Bingtang took a handkerchief to wipe away Qin Yining’s cold sweat. She sat to the side, worrying about Ji Yun one moment, Qin Yining the next, then Qin Huaiyuan and Pang Xiao, and then thinking of Huzi’s shameless appearance. Her mind was filled with all these people, and her heart felt bitter.
The princess consort and the prince were clearly such good people—why must they be swept into this chaotic world?
Bingtang began mentally cataloguing the useful items around them.
When entering the palace, she hadn’t been allowed to bring her various bottles and jars, but after this period of palace life, she discovered there were actually many things in the palace that could be utilized. At least she could make some protective medicines and such in a short time.
She hadn’t dared do these things before, fearing unnecessary trouble. But now it seemed she very much needed to collect materials first.
Looking at Qin Yining, who was still restless in her sleep and almost crying, Bingtang gritted her teeth.
If anything happened to Qin Yining, she would absolutely not let the culprit off! Even if it cost her own life, she wouldn’t hesitate. If not for Qin Yining’s righteous help back then, she would have died long ago—how could she have lived freely all these years?
She just wondered what Huzi would think…
Qin Yining had a nightmare.
On the vast grassland, Qin Huaiyuan was being escorted by guards toward the military camp. Suddenly strong winds arose and dark clouds gathered—a grassland storm was about to hit, and Qin Huaiyuan’s group was hurrying their pace.
Just then, a gleaming blade flashed across the dark grassland, and a guard was killed, blood spattering three feet!
Qin Huaiyuan was protected as they fled frantically, but fewer and fewer guards protected him, until the last guard fell and Qin Huaiyuan lay on the ground, facing the assassin’s cold, gleaming steel blade.
The assassin raised the knife high with both hands. Lightning suddenly tore across the sky, bright light illuminating the assassin’s face.
Li Qitian’s mouth curved into an incredible arc, bent like a crescent moon. Under his eerie smile, he gripped the knife with both hands and viciously chopped down toward Qin Huaiyuan.
“Ah!”
Qin Yining suddenly opened her eyes, breathing heavily. The bloody scene still lingered before her eyes, and large tears fell.
Hearing her intense breathing, Bingtang, who had been dozing, also woke with a start and said quietly, “Princess Consort, did you have a nightmare?”
Looking closer and seeing that Qin Yining was actually crying, Bingtang’s nose tingled and she almost cried too.
“Please don’t cry. Everything will be fine. Since you thought of a good solution, it will definitely work.”
Qin Yining shook her head, sobbing quietly with a hoarse voice. “But this time, who knows if we can make it in time? The Mino tribe lives in the desert. Setting aside whether they’re willing to help, just entering the desert to deliver the message, or coming out of the desert—encountering a sandstorm would delay the journey greatly, not to mention the countless dangers. Even if they use all their strength to come out at the fastest speed, can they make it in time to rescue him? Can they encounter my father’s group? All of this is unknown.”
Qin Yining raised her ice-cold hands to cover her face, scalding tears dripping through her fingers onto the bedding. Her heart was filled with hatred.
“If my father has any mishap, I’ll fight that tyrant to the death!”
Her hands gradually formed fists, her palms marked with curved white indentations from her nails. Qin Yining had tears in her eyes, but also boundless hatred and sharpness.
“What use is it for me to just worry here, just cry here? None of this can help my father. I must find a way to save him, and even if I can’t save him, I’ll make that tyrant pay with his life!”
Bingtang watched Qin Yining from the side. Her nearly mad appearance was truly alarming. But this strength was better than complete panic.
Because not only was Qin Huaiyuan in danger outside, Qin Yining’s situation in the palace was equally dangerous. Just being sad might lead to panic and getting herself into trouble too.
“Princess Consort, it’s good that you can pull yourself together. Whatever you want to do, you must first ensure your own safety to accomplish it,” Bingtang advised.
Qin Yining took the brocade handkerchief Bingtang handed her and wiped her face. “I really did panic. It seems I’m not made of bronze and iron after all. I used to think I’d never have such weak moments, but now…”
“Princess Consort, you’ve already done very well. Not to mention anything else, you’ve already reacted at the fastest speed after the incident without wasting time. You’ve done everything you could.”
What Bingtang didn’t say was that even if something happened to Qin Huaiyuan, Qin Yining had already done her best and really shouldn’t blame herself. But she truly couldn’t bring herself to say words that would wound Qin Yining’s heart.
Qin Yining put on her outer garment and got off the bed.
“Has Ji Yun returned?”
“Not yet, and no news has come from outside either.”
“No news is good news.” What she most feared hearing now was any news from the imperial study. If Ji Yun got caught trying to deliver the message, she would blame herself for a lifetime.
“Should the princess consort rest a bit more?”
“What time is it?”
“Just past the third watch.”
Qin Yining shook her head and leaned against the bed post in a daze.
After a long while, she said quietly, “Ji Yun won’t get into trouble, will she?”
