“Of course not.” Pang Xiao stretched out his arm and patted Mu Jinghu on the shoulder. “Between us brothers, if we let such a small matter create discord, wouldn’t that be laughable? Besides, neither Yi Jie’er nor I have harbored any resentment from the beginning.”
Mu Jinghu smiled as he looked at Pang Xiao. Seeing his quite sincere attitude, he couldn’t help but laugh: “That’s good then. Now I can rest easy.”
Seeing Mu Jinghu’s carefree appearance, Qiu Feishan couldn’t help but sigh silently in her heart.
She wondered whether she should call Mu Jinghu foolish—he believed others’ words so easily.
But then again, her own nature of not easily trusting anyone didn’t necessarily make her happier than Mu Jinghu.
People say that fools have their own fortune. Since Mu Jinghu treated Pang Xiao sincerely, Pang Xiao and Qin Yining should also treat him sincerely in return, right?
Seeing the atmosphere was just right, Qiu Feishan pondered for a moment before saying softly: “Actually, today I have one more unreasonable request.”
As soon as she spoke, Pang Xiao and Qin Yining knew what she wanted to say.
Mu Jinghu, however, feared it would be embarrassing for Qiu Feishan to speak herself, so he quickly interjected: “Pang Fox, I want to plead with you for Manager Liu. Look, he also ingested that thing my master uncle concocted and has suffered quite a bit of torment. Moreover, I was able to clear up the misunderstanding with Shanshan thanks to him. You can see Shanshan is now well along in her pregnancy, and Manager Liu is still Shanshan’s right-hand man who can help her with business. Could you release him and not pursue the matter further?”
By this point, Mu Jinghu’s face had turned completely red. He rarely asked others for favors, but for Qiu Feishan’s sake, he had rushed to say all the pleading words himself.
Qiu Feishan felt a wave of emotion in her heart and looked down at her belly with happiness and complexity.
Qin Yining, however, smiled and nodded at Pang Xiao.
Things had reached this point, and clinging to those matters would bring them no benefit at all. Manager Liu had initially endured the army’s harsh interrogation without betraying Qiu Feishan, proving he was a tough man. As for what Tianji Zi had concocted, that was beyond normal consideration.
Qin Yining had a favorable impression of such principled and loyal people. Moreover, Qiu Feishan had given them such significant information—there were so many things they could do with it, more than enough to exchange for Manager Liu’s life. If they refused now, it might hurt the relationship between the two families.
What Qin Yining thought of, Pang Xiao naturally thought of too. He pretended to deliberate, then nodded after a long moment: “Very well, I’ll listen to you. I’ll have someone send him over shortly. However, Boss Qiu should prepare yourself mentally. Since I found his face unfamiliar and don’t know if the Manager Liu I’ve met a few times before was in disguise, when interrogating spies who were tracking me, I didn’t hold back. Later, he also ingested what Tianji Zi concocted, so his injuries might be quite severe.”
“That Your Highness would show mercy and spare his life is already precious. Moreover, I was the one who acted improperly in this matter from the start, so I can’t blame anyone. I will take full responsibility for Manager Liu’s injuries.”
As Qiu Feishan spoke, she stood and bowed to Pang Xiao: “Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy in not taking his life.”
Pang Xiao quickly waved his hands and shook his head, smiling: “You gave me such important information—I should be thanking you.”
With all serious matters concluded, Mu Jinghu was overjoyed and chatted casually with Pang Xiao for a while longer. Seeing Qiu Feishan showing signs of fatigue, they rose to take their leave.
Qin Yining and Pang Xiao escorted them all the way to the main gate of the Qin Manor before walking side by side toward Xueli Courtyard.
“Da Fu.”
“Hmm?” Pang Xiao looked down at Qin Yining with smiling eyes. “You haven’t called me Da Fu in a long time.”
Qin Yining smiled with pursed lips. “I’ve grown accustomed to calling you Your Highness or Zhixi, but these past two days seeing you play with the children, I couldn’t help but want to call you Da Fu.”
“Oh, are you saying I’m childish?” Pang Xiao teased her.
Qin Yining shook her head: “No, I’m praising you for being as adorable as the children.”
“You’re the adorable one.” Pang Xiao scraped Qin Yining’s nose tip, feigning anger. “Being called adorable by Yi Jie’er who’s so much younger than me—doesn’t this prince need to maintain his dignity?”
Hearing this, Qin Yining laughed again.
“Alright, enough joking around. Actually, I wanted to say that my earlier judgment about Tianji Zi wasn’t wrong. She is indeed presenting you with tokens of allegiance, and twice at that.”
Hearing this, Pang Xiao nodded seriously. “Indeed so. It seems she intends to stand on my side. Perhaps she’s like Boss Qiu, thinking that standing with me could bring greater benefits.”
“That’s what I think too.” Qin Yining looked up at Pang Xiao.
Pang Xiao also looked down at her.
Each could see their own reflection in the other’s eyes, and both couldn’t help but smile at each other.
“What are you smiling about?”
“Whatever you’re smiling about, I’m naturally smiling about the same thing.” Qin Yining walked forward a few steps and looked back at Pang Xiao. “Is Your Highness planning to stay behind to enjoy the breeze and scenery?”
“Not at all. I still need to listen to the princess consort’s lecture.” Pang Xiao strode forward to walk beside Qin Yining.
