Ji Yun and Bingtang flanked the door to welcome guests, with Bingtang lifting the bright red brocade bamboo-patterned warm curtain. When the cold air from outside met the warm air inside, a misty white fog formed at the entrance. The cold air rolled in like clouds close to the ground, hanging thin frost on the bright red floral patterned felt rug before quickly melting.

A pair of small tiger-head cotton shoes stepped onto the felt rug. Looking up, there was a chubby little boy wearing a scarlet red brocade cotton jacket and a white rabbit fur hat. Perhaps afraid of strangers, he stood at the door not daring to step forward, staring with wide eyes left and right. Finding the environment completely unfamiliar, he opened his mouth preparing to cry.

At this moment, a pair of hands gently pinched his cheeks. Qiu Feishan wore an ink-blue front-opening stand-collar narrow-sleeved jacket, with an ivory-white horse-face skirt below, covered by a Yang consort colored waist-cinched long vest trimmed with white rabbit fur. Her long hair was arranged in a simple round chignon, secured with a red gold flower-headed tassel hairpin inserted diagonally.

Qiu Feishan took her son’s hand and looked up at the people within the floor screen, smiling slightly.

Seeing her in women’s clothing with her graceful figure, bending to hold the child’s hand while looking up with a smile, Mu Jinghu’s heart trembled.

Qin Yining hurried out to greet them: “You’ve come. It’s so cold today, and it’s snowing – why didn’t you tell me so I could come meet you? What if Yan Ge’er caught cold?”

“It’s fine, I was careful coming here.” Qiu Feishan bent down to remove the finger Yan Ge’er was sucking on: “Yan Ge’er, what should you say when you see Aunt Qin?”

Yan Ge’er shyly pouted, turned and hugged Qiu Feishan’s leg, burying his little face in his mother’s skirt.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but laugh: “He doesn’t see me often, he’s probably forgotten past events.”

“Yan Ge’er? Why don’t you know how to greet people? How has Mother taught you?”

Yan Ge’er simply refused to answer.

Qin Yining took Qiu Feishan’s arm and walked into the house: “He’s only three years old, don’t be too strict with him.”

Qiu Feishan then took her son’s hand and followed Qin Yining into the inner room.

Her beautiful eyes swept over the room’s interior. Seeing Mu Jinghu only looking down at their son, Qiu Feishan’s smile stiffened momentarily, but she quickly adjusted her emotions. Seeing Qin Huaiyuan was also there, she immediately performed proper courtesies, then also paid respects to Pang Xiao.

Qin Yining had Ji Yun prepare hot tea and told Bingtang to have someone prepare refreshments children would enjoy. After thinking, she told Zi Yuan: “Don’t have Han Ge’er and Zhao Ge’er copy books for now. Have them come out to meet the guests – tell them their Uncle Mu’s wife and little brother Yan have come.”

“Yes!” Zi Yuan answered crisply and turned to leave.

Seeing that Qiu Feishan and Mu Jinghu weren’t even greeting each other, Qin Yining thought for a moment then proactively asked Qiu Feishan: “What made you think to come at this time?”

Qiu Feishan glanced at Mu Jinghu, lifted Yan Ge’er to sit on her lap, playing with his little hands as she said: “I’m now free of all burdens. I’ve completely handed over the Sitong Company to the Qiu family. Staying where I was truly wasn’t appropriate.”

At these words, everyone was very surprised. Mu Jinghu asked doubtfully: “Handed Sitong Company to the Qiu family? Weren’t you most concerned about the Qiu family’s power and Sitong Company’s wealth? Now that the Qiu family has completed the exchange with the reclusive families and is consolidating power, you’re actually willing to give it up?”

Qiu Feishan showed a bitter smile: “What kind of person have I become in your heart? My grandfather was the Qiu family’s previous patriarch. He cherished me, keeping me by his side like a grandson and personally teaching me as I grew up. I could hardly completely abandon the Qiu family at a critical moment. That Sitong Company was indeed my life’s work, and I did care about it, but now that the war is over, there’s nothing I need to spend money on. Such wealth in my hands would only be a burden. The Qiu family naturally has others to manage it. From now on, I’ll only care for the children – why would I need to worry about those things?”

Mu Jinghu still looked incredulous.

Because Qiu Feishan’s current words perfectly explained her past actions, sounding quite reasonable, making his persistent grudge seem wrong.

Mu Jinghu couldn’t help but furrow his brow tightly. All his anger stemmed from righteousness and moral principles. He hadn’t expected this turn to make it seem like he was disregarding his wife and child’s welfare.

Pang Xiao and Qin Yining exchanged glances, both sighing inwardly. Mu Jinghu wasn’t stupid – if he were truly dull, he couldn’t have achieved such superior martial arts. It’s just that he didn’t use his mind for scheming and plotting. For Qiu Feishan to use tricks in front of him was effortless.

However, even though Qiu Feishan had used some small schemes, they could see she had no intention of harming Mu Jinghu – rather, she was trying to please him more. So the two said nothing more.

Mu Jinghu was silent for a long time before saying: “You spent so much effort managing Sitong Company back then, now you’re abandoning it all – are you really willing?”

Qiu Feishan stroked Yan Ge’er’s head. The child leaned softly against her, playing with his own fingers while curiously looking at Mu Jinghu.

“Now that Yan Ge’er is gradually growing up, and you’ve been away from me for so long, how could I not understand what’s truly most important? Once you let go of some things, they’re not difficult to abandon.”

Mu Jinghu had already wavered considerably, and now speaking face-to-face with Qiu Feishan, the last defense in his heart collapsed with a crash.

