Lu Heng suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned back to look coldly at Bian Ruohan. “Whether I can have her or not is still unknown, but if you continue making such a scene, never winning my heart in your lifetime – that’s the real truth. You always speak ill of others – why don’t you look at what kind of person you are? How are you any better than those shrews standing by the roadside cursing in the marketplace?”

Bian Ruohan’s face turned red with shame from Lu Heng’s furious words.

In her husband’s heart, she was just a cursing shrew. It seemed that no matter what she did, she couldn’t catch Lu Heng’s eye, while that wench surnamed Qin, even if she went out to have affairs, was still pure as ice and jade in Lu Heng’s eyes!

Bian Ruohan’s tears flowed continuously as she said through gritted teeth, “I can see now – you just find me disagreeable no matter what! Whatever I do or say, you look down upon. If that’s the case, why did you ask to marry me in the first place!”

Lu Heng frowned angrily. “If I had known you had such a temperament, let alone the Emperor acting as matchmaker, even if the Emperor had issued an imperial decree for the marriage, I would have negotiated with the Emperor to refuse this union! You’re so ill-mannered and unreasonably troublesome, refusing to live peacefully and only knowing how to stir up trouble. How different are you from the gentle, virtuous, well-educated daughter of a distinguished family that the Emperor knew? Or is this what your Bian family considers gentle and virtuous?”

“You! I just cursed that wench a few times, and you have to speak of me this way!”

“I’ll say this one more time.” Lu Heng suddenly approached and grabbed Bian Ruohan’s chin, forcing her to look up at him. “She would never do the things you described. If she had such intentions, many talented young men would be at her feet – why would she need to seduce some unknown guard? The person you saw definitely wasn’t her!”

“It was her! I couldn’t be wrong! Though she disguised herself, I recognized her at first glance!”

“You’re truly possessed!” Lu Heng spat with disgust and released his hand, as if holding Bian Ruohan’s chin was like touching something filthy. “You see a stranger and insist it’s Lady Qin – then can’t I also say that you deliberately went to meet a lover this afternoon, and all this talk of being kidnapped is just your excuse?”

“I didn’t! How can you falsely accuse me!”

“If I decided to think so, what could you do to prove otherwise? You’re subjectively deciding you can damage others’ reputations – if you can decide what’s what, why can’t I?”

“You!”

Lu Heng gave a cold laugh, cutting off whatever Bian Ruohan was about to say.

If not for Qin Yining’s sake, he wouldn’t bother arguing with this ignorant, foolish woman for so long!

Lu Heng turned and left.

Bian Ruohan chased after Lu Heng, shouting grievously, “You say I’m falsely accusing her – I’ll find evidence to show you! She’s pure as ice and jade in your heart – I’ll make you see just how promiscuous this woman is! She doesn’t deserve your affection at all!”

Lu Heng didn’t look back and strode away.

Bian Ruohan, her face swollen, crying with tears all over her face, clenched her fists and viciously pounded the corridor pillars.

The maidservants and old women were all silent as cicadas in winter.

After crying for a long time, Bian Ruohan finally shouted, “Have Bian Tong come here!”

Qin Yining hadn’t intended to take Bian Ruohan’s life. Seeing that she had returned home safely, she too felt relieved.

“Lu Xiong has already gone to find Lu Heng. Lu Heng must have learned about the treasure and will surely find a way to verify it.” Qin Yining leaned against Pang Xiao, using him as a cushion. “I just wonder what method Lu Heng will think of to verify it.”

Pang Xiao had one arm around Qin Yining and held a military strategy book in the other hand. Hearing this, he couldn’t help but put down the book and kiss her cheek. “This difficult problem was originally mine, but now I’ve thrown it all to him. Even if he wants to investigate, he’ll have to rack his brains to avoid my surveillance.”

“You can certainly turn a blind eye and not make it too difficult for him to investigate. But if we were to do this ourselves, he would seize on it and never let go.”

“Exactly.”

Qin Yining sat up straight and smiled. “I still need to go see Shi Fang later. Shopkeeper Yin arranged lodging for him and assigned two maidservants to serve him. As a hall master, I should at least show my face.”

Pang Xiao laughed heartily. “From alliance leader to hall master – my Yining truly has the talent to be a leader wherever she goes.”

“If you praise me like this and others hear it and mock me, I won’t forgive you.” Qin Yining got up and called Bingtang and Ji Yun to help her change clothes. She also had Hanxiao go ahead to tell Xie Yue she needed to disguise herself. After changing into men’s clothing, Qin Yining said, “Now that Jingzhe and the others are here, I’ll take them along. You don’t need to specially make the trip. Shi Fang is by himself – there’s nothing he can do.”

Pang Xiao lowered his eyes and thought for a moment. “That’s fine. My people have nearly turned the city upside down and haven’t found anyone else, so it seems only Shi Fang and Lu Xiong remain. I don’t plan to continue the manhunt either, to avoid making the people anxious. Have Master Xie disguise Jingzhe and the other three as well, just to be safe.”

Qin Yining said seriously, “I understand.”

Jingzhe and the other three had often moved around with Qin Yining before. Though they all had ordinary, forgettable faces, if they encountered someone particularly familiar with Qin Yining, recognizing them wouldn’t be difficult.

