Ji Zeyu said indifferently: “Your Majesty is wise.”

“You! What kind of attitude is that!” Li Qitian flew into a rage and kicked Ji Zeyu again.

Ji Zeyu was kicked down to sit on the ground once more, his incomparably handsome face still showing no expression.

“During this period, I thought you and I were of one heart. I promoted you everywhere and entrusted you with important responsibilities. I can say I’ve treated you well, but what about you? Is this how you repay my trust!”

Li Qitian vented his emotions like this, alternately cursing and kicking repeatedly until he was finally exhausted, standing with hands on his hips, breathing heavily.

Ji Zeyu knelt properly and said: “Your Majesty, the reason I did this was indeed for Your Majesty’s sake.”

Li Qitian pointed at Ji Zeyu, so angry he nodded repeatedly while speaking: “Fine, then you tell me what your reasons were! If what you say is reasonable, I’ll let this matter pass without mention. But if you’re making excuses… do you think I truly cannot do without you!”

Ji Zeyu lowered his head and said: “I have never thought so. The Great Zhou has talented people everywhere, and Your Majesty has the people’s support – how could you not manage without me? The reason I acted this way has two causes. First, the current court situation is truly not suitable for capturing Pang Zhixi. The Tatars are watching us covetously, external threats are imminent – how can we create internal troubles first? We should first unite to resist foreign enemies, and after everything stabilizes, then close our doors to resolve internal threats – that’s the proper reasoning.

“Second, although the Huben Army follows my commands, those people were ultimately once Pang Zhixi’s men. If action is needed someday, they’ll always be a hidden danger. Better to use this opportunity to stabilize Pang Zhixi while giving Your Majesty a legitimate reason to replace all of Pang Zhixi’s people in important positions. Isn’t this killing two birds with one stone?”

Ji Zeyu was normally not eloquent and rarely spoke so much at once. Since he rarely opened his mouth like this, Li Qitian listened very carefully and attentively.

Having just kicked Ji Zeyu so many times without him making a sound, Li Qitian had already calmed down considerably. Now hearing Ji Zeyu’s analytical reasoning, Li Qitian pondered carefully and couldn’t help but feel somewhat agreeable.

Today’s failure in the great hall had already made Li Qitian realize he had indeed been too hasty this time. Not only had he failed to capture Pang Xiao in one stroke, he had also created extremely unfavorable effects on his reputation outside, and even alerted the enemy, intensifying the conflict between them. Now they were down to only a thin layer of face maintaining things. If Pang Xiao now led troops in rebellion, he could find justification.

Pang Xiao’s reputation among the people had always been very high, and his appeal in the military was unmatched. The Tatars were now putting all their energy into wanting to invade south and had already expressed their southern invasion intentions so clearly. If at this time Pang Xiao was forced to rebel against the Great Zhou and join hands with Khan Wutejin to deal with the Great Zhou…

Li Qitian, thinking this way, had already frightened himself into a cold sweat. He couldn’t help but feel some agreement with Ji Zeyu’s approach.

At least now, six military officers in the Huben Army who wholeheartedly supported Pang Xiao had been successfully captured. He could replace all six with his own trusted subordinates. Then the Huben Army would completely escape Pang Xiao’s control. At least if he wanted to rebel, he would definitely choose the Huben Army he had led for many years – he certainly couldn’t command the northern Longxiang Army.

And Ji Zeyu was originally the war god revered by tens of thousands in the Longxiang Army. Now with firm control over the Huben Army as well, the military power of the realm would be entirely in his own people’s hands. When the time came to capture Pang Xiao in the future, if Ji Zeyu had different intentions, dealing with just one person would be much easier than constantly worrying about Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu joining forces to resist him.

Thinking of this, Li Qitian sighed and helped Ji Zeyu up with both hands.

Ji Zeyu seemed to have been injured by his kicks, with one shoulder somewhat stiff. Although his complexion remained as usual and his expression showed nothing wrong, Li Qitian could already see clues from his movements and couldn’t help feeling somewhat guilty.

“My dear minister, don’t mind it. I was just temporarily angered and acted thus.”

Ji Zeyu quickly tried to bow again: “I understand Your Majesty’s painstaking efforts. Please don’t act like this.”

How could Li Qitian let him kneel again? He helped him up once more, deliberately avoiding court matters and engaging in casual conversation with Ji Zeyu. Finally, he even asked: “Anyang hasn’t been seen entering the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager these days. The Empress Dowager was asking about her just some days ago.”

Ji Zeyu lowered his eyes and said: “Princess Imperial hasn’t summoned me to see her during this period either. However, Princess Imperial’s residence has many… many intimate attendants, so her days should be quite pleasant.”

Upon hearing this, Li Qitian immediately understood. He still knew to what degree his sister was spoiled. Anyang had that stubborn and tyrannical personality, considering herself supreme. Having Ji Zeyu marry her was mostly out of political considerations, but from an outsider’s perspective, they were mismatched. Moreover, ever since Li Helan was caught by Ji Zeyu playing with male favorites at Madam Lu’s place, Ji Zeyu seemed to have given up on this marriage, while Li Helan had become increasingly unbridled, beginning to keep male favorites openly in the Princess’s residence.

