Both were intelligent people – the words didn’t need to be spoken in full for the meaning to be clear. They both understood what this so-called “escape route” the Great Emperor had prepared might be.

Though Sun Shi didn’t quite understand everything, she didn’t pay much attention to court affairs anyway, so she simply sat alongside them.

After chatting with Qin Yining for a while longer, Qin Huaiyuan said, “I still need to enter the palace for an audience with the Emperor, so I won’t stay much longer. Take good care of yourself here.”

Sun Shi frowned reluctantly. “Yi’er, your injuries haven’t healed yet. You must nurse yourself back to health properly – at your young age, you mustn’t leave any lingering ailments. If you lack anything, send someone back to tell me. Don’t wrong yourself in any way.”

“Mother, I understand.” Qin Yining was moved as she embraced Sun Shi, her cheek pressed against Sun Shi’s shoulder as she nuzzled affectionately.

The maternal love from Sun Shi hadn’t come easily to her, so she treasured it all the more.

She whispered in Sun Shi’s ear, “Mother, take good care of yourself at home and be humble toward the Old Madam. After what happened to me, the Old Madam will probably be sulking for a while – don’t confront her directly.”

Sun Shi secretly thought her daughter was truly prophetic in her predictions. She didn’t mention that the Old Madam had already made a scene to spare her daughter the worry, simply stroking her long hair and saying, “Don’t worry. Now that the household is in this state, everyone should just live peacefully.”

“That’s good.” Qin Yining pondered briefly, then whispered again, “Mother, also don’t conflict with Aunt Cao. Her background isn’t simple. With me not at home, you must be careful in everything. Consult more with Nanny Jin, and you can also privately seek advice from Nanny Qin. Nanny Qin is most accurate at gauging the Old Madam’s intentions – ask her more often.”

“Good, good.” Sun Shi’s heart felt both sour and swollen. How thoughtless must she have been before to make her daughter worry so much even when away from home?

Qin Huaiyuan watched his wife and daughter embrace, whispering intimately with their heads close together, and his gaze became exceptionally gentle.

Though he didn’t know what Qin Yining was telling Sun Shi, he could guess from Sun Shi’s moved expression.

They were his motivation for future efforts, his purpose in life. Though disappointed in court politics and the imperial family, with them present, his life wouldn’t lose direction.

Qin Yining escorted Sun Shi and Qin Huaiyuan to the drooping flower gate.

Qin Huaiyuan smiled and said, “These ten martial masters are experts I’ve hired to specifically protect your safety. From now on, they’ll remain here at your disposal.”

“Thank you, Father.” Qin Yining smiled and nodded.

The imperial guards stationed at the second gate looked troubled. “Grand Tutor Qin, without the Emperor’s permission, we dare not allow this on our own authority.”

Qin Huaiyuan wore a smile, but his voice carried the overwhelming pressure of a superior: “I understand your difficulty. I will personally discuss this matter with the Emperor and certainly won’t put you gentlemen in an awkward position. In the future, my daughter’s safety will depend on all of you.”

“We wouldn’t dare. Please rest assured, Grand Tutor – we will do our utmost to protect Perfected Xuan Su’s safety.” The guards bowed in unison.

Hearing the four words “Perfected Xuan Su,” Qin Huaiyuan felt his heart clog with frustration, but his expression remained unchanged. He simply smiled and thanked them before leading the tearful Sun Shi down the mountain.

Qin Yining stood before the drooping flower gate, watching her parents’ figures recede into the distance for a long time without moving.

The guards saw Qin Yining standing there in a daze but didn’t dare urge her along. The imperial guards were all the Emperor’s trusted confidants – how could they not know how much the Emperor treasured this person?

Bingtang draped a lotus-colored cloud shoulder wrap over Qin Yining’s shoulders.

Qin Yining came back to her senses, looked at Bingtang, and couldn’t help but smile.

Bingtang also smiled. “Miss, your body hasn’t recovered yet. Go rest for a while so I can examine your injuries.”

“Alright.”

Though temporarily confined to this villa, at least the people around her were all her trusted confidants. It was certainly better than being isolated and helpless in the palace. She was just temporarily away from home – there wasn’t much to be dissatisfied about.

With Bingtang by Qin Yining’s side, her physical condition effectively improved.

Meanwhile, news that the Great Emperor had sold off this year’s tax grain for silver spread throughout the court and countryside.

Most infuriating was that after selling the grain, the Great Emperor refused to hand over the silver.

The Emperor inquired multiple times, and when pressed urgently, the Great Emperor actually struck the Emperor.

The Emperor wondered: if the silver from selling the tax grain was gone, what about the silver in the national treasury and imperial treasury?

So at the grand court assembly, the Emperor ordered a thorough investigation.

This investigation was truly shocking – the Emperor’s imperial treasury and the national treasury had been essentially emptied! Moreover, this enormous sum of money remained missing!

The Emperor flew into a great rage on the spot. Even the enthronement ceremony was hastily conducted – he simply made Lady Li from the Duke of Anguo’s family the Empress, simplified all ceremonies, then continued investigating the whereabouts of the treasury silver.

The day after the empress installation ceremony, the Great Emperor ordered preparations for pleasure boats, planning to take several old ministers he got along with and several dowager consorts on a river excursion.

When Qin Huaiyuan learned of the Great Emperor’s plan to travel by boat, he was in his study talking with Yuchi Yan.

Upon receiving the news, Qin Huaiyuan immediately said urgently, “This won’t do! Your Majesty, you absolutely cannot let the Great Emperor leave! If he goes, the tax silver and treasury funds will never be recovered! With the war situation so tense and Prince Ning severely wounded again yesterday, where in military campaigns don’t we need silver for food and fodder? Without silver, what will you use to wage war? What will you use to defend this realm? Your Majesty, the Great Emperor plans to dump this mess on you and escape with a fortune!”

This thought had been circling in Yuchi Yan’s mind for a long time, but his thinking hadn’t been so clear – he hadn’t considered it so thoroughly.

But with Qin Huaiyuan spelling it out, Yuchi Yan completely understood.

His face turned iron-blue as he called for horses to be prepared. Taking Qin Huaiyuan along with guards and palace servants, they rode at breakneck speed toward the harbor, finally intercepting the Great Emperor before he could board the ship.

“Father Emperor!” Yuchi Yan dismounted, breathing heavily as he hurried forward. “Where are you going?”

The Great Emperor’s hair and beard were now completely white, making him appear much older. His cloudy eyes showed resentment upon seeing Yuchi Yan arrive.

“Where I go – is it finally your turn to interfere? What, now that your wings have grown strong, you think you can manage my affairs?”

Yuchi Yan trembled with anger, but being well-read after all, he couldn’t bring himself to speak harshly to his own father.

“Father Emperor, since you have abdicated, your future days should be spent enjoying your twilight years in comfort. If you don’t remain in the palace while I’m busy with state affairs and unable to attend to you, how can I fulfill my filial duties? Please return with your son.”

Seeing Yuchi Yan speak this way, the Great Emperor felt more confident and sneered, “Since I have abdicated, all court affairs fall under your management. Whether I remain in the capital is of no help to you anyway. I am old, your mother empress has passed away, and I am disheartened. I only wish to spend my remaining days traveling the mountains and rivers in leisure. You need not try to detain me.”