It was difficult for Qin Yining to imagine how humiliating that scene must have been for Pang Xiao! Whether in the eyes of his opponents or his subordinates, Pang Xiao’s former confidence and dignity would have been beaten into the mud by those boards.

So that was why Pang Xiao had prevented her from returning to the capital!

No wonder he hadn’t come out to greet her as he had in the past – he was injured!

Anger burned like flames, nearly consuming Qin Yining’s reason.

Qin Yining wished she could strangle Li Qitian on the spot!

Did he deserve to be emperor? Did he even deserve to be human!

He possessed none of the loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, or righteousness that made one human. All day long he only cared about petty immediate gains, completely ignoring whether the people lived or died. Not only was he narrow-minded, jealous and suspicious of loyal ministers, he was also an ungrateful wretch! For such a person to be ruler and father was something even Heaven couldn’t bear to watch! How could her hatred be appeased without killing such a person!

Seeing that Qin Yining’s face had changed color with rage, everyone momentarily didn’t know how to console her. Because it wasn’t only Qin Yining who was angry – each of them could barely control their emotions.

They truly didn’t know whether all the hardship their prince had endured fighting enemies bravely to establish the dynasty and end the chaotic times had been worth it.

“Princess Consort…” Zhu Yu was somewhat nervous. After all, Pang Xiao hadn’t allowed him to speak carelessly about these matters, yet he hadn’t controlled himself and had spoken of them before Qin Yining.

Qin Yining took several deep breaths and with great difficulty calmed her emotions, softening her tone. “This matter isn’t your fault. You needn’t be nervous.”

Zhu Yu hesitantly asked, “Then does the princess consort plan to enter the city now?”

If Qin Yining entered the city at this time, he would have failed in his duties.

Qin Yining was extremely clever and immediately understood Zhu Yu’s concerns upon hearing this. She smiled and said, “Rest assured, I won’t put you in a difficult position.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yu felt somewhat embarrassed and scratched the back of his head. “This subordinate didn’t mean that.”

Qin Yining smiled. “I understand. You may return. If the prince asks, just say you’ve conveyed the message to me. I’m not in a hurry to enter the city and will linger nearby to observe for a while, waiting until the timing is appropriate.”

Zhu Yu was overjoyed and quickly bowed with cupped hands. “Thank you, Princess Consort! Then this subordinate will take his leave.”

“Good. The situation with the prince doesn’t look optimistic. I hope you all will continue to loyally assist him as before. In the future, I won’t treat you poorly.”

“What words are these from the princess consort?” Zhu Yu was happy in his heart and spoke honestly. “The prince treats us brothers well. Moreover, we all follow the prince willingly because we admire his character and conduct – we don’t seek anything. Princess Consort, please don’t speak like this.”

Qin Yining nodded with a smile and gave Zhu Yu some more instructions before letting him leave.

After the man had gone far, Xie Yue, Xu Weizhi, Jingzhe, Liao Zhibing, and Ji Yun all watched Qin Yining carefully, as if afraid that in her anger she might do something extreme.

But Qin Yining sat upright in the main seat, lowering her eyes in deep thought.

After a long while, Qin Yining finally raised her head. “I plan to make a trip to Huichuan County.”

Xu Weizhi was surprised. “Princess Consort, is there urgent business in Huichuan County?”

“Of course.” Qin Yining stood up, her skirt hem rippling like water as she paced. “Should I let people humiliate him like this for nothing?”

She hadn’t finished her words, but everyone understood her meaning. They all fell silent.

Xie Yue’s mind raced. “Princess Consort, you couldn’t be…”

Qin Yining turned around, her watery eyes ignited by fury, her gaze brighter than usual.

“Whoever touches him, I’ll touch them back. Assassinating the emperor is too difficult. Doesn’t he care about the imperial tombs? Doesn’t he ignore the people’s lives and deaths just to collect silver to build imperial tombs? I’ll make it so he has no mausoleum to rest in!”

“Princess Consort, please think thrice!”

“I’ve already thought thrice. If this can be endured, what cannot be? Your prince is an honorable gentleman – I am not! He’s single-mindedly focused on having a mausoleum to rest in after death. I’ll not only make it so he has nowhere to rest, I’ll also send him there early!”

Everyone was again speechless, not knowing what to say to dissuade her.

But Jingzhe and Liao Zhibing simultaneously stepped forward, speaking with passionate heroism. “Good! Well said!”

Liao Zhibing further said, “The alliance leader speaks correctly! The current emperor increasingly shows the signs of a tyrant. Such a despicable person is completely unworthy of the prince’s loyalty! He’s also failed the prince’s devoted heart! We Qingtian Alliance brothers have always valued righteousness most. If the brothers in the alliance knew the prince suffered such misfortune, who knows how angry they’d become – they might even burn down the imperial palace. Princess Consort only going to destroy the imperial tombs is showing restraint!”

Xu Weizhi and Xie Yue both felt a massive headache coming on.

“Master Liao, the princess consort is acting in anger. Please don’t add fuel to the fire.”

“Exactly. Master Liao, it would be better to let the princess consort calm down before making a decision. Destroying imperial tombs – that’s high treason! During the eight deliberations, that’s an unpardonable crime among the ten abominations! The prince and princess consort are both good people. Originally others wronged the prince and princess consort, but if you do this, the prince and princess consort will become the ones in the wrong.”

“Princess Consort, please reconsider. Once such high treason is discovered, the prince could equally be charged with high treason, and his lifetime of honor would be destroyed in an instant.”

Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi spoke earnestly. After all, Qin Yining had previously always worked hard to build Pang Xiao’s reputation, always acting with Pang Xiao’s prestige as the priority. If this matter were discovered, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Qin Yining smiled. “I understand both gentlemen’s concerns. So this time I don’t plan to have the prince’s forces participate. Even if the matter is discovered, it would be my affair alone.”

“Husband and wife are one body. Even if you say he didn’t participate, others won’t believe it!”

“No, the prince and I aren’t an ordinary married couple. Other wives might use their husband’s family’s capabilities when doing things, but I don’t need to. I have the Silver-Masked Scouts and Qingtian Alliance under me. I can do what I want to do and take responsibility for what I do. Even when the emperor was buried in the underground palace and I helped him retake the imperial palace, I used Qingtian Alliance’s capabilities. The emperor knows I have this ability.”

Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi were momentarily speechless.

Indeed, as Qin Yining said, whatever she wanted to do, she didn’t need to go through others – she could accomplish it herself. She could indeed take responsibility for her own actions, because her Qingtian Alliance had appeared before the emperor.

“Shortly I’ll set out with my people. Both gentlemen, along with the Elite Tiger Guards and mansion guards, should temporarily remain outside the city. The mansion guards should best disperse and not gather all in one place, to avoid being discovered and truly giving the prince a charge of rebellion. When the prince sends word from the city, you can then enter.”

Xie Yue shook his head. “Princess Consort, if the prince asks about you, how can we explain? Please reconsider once more.”

“No need to worry. If the prince asks, just tell him the truth. If I don’t vent this anger, I fear I won’t sleep well for a single day in the future! There’s no reason he should control whether or not I vent my anger.”

Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi were struck speechless.

The princess consort was usually sensible, generous, and understanding. When she suddenly became willful like this, it was truly difficult to dissuade her.