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Qin Sirong and Qin Sheng, both skilled martial artists, walked briskly and soon reached the main courtyard.
Upon seeing them, Madam Qin couldn’t help but inquire about her husband and their second wife, second son, and the others in the northern border.
Qin Sirong assured her that everything was fine, sharing some details about their life in the northern border.
Madam Qin, knowing that her husband and children were all well, felt relieved and allowed him to go speak with his brothers.
Qin Sanlang couldn’t wait to ask, “Fourth Brother, why did you personally escort these goods back to Chang’an?”
They had received battle reports stating that the Xianbei, Wuhuan, and Shanxu tribes had launched a southward raid, plunging the northern border into war. While the furs and other goods he was escorting were valuable, it seemed illogical to leave the northern border at this time.
Qin Sirong sighed. How could he not return after all that had happened at home?
How was Mother’s condition?
How was Big Brother’s remarriage going?
Had Third Sister-in-law’s childbirth gone smoothly?
Most importantly, the Empress Dowager had arranged a marriage for Ah Sheng, but the second daughter of the Lu family, the one bestowed upon Ah Sheng, was infertile! This was outrageous!
He didn’t mention that their father had stood outside the camp for half the night upon receiving the news of the Empress Dowager’s forced marriage arrangement for Ah Sheng.
One by one, these matters, without seeing them with his own eyes, just a few letters, how could they be at ease?
Although Big Brother had explained the whole story in his letter, a perfectly good fiancée had been replaced, Lu Desheng had a bad reputation outside, and Lu Songli herself wasn’t as outstanding as Zhao Yutan. They all felt that he had been wronged.
Furthermore, Ah Sheng was their youngest brother, and they, as his older brothers, had all prepared generous gifts for his wedding.
Seeing Fourth Brother’s state, Qin Sanlang knew they all thought that Big Brother was delivering good news while hiding the bad. Immediately, he stood up, pulled him aside, and began explaining.
Lu Songli was now their Qin family’s fiancée, and everyone present was quite satisfied with her. Fourth Brother didn’t know her well, so he couldn’t help but say things inappropriately when speaking about her. Though understandable, it was best to avoid it if possible.
Speaking of Lu Songli, Qin Sanlang highlighted her achievements in recent times. Of course, he only mentioned the public ones, things everyone knew. They didn’t know all the details about the hidden aspects, but based on his abilities, he could deduce a general idea.
Even just the public matters showed that Lu Songli was an extraordinary woman.
Qin Sirong nodded, confirming, “The Zhao family is indeed unacceptable.” But, “Is Lu Songli really that outstanding?”
Qin Sirong was half-believing, but he knew his third brother, a smiling fox, and if he praised someone, it meant they were truly exceptional. And Lu Songli, being a woman, was even more remarkable.
But wait, what was the Xie family doing? How could they make such an unwise decision? Qin Sirong couldn’t understand. The Xie family, so powerful, had actually missed out on a gem?
Qin Sanlang rolled his eyes, “Why would I lie to you? Just look at the results and you’ll know I’m telling the truth.”
Qin Sirong thought along with his third brother’s words. Indeed, regardless of the truth in his third brother’s words, just look at the results.
The Lu family, so weak and outnumbered, faced attacks from the Zhao family and the Zhao and Xie families behind them. Yet, the Lu family stood their ground and even retaliated, causing significant losses to both families. That’s what you call skill.
Qin Sanlang said, “This time, Ah Sheng being granted marriage by the Empress Dowager and being tied to Lu Songli is purely a stroke of good luck, picking up a big advantage.”
Once this matter was revealed, the Xie family would definitely be furious. Anyway, he is now fully supportive of the engagement between Ah Sheng and Lu Songli. He couldn’t let his brother ruin things without understanding the situation. Compared to Zhao Yutan, Lu Songli excelled in all aspects except for giving birth.
Qin Silang wholeheartedly agreed with this statement.
