Cold Encounter with a Madman - Chapter 16

Yan Zhi’an had not slept for three days. After sending Yuan Fusheng away, she pulled Xun Qi back to her room, collapsed onto the bed, and fell asleep, telling Xun Qi to practice her calligraphy by her side.

Xun Qi had no heart for calligraphy; she wanted to know the outcome in the mountains. She sat on the footstool, squinting at her mother. “How did it go in the mountains?”

“Shut up!” Yan Zhi’an turned over and scooted toward the inner side of the bed.

Xun Qi took advantage of the situation and climbed onto the bed, her backside touching the edge. She asked again, “Did you dig up any treasure?”

Yan Zhi’an reached out to cover her ears, too exhausted to even speak. At that moment, Xun Qi lifted the quilt, kicked off her shoes, and laid down, positioning herself on the outer edge of the bed.

“What have you been doing for the past three days?” Xun Qi pursued the question relentlessly. Suddenly, a faint, pleasant fragrance drifted toward her. She leaned closer, sniffing near her mother’s shoulder. The scent grew stronger. She was slightly startled. Was this her natural body scent?

It was true, then, that women are like water, born with a fragrance of their own.

Xun Qi rested her head on her mother’s shoulder, muttering, “I heard the imperial court sent troops there as well. If they found it, does the mine belong to the court or the Yan family?”

The dynasty had regulations: mineral resources were private property, but they reverted to the imperial court after three years of extraction. The first three years of mining were private; after that, they belonged to the state.

Even three years were enough to make the Yan family incredibly wealthy, especially since the mines Yan Zhi’an opened were not limited to just one.

Xun Qi received no response, so she poked her mother’s neck, once, twice, three times.

Yan Zhi’an, utterly annoyed, was forced to respond, “Touch me one more time, and you can go kneel by yourself.”

This time, Xun Qi behaved. She stared helplessly at the back of her mother’s neck, and after a while, she could not resist one more tiny poke, then she obediently pulled her hand back. “I will sleep for a bit, too.”

Xun Qi fell asleep as soon as she said it; not even the time it takes to brew half a cup of tea had passed before she was out.

For Xun Qi, it was just a nap, but for Yan Zhi’an, it was a chance to recover. An hour later, Xun Qi woke up, her eyelids heavy. She felt groggy for a moment before getting up.

She did not disturb Yan Zhi’an, quietly putting on her shoes and slipping out of bed. It was already dark outside.

She had just stepped out when she was caught by Yuan Fusheng. “Local officials are here to see your mother, but she is asleep. Why do you not go see them?”

“I should see them?” Xun Qi was puzzled. She was just a child; how was she supposed to meet them?

It got dark early in winter, and while it was not too late yet, Yuan Fusheng pulled Xun Qi along as she spoke. “The Left Prime Minister has donated that mountain mine to the court in your name.”

Xun Qi froze. So the money was just gone like that?

She grabbed Yuan Fusheng’s sleeve. “Why donate it?”

Yuan Fusheng paused, a chill rising from her feet, instantly engulfing her. Why would Yan Zhi’an donate it?

Naturally, it was to build momentum for Xun Qi. She needed fame, she needed connections, and those things required human effort to build bit by bit; they were not money that could be handed over at will.

Yuan Fusheng understood this better than anyone. Xun Qi was too young, and the Crown Prince’s faction was deeply entrenched. She had too much to do and could not rely solely on the Yan family for support.

“Principal, did I say something wrong?” Xun Qi keenly sensed the change in the Principal’s expression. Was her thinking flawed somewhere?

Yuan Fusheng released her sleeve, adjusted her collar calmly, and said quietly, “To pave the way for you. Xun Qi, you were not raised in the Yan family, and your sudden return lacks credibility. Therefore, the Left Prime Minister is paving the way for you.”

As long as Yan Zhi’an lived, Xun Qi’s path would be a broad, smooth avenue.

Xun Qi suddenly understood, but her heart still ached. “A whole mine, just gone. I still feel a bit heartbroken.”

