even ten Yan families could be sustained.

Yan Zhi’an rubbed her forehead, threw the ledger to the Old Grandfather, and flicked her sleeves to leave, saying only, “Starting tomorrow, the Yan family’s expenses will be halved.”

The heavens had collapsed for every branch of the Yan family.

Xun Qi knew nothing of these matters. She stayed in the room for seven days, concocting a few bottles and jars, which she arranged in a box and gave to Yan Zhi’an.

Yan Zhi’an accepted them with respect, pulled Xun Qi aside, and said, “I am taking you on a trip, secretly. Go pack your bags.”

“Now?”

“Now.”

Xun Qi immediately returned to her room to pack. Yan Zhi’an also arranged the carriage and ordered Wushuang to accompany them.

The mother and daughter departed secretly. The carriage had traveled three miles out of Jinling City when, as luck would have it, they encountered the Yuan family’s carriage.

“Left Chancellor.” Yuan Fusheng stepped out of her carriage and bowed. Standing in the desolate world, she wore wide ink-washed sleeves and raised her hands in a bow to the person in the carriage.

Yan Zhi’an sighed. Beside her, Xun Qi lifted the carriage curtain and smiled at Yuan Fusheng. “Principal Yuan, Happy New Year.”

“Young Successor Yan, may you have a joyful New Year.” Yuan Fusheng bowed again. Xun Qi immediately hopped out of the carriage. Inside, Yan Zhi’an rolled her eyes and cursed, “Dirty flirt.”

Always throwing herself at anyone who looks good.

Xun Qi outside the carriage did not hear this. Instead, she raised both hands to bow to Principal Yuan, staring at her with wide eyes. Yuan Fusheng looked at the girl whose eyes were full of life and kindly reached out to stroke her cheek. “Where is the Young Successor going?”

“I cannot say.” Xun Qi shook her head.

The words cannot say hooked Yuan Fusheng’s heart. She took the girl’s hand and looked at the person in the carriage. “Is this to find a mine?”

“Who told you I was going to find a mine?” Yan Zhi’an raised an eyebrow. “I am going to enjoy the mountain scenery.”

Yuan Fusheng smiled faintly. “May I accompany you?”

Her smile appeared sincere, but in Yan Zhi’an’s eyes, it was a naked threat. Yan Zhi’an looked at her with a smile, “Principal Yuan, can I refuse?”

Principal Yuan: “No!”

“Then why don’t you get in the carriage?” Yan Zhi’an was exhausted. She called out to Xun Qi, “You silly girl, get in the carriage.”

Xun Qi immediately pulled her hand away from Yuan Fusheng and bowed. “Principal, I will get in the carriage first.”

Xun Qi scrambled onto the carriage. As soon as she got in, Yan Zhi’an grabbed her ear. “Why are you fawning over her? You throw yourself at anyone who looks good. Have you never seen a woman before, or am I not good-looking enough?”

Outside the carriage, Yuan Fusheng heard the last sentence and laughed behind her hand.

However, after Yan Zhi’an finished speaking, Xun Qi covered her mouth. “Mother, if you say that, she will hear you. She will think I like her.”

Hearing this, Yuan Fusheng laughed so hard she could not stand straight.

Yan Zhi’an’s lazy and charming voice also drifted out. She said, “Your Principal Yuan likes women.”

Yuan Fusheng: “This person really has no manners.”

Xun Qi, inside the carriage, was stunned. “She is a woman, is she not? How can she like women?”

Hearing this, Yuan Fusheng could not help but get into the carriage. Seeing her climb in with such thick skin, Yan Zhi’an could not help but reach out to pull the girl, pressing her to sit beside her, far away from the old fox.

The three sat steadily, and the carriage continued on. Xun Qi’s gaze toward Yuan Fusheng changed; it was neither disgust nor awe, but curiosity. The Madman had taught her so much, but had never taught her this.

The Madman had spoken of opposites attracting, but had never said that same-sex attraction existed. She pondered for a moment, then peeked secretly at Yuan Fusheng again. At this moment, Yuan Fusheng caught her: “Does the Young Successor think I have violated the social order?”

“No.” Xun Qi shook her head. She did not yet have such deep insight.

Yuan Fusheng sat upright, puzzled. “Then why do you look at me?”

“Principal, I was just thinking that since you are so beautiful, if the person you like is not as beautiful as you, would they not feel ashamed?” Xun Qi was extremely frank, her large, moist eyes fixed on Yuan Fusheng.

Yan Zhi’an, silent to the side, helplessly closed her eyes. This child is still too naive. The person Principal Yuan likes is right in front of you.

Yuan Fusheng swept a glance at Yan Zhi’an and smiled faintly, saying nothing.

Xun Qi was even more confused.

Suddenly, Yan Zhi’an took her hand and smiled beautifully. “Young Successor, who do you think is more beautiful, Principal Yuan or myself?”

Xun Qi’s eyes widened suddenly, her little face full of shock. “Why are you digging a pit for me to jump into?”

Yan Zhi’an stroked her little face with doting affection, then glanced at Yuan Fusheng, a cold, thin smile curving her bright red lips, “I am not digging a pit; you are just stupid.”

People do not just jump into your carriage for no reason; they must have ulterior motives. Can you not see that?

Xun Qi closed her mouth like a mute, but Yan Zhi’an urged her, “Tell me your thoughts.”