Bingtang smiled bitterly. “This servant has asked the physician treating His Highness. The external injuries look extremely severe, otherwise someone with His Highness’s strong character wouldn’t have been lying down for so long without moving.”

Seeing Qin Yining’s furrowed brow, Bingtang quickly comforted her, “But don’t worry. His Highness has a robust constitution and is at the age when recovery ability is strongest. The finest medicine has been applied, and the external wounds will heal quickly. This servant has also checked His Highness’s pulse, and there’s nothing seriously wrong.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining felt somewhat better and nodded. “I understand. Is His Highness currently in the inner quarters?”

“Yes.”

Everyone then accompanied Qin Yining as they made their way to the inner quarters.

Pang Xiao had already changed into fresh clothes and washed himself. His beard was cleanly shaved. Knowing that Qin Yining would return soon, he had specially changed his position to avoid worrying her, reclining sideways on the soft couch, which looked much more dignified than lying prone.

As Qin Yining’s group’s footsteps approached, Pang Xiao heard them and knew she had returned. His heart leaped violently with joy and excitement, just like in years past.

His precious treasure had finally returned.

Qin Yining hurriedly entered the room, passing around the bronze three-legged incense burner placed in the center of the outer chamber, walking through the antique floor screen to reach the inner room. She saw Pang Xiao sitting on the soft couch, holding a leisure book and looking toward her.

His hair was elegantly arranged in a high topknot, revealing his handsome face. The white robes made his complexion appear as if carved from fine white jade. His fingers holding the book scroll were slender with distinct knuckles, perfectly interpreting what elegance meant. Especially when he looked at Qin Yining, his phoenix eyes were full of warm smiles, as gentle as if seeing his most cherished treasure.

The moment Qin Yining met his gaze, she couldn’t help but smile as well. She quickly walked to sit beside the soft couch, looking at him hesitantly. “Zhixi, are your injuries better?”

“Much better already.” Pang Xiao opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace.

Seeing this, Jiyun and the others quickly withdrew, thoughtfully closing the door behind them. The entire group stationed themselves far away at the courtyard gate.

Qin Yining pillowed her head on Pang Xiao’s shoulder, circling her arms around his lean waist. Breathing in his familiar elegant scent, her heart, weary from traveling and hardship outside, finally settled. She couldn’t help but close her eyes and let out a long breath.

“How are your injuries? You should probably lie prone. Sitting like this isn’t beneficial for your recovery.”

Pang Xiao pecked her forehead several times, his voice low and gentle. “My injuries are fine. They’re just external wounds. After all these years, how many injuries haven’t I suffered? Why would I care about these? It’s just that you wouldn’t listen to repeated advice, refused to stay outside the city, and actually went to Huichuan County. You truly deserve severe punishment.”

Qin Yining felt embarrassed and remained silent.

Pang Xiao knew that when she went to Huichuan County, she had encountered Lu Heng’s rebellion, the destruction of the imperial mausoleum, and the Tatars arriving at Huichuan. He had been scared out of his wits, only regretting that his injuries prevented him from personally rescuing her.

Ever since Mu Jinghu had rushed to Huichuan, he hadn’t slept a single good night. He dreamed of Qin Yining being captured by Tatars, or being kidnapped by Lu Heng, or being wounded by stray arrows during the siege.

In any case, he never thought of anything good.

Now that she had finally returned safely and was peacefully nestled in his arms, Pang Xiao truly let out a great sigh of relief.

He bit her neck once, and when she shrank her neck to avoid the tickling sensation, he patted her bottom as punishment.

“Let’s see if you dare run around like this again? Going out and encountering such dangerous situations—you nearly worried me to death.”

Qin Yining knew he was cherishing and worrying about her. Her heart warmed as if she had drunk a bowl of hot soup on a winter day, making her limbs feel thoroughly comfortable.

She hugged his neck and smiled, “You were so worried about me, yet you didn’t personally come find me. This shows how seriously you were injured this time. Lie down and let me look at your wounds.”

Upon hearing this, Pang Xiao quickly pushed her hands away. “They’re almost healed and still have medicine applied. What’s there to see?”

“Let me take a look so I can feel at ease.”

“Why are you so eager to see your husband’s… that area?” Pang Xiao teased while holding Qin Yining’s hands.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining’s face flushed red. She glared at him and said, “Don’t think you can evade this. Let me have a look.”

She pulled Pang Xiao to turn over and moved to lift his clothes.

Pang Xiao knew Qin Yining had a stubborn temperament. Just hearing that he had been beaten, she could run to Huichuan County to do such great deeds. Not letting her see now wouldn’t work either.

He had no choice but to obediently lie prone, though he continued to tease her. “Fine, fine. Since my beloved wife insists, your husband can hardly keep refusing.”

Qin Yining really wanted to slap his bottom to see if this man still had energy for such glib talk.

But when she saw the still-unhealed red, swollen wounds from his buttocks to his thighs, her heart clenched tightly.

The perfectly good flesh had nearly been beaten to pulp.

Her fingertips trembled as they hovered over the wounds, not daring to touch them for a long time.

“How do you feel? Does it still hurt badly? Are the muscles and bones injured?”

Pang Xiao immediately knew something was wrong from her voice and quickly pulled up his pants, turned over, and pulled her into his arms.

Qin Yining’s eyes were already full of tears. Clear tears slid down her cheeks, and her eyes were red like a bullied little rabbit.

