Qin Huaiyuan left with Sun Shi, heading straight for Shuoren Studio.

The Old Madam thought about how Qin Huaiyuan had looked furiously angry just moments ago, even saying he would move out for the sake of Qin Yining. An indescribable grievance filled her heart as she grasped Second Madam’s hand and cried once more.

She had previously favored her clever, sweet-tongued youngest daughter-in-law the most, but now that youngest daughter-in-law was gone. The Old Madam’s confidant had become the good-listening Second Madam.

In any case, Sun Shi was still the one she looked down upon the most.

Second Master and Third Master saw the Old Madam pulling her daughter-in-law to speak ill of the eldest sister-in-law. They exchanged glances and slipped away.

In Shuoren Studio, Sun Shi wiped her tears while directing the maids to pack Qin Yining’s belongings. During their conversation, she recounted today’s events, causing both Qiu Lu and Bingtang to become quite angry as well.

Qin Huaiyuan called Ji Yun to speak in the courtyard. After explaining the situation in detail to Ji Yun, he said, “Although Yi’er will be living in the villa with a hundred Taoist nuns as her fellow residents, those are strangers after all. Moreover, the Emperor’s meaning couldn’t be clearer – Yi’er will live in her own quarters, separate from those people. So I’m very worried about her safety.”

Ji Yun was clever and understood immediately. “Is the Marquis worried that the Emperor will visit from time to time?”

Qin Huaiyuan nodded.

When the Emperor visited, what might happen would be very difficult to predict.

Ji Yun’s face flushed red with anger. She really wished she could tell the Prince about this and have him simply kill that dog Emperor!

Qin Huaiyuan continued, “Moreover, with Yi’er living alone in the villa, she’ll obviously be a more conspicuous target. If someone attempts assassination, it would be difficult to handle. I’ll go back and request that the Emperor increase the guard detail. As for Yi’er’s immediate protection, I’ll have to trouble you and Young Master Mu.”

Ji Yun was honored and bowed, saying, “Marquis, please don’t be so polite – you’re really embarrassing this servant. Protecting the young miss is both my duty and something I’m willing to do wholeheartedly.”

Ji Yun greatly admired and respected Qin Huaiyuan’s character. After thinking for a moment, she said in a low voice, “The Marquis can be completely at ease about the young miss’s safety. I’ll be presumptuous today and give you some reassurance. The recent incident in the manor frightened the Prince terribly and filled him with self-reproach. He specially assigned four Elite Tiger Guards from his personal retinue to come here. While the young miss was living in the manor, these four Elite Tiger Guards remained in the vicinity at all times.”

“The Elite Tiger Guards are the Prince’s personal guards, elites selected from the Huben Army. Each one is a master capable of fighting ten opponents single-handedly. When the young miss moves to the imperial villa, these four will probably find ways to disguise themselves and go to the villa as well. As for Young Master Mu, he’s a person of the martial world and has an unfamiliar face, so his staying by the young miss’s side won’t attract attention. That’s why the Prince left him to operate openly.”

“Young Master Mu’s martial arts skills are much higher than even the Elite Tiger Guards. To put it this way – even our Prince using his full strength would probably only be able to fight Young Master Mu to a draw when he’s in a relaxed state. Young Master Mu is also honest and dependable, which is why the Prince feels comfortable asking for his help.”

Qin Huaiyuan nodded.

Although all this was within his expectations, hearing Ji Yun spell it out still moved him to remark, “So Little Prince Pang has arranged everything properly. He’s really gone to great trouble.”

Ji Yun smiled. “The Prince has sincere feelings for the young miss, so how could he not be attentive?”

“In that case, I can rest easy about Yi’er living in the imperial villa.” Qin Huaiyuan pondered for a moment, then said, “I’ll go see the Emperor shortly to send some guards to Yi’er. You can have the Elite Tiger Guards mix in with the guards I select and all go in together. This way, going through official channels will make operations more convenient. As for their identities, just say they’re martial arts masters I hired at great expense from the martial world. If anyone asks more detailed questions, tell them not to say too much and have those curious people come ask me directly.”

“Yes, the Marquis’s thinking is thorough – this couldn’t be better.”

