Qin Yining pressed her lips together and shook her head. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go right now. Those gathering at Prince Ning’s mansion must certainly be members of the imperial clan and relatives of the imperial family. If I wish to pay my respects, I can only return home first and await father’s arrangements.”

Ji Yun nodded in understanding.

Though she was a person of Great Zhou, she still held considerable respect for heroes with integrity. Seeing Qin Yining silently wiping away tears, and remembering that Prince Ning had ultimately been injured by Pang Xiao, she became restless again, appearing somewhat hesitant to speak.

Seeing Ji Yun’s state, Qin Yining sighed. “However, war is war. Once battle begins, there will inevitably be casualties. Pang Zhixi and Prince Ning stood on opposing sides from the very beginning. I had long anticipated such a day would come – either Prince Ning would die, or it would be Pang Zhixi. This time, Pang Zhixi proved superior in skill. If it had been him…”

Qin Yining tilted her head back and drew in a breath. “In the end, I am still selfish.”

“Miss, please don’t think such thoughts,” Qiu Lu gently advised from the side. “You are but a young woman. These great affairs are not within your control. Men’s matters should be left for men to resolve.”

Qin Yining smiled bitterly. “Apart from this, what else can I do?”

The master and her two servants packed simple luggage and departed the villa. The four Elite Tiger Guards and Mu Jinghu arranged by Pang Xiao had long since prepared horses outside. After bidding farewell to the imperial guards arranged by the emperor, the group departed through the villa’s side gate, taking small paths toward the Qin manor.

Having been away for over ten days, the marquis manor appeared no different, except that craftsmen were working on reconstruction at the sites of the burned courtyards in the rear quarters.

As soon as Qin Yining’s carriage arrived at the manor gates, an alert gatekeeper immediately rushed toward the inner quarters to spread the news.

On the return journey, Ji Yun had quietly told her that those four guards were not mere martial artists, but Elite Tiger Guards from Pang Xiao’s side, specially arranged to protect her. This had made Qin Yining’s heart quite joyful for a time, but thinking of the war between the two nations and Prince Ning’s death, she turned to despise herself for a while.

However, life must ultimately continue, and she still had to plan for her own happiness.

Thus when alighting from the carriage, Qin Yining had already composed her emotions. She turned to the three men with a smile. “Gentlemen, if you don’t mind, why not return to the manor with me? I can arrange lodgings for you all. Would that be acceptable?”

The leader among the four men cupped his hands and spoke in a low voice. “In response to Miss’s words, we shall not accompany you into the manor. We are more comfortable outside, and it is more convenient for our duties.”

Qin Yining replied understandingly, “I understand. You may stay at Treading Clouds Inn for now. I will inform Manager Zhong, and during this period, your meals, lodging, and expenses can all be collected from Manager Zhong.”

Hearing this, the four men became even more pleased with this beautiful future princess consort’s handling of affairs, and their attitudes grew even more respectful.

“This subordinate thanks the Princess Consort.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining’s face flushed red. She forced herself to remain composed. “You may go now.”

“Yes.”

The four men bowed and departed, leading their horses.

Seeing Qin Yining’s thoroughly reddened cheeks and neck, Mu Jinghu couldn’t help but wonder aloud, “How strange. They didn’t address you incorrectly, so why are you blushing?”

Qin Yining had long known Mu Jinghu’s character to be wooden, dull, and straightforward, but hearing him speak thus still made her feel embarrassed. Without responding to him, she entered the manor.

Mu Jinghu blinked in confusion and, upon entering the manor, went to his room in the outer courtyard.

At this time, Sun Shi had already brought Nanny Jin, Eighth Miss, and Qin Huining out to greet them.

“My child!” Upon seeing Qin Yining, Sun Shi beamed with joy, rushing forward to embrace Qin Yining in her arms. “You’ve finally returned! Won’t you need to leave again this time?”

“Mother.” Qin Yining pressed her cheek against Sun Shi’s shoulder, nuzzling against her neck. “His Majesty has permitted me to return home to live as a lay Buddhist. Mother, have these days been difficult for you?”

Sun Shi had quarreled with the old dowager quite frequently these past days. Though after the Qin family’s great ordeal, everyone seemed more united on the surface, once life became peaceful again, and time had covered over the grief, the old dowager had returned to her former ways, finding Sun Shi disagreeable in every aspect.

Moreover, the old dowager’s support for Qin Yining becoming the emperor’s mistress made Sun Shi even more hopeless about the old dowager’s character. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had spent these days almost like needle tips against wheat points whenever they met. The old dowager oppressed Sun Shi even more harshly, requiring her to stand attendance and observe proprieties daily.

With her daughter away from home, Sun Shi had endured much, holding back her anger, only thinking that she must not let others look down upon her.

But her daughter had returned, and upon meeting immediately spoke with such understanding – Sun Shi’s tears nearly fell.

“Not difficult, not difficult. As long as our whole family is safe and sound, that is a blessing. How could there be any difficulty?”

Without needing to think deeply, Qin Yining could guess Sun Shi’s situation during her absence from home, so she acted coquettish, nuzzling into Sun Shi’s embrace.

Eighth Miss stood to the side watching them with a smile. Though she missed her deceased legitimate mother and aunt, and greatly envied that Qin Yining still had a mother to act spoiled with, her heart was full of blessings for them.

Qin Huining, however, wore a wooden expression.

Previously, that embrace had belonged to her, and that mother had belonged to her as well. Now, she had nothing left, while Qin Yining had everything.

When entering just now, Qin Yining hadn’t even glanced at her properly.

Now Qin Yining had achieved fame throughout the realm, belonging to a completely different world from her. She no longer even had the qualification to consider Qin Yining a rival.

