Chapter 34: Why Is Your Body So Hot? Part 2

“Your Majesty, if you do this, everyone will know you favor Xunqi.”

“Left Prime Minister, why isn’t it you spending money to pave the way for Xunqi?”

Yan Zhi’an frowned. She knew there was no good intention behind this. She was being blatantly set up. She took a deep breath. “What do you mean?”

“Last year, the mine Xunqi donated has already begun production, earning the court hundreds of thousands of taels. Is it too much for me to reward her with the position of Deputy Commander of the Patrol Battalion?” The Female Emperor smiled at Yan Zhi’an. “I want her to gain control of the military before the Crown Prince.”

With the Patrol Battalion as a foundation, she could increase her strength, add more troops, and turn five thousand soldiers into ten thousand.

Yan Zhi’an couldn’t have asked for more. She knelt and kowtowed, thanking Her Majesty for her grace.

The imperial edict was delivered to the Left Prime Minister’s Residence in the afternoon. Xunqi was dazed. Chen Qingrong was overjoyed and immediately gave out rewards, handing a pouch of gold melon seeds to the eunuchs. She also had the storehouses opened to distribute bonuses, and finally summoned the steward to open a congee kitchen and distribute rice.

“Madam, you’re… this is too ostentatious.” Xunqi came to her senses and hurriedly stopped her. “Please stop. Wait until Mother comes back to discuss this.”

“Why wait for her? I’m using my own private money. Don’t interfere.” Chen Qingrong grew even happier, instructing the steward. “Go scatter money. Go to the alleyways, the neighborhoods, under the gate towers, scatter money.”

Xunqi couldn’t dissuade her, but seeing Chen Qingrong so happy, her doubts dissipated again. If she weren’t her mother’s child, why would the Madam be so happy that she was becoming an official?

She was overthinking things.

The residence suddenly became lively. Everyone got a reward. The Madam, in her happiness, gave everyone an extra year’s worth of monthly wages. Not one or two months, but a whole year’s wages. In an instant, joy was written on everyone’s face.

At the same time, copper coins began to be scattered at the residence gate. Under the gate tower, Yan family servants carried baskets of copper coins, scattering them as they walked. The passersby were all happy.

By the time Yan Zhi’an returned, her mother had already spent ten thousand taels. Chen Qingrong was nervous, expecting her daughter to say something. But she only said one thing, then continued, “Go to the shops and tell them to make a set of ready-made clothing for each of the five thousand soldiers in the Patrol Battalion.”

“Oh my, you’ve finally come to your senses. You know to use money to pave her way.” Chen Qingrong couldn’t help but make a snide remark. “In my opinion, you should also give them an extra month’s stipend. Wouldn’t that be even better?”

“Mother is absolutely right. Take it from the accounts. Go make the arrangements. Don’t be stingy. Give them three months’ stipend. It’s only five thousand people. The Yan family can afford it.” Yan Zhi’an went along with her mother’s wishes. “What do you think?”

Chen Qingrong was stunned. “Have you gone mad, or have I? You’re giving away so much money. Won’t the family have something to say?”

“It’s my money, and I’ll use it as I see fit. Why should I inform the family? Are their expenses smaller than ours?” Yan Zhi’an didn’t think it was a big deal. “Don’t you like scattering money? Then scatter as much as you want. How about that?”

“As you wish.” Chen Qingrong conceded. “For your daughter, you’ve even abandoned your own principles. I’ll go make the arrangements. But isn’t this too ostentatious?”

Chen Qingrong repeated Xunqi’s words back to her. This ostentatiousness didn’t fit her daughter’s personality. It seemed deliberate.

Yan Zhi’an said calmly, “It needs to be ostentatious. I need to tell the world that my daughter, Yan Zhi’an’s daughter, is the God of Wealth in the Patrol Battalion. It’s not that Her Majesty favors her, but that my Yan family is pushing her up.”

