Pang Xiao couldn’t help but gently scrape Qin Yining’s nose bridge with his slender finger. “How is this being thick-skinned? I’m merely giving them a taste of their own medicine.”
“So Your Highness also thinks this person is problematic?” Qin Yining raised her head and tilted it to look at him, the tasseled pearl strings behind her head swaying gently, casting soft, muted light.
“You think so too?”
Qin Yining nodded, rising on her tiptoes to drape a cloak over Pang Xiao’s shoulders. “Even if he’s not the mastermind, this matter is definitely connected to him. When you tested him earlier, I watched very clearly—his relationship with the Sitong Trading Company is certainly not simple. Moreover…”
Qin Yining’s fair hands grasped both sides of the cloak’s collar, her raised tiptoes slowly settling down as she pondered, “I always feel that Miss Qiu is problematic. Governor Yang’s attitude toward Miss Qiu doesn’t seem like he’s treating someone of a younger generation, but rather like he’s treating a peer.”
Pang Xiao gazed down at her from above, able to see her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, casting fan-shaped shadows on her fair face. Her hands clutched his collar, and being lost in thought, she completely failed to notice that their standing position made it look as if she was nestled in his embrace.
Pang Xiao sighed contentedly, slowly bending down to embrace her, his arms encircling her soft, slender body. With each breath, he inhaled the faint fragrance and milky scent from her body.
Qin Yining was startled at first, then smiled and nuzzled against him in his arms like a coquettish cat.
“What’s wrong, Dafu?”
She called his childhood name in a playful tone, that soft and tickling feeling reaching straight into his heart.
Pang Xiao’s voice was deep and husky, like the lowest notes of a qin trembling.
“How wonderful.”
“Hm?”
“Having you by my side is so wonderful.”
Qin Yining smiled until her eyes curved into crescents, burying her face completely in his embrace. Contentedly immersed in his unique scent, her muffled voice emerged: “I’m also very happy to stay by your side. It’s just a pity that you can’t stay home for long—in a few days you’ll inevitably have to return to the military camp.”
Pang Xiao sighed softly without speaking. If it were possible, how much he wished he could always stay with Qin Yining and the two children without separation? But the reality didn’t allow it.
“It’s alright, things will get better soon. Once everything is resolved, we’ll have plenty of time together. Even when we’re both old and gray, we’ll still be intimate together. By then, you might get tired of looking at my old face.”
“Never. People say men are like flowers at forty, women are like tofu dregs at forty. When I’m old and unseeable, you’ll go looking for young and beautiful ones.”
“Silly girl, when you’re forty, how old will I be?” Pang Xiao hugged her waist and laughed heartily. “I’m more worried you’ll find me old.”
Qin Yining thought about it and also burst into giggles.
They really were something—current troubles unsolved, yet thinking so far ahead. If they couldn’t get through this hurdle, who knew if they’d even live to forty…
Although Li Qitian was busy with Tatar affairs, his eyes had been fixed on Pang Xiao. If anything went wrong with the Sitong Trading Company debt this time, it would be like handing Li Qitian a perfect handle. Who knew how Li Qitian would deal with them then.
Qin Yining’s spirits sharpened, and she began analyzing with renewed vigor. She and Pang Xiao could not fail, because behind them stood their family members. Moreover, the two children were still young and needed stable growth—they couldn’t let the little ones live in constant fear along with them.
“Now that we’ve handed the debt repayment matter to Governor Yang, he’ll naturally communicate with Sitong Trading Company, and if that fails, he’ll think of other ways to solve the problem. But you still face another difficult situation. It’s almost time to distribute military pay. We definitely can’t borrow money from Sitong Trading Company anymore, but this military pay is a responsibility you as Grand Marshal of Pingnan cannot escape.”
“Actually, I suspect there’s a significant relationship between this Sitong Trading Company and Prince Yan. Most likely Prince Yan instructed people from Sitong Trading Company to dig a pit early on, waiting for you to jump into it.”
Qin Yining took Pang Xiao’s hand as they walked around the screen and out the back door, strolling along the covered walkway toward the inner residence. The servants, knowing their masters had things to discuss, consciously stayed a zhang away from the couple.
Pang Xiao said, “I think so too. Gu Shixiong’s methods are still not to be underestimated. However, regarding the military pay, I’ve already thought of a solution.”
“Oh? What solution?” Qin Yining stopped in her tracks and looked up at him curiously.
Pang Xiao lowered his gaze, leaning close to her ear, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed as he whispered a few words beside her ear.
Qin Yining’s eyes widened as she listened, her long lashes fluttering. After a moment, she asked, “Would this approach work?”
“It’ll work, why wouldn’t it work?” Pang Xiao smiled. “I’m already quite skilled at being thick-skinned and playing the rogue. I just feel sorry for you and the children—leaving you at home again, unable to accompany you all. I feel truly guilty.”
Qin Yining smiled, “Don’t say that. You’re not going out to play—you’re doing proper business, thinking of our family’s safety. What’s there to feel guilty about? Rest assured, I have sufficient people around me. I can manage household affairs well, so just focus on your business with peace of mind.”
She had always been like this, always able to let him pursue his goals without any worries. But precisely because of her consideration, Pang Xiao felt even more sorry for her, even more heartache and guilt.
