Having experience disguising herself and going out multiple times, Qin Yining was well-practiced in this transformation into a sickly woman going to Jingang to seek medicine.

Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi disguised themselves as an accountant and a steward respectively, while the rest of the guards dressed as servants, drivers, and guards. All the way leaving Danfu County’s jurisdiction, they still dared not relax their vigilance.

“Madam, it’s confirmed there are no tails,” Jingzhe came forward and said.

Only then did Qin Yining feel relieved, nodding: “It’s getting late. Today let’s find a nearby place to camp and rest. After confirming no one is following us, we’ll change course and head southeast.”

“The madam acts prudently,” Xie Yue said with a smile. “Going to Jingang, yet first heading southwest – even if someone were following, they wouldn’t know our direction for a while.”

“We must be prudent,” Qin Yining stretched her legs that had grown stiff from sitting in the carriage. By now it was early nightfall, with the last traces of sunlight slowly disappearing behind the horizon.

The Elite Tiger Guards, Azure Sky Alliance members, and Silver-Masked Scouts busied themselves lighting fires and setting up tents. Qin Yining walked aside with Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi to talk.

“To be honest, this old man initially thought the madam wouldn’t agree to the master’s arrangement and would insist on following him,” Xu Weizhi remarked.

Qin Yining smiled slightly. “I indeed wanted to follow him. But wanting is one thing, reality is another. At critical moments, I cannot act impulsively. He values my thoughts highly – my emotional reactions could very well influence his judgment.”

Stopping in her tracks, Qin Yining sighed softly: “Although this is already my reality, I don’t want to become his weakness.”

Both Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi were somewhat moved by these words.

Ji Yun, looking at Qin Yining’s back, felt her nose grow sour.

Over these years following Qin Yining, she had personally witnessed her and the Prince weather storms together to reach today. Their feelings moved her, but she also knew that the Princess Consort, who appeared glamorous to outsiders, had actually suffered greatly and experienced too many trials and tribulations. The hardships she had endured and sufferings she had borne were things many people would never encounter in their entire lives.

Such a Princess Consort deserved the best treatment, yet they servants were truly too useless…

Xie Yue sighed: “What the madam says is correct. Your emotions can indeed influence the Prince’s decisions. Not just your emotions – your safety, your thoughts, all can influence the Prince.”

“That’s why Tao Hanshan wanted to kill me back then. Because I, a mere woman, had become an uncertain factor on the Prince’s path to success.”

Qin Yining laughed self-mockingly, recalling the words Tianji Zi had spoken when he came to assassinate her.

Tianji Zi had always said her existence was the greatest variable, that many things he had calculated would change because of her presence. Now that she herself spoke such words, it felt too ironic.

Xie Yue consoled her: “Tao Hanshan was too extreme. The madam shouldn’t take his words to heart. Your decisive departure from the master’s side this time already proves Tao Hanshan was wrong.”

Qin Yining smiled wryly: “What ability is there in dying together with him? What I want is for everyone to be able to live.”

Turning toward the campfire, Qin Yining said spiritedly: “If I develop our forces well outside, I can definitely suppress that man, giving the master more safety. Brief separation counts as nothing – how can one only look at the immediate situation when doing things?”

She spoke these words smoothly, because all along the way she had been telling herself this, repeatedly reminding herself not to let the emotions of separation affect her, much less the morale of those around her.

Moreover, if Pang Xiao were truly harmed, would she as his wife show her love only by blindly following him in death? Who would avenge him? Who would care for his relatives and their children? Death was the easiest thing – just close your eyes and you need consider nothing. Living, and bearing the responsibilities of living – that was what she should do.

As for when true life-and-death separation came, she believed Pang Xiao would be willing to wait for her.

Moreover, they were all doing their utmost to prevent such tragedy from occurring.

Qin Yining picked up a branch to stoke the campfire, steering the conversation in a lighter direction. When the entire camp’s atmosphere became lively, Qin Yining told Liao Zhibing: “This time we need quite a few experienced hands who know how to sail ships. When we get to Jingang, contact the local brothers to keep an eye out.”

Liao Zhibing nodded with a smile: “Understood, Alliance Leader.”

Just as Qin Yining’s group successfully took a detour toward Jingang, Pang Xiao’s procession also reached Huichuan County at top speed.

Xiong Jinshui, seeing Huichuan County from afar, breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Heaven knew how afraid he’d been that Pang Xiao would suddenly escape halfway!

The Emperor would surely flay him alive!

However, from this it seemed the Prince probably hadn’t hidden away treasure. Otherwise, with the Prince’s martial skills, there would have been many opportunities to escape along the way.

Xiong Jinshui ordered someone to announce their arrival at the city gates, while the soldiers surrounding Huichuan County also saw the Prince’s procession.

Many of the cavalry had followed Ma Cheng to Danfu County last time, and quite a few regarded Pang Xiao as the war god in their hearts. Hearing that Prince Zhongshun had arrived by imperial order, everyone was very excited. However, bound by orders, everyone stood in place not daring to move.

Pang Xiao lifted the carriage curtain, looking at the approaching county town, and ordered the procession to quicken pace.

Just then, a cavalry unit suddenly poured out from the city gates, splitting into two columns and galloping toward his direction.

Pang Xiao was startled and immediately ordered the procession to stop.

Dust flew under horse hooves, and soon the entire procession was surrounded by cavalry.

Ma Cheng approached, seeing Pang Xiao in the carriage. His heart was complex with guilt and the helplessness of having to obey imperial orders. He dismounted, cupped his hands and bowed: “This general has come by imperial order to escort Your Highness into the city.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Commander Ma.”

How could Pang Xiao not see his difficulty? He immediately smiled and gestured to Tang Xiu.

Tang Xiu immediately stepped forward to help Ma Cheng up.

Seeing that the Prince bore him no resentment whatsoever, Ma Cheng’s heart immediately warmed, saying with mixed emotions: “Your Highness, the Emperor is at the government office. Please enter the city.”

“Lead the way ahead.”

“Yes.”

What was clearly an “escort under guard” quietly became a protective escort after Pang Xiao and Ma Cheng met.

Although on the surface it still looked like Pang Xiao entering the city surrounded by Five Army Camp cavalry, Xiong Jinshui, being in the midst of it, could naturally see the difference.

He was indeed loyal to the Emperor, but who dared offend such a Prince Zhongshun?

He believed that even now, if Prince Zhongshun really killed him, the Emperor absolutely wouldn’t say a word. Even if the Emperor was willing to stand up for him, could he come back to life after losing it?

Xiong Jinshui immediately decided what position he should take. He also had a plan for what to report to the Emperor.

Pang Xiao’s procession entering the city gates immediately caused discussion among the Five Army Camp soldiers surrounding the city, and even more discussion among the people of Huichuan County.