Qin Yining didn’t wait long. Soon, urgent hoofbeats could be heard in the distance on the official road.

Calculating that it was about time, thinking it must be the Great Yan people responsible for escorting Pang Xiao who had caught up, she led White Cloud out of the dense forest, mounted the horse, and headed toward the official road.

Under the moonlight, White Cloud’s silvery white coat glowed with a layer of white light. Galloping across the grass that sparkled with crystalline dewdrops, it looked like a divine celestial steed. The person sitting upright on the horse, dressed in plain silk that gleamed with a subtle luster, was hard to ignore.

About twenty-some people from Great Yan had caught up. Seeing Qin Yining, they all slowed their pace.

In the blink of an eye, Qin Yining spurred her horse forward. When everyone saw clearly it was her, they all exclaimed in surprise: “Miss Qin?”

Qin Yining nodded: “It’s me. Where are my father and Lord Cui?”

“It really is Miss Qin? Wonderful! Marquis Anping and Lord Cui are behind us. We’re responsible for pursuing the assassins and protecting the Great Zhou prince. It’s good that Miss Qin is safe!” The leader thought for a moment and said: “We have important duties and cannot linger here long. How does Miss Qin come to be here?”

Before Qin Yining could answer, the man continued: “I’ll arrange for one person to stay here to protect Miss, and Marquis Anping’s party will arrive shortly.”

“Your important duties take priority. Thank you for your trouble, sir.”

Qin Yining nodded understandingly.

These people were ordered to escort Prince Zhongshun out of the territory and must ensure he safely left Great Yan’s borders. If anything happened to the envoy within Great Yan’s territory, given Emperor Zhou’s temperament, he might well make unreasonable demands.

Seeing Qin Yining so reasonable, the man couldn’t help but admire the Qin family’s good upbringing. Seeing Qin Yining sitting heroically upright on her horse in the night, just one glance made his face burn, so he quickly lowered his head, not daring to think further.

After ordering one man to stay for protection, the rest continued spurring their horses in pursuit.

The man left to protect Qin Yining was a middle-aged fellow in his thirties who came forward to bow respectfully before standing at a respectful distance.

Seeing his propriety, Qin Yining also dismounted and stroked White Cloud’s silvery mane. White Cloud seemed to enjoy it greatly, lowering its head to nuzzle Qin Yining’s cheek. Like Dark Cloud, besides its excellent bloodline, endurance, speed, and explosive power, White Cloud was also very intelligent—perhaps their intelligence could match that of seven or eight-year-old children.

Therefore, Qin Yining treated White Cloud like a clever child, very gently.

In this wilderness, it was fortunate to have White Cloud there, giving her additional security.

After about one incense stick’s worth of time, another clamor of hoofbeats approached.

Qin Huaiyuan and the other officials saw the white horse and the woman in plain dress by the roadside from afar and quickly slowed their pace.

Qin Huaiyuan hurriedly jumped from his horse’s back. The moment his feet touched ground, his legs felt somewhat weak. As a civil official, he had been galloping frantically for over six hours and his stamina was long exhausted. But because his precious daughter had been taken away and caught up in pursuit and assassination, his heart was anxious beyond measure. He had gritted his teeth and persisted all the way on sheer determination.

Taking a few quick steps, Qin Yining had already come forward to meet him.

Seeing that Qin Yining’s clothing was neat, with only her long hair slightly disheveled, not appearing to have suffered any indignities or injuries, Qin Huaiyuan finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

“Sister Yining, are you alright?”

“Father, I’m fine.” Qin Yining bowed to Qin Huaiyuan. Seeing Lord Cui and the other Ministry of Rites officials dismounting unsteadily one by one, she said with lingering fear: “Just now Prince Pang managed with great difficulty to shake off those Tatar assassins by some distance and hid me away, then led the assassins away with his attendants! Those Tatars are so fierce—if something happens to Prince Pang in our Great Yan territory, it would be difficult to explain to Emperor Zhou!”

“Tatars? Is Miss Qin speaking truly? How did you determine those were Tatar assassins?” Cui Wenqing asked with a tense expression.

Qin Yining’s face was pale, her eyes seemingly filled with tears as she explained: “I once saw some Tatars in Liang City and heard some Tatar language. Just now when those people were pursuing urgently, their shouts and curses were all in Tatar. Moreover, they were all tall and large, different from our Great Yan people’s build, so I could make the judgment.”

“This… the situation has truly become complex. Marquis Anping, what do you think about this matter…”

Cui Wenqing and the other Ministry of Rites officials were now aching all over from exhaustion. Not only were their legs chafed raw, but having galloped frantically without food or water, their brains were nearly scrambled from the jolting. Hearing about such matters involving the relationships between Tatars, Great Yan, and Great Zhou, how could they have any opinions?

Qin Huaiyuan thought briefly and decided decisively: “This matter requires His Majesty’s judgment. Even if we caught up, we couldn’t help. Let’s order the escorting soldiers to pursue according to the original route while we immediately return to the capital.”

Everyone nodded upon hearing this. They left a dozen men to escort these officials while the rest pursued according to Pang Xiao’s original departure route from the capital.

But they had already galloped frantically for over six hours coming here. On the return journey, everyone was so exhausted that naturally they couldn’t go without food or sleep. Their speed couldn’t match that of the outbound journey. After riding for a stretch, they encountered a small town at dawn and requisitioned several horse-drawn carriages. Including rest time, they didn’t return to the capital until the morning of the third day.

By then, Pang Xiao’s party had probably long since left Xihua City.

Throughout the journey, due to the separation of men and women, Qin Yining was placed alone in a carriage with no opportunity to speak privately with Qin Huaiyuan.

Only after entering the capital, when Qin Huaiyuan dismissed the other officials to rest at home while he needed to enter the palace to report to His Majesty, did he stop the carriage midway. Father and daughter got out and walked to an open area where they could finally talk.

“Sister Yining, did Tatars really come to assassinate Prince Pang?”

Hearing this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile: “I knew that day’s explanation wouldn’t completely convince Father.”

Qin Huaiyuan had an “as expected” expression and smiled: “Though National Uncle Cao colluded with Tatars, he did so for his own profit, not to invite wolves into the house. Miss Cao has already told His Majesty about that matter. National Uncle Cao should be in a tense period right now and would never allow Tatars to assassinate Prince Pang at this time, adding to his troubles.”

“Father sees clearly. The situation is exactly as you say.”

Qin Yining explained how Pang Xiao had arranged for his own people to disguise as Tatar assassins, naturally avoiding mention of matters between Pang Xiao and herself.

However, after listening, Qin Huaiyuan’s expression still showed some complexity and understanding.

After Qin Yining finished speaking, he pondered for a moment and asked: “Sister Yining, what do you think of Prince Pang?”

Qin Yining had been seriously waiting for Qin Huaiyuan to analyze what to do next, never expecting her father to ask about Pang Xiao.

Thinking of that man made her uncomfortable. Forcing herself to remain composed, she said: “I don’t really think anything particular.”

“Nothing particular?” Qin Huaiyuan smiled and pointed to the red bean bracelet on her wrist: “When we were seeing him off that day, Father doesn’t remember you wearing this, yet when we found you, you already had it on.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining’s pink cheeks flushed crimson.