When a person’s excellence exceeds the ordinary, they cannot be judged by worldly standards. Lu Songli, a person like that, doesn’t care much about others’ opinions of her.
Qin Silang quickly changed his attitude towards this marriage, decisively no longer mentioning Lu Songli’s reproductive defects.
The Qin family has always respected the strong, whether in terms of martial strength or exceptional intelligence.
“What does Ah Sheng think about this?”
Ah Sheng is a straightforward young man. Qin Silang was sure that he no longer had any feelings for Zhao Yutan, his previous fiancée. A clean and upright young man, with the intelligence of his future sixth brother and sister, getting along well with him will surely win him over.
Qin Silang was confident that, besides fighting, Ah Sheng was definitely not a match for his future Wife. He wondered if Ah Sheng had any thoughts on continuing the family line.
Qin Sanlang recalled Ah Sheng’s words, looking somewhat at a loss.
“What’s wrong?”
Qin Sanlang glanced at Qin Sheng, who was ignorant and carefree, joking with his older brother. With a determined heart, he said, “He said he has five brothers and six nephews, so adding or subtracting one for the continuation of the family line doesn’t make much of a difference.”
Qin Silang: …
Very good, very clever. It seems that they, as older brothers, didn’t have enough fights. The responsibility of continuing the family line in the Qin family lies with them, the older brothers, right?
Well, as long as Ah Sheng doesn’t feel wronged. Just as Ah Sheng said, if needed, they, as older brothers, can have a few more children, and if Ah Sheng and the sixth brother and sister need, they can be adopted. They also need to raise their sons well, so they can be filial to their sixth uncle and aunt.
After the two brothers finished talking, they returned to the main hall.
Seeing that everything was fine at home, their mother’s condition was improving, and the arranged marriage that had caused Ah Sheng so much distress turned out unexpectedly well, Qin Silang’s face showed a relaxed expression.
At this time, breakfast was brought in from the kitchen, and the whole family enjoyed a lively meal together.
After breakfast, everyone sat down to have tea and chat.
Madam Qin and the pregnant Nie Yunniang sat aside, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted and laughed, not disturbing the four brothers’ conversation.
The four Qin brothers gathered together, inevitably discussing military matters.
“The Crown Prince and his entourage heading north, did you encounter them?”
Qin Silang shook his head, “Probably we took different routes and missed them.” They took a shortcut back, while the Crown Prince’s party should have taken the official road.
Qin Heng frowned at the news.
Qin Silang suddenly thought, “The Crown Prince is being escorted north by the Five Army Camps outside the city? Why isn’t A Sheng going?” Everyone knows that Qin Sheng is exceptionally skilled in martial arts, the Crown Prince’s people couldn’t possibly not know. Yet A Sheng was left behind, something must be going on.
The Crown Prince is going north to boost morale, and the Five Army Camps outside the city are sending their elite soldiers to escort him. Qin Sheng was originally on the list to be drafted. Qin Sheng truthfully explained the situation of his marriage.
Qin Sheng wasn’t unwilling to escort the Crown Prince north, but he didn’t want to leave a handle for others to use against him. Otherwise, even if he did a good job protecting the Crown Prince, if he missed his wedding date, the Empress Dowager would surely have something to say. One accusation of defying the royal decree would be enough to condemn them. He left the choice to his superior.
When his superior heard that the Empress Dowager demanded his marriage to the Lu family must be completed within two months after the imperial decree was issued, and considering that his wife was the second daughter of the Lu Imperial Censor, his superior felt he couldn’t make the decision. He simply passed Qin Sheng’s draft order up.
Finally, Qin Sheng’s draft order reached the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince simply crossed out his name. His Royal Highness didn’t want to clash with his grandmother, nor did he want to cause unnecessary trouble. At the same time, he didn’t think Qin Sheng was important enough to be drafted into his escort team.
Qin San Lang knew what he was worried about. “Don’t worry, this batch of elite soldiers is pretty good, escorting the Crown Prince north won’t be a problem.”