Along the way, all of Qin Yining’s thoughts had been focused on what happened at the city gate today, her mind analyzing the current political situation in Great Zhou, worrying about her family’s safety. She had calculated left and right, but forgotten to analyze her own current situation.

Having been “forcibly seized” by Pang Xiao to the prince’s mansion like this, she would have to face not just Pang Xiao, but also Pang Xiao’s family.

But she was, after all, Qin Huaiyuan’s daughter.

Even though the root cause of Pang Xiao’s father’s death lay with the tyrant of Northern Ji Kingdom, Qin Huaiyuan’s alienation strategy was ultimately a catalyst.

Would Pang Xiao’s mother dislike her? Even hate her?

Also, what position should she place herself in when facing Pang Xiao’s family?

Great Yan had already fallen, and she had set foot on the capital’s soil as the daughter of a surrendering official. She no longer had a status that could match Pang Xiao’s. Even if he didn’t mind, his elders probably wouldn’t view her from an equal standpoint, would they?

Most importantly, this was Qin Yining’s first time meeting elders, and she actually hadn’t prepared any meeting gifts!

Qin Yining was immersed in nervous thoughts, completely unaware that Pang Xiao had already bent down, supporting himself on his knees to accommodate her height, observing her ever-changing expressions face-to-face for quite a while.

This was the first time he’d seen Qin Yining’s expressions so rich. Previously, he only knew she was an extremely rational and composed young lady, which often made him forget Qin Yining’s true age. Only now, seeing her nervous and blushing, did Pang Xiao remember that she was still just a young girl who had barely passed her coming-of-age ceremony.

Their noses drew closer and closer, so close that Pang Xiao could smell her unique fragrance. Only then did Qin Yining suddenly come to her senses, startled into stepping back two paces.

“You, what are you doing so close to me?” Anyone would be startled to regain consciousness and face such a large face right in front of them.

Pang Xiao smiled. “Looking at you.” His large hand unhesitatingly took her hand as he walked toward the inner residence. “Don’t be nervous. My grandfather and grandmother are ordinary common people, and my mother has an even gentler nature. They don’t have the affected pretensions of those noble families. You’re so wonderful—they’ll definitely like you very much when they meet you.”

Qin Yining nodded nervously, saying hesitantly: “But I came in such haste, I didn’t prepare anything. It’s truly too impolite.”

Upon hearing this, Pang Xiao burst into laughter. “What would you need to prepare? It’s enough that you came.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining’s face grew even redder. The hand held by Pang Xiao forcefully scratched his palm, causing Pang Xiao to laugh again with pleasure.

Passing through the second ceremonial gate, they turned left around an exquisite garden and arrived at the hanging flower gate.

Upon entering, a woman servant came forward to bow. “Your Highness.”

“Mm. Tell the Old Madam, Grand Madam, and Old Master that this prince has returned with Miss Qin.”

“Yes.” The woman servant dared not say much and immediately had a nimble young maid hurry inside to deliver the message.

Pang Xiao thus led Qin Yining by the hand, leisurely walking toward the inner residence’s main hall, not forgetting to smile and say in a low voice: “My grandmother has a fiery temperament. In her youth, she operated rafts on the river and also worked as an escort, with very formidable skills. Later, wanting a peaceful life, she was conquered by my grandfather’s cooking.”

Hearing him introduce them this way, Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile.

“My grandfather is a gentle and honest person. Though his temperament is soft and his heart kind, he’s extremely clever. I think my mother’s intelligence comes from my grandfather.”

Qin Yining nodded. “It shows—you’re so intelligent, the Old Madam must be very intelligent too.”

Pang Xiao smiled and gently tapped Qin Yining’s nose bridge, laughing: “You don’t need to be so formal. Just call my mother ‘aunt.’ My mother once served as a maid in the Pang household. Though she’s not very literate, she has seen some of the world in a general’s mansion. If not for my father’s legitimate wife’s jealousy driving my mother away, I might not have survived in this world.”

Qin Yining said seriously: “Aunt must be a very resilient person.”

“Yes.” Pang Xiao smiled. “You can rest assured—they’re all very easygoing.”

Seeing his warm smile, Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile along.

She could feel that when Pang Xiao mentioned his grandfather, grandmother, and mother, there was an intimacy and ease that radiated from his heart. From Pang Xiao’s brief introductions, she could tell this family’s temperaments shouldn’t be difficult to get along with.

Having been so nervous she broke out in a cold sweat earlier, she had now calmed down.

At this moment, soft little dog barks suddenly came from ahead.

They saw a snow-white furry ball bouncing out from the upper courtyard’s main gate. Looking closely, it was actually a snow-white little Pekingese.

Following the little Pekingese was a woman in her early twenties.

Seeing Pang Xiao, the woman curtsied and smiled: “No wonder Da Bai wouldn’t stay in the Old Madam’s arms just now—turns out he knew Your Highness had returned and came specially to greet you.”

Pang Xiao smiled and looked down at the little Pekingese, saying to Qin Yining: “This is Da Bai, whom I’ve told you about.”

Mentioning Da Bai inevitably reminded Qin Yining of Er Bai, causing a wave of heartache and loss. However, she didn’t show this on her face, instead bending down to look at Da Bai.

Da Bai’s fur was fluffy and snow-white all over, with round black eyes, a slightly upturned black nose and mouth, and a pink tongue hanging out while panting at her, seeming to smile. He looked absolutely loveable.

Pang Xiao smiled and said: “Da Bai, bow.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Da Bai stood up and bowed with his front paws together.

That adorable and amusing appearance made Qin Yining unable to suppress her laughter.

Pang Xiao patted Da Bai’s head and smiled: “This little fellow is especially friendly and doesn’t bite. He has a very good temperament. If you like him, you can often come play here with my mother.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded.

Pang Xiao then led Qin Yining into the upper courtyard, with Da Bai following beside them, tongue hanging out as he circled around.

The woman servant followed behind them, curiously observing Qin Yining.

Under the corridor, maids raised dark blue fine cotton warm curtains on both sides.

They entered one after another, the oncoming warmth very comfortable.

After removing their cloaks and handing them to the maids, Pang Xiao led Qin Yining to the eastern side room.

Actually, the room’s layout was similar to that in Great Yan, except the arhat bed by the window had been replaced with a warm kang by the window, which looked very cozy just at a glance.

At this moment, a kindly old lady about sixty years old, tall and slightly plump, was sitting cross-legged beside a black lacquered kang table, smiling at them. On the other side of the kang table sat an old man wearing a dark blue cotton robe and a six-harmony warm hat, currently adding tobacco to a brass pipe bowl, his rough thumb carefully pressing the tobacco down.

Another beautiful woman who appeared to be about forty was sitting sideways on the edge of the kang.

The other maids and women servants all stood by the screen in two rows with hands hanging down.

Qin Yining’s recently relaxed mood became tense again. She hurriedly stepped forward to bow.

But Pang Xiao preceded her, smiling: “Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, this is Sister Yi whom I mentioned before.” He turned back to pull Sister Yi down to kneel with him, accompanying her in bowing to the elders.

“Look at that—our Da Fu has learned to protect his cubs. Are you afraid your grandmother will bully your wife?” Grandmother Ma spoke with a northern accent, her tone revealing a straightforward and affectionate nature.

Qin Yining was stunned for a moment before realizing that Pang Xiao’s childhood name was Da Fu?