Qin Yining hid with Lian Xiaozhou behind a clump of bushes, listening to the crackling sounds of burning trees, feeling an indescribable fear and desolation in her heart.

Qin Yining was someone who had survived in the mountains and had feelings for every plant and tree in the great mountains. She even felt that vegetation had life and intelligence. With this fire, how much vegetation would be destroyed, and how many small animals would suffer.

But to protect Lian Xiaozhou, she had no choice but to do this.

Gripping Lian Xiaozhou’s warm little hand tightly, Qin Yining understood even more at this moment the difficulties Pang Xiao faced in many matters.

For her to protect this child, setting fire to the mountain still made her heart uneasy. When Pang Xiao fought and killed for the stability of the world and the future of the majority, his heart must have felt even worse than hers.

Just as she was thinking this, Qin Yining suddenly heard the sound of signal arrows breaking through the air and exploding in the distance. She quickly stood up, and before she could react, responses from signal arrows came from over ten directions around her.

Qin Yining guessed these should be teams that had entered the mountains for search and rescue. She just hadn’t expected there would be so many search teams.

Perhaps having never seen so many signal arrows suddenly sounding from various distances, Lian Xiaozhou was quite frightened, her small hand tightly gripping Qin Yining’s sleeve, nervously calling “sister.”

Qin Yining comfortingly stroked her head and smiled: “Don’t be afraid. These are people coming to find us. People coming to take sister home.”

Lian Xiaozhou said with half understanding: “Sister’s home, people came?”

“Yes, so you don’t need to be afraid.”

“I’m not afraid.” Lian Xiaozhou nodded emphatically, but the hand gripping Qin Yining’s sleeve didn’t relax at all, clearly still very scared.

Qin Yining was actually somewhat nervous too.

She was also afraid that the pursuers hadn’t completely withdrawn but had been drawn here by her fire.

Before long, Qin Yining and Lian Xiaozhou both heard footsteps gradually approaching them. The sounds of stepping on snow and dry branches were very crisp, as if stepping directly on their hearts.

The two held their breath and concentrated, hiding behind the bushes, not daring to come out easily.

Through gaps in the branches and leaves, Qin Yining saw that the leader was a thin, somewhat hunchbacked young man. This person was actually wearing Huben Army colonel attire, followed by over ten others dressed as Huben Army soldiers.

How could this be!

The Huben Army had long ago returned to the Zhou Dynasty capital by imperial order. How could they appear in the mountains?

Could it be that Pang Xiao knew the convoy of surrendering officials had been attacked midway and specially rushed here?

Just as Qin Yining’s heart was in turmoil, the leading young man had already called out in a hoarse voice: “The Huben Army, by order of Prince Zhongshun, has come to find Er’Bai…”

He repeated this sentence ten times.

The soldiers beside him then took over and shouted loudly ten more times, then the next person continued.

Like this, one after another, the Huben Army soldiers searched while shouting loudly.

Qin Yining finally relaxed her anxious heart, filled with joy and emotion.

She hadn’t expected that Pang Xiao would actually send the Huben Army to find her! Afraid she wouldn’t recognize his people, he even used this kind of “code word.”

Qin Yining then pulled Lian Xiaozhou’s hand and left the bushes.

As soon as she moved, the searching soldiers immediately discovered her and all turned to look.

The leading young man immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands and bowed: “Are you Miss Qin?”

The young man’s features were quite ordinary, but his gaze was extremely sharp. When looking at Qin Yining, it contained seven parts assessment and three parts scrutiny, though Qin Yining didn’t detect any hostility.

“I am. Where is your prince?” Qin Yining held Lian Xiaozhou’s shoulders, comfortingly patting them lightly.

The young man glanced at Lian Xiaozhou again before cupping his hands respectfully: “Miss Qin, please come with us.”

Speaking thus, he instructed someone beside him: “Fire the signal arrow.”

That person immediately fired another signal arrow.

Before long, from the far northeast direction, another signal arrow sound came.

Only then did the young man smile: “Miss Qin, please.”

Qin Yining felt puzzled but didn’t show it on her face, nodding.

With these ten-plus people protecting them, Qin Yining and Lian Xiaozhou didn’t need to worry about wild beast attacks or fear ambushing pursuers, so this journey was very smooth.

Reaching the foot of the mountain, the young colonel looked into the distance, pointed toward the direction behind the mountain where cooking smoke was rising, and smiled: “Miss Qin, please come with me. The search teams seem to have gathered over there.”

Qin Yining nodded, asking puzzledly: “Why didn’t your prince come to find me personally?”

The young man looked around, then said in a low voice: “After the prince returned to the capital, His Majesty sympathized with the prince’s hardships and bestowed upon him a hundred acres of fertile land, a hundred taels of gold, ten beautiful women, and gave him a month’s leave, ordering the prince to hand over the Huben Army tiger tally. Now the Huben Army’s commander is Lord Zuo Jinwei.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining’s steps suddenly stopped, and she called out in a low voice: “His Majesty stripped the prince of his military authority?”

Those ten-plus Huben Army soldiers, seeing the two had something to discuss, retreated about ten steps to follow from a distance.

The young man nodded heavily.

When the birds are gone, the bow is put away—nothing more than this.

Qin Yining pressed her lips together, frowning: “Then why would the Huben Army come here this time? I remember the Huben Army had long since returned to the capital in formation. If nothing unexpected happened, they should already be in the capital by this time! Did His Majesty issue an edict for the Huben Army to come?”

