Qin Yining and Qin Huaiyuan returned home together. Both father and daughter maintained composed expressions on the road, but once they reached the study in the outer courtyard and the servants had served tea and withdrawn, they held their tea bowls and looked at each other with smiles.

“This Madam Lu is truly too impulsive.” Qin Yining shook her head. “I don’t even know if she’s really so simple-minded. If she truly is, I’d feel guilty for using her.”

Qin Huaiyuan took a sip of tea. “Daughter, shouldn’t you also feel guilty for acting so pleased after gaining such an advantage?”

Qin Yining was amused and burst into laughter.

She rarely saw her father joke around.

“Today’s events went smoothly. I wonder what the Lu family’s next move will be.”

Qin Huaiyuan looked up at Qin Yining, put down his tea bowl, and tapped the table with his index finger. After a moment, he said, “You must be particularly careful. The Lu family will certainly not let this matter rest and will definitely look for another opportunity to sow discord between me and His Majesty. You are my daughter, so you may very well become their target as well. Moreover…”

Qin Huaiyuan hesitated for a moment but still spoke his thoughts aloud. “Moreover, that Second Master Lu is a clever man. He must have guessed that you had a hand in today’s events. Though he had no choice but to take a stance and banish Madam Lu from the capital, he may well have taken note in his heart.”

Qin Yining raised an eyebrow. “If he’s taken note, then so be it. It’s always better to have opponents in the open than in the shadows. Whatever he wants to do, we’ll just respond accordingly.”

Qin Huaiyuan raised his eyebrows slightly.

Actually, what he meant by “taking note” wasn’t only what Qin Yining understood.

He was a man with a strikingly beautiful daughter, and as a loving father, he naturally worried about his daughter being led astray by someone. Therefore, he would pay attention whenever any man looked at his daughter even once.

This Second Master Lu was an extremely outstanding man. When he looked at Qin Yining earlier, his eyes were startlingly bright. Perhaps he himself didn’t realize it and thought he was concealing it well.

But how could such things escape the eyes of a father who was wholeheartedly concerned about his daughter?

However, since Qin Yining hadn’t given it much thought, there was no need for him to elaborate. His daughter was very intelligent—when it was time to see through things and be on guard, she would naturally be able to see through and guard against them.

“Father, if His Majesty receives news of this, his impression of you should improve, shouldn’t it?”

“Mm.” Qin Huaiyuan smiled slightly. “His Majesty is an intelligent man—he naturally doesn’t want the subordinates he relies on to be incompetent. If I were immediately suppressed to death by the Lu family or the Northern Ji old ministers upon arrival, while incompetent people are easy to control for His Majesty, they’re also useless. The current situation, with give and take, is just right.”

Qin Yining smiled. “Father has always been excellent at grasping such measures. From now on, daughter will just listen to you.”

Qin Huaiyuan was amused and laughed heartily, pointing at her forehead. “You speak nicely now, but when something really happens, you might not necessarily listen to your father.”

“What are you saying, Father?” Qin Yining protested.

Qin Huaiyuan laughed. “You’re my daughter—don’t I know you? The reason you listen to your father now is because we thought of the same thing. You’re not a child who follows blindly.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining thought about it and felt Qin Huaiyuan made quite a good point. She didn’t argue and made a face at him, causing Qin Huaiyuan to laugh heartily again.

While the father and daughter of the Qin family were laughing together, Li Qitian was also in an excellent mood.

Ever since various versions of the story about Prince Zhongshun and Prince Consort Ji coming to blows had spread outside, Li Qitian’s mood had been consistently good.

Walking alongside Li Helan in the imperial garden, Li Qitian looked up at the azure sky and felt that even the crisp air he breathed carried a refreshing fragrance.

Though it was early spring and the imperial garden was still quite desolate with the ice and snow just beginning to melt, Li Qitian found everything pleasing to the eye with his good mood.

Li Helan observed Li Qitian’s expression, and seeing his joy, her own mood relaxed as well.

Even Li Guanwen and the others following behind with guards at a distance were infected by the atmosphere.

Just then, a guard suddenly whispered a few words in Li Guanwen’s ear.

Li Guanwen immediately went to report to Li Qitian: “Your Majesty, a major incident just occurred outside.”

Li Qitian said, “What happened exactly? Come here and tell me in detail.”

“Yes.” The guard knelt on one knee and bowed, then reported like pouring beans from a bag all the information he had just gathered about the incident at Drunken Immortal Tower.

Li Helan listened carefully from the side and couldn’t help but frown at the end, looking at Li Qitian with concern.

She had been moving around Madam Lu for some time, intending to win her over for her own use.

But now, this person was banished just like that!

“Imperial Brother, what exactly does the Qin family mean by this? Acting so ostentatiously is going too far. It actually caused Sister Lu to be punished and sent to an estate! She could still have been of great use.”

Li Qitian frowned and waved his hand, and the guard bowed and withdrew.

He pondered for a moment, then actually smiled. “Lan’er, you did very well this time.”

Li Helan felt a chill. For a moment she couldn’t tell whether Li Qitian’s praise was sincere or sarcastic.

“Imperial Brother, Lan’er is terrified. Lan’er failed to handle what Imperial Brother assigned properly.”

“No, you already did your best. I know that.”

Li Qitian patted Li Helan’s shoulder and continued pacing forward with his hands behind his back.

Li Helan no longer dared walk alongside Li Qitian and obediently fell back a few steps, carefully thinking about this matter but completely unable to grasp the thread of it.

Li Qitian’s mood was even better than before.

Others might not know how difficult the Lu family was to deal with, but he knew it deeply. Especially that Lu Heng fellow—as cunning as a fox. Yet Qin Huaiyuan had the ability to resolve the Lu family’s schemes. Not only did he manage to get the residence, but he also made the Lu family’s discord-sowing plot come to nothing.

It seemed that Qin Huaiyuan’s reputation for wisdom rivaling Pan An was indeed well-deserved.

Now he not only gained a capable minister but could also see the Qin family and Lu family’s relationship become estranged. Two such good things coming at once—how could he not be delighted? Add to that the increasingly distant relationship between Ji Zeyu and Pang Xiao.

Today brought nothing but good news.

And among all this good news, Li Helan had indeed contributed considerably.

“Lan’er, you’ve truly worked hard today. Whatever reward you want, just tell your imperial brother.”

Hearing this, Li Helan looked at Li Qitian and hesitated for a moment before still tactfully saying, “Being able to share Imperial Brother’s worries is already very satisfying for Lan’er. Lan’er is usually thoughtless and always makes Imperial Brother angry—it’s enough if Imperial Brother doesn’t blame Lan’er.”

Hearing this, Li Qitian couldn’t help but feel moved.

After all, his only sister’s marriage had still been used by him.

Li Qitian smiled and said, “Later we’ll dine at Mother Empress’s palace. I’ll issue an edict for Prince Consort Ji to enter the palace so we can all have a family reunion dinner together. I also have an important matter to assign to Prince Consort Ji. I’ve been very satisfied observing his words and actions these past days.”

Li Helan’s eyes widened with pleasant surprise as she bowed joyfully. “Yes, thank you, Imperial Brother!”