The Empress’s complexion was exceptionally pale, her expression tense, and her lips pressed tightly together. Without any makeup, she looked several years older than usual.
Qin Yining lowered her gaze, not daring to look directly at the Empress’s face, and respectfully asked, “How has Your Majesty been these past days?”
Her thoughts were racing as she considered how to inform the Empress of the current situation in the most tactful way possible, hoping to make her understand her actions and not let this matter become public knowledge.
“This palace is well enough. However, regarding this incident of being trapped on Yinyuan Peak, this palace does not wish others to know of it.” The Empress shook her head wearily, her expression serious.
Qin Yining’s eyes widened in surprise.
The Empress’s request perfectly aligned with her own thoughts. After a moment’s reflection, Qin Yining understood. As the mother of the nation, being deceived and brought to such a place was already a great humiliation, not to mention being trapped on a mountaintop with a male official. She worried that Pang Xiao would face gossip and suspicion, and the Empress similarly feared being the subject of gossip and speculation.
Since both parties shared the same concerns, the matter would be easy to handle.
“Yes, this subject’s wife guarantees that no one will spread this matter. Your Majesty’s consideration for the monks in the temple truly demonstrates admirable benevolence and kindness.” Qin Yining respectfully bowed in admiration.
Upon hearing this, the Empress blinked and curved her lips slightly upward.
It seemed that Qin Yining believed she was thinking of the monks at Wanfo Temple, unwilling to let these men of religion bear the blame for failing in their protection?
But only she knew in her heart what she feared most.
This period that was both unexpected and beautiful to her was a secret she wanted to treasure in her heart for life. She wanted to savor it slowly, all by herself.
She knew she shouldn’t harbor such thoughts about Pang Xiao, and she understood that such morally transgressive behavior was unacceptable to the world. Therefore, she never intended to openly discuss it with anyone. She was the Empress, and could only be a qualified Empress. She wouldn’t let her life bear indelible stains, but certain feelings she regarded as precious treasures that she wanted to cherish forever.
The experience on Yinyuan Peak, those brief few days, would be enough for her to reminisce about for a lifetime.
“This palace is weary.” The Empress’s brows showed fatigue.
Qin Yining thought for a moment, then moved closer to briefly explain recent events. Finally, she said, “This subject’s wife had no choice but to find someone to wear your clothes and arrange your hairstyle to impersonate you. When we return, if you don’t want people to know about this matter, we must still act discreetly.”
The Empress frowned, quite surprised that someone could impersonate her and fool those guards.
However, upon reflection, she and Pang Xiao had suddenly been trapped, and Qin Yining, being just a woman, had already done well to suppress this matter. She couldn’t be more demanding.
“Very well.” The Empress nodded understandingly. “In urgent situations, emergency measures are acceptable. Let’s do as you suggest – this palace shall treat it as an eighteen-day retreat.”
“Your Majesty is wise.” Qin Yining smiled. “Then please rest for a moment, and we’ll find an opportunity to send you back to your chambers.”
Qin Yining deliberately kept all the details vague, not even mentioning finding the timing when guards changed shifts to place someone inside, all to reduce the Empress’s suspicions.
Otherwise, if the Empress knew that at the nation’s mother’s place of cultivation, heavily guarded by layers of guards, people could still find gaps during shift changes to arrange someone to enter, wouldn’t the Empress worry they might attempt assassination?
Although they had no such intentions, it was better to be cautious.
Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi had long prepared to welcome Pang Xiao’s group at any time, so those who needed to be sent away had already been dismissed. Qin Yining and Pang Xiao bringing the Empress back to the side courtyard where the meditation rooms were located required no effort. Qin Yining also informed Nanny Sun and He Bin of the news that the Empress had safely escaped danger. These two were so overjoyed they nearly jumped three feet high, naturally doing their utmost to cooperate with Qin Yining’s arrangements.
That night, the person in Guanyin Hall became the real Empress.
Tang Xiu finally no longer had to sit rigidly inside eating secretly brought snacks while maintaining proper posture, and occasionally having to speak in a pinched voice.
Pang Xiao bathed and changed clothes, shaved off his beard, wolfed down a meal of vegetarian dishes, and retired early.
Qin Yining also slept soundly and didn’t rush to ask Pang Xiao about what happened on Yinyuan Peak.
The next morning, Qin Yining went as usual with her attendants to pay respects to the Empress, and was once again politely turned away by Nanny Sun. Only after returning to her room did she ask Pang Xiao about that day’s events.
Pang Xiao explained everything in detail, then said with a stern expression, “I still can’t figure out what that person who tricked the Empress to Yinyuan Peak was after. The Empress wasn’t harmed. When I arrived, a group of snakes surrounded her, preventing her from moving, but those snakes didn’t bite her. The suspension bridge collapsed and I couldn’t cross over. You couldn’t hear us talking either, so the Empress and I survived on wild fruits on that side. We had food and drink, so there wasn’t much hardship. Precisely because there was no other danger, I’m even more suspicious of that person’s motives. Deceiving the Empress and luring me there – what was the real purpose?”
Qin Yining pressed her lips together and shook her head. “From this perspective, it seems like the other party deliberately trapped you and the Empress there. I suppose it was to dig a pit for me to fall into.”
Speaking of this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but purse her lips. “Tianji Zi has always found me disagreeable and has tried to eliminate me several times. Now, although she no longer tries to kill me, she would certainly be happy to cause me trouble.”
“You’re already certain that the abbess is Tianji Zi?”
“Besides her, who else could it be?”
