“Making Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager wait so long is our fault. We were truly delayed on the road.” Pang Xiao smiled as he bowed.
Li Qitian affectionately put his arm around Pang Xiao’s shoulder, patting it as he smiled ambiguously, “I understand, I understand. We’ve all been through this.”
Standing to the side with her head lowered, Qin Yining felt displeased with Li Qitian’s pretentious display of intimacy, yet she dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction. She could only blush with feigned shyness.
After chatting with Li Qitian for a few moments, Pang Xiao stepped back several paces to prepare for the formal greeting.
Seeing Qin Yining standing with downcast hands, her face like peach blossoms, Pang Xiao felt immense joy in his heart, wishing he could pull her into his arms and show her affection. However, his expression remained indifferent as he said sternly, “What are you standing there for? Come and express your gratitude to His Majesty.”
Hearing Pang Xiao speak this way, Qin Yining understood his intention. Like a wronged little wife, she lowered her head and came over, kneeling beside Pang Xiao to kowtow and thank Li Qitian.
Li Qitian observed the two carefully. Seeing that Pang Xiao was merely indifferent toward Qin Yining without showing excessive enthusiasm, he felt somewhat better. If Pang Xiao had gained a capable father-in-law who could debate with scholars and a beautiful, intelligent wife, that would have been a true miscalculation on his part.
“You may rise. If you two can live harmoniously and happily as a married couple, it won’t be in vain that I took such pains to arrange this for you.”
“This subject respectfully remembers Your Majesty’s teachings,” Pang Xiao bowed.
Qin Yining also woodenly followed suit, saying, “Thank Your Majesty for the teachings.”
Li Qitian’s mood improved considerably, and he said, “You should quickly go kowtow to the Empress Dowager. After Zhixi finishes kowtowing, come back immediately. I have urgent matters to discuss with you. We’ll dine together at noon.”
“Yes, thank Your Majesty.”
Pang Xiao and Qin Yining bowed together once more, then slowly withdrew.
Upon reaching the courtyard, Qin Yining didn’t relax her vigilance. When conducting oneself in the palace, who knew how many eyes might be watching from every corner? Pang Xiao strode behind the little eunuch, while Qin Yining followed with her head down, maintaining a certain distance from Pang Xiao—not appearing distant, yet showing some timidity.
Pang Xiao’s heart was blooming with joy, thinking about how he would praise her cleverness when they returned home. His face, however, remained cold, causing the passing palace servants to give them wide berth.
Before long, the group arrived at Ci’an Palace.
A eunuch went in to announce them, emerging shortly after to bow respectfully: “The Empress Dowager requests that the Prince and Princess enter.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch.” Pang Xiao smiled warmly, casually rewarding the little eunuch with a silver ingot.
The little eunuch beamed, hastily bowing: “Thank the Prince for the reward.”
Ci’an Palace looked the same as always. After passing through the Linghua Gate, Pang Xiao headed straight for the side hall.
Qin Yining followed closely behind. Just as they reached the entrance to the side hall, they could already hear the Empress Dowager’s enthusiastic greeting: “You’ve come. Where is your wife?”
“Paying respects to the Empress Dowager.” Qin Yining knelt and bowed.
The Empress Dowager kindly beckoned with her hand, “Come, come closer and let me have a look.”
Qin Yining obediently rose and stood before the Empress Dowager.
After examining her carefully, the Empress Dowager smiled: “Not having seen you for several days, Miss Qin has become even more beautiful. Last time, I was thinking about finding good matches for all you young people, and now the fate between you two has come to fruition. Truly cause for celebration.”
Was the Empress Dowager indirectly explaining her previous attempt at matchmaking?
Qin Yining couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.
The Empress Dowager was treating everyone like fools. Last time, she clearly wanted to stir up trouble between Pang Xiao and the noble families. What nonsense about finding good matches for young people? How skilled she was at gilding her own actions.
“Thank the Empress Dowager.” Qin Yining shyly lowered her head, having no desire to converse with her further.
Pang Xiao smiled and asked, “How has the Empress Dowager’s health been recently? Did you eat from the food box I had delivered last time?”
“I did eat it. How could I not use what you sent?” the Empress Dowager laughed. “It’s touching that you have such filial devotion.”
Pang Xiao just smiled, then advised the Empress Dowager to take care of her health before standing up: “Reporting to the Empress Dowager, His Majesty instructed me to go to Yangxin Hall immediately, saying there are tasks to assign. I won’t stay long.”
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager looked reluctant: “Ah, you children are always busy with affairs. Well then, since it’s urgent business, go quickly. Just leave your wife here to keep me company and chat. Come to my palace for lunch after you’re finished.”
Pang Xiao smiled: “I was hoping to impose upon you.”
The Empress Dowager smiled and beckoned to Qin Yining: “Come, sit beside me. Let’s have a good chat. Don’t mind these men—they only know how to stay busy.”
Pang Xiao smiled as he bowed to the Empress Dowager and withdrew.
Before leaving, he cast a worried glance at Qin Yining.
Although he had great confidence in Qin Yining, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but worry. People may have no intention to harm the tiger, but the tiger may have intention to harm people.
Then he felt fortunate. Thank goodness the woman he had fallen for was so intelligent. If it were an ordinary young lady following him, she probably wouldn’t be able to handle the endless unexpected situations. He couldn’t be by her side constantly, so if she lacked the ability to protect herself, what would they do?
Fortunately, Qin Yining had weathered great storms.
