“That’s exactly why he’s stupid.” Pang Xiao pulled Qin Yining over and seated her on his lap, gently rocking her like coaxing a child as he said indifferently, “Such a disloyal, unfilial, inhumane, and unrighteous fool—to think he could once be a candidate for the family head position. Qiu Guang must have been truly blind to choose him.”
“Perhaps there was no one better than Qiu Yuanqing in the family.” Qin Yining turned to smile at Pang Xiao, analyzing: “In my view, those who could be considered capable in their family were Old Master Qiu and Qiu Feishan. Most of the rest have been spoiled useless—none capable of shouldering great responsibilities. It’s just a pity their family looks down on Qiu Feishan for being a woman.”
“That’s their narrow-mindedness, and where Qiu Guang falls short compared to father-in-law. I’ve never seen father-in-law despise you for being a woman. When it matters, he’s willing to listen to your opinions.”
“Yes.” Qin Yining smiled as she lowered her eyes, feeling somewhat melancholy thinking of her father.
She actually missed home a bit. She missed her father in the capital, and also longed for her mother, her two grandmothers, and her two precious little ones.
Unfortunately, the current situation didn’t allow their family to be together in peace and harmony.
Pang Xiao held Qin Yining dear and naturally paid constant attention to her every move. The moment her mood dropped slightly, he immediately noticed.
Carefully tightening his embrace, he planted a gentle kiss at her temple: “Are you homesick?”
His voice was deep, and when softened it became even more magnetic. Qin Yining’s heart skipped at the sound as she shook her head: “I’m alright. I know they’re all doing well. Besides, I’m already married. My home is here.”
Pang Xiao smiled: “This girl must be confused. How could your home be here? Are you talking about the old Qin Manor?”
“Of course not.” Qin Yining shook her head with a smile: “Because you’re here.”
Pang Xiao’s heart immediately skipped a beat.
That tingling, sweet happiness felt like being patted on the back of the hand by a fluffy kitten’s soft little paw.
“My dear Yining, how can you be so wonderful? I like you more and more, more and more.” Pang Xiao buried his face in Qin Yining’s shoulder, gently rocking her.
Her arms were held fast in his embrace, unable to hug him back. She could only turn her face to lightly kiss his hair.
Pang Xiao seemed to sense it, grasping her chin and urgently capturing her lips, sucking with fierce intensity, holding her tightly, his large hands roaming over her back. When he touched her shoulder blades, he heartachingly loosened his grip and changed to tender pecking kisses, mumbling indistinctly: “Yining has gotten so much thinner. It must be because your husband wasn’t home and you wouldn’t eat properly. Tell me, how should I punish you?”
Qin Yining’s breathing quickened. His large hand had already reached inside her clothing from the front, making her shyly push against him: “Stop fooling around. It’s broad daylight.”
Pang Xiao chuckled low and hoarsely by her ear: “I won’t stop. I’m going to tease our Yining.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly stood up holding her and strode toward the inner room.
Behind warm silk curtains, after clouds and rain had ceased, Qin Yining was exhausted and powerless, pillowing on Pang Xiao’s arm as she fell into deep sleep. Before sleeping, she hazily thought that they hadn’t finished discussing the Qiu family situation—next time she discussed serious matters with Pang Xiao, she definitely needed to keep her distance.
By evening, Pang Xiao dug Qin Yining out of the covers. Half-dazed, she put on a snow-white inner garment and covered it with a honey-colored jacket.
Seeing her long hair hanging disheveled over her shoulders and back, her fair little face appearing palm-sized, her red lips even more scarlet from slight swelling, with several faint marks at her collarbone, Pang Xiao’s gaze deepened as he quickly and clumsily fastened her collar buttons.
“Get up and eat something. You can’t sleep anymore, or you’ll be careful to wake up in the middle of the night unable to sleep.”
Qin Yining’s waist and back ached, her whole body lacking strength. She simply hugged Pang Xiao’s waist and buried her face against his stomach: “I’m not hungry at all. I still want to sleep.”
The warm breath from her exhalations fell on his abdomen through the thin undergarment. Pang Xiao quickly pushed this life-threatening little girl away a bit and reached for a cloth from the washstand to wipe her face.
The warm cloth wiped over her face, and as the moisture cooled, Qin Yining finally became alert.
“Awake?” Pang Xiao couldn’t help but smile.
Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile back, her sparkling eyes curving with her smile: “Awake.”
Pang Xiao took soft-soled embroidered shoes to put on her feet, then picked up a white jade hairpin and clumsily helped arrange her long hair.
Qin Yining smiled and let him work, not crying out even when her hair was pulled.
Pang Xiao tapped the little dimple on Qin Yining’s cheek with his index finger and took her hand: “Come on, time to eat.”
Qin Yining had learned many rules, including not speaking while eating. But Pang Xiao was a rough military man accustomed to camp life, and besides, it was just the two of them here, so he didn’t bother with such trivial etiquette. While eating, he continued telling Qin Yining about the Qiu family situation.
It turned out that after Qiu Yuanqing successfully assassinated Qiu Guang and the truth came to light, the vast Qiu family was split into two factions.
One faction supported Qiu Yuanqing, while the other supported Qiu Feishan, wanting to find her to avenge Qiu Guang.
