That night, Qin Yining slept with a smile on her face even in her dreams. In the dream, Pang Xiao kept looking at her with gentle, smiling eyes, asking, “Would you stay by my side?” She boldly nodded in the dream, being much more honest than she was in reality.

Qin Yining used to often feel confused about the future, but now it was different. She was determined to stay by his side. No matter how many difficulties lay ahead, no matter what kind of adversity he faced, she would never let go. If storms came, they would weather them together.

The next morning when she got up, Qin Yining was having her hair dressed by Ji Yun and Qian Yun when Bingtang, who had gone to the front courtyard early to gather information, returned.

“Miss, the Prince left early today. He said there was a great court session and left very early.”

Bingtang smiled as she hung a delicate small pouch around the neck of Lian Xiaozhou, who was eating pastries nearby.

Lian Xiaozhou still had pastry crumbs on her cheeks. She looked down at the pouch, picked it up to smell it, then smiled with delight and ran to Qin Yining to show off her treasure.

“Sister, it smells nice.”

“Yes. This sachet contains dried flower petals and several medicinal herbs. Smelling it more in this weather can help prevent colds.”

Bingtang knew that Lian Xiaozhou was orphaned and pitiful, and had speech difficulties. After careful diagnosis, she concluded that the girl would probably find it difficult to speak as fluently as normal people for the rest of her life, so she felt even more tender toward this little sister.

Qin Yining smiled and said, “How nice. Xiao Zhou, why don’t you thank Sister Bingtang?”

Lian Xiaozhou looked at Bingtang, who was not much taller than herself, and bowed with a smile: “Thank you.”

“No need to be polite.” Bingtang waved her hands repeatedly.

Qiu Lu brought over a set of light blue, half-new clothes that Qin Yining would wear today. Seeing this scene, she laughed and said, “Our Bingtang finally gets to experience being an older sister.”

Qiu Lu didn’t usually talk much, but when she did speak, she always hit the mark.

Bingtang snorted and pretended to be angry: “You want to experience being a younger sister, but who told you to be the eldest? Later, I’ll have Miss choose a suitable husband for you and marry you off. What should I call your husband then? Brother-in-law?”

“You, you little hoof, always making up stories about others. Watch me tear your mouth apart.”

Qiu Lu put down the clothes and chased after Bingtang to hit her. Bingtang ran around the Eight Immortals table, playing with Qiu Lu.

Everyone found it amusing to watch.

Qiu Lu had been with Qin Yining the longest and was also the eldest among them. Usually quiet and thoughtful, after returning she continued to manage Qin Yining’s jewelry, clothes, and room expenses, earning much respect from Qian Yun and Ji Yun.

Qian Yun laughed: “When you weren’t here, only I accompanied Miss. The room was very cold and quiet. Miss was gloomy and full of worries all day, and only the Prince could make Miss happy. Now it’s good – everyone is safe and sound. Even Sister Qiu Lu has learned to play around. This shows that the Prince’s mansion has good feng shui and brings good fortune to Miss.”

Speaking of this, Qian Yun inserted a azure jade flower hairpin into Qin Yining’s hair. Looking at Qin Yining’s fair complexion in the mirror, she smiled and said, “Miss, why don’t you hurry up and marry over?”

Qin Yining gave her a look. Before she could speak, Ji Yun was already laughing: “The Prince must be thinking this every day.”

“You bad girls, it seems I’ve spoiled you too much. I’ll tell the Prince later to punish you.” Qin Yining snorted.

The girls were laughing and playing together, and they only heard the little maid outside speaking loudly on her second attempt to get their attention.

Ji Yun went to open the door and asked, “What is it?”

The little maid stood in the middle of the courtyard, curiously looking at the half-open room door, and said with a smile, “Miss, two Master Qins have come to the front, saying they are Miss Qin’s uncles. Master Xu has seen them and instructed this servant to inform Miss. Would Miss like to meet them at Suxue Garden, or would you prefer to go to the front hall?”

The laughter in the room stopped, and the smile faded from Qin Yining’s face. “I’ll go to the front hall.”

“Yes.” The little maid took another curious look inside the room before bowing and leaving.

Bingtang’s expression became serious as she asked, “Miss, are you really going to see them? They must be coming to force you to participate in the imperial selection. Why don’t you just pretend to be sick?”

“Yes, Miss.” Qiu Lu and Ji Yun also said in unison. They wholeheartedly supported Qin Yining and Pang Xiao and didn’t want Qin Yining to serve the Emperor.

Qin Yining stood up and took her cloak to put on. “You can avoid the first day but not the fifteenth. Avoiding them isn’t the solution. The words that need to be said must be spoken clearly. The Old Madam yesterday only gave domineering commands without explaining the reasons. I also want to know my father’s whereabouts. Ji Yun, Bingtang, come with me.”

“Yes.” Both bowed and followed Qin Yining out.

In the front hall, Second Master and Third Master were having tea accompanied by Xu Weizhi.

Xu Weizhi’s clothing and appearance seemed rather luxurious compared to Second Master and Third Master, who wore simple thin cotton jackets, fully displaying the bearing of a prince’s mansion steward.

Seeing Qin Yining arrive, Xu Weizhi glanced toward Second Master and Third Master, then coughed and said seriously, “I see your family members coming to bother you every day. You should resolve this properly and not let the Prince be troubled.”

Qin Yining immediately understood and nodded, “Yes. Thank you, steward.”

Seeing Qin Yining’s quick reaction, Xu Weizhi couldn’t help but smile. He nodded and left with his hands behind his back.

Qin Yining then instructed Ji Yun and Bingtang who came with her, “Wait by the door.”

“Yes.”

When only the three uncle and niece remained in the room, Qin Yining bowed to Second Master and Third Master: “Second Uncle, Third Uncle, it’s been many days since we last met.”

Both Second Master and Third Master had lost considerable weight. Looking at their clothing, while not as destitute as Pang Xiao’s spies had reported, they certainly weren’t doing well.

Yesterday when seeing the Old Madam, Qin Yining had wanted to ask. Today she spoke directly: “Second Uncle, Third Uncle, did you encounter any other accidents on your way here? Do you have any news of my father’s whereabouts?”

Second Master sighed and said, “Yining, today we came specifically to tell you about this matter. When we fled that day, we got separated from your father, mother, and your concubine mother. We hurried along the road and were almost at the capital when we were kidnapped by a group of people.”

“What?” Qin Yining was shocked. Ji Zeyu shouldn’t have acted a second time.

Third Master, being impulsive by nature, spoke like pouring beans: “Our whole family was kidnapped. Not only did those bandits rob all the belongings we brought, but they also said that your father, mother, and your concubine mother are now in their hands. If we want them to continue living, if we still want our family’s belongings, we must send you to participate in the imperial selection!”

“They specifically named me? Who are they?” Qin Yining was both shocked and angry. She could never have imagined that the cause of this matter was actually kidnapping.

“They indeed said to send you for the imperial selection,” Third Master shook his head. “We don’t know who those people were, but even if not for all our family’s belongings, we have to consider your father’s and mother’s safety. So after entering the capital, your grandmother hurriedly registered your name.”