The youth appeared to be in his early twenties. Perhaps due to years of abuse by the people of Danfu County, being fed pig slop and dog food, he was now nothing but skin and bones. His refined face had sunken cheeks and deeply recessed eye sockets, looking extremely pitiful.

He returned to the fire and sat down directly, hugging his bamboo stick, not understanding any etiquette. One broken leg stretched out straight, and his severed right arm had been bandaged by Jingzhe and was now suspended with cloth strips.

Xiaoxue and the others asked Jingzhe: “How are this person’s injuries?”

Jingzhe sat down. Since this person was deaf and mute, he spoke without much concern for discretion: “His arm and leg were both brutally broken by people. The leg is better—perhaps the bone fracture has been there so long that it slowly healed itself. Though it didn’t recover well and grew somewhat crooked, at least it won’t affect him too much, just making him walk with a limp. But the arm is completely broken. The bone inside is fractured, held together only by the flesh and skin outside. I just set his bone and found tree branches to bandage and secure it. I imagine when he reaches Hall Master Liao, they’ll need to find a proper physician to examine him thoroughly.”

Xiaoxue and the others all nodded, looking at the youth with great sympathy.

Jingzhe asked again: “Has Madam retired for the night?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s take turns keeping watch, and the rest should sleep. Tomorrow we still need to find Master to reunite.”

“Good.”

After the four discussed and settled the arrangements, they each rested.

The next morning, Qin Yining and Ji Yun dressed properly, taking handkerchiefs and blue salt and other items as they emerged from the tent, and saw the youth curled up by the fire.

Perhaps hearing footsteps, the youth alertly opened his eyes suddenly. When he first opened them, there was the wariness and ferocity of a wild beast being disturbed.

But seeing that the person making the sound was Qin Yining, his ferocity quickly disappeared. He lowered his eyes and head, nodding randomly at Qin Yining.

Qin Yining smiled and went with Ji Yun hand in hand to wash up.

After everything was properly arranged and they returned to camp, several people had a simple breakfast. Jingzhe arranged for Xiaohan to scout for news of Pang Xiao, and told Xiaoxue to escort the youth to find Hall Master Liao.

Qin Yining handed several ten-tael silver notes to the youth, gesturing to him: “This is for you. When you reach my estate, have them find a physician to examine your injuries and treat your illness.”

The youth took the silver notes, looking at Qin Yining with confusion.

Qin Yining gestured again, mimicking the appearance of a physician treating patients, repeating it several times before the youth completely understood.

He looked at Qin Yining and slowly lowered his head while holding the silver notes.

Qin Yining knew this person didn’t understand much etiquette and didn’t mind much. She turned to instruct Xiaoxue: “Be careful yourself. When you reach Huichuan, there’s no need to hurry back. The Prince and I will return soon.”

Xiaoxue acknowledged and went to prepare the horses.

Before long, Xiaohan returned from scouting the whereabouts of Pang Xiao’s group.

“Madam, what a coincidence—Master’s group is camped on another road. If we go that way, we can meet up in just two incense sticks’ time.”

Qin Yining was surprised: “So close! If we had taken a different road yesterday, we would have encountered them.”

“Indeed.”

Qin Yining was very happy. At this time the camp had been cleaned up and the fire dealt with. Qin Yining boarded the carriage with Ji Yun, while Jingzhe and the others each drove a cart.

Xiaoxue led two horses, carrying bundles, and stood by the roadside with the youth watching Qin Yining’s group depart into the distance.

The youth watched the direction the carriages left, gripping the silver notes even tighter in his hand, his pale lips also pressing together.

Xiaoxue then smiled and said: “Let’s go, we should depart too.”

With Xiaoxue’s help, the youth clumsily mounted a horse.

Pang Xiao’s group wasn’t camped far away to begin with, and since Xiaohan had just come by and knew Qin Yining was nearby, Pang Xiao didn’t rush to break camp and waited in place for Qin Yining.

Before long, Qin Yining’s group arrived.

Tang Xiu and the others saw Qin Yining’s group approaching from afar, smiled and came forward to greet them, while others quickly went inside to announce their arrival.

Qin Yining got off the carriage and saw Pang Xiao striding out from the tent. He wore an ivory-white brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist, displaying the noble bearing of a prince or young master. One couldn’t tell at all that this person was a military leader—obviously he had deliberately dressed this way to emphasize his status.

Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi followed behind Pang Xiao. Upon seeing Qin Yining, they bowed in greeting.

Qin Yining quickly stepped aside, smiling: “The two gentlemen need not be so formal.”

Pang Xiao had already approached, asking with concern: “I estimated you wouldn’t return until tomorrow or the day after, and was having the troops slow their pace. How did you return so quickly? Did you encounter some trouble?”

Qin Yining nodded, her expression grave: “There are indeed some matters. Let’s go inside to discuss them.”

Seeing Qin Yining’s expression, everyone knew something was amiss. The group entered the camp tent and sat according to their status. Qin Yining recounted everything she had seen and heard in Danfu County, including how she finally escaped with the youth and how she arranged for the youth’s placement. She concluded:

“The people of Danfu County are simple yet ignorant. Perhaps due to the influence of the three major clan households there, their actions all carry some barbaric air. They seem to have deep misunderstandings about the court and don’t value propriety, only willing to trust the words of their local wealthy clan elders. Moreover, they definitely have misunderstandings about you, Prince Zhongshun.”

