Qin Yining hadn’t seen Pang Xiao display such childlike behavior in a long time, and couldn’t help but burst into giggles.

Pang Xiao strode over to the canopy bed, sitting sideways next to Qin Yining. His phoenix eyes were still filled with joy as he looked her up and down, as if examining a precious treasure.

Bingtang and Ji Yun exchanged glances, then quietly withdrew with Zi Yuan and Han Xiao, gently closing the door behind them.

“What are you looking at? Is this the first day you’ve known me?”

His long arm stretched out to pull Qin Yining into his embrace. Pang Xiao sighed with satisfaction and pleasure, “How wonderful. Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er will have a little brother or sister.”

Qin Yining rested against his shoulder, enveloped by his faint herbal fragrance mixed with the unique crisp scent of winter. She nodded with peace of mind, “I just hope that when Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er see me next time, they won’t fail to recognize their mother.”

Pang Xiao pinched her cheek, “They won’t. Father-in-law and grandmother pay special attention to these matters. Haven’t the two children been looking at portraits of you and me all along? Besides, I’ll end the current situation as quickly as possible. I won’t keep you and the children separated forever.”

Hearing the excitement in his voice, Qin Yining smiled and asked, “Has there been some progress at court?”

“His Majesty has issued an edict for troops from across the realm to march to the capital as loyalist forces.”

“This was also expected.”

The Tatars were about to reach the capital. If Li Qitian didn’t issue the edict now, would he just sit and wait for death?

Qin Yining sat up straight, her long hair flowing smoothly over her shoulders with her movement, framing her fair face and seeming to shimmer with a lustrous glow under the lamplight.

“So you’ll be leading your household troops to the capital as loyalist forces?”

“Along with the Pingnan Army. Feng Dazhuang already came to discuss it today. His Majesty also ordered the loyalist forces to provide their own provisions.”

Qin Yining laughed mockingly, “This bowl of soup may be easy to swallow now, but it won’t be easy to digest later.” In times of great turmoil, there were many ambitious people across the land. Who could guarantee that once they entered the capital, everyone would remain loyal? What would Li Qitian use to guard against them then, and what would he use for rewards? Would he still rely on just moving his lips?

Pang Xiao’s slender fingers glided through her silky smooth long hair, feeling slightly cool to the touch, “I originally planned to bring you with me to the capital this time. But now that your situation is different…”

Qin Yining smiled and interrupted Pang Xiao’s unfinished words, “You surely wouldn’t want to leave me in the old capital, would you?”

Pang Xiao was momentarily speechless. That was indeed what he had been thinking.

But seeing Qin Yining’s bright eyes that seemed to see through everything, Pang Xiao couldn’t bring himself to voice those words.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll be kidnapped? This place isn’t far from the Qiu family’s properties. Qiu Feishan is someone who stops at nothing to achieve her goals. After your talks with her broke down last time, she definitely won’t give up easily and will certainly seek various ways to achieve her objectives.”

Pang Xiao’s expression changed completely upon hearing this.

“You’re coming back with me.” Pang Xiao grabbed her hand, his dry lips touching her delicate hand.

Qin Yining giggled, “Don’t worry, I know what to do. Let’s first return north. If it’s really inappropriate to bring me along at some point, you can find a safe place to hide me.”

She spoke as if she were some treasure to be hidden away, but she truly was his treasure.

“Good, I’ll listen to you in everything.”

After seeing to Qin Yining and instructing her to eat first, Pang Xiao went outside to discuss the return to the capital with his advisors.

“Though the disaster relief in the south wasn’t entirely smooth, the prince distributed all his treasures and at least gave the people time to catch their breath and survive. In another two months it will be spring with warm weather and blooming flowers. If they work diligently this year, at least they won’t starve to death.” Xie Yue smiled, his face creasing with extra wrinkles.

Xu Weizhi also said, “Perhaps by autumn harvest time, the Tatars will have already been driven out.”

“It’s not that easy.” Pang Xiao couldn’t help but laugh, “The Tatars have the support of the Lu family this time, and the Lu family has allied with many former officials from Northern Ji who want to restore the old dynasty. This battle has been extremely fierce. Ji Lan is not a foolish person. In terms of warfare and military strategy, even I might not have the upper hand against him. The current suppression is entirely due to objective circumstances.”

“The prince speaks truly. Duke Dingguo is equally brave and skilled in battle, but he can’t control the fact that court supplies are repeatedly delayed. When soldiers fight on empty stomachs, they naturally harbor resentment. Add to that Gao Wenliang’s interference and finger-pointing, making the troops even harder to deploy. Moreover, after one or two defeats, morale suffers. All these unfavorable conditions piling up together – Duke Dingguo has encountered them all.”

Everyone sighed in sympathy. Without favorable timing, geography, or popular support, it was remarkable how Ji Zeyu had managed to persevere until now.

Pang Xiao and his advisors discussed matters carefully. Moving a large army wasn’t like a few dozen people who could just leave at will – it required meticulous planning. Fortunately, everyone was experienced, and military movements weren’t particularly difficult. Pang Xiao led them until all details of the return to the capital were settled, then ordered preparations to begin before getting up to head to the inner quarters.

“Why is the prince in such a hurry today?” Xu Weizhi looked puzzled at Pang Xiao’s departing figure.

“Perhaps since we’re about to depart, there’s much to prepare and take along.” After all, this was the princess consort’s maternal home.