Qin Yining shook her head. Mu Jinghu was Pang Xiao’s sworn brother, and Qin Yining didn’t want to put Pang Xiao in a difficult position, so she didn’t continue this topic. Instead, she said, “Although the matter has been resolved, it still caused quite a commotion. When the guards insisted on forcing their way in that day, there was already conflict. Moreover, the guards around the Empress are not of simple backgrounds. They knew you weren’t in the temple these past few days. Even if they can’t imagine that you and the Empress were trapped on Yinyuan Peak, they’ll think you secretly went off to do something during this period.”
Upon hearing this, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but laugh. “What you’re talking about – the Emperor has probably already received reports and knows I’ve been ‘restless’ these days. That boy Pang Zhixi, instead of peacefully praying to Buddha for the nation’s prosperity and people’s welfare, ran off somewhere alone to plot against me again!”
Pang Xiao imitated Li Qitian’s tone with about eighty percent accuracy, making Qin Yining unable to suppress her laughter.
“Alright, alright. Being able to return safely and peacefully is a good thing. During our absence these days, we avoided harassment from the Tatars, and I imagine when we return, Earl Zhongyi will have figured out how to move the treasure.”
Pang Xiao snorted softly. “He’s a clever man, but sometimes when you want to accomplish something, being clever yourself isn’t enough. You also need the real circumstances to cooperate. Si Qin is equally resourceful and was involved in the struggle for the treasure back then, so he knows about it. If Lu Heng reveals too many flaws, Si Qin will become alert too.”
Speaking of this, Qin Yining felt somewhat worried for Lu Heng.
“He needs to work harder. Otherwise, wouldn’t it just create more trouble for you?”
Qin Yining had originally been somewhat displeased when talking about Lu Heng, but seeing that Qin Yining’s whole heart was focused on considering him and didn’t care about Lu Heng’s difficulties at all, Pang Xiao felt greatly pleased and said with a smile, “You should also trust him – sooner or later he’ll think of a solution. Anyway, the Empress still needs to remain in retreat for a while longer. Let’s stay here temporarily and help Wanfo Temple repair the suspension bridge. That would count as doing a good deed.”
Qin Yining nodded. That suspension bridge was broken because of us, so naturally we should fix it.
Over the following days, the Empress truly remained peacefully in retreat.
Pang Xiao and Qin Yining also led their people to help Wanfo Temple handle the suspension bridge matter.
Pang Xiao’s sudden return naturally prompted Xing Baoshan to send a secret message to Li Qitian. But Pang Xiao was completely unconcerned. Choosing the lesser of two evils, being suspected by Li Qitian was still better than Li Qitian knowing the truth of the matter. Anyway, even if he did nothing, Li Qitian would still be suspicious of him.
In the blink of an eye, it was July 20th, exactly the day the Empress’s retreat was to end.
Pang Xiao and Qin Yining personally led people to welcome the Empress, with Abbot Xuanyun naturally among them.
“The Empress has lost much weight.” Qin Yining stepped forward to support the Empress, who had become much thinner, her complexion yellow and exhausted. She sighed, “Your Majesty prayed for the people’s blessings with such sincerity that Heaven and Earth can witness it. The Buddha will surely protect Your Majesty and grant your wishes, ensuring peace and smooth fortune.”
The Empress smiled and said, “I’ll take your auspicious words to heart.”
Her voice was faint, clearly showing she was exhausted to the extreme. Only she knew that she was just sighing at Qin Yining’s naivety.
If things went according to Qin Yining’s “wishes coming true,” Qin Yining would probably cry, wouldn’t she?
The Empress rested on the mountain for two more days before suggesting to Pang Xiao that they should descend the mountain.
By this time, the suspension bridge had been rebuilt. Not only did Pang Xiao refuse any payment from Wanfo Temple, he also donated substantial money and grain. With matters concluded, naturally when the Empress said to descend the mountain, they would go down.
What surprised Pang Xiao was that when descending the mountain, the Empress no longer made complaints about her “precious jade body that guards couldn’t touch” and such things.
Pang Xiao didn’t actively inquire, and the Empress made no requests. Pang Xiao simply led Qin Yining down, waited at the foot of the mountain for half a day, and the guards took turns safely carrying the Empress down.
“Your Majesty, the carriages are all prepared and ready to depart at any time.”
When everyone was properly organized, Nanny Sun stepped forward to inquire.
The Empress sat upright in her luxurious brocade-curtained, canopied carriage, lifted a corner of the window curtain to look back at the steep Juhuang Mountain, then gazed at Pang Xiao’s group, smiled, and said, “Go ask Prince Zhongshun when he’ll depart – we’ll travel together.”
“Yes.”
Nanny Sun immediately obeyed the command.
Pang Xiao and Qin Yining had no intention of continuing their travels either. They couldn’t truly abandon the Empress, so naturally they would comply with whatever the Empress requested. Both parties traveled together toward Huichuan County, and the journey was peaceful.
However, when they were halfway through their journey, the group encountered a single rider galloping toward them from the direction of Huichuan County.
The young rider on horseback wore an iron-gray round-collared sunflower shirt, clearly identifying him as a eunuch. Upon seeing Pang Xiao’s group, he immediately slowed down, pulled hard on the reins with both arms, and his yellow horse reared up with a neigh.
“Is that Prince Zhongshun’s entourage ahead?”
“Indeed it is.” Tang Xiu stepped forward to respond.
The eunuch’s face lit up with joy. He immediately dismounted and said with a smile, “This servant is Qiu Min, sent by imperial decree to accompany Minister Ma of the Ministry of Rites to Huichuan. Learning that the Empress and the Prince are traveling together, I’ve come specially to welcome you.”