The God of War Who Protects the Nation: Starting with Saving a Mother and Daughter in Distress

Finally, Li Zhaoning broke the silence and spoke first: "Let's go sit over there."

There was a stone table and several stone benches under the eaves.

Li Zhaoning walked over and sat down, and Qin An followed suit.

Looking at the layers of rooftops beyond the courtyard wall, Li Zhaoning said softly, "Has the procession been decided?"

"It's settled," Qin An said. "The imperial edict issued today will be delivered from the capital soon."

"Sooner than I expected." Li Zhaoning turned his gaze to his clasped hands. "I thought it would take another two or three months until the new batch of grain was stored before we left."

Qin An sensed the hidden meaning in her words: "What's the plan on the Li family's side?"

Li Zhaoning didn't answer, but instead asked, "Qin An, if one day you had to choose between my Li family and the Yuwen family, who would you choose?"

Qin An suddenly looked at her.

Li Zhaoning's face was half hidden in shadow, only her eyes remained bright, clear and piercing, as if they could see into the depths of one's heart.

The air seemed to freeze.

From this one sentence alone, he had already obtained the answer he wanted.

Clearly, just as he had guessed, the Li family had already received word of the situation and was probably quite prepared.

However, Li Zhaoning was clearly unaware that while he appeared to be relying on the Yuwen family, he had actually sided with Li Zheng.

That's why she asked that question.

Qin An opened his mouth, wanting to tell the truth, but ultimately swallowed it back.

Given the current situation, it's best to keep as few people as possible aware that I've pledged allegiance to Li Zheng.

After a long pause, Qin An finally spoke, his voice lower than usual: "Who can guarantee anything about the future?"

Li Zhaoning gently shook her head: "You really are someone who won't take the bait. You've made up your mind not to answer my questions and insist on going around in circles?"

Qin An did not deny it.

Li Zhaoning suddenly smiled, a smile that contained a hint of relief, but also a touch of disappointment.

"You're a smart man, so just say it!" She said, as if answering his question, yet also as if talking to herself, "The Li family won't rebel, at least not now."

"But you will just sit idly by!" Qin An said. "You will wait until Daxing's broken-down cart gets stuck in the mud. At that time, you will not be suppressing a rebellion, but establishing a new order."

Li Zhaoning finally raised her head and looked at him seriously: "And what about you? Where will you go then?"

Qin An did not answer immediately.

He was still clutching the empty water glass in his hand, a very fine line etched into the glass by the pressure of his fingers.

"Let's talk about the future when it comes!" That was the only answer he could give.

Li Zhaoning said softly, "Sometimes you're too steady, so steady that it's hard to tell whether you really haven't thought it through, or you've already thought it through but just don't want to tell anyone."

Qin An opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more.

The wind picked up, causing the stray hairs at Li Zhaoning's temples to flutter gently.

She raised her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear, the same movement as that night at the alley entrance, so light it was almost inaudible.

"No matter what you think," she said, "the Li family will not take the initiative to become your enemy."

Qin An stood up and looked at the sky, which had become completely dark: "I know."

He turned to leave, but Li Zhaoning suddenly called him back.

"Qin An".

He stopped in his tracks.

"I...I've always thought highly of you!"

Qin An had his back to her, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, but he ultimately did not respond.

……

After leaving Li Zhaoning's place, Qin An did not intend to linger outside and immediately went back to his residence.

He rode his horse through the streets and alleys, the cool breeze carrying away the conversation he had just had in the courtyard, making his mind even clearer.

The Li family will not rebel; they will wait.

Wait until Daxing, this broken-down vehicle, is completely stuck in the mud, and until the imperial court has exhausted its last bit of strength.

When that time comes, their actions will not be called rebellion, but rather the will of Heaven.

Just then, someone suddenly stopped the horse in front of them.

"General Qin, Her Majesty the Empress has decreed that you must enter the palace immediately."

The one who arrived was a female official from Xiao Mei's entourage. Qin An recognized her and saw that although her expression was calm, there was a hint of urgency in her eyes, which made his heart sink.

"Now?"

"Yes, Her Majesty is waiting in the palace. Please hurry, General. Also," the lady-in-waiting paused, "Her Majesty also instructed that you bring the two young ladies with you into the palace."

Qin An frowned: "Cai Yan and Cai Zhen?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

The female official hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice and said, "Today, Her Majesty summoned Lady Qin to the palace to keep her company. It just so happened that His Majesty was in a very good mood when he arrived. Upon seeing Lady Qin, His Majesty recognized her as his cousin and inquired about her family situation."

"The lady mentioned that the general has twin daughters, and His Majesty is quite interested in them and wants to see them. The lady could not refuse, so she had to send me to invite the general."

Upon hearing this, Qin An felt a chill run down his spine.

Yang Ming wants to see Cai Yan and Cai Zhen?

He knew all too well what kind of person this emperor was.

He hadn't forgotten that Yang Yuyan had once mentioned that Yang Ming had said, "Apart from those who gave me life, all those I gave life to are acceptable."

This person's ethical principles are different from those of ordinary people.

Even if someone like that acknowledges Yang Yuyan as a cousin, they probably wouldn't truly consider Cai Yan and Cai Zhen as their juniors.

He suddenly had the idea of ​​meeting the two women. What was his intention?

A bad feeling instantly arose in Qin An's heart.