Upon hearing this, both Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi couldn’t help but look grave.

“If the situation is like this, it won’t be easy to handle. Who knows what these people have misunderstood to see the Prince as a flood or fierce beast. Their reluctance to have their conscripted workers gather in Huichuan County must also be related to the source of this misunderstanding. If this is truly the case, it really won’t be easy to handle.”

“Indeed. The Prince has never done anything to wrong the people. How did their misunderstanding arise?”

Qin Yining said: “I’m also very puzzled. It’s just that when that incident occurred, I couldn’t stay there any longer and thought we’d address it when we went there. Also, I accidentally showed my face at the time. When we go to Danfu County later, I’ll need to disguise myself well so people won’t recognize me.”

Pang Xiao patted Qin Yining’s cheek: “That’s not to be feared. Those people wouldn’t dare stare at you, and when we reach Danfu County, if you dress more luxuriously and change your makeup, compared to your current plain appearance, the difference will be quite significant—they won’t recognize you. Besides, even if they do recognize you, they’re just common people. What could they say?”

“That’s true.” Qin Yining felt relieved: “I was being too nervous, seeking perfection in everything. But that was indeed my oversight at the time, not remembering to wear my veil.”

Pang Xiao smiled and shook his head: “The intelligence you gathered is already very useful. At least we know how the people of Danfu County perceive me. I just don’t know where exactly I’ve aroused such public anger to make these people hate me so much.”

“This is probably what we need to investigate.”

Xie Yue said: “In this old man’s view, we should depart immediately and first test County Magistrate Cheng’s attitude. This person has considerable connections with the Lu family—I feel we can get some clues from him.”

Pang Xiao agreed: “Master Xie speaks correctly. We’ll break camp and depart shortly.”

“Yes.” Everyone nodded in agreement.

Qin Yining and Ji Yun went to Pang Xiao’s tent to change into a luxurious water-blue ru skirt. Her long hair was piled high and secured with silver flower hairpins. Qin Yining felt this was too austere, so she also put on a pearl headband and mutton-fat white jade bracelets—neither violating mourning customs while clearly displaying her noble status.

After slightly altering her eyebrow shape, angling the tails upward, and applying red peony flower lip rouge to her lips, her whole complexion improved. She looked completely different from her plain-clothed, simple-hairpin appearance when traveling as a merchant.

Ji Yun also changed back to her usual attire. After helping Qin Yining out, Pang Xiao had the tent packed up properly, then boarded the same carriage as Qin Yining.

A prince’s travels, especially when intentional, naturally involved great pomp. Besides the Elite Tiger Guards, Pang Xiao also brought dozens of palace guards. Several carriages lined up in sequence, with Elite Tiger Guards escorting beside the carriages and palace guards following behind.

The journey went very smoothly. By afternoon, the procession was approaching Danfu County town.

Pang Xiao arranged for someone to go into the city to notify County Magistrate Cheng, while the rest remained in place to rest.

After an hour, the city gates opened wide.

Tang Xiu said quietly: “My Prince, the townspeople are coming out to welcome us.”

Pang Xiao lifted the carriage curtain, and Qin Yining also leaned out to look.

They saw crowds of people surging through the opened city gates, with common people all crowding to peek outside.

Pang Xiao chuckled softly: “This County Magistrate Cheng can be considered skillful in managing his subordinates. In just one hour, he was able to mobilize all the townspeople to come out in welcome. This shows County Magistrate Cheng’s influence.”

Qin Yining smiled: “So he can mobilize people for this matter, but can’t handle the business of conscripting workers for building the imperial mausoleum. The reason behind this is unclear.”

As they spoke, the people in the city began to stir, then officials came from behind the crowd. The people parted like the Red Sea, and a group quickly approached from the city.

The leading man appeared to be around thirty, of medium build with a scholarly appearance—a typical pale-faced scholar. He wore a green round-collar official robe with a yellow oriole insignia on his chest. As he walked, he gradually revealed a smile, respectfully bowing slightly.

“Danfu County Magistrate Cheng Jun, together with this county’s deputy magistrate and elders, specially comes to welcome Prince Zhongshun!” County Magistrate Cheng announced his name and respectfully performed a grand ceremony.

The deputy magistrate, advisors, elders, and common people behind him all followed suit in bowing, shouting in unison: “Long live the Prince! Long, long live!”

Pang Xiao and Qin Yining exchanged glances, then he got off the carriage first, smiling as he stepped forward to help them up: “County Magistrate Cheng need not be so ceremonious. Please, everyone rise.”

Qin Yining got off the carriage and stood steady, then slowly walked to behind Pang Xiao with Ji Yun’s assistance and guards’ escort.

County Magistrate Cheng respectfully expressed his thanks, then looked up to see Qin Yining and immediately bowed again: “Greetings to the Princess.”

Qin Yining smiled warmly: “Rise.”

Drawing closer, Qin Yining noticed a familiar face among the elders behind County Magistrate Cheng.

It was the elder who had clashed with her on the street yesterday.

Qin Yining remained composed, standing with dignified bearing and lowered eyes, displaying the nobility and grace of a princess to perfection.

The several people behind County Magistrate Cheng had originally been somewhat curious, wanting to steal glances, but when they met Pang Xiao’s smiling yet sharp gaze, they all cowered and lowered their heads.