“Do you not feel heartbreak for the Left Prime Minister, who has been rushing about for three days?” Yuan Fusheng laughed in spite of herself; this child was only thinking about the mine.

Xun Qi was surprised. “Of course I feel for her, but we were talking about the mine just now.”

“I give up on you. Go see them quickly and train your courage.” Yuan Fusheng had a headache from this child. After walking a few steps, she added, “She treats you this way, so if there ever comes a day when she truly wrongs you, you must forgive her.”

Xun Qi looked blank. Yuan Fusheng pulled her to meet the local officials, instructing her on what to watch out for and clarifying that she was representing the Left Prime Minister.

Not the Yan family, but the Left Prime Minister.

Of the two Prime Ministers of the court, the Left was the most prestigious; thus, Yan Zhi’an was the head of all officials.

“Show your boldness, show your confidence, keep your eyes up, and do not shrink back. Even if you say something wrong, they will not dare to speak against you.”

“You only need to stand tall and meet them.”

Xun Qi nodded repeatedly. After walking a few steps, Yuan Fusheng said, “You go first.”

“You should go first, Principal.” Xun Qi would never dare to walk ahead of her; she was very clear about the order of seniority.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Fusheng said, “To the imperial court, I am but a commoner. You are different. You are the daughter of the Left Prime Minister.”

At that moment, Xun Qi seemed to understand something. She was the Young Master of the Yan clan, and the daughter of the Left Prime Minister. Therefore, she represented power.

The local officials had all arrived with gifts, seeking an audience with the Left Prime Minister.

After waiting for a long time, they did not see the Left Prime Minister, but instead, a half grown child appeared, followed by a woman whom a sharp eyed official recognized as the Principal of the Yuan Academy.

“Principal Yuan, why are you here?” everyone asked in surprise.

Yuan Fusheng ignored them. She never associated with government officials, so their meeting was merely a nodding acquaintance.

After Xun Qi entered, she took a look. There were over a dozen people in the room, and the lineup was truly grand. These were powerful local figures who could shake the region with a stomp of their feet, yet they stood humbly before her now.

Power slowly began to take root in her heart at that moment.

Yuan Fusheng did not act as the host but stood behind Xun Qi. Xun Qi smiled and apologized to the group. “My mother has been busy for many days and is exhausted, so she has already retired. Why do you not all come back another day?”

Coming back another day was merely a polite excuse; they might well be leaving tomorrow.

When the group heard the words “my mother,” the frivolity in their eyes vanished, and they spoke to the young girl with great respect.

The young girl answered them one by one, then remarked that it was getting late and sent people to escort them back.

After the exchange, the group departed reluctantly.

Watching them leave, Xun Qi looked at Yuan Fusheng. “Did I show any weakness?”

“No, you had all the confidence required. Dealing with people is just about your inner spirit; if you have the confidence, your words carry weight. If you lose that spirit, your momentum will naturally be crushed by others.” Yuan Fusheng’s tone was calm. “Do you know? They just greeted me, and I could not be bothered to respond. Do you know why?”

Xun Qi shook her head.

Yuan Fusheng said, “I was never a person of this secular world; I entered it only for someone’s sake. I am different from them. I have no cravings and no desires.”

Xun Qi wondered, “Who is that someone?”

“Let us go.” Yuan Fusheng did not answer, turning to leave the guest hall.

Before Xun Qi could ask, the person had already left, so she naturally hurried to catch up.

“Principal, why did you stop halfway through?”

“I was only telling you that if a person has no cravings and no desires, they have stepped outside the secular world and cannot be coerced by others.” Yuan Fusheng walked slowly, her silhouette like a bamboo stalk, firm and powerful. Walking under the moon, she looked as bright as the moonlight, illuminating the path ahead for Xun Qi.

She had left Xun Qi with something to ponder.

After Yan Zhi’an woke up, Xun Qi asked her about it eagerly, but Yan Zhi’an just gave her a blank look. “Why are you as talkative as a village woman? Let us return to the Yan estate.”