“Your words confuse me.” Chen Qingrong didn’t understand. “Aren’t you afraid she’ll make too many enemies?”

“Why should I be afraid? If they have the ability, they can do the same. If they don’t, they can shut up.” Yan Zhi’an’s expression was cold and distant. She didn’t care about these things. To the Yan family, this money was just a drop in the bucket. If she could donate a whole mine, why would she begrudge a few tens of thousands of taels?

Chen Qingrong was completely speechless. She said, “I’ll go find someone to coordinate with the City Defense Battalion. Three months’ stipend and a set of clothing. I’ll remember.”

She first sent someone to coordinate with the Commander of the City Defense Battalion. Upon hearing that the Yan family was paying stipends, the Commander’s smile couldn’t be contained. He eagerly asked, “One month’s?”

“Three months, plus a set of clothing. This is our Young Mistress’s intention. Of course, you’ll get one too. Don’t worry about being reported. The Left Prime Minister arranged it. All the brothers in the battalion will have it.” The steward explained with a smile. “In the future, please take good care of our Young Mistress.”

“Easy to say, easy to say. I’ve heard the Young Mistress Yan has excellent martial arts skills. We’ll have to spar someday.” The Commander was so happy he was rubbing his hands together. This was free money, three months’ stipend! Who the hell wouldn’t be happy?

After informing him, the steward also asked about sizes and set a time for the clothing to be delivered.

The Commander saw the steward off and let out a “Hey!” “The Yan family really is wealthy and powerful. With this, they’ve practically given away a lifetime of stipends. But the Yan family doesn’t care about this small change. They even donated a whole mine.”

The news of the Yan family scattering money spread throughout the city. Those who knew about it cursed the Yan family for being tainted with the stench of money. Those who envied them remained silent for a long time.

When Prince Ji learned of this, he was also envious. “Yan Zhi’an really treats this daughter well. She’s spent so much thought, scattering money like water, just to exchange for the position of Deputy Commander of the Patrol Battalion.”

For a time, the news of the Yan family’s wealth overshadowed the news of Duke Dingguo being confined.

In the evening, Xunqi again wrapped herself in her quilt and climbed onto her mother’s bed. After last night, Yan Zhi’an had calmly accepted this. The two lay together quietly again.

Xunqi lay stiffly, staring at the void. “Mother, I feel like this doesn’t match your personality.”

“What doesn’t match?” Yan Zhi’an closed her eyes. The breath at her ear was slightly warm. She moved a little towards the outside.

Xunqi turned on her side and stared straight at her mother. “What are you trying to hide?”

When something is abnormal, there must be a reason. Her mother’s blatant display of wealth wasn’t normal. She’d thought about it all night and couldn’t figure it out. Could it be to cover up the matter of the Duke Dingguo’s Residence?

But the Duke Dingguo’s Residence’s mistake had nothing to do with the Yan family. There was no need for her mother to cover for them.

What was the reason?

Xunqi moved closer, resting her head on her mother’s shoulder. Her heart trembled slightly, but she felt very happy. Warm water seemed to flow through her heart, and she couldn’t help but feel excited.

She said, “You must be hiding something.”

“What could I be hiding? I’m just telling the world that you are my daughter, and I am your backing. No one can bully you. I can crush them with money. Do you understand?” Yan Zhi’an’s heart was flustered. She listened carefully to her voice, which was trembling slightly.

“That’s true. But this way, everyone will know that my Deputy Commander position was bought.” Xunqi believed her mother’s nonsense, but a new worry began to form in her heart. “Do you think they’ll look down on me?”

“They will. So, you need to work even harder. Alright, time to sleep.” Yan Zhi’an reached out and pushed the little head away. “Why is your body so hot?”

“It’s your body that’s too cold. I’m warming you up.” Xunqi took the opportunity to throw off her own quilt and burrow directly into her mother’s, pressing tightly against her.

