Qin Yining was extremely surprised.

In truth, she still harbored some doubts about Ji Zeyu. She didn’t know exactly what the relationship between Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu entailed. She only felt that being in the imperial court, it was impossible to remain completely untainted by even the slightest bit of bloodshed. So regarding Ji Zeyu and Pang Xiao’s mutual utilization and testing of each other, Qin Yining didn’t know how much genuine feeling existed within it.

Ji Zeyu was originally a cold and proud person who wouldn’t easily express his thoughts. To understand what he was thinking required complete guesswork. Combined with the assassination attempt during their journey to Great Zhou, this had given Qin Yining some preconceived notions about Ji Zeyu, knowing him to be someone ruthless in killing and decisive in action.

Therefore, that Ji Zeyu could personally come to the Qin family’s gates to ask her this question before her grand wedding with Pang Xiao made Qin Yining particularly surprised.

Was this genuine concern, or another test?

Qin Yining’s beautiful eyes met Ji Zeyu’s lovely peach blossom eyes.

Within them, she saw only sincerity and not the slightest trace of calculation.

In that instant, Qin Yining could almost be certain that Ji Zeyu’s mood when asking these questions wasn’t calculation, but only deep concern.

This was perhaps the friendship between men.

Just like if Bingtang and the others around her were to marry, she would also carefully select their partners, deathly afraid they might encounter heartless wolves, worried they might not live well.

Ji Zeyu was probably also worried that Pang Xiao wouldn’t live well after marriage, wasn’t he?

It seemed that even if Ji Zeyu had once used Pang Xiao, the brotherly feelings between them were genuine.

Anyone who bore goodwill toward Pang Xiao, Qin Yining would also bear goodwill toward.

She set aside her wariness and defensiveness, smiling as she said: “Women differ from men. Men can have three wives and four concubines, but women must remain faithful from beginning to end. Regardless of whatever past grievances there were, from the day His Majesty decreed our marriage, my fate became bound together with the prince’s.

“If he lives, I live. If something were to happen to him, I absolutely would not continue living. This doesn’t only involve the feuds between our two families, but more importantly, now that we are family, we can only be family.

“That I treat him well and sincerely support each other through life—this is for both our futures, not solely for the prince, nor solely for myself. My future is tied to his. Only if he is stable can I have stability. His future is my future.

“Prince Consort Ji is an intelligent man. Having said this much, you should already understand.”

Qin Yining couldn’t directly tell Ji Zeyu that she and Pang Xiao loved each other to death and back, and that His Majesty’s marriage decree was exactly what they wished for.

Because even if she trusted Ji Zeyu, she didn’t know whether any of His Majesty’s spies might learn of these words.

But her meaning had been expressed clearly enough.

She and Pang Xiao shared a common future—how could she possibly harm him?

Ji Zeyu looked at Qin Yining, and on his handsome face that was usually expressionless toward outsiders, a faint smile slowly appeared.

That smile was extremely light, merely a slight curve of his lips.

If one didn’t look carefully, it would be impossible to discover he had just smiled.

“I understand. I hope you remember today’s words.”

To Qin Yining’s ears, this statement was both an entrustment and a threat. But she wasn’t angry in the slightest. Because she knew Ji Zeyu was doing this for Pang Xiao’s sake.

Qin Yining solemnly nodded. “Very well.”

As the two spoke, Baiyun came over and nuzzled Qin Yining’s cheek with its head.

Ji Zeyu was somewhat surprised, looking at Baiyun with complex emotions in his eyes before stroking its mane with his hand.

“This is the horse he gave you. I’m returning it to you.”

He moved to hand the reins to Qin Yining.

But Qin Yining smiled and shook her head, stepping back as she said: “It’s a fine horse. A horse’s nature is to have a vast expanse of land where it can gallop freely. Though I love it, if it stayed by my side, it could only be kept in a stable. Even if I gave it good food and drink and cared for it well, it still wouldn’t be happy—it might even stifle its nature. It’s more suitable following you.”

Ji Zeyu’s hand gripping the reins slowly tightened, his heart skipping a beat as many complex emotions flashed through it.

But when he met Qin Yining’s smiling face, he felt relieved again.

“Perhaps Pang Zhixi was right—you are a good girl.”

Qin Yining had actually already prepared herself mentally for Ji Zeyu’s cold treatment, never expecting he would say such words.

To receive approval from Pang Xiao’s good friend left Qin Yining quite satisfied.

“Thank you. You are also a good brother.”

Ji Zeyu was startled, then smiled and shook his head, murmuring: “A good brother?”

Then he lightly leaped onto Baiyun’s back, shook the reins, and said: “I’m leaving.”

As soon as the words fell, he urged Baiyun to leave the Qin family grounds.

Qin Yining watched his retreating figure, and only after a moment did she smile slightly before turning to return to the manor.

The wedding preparations proceeded intensively. Because His Majesty’s decree had come urgently, both sides were somewhat flustered. Fortunately, neither lacked manpower, nor friends eager to curry favor who came to help.

In the blink of an eye, it was the tenth day of the fifth month, and everything had been arranged properly.

Early in the morning, Pang Xiao had already assembled the Elite Tiger Guards, selecting eighteen who were the youngest and most handsome among them, with outstanding appearances.

In fact, being chosen for their good looks to personally accompany the prince for the betrothal gifts and urging the bride’s preparations made these eighteen brothers quite proud, and made their fellow Elite Tiger Guard brothers quite envious.

“Dafu, don’t be impatient. You must be polite when dealing with your father-in-law and mother-in-law, do you hear? Put away that imposing aura of yours. You’re someone who’s been to battle and killed enemies—you have blood on your hands and heavy killing intent about you. Don’t let your in-laws think you’re there to abduct the bride by force, understand?”

Nanny Ma chattered away while helping Pang Xiao adjust the collar of his light purple python robe.

“I understand, Grandmother. Don’t worry.”

“Don’t worry? How can I not worry? Just look at the people you’ve gathered outside. Those who know might understand you’re going to urge the bride’s preparations, but those who don’t might think you’re going to the in-laws’ house for a group fight.”

Nanny Ma glanced through the open carved window at the eighteen men standing in military formation in the courtyard, feeling quite troubled.

“Listen carefully to me—you absolutely must not mess this up, understand! If you dare mess this up, I’ll beat you to death with my shoe sole when you return!”

“Mother, enough, enough. Let Dafu go first. We mustn’t delay the auspicious time. Didn’t Dafu say he invited Prince Consort Ji? He should have arrived by now.” It was Yao Shi who took Nanny Ma’s arm and rescued her son.

Pang Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, tugged at his arrow sleeves, then smiled heartily and quickly strode away.

Yao Chenggu, who had been sitting to the side smoking, finally walked to the window. Watching Pang Xiao lead those eighteen handsome young men away in formation, he shook his head and chuckled: “That boy.”

On Pang Xiao’s side, after leading his men out of the inner quarters to the main courtyard, he saw that all two hundred and ten sets of betrothal gifts were adorned with large red silk flowers, and the servants who would carry the dowry were already prepared.

Meanwhile, Ji Zeyu, dressed in a light gray arrow-sleeve shirt, was standing majestically with a group of manor guards.