He couldn’t help but break into a big smile, stood up and quickly walked over to snatch Yan Ge’er into his arms, kissing him several times.

Mu Jinghu’s movements were too quick. Yan Ge’er couldn’t react at all. After being kissed and pressed into a strange embrace with such rough movements that hurt his little body, Yan Ge’er finally opened his mouth and burst into loud tears, shouting: “Mother, Mother!”

Mu Jinghu was completely at a loss, annoyed that the child didn’t recognize him, yet unwilling to put Yan Ge’er down, continuously saying: “Look, I’m your father, why are you crying? Look at me, call me father, father.”

“Waaaah! Mother, I want Mother!” Yan Ge’er cried until he was hiccupping.

Qiu Feishan was quite angry at Mu Jinghu’s behavior. She took the child back and coaxed him for quite a while before Yan Ge’er stopped crying.

Mu Jinghu stood there like a wooden post, awkwardly unable to advance or retreat.

Seeing their family’s harmony, Qin Yining finally smiled broadly.

Han Ge’er and Zhao Ge’er were brought by Zi Yuan. The two children entered with proper courtesies. Though they found Qiu Feishan unfamiliar, they were extremely polite in their greetings and proactively took Yan Ge’er to play on the side. Yan Ge’er liked the two little brothers much more than his own father and was now smiling.

Seeing the child like this made Mu Jinghu feel even more defeated.

Qin Yining arranged a cross-courtyard for Mu Jinghu and Qiu Feishan’s family to live in.

Two days later, Liao Zhibing and the Blue Sky Alliance brothers finally brought a long convoy into the capital, heading straight for the prince’s mansion.

Meng Qin entered the city first to report to Qin Yining. At that time, Qin Yining was in a room with Qiu Feishan playing with five small children. Upon suddenly hearing the news, she joyfully sprang to her feet.

Qiu Feishan asked puzzledly: “Are your family members returning?”

Qin Yining nodded repeatedly and instructed the wet nurses to dress Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er in their outer fur coats: “You’ll come with Mother to meet Great-grandmother and the others.”

“Good!” The two children were overjoyed. After getting dressed, they hurriedly ran outside together.

After thinking carefully, Qiu Feishan understood everything, secretly thinking that Pang Xiao and Qin Yining were indeed thoughtful enough – their earlier escape trick had fooled everyone.

Qin Yining bid temporary farewell to Qiu Feishan, put on her cloak and led people outside. Passing through the hanging flower gate and crossing the corridor, she quickly entered the outer courtyard, meeting Pang Xiao, Qin Huaiyuan, Mu Jinghu and their group who were also hurrying out.

Everyone went together to greet them at the entrance, where the carriages had slowly stopped.

Liao Zhibing jumped down from horseback and instructed the coachmen with the Blue Sky Alliance members. After stepping stools were placed, people began alighting from several carriages in succession.

The first to emerge from the first carriage were Sun Shi and Zheng Shi.

Before Qin Yining could speak, Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er had already run over, hugging their legs left and right: “Maternal grandmother, Great-maternal grandmother!”

“Ai! So good!” Sun Shi and Zheng Shi were delighted, looking at Qin Yining walking quickly toward them, both their eyes becoming somewhat moist: “Yining.”

“Maternal grandmother! Mother!” Qin Yining reached them and embraced both women, unable to help sobbing.

At this time, Ma Shi and Yao Chenggu had also alighted from the carriage, with Yao Shi standing beside Ma Shi. Seeing Qin Yining, Sun Shi, and Zheng Shi holding each other and crying, all three were somewhat moved. Ma Shi and Yao Shi’s eyes warmed slightly, while Yao Chenggu shook his head and sighed.

Pang Xiao had already stepped forward: “Grandmother, you’ve all had a hard journey.”

Qin Yining also wiped her tears without losing propriety and came to pay respects to Yao Chenggu’s group.

“Old Master, Old Madam, Grandmother, are you well?”

Ma Shi supported Qin Yining with both hands, ignoring the awkwardness on Yao Chenggu and Yao Shi’s faces, pulling her aside to examine her up and down: “I heard from Master Liao all along the way. Yining, you’ve suffered.”

“It wasn’t really suffering. Fortunately, all hardships have now turned to sweetness.” Qin Yining held Ma Shi’s hand and smiled: “Grandmother, Yun Jie’er and Xuan Ge’er are still small, and it’s too cold outside, so I didn’t have them brought out. You’ll see them shortly.”

“Ai, good, good! Dafu is truly blessed, having our pair of qilin sons Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er, and now a pair of dragon-phoenix twins.” Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er had already rushed over to surround Ma Shi, calling her “Great-great-grandmother.”

The family joyously met each other, then walked arm in arm and shoulder to shoulder back into the mansion.

Not seeing her second and third uncles’ families, Qin Yining felt slightly disappointed. Supporting Sun Shi’s arm, she spoke in low, intimate tones: “Mother, how is the Old Madam’s health?”

“Not very good. The Old Madam is aged. Having gone through much travel and upheaval, she can’t be troubled anymore. Now Hui Jie’er is by her side for company. The Old Madam has feelings for that child, so when her mood is better, her body appears more robust too. Your second and third uncles, along with your cousins, all have their own duties in Xiyu. We didn’t dare all come out, fearing that winds might change upon our return. So after discussion, only we came out.”

Qin Yining nodded understandingly. Xiyu was such a vast area with many indigenous residents. To completely bring it under control, Qin Huaiyuan must have expended considerable effort back then. They naturally couldn’t abandon it all and let opportunists seize it.

“Mother, I’ve already purchased proper residences and arranged for servants. There’s definitely enough space for you, Father, and maternal grandmother to live. From now on, we’ll never be separated again.”