Pang Xiao lifted the large seal and brushed away the mud on it.

The mountain wind made the torches flicker on and off, yet the four seal script characters “Bei Ji Zhi Bao” (Treasure of Beiji) could still be seen clearly.

Huzi and Mu Jinghu were dumbfounded.

“This is… Beiji’s Imperial Jade Seal!”

“How could this item appear here?”

Mu Jinghu and Huzi simultaneously turned to look at Qin Yining. This area was marked out by Qin Yining, and she even knew the depth to dig. This proved that this jade seal that Li Qitian had searched for everywhere was indeed hidden by Qin Yining.

Huzi lowered his voice but couldn’t hide his excitement: “Who would have thought Your Highness had hidden such a treasure!”

Pang Xiao smiled: “Such words can’t be spoken carelessly. You should consider this item as having spirituality – it grew legs and ran here by itself.”

Qin Yining burst out laughing, and Lian Xiaozhou also laughed until her eyes curved. The slightly tense atmosphere immediately relaxed.

Huzi also realized his words were inappropriate and apologetically scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed grin.

Pang Xiao turned and handed the jade seal to Qin Yining: “You hold it.” He added: “Let’s restore this place to its original state.”

“Yes!” Huzi and Mu Jinghu had no objections and quickly got busy with enthusiasm.

Qin Yining held the heavy jade seal for Lian Xiaozhou to see.

Lian Xiaozhou’s slender, pale fingertips gently traced the mud-covered four seal characters “Bei Ji Zhi Bao,” her eyes already moist.

Regarding the past, it was impossible to say she felt no melancholy. But she was no longer an ignorant child – she understood what she could and couldn’t do now.

Moreover, Qin Yining had concealed this from even her most beloved person for so many years to protect her. No matter how difficult her own life had been these years, she had never mistreated her. Even now when retrieving the jade seal, she had considered everything carefully before speaking about it. If it had been someone with bad intentions, they would have deliberately abandoned her or even killed her back then – wouldn’t she have had to endure that?

Qin Yining was kindhearted, devoted herself wholeheartedly to her, and treated her like a sister. She couldn’t let herself agonize over this past period that she couldn’t even remember clearly, or use those past events to hurt the person closest to her. How unworthy would that be?

Beiji’s fate had long been exhausted – it was truly in the past.

The three men restored the area to its original state and brought snow to cover the ground.

“Fortunately there’s been heavy snow recently. Soon these traces and our footprints will all be covered up.” Pang Xiao smiled.

Qin Yining nodded and handed the jade seal to Pang Xiao to store safely: “In this desolate wilderness, probably no one will come. We should think about how to get through tonight. It’s no longer suitable to go down the mountain now.”

As soon as she finished speaking, they heard the howl of “Aooo” – a wolf’s cry.

Both Qin Yining and Lian Xiaozhou couldn’t help tensing their bodies.

Pang Xiao immediately wrapped his arm around Qin Yining’s shoulder.

Looking around, the tree branches stretched like claws with ghostly shadows. Wolf howls continued in their ears, the north wind whistled mercilessly, drilling into their collars. The rustling sound of falling snow in the pitch-black silent night was like the footsteps of some unknown creature.

He suddenly thought of Qin Yining’s childhood – darkness, cold, hunger, wild beasts that could pounce at any moment, having to work constantly every day…

What if she suddenly became ill? What if she encountered wild beasts or got injured?

When other families’ daughters were living comfortable lives, his precious treasure had already tasted all the world’s hardships and warmth just to survive.

Qin Yining didn’t notice Pang Xiao’s unusual emotions and held Lian Xiaozhou’s hand: “Is there any cave or similar place nearby where we can shelter for the night?”

Lian Xiaozhou nodded: “Yes, this way, along the mountainside. Sister, all of you follow me.”

Lian Xiaozhou squeezed Qin Yining’s hand back. The two of them expertly picked up thick wooden sticks to clear obstacles ahead, their nimble steps amazing Pang Xiao and the others.

Pang Xiao, Mu Jinghu, and Huzi hurried to follow.

After walking for about the time it takes to brew two pots of tea, Lian Xiaozhou found that familiar place. It wasn’t really a cave – just a depression in the mountainside formed by thick tree roots that could half-shelter overhead and block some wind.

The five people lit a fire in the middle. Qin Yining hung her cloak as a door curtain, and Lian Xiaozhou followed suit, untying her cloak to hang right next to Qin Yining’s.

Qin Yining directed the three men: “Go find snow and pile it all around. Pack the snow tightly to block the gaps.”

The three men obediently complied. Everyone worked together and quickly built their snow shelter.

Entering through a gap that only allowed one person to pass sideways, the warm campfire heat hit their faces. Slightly damp branches were discarded in favor of dry branches that burned without producing much smoke. The heat from the campfire quickly made the snow around them more solid.

“Who would have thought Your Highness was so capable – able to build such a warm snow house.” Huzi smiled.

Qin Yining laughed: “This is nothing. We’re just temporarily crowding together to make do. Living in such a place long-term would make you sick.”

