Shedding Shackles, Eldest Sister Like a Mother

Qin Yongnian stroked his beard, looking perfectly composed as he said, "In this old man's view, the Great Yan Kingdom specifically named 'scholars' for this special pardon in order to place minor officials and clerks in those 'fringe regions' where mid- and high-tier martial artists were unwilling to go, yet which the royal family did not wish to lose control over, so they could monitor matters and report back.

"For instance, the Iron Mountain Mining Area where Qin Yao was exiled—the operation and administration of the mining area form a system of their own.

"The villages and towns have neither the authority nor the means to govern it. They can only handle logistics and support for the surrounding area.

"Under such circumstances, it is difficult for the royal family's hand to reach directly into every little nook and cranny.

"Over time, the royal family also fears that its control over remote regions will weaken.

"At a time when the surrounding nations are constantly clashing, if enemy states were to exploit an opening with some covert means, with chaos breaking out here and trouble flaring up there, Great Yan would be putting out fires everywhere and inevitably find itself run ragged."

"So that's how it is."

After hearing this, Qin Yuwei nodded with an understanding expression. "I was wondering why Her Imperial Highness the Grand Empress Dowager had to specially pardon those 'good-for-nothing' scholars just for her birthday."

"Hehe, you cannot put it quite that way."

Qin Yongnian revealed a meaningful smile. "To the current royal family, scholars are very useful.

"They possess a certain amount of learning and can handle the affairs of a region, yet they know nothing of martial arts and have no upward path through self-improvement. They are exceedingly easy to control.

"If these literary scholars wish to live comfortably, they can only stake their families, fortunes, and futures entirely on loyalty to the imperial house!

"However, once that happens, those pardoned scholars become like nails hammered dead into a particular power's territory. Until they rust away and rot, it will be exceedingly difficult for them to leave even half a step.

"Qin Yao is no exception."

Qin Yuwei narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "Grandfather means to tell me that Qin Yao cannot be punished through overt means now. If people learn that we were the ones who touched him, it would be like kicking one of the 'dogs' raised by the Great Yan imperial clan, and would easily invite criticism?

"Besides, even if Qin Yao has shed his status as a criminal mine slave, he still cannot leave the village or town where the mining area is located, so I need not be in a hurry?"

"Clever."

Qin Yongnian stroked his beard with gratified delight. "With ample time on your hands, you can carefully consider your choice of person and act in secret.

"Remember to tie up every loose end and ensure nothing can go wrong!"

"Mm, I already have the most suitable candidate."

A venomous, serpent-like glint flashed through Qin Yuwei's stunningly beautiful eyes.

Meanwhile, at the Iron Mountain Mining Area on the northern border of the Great Yan Kingdom.

The mine slaves who had just received their coarse flatbreads were now squatting in groups of twos and threes, discussing matters animatedly.

"Qin Yao really hit the jackpot this time! A single 'special pardon decree' stripped away his mine-slave status. From now on, he's a proper villager!"

"That's not all. Didn't you hear what the official envoy said? Anyone who held scholarly credentials before being convicted can report directly to the village yamen after being pardoned.

"He'll probably get a job as a clerical scribe. That's an iron rice bowl he'll be holding!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm green with envy!"

"If I'd known, I should've studied more back then."

"Tch, what the hell is the use of just studying? You have to earn scholarly credentials like Qin Yao did. Only then can you truly leap out of the mud pit at the bottom."

"Damn it, I'm already this old, yet I've achieved neither literary nor martial success. There's no hope for me in this life, sigh..."

The "petty clerical official" disdained by the vast majority of martial artists was, to these mine slaves, an unattainable dream job.

"Come to think of it, Brother Qin really had heaven-defying luck, catching the Grand Empress Dowager's birthday amnesty."

"But Manager Wang and the others really got unlucky as hell."

"Isn't that the truth? Wang Ji, Li Gang, and Liu Kuan—wherever they dug, it collapsed. It's like even drinking cold water got their teeth clogged!"

"Hmph, if you ask me, this is 'those who commit many injustices will bring about their own destruction.' The three of them were no good, so it serves them right to suffer retribution."

"Exactly, they deserved their bad luck!"

"A person really shouldn't commit evil or do bad things. Heaven sees every last deed, one by one. It's not that retribution does not come—it is simply that the time has not yet arrived..."

How could the old mine slave who said this have imagined that the ones who killed Wang Ji and the others were not a natural disaster sent down by "Heaven," but a genuine scheme wrought by human hands?

Thinking back to half a month ago, Qin Yao had been mocked and toyed with by Wang Ji and his lackey Liu Kuan, humiliated and whipped by overseer Li Gang. Yet because his own strength was lacking and because he had concerns for his family, he had no choice but to swallow his anger for the time being.

At that time, he had warned himself—A man may lower his head, but his backbone must never break!

And today, with his strength alone, he had killed three men and washed away his former shame in one stroke!

While the mine slaves discussed matters with animated excitement.

Qin Yao, one of the people at the center of it all, quietly called Little Liuzi aside.

"Brother Qin, you're blessed with great fortune and a long life. This is wonderful!"

Little Liuzi wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and gave a simple, foolish grin. "It's just that when I think about not being able to see you anymore, my heart feels a little sour, hehe."

Unlike the other mine slaves, who were envious, jealous, and resentful, Little Liuzi was sincerely happy for Qin Yao.

"When we were chatting before, didn't you say that you had less than half a year left on your sentence?"

Qin Yao lightly patted the shoulder of the youth, who was two years younger than himself, and said with an easy expression, "It's not certain that we really won't see each other again!

"Besides... I plan to put all of today's extra work quota under your name.

"Then come back to the family camp with me. I have a few things to tell you, and while we're at it, you can go see your sister."

Over the past half month, Qin Yao had come to understand something of Little Liuzi's background. He knew the boy had an elder sister who had been like a mother to him, painstakingly raising him after their parents met with disaster.

After Little Liuzi had been condemned to become a mine slave, the person he worried about most was his sister.

Come to think of it, the reason Little Liuzi had been convicted in the first place was that he saw someone molesting his sister. Blinded by rage, he snatched up a butcher's knife from a nearby stall and lunged at the man, hacking him and wounding him...

Now, this young boy's only dream was to serve out his sentence obediently, then one day rise above the rest and let his sister live a good life.

So when he heard that Qin Yao was taking him back to the family camp to see his sister—

Little Liuzi was thrilled, but also uneasy.

After all, if he had not acted so impulsively back then and been arrested for labor service, his sister would not have had to struggle alone to keep her tiny sugar figurine stall afloat. Nor would she have had to run around pulling strings for his sake, wearing herself out with worry and effort...

Back when he had charged forward with that butcher's knife and slashed the hooligan, Little Liuzi had clearly seen, deep in his sister's stunned eyes, a trace of panic and a trace of desolation.

"Ah? This... maybe I shouldn't go back just yet?"

As he spoke, Little Liuzi kneaded the half coarse flatbread in his hand until it lost its shape. "Maybe after I finish my sentence..."

"Smack!"

Qin Yao slapped Little Liuzi on the back. "Enough. Straighten your back!

"That's your own sister!

"An elder sister is like a mother. She may blame you for acting on impulse, but she'll never truly hold it against you.

"On the contrary, if you keep refusing to see her, she might grow anxious and overthink things until she can't even sleep peacefully!"

At his words, Little Liuzi's eyes gradually changed from uneasy to resolute.

"Alright, I'll listen to Brother Qin!"

Yet the young boy quietly thought to himself, If Sis and Brother Qin take a liking to each other and make a good match, that would be the best thing possible. Hehe...