Pang Xiao’s heart nearly melted. He quickly held her in his arms consolingly, kissing her again and again. “There, see, I’m fine, aren’t I? My injuries are just external wounds. Those who administered the beating have always known my reputation outside and didn’t dare really do anything to me. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the physician. You can also ask Bingtang whether I’m lying to you.”

Seeing him like this, and with what Bingtang had told her about Pang Xiao’s condition, Qin Yining believed his words. But having a perfectly good person beaten with boards by Li Qitian at court for all the civil and military officials to see—how could someone as proud as Pang Xiao endure such humiliation?

The more Qin Yining thought about it, the more her heart ached for him. The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt. Tears couldn’t help but fall like pearls from a broken string.

Pang Xiao’s heart ached beyond measure. He held her and gently rocked her, coaxing like a child: “There, there, Yi Jie’er don’t cry, don’t be sad anymore. See, I’m all better.”

Qin Yining shook her head. “He humiliated you too much. I will definitely make him pay the most painful price!”

Seeing her cry until her eyes were bright and crystalline, with her nose tip and lips also red, Pang Xiao’s heart softened completely. “Good, good, good. I’ll help you, alright? Don’t be angry anymore, be good.”

Qin Yining leaned against Pang Xiao’s shoulder and only calmed down after a while, finally realizing she had lost composure just now.

Her face couldn’t help but burn with embarrassment. She quickly avoided his embrace, lowered her head, and wiped away her tears.

Seeing Qin Yining so bashful, Pang Xiao felt both fond and heartbroken. He playfully tapped her nose. “There, are you deliberately shedding tears to make me feel sorry for you, so I won’t punish you for going to Huichuan on your own?”

“I am not.” Qin Yining gave him a look, her voice thick with nasal congestion, which made Pang Xiao feel both fond and pitiful.

“Good, good, good, you’re right. But you must never act like this again in the future. Think about it the other way—if I went into danger without saying a word, would you worry or not? Baby, do you know what you mean to me? If something happened to you, I wouldn’t even know what I’d be living for in this lifetime.”

Qin Yining was moved. Pang Xiao was right. If she put herself in his shoes, how could she truly not worry? If Pang Xiao silently went into danger, she would certainly worry to the point of being unable to eat or sleep peacefully.

Qin Yining sniffled and said, “I understand. It won’t happen again.”

“That’s my good girl.” Pang Xiao kissed Qin Yining’s forehead.

Qin Yining then removed her outer garment and rested with Pang Xiao on the soft couch.

One lying prone, one reclining, they chatted occasionally, but mostly they just stayed close to each other, talking about household matters.

In such a relaxed state, Qin Yining naturally fell asleep quickly.

Pang Xiao raised one hand and gently brushed aside the stray hair that fell in front of her face and moved with her breathing, gazing at her peaceful sleeping face in a trance.

They had been separated for so long, and she must have suffered a lot outside. Especially with current internal troubles and external threats, with unrest everywhere, she might have even gone hungry sometimes…

Pang Xiao’s brow furrowed tighter and tighter. Now that he had become a tall tree attracting wind, naturally many people were watching him. In the future, he actually couldn’t guarantee Qin Yining’s absolute safety either. He also feared being stabbed in the back by someone unexpectedly.

And Qin Yining was wholeheartedly devoted to him. He really worried that if they encountered any trouble in the future, she would disregard her own safety and think only of him.

It seemed the only way to protect her was to make himself even stronger. Some things, even if his heart resisted them, had to be done when necessary—such as that position.

Pang Xiao and Qin Yining slept peacefully for an entire day.

The servants and maids guarding outside heard no other sounds from within and saw no one summoned, so they knew the Princess and Prince were resting.

Jiyun breathed a sigh of relief. After greeting Bingtang, Ziyuan, and the others, she also went down to bathe and rest.

Qin Yining slept until the moon was above the willow branches. She and Pang Xiao each simply ate a bowl of thin porridge, and after washing, they moved to the canopy bed to sleep.

Being back beside Pang Xiao, Qin Yining felt truly at peace. This was her first good night’s sleep in recent days.

Pang Xiao felt the same way. With Qin Yining beside him, he also had the most peaceful sleep he’d had in recent days.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the bed curtains into the canopy bed, gently falling on Qin Yining’s face.

When Pang Xiao opened his eyes, he saw her lying on her side next to him, her cheek very close, her fair face flushed pink from sleep. Pang Xiao couldn’t help but smile, looking at her tenderly, reluctant to wake her.

When Qin Yining woke up, the sun was already high. Opening her eyes, she immediately met Pang Xiao’s smiling eyes and couldn’t help but smile as well.

“You’re awake?” Her voice carried the soft laziness of just waking up.

Pang Xiao smiled, “I’ve been up for a while. Seeing you sleep so soundly, I didn’t wake you.” As he spoke, he moved closer to Qin Yining and pecked her lips.

Qin Yining covered her lips with the back of her hand, somewhat embarrassed. “I just opened my eyes and haven’t brushed my teeth or washed my face yet.”

“What’s there to fear? Don’t tell me you’re disgusted with me?” Pang Xiao teased.

Ziyuan and the others waiting outside heard the sounds from within and went to prepare hot water.

Hearing people moving about outside, Pang Xiao smiled and called for them to come in and serve.