The noon of August was at its most sweltering. Pang Xiao sat upright in his black robes atop his glossy-furred horse “Black Cloud,” already having worked up a thin layer of sweat with beads rolling down his forehead.

However, he paid no attention to these things, his eyes expectantly gazing ahead at the official road. Before long, he had already left Ji Zeyu, Qin Huaiyuan, and their group far behind.

“That boy, how anxious he is,” Mu Jinghu said with an amused smile.

Qin Huaiyuan lifted the carriage curtain and watched Pang Xiao riding away in a cloud of dust, unable to help shaking his head with a smile.

He hadn’t seen Qin Yining for several years either and missed her terribly, but as an elder, it wouldn’t be proper to show such loss of composure before others.

Ji Zeyu smiled without saying anything for the moment.

Seeing Ji Zeyu’s expression from the corner of his eye, Qin Huaiyuan settled back into the carriage.

After all, Ji Zeyu and Princess Anyang had been husband and wife, and rumors circulated that the Princess had been killed by those who rescued Qin Yining. Ji Zeyu hadn’t shown any unusual behavior before Pang Xiao and was willing to follow by Pang Xiao’s side—this was their brotherhood.

But no matter how deep brotherhood ran, it didn’t mean Ji Zeyu would be completely unaffected by his bedmate’s death.

Qin Huaiyuan was somewhat worried that if something unpleasant occurred when they met Qin Yining later, it would be detrimental to the future harmony between Ji Zeyu and Pang Xiao.

At this moment, Qin Yining wore coarse cloth dress and was sitting in a carriage playing cat’s cradle with two children.

“Mother, look, what is this?” Zhao Ge’er’s chubby little hands skillfully formed a pattern. “Mother, guess! If you get it right, Zhao Ge’er will give you a reward!”

Qin Yining held Han Ge’er in her arms, happiness nearly overflowing from her eyes. She pressed her lips together, pretending not to know, and hesitated for a long time before saying: “Hmm, what could it be? I really want Zhao Ge’er’s reward.”

Han Ge’er squirmed in Qin Yining’s arms. Seeing that Qin Yining was stumped by his brother, he quietly leaned close to Qin Yining’s ear and whispered: “Mother, it’s a little mosquito!”

After saying this, he pretended as if nothing had happened, lowering his head to fiddle with his own fingers as though nothing had occurred.

Qin Yining’s heart was about to bloom with joy. From the corner of her eye, she saw Zhao Ge’er glance at Han Ge’er and knew he had definitely discovered his little brother secretly giving hints. But Zhao Ge’er said nothing, only pretended not to notice, still asking seriously: “Mother, guess quickly.”

Qin Yining felt the happiness of being doted on by her two sons. After pondering for a long while, she said: “Is it a little mosquito?”

“Correct! Mother, you’re so clever!” Zhao Ge’er threw aside the string and hugged Qin Yining’s neck, giving her a loud kiss. “A kiss reward for Mother!”

Qin Yining was tickled into giggles, turning her face and leaning over: “What about this side? This side wants one too.”

But Zhao Ge’er turned his little face away: “No more! Mother must guess another riddle. Only if you get it right will you get a kiss.”

Qin Yining pouted, her big eyes blinking as she let out a disappointed “Oh.”

Han Ge’er immediately leaned over and gave her a loud kiss, then stuck out his tongue at Zhao Ge’er making faces.

Zhao Ge’er pounced forward to catch Han Ge’er.

Han Ge’er wailed loudly: “Mother! Brother wants to pinch me! Mother!”

Qin Yining hugged this one and held that one, laughing until she nearly got a stitch in her side.

Because she was so absorbed in playing, she didn’t notice that the carriage had gradually come to a stop.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Pang Xiao crouched by the carriage shaft, watching the mother and sons laughing together inside. His eyes had already softened like warm springs.

Qin Yining noticed the sound and looked up, meeting Pang Xiao’s gaze directly, suddenly stunned.

“Daddy!” the twins said in unison, pouncing toward Pang Xiao.

Pang Xiao embraced the two children: “Little rascals, what are you playing?”

“We were playing cat’s cradle with Mother.”

Qin Yining knelt in the carriage, her watery eyes brimming with tears, her lips curved in a smile as she looked at Pang Xiao: “You came.”

Pang Xiao nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing, his phoenix eyes full of longing, pity, guilt, and other emotions, unable to speak for a moment.

Qin Yining lowered her gaze and a tear fell.

Pang Xiao immediately panicked, casually setting the two children aside and quickly entering the carriage, clumsily using his sleeve to wipe her tears.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left you in the capital, nearly causing you to lose your life. It’s my fault, I was too incompetent.”

Qin Yining shook her head: “This isn’t your fault either. Besides, everything turned out safely in the end.” Sniffing, she didn’t want to spoil the reunion scene and smiled, saying: “Yun Jie’er and Xuan Ge’er are in the carriage behind. Don’t you want to go see them?”

Pang Xiao shook his head, extending his long arms to embrace Qin Yining: “Yi Jie’er, I’ve wronged you.”

He had too much guilt.

He had left with the Pingnan Army, leaving Qin Yining pregnant and still worrying about their provisions. A woman giving birth was already walking through the gates of death, let alone Qin Yining giving birth to twins?

