Nanny Jiang could only agree on the surface, but cold sweat on her back had soaked through her undergarments.

She had to relay the message, yet didn’t dare to truly convey Qin Huaiyuan’s words verbatim to the Empress—she still wanted to live!

Qin Huaiyuan pursed his lips and stood in place with his hands behind his back. He didn’t care whether Nanny Jiang was in a difficult position or not. These people were accustomed to fawning over the powerful while trampling on the weak, bullying the soft while fearing the hard. Today they had encountered him, someone with backbone. If they faced someone weak and compliant, these cunning slaves would be far more black-hearted than ordinary people.

There was no reason he couldn’t show anger when being bullied and oppressed!

Cao Yuqing gazed softly at Qin Huaiyuan and said gently, “Master, shall this concubine accompany this nanny into the palace? I’ll explain to Her Majesty the Empress. After all, it’s more convenient for biological sisters to speak, and we’re all in-laws—it wouldn’t be good to cause misunderstandings.”

“Good, good, Yuqing, today’s matter will surely trouble you.” Upon hearing this, the Old Dowager let out a long sigh of relief, pulling Cao Yuqing’s hand and patting it affectionately.

“What words are these from the Old Dowager? Since this concubine has entered the Qin family’s gates, I am a member of the Qin family. How could I coldly watch our family become a laughingstock?” Cao Yuqing smiled as she looked toward Qin Huaiyuan. “Master, do you think this arrangement is acceptable?”

Qin Huaiyuan glanced at Cao Yuqing, pondered for a moment, nodded, and cupped his hands saying, “In that case, I shall trouble you.”

Seeing his politeness, Cao Yuqing’s eyes dimmed for an instant, then immediately returned the courtesy: “Master is too polite. This concubine will go now. If it’s late today, I’ll stay with Her Majesty the Empress and return tomorrow. Please rest assured, Master and Old Dowager.”

Having said this, Cao Yuqing called Nanny Jiang and left with her personal serving maid.

The Old Dowager clasped her hands together and bowed several times toward the sky.

“Amitabha Buddha, fortunately our family has such a virtuous person, unlike those who only know how to cause trouble. When faced with problems, they only know how to lose their temper and ruin things, providing no help to the family whatsoever.”

Clearly, she was referring to Sun Shi.

Qin Huaiyuan frowned and said, “Mother, it’s getting late. We depart tomorrow, so I’ll return first to prepare.”

Without waiting for the Old Dowager’s reply, he walked straight around the screen toward Sun Shi and said gently, “Come, let’s go back.”

Sun Shi’s tears immediately slid down her face. The anger from being indirectly criticized by the Old Dowager earlier all dissipated as she nodded and softly replied, “Mm.”

Only after the couple had walked far away did the Old Dowager come to her senses and say awkwardly, “Let’s disperse for today. Let them go back and prepare as well.”

With their mood ruined by the sudden incident, everyone had lost interest in continuing and each paid their respects before withdrawing.

Qin Yining returned to Shuoren Studio, washed as usual, and then rested.

Early the next morning, officials from the Ministry of Rites were already waiting outside the mansion gates.

Qin Yining bid farewell to her family alongside Qin Huaiyuan, listened to the Old Dowager’s instructions about “being obedient and well-behaved,” and then boarded the eight-treasure tasseled carriage specially prepared for her, accompanied by Bingtang and Song Lan.

Pushing open the carriage window and lifting the water-blue tasseled warm curtain with her pale hand, Qin Yining removed her hood and looked up at the main gate of the Qin mansion.

Under the pale winter sunlight, the gilt characters “Qin Mansion” on the plaque dazzled her so much that she had to squint. Pink walls and black tiles stretched in both directions, embracing the vast Qin household within. The women in red and green with pearls and jade adorning them stood before the gate—whether their emotions were genuine or false, at this moment everyone had tears brimming in their eyes, looking at her with reluctance. Sun Shi was even leaning on Nanny Jin’s shoulder, weeping heartbrokenly.

This family might not be warm.

