Qin Huaiyuan took Han Ge’er over, bounced him in his arms, and asked with a smile: “Do you still remember the line Grandfather just taught you?”

Han Ge’er thought for a moment then answered loudly: “Relieving the people and punishing crimes, Kings Zhou Fa and Tang of Yin, holding court and asking about the Way, governing with ease and establishing order.”

Qin Huaiyuan nodded with a smile and asked Zhao Ge’er in Pang Xiao’s arms: “What does this line mean? Do you remember, Zhao Ge’er?”

Zhao Ge’er blinked his long eyelashes, pouted and shook his head. Seeming to feel embarrassed, he simply buried his face in Pang Xiao’s embrace.

Han Ge’er also wrinkled his little face: “Grandfather, that line is too long. Han Ge’er can’t remember it either.”

Qin Yining watched with amusement: “Father, you’ve started teaching them the Thousand Character Classic?”

“Mm. They’re both very clever.”

Knowing he was being praised, Han Ge’er proudly bobbed his head.

Watching his little manner, Pang Xiao swallowed the words of persuasion he had initially wanted to say. At first he had thought the children were too young – they couldn’t even speak completely yet but were already learning the Thousand Character Classic, which seemed a bit too early. However, it was clear that Qin Huaiyuan was teaching skillfully, and both children were enjoying it.

He was a rough man, while his father-in-law had more experience in this area. He felt very reassured about leaving the children’s education to his father-in-law in the future.

The group chatted as they entered the inner room. The Old Dowager, Zheng Shi, and Ma Shi were sitting on the arhat bed by the window talking. Second Master and his wife, and Qin Han and his wife were all present. Qin Huining and Eighth Miss were also sitting around small tables on the side, chatting and laughing quietly.

Seeing the whole family present, Qin Yining cheerfully stepped forward to pay respects to the Old Dowager and the others.

Pang Xiao set down Zhao Ge’er and also paid respects to the Old Dowager and the two grandmothers.

“It’s good that you’ve returned, good that you’ve returned.” The Old Dowager’s smile was kind, but her complexion wasn’t as rosy as in previous years.

Having experienced so many separations and reunions, gatherings and partings, the Old Dowager no longer had her former competitive spirit. Moreover, spending all her time recently with Zheng Shi and Ma Shi had influenced her thinking. Now that her children were all gathered around her, this was already her greatest happiness.

Qin Huaiyuan smiled and handed both Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er to their wet nurses, having them take the children out for snacks first.

Nanny Qin understood that Qin Huaiyuan had serious matters to discuss. She retreated to the doorway, signaling for all the maids to withdraw with her, closed the room door properly, and stood guard outside to prevent anyone from approaching.

Qin Huaiyuan said: “Since both Zhixi and Yining have returned, our family is complete. I have a decision to announce. I’ll say it now for everyone to hear.”

Second Master and Third Master exchanged glances, thinking to themselves: Indeed, just as expected.

Though Qin Huaiyuan had been back for half a month and still appeared as peaceful and refined as before, as his blood brothers, they could see that he was often troubled by heavy thoughts.

They had long anticipated such a conversation. Second Master said: “Elder Brother, speak freely.”

The Old Dowager also said: “Meng Ge’er, what have you decided?”

Qin Huaiyuan sighed, saying with considerable emotion: “This time I was able to survive, but the process was truly arduous. I won’t detail the hardships – everyone can imagine them. Though I had people arranged by Yining with me while walking in the desert, that feeling of looking around in all directions with complete bewilderment, unable to distinguish the way forward or back, was truly…

“During this time, I’ve thought about many things and seen through much. I’ve spent most of my life serving the court – first Great Yan, then Great Zhou. But what was my final fate? You’ve all seen it.

“Former colleagues from Great Yan still secretly curse me as a traitor, and needless to say about Great Zhou colleagues. When I ‘died,’ not a single person came to pay condolences, except for Prince Consort Ji, and that was entirely out of consideration for my son-in-law.”

Qin Huaiyuan stood up and pointed to the ground beneath his feet.

“When the tyrant emperor and demon empress were still in power, because of my connections, our family suffered. Yining nearly got captured by the demon empress to be eaten, and the whole family faced retaliation. On this very ground beneath our feet, how much blood of the Qin family was spilled, how many loyal servants of the Qin family died unjustly.”

The Old Dowager pursed her lips, tears streaming down her face: “My pair of twin granddaughters, and my filial third daughter-in-law…”

Hearing this, everyone felt their noses sting with tears. Thinking of Third Madam who was killed while protecting her son, Third Master choked up audibly, and Qin Yu also wiped tears with his sleeve. He had never remarried, all for the sake of his deceased wife.

Everyone clearly understood the cause of the Qin family’s tragedies. When Duke Dingguo’s mansion had all its men executed and women made into official slaves, Old Madam Zheng understood this kind of family-destroying anger and heart-piercing pain most deeply.

Zheng Shi took the Old Dowager’s hand and patted it comfortingly, but tears also flowed down her own face.

Qin Huaiyuan shook his head: “I consider myself blameless, but looking back now, after wasting most of my life, I’ve also dragged my family into it. I no longer seek to achieve great deeds or be remembered in history. The current emperor’s wariness of us has never diminished. If we stay, we’ll likely become targets again in the future.”