The young man shook his head.

“It wasn’t His Majesty’s edict. It was the prince who privately mobilized troops to find you, Miss.”

“Heavens, he’s gone mad! He was already being viewed with suspicion. Privately mobilizing troops—isn’t that the same as handing over a handle to others? Where is your prince now? Where is he?”

The young man’s gaze toward Qin Yining was somewhat different from before.

It seemed the woman the prince fancied was not a good-for-nothing.

“Miss Qin is correct. Actually, the prince was originally resting at home when he heard that the Marquis of Dingbei had suddenly brought people to attack the various officials from the Yan Dynasty surrendering to Great Zhou. He became extremely anxious, but having no one available to use, he claimed illness publicly while actually going personally to the military camp to deploy personnel for a long-distance raid to search for you and your family members.

“Although the military tally of the Huben Army is in Lord Zuo’s hands, the only person the brothers in the army truly respect is the prince. With one word from the prince, everyone followed him out. The Huben Army has a total of one hundred thousand troops returning in formation. The prince brought out twenty thousand, and Lord Zuo, fearing he couldn’t account to His Majesty, hurriedly followed as well.

“When leaving the capital, Lord Zuo memorialized impeaching the prince for privately mobilizing troops with intent to rebel. This memorial was intercepted by the prince’s people. A few days ago, Lord Zuo sent another secret report impeaching the prince, and this secret report was also intercepted by our people.

“However, because the prince privately mobilized troops, if exposed, it would be tantamount to rebellion. So throughout this journey, the prince has been concealing his tracks, never meeting with Lord Zuo face to face, nor letting Lord Zuo catch direct evidence. Therefore, when Miss Qin meets Lord Zuo later, you must be very careful not to speak carelessly.

“The prince brought people here riding hard day and night without rest, and has been searching in this area for five or six days. He didn’t find you but found quite a few other scattered people. Just when he discovered the great fire in the mountains, the prince said you must be here and ordered our team to search for you. During the signal arrow communications confirming we had found you, the prince didn’t have time to meet with you and immediately rushed back on horseback.

“Because this time the prince claimed to be seriously ill and refused visitors to cover his tracks, although Lord Zuo’s secret reports were intercepted, there’s no guarantee His Majesty won’t learn this news through other channels. If His Majesty deliberately wants to expose the prince, the excuse of serious illness might not stop His Majesty either. The prince was worried His Majesty might search the prince’s mansion, so he hurried back.”

Speaking to this point, the young man’s gaze toward Qin Yining contained several parts blame.

He was just short of directly pointing at Qin Yining’s nose and cursing “femme fatale.”

Qin Yining’s face also felt somewhat hot. Not only from shame, but more from being moved.

She knew Pang Xiao had always liked her very much. When facing her, Pang Xiao changed from his usual coldness and distance toward others, becoming as passionate as a flame. He never avoided showing his affection for her, but Qin Yining hadn’t expected his concern for her would reach such a degree.

To the point where, to find her, he would rather risk the crime of defying imperial orders and intending rebellion to bring troops out to search for her.

She really hadn’t expected that Pang Xiao would pay so much to find her!

He had already been stripped of military authority and was in a difficult position. Now, to find her, he was essentially digging himself an even deeper pit to jump into.

How could he pay so much for her!

His such deep affection made her feel that if she didn’t burn herself completely in this relationship, she would be unable to face what Pang Xiao had given for her.

Qin Yining pressed her lips together and took several deep breaths before calming her inner excitement. She spoke seriously: “May I ask what position this young general holds beside the prince? Observing your speech, you don’t seem like a deputy general. Such great talent serving as an advisor beside the prince would not be wasted.”

The young man was startled at these words, then smiled: “Miss Qin has good eyesight.”

This time, where was his young man’s voice? It was clearly that of a hoarse old man.

“This old man is Xie Yue, courtesy name Hongchang. I am an advisor beside the prince and have followed him for five years already. Because I’m skilled at planning and proficient in the art of disguise, the prince brought this old man out this time. The prince worried that others couldn’t explain things clearly to you and make you misunderstand, and also feared that others couldn’t explain clearly some Great Zhou matters during this period, so he specially ordered this old man to accompany Miss Qin to resolve your doubts.”

Qin Yining looked curiously at his young face and smiled, nodding: “So it’s Master Xie. I was truly remiss.”

“I dare not accept such honor.” He then resumed the slightly hoarse young man’s voice: “Miss, you should return to the camp first. Later when you meet Lord Zuo, you just need to remain silent.”

Qin Yining waved her hand: “No rush. Now that I know the situation, let’s think of a countermeasure before going back. Once we enter the camp, it won’t be convenient to discuss these matters.”

Seeing Qin Yining like this, Xie Yue said somewhat surprised: “Could it be that Miss Qin has a plan?”

Qin Yining said: “I do have some ideas. I’d like Master to help advise.”

“I would be honored to hear the details.” Xie Yue cupped his hands.

Qin Yining then said: “That Lord Zuo Jinwei, since he could be promoted by His Majesty to become the new commander of the Huben Army, must certainly not be a foolish person. When his secret reports received no response from the emperor, he would definitely become suspicious and submit secret reports again. This time, you shouldn’t intercept them.”

“Oh?” Xie Yue raised an eyebrow. “Miss Qin, what do you mean by this?”