Upon hearing this, Qiu Feishan lowered her eyes, her gaze immediately becoming as indifferent as before.

“Everything that should be done has been done. Now this common woman understands what truly matters most. To win back his affection, this common woman spent all her effort during that period. It wasn’t easy to make him change his mind – this common woman never wants to lose him again. Besides, it’s truly rare for a family to be together. What we have now is already satisfying enough – we cannot ask for more.”

Qin Yining smiled sweetly.

Qiu Feishan was truly someone very skilled at speaking. These words not only expressed merit, but the tone about protecting family completely catered to her preferences.

Qin Yining knew very well what kind of person Qiu Feishan was. Saying she wanted to retreat to the mountains and forests with Mu Jinghu – could she truly completely abandon everything she had built over these years? Could she not care about the convenience that hermit families finally brought to the imperial court?

If it was about abandoning all fame and fortune for true love and family, Qiu Feishan couldn’t do it. It was her nature – she simply wasn’t that kind of person.

So Qin Yining didn’t know how much sincerity was in Qiu Feishan’s words.

But understanding without speaking out was best. Their statuses were increasingly disparate now, and Qin Yining could understand Qiu Feishan’s desire to curry favor. In the end, Qin Yining didn’t care whether what Qiu Feishan said was true or false – she had her own judgment. What mattered was that Qiu Feishan wouldn’t harm Mu Jinghu, and Mu Jinghu truly loved Qiu Feishan. Every family would reach its own balance. As outsiders, she and Pang Xiao really shouldn’t interfere too much.

“Being able to find a way of living that brings you peace is wonderful.” Qin Yining smiled as she came to the corridor. The large red palace lanterns made everything appear festive and joyous.

Not far away, palace servants brought in sparklers. Zhao Ge’er, Han Ge’er, and Yan Ge’er each held two. Little eunuchs carefully came forward to help light them. The sparklers made “hissing” sounds as bundles of silver flowers suddenly bloomed, illuminating the children’s rosy, smiling faces. They jumped and shouted joyfully, waving their little arms in circles, the bright fireworks trailing long tails and leaving circles of light in the air.

“Mother, Mother!” Seeing Qin Yining and Qiu Feishan standing in the corridor, all three children ran over one after another.

Qin Yining smiled: “Be careful, don’t fall, don’t get burned. Take care of little brother Yan and pay attention to safety.”

“We know! Mother, come play!” Han Ge’er stuffed a sparkler into Qin Yining’s hands, but just as he handed it over, the flame went out.

A little eunuch nearby quickly came forward and lit two more to offer to Qin Yining, then went to attend to the little princes.

Qin Yining also felt playful and simply joined the children in the courtyard for a while. Her joyful laughter carried far into the distance.

Pang Xiao and Qin Huaiyuan were sitting in the side hall talking when they heard the laughter from the courtyard. They couldn’t help but rise and come out to look.

In the courtyard, Qin Yining had clearly become the children’s leader. Her cloud-brocade cross-collar phoenix robe was illuminated by the firework’s glow, her cheeks much rosier than usual, truly displaying bright eyes, white teeth, and divine grace in her glances.

Pang Xiao was deeply moved watching this. After experiencing so much, that Qin Yining could still laugh so heartily showed that she had come to terms with many things.

“I had always worried that Sister Yi would get stuck in a rut,” Pang Xiao said with a smile to Qin Huaiyuan. “You and mother-in-law taking Zhao Ge’er back to Yiyue is like severing one of Sister Yi’s arms. She misses her parents and misses her child. Yet with the mountains high and roads far, she can’t abandon me to follow you. I understand her pain clearly… But now it’s good. Seeing her like this, I can rest assured.”

“Sister Yi isn’t that kind of weak woman. Otherwise she wouldn’t have survived until I found her. She’s a child who understands reason and is worth people’s devotion to her.”

Qin Huaiyuan stood with hands behind his back, his beard flowing, his smile gentle. Though youth had passed, he was still that Pan An renowned throughout the world. The aging of his appearance was exchanged for the accumulation of years – this stability accumulated after experiencing countless trials was something Pang Xiao couldn’t match.

“Father-in-law, please rest assured. I dare not forget Sister Yi’s kindness to me over these years for even a moment. My feelings for her are even stronger than before. I know father-in-law worries about Sister Yi and cannot trust me…”

“No, Your Majesty.” Qin Huaiyuan smiled as he looked at Pang Xiao, interrupting his words. “Of course I trust you, otherwise I wouldn’t bear to leave both my daughter and grandson by your side. I just also understand your difficulties. Even as a minister, one inevitably has to make marriage alliances to win over colleagues, and beautiful concubines given by colleagues cannot be refused. As emperor, such things will only increase. It’s not that I don’t trust your character, but I understand too well the hardships involved.”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled broadly again: “However, as a father, leaving an escape route for my daughter is my responsibility and my intention. This has nothing to do with establishing an independent dynasty or such matters.”

Pang Xiao also had trusted advisors. Those ministers with merit from following the dragon each had their own thoughts. The most trusted few also knew about Yiyue affairs. That Qin Huaiyuan refused to stay in the capital to enjoy his old age but instead wanted to take the eldest prince to develop Yiyue inevitably made these ministers suspicious.

How old was the eldest prince? If Qin Huaiyuan had any ambition for independence, he could completely manipulate this child. When Yiyue developed and grew strong, wouldn’t it become a second Tatar?

The reason no one mentioned these suspicions to Pang Xiao was only because Pang Xiao’s recent favor and respect for Qin Yining made subordinates consider more carefully before speaking.

But even if no one spoke of it, how could someone as experienced as Qin Huaiyuan not think of it? By speaking openly about this, he was also letting Pang Xiao know his thoughts. Human hearts change easily – this was to prevent Pang Xiao from remembering this matter in the future and harboring resentment and wariness.

How could Pang Xiao not understand Qin Huaiyuan’s meaning?

He repeatedly waved his hands and said solemnly: “I understand father-in-law’s meaning. We’re family – there aren’t so many complicated twists and turns. To say something that might seem hypocritical, when I originally decided to fight for this realm, eighty percent was for Sister Yi and so our whole family would never again suffer persecution and manipulation. There’s no reason that now I’ve finally reached this position, I would forget my original intention.”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled and nodded. He naturally understood that Pang Xiao spoke the truth.

But with changing times and circumstances, how many sincere hearts could remain unchanged for decades?

The wedding day for Bingtang and Huzi, Ji Yun and Tang Xiu, and Lian Xiaozhou and Fang Hailing was set for the sixteenth day of the first month.

On the fifteenth, Qin Yining had all three brides stay in her palace.

“Tomorrow evening you’ll leave from here. Since you all have no parents or relatives, I am your natal family, and Kunning Palace is your natal home.” Qin Yining looked at the three before her with considerable emotion. “When you return home after three days, I’ll have people come receive you. Have you looked at the dowry lists? Is there anything I’ve overlooked?”

With tears in her eyes, Ji Yun chided: “The empress has nearly divided her entire household wealth among us three as dowries – what could possibly be overlooked?”