His gaze becoming resolute, Qin Huaiyuan bowed to the Old Dowager and the entire family: “This time Yining’s people saved me. To escape pursuers, they took me directly to an oasis called Evening Moon in the desert.

“Yining and Zhixi had established territory there before. I lived there for a while and made careful observations. Though it’s remote, the local customs are still quite simple, and it wouldn’t be difficult to control and develop.

“So today I want to tell everyone that staying here will eventually become a burden to Zhixi and Yining. Eventually our lives will be held in the emperor’s hands. Second Brother, Third Brother, and I are now free of official duties and don’t care about posthumous reputation. Why don’t we move the entire family to Evening Moon and start anew there?”

Qin Huaiyuan then looked at Zheng Shi and Ma Shi and bowed: “Mother-in-law, dear in-law, my proposal isn’t only for the Qin family but naturally includes the Prince’s mansion and the Sun family. Zhixi’s current situation – even without detailed explanation, everyone can sense it. The emperor is wary of Zhixi, and there will inevitably be a confrontation. All of us, every single one, will definitely be implicated.

“Since I was already a ‘dead man’ this time, the focus will shift to all of you. Rather than staying here in constant fear, why don’t we all go to Evening Moon together? I brought cloth, gold, silver, grain, and seeds there this time. Moreover, Yining’s people have methods to navigate in the desert – you can see from my going in and coming out that even if we go, we can still return.

“Then we’ll be far from trouble, properly manage that oasis, protect all our family’s safety, stay away from conflict, quietly rest and recuperate, and won’t become burdens to Zhixi and Yining, without worrying about anyone capturing us as hostages.”

Qin Huaiyuan’s words were extremely straightforward, allowing all the women and children present to understand.

Though his words were blunt, the reasoning was what he had comprehended through countless thoughts during this time.

“For the prosperity of our three families, leaving this place of trouble is the most appropriate solution. Evening Moon is deep in the desert, and the desert itself is the best barrier. We can start anew there. Second Brother, Third Brother, what do you think? And Mother-in-law?”

The room fell into complete silence.

Everyone frowned in contemplation.

After a long while, Second Master spoke hoarsely first: “I think Elder Brother makes sense. I agree.”

Third Master also sighed deeply and nodded.

He was different from Second Master. Second Master held no office and stayed home idle, only teaching the family’s nephews to read. But Third Master controlled the Qin family’s economic lifeline – he had major business to conduct. Compared to Second Master, when Third Master nodded, he was sacrificing much more.

Qin Huaiyuan nodded approvingly to himself, then explained: “Third Brother needn’t worry. Though we’re moving the entire family, it doesn’t mean never returning. You can have trustworthy people oversee your business and reconcile accounts periodically – specific arrangements can be made. It’s not complete abandonment.”

Third Master nodded: “That would be even more secure. I also agree.”

Since all three masters had nodded agreement, their children naturally couldn’t object. The Old Dowager didn’t mind where they went – as long as the whole family could be together safely, that was good enough, so she naturally agreed.

Zheng Shi thought for a moment and said: “Our Sun family has already established some foundation in the south, but that’s not difficult. I can temporarily entrust those connections to Yining. When peace returns later, we can handle them carefully just the same.”

Qin Huaiyuan respectfully said: “Mother-in-law speaks wisely. All of us can leave, but Yining and Zhixi cannot.”

Everyone’s gaze focused on the couple.

Pang Xiao smiled dashingly: “Father-in-law needn’t worry. If all the people I care about can go to a safe place, then I can act with complete freedom. Only, Yining…” Pang Xiao looked at Qin Yining with slight hesitation: “Yining, why don’t you go to Evening Moon with the family too?”

Qin Yining had been contemplating with lowered eyes. Hearing this, she suddenly looked up: “Why? Leave you to fight alone? I was just thinking that when we leave the capital, Young Master Mu conveniently left corpses of bandits all over the ground for the court. Everyone suddenly disappearing could be blamed on the bandits. The Emperor is far away in the capital and can’t personally witness the scene, so this explanation is eighty percent believable.

“But I cannot leave. If I go, it might very likely attract the Emperor’s attention. Even if the Emperor doesn’t notice, don’t forget you still have a ‘troublemaker’ confined.”

Pang Xiao’s expression became serious, having to admit that Qin Yining’s concerns were well-founded.

Tianji Zi’s target was their couple. If Qin Yining stayed, Tianji Zi wouldn’t care where the Qin and Pang family members went. But if Qin Yining also left, Tianji Zi might very well focus attention on the desert.

That uninhabited desert could stop Li Qitian’s troops but couldn’t stop Tianji Zi.

Just as Pang Xiao couldn’t leave, Qin Yining similarly couldn’t leave.

Pang Xiao sighed lightly and nodded helplessly.

Qin Huaiyuan also knew they had their difficulties. He patted Pang Xiao’s shoulder and said earnestly: “Things being as they are, Zhixi, you should also calm down and quietly think about how to proceed in the future. In my opinion, it’s better to retreat and withdraw early, staying away from conflict.”