Not getting an answer but receiving a scolding instead, Xun Qi went to pack her luggage in frustration, turning to look at her mother. “A Niang, you must know; you are hiding it from me.”

The address “A Niang” caused Yan Zhi’an to look up in surprise, but the girl had already run off.

The title “A Niang” made Yan Zhi’an feel resistant; “Mother” was too formal, while “A Niang” was the address used by the people of Jinling.

Yan Zhi’an felt a sense of resistance, but she felt entirely powerless. Isn’t this the result I wanted?

Everything is correct. But gradually, she felt a trace of unease. She held her chest powerlessly; why should I feel uneasy?

Xun Qi respected her and relied on her; what could possibly be wrong?

Forget it, do not think about it for now; let us return to the Yan estate first.

The journey there took five days, and the return trip was also five days. Altogether, the round trip took half a month. The Lantern Festival had already passed, and it was nearly the beginning of the second month.

The news that the Yan clan’s Young Master had found a mine and donated it to the court had already spread throughout Jinling City.

Before parting ways, Yuan Fusheng brazenly discussed something with Yan Zhi’an. “How about you let Xun Qi become my honorary student?”

Yan Zhi’an clutched her hand warmer, her expression weary. She did not even open her eyes, bluntly refusing, “Yuan Fusheng, you had better not set your sights on her.”

“I can make her famous!” Yuan Fusheng guaranteed.

Yan Zhi’an smiled. “After that poem about the peonies at the Hall of Excellence, do you think I still need you?”

Yuan Fusheng stopped short, looking at her coldly. “If you do not satisfy me, I will tell the Yan family that Xun Qi is not your biological daughter.”

Yan Zhi’an: “…”

“Yuan Fusheng, you are behaving like a scoundrel!”

“I am leaving now, Left Prime Minister. Consider it yourself.”

Yuan Fusheng disembarked the carriage calmly. Xun Qi looked up at her eagerly from below, feeling very reluctant to part. “Principal, are you going back now?”

“I am going back.” A smile appeared on Yuan Fusheng’s face as she reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Xun Qi’s ear. “Come play at my academy when you have time. I will introduce you to some people, and when the time comes, you can take them back to the capital with you.”

The Yuan family did not enter the court, but the students of the Yuan Academy naturally would.

Yuan Fusheng boarded her own carriage with a smile and waved at the young girl. From afar, the scene looked like a painting of a beautiful woman, which was imprinted in the young girl’s eyes.

Xun Qi watched for a moment. Yuan Fusheng’s beauty did not come from her skin, but from her free spirited nature and the scholarly aura that coalesced within her, creating the Yuan Fusheng before her.

She truly was beautiful.

Yuan Fusheng lowered the curtain. Xun Qi withdrew her gaze with a sense of loss, and when she looked up again, she ran into her mother’s inquisitive gaze. She gave a hearty laugh. “A Niang, we are home.”

“Is that beauty good to look at?” Yan Zhi’an said sarcastically. “You have been bewitched by her.”

Yuan Fusheng loved using those methods to capture the hearts of little girls, but Yan Zhi’an scoffed at it, reminding Xun Qi, “Be careful of being led into a pit by a ghost.”

Xun Qi blinked, not understanding the meaning behind her mother’s words.

Returning to the residence, Yan Zhi’an went to see the Old Master, while Xun Qi waited outside. After waiting for a long while, she heard a loud bang from inside and braced herself to look.

A while later, Yan Zhi’an pushed open the door and walked out with a smile on her face and a light step.

Xun Qi did not know what had happened, watching her mother with worry. Yan Zhi’an looked up toward the sunlight and said cheerfully, “I remember, it seems like the beginning of spring.”

Spring was coming.

“Is the Great grandfather asking you to get married?” Xun Qi asked eagerly.

“Hmm?” Yan Zhi’an lowered her head to look at the young girl. “What do you want to say?”

Xun Qi: “Spring fever.”

Yan Zhi’an: “…” The Madman really is a book that covers everything, even teaching you about spring fever.