Previously, when Yuchi Yan was Crown Prince, though Qin Yining had unilaterally expressed her thoughts, there was no room for her to reason with the Crown Prince.

Now that Yuchi Yan was Emperor, his words carried even more weight—whatever he said was law.

She had developed feelings for Pang Xiao, so his former domineering behavior that she couldn’t refuse now seemed sweet in retrospect. But she had never harbored romantic feelings for Yuchi Yan—his domineering behavior was nothing but a burden to her, only arousing her disgust.

Qin Huaiyuan told Qin Yining in detail about what had happened at today’s court assembly.

“His Majesty actually wants me to become Empress?”

Qin Yining’s shoulders sagged powerlessly, feeling the wound on her shoulder throb even more painfully, causing her brow to furrow.

“You should leave shortly. Take Bingtang and Ji Yun with you, and with your intelligence, finding an opportunity to leave the city won’t be difficult. If you want to go south, head to the southern coastal regions; if you want to go north to find him, that’s also up to you.”

Qin Yining suddenly raised her head.

“Father…”

She hadn’t expected that her father would be willing to risk the danger of defying imperial orders and deceiving the sovereign for the sake of her happiness.

Once such a gracious edict was issued, what official wouldn’t hope to become the Emperor’s father-in-law? Yet her father had no intention of using her as a tool to secure their future.

“Father, I cannot do this.” Qin Yining’s voice trembled slightly, yet a smile bloomed on her face. “It would be easy for me to leave, but what would happen to you if I left? What about our family?”

“You needn’t worry about that. His Majesty has just ascended the throne, and with the current situation so tense, there are still many areas where he needs to rely on father. He won’t do anything to me, nor to our family. You just leave quickly—I naturally have ways to handle the aftermath.”

Qin Yining pressed her lips together and shook her head. “I cannot leave.”

“If you don’t leave, you’ll have to participate in the selection. With your beauty, background, and His Majesty’s affection for you, you’ll be chosen with absolute certainty! You and Young Prince Pang aren’t you…”

Qin Huaiyuan couldn’t bring himself to speak directly about such matters. He coughed and continued: “Father knows you don’t covet wealth and glory, and have no desire to be Empress. Our Qin family doesn’t need you to become Empress for prestige either. You just focus on living your own life well and happily for a lifetime—father will handle everything else.”

Qin Yining was so moved that tears welled in her eyes, but this only strengthened her determination not to leave.

“Father has never given anyone cause for gossip throughout his official career—there’s no reason such gossip should arise from his daughter. Defying imperial orders combined with deceiving the sovereign is a grave crime. The Yuchi family are all people who turn their backs on others without recognition. Though the new Emperor relies on you now, there’s no guarantee he won’t dredge up old accounts later. What would happen to you and our entire family then?

“Besides, my escaping now might be a small matter temporarily, but could I really spend my entire life fleeing just to avoid marrying His Majesty? I haven’t broken any laws, I’m not a fugitive—why should I have to flee because of what others have done? He wants me to be Empress? That’s a nice thought, but he should consider whether I’m willing or not.”

“Yi’er.” Qin Huaiyuan’s heart tightened as he suddenly thought of something. His expression turned grave and stern: “Don’t think about agreeing to participate in the selection now, then using self-harm to escape once you’re chosen. Your body and hair are gifts from your parents—if you harm yourself, that would be unfilial!”

“Where do father’s thoughts wander?” Qin Yining was both moved and amused. “If I harmed myself, that would be a serious crime—wouldn’t that offend His Majesty even more severely? That goes against my original intentions.”

Qin Huaiyuan thought about it and realized this was indeed the case. He couldn’t help but shake his head with a laugh: “I was thinking incorrectly.”

“Father is supremely intelligent—it’s just that concern leads to confusion. In this matter, father shouldn’t take any stance with anyone—neither support nor oppose. As for everything else, please leave it to me to handle.”