Qin Yining smiled and said: “Very well, since you put it that way, I’ll share my thoughts. First, regarding Tianji Zi’s matter—regardless of what she did before, we should be wary in our hearts but focus on what happens going forward. Second, regarding the Qiu family’s plan to buy an imperial commissioner, I think we have great opportunities to act.”
“You think so too?” Pang Xiao said with interest. “Do you already have a plan?”
“Not yet, but I have some ideas. Mr. Xie is good at making decisions while Mr. Xu is good at planning. It would certainly benefit us to discuss this matter with them.”
“You’ve spoken to my heart. How about you accompany me to the military camp today? We can see the two gentlemen, discuss everything properly, then return home together for dinner. How about it?”
Qin Yining smiled: “Why should I meddle in you men’s affairs? I want to stay home and feed the children.”
“There are so many people serving them—the children won’t go hungry. Good Yi Jie’er, please keep me company.” Pang Xiao’s large hand grasped Qin Yining’s, caressing it. “I really have no great ambitions anymore. Sigh, look at me—I’m just a wife-obsessed fool. When I don’t see you, I miss you, and after being with you for a day or two, I don’t want to leave. No wonder they say heroes are short on heroic spirit and long on romantic feelings. Look how you’ve ruined me—won’t you take responsibility?”
“What thick-skinned cheeks you have, like shoe soles made of a thousand layers.” Qin Yining’s face turned crimson as her jade-white finger poked Pang Xiao’s cheek.
Pang Xiao laughed heartily and, grasping Qin Yining’s hand, went to arrange for horses to be prepared.
When the two arrived at the Pingnan Army’s main camp, the morning drill was just about to end.
Pang Xiao held Qin Yining’s hand and said: “We’ll eat first, then invite Mr. Xie and Mr. Xu over. However, I never eat special meals in the army, so you’ll have to join me for a simple meal.”
“What’s wrong with that? I’ve been accustomed to it since childhood.”
Qin Yining followed Pang Xiao to his command tent. Soon Huzi arrived carrying a cotton-cloth-covered basket. Seeing Qin Yining, he grinned broadly and said openly: “The princess consort is here! How is Bingtang at home?”
“She’s doing well. When you have time, you should go home to see her.” Thinking that Huzi might find it difficult to ask for leave himself, Qin Yining added: “I’ll mention it to His Highness later.”
“Ah! Thank you, princess consort!” Huzi deftly set down a plate of pickled vegetables and a bowl of well-stewed meat soup, then brought out a ceramic bowl with a large bowl of coarse rice porridge inverted in it, topped with two face-sized buckwheat buns.
After Huzi left, Pang Xiao returned from outside.
Qin Yining ate a few mouthfuls of porridge and one piece of bun with the pickled vegetables and meat soup, while the rest of the food went into Pang Xiao’s stomach.
Qin Yining smiled: “The army food is quite delicious too. Do all hundred thousand men eat such meals?”
“Yes.” Pang Xiao sighed. “However, feeding so many people and paying their wages is indeed quite a pressure.”
Pang Xiao put all the empty bowls and dishes back in the basket, fetched a bowl of water for him and Qin Yining to rinse their mouths, then poured another bowl of water for them to share.
Pang Xiao smiled: “Mr. Xie and Mr. Xu should have finished eating by now. Let’s go find them and talk while strolling outside.”
“That’s good—it avoids inconvenience in speaking and eliminates suspicion of anyone.”
Pang Xiao smiled and nodded, pinching Qin Yining’s cheek.
The two went out and happened to see Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi walking toward them side by side. Pang Xiao pointed toward the spacious drill ground, and both men nodded understandingly.
Pang Xiao then detailed the matter of the Qiu family and Lu family buying official positions.
After hearing this, both Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi couldn’t help but click their tongues.
“Who would have thought the Lu family could already influence His Majesty’s selection of imperial commissioners?”
Indeed, these were two men skilled at planning and decision-making—they got to the heart of the matter with one sentence.
Pang Xiao smiled: “What do you two gentlemen think?”
Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi pondered the details of this matter.
Xu Weizhi, being good at planning, stroked his beard and said within moments: “Regarding this matter, this old man has some thoughts.”
“Please share your insights, sir.”
“I wouldn’t dare claim insights.” Xu Weizhi smiled. “Actually, regardless of whom they arrange as imperial commissioner, eliminating an imperial commissioner would be easy. If that commissioner wants to join forces with Governor Qi, it wouldn’t be so simple either. However, such methods are too crude. Though effective, they easily create future troubles.
“Therefore, this old man believes that if we don’t want an imperial commissioner coming to trouble Your Highness, we need only prevent their transaction.”
Pang Xiao nodded thoughtfully.
Xie Yue considered this and said: “Reporting to Your Highness, this old man believes targeting the transaction is feasible. We need only find a way to create discord between the Qiu family and Lu family, and the matter can be resolved.
“To the Lu family, Guangtong Trading House is merely one among many wanting to buy official positions. Guangtong Trading House is just a small business that hasn’t been established long—the Lu family won’t regard it highly. This transaction is dispensable to the Lu family.
“But for the Qiu family behind Guangtong Trading House, buying this official position is a crucial matter that must succeed. They’re counting on this method to deal with Boss Qiu. So in this matter, we can exploit their unequal status and different levels of investment to make our moves.
“One high, one low; one active, one passive—creating discord between them would be too easy.”
Xie Yue’s words made everyone nod repeatedly.