Chapter 360: Group Fight
Editor: Atlas Studios
Qi Haoran widened his eyes and said unhappily, “People only talk couples into reconciling, not breaking up. Why do you look like you can’t wait for us to quarrel?”
After saying that, he said proudly, “Although Ah Ling has yet to marry me, she listens to me now. If I say go west, she definitely won’t go east.”
Fan Zijin looked at him with an expression that said, “Are you kidding me?”
In the end, neither of the two brothers could convince the other. Qi Haoran firmly believed that he was already Mu Yangling’s mountain now.
At the side, the head chef glanced at the chicken soup several times. Finally, he interrupted them in a low voice and said, “Fourth Young Master, the chicken soup should be ready.”
Qi Haoran immediately cheered up and got someone to bring it to the dining room. He announced that dinner could be served.
Mu Yangling was already seated at the dining table when they arrived. When she saw them, she smiled and greeted them with a good attitude.
Qi Haoran got someone to scoop a bowl of chicken soup. He looked at her with bright eyes and said, “This is chicken soup that’s been stewed for a long time. Try it.”
Mu Yangling looked at him strangely and pushed the soup back. She said in a good temper, “You should drink it since you haven’t recovered yet.”
“Just drink it. I don’t like chicken soup,” Qi Haoran said with a straight face.
Fan Zijin, who was sitting at the side, could not help but roll his eyes. He dragged the chicken soup before himself and drank it in large mouthfuls.
Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling were both stunned. If not for the fact that his physical condition did not allow it, Qi Haoran almost wanted to jump up. “Zijin, why did you snatch Ah Ling’s chicken soup?”
After finishing a bowl, Fan Zijin realized that he, a smart person, had actually done such a childish thing. When he heard Qi Haoran’s question, he said bluntly, “There’s a whole pot of it. Not to mention one bowl, it’s even enough to fill five bowls. Why are you guys pushing it to one another?”
Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling blushed. That seemed to be the case.
Mama Wang laughed secretly and quickly scooped two bowls of chicken soup for them.
Only then did things settle down at the dining table.
Fan Zijin looked at Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling, who had a tacit understanding, and felt that it was unnecessary for him to stay here. So, he said, “I’ll return to Hanzhong Prefecture tomorrow. There are still many things for me to deal with there.”
Fan Zijin looked at Mu Yangling and said, “We’ll settle the dividends on the second day of the Lunar New Year. When the time comes, I’ll bring the account book and money over to look for you.”
Stunned, Mu Yangling asked, “There’s still dividends this year? Didn’t they say that all the money was used to buy armaments?”
“A batch of goods and silver from Jiangnan has already arrived at Xingyuan Prefecture. Previously, when the Jin soldiers attacked the city, they were afraid that an accident would happen, so they stayed there. Today, they have already begun to rush to Hanzhong Prefecture. After I settle the accounts, I’ll go over to look for you. I’ll forgo my and Haoran’s share of the silver for the time being, and give you your dividends first.” Although Mu Yangling’s share of the business came from her contributing the rabbits and labor, it was unreasonable for her to not receive a dividend after two years.
Mu Yangling hesitated for a moment before saying, “If Big Brother Qi needs money urgently, let’s not give out dividends first. I have enough to get by.”
Fan Zijin’s expression softened a lot. She said in a rare, nice tone, “Don’t worry, Eldest Cousin has already stabilized things on his side. Since you have so many people under you, it’s better to give you your share first. In March, the restaurant, cloth shop, and rabbit meat shop will have new income.”
“The General’s Residence also needs to celebrate the new year.” The General’s Residence was different from the Mu family. The Mu family could have a very nice New Year with just more than ten taels of silver, but the General’s Residence needed money to take care of favors.
However, Fan Zijin said, “Don’t worry, the General’s Residence isn’t short of money. You don’t have to worry about this.”
Eldest Cousin had gathered a lot of things from attacking Hanzhong Prefecture. Fighting wars was extremely expensive, but also the most profitable. If nothing major happened in the next two years, they would not be short of money.
And this was only counting the antique calligraphy and paintings they had thrown into the storeroom previously.
Upon hearing Fan Zijin’s words, Mu Yangling immediately stopped asking. Qi Haoran had never worried about money. If he did not have enough, he could just look for his big brother or Zijin.
Once Fan Zijin left, only Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling were left in the residence. Initially, Mu Yangling had planned to stay here for two days before going back. However, Mama Wang felt that since this was her first time, she should not rush back at this time. At the moment, the weather outside could freeze people to death, and the wind pierced one’s body like a blade. Even if her stomach caught just a tad of that chilliness, she would suffer for the rest of her life.
Hence, she insisted that Mu Yangling stay for four days.
However, it would be New Year’s Eve in four days. Mama Wang said angrily, “Is one New Year’s Eve more important than your health in the next few decades?”
Qi Haoran made the decision for her. “You can go back on the 30th. I’ll send you back.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. Why would you go when there’s nothing in the 5th Division?”
“Who said I’m going to the 5th Division? Big Brother is still leading troops outside, and Zijin is in Hanzhong Prefecture. I’ll go to your house for the New Year and return when Zijin comes back.”
Mu Yangling immediately did not object.
Qi Haoran said happily, “It’s decided then. We’ll go to the Wu residence to see Wu Jin later.”
“What’s wrong with Wu Jin?”
Qi Haoran said disdainfully, “He’s sick. He’s only been sick from the cold until now. On account of his good performance in the battle at Xingcheng Pass, let’s go and visit him.”
After saying that, he whispered into Mu Yangling’s ear when no one was paying attention, “Let’s go speak to that old fox, Wu Shancai, lest he causes trouble before Big Brother returns.”
Mu Yangling nodded in understanding and asked, “Has the Imperial Court given any orders?”
At this point, Qi Haoran was also a little surprised. He shook his head and said, “No, I’ve also been wondering why there’s no movement from the Imperial Court at all.”
Even if this place was far from Lin’an Prefecture, such an urgent matter should have been reported to Lin’an Prefecture by pigeon after the Xingyuan Prefecture received the news. On the other hand, they still had to send an urgent report back. However, it had been so long, and they still hadn’t received any orders. It couldn’t be that the Imperial Court hadn’t received any battle reports yet, right?
How could the Imperial Court not have received the battle report?
Actually, the day before Qi Xiuyuan took down the Jingzhao Prefecture, the Imperial Court had received a letter from a pigeon. At that time, the Emperor was still sleeping on the dragon bed. When he received the news, he almost fell off the dragon bed and held a ministerial meeting overnight.
However, unlike the previous one-sided peacemaking, this time, half of his people were supportive. Even if Minister Qin insisted that General Yuan and Qi Xiuyuan stop fighting and return to their own territory to not anger the Jin Kingdom again, the Emperor hesitated and did not give the order.
That was because he also wanted to take the opportunity to take back his homeland. Moreover, he was an Emperor who was good at listening. Since half of his people supported the cause, he could not insist on a withdrawal. Therefore, the Emperor planned to discuss it with the ministers at the court meeting the next day.
Unexpectedly, the court meeting the next day erupted like a marketplace. The two sides that were for and against the battle started fighting in less than an hour. That’s right, they got into a physical brawl. In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the ministers were hugging and rolling around on the ground like shrews in the marketplace. Some ministers even took off their boots and used them as weapons. This was the first time in the Emperor’s life that he had seen such a chaotic scene. He was stunned!
The guards and eunuchs in the Hall of Supreme Harmony were also stunned. In the end, even Minister Qin was pushed to the ground and slapped by someone with a smelly boot. The Emperor decisively shut his mouth, pursed his lips, and sat on his throne, looking down.