Qin Huaiyuan nodded. “Very well, I’ll leave it to you, little girl, to figure out. But rest assured, regardless of whether you want to be Empress or not, father has the ability to protect you. You just go ahead and act freely.”

“Yes, your daughter will certainly not cause a catastrophe. Though father is capable, I shouldn’t make you work too hard, should I?”

Father and daughter looked at each other and both laughed.

After thinking for a moment, Qin Yining said: “If father has a way, please try to spread word of His Majesty’s intention to make me Empress to Xihua City.”

Qin Huaiyuan raised an eyebrow: “You trust Pang Zhixi that much?”

“Matters of the heart require mutual affection. If he has feelings, he’ll naturally find a way. I believe he has that ability, and I’ll act according to circumstances on my end.” Qin Yining stood up. Though her face remained pale, her eyes blazed with sharp light. “Can you force a cow to drink water by pressing its head down? If I’m unwilling, no one can force me.”

His daughter’s intelligence and confidence made Qin Huaiyuan couldn’t help but smile, and his previously tense mood relaxed considerably.

Having finished their conversation, he urged Qin Yining to go rest. But just then, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside.

“My lord! My lord!” Qi Tai approached quickly and bowed: “Chief Steward Lu has arrived, saying he’s come to escort Fourth Miss to the palace!”

Qin Yining raised her eyebrows. “The palace people are certainly thorough in their work. His Majesty ordered that Empresses and consorts be appointed at the coronation ceremony in ten days, so they can only immediately bring all young ladies who might participate in the selection into the palace for temporary training.”

“Silly girl, at this crucial juncture, this is the perfect opportunity for His Majesty to win over court officials. Any woman chosen by His Majesty to enter the palace won’t be eliminated, regardless of appearance or character. They’re probably only considering family background, appointing them according to His Majesty’s needs.”

Qin Yining understood immediately.

With the nation in turmoil and the new Emperor’s foundation unstable, besides Qin Huaiyuan and Prince Ning, he naturally wanted to win over other ministers as well. The best way to do this was through marriage alliances.

Thinking of it this way, the Emperor’s harem was clearly a miniature court, and whom the Emperor favored or didn’t favor was also a reflection of court politics.

She had previously thought that marriage was simply a matter of parental arrangement and matchmaker’s words—marrying anyone would be the same.

But since meeting Pang Xiao, this notion had been weakening day by day. Now she felt that she’d rather not have a marriage without love at all.

She knew she was being emotional and not rational enough. But while she could compromise on other matters, this was the one thing she couldn’t.

Therefore, Qin Yining now felt even more repulsed by the Emperor’s harem. So what if she became Empress? Living with a man she had no feelings for, with so many other women involved, and having to deal with court affairs—filled with all sorts of reluctant compromises.

If she had to live her entire life like this, it would be better to die early and be reborn, rather than exhaust her heart.

In the span of these racing thoughts, Qin Yining had already followed Qin Huaiyuan to the front courtyard.

Eunuch Lu from Yuchi Yan’s side was waiting there with a nanny and several palace servants. Qin Yining was quite familiar with the nanny—it was Nanny Zhan, who had taught her etiquette.

Upon seeing Nanny Zhan, Qin Yining smiled and nodded in greeting, and Nanny Zhan returned the courtesy with a smile.

Eunuch Lu approached with a face full of smiles, being extremely courteous. He first bowed to Qin Huaiyuan, then turned to bow to Qin Yining.

Qin Yining curtsied in return: “Eunuch Lu, I hope you are well.”

“Oh my! Miss Qin, you’ll be the death of this slave! This slave absolutely dares not, absolutely dares not!”

This lady would be Empress in ten days—Eunuch Lu wouldn’t dare act presumptuous before the future Empress even if he had ten thousand times the courage!

Qin Huaiyuan asked knowingly: “I wonder what brings Chief Steward Lu here today?”