But the existence of this residence gave her a place she could return to.

She just hadn’t expected life’s impermanence—she had only just found a true family and now had to leave again, not knowing whether she could return.

Qin Huaiyuan’s luxurious canopied vermillion-wheeled carriage was ahead of Qin Yining’s. At this moment, he too was looking out the window.

The accompanying Ministry of Rites officials, seeing that the auspicious time was approaching, rode up and cupped their hands saying, “My lord, it is time.”

Qin Huaiyuan nodded: “Then let us depart.” As he spoke, he lowered the carriage curtain.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining smiled at Sun Shi and Qiu Lu and others beside her, then also lowered the curtain and closed the carriage window.

Before departing, she had entrusted all the servants of Shuoren Studio to Nanny Jin’s care. Thus, all people related to her had been properly arranged—even if she couldn’t return, she wouldn’t have lingering worries.

Actually, she hadn’t wanted to bring either Bingtang or Song Lan. It was the two of them who insisted on following. Song Lan threatened to hang herself, while Bingtang prepared poison to seek mutual destruction with the wicked empress. No matter how much Qin Yining tried to persuade them, they wouldn’t listen, so she could only bring them along.

The carriage swayed as the procession slowly moved forward.

Sun Shi pulled Nanny Jin’s hand and chased after them for two steps, choking with emotion as she called out loudly, “Yi’er, you must come back! I’ll wait for you to return!”

Qin Yining’s suppressed sorrow at parting was stirred up by her mother’s words. She squeezed her eyes shut and tilted her head back, forcing back the tears that were about to spill.

Sun Shi watched as the procession gradually disappeared into the distance, weeping uncontrollably.

“That child has only been back for two months, and I haven’t even treated her well yet.”

Hardship reveals true feelings. The current Sun Shi no longer doubted Qin Yining and truly saw who in this mansion genuinely cared for her. Qin Yining was truly filial, wholeheartedly thinking of her well-being, but when she had the ability to care for her, she hadn’t treated her well.

Sun Shi now deeply regretted her past actions.

Nanny Jin, Third Miss, and Eighth Miss were all beside her, taking turns consoling her.

“Fourth Miss will surely return safely. Please don’t worry, Madam.”

“Yes, Great Aunt, Fourth Sister is brave and resourceful. She will definitely return safely.”

…

The Old Dowager also felt uncomfortable. After all, she was still a girl as beautiful as flowers and jade, and her appearance and temperament were so similar to her most beloved son.

It was just that circumstances were such—they had no choice but to accept their fate.

“Let’s go back,” the Old Dowager sighed.

Who would have expected that just as her words fell, they heard a series of urgent, chaotic hoofbeats approaching from behind.

Everyone turned to look and saw the Crown Prince in a light purple cloak with white fox fur collar riding swiftly toward them, followed by a group of eunuchs in iron-gray cotton robes hurriedly spurring their horses to catch up.

Yuchi Yan didn’t dismount, asking anxiously, “Where is Fourth Miss? Has she already left?”

Opening with a question about Qin Yining rather than Grand Secretary Qin Huaiyuan, whose thoughts could everyone fail to understand?

If not for the Emperor’s decree this time, their family might have produced a Crown Princess, and perhaps even a future Empress.

Thinking of this, the Old Dowager felt as if someone had carved out her heart with a knife. She shook her head with deep regret: “Gone, already gone.”

“Gone?” Yuchi Yan’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Qin Yining refused to be humiliated and took her own life?!

Seeing the Crown Prince’s face instantly turn pale, Second Madam quickly said, “Your Highness, Fourth Miss just departed with Grand Secretary Qin. If Your Highness rides fast now, you can surely catch up.”

Only then did Yuchi Yan seem to come back to life, his face gradually regaining color. He nodded to Second Madam, the Old Dowager, and others before spurring his horse to chase after them.

“Your Highness, Your Highness! Oh my!” The eunuchs also hurriedly pursued the Crown Prince.

