Both Yao Chenggu and Ma Shi’s expressions became grave.

If Qin Yining hadn’t brought it up, they wouldn’t have thought of these things at all. They had long grown accustomed to Pang Xiao going out to campaign over the years while they remained in the capital, and being “invited” to the palace for “short stays” wasn’t uncommon either.

Ma Shi said somewhat hesitantly, “Miss Yining, will things really be this serious? Dafu is still stationed in the south – wouldn’t they have some apprehension?”

Who Ma Shi’s “they” referred to was naturally self-evident.

Yao Chenggu also stopped smoking now, frowning hesitantly: “This isn’t really a solution either. There’s still a whole household here – can we just abandon it?”

He knocked his pipe against his shoe sole several times. Unburned tobacco threads mixed with ash fell to the ground, sparks flickering on and off until Yao Chenggu ground them out completely with his shoe sole.

As if using this action’s time to think things over, Yao Chenggu spoke again earnestly: “You young people are still too impatient after all. The situations you mentioned aren’t false, but things haven’t really reached such a degree.

“Dafu isn’t just any ordinary minister – he’s His Majesty’s sworn brother. Our entire family’s honor and glory are tied to him alone. Not to mention this, even Great Zhou’s stability – how could it be separated from Dafu’s involvement? Don’t worry, that person won’t really do anything to us. Even if he has some apprehension, wouldn’t he care about his reputation?”

Qin Yining lowered her eyes, listening to Yao Chenggu’s analysis with full patience. It seemed he had been protected too well and thought rather highly of himself, making his thinking somewhat too optimistic.

“What the Old Master says has some merit.” Qin Yining smiled and briefly explained the recent situation, then continued: “But the current situation is different from before. The Prince’s influence in the south has grown, South Yan has a new emperor, and this new emperor has a relatively close relationship with the Prince. This is enough to make people apprehensive. Moreover, this time my father had an incident, and I was put in such difficulties in the palace. If we remain, I fear we’ll become a burden to the Prince in the future.”

Both Ma Shi and Yao Chenggu were momentarily stunned. They hadn’t imagined that so many things had happened in places they didn’t know about.

If Qin Yining hadn’t said anything, Ma Shi wouldn’t have dared imagine that such things had happened to Qin Yining in the palace. She took Qin Yining’s hand in distress, not knowing what to say.

“Putting it this way, the situation really is very critical.” Yao Chenggu anxiously twisted his fingers repeatedly. “If it’s as you say, wouldn’t we be stopped from leaving the capital? Could we leave easily?”

“That’s why we need to leave in batches secretly.” Qin Yining said seriously. “If the Old Master agrees, I’ll immediately arrange for the Elite Tiger Guards to secretly escort everyone. Fortunately, our household has few people and is a small target – quietly slipping out of the city shouldn’t be difficult.”

Yao Chenggu nodded hesitantly, involuntarily glancing toward the inner room.

Qin Yining also looked in the direction of Yao Chenggu’s gaze, just catching sight of a person’s shadow cast on the ground.

If Qin Yining could see it, naturally Ma Shi and Yao Chenggu could too.

Ma Shi’s face flushed red with embarrassment.

Qin Yining considerately didn’t ask more questions and stood up: “Grandmother, this matter should be done sooner rather than later. If delayed too long, changes might occur. If you and the Old Master agree, I’ll make arrangements. Once we’ve all transferred to the south and reached the Prince’s territory, our safety can be guaranteed, and we can ensure we won’t become burdens to the Prince.”

Ma Shi nodded and looked toward Yao Chenggu: “I think what Miss Yining says makes sense.”

Yao Chenggu nodded: “Very well. You arrange it then. Anyway, our family only has these few people – leaving secretly won’t be a problem. Once we establish roots in the south, we can build another family fortune. The important thing is staying alive.”

Yao Chenggu was unexpectedly reasonable, which saved Qin Yining considerable effort.

Since it was decided, Qin Yining began secretly planning.

The Azure Sky Alliance also contacted the “idle gangs” for the coffin escort. Qin Yining was also afraid of wronging good people, so she secretly had Jingzhe follow these people and discovered they had indeed privately colluded with many bandits. Confirming they were the same group that had done many bad things before, she felt at ease using them.

Meanwhile, both the Qin family and the Prince’s mansion began gradually sending people away.

The first batch to leave the Qin family was Second Madam and Old Madam, among others.

Qin Yining didn’t dare go see them off, fearing it would reveal flaws. She forced herself to refrain from bidding farewell and arranged for Xiaoman to escort them with guards.

The next day at the Prince’s mansion, Yao Chenggu also disguised himself and was escorted out of the city by two Elite Tiger Guards to the gathering point outside the city.

Following closely after two more days came Yao Shi and Ma Shi.

In this way, people from both families were gradually leaving, and the Qin mansion’s masters had mostly departed.

The day for the coffin escort was drawing ever closer.

Second Master looked at Qin Yining with worry: “Miss Yining, I’m still uneasy. Perhaps I should stay instead.”

“Second Uncle, didn’t we already discuss this? I’m the one being closely watched. To put it bluntly, if you all leave and don’t show yourselves for two or three days, people won’t notice. But if I don’t appear for half a day, it will be discovered immediately. I’m the one who absolutely cannot leave.”

