Demon Consort’s Father 4
Castrating Guo Sida would also have to wait until they returned to the Capital. For now, Qin Jingzhou needed to…get Ling Jing into the carriage first.
His system once more proactively offered clarification, “In the plot, the female lead Noble Consort Guo's stepmother was indeed surnamed Min. She married the female lead’s father but died less than two years later. She’s just a fleeting background character.”
Qin Jingzhou took another look at the beaming Ling Jing. “But a background character who might be an ally.”
Ling Jing was not shy at all. She pulled two cushions away from Qin Jingzhou and pushed them behind her, holding a hand warmer as she began, “The Min Family was a low-ranking first-tier family at the founding of Great Qi, but now they’ve slipped down to third-tier. Not many of their descendants amount to anything, so the Min Family could only come up with ways to use their daughters. Guo Sida’s wife has been dead for a year and a half, and he’s already put the word out that he wants to remarry, specifically demanding a girl from a noble family. All of Min Family started scheming.”
With the system supplying more details, Qin Jingzhou naturally continued, “They wouldn’t want to let their carefully raised legitimate eldest daughter become a stepwife, so the Old Madam and the head of the Min Family decided to shove the original little girl, who lost both parents, into the Guo Family instead?”
Ling Jing nodded with a smile. “Exactly. My original body’s father was like yours, feeling that the family was in decline and so switched from civil to military service. Unlike yours, though, this girl’s father was actually talented. Not even thirty and he’d become a fifth-rank general, but died young on the battlefield. Her mother fell seriously ill from grief and died three years later. With no parents, it was hard enough just growing up safely in the heartless, declining Min Family. Luckily, her father had the foresight to leave silver and people behind for his wife and daughter, so later days weren’t too hard. But when she heard grandmother and her uncle wanted her to become Guo Sida’s second wife, she was shaken, and that’s when my system picked her.”
“So, after hearing your terms, the girl happily took the benefits and ran?”
“Of course! I barely did anything after coming over, then soon heard the news of the great victory at West Gate Pass—General Yan annihilated Jin’s elites, killed thousands, captured over ten thousand. In the plot, General Yan dies in this very battle, so I guessed it was your doing, and hurried to find you with my people. By the way,” Ling Jing asked curiously, “When I arrived in this world, I felt someone’s gaze fall on me. Was that you?”
“It was me.” For certainty, Qin Jingzhou double-checked the original’s memory. “My original’s wife has been dead for three years, and now I’m sending someone to the Min Family for your hand? Only thing is—this makes you Yan Jingzhou’s third wife.”
“So what?” Ling Jing gave a thumbs-up. “The sooner the better. Whipping Min Family’s snobbish old men and ladies into submission does nothing for my KPI, and frankly, I find teaching the male lead a lesson much more interesting than being the evil stepmom in the plot.”
Qin Jingzhou grinned and made a thumbs-up gesture in return. “I meant to have that brat paralyzed for a while so the Guo Family would care for him, but I get the feeling you have a better way.”
Ling Jing advised, “Big boss, at least show a bit of respect to the World Will! She is definitely disappointed in her designated Fate’s Son, or she wouldn’t have called all of us in, but crippling the guy right from the start really isn’t appropriate.” She paused deliberately. “At the very least, you should prove to the World Will that your brat Yan Duan is beyond hope before making him a cripple.”
Qin Jingzhou nodded gravely. “Makes sense.” He paused as well. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
Ling Jing gazed at her old acquaintance, with his collar always buttoned to the top, sleeves neatly pressed like everyone else’s, a cold, sharp handsomeness radiating from every inch. Her heart couldn’t help but skip a few beats.
She covered her face and took a deep breath. “Don’t say things that can be so easily misunderstood!” Wanting to marry before even falling in love—dream on! “You’d better hurry up and have someone go propose to the Min Family!”
Qin Jingzhou laughed. “Alright.”
The original was nearly fifty, his parents long passed, so remarrying was entirely up to his own wishes.
After bringing Ling Jing back to the Northwest Army Encampment, Qin Jingzhou summoned his confidants right in front of Ling Jing and formally introduced her. “This is your mistress.”
Ling Jing called her own staff over to meet the Grand Marshal’s trusted aides. Even though both sides had their thoughts, none would reveal them now.
As for the Grand Marshal’s staff, they had no objections. After all, the Grand Marshal’s wife had been gone for three years, and the concubine who looked after his daily life passed away last year too. Remarrying a noble lady from a respected family was only proper. The girl’s parents were dead and her fate might be a little harsh, but with the Grand Marshal’s presence, she’d be kept in line. Besides, with no real in-laws involved, there would probably be less trouble. The Min Family was just an empty shell by now and had a worsening reputation for years.
But when Ling Jing returned to the little courtyard arranged for her by Qin Jingzhou, her chief maid and the imperial princess’ attendant started persuading her. Their meaning was: If you’re only becoming a second wife, is marrying the Northwest Grand Marshal and Marquess Jingwen really better than Duke Anguo, Guo Sida? Especially since Marquess Jingwen clearly only wants you for your looks! Even if it was their own young lady who took the initiative and came herself.