After Xie Yue disguised Qin Yining, he also lightly made up Jingzhe and the other three. This time Qin Yining didn’t bring Zi Yuan and Hanxiao, taking only Jingzhe, Xiaoxue, Xiaoman, and Dahan out.

However, just after leaving and turning out of the alley, Jingzhe approached the carriage and said quietly, “Princess Consort, someone is following us.”

Qin Yining was startled. “Where did the tracking start?”

“It seems to have begun from when we left – they’ve already seen our carriage come out of the Prince’s manor.”

Qin Yining narrowed her eyes and gave a cold laugh. “No matter. We’ll just stroll through the streets. Later, have one of you go and counter-track them to see where they’re from.”

“Yes!”

Qin Yining had originally planned to visit Shi Fang, but now it wouldn’t be appropriate to go. She just traveled through the city’s quiet, rain-soaked streets, occasionally passing grain shops and seeing from afar the gloomy expressions of people queuing to sell grain, which somewhat depressed her mood.

Meanwhile, Dahan had imperceptibly separated from the group and was counter-tracking those following Qin Yining.

Because Qin Yining was disguised and had been seen leaving the Prince’s manor, she didn’t show her face throughout the journey. After circling around outside for a while, they soon returned.

Dahan returned to the Prince’s manor half an hour later.

“Princess Consort, that person has some martial arts skills, but this subordinate didn’t let him discover me. I followed him all the way and saw him enter the Lu manor. I originally guessed he was Earl Lu’s man, but after following him in to investigate, I discovered this person went directly to see Earl Zhongyi’s wife. I couldn’t get close enough to hear what they specifically discussed, but I could tell this person serves Earl Zhongyi’s wife loyally.”

“Oh?” Qin Yining raised an eyebrow. So Bian Ruohan was refusing to live peacefully and was stirring up trouble again? Having someone track her for no good reason – hadn’t she learned her lesson yet? Did she still want to catch evidence of her committing adultery?

If the other party was Bian Ruohan’s person, Qin Yining could actually breathe easier and wouldn’t worry so much about exposing what she was secretly doing. Bian Ruohan’s mind was full of romantic affairs and passion – she lacked political acumen and broad perspective.

Jingzhe said, “Earl Zhongyi’s wife arranged for someone to track you, probably because she’s convinced of her earlier suspicions and is trying to find evidence.”

Seeing that Jingzhe’s guess coincided with hers, Qin Yining was certain her speculation was correct.

“It seems sparing her life has actually created more trouble.” Qin Yining shook her head. Just thinking about Bian Ruohan not only depressed her mood but also gave her quite a headache.

“Princess Consort, should I go…” Jingzhe drew his palm across his throat in a gesture.

Qin Yining shook her head. “That’s a method to use only when all else fails. I need to think of a way to make her reap what she sows.”

Jingzhe, Xiaoman, Xiaoxue, and Dahan all knew Qin Yining’s strategic abilities well and nodded trustingly. “Princess Consort, just give your orders.”

Qin Yining lowered her long lashes, her slender fingers twisting slightly as she smiled beautifully. “Tomorrow you’ll accompany me out again.”

“Yes.” The four responded in unison.

The next afternoon, Qin Yining informed Pang Xiao and again took people out.

Soon, Jingzhe told Qin Yining, “Someone’s following us again.”

Qin Yining nodded. “Don’t mind them. Let’s go directly to that house in the south of the city. Don’t react – just pretend we haven’t noticed.”

“Understood.”

Jingzhe and the others pretended not to notice the tracking, carefully and cautiously escorting Qin Yining all the way to the residence in the south of the city where Shi Fang was staying.

While Qin Yining entered to speak with Shi Fang, Bian Tong, who had been tracking Qin Yining, concealed himself and quietly left, rushing back to the Lu family.

“Madam, Madam, I found it!”

Bian Ruohan was playing cards with her maidservants and old women. Hearing this, she immediately stood up. “Really!”

Bian Tong nodded breathlessly. “Really! That person indeed came out of Prince Zhongshun’s manor, and I found that house too!”

“Excellent!” Bian Ruohan was overjoyed and clapped her hands. “You’re certain she entered that residence?”

“Certain! I carefully concealed my tracks and followed their carriage to that residence in the south of the city. After Prince Zhongshun’s consort disguised herself and went in, several servants remained outside to guard the gate. Those people all looked very cautious, as if afraid someone would discover the Princess Consort had gone there.”

“Of course she’s afraid!” Bian Ruohan spun around several times and immediately headed outside. “Come, let’s go see the Earl!”

Bian Ruohan called for people, put on rain gear, and hurried to the study in the outer courtyard.

Lu Wenru had just come out of Lu Heng’s study when he saw Bian Ruohan rushing over in a fluster.

“Madam.”

“Where is the Earl?”

“The Earl is in his study. Madam, you…”

“Move aside!” Bian Ruohan pushed past Lu Wenru and, without announcing herself, pushed open the study door.

Lu Heng was sitting behind his black lacquered paulownia desk. Hearing the sound, he looked up with displeasure. “What is it?”