Qin Yining hadn’t expected Ji Zeyu to actively comfort her, and she nodded gratefully.

She had always felt that the relationship between Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu was one of mutual exploitation and mutual restraint. Now it seemed her subjective understanding was mistaken. Though Ji Zeyu didn’t speak much, Qin Yining could feel his sincerity and goodwill. When Ji Zeyu faced Qin Huaiyuan, his attitude was polite and respectful, completely unlike his former cold demeanor. This made Qin Yining have to reconsider whether her understanding of Ji Zeyu had been prejudiced from the start.

Ji Zeyu had once intercepted and killed the Great Yan envoys, forcing her to hide in the mountains. Because of that incident, Qin Yining had remembered Ji Zeyu’s actions until now, and her impression of him had indeed been quite poor. Looking at it now, perhaps the relationship between Ji Zeyu and Pang Xiao wasn’t what she had thought it to be.

Ji Zeyu discussed countermeasures in low voices with Qin Huaiyuan.

“We must continue excavating at the entrance, but we also cannot ignore the positions inside.”

“I’m afraid that rashly digging into the depths of the underground palace might cause a secondary collapse inside. Wouldn’t the Emperor be in danger then?”

“We can find people who understand geology to survey first, to avoid making mistakes.”

Listening, Qin Yining couldn’t help but say, “The most skilled at this sort of thing should be tomb raiders, shouldn’t they?”

Upon hearing this, Ji Zeyu and Qin Huaiyuan suddenly looked at Qin Yining, their eyes lighting up with surprise and delight.

“Sister Yi is right. Tomb raiders indeed have this ability.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Heng felt uncomfortable in his heart and couldn’t help but rebut, “Time is urgent. Where can we find someone whose character we can trust? If their character is unreliable, and the Emperor and Prince are injured in the underground palace, what if this person takes advantage of the situation? How would we handle that?”

With this said, Qin Yining’s mind naturally conjured the image of Pang Xiao severely injured and lying in a pool of blood, while the person they arranged to go in was bribed by Li Qitian, only rescuing the Emperor while ignoring Pang Xiao, or directly harming Pang Xiao. Upon emerging, they could dismiss everyone with a simple “I didn’t see the Prince.”

At the thought of such a scene, Qin Yining’s complexion grew grim.

“Lord Lu makes a good point. This indeed wouldn’t be secure.”

Ji Zeyu raised an eyebrow and glanced at Lu Heng, saying indifferently, “This isn’t difficult either. First, we’ll find people who understand geology to survey the location properly. As for tomb raiders, we might not be able to find them in such a short time. We’ll discuss that when we find them. For now, let’s find trustworthy people to work. If we truly manage to break through the opening, we won’t need any tomb raiders – I’ll go in.”

After speaking, he handed the map to Qin Huaiyuan and went to make arrangements with decisive efficiency.

Qin Yining’s lips moved, but in the end she still didn’t speak.

At this critical moment, she was willing to trust her own judgment and believe that Ji Zeyu bore no ill will toward Pang Xiao.

Lu Heng saw that Qin Yining looked very weak and advised, “With Prince Consort Ji here, you should still return. It wouldn’t be good if you injured your health.”

Qin Yining smiled at Lu Heng and said, “Even if I returned, I would still be anxious about this place and rest just as poorly. There’s nothing for me to do here anyway. I’ll just sit to the side.”

Lu Heng’s brows furrowed as he followed Qin Yining toward where the sedan chair and soft seat were placed. Bingtang and Ji Yun were both somewhat wary of Lu Heng, supporting Qin Yining on the left and right, not giving Lu Heng the opportunity to get close to her.

Lu Heng’s heart filled with unstoppable bitterness and anger.

Even at this point, Qin Yining still refused to let go of Pang Xiao in the slightest.

She was waiting here now, not considering her own health, not caring about others’ opinions of her, thinking only of getting news of Pang Xiao as quickly as possible, regardless of life or death.

Watching her constantly gaze toward the opening, craning her neck to see if Pang Xiao had been rescued whenever there was the slightest movement, Lu Heng’s jealousy toward Pang Xiao was like boiling magma, about to burn him entirely to ash.

That brute Pang Xiao – what virtue or ability did he have to possess such a wonderful woman!

Clearly his sincere devotion was no less than Pang Xiao’s. When Qin Yining was in the greatest danger and difficulty, Pang Xiao hadn’t been by her side to protect her at all. It was he who had accompanied her through life and death in the desert! Why couldn’t Qin Yining’s eyes see him!

Lu Heng stood beside Qin Yining expressionlessly, his entire appearance disheveled, his face and head still dirty, looking like a stone or clay sculpture. His fists clenched tightly in his sleeves, his eyes frighteningly bright and dark.

Bingtang and Ji Yun, who weren’t familiar with Lu Heng, became even more wary of him.

Their Princess was currently unable to withstand any stimulation and couldn’t tolerate the slightest bump or jostle. If Lu Heng made even the slightest move unfavorable to Qin Yining, they wouldn’t care what his status was – the numbing powder Bingtang carried wasn’t brought for nothing.

The mountain was noisy with the pained cries of the wounded, and the mournful weeping of ministers’ and generals’ family members who had rushed over in the chaos, seeing their relatives either injured or dead. There were also the organized shouts of soldiers moving stones and digging soil with iron spades and scabbards under Ji Zeyu’s command.

But looking at all this commotion, Qin Yining’s heart had become unprecedentedly calm.