Because to be rivals, one must at least stand on equal footing.

Did she still have any possibility of achieving equal status with Qin Yining?

The incident with Sixth Miss had left her walking on thin ice within the manor. She had indeed pushed Sixth Miss forward to block the blade during that critical moment, but in such circumstances, she didn’t believe that anyone else in her position and environment wouldn’t have thought more of themselves!

These people had luckily preserved their lives and were privately celebrating who knows how much, yet they came to blame her!

While Qin Huining’s mind churned with a hundred thoughts, Qin Yining had already linked arms with Sun Shi and was walking toward the Garden of Filial Piety while chatting with Eighth Miss.

Qin Huining was left behind where she stood, ignored by all, and could only bite her lower lip and follow along.

“This granddaughter pays her respects to the Old Dowager.”

Upon seeing the old dowager, Qin Yining obediently knelt to pay her respects.

The old dowager looked at her with a smile. “Rise quickly. It’s good that you’ve returned, good that you’ve returned.”

“During these days when this granddaughter was away from home, the household has troubled the Old Dowager and Second Aunt with its management.” Qin Yining stood and also greeted the Second Madam.

The Second Madam had always been very fond of Qin Yining’s composure and understanding of propriety. Moreover, now the most accomplished daughter of the Qin family was Qin Yining, so the Second Madam took Qin Yining’s hand and spent considerable time asking after her welfare with warm concern.

After the family had spent a while reconnecting in the Garden of Filial Piety, the old dowager ordered lunch to be prepared.

When Third Master, Qin Han, and Qin Yu returned for their meal, they were also very pleased to see Qin Yining. When they inquired in detail about why His Majesty had suddenly permitted her to return home, Qin Yining did not elaborate on the conflict between herself and the empress, fearing it would cause panic among the women of the household. She simply said it was His Majesty’s command.

Prince Ning’s funeral was conducted with great fanfare throughout the capital. Qin Yining also accompanied the women of her household to pay their respects and went to console the princess consort.

However, when a person dies, they are like an extinguished lamp. Even the most formidable person must ultimately have their day of departure. When heroes depart, it inevitably evokes sighs of regret.

After Prince Ning was placed in his coffin and buried, the court’s auction of official positions, allowing merchants to trade with grain as payment, was also conducted with great enthusiasm.

Watching as the granaries in the city began receiving cartload after cartload of grain, and as the rice prices in grain shops began to stabilize, gradually reaching slightly expensive but acceptable ranges for the common people, the capital, which had been shrouded in the sorrow of Prince Ning’s death, finally began to grow cheerful again.

After all, the common people were ultimately more concerned with whether they themselves could eat their fill. As for other matters, how could ordinary citizens manage such things?

After a month of recuperation, Qin Yining’s shoulder wound had finally healed completely. Bingtang prepared blood and qi tonifying prescriptions for her, which also improved her complexion. She was no longer as pale as before, nor did she frequently experience dizziness and heart palpitations.

On this particular evening, Qin Yining had Bingtang stay overnight in her room. The two were sitting in the outer room, fanning themselves and speaking in low voices, when they suddenly heard what seemed like the slight “creak” of a window being pushed open in the inner room.

Bingtang said, “The wind is strong tonight. Perhaps it blew open the window in the washroom again. I’ll go secure it.”

“No need, I was just about to go to the washroom anyway.” Qin Yining slipped on her shoes and stood up, smiling. “You prepare the sleeping mat. It’s getting late, and we should sleep too.”

“Very well.” Bingtang began laying out her bedding on the arhat couch in the outer room.

Qin Yining, meanwhile, put on a small jacket and carried a silk lantern toward the washroom.

Who would have expected that upon lifting the door curtain, she would suddenly see a dark figure approaching her.

Her heart jolted, and just as a cry of alarm was about to escape her lips, she was drawn into an embrace by that person. A large hand covered her mouth, and a familiar yet strange scent – carrying hints of grass, gunpowder, and blood – domineeringly occupied her senses.

Qin Yining’s body couldn’t help but tremble.

It was him!

Burning lips fell upon her neck, and Pang Xiao’s deep voice whispered in her ear, “Yi jie’er, I’ve come to see you.”

Qin Yining’s heart was practically racing like a startled deer. The silk lantern in her hand nearly slipped from her grasp, but Pang Xiao was quick to catch the lamp and casually blew it out.

With bright lamplight, people outside could easily see the silhouettes on the window lattice.

If they wanted to remain safe, they could only feel their way in the darkness.

“Are you mad? The city is so tense right now – how did you enter the city? Aren’t you afraid of being captured!” Qin Yining asked anxiously in a whisper.

Pang Xiao chuckled softly, his lips pressed against her earlobe, also responding in a whisper, “If I didn’t come, I would have gone mad from longing. Quickly, let me see if your wound has healed.”

As he spoke, he was about to examine Qin Yining’s shoulder.

Qin Yining flushed bright red with embarrassment, hurriedly grasping her collar and whispering, “It’s all healed, all healed. Don’t do this.”

Bingtang heard the commotion outside and asked curiously, “Miss, what’s wrong?”

She was about to enter carrying a lamp.

Qin Yining hastily said, “I’m fine.”

She hesitated as she looked toward Pang Xiao, uncertain of his arrangements.

Pang Xiao laughed softly, taking Qin Yining’s hand and walking to the outer room, saying in a low voice, “It’s me.”

Bingtang stared in astonishment, her eyes wide as saucers. “Prince, Prince? How did you come here!”

And Qin Yining also finally had the chance, by the light of the lamp Bingtang hadn’t yet had time to extinguish, to see Pang Xiao’s appearance.