The departure procession chose roads with few people, while Yuchi Yan, in his panic, chased along the marketplace route and naturally didn’t find them. When he reached the north city gate and discovered the carriages hadn’t passed through yet, Yuchi Yan was about to turn back.

A accompanying eunuch advised, “If Your Highness returns, what if you take the wrong route again? Why not wait on the inevitable path outside the city?”

Yuchi Yan slapped his forehead and let out a long sigh: “This Prince panicked.”

He steadied his mind and chose to wait by a grove twenty li outside the city.

In the forest, Pang Xiao was perched on a thick tree with Huzi, eating steamed buns. Hearing footsteps outside, both gradually stopped their movements.

Huzi whispered, “Master, it seems someone has come.”

“Mm.” Pang Xiao stuffed the last bite of bun into his mouth, his cheeks bulging high.

Huzi also finished his bun, stood up to look toward the official road, then whispered again, “Looks like someone seeing people off. Judging by the clothing and entourage, this person should be Great Yan’s Crown Prince.”

“Mm.” Pang Xiao leisurely wrapped his fine cotton cloak tighter around himself, appearing too lazy to say more.

Huzi secretly rolled his eyes.

When he saw Miss Qin, he became a rogue chatterbox, but with him, he was too lazy to even speak a sentence. The differential treatment was too obvious.

Huzi sat down beside Pang Xiao and whispered, “Master, should we take this chance to eliminate him?”

Pang Xiao raised an eyebrow: “Are you the Great Yan Emperor’s man?”

Huzi was stunned and shook his head blankly: “No.”

“Then why are you helping that bastard?”

Despite Emperor Yan having only Yuchi Yan as his heir, he was still suspicious and guarded against his own biological son. The old man refused to accept his age and stubbornly clung to his throne, secretly wishing his eldest son would die so he’d have one less threat.

“Leave him be.” Pang Xiao lazily closed his eyes.

Huzi lowered his voice: “But we don’t need to wait here either. At their carriages’ speed, even going slowly, they’ll reach Xihua City in two days. What problems could arise in just two days?”

Pang Xiao kept his eyes closed as if he hadn’t heard.

Huzi knew he was being ignored again and could only squat on the tree branch, picking at bark to amuse himself.

Before long, the sounds of carriages and horses came from the official road.

Pang Xiao suddenly opened his eyes, maintaining his position leaning against the tree trunk unchanged, only concentrating on listening to the movements outside.

Here, Yuchi Yan saw the procession approaching and hurriedly spurred his horse forward.

“Whoa!”

Seeing the Crown Prince approaching, the accompanying hundred soldiers and fifty guards all dismounted and paid their respects.

Someone quickly ran to the carriage to report: “My lord, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”

Yuchi Yan flicked his reins and rode to Qin Huaiyuan’s carriage, first cupping his hands in salute: “Grand Secretary Qin.”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.” Qin Huaiyuan jumped down from his carriage and returned the courtesy with a smile. He was about to exchange pleasantries when the Crown Prince interrupted him.

“Grand Secretary Qin, this Prince has words for Miss Qin Fourth. I hope the Grand Secretary will allow me to delay the procession for some time.”

Qin Huaiyuan was startled, then looked knowingly toward the carriage behind.

The carriage door was pushed open, and Qin Yining, wearing a white rabbit fur collared cloak, was looking over with surprise.

Yuchi Yan’s gaze met Qin Yining’s, and his heartbeat immediately went out of control. He dismounted and unconsciously strode quickly toward her.

“Fourth Miss, fortunately I caught up with you! Rest assured, no matter what happens, as long as you return, I will immediately petition Father Emperor! I swear, only you can occupy the position of Crown Princess!”

Qin Yining stared at Yuchi Yan in stunned silence.

Yuchi Yan gazed at Qin Yining with burning eyes.

All around was dead silence—everyone was stunned.

In the forest, Pang Xiao, crouching in the tree, let out a cold snort with a dark expression, frightening Huzi so much that he quickly scooted away, nearly falling from the tree.

Mama! The Prince’s anger is too terrifying!