“Thank you, Empress.” Qin Yining expressed her sincere gratitude.

Hundred-year-old ginseng was rare, but even rarer was the Empress’s sincere intentions. Qin Yining was very perceptive about hostility and kindness – she could distinguish whether the Empress was being genuine or merely polite. Even if Li Qitian was nothing in her mind, the Empress had not wronged her.

Therefore, Qin Yining showed sincere gratitude for the Empress’s goodwill.

However, this scene was extremely grating to the long-silent Empress Dowager and Li Helan.

The Empress Dowager was unwell, yet she didn’t see the Empress willing to give her that hundred-year-old ginseng to nourish her body, instead giving it to an outsider. How the Empress treated her largely reflected the Emperor’s intentions. If the Empress dared to be unfilial to her, wasn’t it because Li Qitian, as her son, didn’t regard her as important?

Yet at this moment, because of Duke Qing’s affair, the Empress Dowager dared not show any displeasure before her son. To be a mother reduced to this state – who could understand such suffocation?

Li Helan felt even more depressed.

Watching the Empress and Qin Yining, both with big bellies, whispering together – both married young wives with news – while she had no news. Ji Zeyu wouldn’t even touch her and treated her so coldly. Sitting nearby, she felt she couldn’t maintain face.

Li Helan couldn’t lower herself to actively join their conversation, so she only bowed her head, gripping her ivory chopsticks tightly while maliciously glaring at Qin Yining’s belly from the corner of her eye.

Qin Yining felt uncomfortable being stared at and instinctively protected her belly while turning slightly sideways, looking back at Li Helan with warning.

The Empress also noticed Li Helan’s malevolent gaze and shot her a warning glance.

Li Helan sneered coldly: “The Empress and Prince Zhongshun’s consort are certainly compatible – they have endless things to say whenever they meet.”

The sourness in her tone almost permeated the air.

Qin Yining couldn’t be bothered with Li Helan but became cautiously alert. Li Helan was spoiled by nature, and her behavior could no longer be judged by normal standards. If she suddenly attacked, wouldn’t Qin Yining be at a disadvantage?

The Empress simply turned back to continue holding Qin Yining’s hand and talking with her, completely ignoring Li Helan.

Li Helan’s face instantly flushed purple, and her voice involuntarily sharpened: “What does Sister-in-law mean by this!”

In her anger, Li Helan completely forgot what kind of occasion this was.

Li Qitian, who had been warmly conversing with the Qin family, Pang family, and Ji Zeyu, was interrupted by this sudden outburst. Displeased, he swept his cold gaze over.

The Empress Dowager’s face turned iron blue.

Previously, Li Qitian had tactfully told her that Li Helan was too spoiled and hoped the Empress Dowager would discipline her. Though the Empress Dowager had agreed on the surface, she wasn’t entirely happy about it. Now, when the Zhou family was in such trouble and the Empress Dowager hoped to mend relations, Li Helan was behaving like this again.

Fearing Li Qitian’s anger, the Empress Dowager immediately darkened her face: “Lan’er, don’t be rude!”

Li Helan looked at the Empress Dowager in disbelief.

She was being bullied, yet her mother only knew to scold her!

Li Helan wanted to argue, but seeing Li Qitian’s smiling face and the undisguised anger in his eyes from her peripheral vision, her trembling lips ultimately remained closed.

Tears swirled in her eyes, but with so many outsiders present, she didn’t let them fall. However, she couldn’t bring herself to speak apologetic, flattering words either. She just sat there stiffly like a wooden block.

Li Qitian withdrew his glare from Li Helan, having already cursed this sister who only brought him shame a thousand times in his heart. He had been too indulgent with her before – look what she had become!

No one present was foolish. A royal princess behaving disgracefully was no laughing matter, so everyone pretended not to notice.

However, the banquet atmosphere was ultimately ruined.

Li Qitian was, after all, an emperor who could bend and adapt. Even now, he could maintain his composure. Though anger and irritation boiled like lava in his heart, he could still smile appropriately.

When Pang Xiao and Qin Huaiyuan took their leave with their families, Li Qitian specifically instructed Ji Zeyu: “I won’t see them off personally. Alan, as my brother-in-law, you represent me in seeing them off.”

Qin Yining’s heart tightened.

She hadn’t felt this way when she suspected Ji Zeyu before, but now she worried whether Li Qitian had seen through something.

Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu were destined to go south and north respectively.

If the commanders of the south and north united against His Majesty, it wouldn’t be what His Majesty hoped to see.

Qin Yining wasn’t worrying unnecessarily. After experiencing various hardships, Li Qitian’s suspicion had multiplied. Even if someone glanced at him once more, he would probably imagine many things. How could someone who cared most about power feel at ease with military authority in others’ hands?

Pang Xiao smiled gratefully and respectfully said: “I appreciate His Majesty’s kindness. But doesn’t Prince Consort Ji have other matters to attend to?” He meaningfully looked at Li Helan behind Ji Zeyu.

Ji Zeyu frowned, his cold gaze sweeping over Pang Xiao as if seeing something filthy.

“His Majesty’s decree – do you dare question it?”

Pang Xiao laughed: “You just like overthinking. His Majesty is magnanimous and hasn’t said anything yet.”

“His Majesty is magnanimous, so you dare harbor doubts?” Ji Zeyu’s tone remained cold.

Pang Xiao’s smile faded as he said sternly: “Ji Lan, don’t make trouble from nothing and slander people! My loyalty to His Majesty can be witnessed by heaven and earth. Don’t look for every opportunity to provoke me!”

“Are you worthy of my provocation?”

“You!”

Both were tall, exceptionally handsome figures. One wore a black cloak, the other a silver-white cape. Both had cold faces confronting each other, as if they would fight on the spot if Li Qitian weren’t present to suppress them.

Seeing this, Li Qitian harbored doubts but was somewhat comforted to see Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu still at odds as before. He smiled and mediated:

“Enough, enough. You’re all family brothers – why act like fighting cocks? At your age, aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you?”

Pang Xiao seemed extremely angry, taking a deep breath before bowing: “His Majesty’s teaching is correct. This subject won’t do this again.”

Ji Zeyu also bowed: “Your Majesty, please calm your anger.”

“Sigh, what should I say about you two?” Li Qitian suppressed his inner joy and smiled: “Alright, go now. I’ll wait in the capital for your good news.” The last sentence was said while solemnly grasping Pang Xiao’s hand.

Pang Xiao dared not presume, hastily performing a grand bow.

With his bow, everyone else knelt down too. Only the heavily pregnant Qin Yining merely maintained a bowing posture.

Li Qitian watched with satisfaction, had everyone rise, and earnestly instructed them again before letting them leave.

Outside the palace gates, Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu still appeared to dislike each other, parting ways at the crossroads.

However, late at night, while Qin Yining was fast asleep, someone gently tapped twice on the back window.