Qin Yining looked at Bingtang, Ji Yun, Qianyun, Qiu Lu, and Lian Xiaozhou, saying sternly: “Don’t be stubborn. At this time, you must listen to my arrangements. You must leave with Second Master.”

Bingtang shook her head: “Princess, I’ll stay with you. I can make medicine and protect myself.”

“Yes, Princess, I have martial arts skills. Please let me stay to accompany you.” Ji Yun’s face flushed red with anxiety.

The others were in similar situations, all wanting to stay with Qin Yining.

This time, Qin Yining spoke with righteous severity: “If you stay, Young Master Mu will have to worry about escorting you away as well – wouldn’t that be dangerous? If Young Master Mu only has to take me, then we can escape however we want and definitely won’t be caught.”

Mu Jinghu also nodded: “I can’t take so many people together.”

Everyone looked troubled.

If they didn’t leave, they might become burdens in the end. But they really weren’t comfortable leaving Qin Yining alone.

“Princess, if all the masters in the mansion leave and we leave too, won’t the mansion be entirely filled with those people you hired? Those are all bandits.” Qiu Lu lowered her voice. “Those people are so boisterous, crying in the mourning hall loud enough to lift the roof. But everything I hear feels wrong. Princess, how dangerous would it be for you to face them alone!”

Qin Yining smiled helplessly: “Young Master Mu is here. Young Master Mu’s martial arts are divine – taking me to escape definitely won’t be a problem. Moreover, the day after tomorrow is the proper day, so I won’t have to endure them for too long. If you stay, I’ll have to worry about arranging things for you – that would be the real trouble.”

She then turned to look at Cao Yuqing, dressed entirely in plain white in the corner.

This one was also stubborn. Even asking her to help escort Old Madam, Cao Yuqing wouldn’t agree this time. She insisted on staying no matter what.

Cao Yuqing calmly met Qin Yining’s gaze, pressing her lips together without saying a word.

Everyone fell silent for a moment. Second Master and the others actually had to admit that Qin Yining’s analysis was correct. Though they worried, they couldn’t guarantee they wouldn’t burden Qin Yining. If they stayed and really encountered danger, who should Mu Jinghu protect? It was better not to add to Qin Yining’s troubles from the start.

Thus, everyone could only follow Qin Yining’s arrangements and leave with Second Master.

At this point, except for Cao Yuqing, all the people who needed to be transferred from the Prince’s mansion and Qin family had quietly left in batches. Qin Yining had arranged all the Elite Tiger Guards, Silver-Faced Secret Agents, and mansion guards in batches beside the masters who were leaving. With so many family members, Qin Yining didn’t suggest these people gather outside the city, but rather continue as they were now – divided into many teams, with people separately escorting them south.

Qin Yining looked at Cao Yuqing helplessly: “Aunt Cao, won’t you leave?”

Cao Yuqing shook her head: “Don’t say anything about delaying Young Master Mu or others. I have the ability to protect myself and don’t need rescuing. Since we’re escorting the coffin, naturally I should follow.”

Qin Yining had already tried to persuade Cao Yuqing several times, using every argument and excuse she could think of, but Cao Yuqing remained unmoved.

Just as Qin Yining was at her wit’s end, she saw Steward Zhong rushing over, sweating profusely.

“Princess.” Steward Zhong looked excited but feared being seen. He expended great effort to maintain a calm expression, though his overly bright, excited eyes betrayed him.

“Princess, there’s news, there’s news.” Steward Zhong lowered his voice and pulled a note from his sleeve for Qin Yining.

Qin Yining’s heart jumped, and she snatched the note and unfolded it.

Several familiar, vigorous characters met her eyes – “Safe, in Xiyue, don’t worry.”

This simple sentence, Qin Yining stared at for a long while.

Both Mu Jinghu and Cao Yuqing watched Qin Yining expectantly. Because Qin Yining’s expression had been so rich just now, they had seen the characters on the note from the sides and were momentarily stunned by their own mental speculation, not yet reacting.

Qin Yining came to her senses and thrust the note to Cao Yuqing.

Cao Yuqing stared blankly at Qin Yining, teardrops hanging on her thick lashes, about to fall: “Is it, is it him, he…”

Qin Yining nodded repeatedly: “Don’t make a scene. This is real.”

Cao Yuqing covered her mouth, clutching the note tightly, tears falling like broken pearls: “He’s alright, he’s alive…”

Seeing this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but shed tears too.

So Father wasn’t dead.

So the Xiyue people really had arrived in time!

Then what Li Qitian knew about – all the grain, cloth, and provisions disappearing – was really Father’s doing?

Suddenly she felt Li Qitian’s anger hadn’t been for nothing.

Thinking of this, Qin Yining suddenly smiled through her tears, pulling Cao Yuqing: “Aunt Cao, now it’s good.”

Cao Yuqing nodded excitedly repeatedly, unable to speak a complete sentence.

Even Mu Jinghu and Steward Zhong on the side were very moved.

After everyone calmed down for a while, Qin Yining said hoarsely to Cao Yuqing: “Aunt Cao, now can you help me?”