Ji Yun was naturally striking—a beauty who could make people’s eyes light up at first sight. However, today she had deliberately disguised herself, darkening her complexion to a sallow yellow and adding two moles on her nose bridge and cheeks. Combined with her deliberately lowered gaze and submissive demeanor, she hadn’t attracted the attention of Xing Yu and Fu Xue.
Xing Yu was about to fetch a vase when Qin Yining said: “Are those lily flowers? Bring them here for me to see.”
Xing Yu and Fu Xue hurried to take them—how could they give such an opportunity to perform to someone else?
But Ji Yun was a step faster, raising both hands high and bowing as she presented the vase.
Er’Bai in Qin Yining’s arms recognized Ji Yun and immediately sat up straight on her stomach, its watery big eyes staring directly at Ji Yun.
Qin Yining used her left hand to fiddle with the lily petals and smiled: “I love lilies the most. You’ve been so thoughtful.”
“This servant dare not take credit. His Majesty knew that you liked them and specially ordered us servants to prepare them. Look, even this vase was specially selected by His Majesty. He said you don’t like things too flashy, so he chose this white porcelain one.”
As Ji Yun spoke, she quickly glanced up at Qin Yining.
Qin Yining seemed to have her spirits lifted by the flowers she loved, no longer appearing as dejected as before. She nodded with a smile: “I understand. You did very well. Place the flowers here.”
“Yes.” Ji Yun followed Qin Yining’s indication and placed the vase on the side table next to the beauty couch where Qin Yining was resting.
Then she bowed and withdrew.
Xing Yu and Fu Xue hadn’t noticed the unremarkable strange palace maid at all, only thinking about whether they could find something to flatter about regarding Miss Qin’s love for lilies.
Before they could think of anything appropriate, Qin Yining had already said: “I’m tired. You may withdraw.”
With one sentence, she blocked their unspoken words. They weren’t trusted confidants brought by Qin Yining, so even if they wanted to curry favor, they couldn’t expect Qin Yining to become close to them in just a few days. They could only bow properly and withdraw.
Qin Yining continued reclining against the beauty couch, arranging the nearby flowers as if trying to create a better arrangement.
After everyone had withdrawn, she quickly observed her surroundings and outside the windows. Seeing no one watching, she immediately put down Er’Bai and carefully examined the vase.
Ji Yun wouldn’t rashly enter the palace. For her to come disguised like this, there must be a message to deliver.
Just now she had deliberately hinted at it, so Qin Yining first searched inside the vase. Finding nothing hidden there, she checked the bottom and finally discovered a small hole in the center of the base.
She tentatively inserted her little finger and indeed found a note inside.
Qin Yining’s heart pounded as she quickly hooked out the note, hid it in her handkerchief, and rearranged the flower bundle to its original appearance.
She rested on the beauty couch for a moment, confirming again that no one was observing nearby, then quickly unfolded the note to read it.
There were only five concise characters written on it: “Yao will soon cease business.”
Qin Yining quickly rolled the note into a small ball and hid it, planning to destroy it when the lamps were lit. Then she began pondering these five characters.
“Yao” must refer to Pang Xiao, because when they first met, he had used his maternal clan’s surname.
But what did “will soon cease business” mean?
When Pang Xiao first met her, he had posed as a merchant.
Young Master Yao was a merchant, and if a merchant ceased business, it meant no more trade.
But the real Pang Xiao was a marshal who led troops in battle…
Qin Yining understood immediately!
These five characters were telling her that Pang Xiao would soon cease hostilities!
But why the ceasefire?
Ji Yun was Pang Xiao’s person. She had found a way to infiltrate the palace and delivered a message that Pang Xiao would soon cease hostilities—what did this mean?
She had suggested that her father inform Pang Xiao after she entered the palace about Yuchi Yan’s intention to make her empress, hoping Pang Xiao would help her think of a solution.
So was the ceasefire the solution Pang Xiao had devised?
But what connection could a frontline ceasefire have with the emperor wanting to marry her as empress?
Qin Yining racked her brains but couldn’t understand Pang Xiao’s intention.
