Lu Heng’s complexion changed from ruddy to pale.

Under Qin Huaiyuan’s gaze that seemed to see through everything, all the thoughts Lu Heng believed he had hidden deeply were completely exposed.

Both were intelligent men with very keen senses. However, Lu Heng had never had contact with Qin Huaiyuan before. Now being reminded with such double-meaning words, he felt all his secret thoughts were like being pulled apart and exposed under daylight. Those dark, shameful thoughts that couldn’t bear the light were scorched and crackling, making his face flush with waves of heat.

Was he inferior to Pang Xiao?

Were his feelings for Qin Yining any less than Pang Xiao’s?

Or did Qin Huaiyuan still feel satisfied even though Pang Xiao brought Qin Yining such a life of displacement and wandering?

Lu Heng’s lips trembled. For a moment, he didn’t know how to address Qin Huaiyuan. The words of rebuttal he wanted to say were all stuck in his throat, neither coming out nor going down.

Qin Huaiyuan sighed softly. He could understand young people’s romantic feelings, but he couldn’t watch things develop in a bad direction.

Pang Xiao’s life was indeed full of troubles. But Pang Xiao’s treatment of Qin Yining was also wholehearted and devoted. People couldn’t be too greedy. He only had one daughter, so naturally he could only marry her to one family. Qin Yining’s heart was also with Pang Xiao. If he didn’t provide some guidance, who knew whether this young man before him would get stuck in a dead end and do things none of them wanted to see.

However, Qin Huaiyuan also knew that matters of the heart were unreasonable. If a few words could persuade someone, there wouldn’t be so many lovelorn men and women in this world.

Qin Huaiyuan nodded slightly at Lu Heng, instructed him that he could go rest, then took the map and turned to leave to find Ji Zeyu.

Lu Heng stood there stupidly, the restlessness and bitterness in his heart something no one could understand.

Looking toward the direction where Qin Yining was resting, he moved his heavy feet two steps, but ultimately stopped.

He couldn’t act impulsively. Qin Yining was carrying twins. If he acted rashly and injured her body, what would he do? He did love her, he did want to possess her exclusively. This thought had become increasingly strong after he received his title and the Emperor’s favor. But he would rather kill everyone else than harm her.

Forget it, wait first. No rush, no rush.

Lu Heng stood there stupidly for a long time before going to find his personal attendant to rest on the temporarily arranged bedding.

Ji Zeyu and Qin Huaiyuan had already reached the other side of the hill where the imperial tomb was located.

Ji Zeyu’s expression was stern, holding the map with pursed lips as he waited for people to survey the ground. Seeing Qin Huaiyuan approach, Ji Zeyu put away the busy demeanor he showed to outsiders and politely cupped his hands: “Uncle Qin.”

Faced with Ji Zeyu’s form of address, Qin Huaiyuan nodded gladly and smiled: “Prince Consort Ji has worked hard. Earlier soldiers brought dinner, and I saw that Prince Consort Ji didn’t eat much. The situation is chaotic now, and you’re the only one who can control the scene. You must take care of yourself.”

Ji Zeyu smiled, his bright eyes reflecting a cool light in the moonlight, but the smile lines at the corners of his mouth and the fleeting dimple made his entire handsome face appear bright and gentle.

“Uncle Qin, please don’t worry. I’ve campaigned at the borders for many years and can endure any hardship. One meal doesn’t matter. Moreover, with the Emperor and Zhixi trapped below, I can’t eat much anyway.”

Hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan nodded and sighed: “This time, important court ministers, nobles, and aristocratic families have all stumbled here. The lightest injuries are minor wounds, and the Emperor is still in the underground palace. I hope Khan Wutejin won’t take this opportunity to launch a major military campaign, or we’ll be even more passive.”

Ji Zeyu knew Qin Huaiyuan was reminding him and smiled: “Uncle Qin speaks truly. However, the Huben Army I currently command is all around the capital region, so I’m beyond reach for the moment.”

Qin Huaiyuan was a perceptive man. Hearing this, he understood that although Ji Zeyu had trusted allies in the Longxiang Army, unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t extend his hand to the borders to avoid giving others leverage against him.

It seemed Ji Zeyu was similar to Pang Xiao. No wonder they could become close friends.

The two didn’t discuss other matters and focused solely on how to open the underground palace to rescue people.

At this time, the capital had fallen into unprecedented panic.

Chongshan Imperial Tomb wasn’t far from the capital – only three incense sticks’ time at full gallop. The explosion at Chongshan Imperial Tomb had triggered local earth tremors. Although the capital hadn’t felt the shaking, residents in the suburbs had already heard the thunderous roar.

Just as the people were at a loss, injured officials began to be sent home from the direction of Chongshan one after another. Some officials’ families, hearing that something had happened at Chongshan, were crying and shouting as they drove carriages out of the city to Chongshan to find their relatives.

Even though everyone ordered their servants not to speak carelessly, everyone had their closest friends and best relatives. This kind of “I’m only telling you, don’t tell others” matter still spread throughout the capital very quickly.

Whether it was intentional or not, even people chatting idly in wine shops and tea houses were discussing the collapse of Chongshan Imperial Tomb in low voices.

