"Yi Qing, Yi Qing," Xue Miao'er said. "I heard something about the rebels from the previous dynasty today. It sounds really interesting. Have you heard about it? Tell me about it!"
Yi Qing thought to herself that Xue Miao'er wasn't completely stupid. She didn't mention her connection with the remnants of the previous dynasty to her.
It seemed that she was trying to fish for information from her.
To catch a fish, one had to be willing to use bait. So Yi Qing said, "I've heard a bit, but they're all just street rumors without any solid evidence."
Xue Miao'er leaned forward. "Then tell me about it."
"It's all about fighting and killing. It's quite scary to talk about."
"Please tell me, please." Xue Miao'er shook her sleeve with a hint of coquetry.
Yi Qing said, "Speak properly. Don't touch me."
Xue Miao'er chuckled.
Yi Qing said, "You may not know this on the mountain, but people down the mountain are terrified when they hear about the remnants of the previous dynasty. It can even stop a crying child at night."
"They're just cowards. They're scared of us too!" Xue Miao'er said indifferently.
Yi Qing said expressionlessly, "You're bandits. It would be foolish not to be scared or to avoid you. But compared to you, the remnants of the previous dynasty are ruthless executioners who spare no one. They've caused many massacres to create panic. Their methods are extremely cruel and despicable."
Xue Miao'er was stunned. "Massacres?"
What kind of hatred could lead to such a thing!
Although she was born a bandit, she had never heard of such a horrifying thing.
"Yes, they slaughtered entire families, leaving no one alive, not even the chickens and dogs," Yi Qing said. "To recruit people to work for them, the remnants of the previous dynasty used cults to bewitch people and develop followers. But if someone woke up halfway, they would cause a massacre and claim it was a punishment from heaven."
"If this is true, no one would dare to rebel!" Xue Miao'er murmured. "But these methods are too cruel."
Her grandfather and uncle were really no good.
Her mother was right not to collude with them.
Her grandfather was so ruthless. No wonder he was so cold - hearted towards her mother.
No wonder her father had to send her to the Meng family.
Once a crazy person like her grandfather set his sights on her, she might really end up in a bad situation.
Xue Miao'er's hair stood on end.
Suddenly, there was a noise behind the screen. Xue Miao'er stood up in surprise and was about to go and check. "There are too many mice on the mountain. I'll have someone put out some rat poison later. Aren't you scared? I'll kill it for you!"
Yi Qing grabbed her. "No need. It's already run out."
You really couldn't kill this "mouse".
Xue Miao'er didn't expect Yi Qing to lie to her. She quickly walked towards the door.
At the same time, Xiao Tian crawled under the bed from behind the screen.
Yi Qing: "..."
Xue Miao'er couldn't find the mouse. She insisted that Yi Qing had misseen. She went to check behind the screen and wanted to search everywhere, but was stopped by Yi Qing.
"It's just a mouse. I'm not scared. Mice can even be used as medicine!"
Xue Miao'er said, "If I get sick in the future, don't use this kind of medicine on me."
Yi Qing quietly spread her skirt wider to cover more of the situation under the bed and cover for Xiao Tian. At the same time, she said casually, "Don't worry about the remnants of the previous dynasty or the mice. You'd better worry about yourself first. How's your marriage with Meng Qinglong going? Has your father agreed to let you break off the engagement?"
"No," Xue Miao'er pouted. "Maybe I should just get married."
Her father was doing this for her own good. She couldn't think of a better way. Although Meng Qinglong was really disgusting, at least she could stay alive in the Meng family.
Although she always said that she would rather die than marry into the Meng family, it was just a bluff. Life was so wonderful. She wasn't ready to die yet!
Anyway, it was impossible for Meng Qinglong to touch her. That fool wouldn't be able to get close to her if she didn't want him to.
Especially after hearing what Yi Qing said, she thought her grandfather was even more terrifying. She needed to find a shelter for herself.
But she couldn't tell Yi Qing the real reason, so she changed the subject and said, "If I don't get married, what if the Meng family comes to attack our mountain stronghold? I can't let everyone die with me."
Yi Qing rolled her eyes and said, "Can you have some backbone?"
"What's the use of backbone if I lose my life?" Xue Miao'er cried. "Do you have a better idea?"
"I do. Do you want to hear it?"
"Sure... Well, I'll just listen," Xue Miao'er pouted. "Your ideas are usually stupid, but they're better than having no ideas at all."
Yi Qing gave her a sideways look. "Why are you scared of the Meng family? Is the provincial governor such a high - ranking official?"
"He's the most powerful person in Henan. What do you think?" Xue Miao'er said. "You're even more arrogant than me. I wouldn't dare to say that."
"What about compared to the officials in the capital?"
"He can outrank most of them."
"What about the rest who are more powerful than the Meng family? There's always someone better. The Meng family is like a local tyrant in Henan, but they're nothing in the capital. A higher - ranking official can easily crush a lower - ranking one. As long as you go to the capital and find a more powerful official and offer him generous gifts, are you still afraid that no one can suppress the Meng family?"
Xue Miao'er's mind was working fast.
If someone could suppress the Meng family, wouldn't they be able to protect her even better? It would be great if there was a powerful person who could get rid of her grandfather's gang at the same time. Then she could live in peace.
But then she thought that Xue Tianlang had just told her that it had taken them a lot of effort to get in touch with the Meng family. Where could she meet a high - ranking official in the capital?
She told Yi Qing her worries, but Yi Qing said, "With money, you don't have to be afraid. Our family also has business in the capital. Even merchant families can find backers. I think our family's backer is much more powerful than the Meng family's."
Xue Miao'er immediately perked up. She stared at Yi Qing eagerly and said, "Really? Then tell me who your family's backer is."
Just as Yi Qing was thinking about who to say, she heard Xue Miao'er say, "Can you introduce me to marry into that family? I don't mind being a concubine."
Yi Qing: "..."
If she hadn't heard the whole story from Xiao Tian, she would have thought that Xue Miao'er was crazy about getting married.
Yi Qing said expressionlessly, "Sure."
Xue Miao'er stared at her with wide eyes in disbelief. "Oh my god, Yi Qing. You have such connections! I misjudged you! You're not joking with me, are you?"
"I am joking. If I had such connections, I would marry there myself. Why would I leave the opportunity for you?"
"You... Well, you're being annoying when you talk like this," Xue Miao'er snorted.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through Yi Qing's mind. "But as long as you're willing to make some sacrifices, there's a mansion you might really be able to enter."
"Which mansion? Tell me about it."