Huzi wanted to ask what kind of place Qin Yining had lived in the mountains before – whether she had built houses or lived in caves – but seeing Pang Xiao’s expression already showing some heartache, he swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

Qin Yining squeezed together with Lian Xiaozhou against the innermost wall. Pang Xiao spread his cloak to wrap around Qin Yining and Lian Xiaozhou like a blanket, then sat down next to Qin Yining. Huzi and Mu Jinghu also sat next to Pang Xiao, taking out flatbread from their bodies and threading it on branches to roast over the fire.

Qin Yining let Lian Xiaozhou lean on her shoulder while she leaned against Pang Xiao’s shoulder. In this simple, warm environment with the faint smell of woodsmoke and fragrant aroma of roasting bread in the air, just smelling it made one feel at peace.

Perhaps because Pang Xiao was beside her, Qin Yining didn’t maintain her former vigilance in the mountains and soon fell into peaceful sleep.

Pang Xiao had originally wanted to wake her to eat some hot flatbread, but seeing her sleep so peacefully with her little face flushed red, he couldn’t bear to wake her. He simply ate roasted flatbread with snow alongside Huzi and Mu Jinghu, arranged for taking turns keeping watch, and then rested at ease.

The next day at full daylight, the five people simply ate a few bites of bread, found the path down the mountain, and after settling everything properly, returned to Liangcheng.

Regarding Pang Xiao taking several people out for a night and bringing Lian Xiaozhou along, Bingtang could guess that what they did was definitely related to Lian Xiaozhou’s background. But though Qin Yining, Lian Xiaozhou, and even Huzi had all gone, Bingtang wouldn’t actively question any of them. What she should know, Qin Yining would tell her without her asking. If it was dangerous for her, Qin Yining would keep it hidden.

Like Bingtang’s thoughts, everyone else also tactfully didn’t ask much.

Qin Yining changed out of her damp dress and skirt. When the cool wind blew, she covered her mouth and sneezed three times in a row.

“Your Highness mustn’t catch a cold.” Bingtang said nervously: “I’ll go prepare ginger soup first. You and Xiao Zhou should both drink large hot bowls to drive away the cold.”

Qin Yining nodded with a smile: “Also send some to those three.”

“I know.”

Bingtang quickly went to borrow the inn’s kitchen.

Ji Yun brought hot towels to serve Qin Yining with washing.

“The closer we get to the capital, the colder it becomes. Your Highness has a cold constitution – please be more careful. Your hands and feet are cold as ice blocks.”

“It shouldn’t happen again. This was unavoidable – spending a night in the snowy ground last night. Achoo!” Rubbing her itchy nose, Qin Yining said with teary eyes: “It was very cold at night. Fortunately we found a particularly small cave and built a fire, otherwise who knows how cold we’d be now.”

Ji Yun sighed: “Since you caught a chill, let’s not wash your hair today. Just wipe down, dress warmly, drink ginger soup to work up a good sweat. It would be even better if you could sleep.”

“Mm.” Qin Yining nodded, using paper to wipe her nose.

Pang Xiao drank ginger soup next door. When Bingtang said Qin Yining seemed to have caught a cold, he hurried back to the room. Qin Yining had already downed the ginger soup in one gulp and chewed a piece of raw ginger, so spicy that her forehead and neck were sweating.

When Pang Xiao entered, seeing Qin Yining wrapped in blankets like a bundle, he couldn’t help saying with heartache: “It’s all my fault for not considering things thoroughly enough, not preparing properly for spending the night on the mountain, causing you to catch cold.”

“It has nothing to do with you. Everyone else is fine – only I caught a cold, so it’s my own problem.” Qin Yining smiled: “Have you discussed everything? When do we depart?”

“You’re sick. We can rest here for two more days before leaving.”

“Wasn’t the original plan to reach Maocheng for New Year’s Eve? If we delay further, New Year’s Eve might catch us in the wilderness.”

Pang Xiao thought about it: “Let’s see your condition first. If not, we can spend New Year here before leaving. Anyway, this isn’t my first time disobeying imperial orders.” He had clearly adopted a broken-jar attitude.

Qin Yining shook her head with amusement: “That won’t do. We already have plenty of faults for people to catch – we can’t add fuel to the fire.” At this point, Qin Yining waved at Ji Yun and Bingtang, calling Lian Xiaozhou over.

Bingtang and Ji Yun knew Qin Yining had something to say and quickly retreated to guard the door, not letting anyone approach.

“Zhixi, I want to discuss something with you.”

“What is it?” Pang Xiao asked seriously.

Qin Yining held Lian Xiaozhou’s hand, looking at her somewhat anxious expression. She lovingly touched her cheek: “I want to ask you to help find proper people to care for Xiao Zhou and place her somewhere safe. We found that item, and I fear that sooner or later we won’t be able to hide Xiao Zhou’s identity. Then it will bring her mortal danger.”

Pang Xiao lowered his gaze in thought for a moment and nodded: “You’re right. We should ensure absolute safety.”

But Lian Xiaozhou shook her head: “Sister, I’m not afraid. I don’t want to be separated from you, and I don’t want to be separated from Sister Bingtang…”

“Xiao Zhou, be good.” Qin Yining stopped Lian Xiaozhou’s words, tapping her cheek: “Taking you back to the capital with us would be like delivering a fish to a cat – it’s too dangerous for you. I promise that once matters are resolved, I’ll definitely bring you back to reunite.”