Jingzhe bowed his head and agreed, looking at Qin Yining with complex eyes, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Qin Yining noticed his unusual behavior and asked in confusion, “What is it?”

Jingzhe said, “Master should first attend to her own injuries and rest properly.”

Those who closely followed Qin Yining had witnessed with their own eyes how she had been kidnapped and injured. Yet after being frightened, she showed no fear whatsoever and was immediately able to react. While such meticulous strength reassured her followers, it was ultimately still heartbreaking to see.

Qin Yining smiled gracefully, “Thank you for your kind intention. I’ll rest shortly.”

Jingzhe agreed and then went to carry out Qin Yining’s instructions.

Qin Yining then walked back to the camp with the others.

Xie Yue said, “The princess consort truly acts with great care. When we returned, we didn’t gather all our guards and personnel together, and this time it truly proved useful. The reinforcements arrived at exactly the right time. Otherwise, with just our original guards, we probably wouldn’t have been a match for Lu Heng!”

Qin Yining had left people on the deserted island to guard the treasure and ships. She also didn’t dare bring back Pang Xiao’s entire force of over a thousand men together, so she divided these people into several groups, dispersing them in various places. Although they were all heading toward the capital, they took different routes. As for Qin Yining’s immediate entourage, to avoid drawing too much attention, she hadn’t brought many people.

This way, she preserved Pang Xiao’s strength to prevent others from discovering his true capabilities, and also allowed those who had long been watching her to lower their guard somewhat. Just like how Lu Heng dared to openly kidnap someone today – it was simply because he saw that Qin Yining had limited personnel and he himself hadn’t brought many people.

If Qin Yining had revealed her full strength from the beginning, Lu Heng probably would have brought more people, and today’s escape wouldn’t have been so easy.

Qin Yining smiled bitterly, “How could I have thought of all this? It was nothing more than making some extra preparations. Fortunately, heaven protected us, and no major incident truly occurred.”

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

The person had been kidnapped, injured, and had nearly been…

Even this didn’t count as a major incident in Qin Yining’s eyes?

They could only say that the princess consort’s inner strength had become sufficiently powerful.

After chatting briefly with Xie Yue and the others, Qin Yining returned to her tent. Ji Yun brought in wound medicine and carefully applied it to Qin Yining’s injuries.

“Princess Consort, how do you feel?” Seeing Qin Yining somewhat silent, Ji Yun spoke cautiously.

Qin Yining smiled, “Nothing serious. After applying the medicine, the wound will heal in a few days.”

Ji Yun lowered her eyes and shook her head, “This servant isn’t talking about your wound. This wound is an external injury – no matter how severe, it can be treated with medicine. But if you’re uncomfortable in your heart, that can’t be cured with some wound salve.”

Qin Yining smiled gently, “You girl, how did you learn to speak like this too? I’m perfectly fine – it was just a false alarm. I’m only thinking about the chaotic situation in the world today.”

Ji Yun sighed, “Princess Consort should think more about yourself too. Next time, you must have the prince arrange more personnel for you. You absolutely cannot suffer through something like this again. Once or twice – never mind that you experienced it personally, even this servant watching from the side is nearly scared to death.”

Qin Yining chuckled, “I know you’re worried about me.” She patted Ji Yun’s hand and smiled, “Don’t worry. I won’t be unlucky enough to encounter everything all the time.”

Ji Yun lowered her eyes and muttered, “Has the princess consort encountered few incidents? Every time you’re walking on knife’s edge – one moment of inattention and you could lose your life. The prince is really something too, always letting you take risks.”

“I’ll be careful in the future.” Qin Yining knew Ji Yun truly cared for her. She pulled her to sit down and said, “These past few times, you’ve followed by my side every time, causing you to suffer quite a bit.”

Ji Yun said, “Princess Consort speaking like this is being too formal. Besides, I haven’t been able to help you with anything. Time and again, I could only watch helplessly as you were taken away, powerless to do anything. If I get the chance later, I must find another master and properly learn martial arts. Otherwise, being so helpless every time is truly too painful.”

Qin Yining nodded with a smile.

Actually, if Ji Yun felt this way, she could imagine what Pang Xiao’s mood would be like if he knew the news.

Fortunately, she had already returned to the capital, and the time to meet with Pang Xiao was drawing closer.

Qin Yining changed clothes and went to sleep wearily.

Throughout the entire camp, everyone maintained high alert.

The next morning, Ji Yun came running into the tent, saying, “Princess Consort, Jingzhe has returned and brought back a person.”

Qin Yining was holding a mirror, looking at her dressing table to see if the hairpin in the back of her head had slipped. Hearing this, she immediately put down the mirror.

“Brought back what kind of person?” Jingzhe acted with discretion and wouldn’t bring people back without reason. There must be some matter in the city, or perhaps Pang Xiao had some instructions!

Given Pang Xiao’s personality, knowing she had returned, he would definitely be eager to come out and meet her.

Could it be that something had happened in the city during these days?

Qin Yining had no mind to continue with her toilette and quickly walked out with Ji Yun to greet them.

“Subordinate Zhu Yu greets the princess consort.”

Qin Yining immediately recognized this person as very familiar – he often stayed by Pang Xiao’s side. Although she couldn’t call out everyone’s name, she could tell at a glance that this was one of their own people.

“Princess Consort, this subordinate came personally to convey the prince’s instruction.”

“Oh?” Qin Yining raised her eyebrows in confusion, “What instruction does the prince have?”

“Princess Consort, the prince said that now is not a suitable time for you to return to the capital. You should temporarily refrain from returning to avoid encountering danger and being unable to escape.”

Qin Yining pressed her lips together, then after a moment said, “What has happened in the city? Why do both the prince and you think there will be danger in the city?”

Zhu Yu was immediately stumped by this question.

He wracked his brains, wearing a pained expression. Knowing that the prince had instructed that the princess consort must not enter the city because he feared she would encounter danger, he could only follow the prince’s intention and said, “The situation in the city is actually still acceptable. Natural disasters and man-made calamities are unavoidable – many common people have been displaced and are all heading toward the capital. The city is quite chaotic now. If the princess consort returns now, she’ll inevitably encounter troubles and might even face unpredictable dangers. It would be better to wait until matters settle down before the princess consort returns.”

Zhu Yu spoke these words very slowly, as if he were thinking while speaking.

Qin Yining squinted her eyes, studying Zhu Yu carefully.

Previously, there had been the incident of Tao Hanshan ordering someone to assassinate her. Qin Yining could no longer completely trust Pang Xiao’s subordinates. This Zhu Yu was speaking hesitantly and desperately trying to persuade her not to return to the capital. Qin Yining felt there must be deception involved! Moreover, Pang Xiao was still in the city, and she didn’t know whether he had encountered danger.

Qin Yining said, “I understand your kind intention. However, since the situation in the city is still acceptable and I have so many people protecting me, I suppose the chances of encountering trouble are small. You need not worry about this.”

Seeing that Qin Yining seemed determined to enter the city, Zhu Yu became increasingly anxious, “Princess Consort, you should wait outside for news. This is the prince’s intention.”

Qin Yining laughed coldly, paced back and forth with her hands behind her back, then suddenly turned around to glare at Zhu Yu, “At this point, you’re still talking nonsense! What exactly has happened to the prince, and what did he really say? Why don’t you tell the truth!”