However, understanding did not mean agreement.

“One can only say that everyone has their own aspirations.” Xu Weizhi heaved a long sigh.

Xie Yue also shook his head. Having once served alongside Pang Xiao, after all they had shared the camaraderie of fighting side by side—to say there was no regret at all in his heart would be false.

But just as Xu Weizhi had said, everyone has their own aspirations, so there was no need to dwell on this matter.

“From this perspective, although Tao Hanshan left His Highness’s side, he still wishes to continue doing something for His Highness. Or perhaps…” Xie Yue’s tone paused slightly, and he said with a bitter smile, “Perhaps this old fool’s description is inaccurate—though he left His Highness’s side, he still wants to do something for His Highness’s imperial ambitions and grand designs.”

Only by pushing Pang Xiao to that position could he achieve the merit of switching allegiances at the opportune moment—hadn’t the founding nobility of every dynasty throughout history done exactly this?

Pang Xiao sneered coldly, “The merit of supporting the dragon’s ascent? But what makes Tao Hanshan think that after pursuing and attempting to kill this prince’s legitimate wife, this prince would still continue to trust him?”

Standing up abruptly, Pang Xiao suppressed his fury as he said, “What he thinks in his heart, this prince knows clearly. What he wants, if not excessive, this prince would also acquiesce to. But in his self-righteousness, he actually wanted to kill this prince’s wife and frame others for it, forcing this prince to act according to his ideas. With such methods, how is he any different from this prince’s enemies? What he wants is not someone he can loyally follow, nor does he seek any merit of supporting the dragon—what he wants is a puppet he can manipulate at will!”

Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi stood up, “Your Highness, please calm your anger.”

As fellow strategists, they too inevitably had some expectations. But they knew their limits and boundaries, and they knew where His Highness’s bottom line lay.

Pang Xiao realized his anger would affect Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi, so he suppressed his fury and said, “Gentlemen, do not take this to heart. This prince harbors no other meaning—it’s just that Yi-jie nearly lost her life this time. Although she didn’t die, she watched someone die right before her eyes while protecting her, and this has caused her tremendous harm.”

“The princess consort is one who values loyalty and righteousness deeply. This old fool has also heard about that young man’s matter. Your Highness should comfort the princess consort more.”

“Indeed. That young man has already been prepared for burial. Your Highness should tactfully inquire with the princess consort about how to lay him to rest properly.”

At the thought of Qin Yining shedding tears over this, Pang Xiao’s heart ached unbearably, and he said helplessly, “Gentlemen, rest assured. I will counsel Yi-jie.”

When Pang Xiao returned to the tent, Qin Yining was sleeping peacefully. In her dreams, her brow was tightly furrowed, and her body was curled into a ball like a frightened little animal.

His heart filled with tenderness, Pang Xiao felt both heartache and pity as he quietly moved to sit gently beside the wooden plank bed.

The bed frame made a slight sound—though the noise was insignificant, Qin Yining still startled awake with a jolt, her hoarse voice revealing traces of panic.

“Who!”

“It’s me, darling, don’t be afraid.” Seeing such a strong reaction from her, Pang Xiao hurriedly embraced her, gently kissing her cheeks and forehead. “Don’t be afraid. Did I wake you?”

Breathing in the familiar scent from Pang Xiao’s body, Qin Yining’s heart relaxed slightly, only then becoming aware that her heart was pounding wildly in her chest.

She felt somewhat unwell.

Perhaps it was due to traveling outdoors these past days, being frightened, and not having proper rest.

Pang Xiao removed his boots and outer robe, and wearing his snow-white inner garment and silk trousers, he climbed onto the bed, lying behind her and pulling her tightly into his arms.

Her body was soft, her temperature running low—having slept for so long, her hands and feet were still ice-cold.

Pang Xiao’s heart ached as his large hands grasped her delicate, boneless small hands, using his calves to sandwich her cold feet, warming her with his body heat.

“Darling, sleep. Sleep well—I’m here for everything.”

Qin Yining turned over, burying her face in Pang Xiao’s embrace, mumbling an unclear response: “Mm.”

Pang Xiao kissed her forehead, pulled the blanket properly, and wrapped Qin Yining tightly.

After a night of deep sleep, Pang Xiao woke early the next morning according to his usual habit, but he didn’t disturb Qin Yining, maintaining his position motionlessly as he quietly held her.

Qin Yining had not slept peacefully last night, awakening several times during the night. Though not fully conscious, each time she startled awake with gasping breaths, Pang Xiao would immediately wake as well, holding and coaxing her back to sleep. This continued until dawn broke, when she finally truly fell asleep. Naturally, Pang Xiao couldn’t bear to get up for fear of waking her, so he simply held her while contemplating the current situation and how to respond.

Xu Weizhi and Xie Yue did wake early, but seeing no movement from His Highness’s tent, Tang Xiu didn’t dare disturb him. When matters arose, he would first consult the two gentlemen.

“That Magistrate Cheng is still kneeling upright outside the camp. What do you gentlemen think should be done?”

Though a magistrate was a minor position, he was still a court-appointed official. No matter how powerful His Highness was, there were still many eyes watching. His Highness conducted himself with integrity, but Tang Xiu worried he might be seized upon for this matter and accused of abusing private authority to punish a court official.

Xu Weizhi thought for a moment and said, “That Magistrate Cheng is quite an interesting person, his actions are most intriguing. You need not worry—His Highness naturally has his judgment.”

Knowing this was Pang Xiao’s arrangement, Tang Xiu set his mind at ease and no longer dwelled on this matter.

Magistrate Cheng knelt upright outside the main camp without rising. People moving about in the camp could naturally see him, but no one approached.

The main camp was stationed not far from the city gates of Danfu County—one could even vaguely make out the outline of the city gates. Yesterday’s major incident in the city had occurred, and though the common people were so afraid they wished they could hide, the county’s three major families were still concerned about the outside situation and ultimately arranged for people to come out and investigate. From a distance, they saw the person kneeling in front of the main camp.

Magistrate Cheng was quite reputable locally. Now that His Highness had been wounded by an assassination attempt, and the magistrate was kneeling in punishment outside His Highness’s temporary camp, this news immediately spread throughout Danfu County.

The patriarchs of the Liu, Yuan, and Yu families nervously gathered to discuss countermeasures.

“What are we to do about this? Yesterday, we don’t know which family’s descendant was so inaccurate with their aim that they actually wounded Prince Zhongshun. Prince Zhongshun is the Emperor’s favored minister—if something truly happens to him, what will become of us? If we end up branded with the crime of treason, none of our family members, old or young, will survive.”

“Brother Liu, don’t be anxious.” Patriarch Yuan comfortingly patted Patriarch Liu’s shoulder, then stroked his grizzled beard. “Though His Highness’s situation is dangerous, there’s a saying that the law cannot punish the masses—in the end, they probably won’t blame us for much. The difficulty is that our sought objective was unsuccessful. The Emperor’s construction of the imperial mausoleum will certainly require conscripting laborers from our area again. When that time comes, won’t the younger generation of our families have to continue suffering?”

Everyone sighed in unison.

The matter wasn’t accomplished, the objective wasn’t achieved, and they had even wounded His Highness. Even the magistrate was punished with kneeling—these common people had no idea what they would face.

At this thought, the three family patriarchs felt their scalps tingling with dread.

Under such fear, recalling yesterday’s “wolf cubs” who had killed their clan’s young and able-bodied men when they surrounded the prefectural office, the elders were overcome with grief. They mourned both the tragic deaths of their family’s younger generation and worried that the Emperor would bring down punishment upon them.