Pang Xiao lowered his gaze in thought for a long while, then shook his head: “This matter isn’t easy to handle. Trying to find abnormal stone blocks among a large quantity of stone materials is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Not only is it difficult for us, but Guan Dahu and Liu Baner also face the same problem. Even if they become magistrates, they’d still have to examine block by block. After all, the transportation might not have been done by their own people. If it had been their own people, knowing the general direction would make it somewhat easier.”

“Yes. Mrs. Liao and the others never originally intended for this batch of treasure to be transported to Huichuan County. None of them could have anticipated that Utekin Khan would suddenly interfere and manage to kidnap people.” Shopkeeper Zhong said, “They’re contacting Hall Master Liao probably because they lack manpower.”

“This matter is truly difficult. Finding the stone materials is hard enough. What’s even harder is that this must be done in secret without letting anyone in court discover any abnormalities.”

Qin Yining frowned as she looked at Pang Xiao, speaking frankly: “If they report this to His Majesty, he would do anything for the treasure. He could easily arrange more people, making it much easier to find the treasure then. Speaking with great disrespect, if His Majesty gets this money, I think not only you but even Ji Lan would be in danger. You two have the greatest suspicion of overwhelming your master with your achievements. How could His Majesty feel at ease without eliminating you?”

Qin Yining spoke very directly, making no attempt to avoid Shopkeeper Zhong.

Pang Xiao smiled slightly, understanding Qin Yining’s arrangement, and didn’t object.

Shopkeeper Zhong broke out in a cold sweat listening, but after being frightened for just a moment, his gaze turned resolute.

Back when Duke Dingguo’s household of the Sun family in Great Yan met their tragic end, Duke Dingguo was a man of iron integrity who had devoted himself wholeheartedly to Great Yan in his early years. The entire Sun family were loyal ministers, but what good did it do them in the end? For his own selfish interests, the foolish emperor disregarded all human ethics and morality.

Looking now at Pang Xiao before him, radiating righteousness and imposing presence, Shopkeeper Zhong’s worry intensified. Cold sweat streaming down, he couldn’t help saying:

“Your Highness, you must think of a way – you cannot let that person obtain the treasure! Think of Your Highness the Princess, think of your family. What happened to Your Highness the Princess’s grandfather’s family back then serves as a warning. Conquering the realm is difficult, but keeping it is even harder. You… you must be more vigilant!”

Pang Xiao was very satisfied with Shopkeeper Zhong and felt moved.

This old man had always followed Qin Yining wholeheartedly and loyally. He was indeed repaying Qin Yining’s life-saving grace with complete sincerity.

For such a loyal elder, Pang Xiao felt respectful: “You’re right. I will be more careful.”

Seeing Pang Xiao like this, though Qin Yining had already made her decision long ago, thinking about it now still made her feel somewhat desolate.

“You are all brothers who kowtowed together. You originally agreed to overthrow Beiji’s tyranny and give the people peaceful, tranquil lives. On the battlefield, you trusted each other enough to watch each other’s backs. How has it come to this now?”

Pang Xiao sighed: “If His Majesty had been content with his territory from the beginning and never harbored ambitions toward Great Yan, would things have been better?”

Qin Yining shook her head: “Your Highness, have you forgotten what kind of character Great Yan’s foolish emperor had? In your heart, haven’t you always considered the people of Great Yan as human beings too? You fought for people, that’s all.”

“Yes, for people. My beliefs have never changed – I’ve always wanted to give the people a prosperous, peaceful era.” Now he might have to start another war.

Hearing Pang Xiao’s words, Shopkeeper Zhong couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh.

Such a loyal and righteous person, just like the old Duke Dingguo back then – who could have predicted he would gradually be forced to this point?

Having followed Qin Yining all along, he understood Pang Xiao and Qin Yining’s circumstances most clearly.

“Your Highness, this old man has something to say. Please listen.”

“Shopkeeper Zhong has been by Sister Yi’s side for a long time, and Sister Yi trusts you most. You’re family. Whatever you want to say, Shopkeeper Zhong, just speak freely.”

Yes, he was indeed an old man by Qin Yining’s side. Since following Qin Yining, everyone knew he stood on Qin Yining’s side – this wasn’t a secret.

Even if he felt danger now and wanted to escape opportunistically, there was no guarantee that when Li Qitian targeted Pang Xiao, he wouldn’t treat him as an accomplice to be purged.

What people most feared was being a fence-sitter. Sometimes wanting to please both sides would end up offending both. Better to choose a side and stick with it.

Thinking of this, Shopkeeper Zhong became even more determined about his earlier decision, speaking frankly: “Your Highness, the realm is now unified – a unity rarely seen in a hundred years. Even the northern Tatars and southern Southern Yan are no longer threats. This counts as one of His Majesty’s achievements.

“But if you think carefully, in the seven years since His Majesty ascended the throne, what practical things has he truly done for the people? What he’s done most is consider how to stabilize his own kingdom and how to expand Great Zhou’s territory. Excessive taxes haven’t decreased, but corvée labor has become increasingly severe. He constantly wages wars but doesn’t select talent for the country, nor has he implemented any commercial policies to develop the economy. Great Zhou is poor, but rather than finding ways to increase revenue and reduce expenditure for the people, he fixates on Great Yan’s treasure, wanting to bite even mosquito legs.”