Yan Zhi’an felt like she was facing a great enemy, but it was too late. She steadied herself and the little thing. “I don’t like sleeping with others. Sleep in your own. If you cause trouble again, don’t come tomorrow night.”

“Fine, I’ll go back.” Xunqi burrowed back into her own quilt, her eyes cold, and quickly closed them.

The next morning at court, Yan Zhi’an brought a pouch of golden beans. At the palace gate, Wushuang carried the pouch and handed one to everyone she saw. The court officials played with the thumb-sized golden beans and looked at the Left Prime Minister ahead. “The Left Prime Minister is finally satisfied. They say the Yan family is rich enough to rival a nation. Today, we’ve seen it for ourselves.”

In the past, the Left Prime Minister had been too low-key and didn’t like crowds, so they had underestimated her. Today, they saw the true strength of the Yan family.

A whole pouch of golden beans, given away without batting an eye. One golden bean was equivalent to a commoner’s yearly living expenses.

The Right Prime Minister entered the palace. Wushuang generously grabbed a handful for her. The Right Prime Minister held a handful of golden beans and looked up at Wushuang. Wushuang, sensing her gaze, said, “Not enough? Not enough? I’ll give you some more.”

Wushuang grabbed another handful and stuffed it into the Right Prime Minister’s hands. Holding the heavy gold, the Right Prime Minister couldn’t help but say, “Has your Head of the Family been kicked in the head by a donkey?”

She’s practically telling the world that Xunqi’s position was bought with money. She’s the biggest corrupt official in our dynasty’s history.

“My Head of the Family said it’s a nationwide celebration.” Wushuang smiled and dealt with it, then looked at others. “This official, please wait. For you, for you.”

The Right Prime Minister’s hands were full. Free gold, why not take it? She calmly stuffed it into her sleeve and went to court as if nothing had happened.

After this commotion, even the dogs in the capital knew that the Left Prime Minister’s only daughter had gotten the position of Deputy Commander of the Patrol Battalion. They even got a meaty bone each, sharing it among themselves. Life had suddenly become much better for them.

Xunqi was busy practicing martial arts, treating this hard-won position with care. A martial arts instructor taught by her side, and she trained hard.

At that moment, Wuming rushed in. “Young Mistress, Duke Dingguo is dead.”

The arrow in Xunqi’s hand shot through the air, piercing the target. She steadied herself. “How did he die?”

“They say he took his own life. The details are unknown.”

The news outside said it was suicide. No one knew the truth. Xunqi looked at the arrow in the target, suddenly understanding the Female Emperor’s resolve. She had killed her own brother for Princess Zhaohui.

She just wondered what Prince Ji was thinking.

Xunqi put away her bow. “Let’s go to the Duke Dingguo’s Residence. They should be setting up the funeral hall. I’m guessing no one dares to go and pay their respects.”

What had the Sima family relied on to get to where they were today? The Emperor’s favor. Without that favor, who would treat you like a person?

The Female Emperor had more than just her brother under her command. She had the Left and Right Prime Ministers. Which of them wasn’t more obedient than Sima Xun? Did you think that just because you were the Crown Prince’s uncle, you could overstep Her Majesty?

Dream on!

Xunqi pulled off her headband and tossed it to Wuming, her aura fierce. “Let’s go.”

When she arrived at the Sima Residence, there were indeed no mourners. As soon as he saw her, Third Young Master Sima’s eyes turned vicious. “Xunqi, you dare to come to my Sima residence?”

“I’m here to burn some incense for your father.” Xunqi flicked the dust off her robe. “Who do you think you are? Without your father, what are you worth?”

Third Young Master Sima’s veins bulged with anger. Xunqi smiled at him. “Your father is dead. Your father is dead.”

“Yan Xunqi, I’m not done with you!” Third Young Master Sima was provoked beyond reason. Kicking aside the servants trying to hold him back, he lunged directly at her.