Li Qitian was busy with court affairs – how could he have the mind to consider everything for Li Helan? The Empress, seeing that the Empress Dowager didn’t manage these things, naturally wouldn’t interfere either. So by now, Li Helan’s romantic reputation had become an open secret known to everyone.

Li Qitian felt somewhat embarrassed and said: “Forget it. If you like, I’ll send you some gentle and pleasing palace maids to serve you later. I’ll talk to Anyang about her behavior.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Zeyu quickly bowed: “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. I have no interest in such matters.”

For an emperor to arrange beauties around a prince consort was truly surprising. Usually, when people married princesses, they were only required not to take concubines or common wives, and could only wait for the princess’s summons in the prince consort’s residence. But here with Li Qitian and Ji Zeyu, Li Qitian actively offered to send women to Ji Zeyu, which showed Ji Zeyu’s current importance to Li Qitian.

Ji Zeyu remained in the palace talking with Li Qitian for a while longer before Li Qitian said: “You did very well this time, considering the overall situation. I’ll reward you with one hundred taels of gold and a precious sword, to be sent to your Prince Consort’s residence shortly.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Zeyu lowered his eyes and kowtowed in gratitude.

Li Qitian’s grand reward would certainly be interpreted in several ways by others. Those on Pang Xiao’s side would definitely think he must have done something unspeakable to help His Majesty.

But so what?

Ji Zeyu’s expression remained indifferent. He always acted only according to his conscience. As long as he felt something was right, he didn’t consider any other consequences.

At this time in the Qin Mansion, Qin Yining had seen Sun Shi, and mother and daughter were already embracing and crying at the main gate without regard for anything else. The scene of mother and daughter reuniting moved all the female family members present to tears – except for the Old Dowager and Qin Huining.

Qin Huaiyuan led the Second and Third Masters along with Pang Xiao inside, bustling about arranging for evening meal preparations. The Second Madam stepped forward to persuade: “Elder Sister-in-law, isn’t Yining back safe and sound? Now not only is she unharmed, she’s even with child. You mustn’t just cry from joy at seeing your daughter without considering Yining’s condition.”

Upon hearing this, Sun Shi immediately nodded repeatedly, holding Qin Yining’s hand: “Right, right, right! Look at me, I actually forgot about this. Your father told me – how are you feeling now?”

Qin Yining wiped her tears with her sleeve and said helplessly: “Mother, I’m fine.”

“Good, good. Then let’s quickly go inside to talk.”

The whole family happily crowded together into the house. Qin Huaiyuan led his brothers and nephews to chat with Pang Xiao over tea in the front hall, while the female family members went directly to the inner residence and sat in the front parlor.

The Old Dowager had been ill several times and lost considerable weight. The wrinkles on her face appeared even deeper, with the corners of her eyes drooping into triangles, making her look increasingly harsh.

She still hadn’t recovered from her shock.

How was it that after Qin Yining was kidnapped by the Tatars once, not only did she return completely unharmed, she was even pregnant? She looked Qin Yining up and down with suspicious eyes, as if trying to see some clue from her belly that wasn’t yet showing.

Was she really pregnant?

Or was she too thin, with the pregnancy actually further along but not showing?

Was this child really Pang Xiao’s?

Thinking this way, the Old Dowager was startled by her own thoughts.

Pang Xiao was such a fierce character – if he knew Qin Yining was carrying a child that wasn’t his, wouldn’t he chop up the entire Qin family and feed them to dogs!

Thinking this, the Old Dowager immediately frightened herself pale. She gestured to Qin Yining, calling her over: “Yining, come quickly. Grandmother wants to talk with you.”

If Qin Yining didn’t know about the Old Dowager’s underhanded deeds behind the scenes, actually wanting to push Eighth Miss and Qin Huining on Pang Xiao as concubines while she was away, she might still be able to squeeze out a smile for the Old Dowager now. But the Old Dowager’s actions were truly chilling to her heart.

Qin Yining, for the sake of face and considering that Eighth Miss wasn’t fundamentally a bad girl, and also considering her face, didn’t mock her openly. Instead, she looked at the Old Dowager expressionlessly, then reluctantly and slowly walked over, not sitting beside the Old Dowager but standing to respond.

“Old Dowager.”

Seeing her cold demeanor, the fire that the Old Dowager had been suppressing flared up instantly.

If not for this little hussy, why would her eldest son, who had always been closest to her, have fallen out with her?

The Old Dowager was an elder and naturally had her own pride. She wanted to get close to Qin Huaiyuan, but her son seemed to hold a grudge against her. She couldn’t bring herself to actively curry favor.

Now seeing the culprit who had caused the conflict between her and her eldest son, although the Old Dowager’s reason told her that this granddaughter was now a princess, not an ordinary girl anymore, her emotions were still somewhat uncontrolled, and her smile was somewhat forced.

“Was this trip out smooth? Did anything happen on the road?”

Qin Yining said indifferently: “Old Dowager need not worry. Nothing happened, your granddaughter is fine.”

“Oh, then how did I just hear that His Majesty was going to hold the Prince accountable in the great court assembly?” The Old Dowager’s tone was very gossipy.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining immediately darkened her face and said sternly: “Old Dowager, such words are best not spoken carelessly, as they can easily bring disaster to the family. His Majesty trusts and favors the Prince greatly. This time I was even granted a Super First Rank Imperial Decree as comfort. If Your Majesty were to hear such words, they would surely chill people’s hearts.”