How could Qin Yining not know the Tang family’s fate was pitiful?

But she was merely a boudoir maiden, her greatest support being her father. She did want to ask Qin Huaiyuan for help, but even if she were foolish, she knew that Qin Huaiyuan must have long been informed of this matter.

Knowing about it long ago yet taking no action already indicated his stance.

And Zhaoyun Department had originally been Sun Yu’s property—could Sun Yu be unaware of this matter?

When both Sun Yu and the Duchess of Dingguo had decided not to interfere, how should she handle it?

Qin Yining rapidly considered what would happen if she ignored this matter…

Seeing Qin Yining’s poor complexion, Qiu Lu realized she had spoken incorrectly and didn’t dare say more.

Seeing that things had quieted down here, Nanny Zhan returned to her room.

Only the master and two servants—Qin Yining, Rui Lan, and Qiu Lu—remained in the courtyard.

Qin Yining looked at the side rooms and reverse quarters on both sides, confirming no one else was present before suppressing her anger and saying in a low voice, “This matter requires long-term consideration.”

Rui Lan heard the implications in Qin Yining’s words and said anxiously, “Miss, this matter involves Prince Ning. What can you, a boudoir maiden, possibly do? You should just ignore it.”

Qiu Lu also bit her lip and knelt down, “Miss, this servant spoke hastily earlier without thinking. This matter is indeed unsuitable for you to interfere with. Please don’t let this servant influence you.”

Qin Yining shook her head and helped Qiu Lu to her feet.

Her gaze was firm, her eyes bright as she said, “If I didn’t know about it, that would be fine. But since I do know, I cannot fail to try my best. I’m not confident I can save them, but if I don’t even dare to try, I fear my conscience will be troubled for life.”

“Miss, it’s better to have fewer troubles than more. You…”

“Rui Lan, I was found by my foster mother by a stream when I was young. If she had harbored thoughts like ‘fewer troubles are better’ and refused to adopt me for fear of getting into trouble, I would probably have long since perished, so how could I be standing here talking with you?”

Qin Yining’s eyes were very bright, as if filled with starlight. “Though I’ve lived bitterly these years, I’ve never dared forget what my foster mother taught me. Being born human, there are always some principles that cannot be abandoned. If this matter develops further, first, Miss Tang’s entire life will truly be ruined. Second, Shopkeeper Zhong’s entire family will likely face crazy retaliation from those pure faction people.”

At this point, Qin Yining laughed coldly, “Those pure faction people don’t dare confront Prince Ning, don’t dare confront Zhaoyun Department’s owner, so they can only vent their anger on a managing shopkeeper. Shopkeeper Zhong did nothing wrong—his family and children are innocent. Tell me, this matter involves a young lady’s entire future and the lives of an innocent family—can I pretend not to know?”

“But Miss, what can you possibly do?” Rui Lan was moved by Qin Yining’s words but also worried for her master.

Qin Yining shook her head, “I cannot ask my father about this matter. I can only do what I’m capable of—do my human duty and leave the rest to fate. Even if I can’t save them, at least I will have tried my best.”

Qiu Lu was stirred to heroic spirit by Qin Yining’s decision and words, nodding firmly, “Whatever you need this servant to do, please just command me.”

Qin Yining chuckled, her pearly white teeth appearing clean and beautiful as white porcelain in the night, “Just perform your duties well. You couldn’t do anything else anyway.”

Rui Lan was somewhat worried, “Miss, whatever you plan to do, if the Master and Old Madam find out, they surely won’t let it pass. It would be greatly disadvantageous to you! You’ve worked hard to reach this point since returning to the residence—you should think thrice before acting.”

Qin Yining knew Rui Lan was being cautious and worrying about her, so she smiled gratefully.

“What’s the worst that could happen? Even if they broke my bones, I’d still be my father’s daughter. I’ve survived the hardest days—for the sake of preserving their reputation, they surely wouldn’t beat me to death in public, right? At worst, I could go back to chopping wood, gathering herbs, and living as a wild person.”

Her self-deprecating joke was spoken in a very carefree tone, making both maids feel heroic and passionate.

Who would have known that just at this moment, a low male voice suddenly reached their ears—

“Well said.”

Qin Yining was startled and quickly pulled the two maids back. Considering her reputation, she didn’t dare make a scene when the situation was unclear, only asking in a suppressed voice, “Who!”

On the rooftop, the tiger-headed youth silently covered his face: My lord, how could you not control yourself and speak out!

The young man beside him was also momentarily stunned.

These two were none other than the young Prince Pang Xiao, viewed as an ominous star by the ruler and subjects of Great Yan, and his guard Huzi, who happened to be conducting a night investigation of the Prime Minister’s residence tonight.

Pang Xiao was only stunned for a moment before leaping down into the courtyard, standing openly before Qin Yining without concealment.

Huzi was startled by his master’s action. Before he could react, he saw Pang Xiao’s hand move like lightning, reaching toward Qin Yining’s face.

The master and two servants cried out in alarm.

Qin Yining was so frightened she closed her eyes.

She felt her head loosen as a strand of pinned-up hair suddenly slipped down over her shoulder, then her cheek was touched by a rough large hand.

