Lian Xiaozhou had followed by Qin Yining’s side and witnessed many grand occasions, but was still shaken to her core by so many people greeting her in unison. Just as she was about to step back half a pace, she immediately remembered Qin Yining’s teachings. She straightened her spine, raised her chin, and said in a deep voice: “You may rise.”

The Northern Ji surviving officials were all moved beyond words.

Having served the last emperor of Northern Ji, they all knew the former emperor’s appearance. If Lian Xiaozhou had stood before them on ordinary days, they wouldn’t have made the connection and naturally wouldn’t have observed too carefully. But now with Lian Xiaozhou standing before them in the capacity of a former dynasty prince for their examination, upon careful consideration, the more they looked, the more similar she appeared, and the more their emotions stirred.

Lian Xiaozhou became even more flustered under their scrutiny, but thinking that Master Xie had specially disguised her before coming, and that Master Xie’s disguise techniques were supernatural, certainly no one would see that she was actually a woman – this thought finally calmed her heart somewhat.

“Heaven has eyes.” Song Quan was already weeping, covering his heart as he said: “Now Northern Ji’s prosperity is assured!”

“Exactly so, exactly so!” The Northern Ji surviving officials behind him also perceptively nodded.

Since Prince Zhongshun said he would recognize the Northern Ji dynasty, they would certainly be right to follow Prince Zhongshun’s lead. As for whether this prince was real or fake, whether it was Prince Zhongshun’s arrangement, or a backup plan arranged by someone with ulterior motives to help the Prince ascend – all this had nothing to do with them.

They had just witnessed a “family massacre” tragedy in the palace. No one wanted their own family to end up like that. Loyalty to ruler and love of country? What a joke! They feared for their own lives and had no time to meddle in such affairs. Naturally, they had to preserve themselves first before they could continue seeking ways forward for the dynasty.

Everyone understood this clearly in their hearts. They immediately turned back to consult Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu: “Your Highness, Your Grace, shall this humble official order people to clean the palace thoroughly and invite His Highness the Prince to take residence?”

Pang Xiao nodded slightly: “Very well.”

Lian Xiaozhou felt somewhat panicked and couldn’t help but look at Qin Yining. Qin Yining smiled reassuringly at her from behind the others and nodded slightly. Only then did her heart settle as she said in a deep voice: “If so, then I trouble all of you.”

“No trouble at all, no trouble. This is all part of our duties.” The ministers heard the young prince’s voice that had not yet changed, and while respectful, couldn’t help thinking that if this person were to ascend the throne in the future, judging by their current observations, he probably wouldn’t be able to control much of the court affairs. After all, he looked like his hair hadn’t even fully grown in.

There would likely need to be a regent in the court.

So who was truly important, who was the one they needed to treat with particular care and caution, was already crystal clear.

The ministers busily went to make preparations, while Lian Xiaozhou entered the palace under the escort of guards and servants arranged by Qin Yining beforehand.

Qin Yining and Pang Xiao stood before the palace gates, watching her departing figure with the crowd. Though her expression showed nothing, her slightly furrowed brow still revealed some worry.

Ji Zeyu said: “The other court ministers haven’t appeared yet. We still don’t know what their stance will be.”

Pang Xiao took Qin Yining’s hand and squeezed it reassuringly, smiling at Ji Zeyu: “No matter. Everyone is intelligent. Perhaps some aren’t afraid to die, but everyone should want their entire families to survive. Moreover, the court factions are clearly defined and obvious to see. If anyone harbors disloyal intentions, settling accounts with them later will be easy.”

“Let’s hope there are no foolish people among them.” Ji Zeyu sighed lightly.

So far, everything had gone very smoothly. Except for Li Qitian’s mad killing of his mother, wife, and concubines, they had not caused any bloodshed from besieging the city until now. No one was a killing maniac, so naturally they hoped things could continue smoothly like this.

Qin Yining was escorted back to the military camp by Pang Xiao.

He led her back to their tent, where the four children had already been taken to rest by their wet nurses. Seeing that they had matters to discuss, Ji Yun and Bingtang withdrew. Jingzhe and the others naturally set up perimeter security to prevent eavesdropping.

Qin Yining wearily sat on the makeshift wooden bed set up for the campaign. Now that she was back in the quiet tent, the horrific scene from the Hall of Mental Cultivation involuntarily surfaced in her mind again – that bloody scene with internal organs and remains scattered everywhere made her stomach churn, and she couldn’t help but retch twice.

Pang Xiao had been removing his outer robe but quickly came over upon hearing this, his large hand gently patting her delicate back: “I really shouldn’t have brought you to the palace. I had thought that since you’ve weathered storms with me for many years, at this moment of enjoying the fruits of our labor, I should share it with you. Who could have imagined Li Qitian would be so utterly conscienceless.”

Qin Yining waved her hand, took the hot tea Pang Xiao offered and sipped it to settle her stomach, then said: “This isn’t your fault. No one could have imagined the scene would become like that. But do you think he’s really gone mad?”

Pang Xiao shook his head, a cold smile playing at the corner of his lips: “He’s not mad.”

Qin Yining looked up at Pang Xiao.

When Pang Xiao’s gaze met Qin Yining’s eyes that seemed to hold starlight, his voice softened. He couldn’t help but gather her into his arms, gently rocking while speaking in soft tones: “Do you remember when he and I were trapped together in the underground palace of the Northern Ji imperial mausoleum?”