She kept telling herself that Pang Xiao would be fine. With Pang Xiao’s abilities, how fierce he had been in battles on the battlefield in the past – his reputation had spread so far it could stop children from crying at night. How many dangerous situations had he not encountered? Hadn’t he always turned danger into safety in the end?

Tianji Zi had divined that Pang Xiao was the Purple Star Emperor incarnate. If he truly was the Purple Star Emperor, how could he possibly lose his life in a collapse? He hadn’t yet conquered the world or unified the realm – he wouldn’t just fall short like this.

But as time passed, the sky grew dark, torches and lanterns were lit on the mountain, and the night wind gradually grew cold. By the not-very-bright lamplight, Qin Yining could no longer clearly see the entrance to the imperial tomb, nor could she distinguish how many people had come and gone before her, or how many waves of soldiers had been replaced in the excavation. Her heart gradually began to lose confidence.

Tianji Zi’s divination was mysterious and unfathomable. Though she respected metaphysical theories, she couldn’t help but doubt them now. No matter how capable Pang Xiao was, he was still flesh and blood. In the exploded and collapsed underground palace, would the flames and falling stones really avoid him because he had Tianji Zi’s divination?

If Pang Xiao was injured and Li Qitian remained healthy and alive, Li Qitian would probably settle accounts with them, wouldn’t he? How would she then protect her family and preserve the Prince’s mansion?

What if Pang Xiao was gone?

Qin Yining shivered, feeling the lively movements of the two children in her belly, and her mind suddenly became lucidly clear.

She couldn’t allow herself to continue being vulnerable. She was going to be a mother. If even she panicked, where would she find the ability to protect her children?

Precisely because she was Pang Xiao’s wife, whether he was injured or gone, she should rightfully shoulder all his burdens and take on all his responsibilities in his place.

Only now did Qin Yining deeply feel the pressure that Pang Xiao’s position bore.

He was a banner, a mountain. Behind him stood his family, friends, and subordinates loyal to him and friends who trusted him. He couldn’t fall. No matter what dangers arose, he had to stand firm and unmovable like a banner, because once he fell, those behind him might be the ones to face the storms and huge waves.

Qin Yining had been protected under Pang Xiao’s wings before, so perhaps she hadn’t felt it deeply.

Only at this moment did she understand what it meant to grit one’s teeth and endure, what it meant to never fall no matter what.

“Bingtang, Ji Yun, accompany me to rest in the carriage.”

Bingtang and Ji Yun were overjoyed upon hearing this. They had been worrying about how to persuade Qin Yining when she spoke up herself.

“Princess, I’ve already had them drive the carriage to the nearest flat ground from here, and we’ve prepared hot water and dry provisions.”

“I know.” Qin Yining smiled at Ji Yun. “You’ve been standing beside me winking and pacing all around – how could I not know?”

Seeing that Qin Yining actually had a smile on her face, both Bingtang and Ji Yun breathed a sigh of relief.

Bingtang said, “It’s getting late. This servant will first serve you dinner and your pregnancy-stabilizing medicine, then you can rest. Don’t worry – I just spoke with Huzi. If there are any developments, they’ll send someone to inform us. The old master has also arranged for two brothers to stay by the carriage for close protection. You need only take care of yourself.”

Qin Yining nodded and followed Bingtang and Ji Yun to rest.

Watching her walk away, Lu Heng, who had been standing with Qin Huaiyuan helping to move stones, finally withdrew his gaze.

All of Qin Yining’s emotions hadn’t escaped the eyes of Lu Heng, who had been constantly watching her. Seeing her eyes confused and helpless, sitting there without fighting spirit because of Pang Xiao, he felt both heartache and jealousy. But seeing her seem to understand something, her eyes becoming especially determined – just like the look in her eyes when they had experienced so many hardships together in Tatar territory – he felt equally heartache and jealousy.

Her vulnerability, her strength – all were for Pang Xiao, all had nothing to do with him.

Though they were good friends who had shared hardships, it was inconvenient for them to maintain regular contact due to the difference between men and women.

It could be said that if someday he remarried and had children, she wouldn’t care. Even if he never appeared in her life again, she wouldn’t mind.

Lu Heng’s eyes were filled with dejection and resentment.

Turning around, he met Qin Huaiyuan’s gentle eyes.

Lu Heng’s heart jumped, and he used tremendous self-control to rein in his emotions, not allowing himself to lose composure. Instead, he said with concern, “Minister Qin, it’s getting late. You should go rest too. There are still so many people here.”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled slightly. “This old man is fine. Rather, Lord Lu, you’ve sustained scrapes and were trapped in the underground palace for some time. This old man observes that your complexion isn’t good. Why don’t you rest first, my lord?”

Lu Heng’s heart couldn’t help but race wildly. He unconsciously looked away, not daring to meet Qin Huaiyuan’s gaze. But realizing what he had done, he immediately looked up again. “Thank you for Minister Qin’s concern.”

“I don’t deserve such courtesy. This old man is already a commoner and doesn’t warrant being called Minister by my lord.”

“Then I’ll presumptuously address you as Uncle. I have a good relationship with Prince Zhongshun. You are the Prince’s father-in-law, so calling you Uncle is appropriate.”

Qin Huaiyuan’s expression contained a hint of subtle scrutiny as he smiled. “This old man appreciates my lord’s goodwill, but given the current special circumstances and the disparity in our positions, this old man truly cannot presume to accept such honor. My lord is an intelligent person and should understand this old man’s meaning.”