After curfew, the Five Cities’ Military Commissioner and Shuntian Prefecture arranged twice as many people as usual to patrol the city. The common people had heard various versions of rumors, and seeing the soldiers so tense, they couldn’t help but become nervous too.

Every household locked their doors and windows tightly, not caring about the heat.

Those merchants wished they could add several more boards to their doors. Even the pleasure quarters and rouge streets had more than half their establishments closed for business.

First there was the city search, then the imperial tomb collapse. It was said that the Emperor, princes, and some high officials were all buried alive. The people felt like the sky was about to fall.

This tense atmosphere quickly reached the Prince’s mansion.

Early the next morning, as Ma Shi and Yao Chenggu were eating breakfast, Yao Shi came rushing in frantically.

“Mother! Something seems to have happened to Dafu!”

Ma Shi put down her spoon. “Where did you hear these rumors again?”

“It’s not rumors. This matter has exploded now. I’m afraid everyone in the city knows. They say the Emperor took people to Chongshan Imperial Tomb, and somehow the gunpowder hidden by the previous dynasty’s dog emperor underground was ignited. The imperial tomb collapsed, and many people were buried alive inside.”

Yao Chenggu put down his rice cake, unable to swallow anything more, and said worriedly: “So you’re saying that yesterday when our in-law took the Qin woman out, they very likely knew about this?”

“That’s most likely it.” Yao Shi said indignantly, “What do they mean? Knowing that Dafu might have had an accident, they still refused to tell us. What kind of intentions do they have!”

Upon hearing this, Ma Shi slammed the table angrily: “Tell you? Tell you so you could go rescue people, or dig mountains, or calm the rumors in the city?”

Yao Shi had been beaten by Ma Shi too many times and now had psychological trauma. Seeing Ma Shi lose her temper, she was already somewhat intimidated.

However, the rumors were too frightening. Yao Shi couldn’t care about much else now. She sat down beside Ma Shi and said in a low voice: “If nothing had happened, why didn’t Dafu and his wife come home yesterday? Dafu’s wife is carrying a big belly. Usually, she needs to be carried or held even to use the toilet because she’s so delicate. How could she suddenly take a carriage out? I think they definitely went to Chongshan, and Dafu very likely had an accident.”

Ma Shi couldn’t stand hearing Yao Shi talk like this. She glared at her fiercely: “You’re also a mother-in-law. Watch your words. Don’t let the servants think you’re vulgar. No matter how rumors spread outside, our mansion cannot be in chaos. These days I’ve had people lock the mansion gates tightly. You shouldn’t go out, and you should also restrain the servants from going out.”

“So you knew about this early on?” Yao Chenggu asked with furrowed brows.

Ma Shi nodded: “Yesterday when Miss Yi went out, she told me. However, at that time she was only guessing. She was rushing to save people.”

Ma Shi recounted what Qin Yining had told her, then said: “Our in-law initially said he would take people to Chongshan, but since he’s now a commoner, the soldiers surrounding Chongshan might not let him through. Miss Yi is a princess and was personally granted the highest First-Class Lady title by the Emperor. To be able to deliver messages inside, Miss Yi had no choice but to go out.”

Glaring at Yao Shi, she continued: “You’re also a mother. Their daughter is doing all this to save our Dafu. At least watch your words and accumulate some virtue for yourself.”

Yao Shi’s depression from being scolded couldn’t overcome her panic.

When she first heard the rumors, she wasn’t afraid because she knew rumors were unreliable.

What kind of person was the Emperor? The Son of Heaven – would he be foolish enough to take all the officials into the underground palace of the previous dynasty’s imperial tomb and then all get buried in the underground palace? Wouldn’t that save even the funeral expenses? The Emperor wasn’t stupid!

Yao Shi initially thought the rumors were nonsensical. Although she was somewhat anxious, she didn’t take it completely seriously.

But hearing Ma Shi say this, confirming that Pang Xiao really might be buried in the underground palace – otherwise the mountain wouldn’t still have no news until now – Yao Shi was completely panicked.

“Father, Mother, what should we do? You must think of something!”

“What else can we do? We can’t help. The only thing we can do now is help the children look after the home.” Ma Shi looked at Yao Chenggu. “Old man, what do you think?”

Yao Chenggu had been separated from Ma Shi for so long. Although he got angry when Ma Shi lost her temper, he was also pleased when she softened and consulted with him like this. After all, they were an old married couple who had spent their whole lives together.

Warmth filled Yao Chenggu’s heart, dispersing some of his anxious emotions. He took tobacco and added it to his brass pipe, his aged hands pressing the tobacco down bit by bit. After a long while, he said: “You’re right. We can’t panic at this time. We must look after the house well and organize gold, silver, and valuables in advance. If there’s an emergency and we need to leave temporarily, we won’t be caught off guard. Also, we should arrange for someone to go to Chongshan to gather information about what exactly happened.”

Ma Shi nodded: “I think we can’t decide this matter ourselves. Our in-law’s family still has Miss Yi’s second and third uncles, and on our side, we still have the two advisors Dafu left behind. After all, behind closed doors we’re one family now. If something happens, we must gather together and discuss it properly.”