Qin Yining nodded. At that time, Tianji Zi’s phrase “ninth day of the ninth month, golden light appears” had nearly scared her soul from her body – how could she not remember?

Pang Xiao said: “That day I found quite a few sacrificial offerings to fill my stomach. Later, when I brought food to find Li Qitian, I saw him eating human flesh. He was eating Li Guanwen, who had saved him.”

Though Qin Yining already knew of this matter, her throat still couldn’t help but feel nauseous.

“A person who can eat human flesh for the slim chance of survival has an incredibly strong will to live. Moreover, once a person has eaten human flesh when powerless to do otherwise, that person is no longer human. His reason for killing his mother, wife, concubines, and close attendants, I analyze, has three causes: first, to vent his rage; second, he didn’t want his women to suffer humiliation; third, to shock us into believing he was mad so he could survive.”

Qin Yining slowly nodded: “What you say makes sense. But thinking of it this way, I only feel the Empress was pitiful. She wasn’t really an evildoer, and when I was trapped in the palace by Li Qitian before, she even helped me. I heard that Li Hao was lost earlier… Actually, I think an imperial prince wouldn’t be lost so easily, but I don’t want to investigate.”

Pang Xiao smiled and kissed Qin Yining’s forehead, saying nothing.

A single spark can start a prairie fire.

After two days, the camps surrounding the capital struck their tents. The Pingnan Army was led by their commander Ma Dazhuang back to the former Yan dynasty capital and other places. Since a large portion of the Pingnan Army consisted of disaster victims Pang Xiao had taken in during his journey north from the south, on their return south, they also allowed those who wanted to return home to farm to go back to their hometowns.

These surviving soldiers brought back compensation that Prince Zhongshun had paid from his own pocket, with double compensation for casualties. Having marched with him and greatly admiring Prince Zhongshun, the Pingnan Army spread Prince Zhongshun’s reputation for benevolence and righteousness all along their route. Throughout the entire region south of the capital, whenever common people mentioned Pang Xiao, they all gave thumbs up in praise.

As for the hundred thousand Huben Army troops, Pang Xiao ordered them to be stationed in batches at several fortresses near the capital.

“After the Son of Heaven brutally killed the Empress Dowager, concubines and others, then took his own life in the palace, former dynasty Prince Zhou Lian returned to the palace and gained support from more than half the court ministers. Even Prince Zhongshun and Duke Dingguo, who commanded heavy troops, bowed in submission to Prince Zhou Lian. The coronation ceremony was set for the tenth day of the twelfth month.”

Such news quickly spread throughout the country. When various prefectures received the news, naturally there were all kinds of reactions – some agreed, some doubted.

However, the north had the Longxiang Army maintaining order, the capital’s surroundings had the Huben Army positioned like a crouching tiger, the south had Pingnan Army units stationed along the route, and among the people were disaster victims Pang Xiao had helped and Pingnan Army soldiers released from service.

In this way, not only was public opinion secure, but even if there were one or two discontented prefectures, under the watchful eyes of the great armies, who would dare say no?

By mid-winter month, various regions expressed agreement one after another, with memorials supporting the restoration of the Northern Ji dynastic name flying into the palace like snowflakes.

Qin Yining, with her children, rarely enjoyed leisurely and comfortable days. She no longer had to worry fearfully about whether Pang Xiao might encounter danger on the battlefield. Moreover, Qin Huaiyuan had long ago asked Liao Zhibing to lead people to Xiyu to bring back their family members. Calculating the days, they should arrive soon. Qin Yining’s mood became even more joyful. She was bathed in happiness every day, and even her complexion was more rosy than before, finally gaining some weight.

“Mother! Look, big snowball!” Han Ge’er wore thick cotton robes, deer-hide warm boots, and a warm hat. His fair little face and hands were red from the cold, but undaunted by the chill, he held a snowball as large as a melon, crunching through the snow toward Qin Yining, leaving a string of footprints in the snow.

“Good boy, Mother sees it. Go slower, don’t fall!”

“Mother, look!” On the other side in the snow, Zhao Ge’er lay on the ground with limbs spread wide, creating a small human-shaped impression. “Mother, look!”

“Get up quickly, you’ll catch cold!”

Qin Yining was beside herself with worry, going to pull up Zhao Ge’er and brush the snow from his body, then chasing Han Ge’er who was running around everywhere, trying to make him give up the snowball. Zhao Ge’er also joined the chase in wild play.

Being chased, Han Ge’er was delighted and suddenly lifted his foot in a leap, flying more than ten feet away.

Qin Yining was stunned by this move. Before she could react, Zhao Ge’er also leaped and flew away.

The two children stopped playing in the snow and began a game of chase around the trees and rocks in the courtyard, both using qinggong!

And they were only five years old!

Qin Yining stood panting with hands on her hips, her cheeks red from running, white mist puffing from her mouth as she pointed at these two light-as-swallows little monkeys, speechless for a long while.

Ji Yun laughed loudly: “Heavens! The Young Master and Second Young Master are truly amazing. At such a young age to have such body techniques – it seems when Miss Cao said she taught them some martial arts, she was being completely modest!”

Bingtang held a brass hand warmer and pressed it into Qin Yining’s hands, nodding repeatedly: “Princess, your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. You mustn’t compete with the two Young Masters. Children have strong internal heat and good health, but you mustn’t catch cold.” As she spoke, she turned to receive a white fox cloak and hood from Zi Yuan to dress Qin Yining.