Not only had he not been by her side to accompany and care for her, but all troubles had to be borne by her alone. In the end, she was even ambushed and nearly lost her life. Even now, her small face was still pale, her injuries not yet healed. Then they had all been captured by Li Qitian, leading to the subsequent near-death experiences, and even a gentle, quiet woman like her had to be locked in a prisoner’s cart for public humiliation…

What did it feel like to be locked in a prisoner’s cart? When he had locked Si Qin and the others in prisoner’s carts that day, it was also because thinking of Qin Yining suffering such hardship made him unable to resist inflicting the same suffering on those who had indirectly caused Qin Yining’s pain.

Qin Yining shook her head. She wanted to say it was alright, that there was nothing to be sorry about, but since parting from Pang Xiao, she had faced death multiple times and nearly never saw him again. Before the children, she was their mother and couldn’t show the slightest weakness. Before her attendants, she was their mistress and couldn’t lose direction. But seeing Pang Xiao, the emotions of grievance and lingering fear could no longer be controlled.

Qin Yining buried herself in Pang Xiao’s embrace, unable to help sobbing aloud.

Pang Xiao’s heart ached beyond measure, his large hand gently patting her back: “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I won’t let you face danger again.”

When Qin Yining cried, Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er also began sniffling and sobbing.

Outside the carriage, Ji Yun and Bingtang also felt their noses sting with emotion.

Others might not know, but they had witnessed firsthand everything Qin Yining had endured and felt it themselves. Those who didn’t know thought Qin Yining, as a princess consort, enjoyed wealth and status, living glamorously. But only those by her side knew that Qin Yining being alive today was entirely due to heaven’s protection. If there had been even the slightest deviation, today Pang Xiao and Qin Yining would have had no possibility of meeting again.

Qin Huaiyuan’s group of carriages slowly stopped by the roadside. Mu Jinghu and Ji Zeyu dismounted and helped Qin Huaiyuan down from the carriage. The group looked strangely at the scene before them.

“What’s this about? Why does everyone look so mournful?” Huzi spoke rather directly, and as soon as he finished speaking, he saw the tearful Bingtang glare at him.

Bingtang then noticed Qin Huaiyuan and quickly curtsied in greeting, then told those in the carriage: “Princess Consort, Master Qin has arrived.”

Qin Yining was sobbing when she heard this and forgot to cry, looking up at Pang Xiao: “Is it my father?”

Pang Xiao nodded, using his sleeve to wipe her tears: “Father-in-law came with me.”

Qin Yining nodded. Seeing Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er still sniffling and wiping tears, she felt deeply guilty—she had only focused on her own sadness and forgotten the children!

“Alright, alright. Mother won’t cry anymore. Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er won’t cry either, okay?”

Both children nodded together, and Han Ge’er even hiccupped from crying.

Qin Yining helped wipe the children’s faces.

Pang Xiao turned and leaped down from the carriage, then turned back to lift the children down.

“Grandfather!” the two children said in unison, running on their short legs to Qin Huaiyuan and properly bowing: “Grandfather, may you be well.”

“Good children.” Qin Huaiyuan patted both their little heads, then smiled as he looked toward Qin Yining.

“Father.” Qin Yining’s tears flowed again as she quickly walked forward and knelt to kowtow.

Qin Huaiyuan supported Qin Yining with both hands: “Get up quickly.”

Qin Yining looked up at Qin Huaiyuan, smiling through tears: “Is Father well? Are Mother, Grandmother, and Second Uncle all well?”

“All well, all well. Your grandmother is getting on in years, her health declining day by day, but it’s still acceptable. Everyone else is adapting well in Xiyue.”

Qin Yining nodded repeatedly, tears streaming down and wetting her clothes: “Father has worked so hard these days. Making Father work so hard shows this daughter’s lack of filial piety.”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled and shook his head: “You’ve done very well. I’ve heard something of your experiences these days. Being able to meet again today brings great comfort to my heart.”

Qin Yining looked toward Mu Jinghu, pressed her lips together, and stepped forward to perform a deep bow: “Young Master Mu, I’m sorry.”

After all, Tianji Zi had died to save her. Regardless of past events, this alone made Qin Yining feel guilty.

Mu Jinghu shook his head and smiled: “This isn’t your fault. Master had her own considerations for everything. Since she acted this way, she had already considered the consequences and accepted them. You needn’t blame yourself at all.”

Even so, when someone had sacrificed themselves for her, her heart couldn’t remain completely untouched.

Seeing Ji Zeyu, Qin Yining’s lips moved, and she finally spoke directly: “Everyone says Princess Anyang was killed by my people. Actually, that’s not true. She went to the prison that day to humiliate me, and it happened to coincide with people coming to rescue me. The other party fought their way into the prison and killed her without looking carefully… Though I didn’t act directly, it could be said I indirectly caused her harm. I’ve wronged you.”

Actually, Ji Zeyu’s people had already investigated the situation clearly. Even if Qin Yining didn’t explain, he knew this matter couldn’t be blamed on Qin Yining.

But Qin Yining’s ability to speak frankly face-to-face without evasion made Ji Zeyu feel much better. At least her character was sufficient to match Pang Xiao.

“I already know about this matter. If she hadn’t gone to the prison to humiliate you, she wouldn’t have encountered those people.” Ji Zeyu didn’t directly mention Tianji Zi’s name, since Tianji Zi was Mu Jinghu’s master and had already passed away. Now they all traveled together with Pang Xiao, so it was better not to dwell on this matter.

Pang Xiao patted Ji Zeyu’s shoulder comfortingly.

At this moment, Han Ge’er was already pulling Qin Huaiyuan’s hand toward the carriage behind: “Grandfather, come quickly and see little sister!”