The young man wolfed down his food, devouring three meat-stuffed flatbreads. Because Qin Yining had given him too much meat earlier, only plain flatbreads remained at the end, and the young man ate two more without any meat filling.
Qin Yining felt full after eating one flatbread and drinking some water. Watching the young man devour his food so ravenously, she thought about what kind of life he must have lived these years and couldn’t help but sigh.
“Don’t worry. Once this matter is resolved, I’ll arrange for you to work by my side. With such excellent martial skills, going to the countryside to farm would rather waste your talents.” As Qin Yining spoke, she gestured, not knowing how much the young man could understand.
What she didn’t say was that the young man was lame and had a broken arm—she didn’t know how well these would heal. While he could handle combat, he might not be able to farm. Moreover, being deaf and mute, he would likely be bullied if he went to the countryside.
Arranging a guard position for him by her side would be her way of repaying his protection.
The young man wiped the crumbs from the corners of his mouth, pressing his lips together, still showing that dimple on his right cheek.
Qin Yining simply assumed he had agreed.
With Meng Qin leading the way, they returned to the outskirts of the county city by evening.
Meng Qin pointed to a village not far away. “The largest estate in there is where Advisor Tao has settled with his people.”
Qin Yining thought for a moment, then said, “Meng Qin, I’d like you to stay nearby and observe, ready to provide support at any time. What do you think?”
Meng Qin straightened and bowed formally. “I’ll follow the Alliance Leader’s orders completely!”
Qin Yining patted his shoulder and quietly entered the village with the young man, carefully avoiding the scattered pedestrians until they reached the entrance of an estate backed by mountains at the other end of the village.
The estate had several mud-tile houses and rows upon rows of thatched buildings. Fields stretched from outside the wooden fence all the way down the mountain toward the sunset, seemingly endless—clearly showing the wealth of this household.
Almost as soon as Qin Yining arrived at the main gate, a tall, sturdy middle-aged farmer in an earth-yellow jacket spotted her from behind the door.
Both Qin Yining and the young man keenly stopped in their tracks, with the young man gripping his bamboo staff tightly, ready to draw his blade at any moment.
Who would have thought a surprised whisper would suddenly come from inside the gate: “It’s you!”
The wooden fence gate was pushed open, and the farmer excitedly stepped forward, cupping his hands in a bow and saying in a low voice, “Your Highness!”
Only then did Qin Yining suddenly breathe a sigh of relief, lowering her voice to ask, “Is Advisor Tao here?”
“Yes, yes! Advisor Tao brought our group of guards here quietly. This estate is property that His Highness had the Elite Tiger Guards purchase in advance. As soon as we entered the city, we came straight here. Advisor Tao was originally worried about Your Highness’s safety, not knowing where the villains had taken you, and was thinking of ways to rescue you!” He spoke while looking warily at the young man following behind Qin Yining.
Qin Yining smiled slightly, walking inside as she said, “He’s not a villain—he’s one of us. Where is Advisor Tao?”
“In the main hall.”
The guard led Qin Yining and the young man inside. Along the way, they encountered many farmers, all quite robust and sturdy. Though not as tall and long-legged as the Elite Tiger Guards, they were all strong men. These people showed great respect upon seeing Qin Yining, clearly recognizing her.
Though Qin Yining didn’t know them, she felt greatly relieved, experiencing the lightness of finally escaping danger and surviving a catastrophe.
Soon someone went inside to report.
Before long, a scholar in azure robes led several people in quick steps to greet them, with Tao Hanshan leading the group.
Among the advisors around Pang Xiao, Qin Yining naturally saw Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi most often. But for Pang Xiao to carry out his plans, he naturally had many subordinates, and not everyone was qualified to meet the princess consort.
Tao Hanshan’s position among the advisors was not as high as Xu Weizhi and Xie Yue’s, so he had few opportunities to see Qin Yining. But from Pang Xiao’s deployments and arrangements, it was clear that Tao Hanshan was also someone Pang Xiao trusted, holding a high position among his circle.
“This subordinate greets Your Highness!” Tao Hanshan approached and respectfully bowed with his people. The scholars and guards behind Tao Hanshan all bowed in unison.
Qin Yining quickly smiled and said, “Advisor Tao, please rise. Everyone, please rise.”
Seeing that Qin Yining still remembered him, Tao Hanshan felt very pleased. Noticing that both she and her companion looked disheveled, he hurriedly said, “Your Highness, this subordinate will immediately have hot bath water prepared for you.”
“Let’s discuss business matters first.” Qin Yining smiled slightly. “Use this time to have clothes prepared for me and this brother as well.” Qin Yining gestured to the young man who had been following behind her.
Tao Hanshan looked the young man up and down appraisingly, then smiled and acknowledged the order. “Your Highness thinks only of His Highness’s affairs—this subordinate was thinking too narrowly. Shall Your Highness move to the main hall to talk?”
Qin Yining nodded and walked ahead, with Tao Hanshan and his people following.
The young man hurriedly kept pace behind them, but at the entrance to the main hall, he was blocked by guards under Tao Hanshan’s command.
The young man frowned and tried to force his way through, but the guard said sternly, “This is not a place you can enter. Please rest elsewhere, brother.”
The young man seemed not to hear and insisted on pushing inside.
Seeing this person’s lack of cooperation, the guard raised his voice: “I’m talking to you! This isn’t a place you can…”
“Let him come in.” Qin Yining noticed the commotion at the entrance.