“She won’t. Ji Yun’s martial arts are so good—avoiding a few guards is still easy for her. Besides, we’ve experienced so many storms together and always turned danger into safety in the end. Back then, that demon empress even wanted to eat your flesh, and I had nightmares for so long, but didn’t you resolve it easily in the end?”
Qin Yining was startled at these words, remembering those events from their time in Great Yan. Though they couldn’t be called good memories, they still gave her a faint sense of nostalgia.
“Yes, we’ve overcome so many obstacles. This time will definitely be the same.”
“Right. Princess Consort, you must believe in the old master and the prince. Among all the men under heaven, who could be cleverer than the old master? And who could be braver than the prince? Finding anyone more capable than those two would probably be harder than ascending to heaven. Even if there are temporary difficulties, they’ll definitely be able to endure.”
Hearing this, Qin Yining couldn’t help laughing softly and took Bingtang’s hands. “At a time like this, only you can still make me laugh.”
“Not at all—the princess consort is naturally very strong,” Bingtang said, shaking Qin Yining’s hands. “Princess Consort, don’t lose your composure. You must remember that you’re also in danger right now. Those people don’t just want to harm the old master—they want to harm you too. You still have the prince and two young masters.”
Qin Yining’s expression was momentarily dazed, then her thoughts became even clearer.
“You’re right.” Qin Yining lowered her eyes, suppressing all emotions to analyze. “If my analysis is correct, His Majesty should act against me next. If His Majesty doesn’t act against me, father should be fine. Let’s prepare ourselves and wait to see what happens.”
Bingtang understood Qin Yining best. Seeing her expression, she knew she had completely calmed down. She felt both gratified and heartbroken.
Ordinary women had the right to be weak when encountering troubles, but Qin Yining didn’t.
She couldn’t even cry freely. She couldn’t indulge her emotions, as only this way could she ensure mental clarity and avoid making wrong decisions when sudden events occurred.
Such circumstances were heartbreaking.
Qin Yining and Bingtang sat quietly like that, waiting for news.
As dawn gradually broke on the horizon and Qin Yining and Bingtang were almost too anxious to sit still, nearly wanting to go to Qianqing Palace to investigate, the back window was suddenly tapped twice lightly.
Qin Yining and Bingtang’s faces lit up. They hurried to move the glass flower vase from the table by the window and opened it.
Outside was indeed Ji Yun.
Qin Yining was overjoyed. She and Bingtang pulled her inside, closed the window, and put the glass vase back in place.
“Why so late returning? Was there any danger last night?”
“Nothing happened. Actually, I delivered the message early. Eunuch Jiang already found an opportunity to send the letter last night. It’s just that Qianqing Palace has tight security—guards every five steps, sentries every ten. I waited for the early morning when the guards were most tired before slipping out, so I was delayed. Were you worried, Princess Consort? I’m fine.”
Hearing this, Qin Yining pressed her palms together and bowed. “Amitabha, thank goodness you’re safe. If anything had happened to you, I would have felt guilty my whole life.”
“Princess Consort, rest assured. Though my martial arts aren’t comparable to the elite Tiger Guards, I can still climb walls and roofs. I’m also very good at avoiding pursuit.”
Ji Yun drained a large cup of warm tea that Bingtang handed her and continued, “Eunuch Jiang said he would definitely deliver the message as quickly as possible and asked the princess consort not to worry. He also said the prince saved his whole family’s lives, and he and his brothers owe their current positions largely to Minister Qin’s promotion. They absolutely won’t disappoint our family’s kindness. He asked the princess consort to rest assured—even if the message can’t be delivered, it absolutely won’t be leaked.”
Qin Yining nodded. “That’s good then.”
The three sat down and were silent again. Qin Yining thought for a moment and said, “Let’s all calm down and rest to conserve our energy. I can’t think of other solutions for my father’s situation right now, but we have things to face here, and we can’t do that without energy.”
“The princess consort is right. Let’s all sleep a while. It’s still early.”
The three simply let down their hair and lay side by side on the heated kang, sleeping in their clothes. Though still in the deep palace, having three people squeezed together and depending on each other made their hearts much more at ease.
From then on, Qin Yining began acting with utmost caution, unwilling to make a single misstep lest someone find fault with her.
Living like a caged bird, cut off from all outside contact, knowing that both father and Pang Xiao had become Li Qitian’s targets but unable to get any news, while having to maneuver with Princess Tana in the rear palace—her heart was truly tormented.
In just half a month, she had grown thin, returning to her pre-pregnancy appearance, making her appear even more delicate and lovely, and making Princess Tana even more jealous.
By now it was spring with warm weather and blooming flowers. Though spring came late to the north, the peach and apricot blossoms in the imperial garden had bloomed into patches of pink clouds. When the wind blew, petals scattered and fell on the newly green grass—everywhere was a scene of thriving prosperity.
The Empress Dowager, along with Princess Imperial and Noble Consort Yun, had strolled here with palace servants. Seeing the beautiful scenery, she smiled and instructed, “The weather is fine today. Go summon Consort Shun and Princess Consort of Prince Zhongshun as well. Let’s gather here and chat.”