Ji Yun was full of admiration for Qin Huaiyuan’s way of handling things. It was precisely because of having such a clever, decisive, and well-educated father that her young miss could be so outstanding, wasn’t it?

While the two were talking, Sun Shi had finished packing the luggage, and Bingtang and Qiu Lu had also loaded all the daily necessities onto the cart.

Qin Huaiyuan then ordered carriages to be prepared and, together with Sun Shi, transported Qin Yining’s maids and commonly used items to the villa.

The Imperial Villa was located within the inner city of the capital, not far from the Imperial Palace. Built by a lake in the northwest direction of the palace, it was an extremely magnificent garden complex.

Upon entering the villa, the first thing that met the eye was an expanse of azure lake water. A white marble arched bridge soared over the lake, and on the opposite shore, against the backdrop of two green mountains, pavilions and towers faced the azure water with their backs to the green hills. The carved galleries and painted buildings were exceptionally luxurious. Around the lake was an extremely lavish garden, with white marble paths winding through flower beds and azure grass. When the breeze blew, willows swayed along the lake embankment and birds circled overhead, creating a refreshing and delightful scene.

Sun Shi looked at the scenery outside the carriage and said sadly in a low voice, “Truly worthy of being an imperial villa – though the scenery is beautiful, isn’t this just making Yi’er a golden cage?”

“Things have come to this point, so we can only see how Yi’er adapts to circumstances. She’s a clever child and will certainly be able to handle these matters well,” Qin Huaiyuan said.

“I hope so. Yi’er takes after you in her actions, and it’s fortunate that she takes after you – that’s the only reason I can feel at ease.” Sun Shi shook her head. “I’m useless as a mother. I couldn’t give my daughter a good life. Not only did I not treat her well in the past, I often made her suffer and misunderstood her. The other day, before my mother and sister-in-law left, they specially reminded me of some things. If my mother hadn’t said so, I wouldn’t have known that Yi’er had secretly helped me shoulder so many troubles. I really… have wronged this child.”

As Sun Shi spoke, tears rolled down again, and she quickly took out her handkerchief to wipe them.

Qin Huaiyuan sighed and comforted her, “We still have a long life ahead. This crisis will pass someday. We can only hope that in the future, you’ll still have days to be good to this child.”

Hearing this, Sun Shi sniffled and finally stopped crying.

When they reached the magnificent pavilions and towers, the group could see the grand scale of the buildings. Let alone housing a hundred Taoist nuns – even three hundred more could be accommodated.

Taoist nuns were already moving about inside, and palace servants were arranging the front hall, converting the palace into the appearance of a Taoist temple. People were busy working energetically.

Qin Huaiyuan led his people to speak with the head eunuch in charge, then bypassed the courtyard where the front hall was located, passed through the second ceremonial gate, walked along a mountain path, and arrived at the rear courtyard that had been built on the mountain.

The scenery here was beautiful, and because of the elevated terrain, the view was also expansive. Guards were stationed at the entrance to the rear courtyard, preventing ordinary people from coming up the mountain, so Qin Huaiyuan had to spend considerable effort persuading the sentries to let them pass.

The group entered through the drooping flower gate into the courtyard. What met their eyes was a large expanse of spacious white marble platform. Luxuriant wisteria flower arbors hung down layers upon layers of purple, adorning the two-story palace building behind with exceptional magnificence.

Qin Yining, dressed in white robes with a honey-colored jacket draped over her shoulders, was holding Er’Bai while sitting in a rocking chair, leaning against the railing to gaze at the mountain scenery below. Two palace maids and two eunuchs attended her on the left and right.

“Yi’er.” Seeing his daughter’s leisurely appearance, Qin Huaiyuan finally felt relieved and couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing. “Is the scenery here beautiful?”

Hearing the voice, Qin Yining turned around. Seeing that her father and mother had come with her maids, she joyfully stood up. Though the surging happiness in her eyes was about to overflow, she still composedly performed the proper greeting first.

“Standing high and looking far indeed offers an extraordinary view. Behind here is Xuan Su Temple – Mother could often come to burn incense.”