“It’s just a pity that Qiu Feishan was taken away by Mu Jinghu, and no one knows where she is. They didn’t want to support Qiu Feishan before, but now that trouble has arisen, they pin their hopes on her and no longer mind that she’s a woman. It’s truly laughable.”
“But at least with such events in the Qiu family, our pressure has suddenly decreased significantly.”
“The Qiu family is now too busy with their own troubles. If they can’t unite as one, they’re no longer to be feared. However, we still can’t let our guard down. We should still be on our guard.”
“I understand. Good girl, eat some meat.” Seeing Qin Yining only picking vegetables, Pang Xiao selected a piece of mutton for her bowl.
Qin Yining smiled with pursed lips and ate the mutton before saying: “Eating too much meat at dinner, I’m afraid I’ll get fat.”
Pang Xiao’s movements paused as he stared at her with phoenix eyes: “You don’t mean you’ve been not eating properly at dinner all along, do you? Do you know you’re so thin now that holding you hurts my hands?”
Qin Yining instinctively looked down at her chest, then realized what she was thinking about and blushed.
Pang Xiao also saw her reaction, and a certain part of him heated up again. He set down his bowl and leisurely picked up his tea cup for a sip, thinking that perhaps his wife was right—they really should eat less meat in the evening to avoid getting overheated…
Pang Xiao stayed home with Qin Yining for two days before hurrying back to the military camp.
Qin Yining resumed her needlework, planning to make several garments for her parents, Pang Xiao, and the two children.
Knowing that the Qiu family was in chaos and had no time to target Pang Xiao, Qin Yining temporarily set her mind at ease.
Governor Yang’s family’s “visit” to the Qin Manor could also come to an end.
Qin Yining personally went to release the family of three.
Upon leaving the courtyard where they’d been confined for several days, Governor Yang snorted heavily at the sight of Qin Yining, angrily swinging his arms behind his back with a loud swish of his sleeves.
Yuan Shi and Miss Yang were both somewhat nervous, supporting Governor Yang’s arms on either side, afraid his stubborn temper might cause more trouble. What if they angered the princess consort and she wouldn’t let them leave?
Fortunately, Qin Yining didn’t want to continue supporting them and causing herself annoyance.
“Our hospitality has been lacking these past days. Governor Yang, Madam, and your daughter are welcome to visit our mansion anytime—this princess consort will certainly sweep the courtyard clean in welcome.”
Governor Yang’s eyes reddened with anger.
This woman was simply thick-skinned to the extreme! Imprisoning them, yet having the nerve to speak of “visiting” to their faces! Indeed, birds of a feather flock together—that killer Pang Zhixi’s wife was no good thing either!
Governor Yang still retained some rationality and walked away with a dark expression in silence, presumably eager to return and submit a memorial impeaching Pang Xiao.
Who knew what his mood would be when he returned to discover that the government office, treasury silver, tax grain, and governor’s seal were all under Pang Xiao’s control.
Several more days passed, and on the tenth day of the ninth month, Pang Xiao returned to the mansion again.
Qin Yining smiled: “Why did you come back today? You didn’t send word ahead so I could prepare some good food for you.” Although the military camp provided adequate meals, good food was out of the question. Whenever she thought of Pang Xiao and the soldiers eating hard buns, black steamed bread, and pickled vegetables together, her heart ached.
But Pang Xiao shook his head with a smile: “There’s business. Father-in-law sent someone with urgent news.”
Qin Yining’s heart skipped a beat as she asked anxiously: “What news? Did something happen at home?”
“No, no, don’t panic.” Seeing her face turn pale, Pang Xiao quickly seated her beside him and explained: “It’s not what you think. Nothing happened at home—everyone’s fine. Father-in-law sent someone to inform me about the court situation.”
“I see.” Qin Yining let out a long breath of relief.
“A’lan used a brilliant strategy to defeat Si Qin decisively. After Si Qin retreated with the Tatar army, he fell into A’lan’s ambush midway and was beaten down to just himself, nearly captured alive. The domestic situation in Tatar territory is also very tense, with the people war-weary and complaining bitterly. The fervor for avenging Khan A’na Ri has passed, and the people now only experience war’s suffering, so their support for Si Qin is much less than before.”
Qin Yining’s eyes lit up with joy: “Wonderful! I said Prince Consort Ji was equally renowned with you and must be just as capable. I was right after all.”
Pang Xiao was amused by her statement and said in a light tone: “A’lan is indeed very capable. If we two faced each other, I’m not sure I’d have confidence in defeating him. But A’lan did beautifully this time—under such difficult circumstances, he still managed to drive the Tatars out of Great Zhou territory, forcing Si Qin to actively seek peace and even voluntarily send Khan A’na Ri’s sister, Princess Tana, to the Emperor as a consort to show friendship between the two nations.”
“How ridiculous. Si Qin killed his own wife, usurped her position as khan, used her death to incite the people and army to wage war, and after defeat still has the nerve to send his sister-in-law for a political marriage. Such a person is worse than a beast. Tianji Zi’s calculations must be wrong—otherwise, how could you and Prince Consort Ji, who are both honorable men, be equally renowned with such a beast?” Qin Yining was indignant.