Tao Hanshan asked puzzledly, “Your Highness?”
Qin Yining said, “It doesn’t matter. I owe him much protection along this journey—otherwise I might have died at the hands of violent people long ago. Besides, he can’t hear or speak, so having him stay by my side is no problem.”
Tao Hanshan looked at the young man suspiciously upon hearing this.
The guard at the entrance still extended his hand to block the young man, not following orders just because of Qin Yining’s words.
Tao Hanshan seemed to analyze the situation before slowly nodding. “Since it’s Your Highness’s instruction, let him enter.”
With a wave of his hand, the guards at the entrance immediately stepped aside.
Only then did the young man, carrying his bamboo staff, quickly limp to stand behind Qin Yining.
Qin Yining couldn’t help but narrow her eyes.
Following beside Pang Xiao, she had absolute authority with Xie Yue, Xu Weizhi, Huzi, Tang Xiu, and others. These were Pang Xiao’s most trusted confidants who naturally knew the princess consort’s position in Pang Xiao’s heart. Those who frequently worked with Qin Yining always obeyed her orders without question and never doubted her commands.
But the people before her now were different from those she usually dealt with.
This feeling was strange to Qin Yining, though she found it somewhat reassuring. That Advisor Tao and his subordinates acted this way proved that Pang Xiao’s people were well-disciplined with a fixed system—essential for accomplishing great things.
Qin Yining took the seat of honor and gestured for Tao Hanshan to sit as well.
Tao Hanshan turned to dismiss the others, had guards position themselves farther away to watch the front hall, then bowed to Qin Yining before taking a seat in the lower position.
“What’s the current situation in the city?” Qin Yining asked her greatest concern.
She had been abducted—not knowing her condition, wouldn’t Pang Xiao go mad? Her greatest worry was that Pang Xiao might lose emotional control and go on a killing spree, which would ruin everything they had worked for.
Tao Hanshan saw Qin Yining’s worry and smiled reassuringly. “Your Highness can rest easy. His Highness is currently unharmed, though still trapped in the government office by the violent people. Because many citizens died in front of the government office, and most citizens of this county come from three large clans who know each other well and are extremely united, their emotions are even more agitated than before. They keep demanding His Highness write a guarantee letter, but His Highness hasn’t responded.”
As Tao Hanshan spoke, his eyes inadvertently swept over the young man behind Qin Yining, clearly disapproving of keeping this person by her side.
Qin Yining felt relieved hearing this.
As long as Pang Xiao hadn’t acted impulsively, everything could still be resolved. In fact, she had already thought of a solution for the citizens besieging the government office during her escape.
At this moment, Tao Hanshan was also subtly observing Qin Yining. Seeing her deep in thought, he couldn’t help remembering how, even before Qin Yining had officially entered the prince’s mansion, Pang Xiao had already included her in discussions of serious matters.
Setting aside everything else, His Highness’s love and regard for the princess consort was unquestionable. And the princess consort’s influence with His Highness was also considerable.
So there had always been sayings about seductive consorts bringing ruin to nations—showing the power of pillow talk.
No matter how well he performed outside, if His Highness didn’t know the details, how would he know his merits?
Thinking of this, Tao Hanshan’s smile became more genuine as he said deliberately, “Your Highness, as soon as this subordinate learned of the troubles in the city, I immediately took action, bringing people to this location to await rendezvous with His Highness. I’ve also notified all the people His Highness stationed in various places, ordering them to return immediately. Fortunately, both the Capital Garrison and the Five Army Camps are not far from here. I’ve already sent swift messengers to the Five Army Camps, using His Highness’s name to mobilize three thousand troops to rush here and quell the civil unrest.”
Tao Hanshan spoke with a smile, his tone carrying no small amount of self-promotion.
After the sudden outbreak of violent citizens besieging the government office, Tao Hanshan’s quick and comprehensive response showed considerable ability.
However, Tao Hanshan’s words made Qin Yining frown.
“Advisor Tao’s arrangements are all very proper.” Qin Yining slowly began, causing Tao Hanshan to smile with satisfaction.
“But I’m afraid this approach will result in all the citizens of Danfu County being charged with treason. Treason involves extensive family punishment—rashly mobilizing Five Army Camp troops to suppress the unrest is truly inappropriate.”
Tao Hanshan’s smile faded as he said gravely, “Your Highness speaks wrongly. The crucial matter His Highness handles now is the imperial mausoleum construction! If the imperial mausoleum isn’t completed, His Highness being punished is one thing, but what’s important is what’s currently in the stone quarry.”
Tao Hanshan lowered his voice further and looked warily at the young man behind Qin Yining. Remembering that Qin Yining had said he was deaf and mute, he continued, “If His Highness wants to accomplish great things, those items are essential. If we reveal the real reason why Danfu County citizens are besieging the government office, it will inevitably expose the matter of conscripted workers not reaching Huichuan County. This would subject the imperial mausoleum project to thorough investigation from above. Delayed construction schedules are minor—but what about the items in the stone quarry?”
In just a few sentences, she understood Tao Hanshan’s ambition.
It seemed Tao Hanshan was looking forward to the merit of supporting the dragon.
Having such aspirations wasn’t necessarily bad, but using any means necessary for the merit of supporting the dragon was something Qin Yining couldn’t accept.
“What Advisor Tao says is certainly reasonable. But His Highness has always loved the people like his own children. Moreover, there are other solutions available now. Using treason charges to cause the deaths of Danfu County citizens is truly excessive.”