Pang Xiao shook his head, temporarily setting aside his worries, and hurried to Yangxin Hall. The sooner he finished his business, the sooner he could bring Qin Yining back to the residence.
Here, Qin Yining simply accompanied the Empress Dowager in conversation.
She could even tolerate someone with the Old Madam’s temperament, and the Empress Dowager was a clever woman. Although she also spoke of family matters and trivial topics, and didn’t necessarily discuss anything profound, the Empress Dowager was skilled at reading expressions and knew what to say to make people happy.
While admiring the Empress Dowager’s social skills, Qin Yining thought that perhaps Li Qitian had developed his smooth, superficially polished nature precisely because he had such a mother, which enabled him to ascend to the throne.
However, engaging in pleasantries with such a person who didn’t compete for anything was truly exhausting.
“Empress Dowager, Princess Imperial An’yang has arrived.”
Just as the two were chatting quite cheerfully, a palace servant announced from outside. Before the Empress Dowager could respond, Li Helan’s voice arrived before her person.
“Mother Empress, I heard you have a guest. Who could it be that would make you keep your daughter waiting outside?”
Li Helan swept in like a whirlwind, her smile freezing when she saw Qin Yining.
Qin Yining pretended not to notice Li Helan’s expression, rising to bow respectfully: “This subject’s wife pays respects to Princess Imperial An’yang.”
Hearing the words “subject’s wife,” Li Helan felt as if someone had poured hot oil on her body, her entire being burning with rage.
This was in the Empress Dowager’s palace, her mother’s territory, and she needn’t worry about other considerations. Moreover, the Empress Dowager had always known about her affairs.
Li Helan thus sneered without restraint: “You may rise. This princess cannot bear to receive your courtesy.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Yining became guarded.
It seemed Li Helan hadn’t given up on Pang Xiao yet. And she showed no restraint whatsoever before the Empress Dowager—was she planning to humiliate her today?
“Your Highness speaks too seriously. You are a princess, while this subject’s wife is merely the wife of a court official. How could you not be worthy of this subject’s wife’s courtesy? If people were to know of this, they would likely say Your Highness belittles herself. Should someone with ulterior motives hear this and spread rumors outside, it could affect Your Highness’s prestige.”
Qin Yining performed a proper bow before straightening up and standing with hands at her sides.
The Empress Dowager looked at Qin Yining with some surprise.
Although her words were neither arrogant nor impatient, and her tone was calm, showing no trace of anger, the Empress Dowager could hear the sharpness in her words.
The Princess’s temper would surely explode upon hearing this!
The Empress Dowager was about to intervene when Li Helan sneered first: “You must be quite pleased to be a minister’s wife, aren’t you? Well, of course—your father is merely a surrendered official from a small nation who became my imperial brother’s vassal when life became unbearable. As the daughter of a surrendered official, if you didn’t become a court minister’s wife, how would you live? Especially since you’ve already been…”
Li Helan covered her mouth and laughed, the mockery in her words quite obvious.
Qin Yining inwardly mocked Li Helan’s stupidity.
If she wanted to intimidate her and humiliate her, there were countless ways to accomplish this. Yet she chose the most inappropriate one.
She only thought that the Empress Dowager was her birth mother who would support her. But she never considered that she was brought by Pang Xiao, and if the Empress Dowager didn’t want to completely offend Pang Xiao, she naturally wouldn’t allow Li Helan’s behavior to become excessive.
Therefore, even if Qin Yining did nothing, the Empress Dowager would speak up for her.
“Lan’er, don’t speak nonsense.” The Empress Dowager indeed spoke up, looking at Li Helan with warning in her eyes.
Li Helan’s delighted laughter stopped abruptly, and she looked at the Empress Dowager in disbelief.
The Empress Dowager continued: “The good wine your imperial brother rewarded you with was meant to be shared with the Prince Consort, not for you to drink alone. You greedy girl, having drunk a few extra cups, you’ve lost all sense of propriety in your speech. Fortunately, Princess Zhongshun is not an outsider, or I’d like to see what you would do!”
Seeing the Empress Dowager’s stern expression, Li Helan knew she shouldn’t have lost emotional control like this. After all, she no longer had the standing to be jealous and bitter toward Qin Yining.
But who would understand how wronged and indignant she felt in her heart?
“Mother Empress is right. Your daughter will listen next time.” Li Helan reluctantly submitted.
Seeing this, Qin Yining nearly laughed herself to internal injury, but her expression remained extremely serious: “I never expected the Princess to enjoy wine. I have a jar of excellent maiden’s wine that I’ll have sent to the Princess’s residence.”
Li Helan had no desire for any maiden’s wine.
But facing the Empress Dowager’s warning gaze, she still smiled without sincerity: “Then I thank you.”
“Your Highness need not be polite. The Prince told this subject’s wife that the Empress Dowager has always treated him like her own son, caring for him in every detail. The Prince has always been grateful. Now that this subject’s wife has entered the family, although I lack any particular talents, I can still manage to understand the Prince’s feelings.”
“This princess advises you to live peacefully and know when to stop. Don’t flaunt yourself before this princess!” Li Helan gritted her teeth, nearly ready to slap Qin Yining.
Qin Yining smiled: “Yes, this subject’s wife will certainly live peacefully. But regarding the flaunting you mentioned, this subject’s wife doesn’t understand. You are a princess, a golden branch and jade leaf. What capital could this subject’s wife possibly have to flaunt before Your Highness?”