The young lady is delicate and soft, yet she criticizes the powerful minister for bowing and scrapin

"This is your choice," Qi Yunli said calmly.

The butler had already arranged for people to immediately step forward and drag away those who were crying and begging for mercy.

After dealing with the situation for a while, once the crying in the courtyard subsided, Qi Yunli turned her gaze to the people who remained, and her tone softened considerably.

Those who remained were all filled with awe and gratitude for their choice, while also feeling a greater sense of reverence for the young Lady Hou.

Truly skillful people show kindness in ordinary times and make those who want to take advantage of them lower their guard at the most crucial moment.

"If you are willing to stay, I will remember your kindness. Once this period at the Marquis's residence is over, I will certainly not treat you unfairly."

Qi Yunli thought for a moment, then reassured the servants: "If a great calamity were to befall us, I would burn your indentures first, so you could escape."

"I know you have families, but I have no other ties besides my younger brother. Therefore, I will protect your lives."

Upon hearing this, all the servants in the courtyard, including the steward, knelt down.

"This servant is willing to follow the Marquis's mansion to the death!"

The lady treated them with such sincerity, and their hearts, being made of flesh and blood, had already chosen true affection when they made their first choice.

Now it comes from the bottom of my heart.

The housekeepers were completely convinced by Lady Hou.

In the past, I always thought that Qi Yunli was of humble origin and could not live up to the reputation of the Marquis's mansion. But now I see that many mistresses from noble families may not have her spirit.

By combining kindness and severity, one can win people's hearts with just a few words.

After Qi Yunli left, the butler gave instructions.

"From today onward, do not quarrel with outsiders. Take turns going out to buy things, and do not listen to rumors."

Having dealt with the servants, Qi Yunli breathed a sigh of relief.

People's hearts are the most important thing right now.

Qi Yunli summoned Rufeng and said, "Take another inventory of the manor's storerooms. Apart from the essential rice, flour, cooking oil, clothing, and medicine, seal up all other valuables so that they can be taken out if needed in the future."

"Yes."

Ru Feng obeyed Qi Yunli's command.

Moreover, Qi Yunli also noticed that even when Wei Jun was not around, no outsider could approach the Marquis's residence at will.

She would occasionally see some shadows appearing in the corner.

She recognized these people.

He was Wei Jun's secret guard.

When he left, he left his bodyguard and Ru Feng with her.

Not long after, the emperor's decree to punish him was not issued.

Instead, news of Prince Sheng's execution arrived first.

Ru Feng came in from outside that day, his eyes full of confusion.

"Madam, His Majesty issued an imperial decree yesterday, sending an unknown military officer to the border to provide reinforcements. I heard that the man was originally just a minor officer in the Northwest Army, with no merits or powerful backers, and he wasn't even ranked in the capital."

Qi Yunli was checking the inventory in the warehouse when she paused, her pen still in her hand.

"This is interesting. The emperor has chosen someone, but he hasn't brought many soldiers with him."

This is really too strange. The Northern Di are fierce, and even Wei Jun with 30,000 soldiers could not subdue them.

Why would the Emperor believe that a mere general could turn the tide?

"That's right. The people are also confused. They say that the emperor is old and desperate, and that he might hand over the border to others."

Qi Yunli remained silent for a moment, then quickly and efficiently organized the booklets in her hands.

I got up and went to the window. There was already a thin layer of frost on the rose petals in the yard.

Four months have passed, Wei Jun, aren't you being a little too confident?

How could I keep waiting for you?

If you break your promise and leave this world, I will not wait for you.

"I want to send secret guards to the border to gather information," Qi Yunli said, composing herself.

She couldn't believe Wei Jun was really dead; she needed to hear it from her own people before she could believe it.

"Madam?" Ru Feng was surprised that the madam had actually noticed the presence of the secret guards.

"Select two of your best bodyguards to go to the border. They don't need to get close to the front lines; they just need to keep watch from the shadows. Their job is to find out the whereabouts of the Marquis and keep an eye on the movements of our troops at the border."

Ru Feng knelt on the ground: "The Marquis said that the secret guards are for protecting the lady, and no matter what happens, they cannot be moved arbitrarily!"

"You're not even listening to me anymore? Now that the Marquis's fate is uncertain, I am your new master!"

Ru Feng kowtowed: "Madam is my new master, but the new master of the secret guards should be Young Master Xie."

Xie Dongpo?

Qi Yunli then remembered that since the rumors started, Xie Dongpo had not visited the Marquis's residence for a long time, citing official duties as the reason.

Wei Ruowei brought it up several times, but Qi Yunli was busy managing household affairs and didn't have time to ask.

"Prepare the carriage; I will go to the Xie residence myself."

Qi Yunli did not hesitate. She trusted Wei Jun's judgment and believed that the secret guards could be entrusted to Xie Dongpo.

I imagine Xie Dongpo must be someone I can entrust with my life.

The Marquis's carriage traveled along the street, and due to the border affairs, the scenery along the way was much more desolate.

The Xie family was a scholarly family, and their courtyard was clean and tidy. However, there were servants on duty in front of the gate, watching passers-by with vigilant expressions.

Upon seeing the Marquis's carriage, he immediately stepped forward to stop it, his face plastered with a polite but distant smile:

"I am sorry to have failed to greet you properly, Madam. However, my young master is very busy with official duties today and is probably too busy to see guests. It would be better if you came another day."

Qi Yunli lifted the carriage curtain. "I have important matters to discuss with your young master. I came in person; how can he be unreasonable?"

The servant was somewhat frightened by her gaze and awkwardly retreated to announce her arrival at the mansion.

Not long after, the servant hurried back, still looking troubled.

"Madam, I am truly sorry, but the young master is unable to receive guests. He said that he will definitely visit you in person to apologize when he has time."

This was a blatant rejection.

After a moment of silence, Qi Yunli raised her hand and took out a letter that she had prepared beforehand from her sleeve.

"He was engaged to my third sister, but now he's avoiding suspicion. It's truly disheartening."

Qi Yunli lowered the carriage curtain and said nothing more.

"Return to the residence."

Qi Yunli couldn't bear to tell Wei Ruowei that she had just lost her older brother, and she didn't want Wei Ruowei to be even more grief-stricken.

Just as the people of the Marquis's mansion were hoping for a victory day and night, news arrived from the capital that the border had been defeated by the Northern Barbarians.

The old lady had been worried for days, which weakened her spleen and stomach, and she needed to rest in bed.

"Good news from the border! The young general of the Northwest has won a battle, and the border defenses are now secure," the servant said weakly.

It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but he felt no excitement.

Qi Yunli was accompanying the old lady as she drank her medicine when she heard these words, and the old lady accidentally spilled the medicine.

"You, you say it again, the Northern Barbarians retreated? What about the Marquis?"

"My lord... said that the person is gone, and the young general escorted the lord's body back."

Upon hearing this, the old lady's long-held hope vanished, and she fainted.

"grandmother!"