Shopkeeper Zhong’s voice carried the particular hoarseness of old age, but his pace was unhurried, and every word struck straight to Qin Yining’s heart.

“Shopkeeper Zhong is right.” Qin Yining smiled approvingly, then turned to Pang Xiao with a smile: “Your Highness, I see you understand everything in your heart, but you’re just too upright and often bound by morality.”

Pang Xiao smiled bitterly. Some things were his bottom line, but reality kept pushing him, step by step moving that bottom line.

Qin Yining said: “This realm has never stipulated whose surname it must bear. When the Zhou clan of Beiji and the Yuchi clan of Great Yan were in power and acted absurdly and unethically, righteous people rose up and completely overthrew their tyranny.

“If His Majesty cannot be a good emperor who brings benefits to the people, only caring about whether his throne is stable, only neglecting state affairs, governing a country like a farmer guards his courtyard, then Great Zhou will inevitably follow the same path as Beiji and Great Yan.

“Furthermore, instead of thinking about how to employ people to make Great Zhou prosperous, he indiscriminately harms meritorious officials for his own selfish interests. Even if you and I submit to execution to satisfy his wishes, it would only temporarily prevent military disasters. But who can guarantee that in the future, no one will disapprove of his actions and overthrow him?”

Shopkeeper Zhong also nodded in agreement: “Your Highness the Princess speaks reasonably. This old man thinks the same. Rather than entrust this vast territory and all the people to unknown future hands, better to resolve it now with Your Highness’s hands.”

Pang Xiao sighed deeply: “Forget it, let me think more about how to find a solution that satisfies all sides.”

Seeing Pang Xiao like this, Shopkeeper Zhong couldn’t help feeling emotional: “People evaluate Your Highness in all sorts of ways. You’re the war god of Great Zhou’s people – you swept away tyranny for them and expanded territory. You’re also the nightmare of Great Yan’s people – when you led troops to attack back then, every battle report would scare us into trembling.”

Remembering past events, Qin Yining felt as emotional and amused as Shopkeeper Zhong.

“Yes, just hearing that you had captured some city, that heads were displayed somewhere, that some place was massacred, would frighten people to tears.”

“But thinking about it now, Your Highness is truly a benevolent person. Though you led troops in battle and battlefield casualties are a soldier’s duty, you never harmed civilians. Now, even when forced to this point by His Majesty, you still maintain your benevolent heart. This is truly admirable.” Shopkeeper Zhong sincerely bowed: “If I could follow Your Highness, it would be this old man’s fortune.”

Pang Xiao waved his hand and helped Shopkeeper Zhong up: “Please don’t say such things.”

Seeing today’s purpose achieved, Qin Yining smiled: “Alright, alright, we’re all family – no need to be so polite. I understand Shopkeeper Zhong’s thoughts. Since we’ve spoken openly about this matter today, Shopkeeper Zhong just keep it in your heart. As the saying goes, before troops move, provisions must go first. The profits from my lands, shops, and factories should also be properly tallied, and we should discuss how to manage them.”

Shopkeeper Zhong was a clever man and immediately understood Qin Yining’s meaning.

If Pang Xiao made any decisions and wanted to act, he would definitely need money. By telling him now, he could start preparing in this direction early.

But the topic the three of them discussed today was, after all, treasonous. If it spread and people knew, it could damage Pang Xiao’s reputation. Not to mention outsiders – even Pang Xiao’s subordinates in the Pingnan Army and Huben Army, if they misunderstood His Highness and thought he wanted to rebel for selfish reasons, that would be the greatest fatal blow.

Even without Qin Yining’s instructions, he would never say a word to anyone.

That Your Highness the Princess and Your Highness trusted him enough to confide in him before returning to the capital showed such trust that he could only repay with loyalty.

When Shopkeeper Zhong took his leave, he appeared the same as usual with no abnormal expression, but looking carefully, one could see his eyes were much brighter and more determined than before.

After Shopkeeper Zhong had gone far, Pang Xiao smiled and asked Qin Yining: “Telling Shopkeeper Zhong these things – aren’t you afraid he’ll spread the word first and ruin your plans?”

Qin Yining smiled and shook her head: “He won’t. He’s followed me in handling affairs conscientiously, motivated by loyalty. Whether for loyalty or for his family’s future, he knows his limits. Such words, spoken without evidence, would need someone to believe them. Slandering court officials is a great crime, and slandering a prince of different surname is an even greater crime.”

Pang Xiao said: “That’s true. Even if I told my subordinates now that I wanted to rebel, they probably wouldn’t believe I was doing it for selfish reasons. Mr. Xie and Mr. Xu, who are so close to me, wouldn’t believe it either.”

Anyone who thought Pang Xiao was just a crude warrior who only knew how to lead troops would likely suffer greatly. He was resourceful and calculated everything thoroughly, especially possessing exceptional comprehension in government and military affairs. Today’s conversation laid the economic foundation for their future actions and determined the direction of their future conduct.