Pang Xiao forcefully embraced her, placing a kiss devoid of any desire on her forehead. She was a good girl worth cherishing—how fortunate he was to meet her in this lifetime.
Pang Xiao spent some time in the room with Qin Yining and the children, then went to the outer courtyard to see Mu Jinghu.
These past days, except for New Year’s Eve and the fifth day when Mu Jinghu was at the Qin residence, he had been absent otherwise. Pang Xiao didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t want to ask.
He only knew that Mu Jinghu was Tianji Zi’s man, and that Mu Jinghu’s sudden appearance in the old capital was perhaps because Tianji Zi had assigned him some task. But Pang Xiao also trusted Mu Jinghu’s character. In Tatar territory, Mu Jinghu had violated Tianji Zi’s wishes to save Qin Yining and had told him the news that Qin Yining was still alive. From that moment, he believed that Mu Jinghu would never approach them with the purpose of harming them, no matter when.
“Mutou, how long can you stay in the old capital?” Under the dim lamplight, Pang Xiao poured a cup of tea for Mu Jinghu.
Mu Jinghu picked up the rain-blue teacup and took a sip, saying, “I don’t know how long I’ll stay either. When I came, Master Uncle didn’t give any instructions, just said there was excitement in the south and told me to come watch.”
Pang Xiao nodded, not doubting Mu Jinghu’s words at all.
“If you’re not in a hurry to leave, help me watch over the household. I have to return to the Pingnan Army camp tomorrow. With Yining at home with two children, I really can’t feel at ease. Although I’ve also left guards, I’m always afraid of sudden situations like what happened before. Now Yining not only lacks family companionship, she has to manage the household herself while caring for two infants—it’s truly too hard on her.”
Mu Jinghu nodded without hesitation, “Alright, then I’ll go out less and watch over things at the residence more. Go handle your business with peace of mind, don’t worry about home.”
Pang Xiao patted Mu Jinghu’s shoulder and smiled, “Good brother. When I finish this busy period, I’ll invite you for drinks.”
Mu Jinghu said somewhat incredulously, “What if you don’t invite me for drinks?”
Pang Xiao was startled, then laughed heartily, “Then you can call me whatever nickname you want. How about that?”
“Pang Fox?” Mu Jinghu blinked, testing the name.
Pang Xiao nodded with great amusement, “Whatever you want, call me whatever you like.”
He stood up and formally bowed to Mu Jinghu, “Mutou, I’m counting on you.”
Mu Jinghu seemed startled by Pang Xiao’s sudden bow, quickly standing to return the courtesy, “No need for such formality, it’s just a small favor. I don’t have anything else to do in the old capital anyway.”
If it were someone else, they might take this opportunity to boast about their abilities, but Mu Jinghu was always so straightforward, never promoting his own capabilities, never learning the art of leveraging favors for personal gain.
With Mu Jinghu’s promise, Pang Xiao could finally return to the Pingnan Army camp with peace of mind.
Han Ge’er and Zhao Ge’er had just grown familiar with Pang Xiao when their father had to leave again. The two children clung to Pang Xiao’s neck and cried for a while, but once Pang Xiao left, after Qin Yining played with them briefly, they forgot about their father.
Qin Yining arranged for Lu Dehan to continue distributing porridge and sent Bingtang to the Zhao family to properly treat the “Philanthropist Qian” in the people’s hearts.
When Bingtang returned, she smiled, “Princess, rest assured. Hall Master Zhao only suffered external injuries. He practiced internal martial arts himself and has a strong constitution. With proper care, he’ll recover in just a few days.”
Qin Yining breathed a huge sigh of relief upon hearing this. As long as Zhao Wanjin was safe and sound—otherwise she wouldn’t be able to rest easy.
Qin Yining began managing her local business interests. When she first arrived in the old capital, the local manager she’d left behind had put on airs and refused to see her. Even now she hadn’t met the person. Having resolved her grandmother’s crisis, she could now free up her hands to properly handle this matter.
Meanwhile, Pang Xiao returned to camp and stayed for seven or eight days. After the fifteenth day of the first month passed, people began spreading rumors privately, saying Prince Zhongshun had no money to pay everyone’s wages.
“We serve as soldiers and fight wars just to fill our stomachs, right? Do we still have to risk our lives if we don’t get grain and wages?”
“Prince Zhongshun fought battles alongside us—he should understand us poor folks’ difficulties.”
“The old mother and wife at home are waiting for money to eat! The family’s about to run out of rice!”
…
Such discussions spread like waves throughout the military camp in just two days, and everyone who spoke of this matter was filled with righteous indignation, clearly very displeased.
“Your Highness, rumors are flying in the military camp—the situation looks ominous,” Xie Yue said worriedly. “I fear that when things develop to a certain extent, we won’t be able to control the situation.”
Xu Weizhi also said, “Although Your Highness has a plan, this old minister still feels that method is somewhat risky. While success would completely solve our current predicament, if it fails, it might cause a mutiny—the consequences would be unthinkable. Your Highness should proceed with caution.”
Pang Xiao smiled reassuringly at his two loyal advisors, “Gentlemen need not worry. The rumors outside were deliberately spread by this prince.”
What?
Such disadvantageous rumors were intentionally spread by Pang Xiao himself?
After their initial shock, both Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi fell silent. But soon, both men understood.
“Does Your Highness plan to wait until everyone’s emotions reach a peak before taking the next step?”