Qin Yining hadn’t expected to encounter such firm rejection upon coming to Tianji Valley. But thinking carefully, she could understand why Fang Hailing would be so adamant. After all, Tianji Zi had died from severe injuries sustained while saving her. In the eyes of Tianji Gate’s disciples, she was the culprit. How could they possibly allow the person responsible for Tianji Zi’s death to enter their Tianji Valley?

Qin Yining didn’t want to make the situation more awkward, so she no longer insisted.

“If that’s the case, I won’t trouble you further, Young Master. I do indeed wish to see Miss Lian who is staying with your honorable sect. Please show some consideration.”

Seeing that Qin Yining, despite her noble status, was so gentle and didn’t put on airs, Fang Hailing felt much better and his tone became considerably warmer: “Since that’s the case, I’ll have someone bring Miss Lian here.”

“Thank you for the trouble.” Qin Yining nodded in acknowledgment.

Fang Hailing made no further delay and turned to leave with his fellow disciples.

Maidong hesitated somewhat. After paying respects to Qin Yining, she wasn’t sure whether she should return.

Qin Yining smiled: “Go back and tell your young lady that I’ve come, so she won’t worry unnecessarily without understanding the situation.”

“Yes.” Maidong curtsied and turned to follow Fang Hailing’s group out.

Qin Yining helplessly returned to the room and sat down. Ji Yun brought her a cup of honey water and sighed: “I didn’t expect the people of Tianji Gate to be so inflexible.”

“You can’t blame them for this. From another perspective, if we had experienced such things, our attitude might be even worse than theirs.”

Ji Yun thought briefly and nodded.

Qin Yining didn’t know when Fang Hailing would bring Lian Xiaozhou out, so she could only wait.

In the afternoon, the wooden gate was knocked upon. Grandmother Cui, hearing the commotion, craned her neck to look outside and saw a young gentleman arriving with three flower-like beautiful young ladies, which naturally made her curious. But thinking of the fairy-like person staying in the side courtyard, she figured they must be either wealthy or noble, so it was natural for their associates to be beautiful as well. Therefore she wasn’t surprised and wisely told her husband that since nothing was happening today, they shouldn’t disturb the people in the side courtyard.

As soon as Qin Yining heard the knocking, she personally went out to greet them.

Fang Hailing delivered the person and stepped aside, revealing Lian Xiaozhou, who had grown considerably taller. She wore a bean-green fine cotton jacket with a goose-yellow horse-face skirt below, her black hair arranged in double-ring buns. Her entire appearance was much more spirited than before.

“Xiao Zhou!” Qin Yining called out joyfully.

Tears swirled in Lian Xiaozhou’s eyes as she hurried forward and threw her arms around Qin Yining: “Sister! You came to see me!”

Qin Yining nodded repeatedly, tears already falling: “Yes, yes, you’ve grown taller and become even more beautiful. I almost didn’t dare recognize you.”

Lian Xiaozhou sniffled and wiped her face, chiding: “Sister, you’re talking nonsense again, always praising me. How have I become beautiful?”

Listening to Lian Xiaozhou speak, she was no longer as timid and fearful as before, nor did she stutter frequently. Though her voice wasn’t loud, it was no different from an ordinary person’s.

Qin Yining felt both joy and heartache, embracing Lian Xiaozhou as they both wept, causing Ji Yun and Bingtang nearby to shed tears as well.

After a while, Lian Xiaozhou noticed Bingtang and hugged her tight: “Sister Bingtang!”

“Silly girl, I thought you couldn’t see me.” Though Bingtang’s words were reproachful, she couldn’t stop her tears from falling.

Ji Yun wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief: “Don’t keep talking outside—please come inside to sit.”

But Fang Hailing shook his head in refusal: “I’ll just walk around outside. If you have any instructions, just let me know.” With that, he cupped his hands and turned to stride away from the Cui residence.

Lian Xiaozhou turned to watch Fang Hailing’s departing figure, her eyes showing some worry, her slightly furrowed brows revealing concern.

Qin Yining’s bright eyes lit up with curiosity as she looked at the striding Fang Hailing, then at Lian Xiaozhou.

“What’s wrong? Are you close to this Young Master Fang?”

Qin Yining’s question was very direct, causing Lian Xiaozhou’s face to flush completely red. She stamped her foot indignantly: “Sister, you’re always talking nonsense!”

Seeing Lian Xiaozhou’s reaction, Qin Yining understood something and couldn’t help laughing. Ji Yun and Bingtang beside her also seemed to understand and smiled knowingly. This made Lian Xiaozhou blush even more.

“Sister, what exactly do you want to ask? If you don’t ask, I, I’m leaving.” She made as if to turn and go.

Qin Yining quickly grabbed her, linking arms as they entered the room.

Jingzhe, Da Han, and the other four quickly went to guard inside and outside the courtyard to prevent their conversation from being overheard.

As soon as Lian Xiaozhou entered, she took Qin Yining’s hands and asked: “Sister, are you ill? Your complexion is very poor, and you’ve lost a lot of weight.”

Qin Yining smiled reassuringly: “It’s nothing much. How have you been during this time?”

Lian Xiaozhou nodded: “I’ve been very well. Life in the mountains is quite comfortable, and the people of Tianji Gate treat me very well and take good care of me. Although my range of movement is limited, whether it’s food, clothing, or daily necessities, everything is of the finest quality.”

Qin Yining said with understanding: “It seems Tianji Gate is quite mysterious.”

“Yes. Even when I left the valley, I was blindfolded and led out by Young Master Fang.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining felt much more accepting of her earlier failure to enter Tianji Valley. After all, Tianji Valley was such a mysterious place that didn’t allow people to enter freely. Even Bingtang, who had lived there so long, was no exception. Naturally, the people of Tianji Gate had to prevent outsiders from remembering the route, which could be detrimental to this mysterious sect.

Lian Xiaozhou grasped Qin Yining’s hands and shook them, her voice timid: “Sister, your complexion really is very poor. Has something happened outside?”

Qin Yining held her slightly cool small hands and patted them: “It’s nothing—I just suffered a minor injury recently.”

“What do you mean minor injury? The princess consort’s wound nearly took her life.”

Bingtang pulled over a stool to sit beside Lian Xiaozhou and told her everything that had happened recently, including the changes in court, the difficulties facing Pang Xiao and Qin Yining, how Qin Yining had given birth to another pair of dragon and phoenix twins, how she had been arrested right after finishing her confinement period, paraded through the streets, and mistreated—and that wasn’t even counting how she had nearly lost her life.

Lian Xiaozhou was absolutely shocked listening to this and anxiously asked: “How is sister’s injury now? I had no idea the outside world had become so chaotic! Is the emperor now even more wary of the prince? If the prince stops fighting wars, won’t he be targeted by the emperor when he returns?”

Qin Yining stroked Lian Xiaozhou’s head: “The current situation is indeed not optimistic. I originally didn’t want to disturb your peaceful life, but after thinking it over repeatedly, I still wanted to ask for your advice on this matter.”

Lian Xiaozhou nodded seriously: “Sister, you can speak directly about anything. Whatever I can do, I will certainly do my utmost.”

Qin Yining smiled bitterly: “I really don’t want to disrupt your peaceful life. But the current situation is becoming increasingly severe, and I don’t have any other options for the moment.”