But his quick response made her heart settle at once.
She hadn’t dared show helplessness and confusion even before her father. Having been alone and struggling since childhood, she deeply understood that if she wanted something, she had to fight for it herself, and if she wanted to accomplish something, she had to work for it herself. Even without anyone’s help, she would still fight for herself.
But now, Pang Xiao’s message had come. It let her know she wasn’t fighting alone, that he too was working to help her escape Yuchi Yan’s control.
Such a response made Qin Yining feel her persistence hadn’t been in vain.
Qin Yining smiled, her mood greatly settled. Originally exhausted but unable to sleep, she now fell peacefully asleep having resolved her worries.
When Yuchi Yan came to see her after lunch and found her sleeping sweetly, he simply stood by the beauty couch with his hands behind his back, quietly watching her. He couldn’t bear to wake her and watched for two incense sticks’ worth of time before touching her cheek and reluctantly leaving.
The emperor’s deeply affectionate appearance shocked Nanny Jiao, Xing Yu, and the others, making them even more respectful toward Qin Yining and more attentive in their service.
Early the next morning, during breakfast, Qin Yining asked about outside news as was her habit.
Nanny Jiao dared not be negligent and said worriedly: “Yesterday Prince Ning suffered a defeat. Those brutes from Zhou Dynasty fight too fiercely. We had 350,000 men defending the city, yet they used a decoy strategy and caused us to lose several thousand men. Prince Ning was also injured.”
Hearing this news, Qin Yining couldn’t help but frown: “I never imagined that despite Prince Ning’s valor, he would be injured. Previously, Zhou Dynasty people hadn’t achieved such great success outside our capital.”
“Indeed.” Xing Yu and Fu Xue at her side felt anxious hearing this. “Prince Ning has always been brave and fierce—he’ll surely be able to hold the defense.”
Qin Yining nodded.
She thought again of yesterday’s five characters.
It was clearly supposed to be a ceasefire within three days, yet yesterday Prince Ning had been severely defeated. What was Pang Xiao trying to do?
Qin Yining pressed her lips together and took a spoonful of porridge without showing any emotion. Suddenly, inspiration flashed in her mind and she understood everything!
So he was planning to use the war situation to force Yuchi Yan to voluntarily let go!
Qin Yining gripped her ivory chopsticks tightly, expending great effort to maintain her original appearance while her heart filled with anticipation. Thinking of Pang Xiao’s handsome face, she found herself looking forward to seeing him again with unprecedented longing.
They had been apart for so long.
News of Prince Ning’s injury and the defending army’s great defeat had already spread throughout the city like wildfire. However, this time there was another version circulating in the city, saying that though Prince Ning had suffered some setbacks despite his excellent martial skills, he had also severely wounded the Huben Army.
At the same time, news came from Xihua City.
The Huben Army had actually announced a temporary ceasefire, waiting until after Emperor Yuankang’s empress installation ceremony before resuming battle!
This was because the Qin family’s young lady was personally designated by Tianji Zi as a saint who could protect the nation’s fortune. Now that Great Yan had her protection, fighting was too difficult.
So the Huben Army planned to wait until this protective talisman who could ensure peace got married and lost her ability to protect the nation’s fortune before resuming battle—then the Huben Army would surely achieve twice the result with half the effort.
The concept that Miss Qin would lose her ability to protect Great Yan’s peace once married was thus forcibly implanted in the common people’s minds.
Meanwhile, news that Emperor Yuankang intended to make Miss Qin empress had long been circulating among the people.
“Oh dear, what can be done! If His Majesty really makes Miss Qin empress, then Miss Qin won’t be able to protect Great Yan’s peace anymore.”
“Miss Qin is a saint. If a saint marries, she loses that protective ability.”
“Even for the sake of national fortune, His Majesty cannot marry Miss Qin!”
…
Such discussions could be heard everywhere among the people, in streets and alleys.
Not only among the common folk—at the next day’s grand court assembly, ministers also submitted memorials one after another, expressing their worries and suggesting that the emperor should reconsider his choice for empress.