Everyone felt curious but quickly dismissed their thoughts to attend to their own busy tasks.

Pang Xiao rushed back to the inner quarters, keeping his eyes fixed on Qin Yining, afraid she might bump into something or have an accident. Even when Bingtang, Ji Yun, and the others busily packed luggage, Pang Xiao worried they might disturb Qin Yining.

“What is the prince doing? I’m perfectly fine now, and my body doesn’t feel unwell in any way. Why must the prince be so nervous?”

Pang Xiao shook his head repeatedly, “You’re with child, so naturally everything must be handled more carefully. I’ll have them prepare extra layers of bedding, and the duck down mattress you made for me will come in handy this time to cushion against the carriage jolts.”

Qin Yining could only nod in agreement, “With you by my side, there won’t be any accidents. Why must you be so nervous?”

How could he not be nervous? The very reason he had steeled himself to use that medicine was his fear that Qin Yining would suffer the pains of childbirth again if she became pregnant. Who could have predicted heaven’s arrangements – she was still with child. Recalling everything from before, Pang Xiao now felt terrified in retrospect. Childbirth was truly too dangerous for women. Pang Xiao was anxiously helpless, unable to assist, so he could only constantly watch over Qin Yining’s condition, paying attention to every detail and doing everything to perfection.

While Pang Xiao and Qin Yining were intensively arranging their journey and preparing to lead troops back to the capital as loyalist forces, Li Qitian sat dazed in his imperial study, lost in thought.

The battle report in his hands seemed to grow hot, burning hotter until he involuntarily loosened his grip.

The thin sheet of paper fluttered to the floor, yet the news upon it felt heavier than a thousand pounds, pressing down until Li Qitian could barely breathe.

“Bastards, bastards! They’re all useless!” Li Qitian suddenly erupted in fury, roaring angrily, “One hundred thousand Huben Army troops, plus the Five Military Camps and Divine Engine Camp, couldn’t withstand a mere Tatar force! Retreating to defend the capital? If the capital falls too, the Great Zhou Dynasty will cease to exist – where else can they retreat to!”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger!” The Vice Minister of War fell to his knees with a thud, trembling like a sieve in his terror.

Xiong Jinshui and the other eunuchs all knelt in the corners, not daring to make the slightest sound, afraid the emperor might turn his attention to them.

Beyond their fear of Li Qitian, everyone’s hearts seemed shrouded in dark clouds.

Ji Zeyu and Gao Wenliang had suffered crushing defeat, and their group was already retreating toward the capital. Once the Tatar cavalry broke through the city gates, wouldn’t all of them have to accompany the emperor in death!

They truly wanted to flee, to leave this place of trouble and avoid losing their lives without gaining much silver.

Li Qitian had nowhere to vent his fury and could think of no other solutions, so he could only approve the memorial.

Returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he felt as restless as if grass were growing on his body. Unable to sit still, he stormed out and wandered aimlessly, unconsciously arriving at Kunning Palace.

The afternoon Kunning Palace was filled with warmth, with silver frost charcoal burning in both inner and outer chambers. The empress was reclining on the warm kang reading when she heard the palace servants’ greetings. She quickly rose and descended, performing an elegant bow: “This subject pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Li Qitian was like an enraged bull, snorting through his nostrils as he took his seat with imperial bearing, his face black with anger as he breathed heavily.

Such a furious appearance left everyone in Kunning Palace silent with fear.

The empress tried hard to recall her recent actions, afraid she had done something wrong to displease the emperor. But after wracking her brains, she could think of nothing, so she could only attribute it all to court affairs.

A palace maid brought the tea service. The empress turned to receive the white porcelain covered bowl, holding it with both hands and gently placing it beside Li Qitian, saying softly, “Your Majesty, please have some tea.”

Li Qitian’s face was fierce, his teeth clenched as he glared at the tea bowl. His churning anger, fear of the future, and jealous hatred toward Pang Xiao seemed to require no concealment before his wife.

With a sweep of his wide sleeve, he violently overturned the tea bowl. The sound of shattering porcelain made the empress tremble all over.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.” The empress quickly ordered palace maids to collect the fragments, not daring to use a broom and dustpan, fearing the sweeping sounds might disturb the emperor.

But Li Qitian showed no appreciation. In his fury, he disregarded his dignity and roared, “Calm down, calm down! Everyone only tells me to calm down, but no one can think of a practical solution! Are all of Great Zhou’s soldiers three-year-old children, scared witless when they encounter Tatars, knowing only how to retreat!”

The empress dared not utter a sound. Learning of such terrible news, no wonder His Majesty was enraged. Even she, a woman of the inner palace, felt her heart turn cold, as if the blade of national destruction and family ruin was already suspended over their heads.

Li Qitian slammed the table in anger, “That sinister and cunning bastard Pang Zhixi! I’ve long known that fellow was deeply scheming, but I never imagined he would disregard the safety of the imperial court!”

Upon hearing Li Qitian mention Pang Xiao, the empress’s heart suddenly jumped.

Could it be that Pang Xiao had gone south to raise rebel forces?

Li Qitian pounded the table, saying furiously, “I don’t know where he got the silver to buy up grain on a large scale. If not for his interference, Duke Dingguo’s army wouldn’t have lacked provisions, causing such chaos in military morale! Pang Zhixi was truly born to be my nemesis!”

The empress blinked in understanding. So it wasn’t that Pang Xiao had rebelled after all.