Ling Jing waited for her maids to remove all her hairpins and jewelry, then said slowly, “But in my father’s eyes, Marquess Jingwen is much more reliable than Duke Anguo.” She gave a softer smile. “I have to get married anyway, so of course I should pick someone dependable. My father’s death actually benefitted my eldest cousin. As soon as he entered government, he was appointed a sixth-rank official, but less than two years later he came back dejected, claiming he no longer wanted the post. Young men from noble families are often just like my cousin—overly ambitious, lacking real ability.”
The maids and attendants nodded in agreement.
Ling Jing’s smile faded. “I don’t want my uncle’s family to be too pleased with themselves.”
She was making her position clear: After sucking her father dry, the Min Family still wanted to bleed her as well. She would not let them!
Her maids and attendants felt sorry for their lady but couldn’t find anything to say. The Min Family really had been becoming more and more shameless over the years.
It was worth mentioning that when Ling Jing set out to find Qin Jingzhou, she brought four maids, two attendants, a housekeeper, and twenty household troops.
This was the standard entourage for a noble lady in this era, so it was only five days after the Min Family realized that their third daughter, supposedly out visiting friends, might have disappeared.
The Min Family matriarch’s first reaction was: That wretched girl, how dare she run away?!
She rushed to her husband, demanding he send people to bring the girl back—even though there were never any rumors of the third daughter being close to any men. With zero clues, she still made a scene with her husband.
She was convinced her eldest son’s abrupt resignation was all the fault of that cursed girl!
At the time, the Min Family head was in talks with the Grand Marshal’s aide, who had come to propose marriage. The matriarch barged in, face twisted with anger, and the gatekeeper boy didn’t dare stop her.
The aide glanced at this tall, sumptuously dressed yet sharp-faced Min matriarch and stroked his beard with a smile. No wonder people say the Min Family has grown utterly undisciplined.
The Min Family head was selfish and greedy for sure, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew the family’s fortunes were fading, and that all his children except his personally-raised eldest had been corrupted by their mother, growing up useless and ill-behaved.
His wife’s family was powerful, so even when he knew she was wrong he was often helpless.
But now, his niece the third girl landing such a match as Marquess Jingwen was a lucky break!
He hadn’t even been sure they could marry her into Duke Anguo, Guo Sida’s family. That side talked about remarriage and sent a formal invitation, but they also invited other families, acting as if they were choosing a consort from a harem. What could he do?
Now that the third girl had found such a good match on her own, there was no way he’d let his wife’s tantrum ruin this.
He made up his mind, but as soon as he said, “The third girl will make her own arrangements,” his wife shoved him.
She was furious and wouldn’t listen to his “No.” “If she dares to elope, how will you explain it to Duke Anguo? With our children’s reputations, do you really not care?”
The aide quietly moved to a corner and watched the husband and wife’s verbal sparring with great interest.
In the end, their eldest daughter heard the commotion and brought over Old Madam, dousing the matriarch’s rage in an instant.
She dared not talk back under Old Madam’s harsh scolding. All she could do was fiercely pinch her husband on the sly. Her own parents’ family was powerful, but Old Madam’s was even stronger, and Old Madam was not only her mother-in-law but also her real aunt.
Old Madam and the family head were mother and son, and their thinking was much alike.
A third girl who could secure such a match—of course Old Madam would not object. When she received presents from the Grand Marshal’s aide and heard that Marquess Jingwen wanted things to move “as quickly as possible”—that he wanted to “win the beauty before returning to the Capital”—Old Madam hesitated only a moment before agreeing.
With the confirmation secured, the aide, having held his tongue at the Min Family, traveled day and night back to the West Gate Pass encampment.
During these days, Qin Jingzhou and Ling Jing were making preparations to return to the Capital. All of West Gate Pass and the military camp were under his control, and as he solidified his territory, he would brook no outside interference.
Not only did he place people in the Manors and workshops, but, with Ling Jing’s knowledge of the plot, he also cleaned up the ranks as necessary.
When word came that the aide had returned, Qin Jingzhou, already having some impression of the Min Family’s faults, not only called Ling Jing but all their trusted subordinates to listen—if lucky, maybe they’d get to hear a vivid comedic tale.
As everyone listened to the aide recount (with relish) how the Min Family head and his wife nearly came to blows, they could hardly suppress their laughter. Then, hearing that the Min Family wanted the wedding next month—which was only half a month away—everyone was astonished.
Qin Jingzhou couldn’t help but ask, “Your aunt—” meaning the Min Family matriarch, “why does she dislike you so much?”
Ling Jing’s smile was exceptionally sweet, though her tone was unconcerned. “Because she was in love with my father, who rejected her several times. After my parents died, she wanted to get rid of me, but couldn't get past Old Madam or my uncle, though I still suffered a bit.”
Everyone:…No wonder.
Qin Jingzhou asked again, “How did Guo Sida choose you?”
Ling Jing smiled. “Duke Anguo, Guo Sida was infatuated with my mother and never let her go. Also, rumor is he had an affair with my aunt. I look like my mother, and my aunt was the one who told Guo Sida that. She wanted me to marry Guo Sida for her own reasons. Though Duke Anguo only lost his first wife, nearly all his concubines look like my mother.”
Qin Jingzhou nodded slightly. “Then I’ll need to figure out a way to castrate him sooner.”
Ling Jing clapped delicately. “Excellent!”
Everyone: ……