"General?" The female official urged him softly when she saw that he did not speak.

"Understood." Qin An flicked the reins. "I'll go back to the manor to fetch them."

He rode quickly back to the Qin residence, picked up the two children, and explained what had happened.

Upon hearing that she was going to the palace, Cai Zhen was so excited that she almost dropped the half-eaten fruit she was munching on, jumping up and down twice: "Going to the palace! I've never been to the palace before!"

Cai Yan quieted down considerably and pulled her younger sister back, saying, "Behave yourself. That's the palace, not our backyard."

Yang Yuyan had already been left in the palace, and Qin Anbian had Li Qingwan change her two daughters into neat clothes.

Cai Zhen chose a pale yellow dress, while Cai Yan wore a light blue one; one was bright and cheerful, the other elegant and refined.

Before boarding the carriage, Cai Zhen peered out the window, chattering incessantly with questions: "Is there gold everywhere in the palace? Isn't the emperor frightening?"

Unable to bear her noise any longer, Cai Yan gently tugged at her, saying, "Don't talk nonsense."

He could tell that Yang Yuyan was still safe in the palace, otherwise Xiao Mei wouldn't have sent someone to pick up the child.

But Yang Ming's sudden request to see his two daughters raises questions about his ulterior motives behind this "meeting," and he cannot afford to be complacent.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, Qin An dismounted and personally helped his two daughters down from the carriage.

"Once you're in the palace, watch less and talk less, and follow me," he whispered.

Cai Yan nodded and silently clenched her sister's hand.

Seeing Qin An's unusually serious expression, Cai Zhen stopped smiling and obediently replied, "I understand, Father."

Led by a female official, the three of them made their way to the Empress's palace.

Even though it was daytime, the palace was still brightly lit.

Yang Mingzheng sat at the head of the table, with Xiao Mei beside him, while Yang Yuyan sat further down.

Seeing Qin An enter with his two daughters, Yang Yuyan quickly stood up, shook her head slightly at Qin An with a smile on her face, but the smile was only on her face.

Qin An led the two women forward to pay their respects.

Yang Ming waved his hand, in high spirits: "Get up, get up! We're family, no need for formalities."

As he spoke, his gaze swept back and forth between Cai Yan and Cai Zhen, and after a moment he clapped his hands and laughed, "Excellent! What a pair of exquisitely beautiful young ladies! They are no less beautiful than my princesses."

Cai Yan lowered her eyes and could only express her gratitude.

Cai Zhen was flattered by the praise and, taking advantage of the emperor's seemingly kind demeanor, couldn't help but whisper, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty."

Qin An's heart tightened, and she quickly said, "I'm just a country girl, I don't know the rules, Your Majesty, please don't be offended."

"It's alright." Yang Ming laughed even wider. "Being more genuine is more interesting."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then looked at Cai Yan: "How old are you?"

"Your Majesty, I am fourteen."

"Fourteen." Yang Ming nodded, his eyes brightening slightly as he looked at the two women before him. "Twins, how rare, how rare!"

He put down his teacup, leaned forward, and his gaze swept back and forth between the two women's faces, as if he were appraising a pair of newly acquired objects.

Then, looking at them with concern, he casually asked, "Such a lovely pair of sisters, are they engaged yet?"

Qin An's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged. He clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, these two girls are still young, and I have not yet arranged marriages for them."

"I see." Yang Ming drawled out the last syllable, then turned to Yang Yuyan and smiled, "Since they are not yet betrothed, they can be allowed to enter the palace often in the future. There are many women in the palace, and the rules are complete, so let them learn more."

"They are, after all, of the Yang family bloodline. Learning more will always be beneficial for their future."

These words, seemingly spoken out of concern for the younger generation, sounded chilling to Qin An.

"Could he be planning to make a move on them?" The thought filled Qin An with anger, but he dared not show it and could only change the subject.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. If Your Majesty still finds them acceptable after your tour, I would like to humbly request that Your Majesty arrange marriages for the two girls, so that they may share in Your Majesty's good fortune."

Upon hearing the word "parade," Yang Ming's mind was indeed piqued, and he laughed heartily.

"Of course, of course! When I return from Jiangnan, I'll find a good family for your daughter, and you'll be very proud!"

Xiao Mei interjected at the opportune moment: "Your Majesty cares for the world and still worries about the family affairs of your subjects. You are truly benevolent."

Yang Ming was increasingly pleased. After sitting for a while, he stood up and said, "It's getting late. I still have some memorials to review. Empress, please keep General Qin and his family company for me."

Everyone quickly stood up to see them off.

Yang Ming took two steps, then looked back at the two women, smiled, and then, with a flick of his sleeve, led the eunuchs away.

As soon as the emperor's figure disappeared down the palace road, Qin An felt the air in the hall relax a bit.

Yang Yuyan walked over quickly, hugged her two daughters first, then looked up at Qin An and said in a low voice, "It's my fault, I spoke too quickly and let them slip."

Qin An shook his head: "It's not your fault. Since he's taken an interest, he'll find out sooner or later."

Xiao Mei walked over, her face no longer showing the gentle smile she had given earlier, and her eyes and brows were filled with weariness.

"It was my oversight today that I kept Yu Yan so late, but who would have thought he would come here so suddenly today."

Clearly, she had also realized that the emperor was indeed after Cai Yan and Cai Zhen!