That hand was dry and warm, with rough calluses on the fingers and palm that scratched her cheek slightly painfully.

She had been molested?!

Qin Yining cried out instinctively and struck out, but hit only air.

Looking carefully, the man’s figure was no longer before her—she only saw a tall silhouette leap over the wall, and could still hear the person’s very pleased, low laughter.

The courtyard remained silent.

The bright moon hung high, palace lanterns swayed, bamboo shadows danced—everything that had just happened seemed like an illusion.

“Miss, what happened?!” Hearing the commotion, Nanny Zhan, Nanny Zhu, Liu Ya and others all ran out carrying lanterns.

Seeing Qin Yining standing in the middle of the courtyard with two maids in a daze, they worriedly approached, “Miss, what happened? Did you twist your ankle?”

Qin Yining shook her head, still shaken, “No, no, I just nearly fell and got startled.”

Rui Lan and Qiu Lu immediately realized the seriousness of the situation!

A lecher had broken into the residence, approached the miss, and even touched her—if this got out, how could the miss continue living?

Both insisted that Qin Yining had nearly fallen just now.

Nanny Zhu breathed a sigh of relief, “It’s good that nothing happened. Miss, it’s cold—please go inside.”

Nanny Zhan had no suspicions and also said, “If the miss wants fresh air, wait for daytime to walk in the sunny areas. Don’t catch cold at this hour.”

Everyone escorted Qin Yining back into the main room.

At this time outside the courtyard, Huzi was looking at his prince with shocked eyes.

In his impression, his prince had always been imposing and stern when dealing with people, his gaze too fierce, his manner very cold. Though very cautious in his actions, acting boldly when necessary—throwing tantrums when appropriate, being aloof when appropriate—privately he was mostly calm and self-controlled.

But tonight’s events completely shattered Huzi’s understanding of his master!

What the prince held in his hand was a hairpin, wasn’t it?

He seemed to have also seen the prince touch that young lady’s face…

His arrogant, domineering prince who killed without blinking—had actually jumped into a young lady’s courtyard in the middle of the night, stolen a hairpin, and played the rogue!

Either he was seeing things, or the world had gone mad!

Pang Xiao looked expressionlessly at the hairpin in his hand.

The hairpin was entirely jade green, with three flower buds surrounding a blooming crabapple flower at the head—small and exquisite. That girl’s hair was black and shiny, and this hairpin gleamed translucently in her hair. Even brighter were her clear eyes and her shining white teeth when she smiled.

He didn’t know what had come over him.

The hand now holding the hairpin seemed to still be burning.

Her face was really smooth!

Her appearance when frightened with tightly closed eyes was really cute!

And those small, moist rosy lips…

This was truly seeing a ghost!

Pang Xiao tucked the hairpin close to his chest, his face dark as he strode away with long steps swift as wind.

Huzi hurried to catch up, “My lord, the horses are ready. When shall we depart?”

“Tonight.”

“Good. The Old Madam and Grand Madam have all been invited into the palace by His Majesty. To prevent any changes, we should hurry back to Xihua.”

“Mm.”

“…”

“…”

“My lord, you… you actually took a fancy to Miss Qin, didn’t you?”

“…”

“My lord…”

“Silence. Make haste.”

“Yes.”

At this moment, Qin Yining was staring blankly at the bean-sized light reflected on the bed curtains.

Who exactly was that person just now?

Her hairpin had been stolen. If that person harbored ill intentions and used it to claim she had private dealings with men, her reputation would be completely ruined.

She had also been touched on the face.

Even now, she still felt her face burning, able to feel the scratching sensation of the calluses on that person’s palm.

That person should be someone who regularly did rough work or handled weapons, right?

She actually hadn’t seen that person’s appearance clearly because he had been backlit at the time. She only saw his tall, fit silhouette clearly—she only reached his shoulder height. If that person had intended to kill her, he probably could have broken her neck with one hand.

But she hadn’t sensed any killing intent or hostility.

Having hunted for years, she was very sensitive to hostility and killing intent. If that person had half a mind to harm her, she probably would have sensed it the moment malicious eyes fixed on her.

So why exactly had this person suddenly appeared in her courtyard?

How much of what she said had that person heard?

Would things develop in directions beyond her control?

Qin Yining felt her mind was full of tangled threads and irritably turned over.

Rui Lan, keeping night watch on the soft couch outside the curtains, heard the movement and quickly put on clothes, saying, “Miss, are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Qin Yining sighed, “Today’s events must not be spread.”

“This servant understands and will certainly not speak carelessly.”

Qin Yining closed her eyes, “Sleep.” No matter what, life must go on.

Early the next morning, Qin Yining went as usual to pay her respects to Yao Shi and the Old Madam, then reported to the Old Madam, “Today I want to visit the shops under Zhaoyun Department and agreed with Head Shopkeeper Zhong to go reconcile accounts.”

The Old Madam only instructed her to bring more people and agreed.

Qin Yining returned to her courtyard to dress up, then left with Qiu Lu and Rui Lan by carriage.

Meeting Shopkeeper Zhong at the wine house under Zhaoyun Department, she requested a carriage and several guards, then headed directly to Prince Ning’s residence with Shopkeeper Zhong’s grateful accompaniment.