Qin Junyao and Ling Manshuang carefully examined the two zithers before instructing the servants to find cases and take them away.
Ling Manshuang, after wiping her hands with a handkerchief, asked Qin Junyao the purpose of her visit.
"Nothing much, I just came to see you," Qin Junyao said to Ling Manshuang while sipping her tea.
Ling Manshuang nodded. "It's good to get out and about. Junyao, do you have any vacant land next to your house?"
"Yes, Sister Manshuang, what do you want to do?"
"Build a house."
"Build a house?" Qin Junyao put down her teacup. "Sister Manshuang, who are you building a house for?"
"Me. When you're not busy, I'll go to your place to have a look and pick a spot."
Qin Junyao interrupted Ling Manshuang. "Sister Manshuang, wait a moment. Why would you think of building a house at my place?"
Ling Manshuang's smile faded as she looked closely at Qin Junyao's expression. "You don't know?"
"Know what?"
Ling Manshuang turned to face Qin Junyao. "Do you know where General Zhao has gone?"
"To the west. Is the northwest city really going to war?" Qin Junyao's eyes widened, her heart pounding.
Ling Manshuang took Qin Junyao's hand. "According to current news, King Luo intends to take the city. However, whether the battle will be big or small is uncertain. With various factions vying for power, no one knows who will ultimately prevail."
"In the beginning, enemies can become friends, and friends can become enemies."
"My reason for building a house in your village is simply to secure a fallback, though I have many."
Ling Manshuang hadn't expected Zhao Liangcai to say nothing to Qin Junyao, which she disapproved of.
By the time the news reached Qin Junyao, who knew what distorted form it would take? Those waiting at home would suffer the most.
Qin Junyao didn't fully understand Ling Manshuang's words, but she knew Ling Manshuang likely had the latest information. "Sister Manshuang, please don't keep anything from me."
Ling Manshuang certainly didn't hide anything. She gave Qin Junyao a general overview of how the current emperor had been overthrown and how various members of the royal family were competing for the throne.
Qin Junyao summarized, "Sister Manshuang, you're saying the most advantageous contenders now are the Crown Prince, the third prince King Luo, and an imperial uncle?"
"Yes. Shao Yong of the Northwest Army has pledged allegiance to King Jing. Your General Zhao is following King Luo. In the northwest, the only valuable city is Northwest City, and the other is Salt County, the necessary route to the largest salt lake in the northwest."
Ling Manshuang smiled at Qin Junyao. "Sister isn't afraid your husband will lose. If that were the case, I wouldn't consider going to Yangshu Village. Once Northwest City goes to war, Salt County will be flooded with refugees."
"Sister wants peace and quiet; it's truly about securing a fallback for herself."
After listening to Ling Manshuang's explanation, Qin Junyao was no longer afraid.
Even if Northwest City went to war, it wouldn't be a bloody massacre. To lose a large number of troops in the early stages for a single city wouldn't be a wise move.
After chatting with Ling Manshuang for a while longer, Qin Junyao took her leave and headed to the Qu Bing Hall.
The three shops were on the same street, not far from each other. Qin Junyao walked there directly, without taking a carriage.
Compared to the sparse customers at Tingyin Pavilion, the Qu Bing Hall was teeming with people today.
A long queue had formed, and Qin Junyao observed that they were all ordinary folk with patched clothes.
"Da Wan, go and find out what's happening," Qin Junyao told Da Wan to stop the carriage to the side and inquire why there were so many people at Qu Bing Hall today.
Before long, Da Wan returned to report that Qu Bing Hall was offering free medical consultations today. The physicians were Sheng Huaijin, the grandson of Doctor Sheng, and one of his apprentices. Doctor Sheng himself was in the back treating complicated illnesses.