Qin Yining asked curiously, “What kind of person would want to buy those useless shops at a time like this?”

Manager Zhong’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Boss, come with me and you’ll know when you see them. Oh, right, just bring trusted people with you.”

Seeing Manager Zhong’s manner, Qin Yining couldn’t help but narrow her eyes suspiciously, but out of trust in him, she still nodded. “Alright, I understand.”

She only called for Bingtang and Ji Yun, then left the marquis manor with Manager Zhong, taking a carriage toward the north of the city.

“What kind of people are they, Manager?” In the carriage, Qin Yining couldn’t help but ask curiously.

Manager Zhong just smiled upon hearing this. “Boss will know once we arrive, won’t you?”

His mysterious manner, combined with his excited appearance with gleaming eyes, was completely different from his worried look when national disaster loomed just days ago. This made Qin Yining even more curious.

Could Manager Zhong really just be happy because someone wanted to buy those shops and residences stuck in her hands?

The carriage traveled along, exiting the inner city gate to reach the outer city, which was much quieter than the inner city.

On a summer afternoon, under the blazing sun, dust flew along the official road. Fortunately, as the carriage picked up speed, wind blew in to relieve some of the sweltering heat. Qin Yining lifted the window curtain to look outside along the way, seeing common people carrying packs, shouldering burdens, or driving donkey carts in groups of three to five heading toward the inner city gate. These people were all covered in dust with worried expressions, as if the sky were about to fall.

Her originally light mood could no longer be lifted after seeing such scenes.

Facing war, people truly experienced how precious peace was. Like the women in her household – previously they would haggle over who received a bowl of bird’s nest soup, exchanging veiled barbs when they met. Now they no longer had so many grievances, as if desperately treasuring those happy days that grew fewer with each passing day. The whole family was very harmonious, even Qin Huining, who used to love stirring up trouble, had become quiet and demure.

Seeing Qin Yining’s grave expression, Manager Zhong could guess why she was troubled and remained silent.

Soon, the carriage stopped outside the wooden fence of a farmer’s house in a remote area on the city outskirts.

Manager Zhong got off the carriage, carefully observed the surroundings, and seeing nothing unusual, directed the driver to drive directly through the open courtyard gate. After closing the wooden gate, Bingtang and Ji Yun jumped down one after another, then helped Qin Yining down.

Qin Yining smoothed her skirt and asked with a smile, “Why choose such a place to discuss business?”

“The other party has a special identity and it’s inconvenient to talk in our building. But Boss, rest assured, I’ve arranged everything properly. Please enter.”

Manager Zhong smiled and led Qin Yining through the spacious courtyard toward the three thatched rooms in the center. Bingtang followed behind waving a fan, while Ji Yun remained alert, carefully observing the surroundings as they walked.

Qin Yining was very familiar with such houses. As a child, seeing anyone living in such neat houses with such large courtyards would make her extremely envious. Though she had enjoyed herself at the marquis manor for a while, the deepest memories of her dwellings were still the mountain caves and grass huts she had built herself.

This farmer’s courtyard now made her feel very grounded.

At the door, Manager Zhong first lifted the earth-yellow coarse cloth door curtain. “Boss, please enter.”

Qin Yining nodded with a smile and stepped over the threshold.

In the main room, directly facing the door, stood a wooden square table with benches and small stools scattered on both sides. Earth-yellow coarse cloth curtains hung halfway down in front of the doors on the left and right sides. From the shadows cast on the ground, it could be determined that there should be someone in the right room.

Manager Zhong indeed went to the right, saying “excuse me” at the door before lifting the curtain and inviting Qin Yining to enter.

Qin Yining had no suspicions, but as soon as she leaned forward through the door, a large hand suddenly reached out from the diagonal front, pulling her over in one swift motion.

Before Qin Yining’s cry of alarm could escape, she was already pressed against the wall, her eyes covered by someone who ardently sealed her lips.

Qin Yining was truly frightened out of her wits. She pounded the person in front of her with both hands, kicked and flailed with her legs, continuously making muffled sounds for help, but the person was very strong, pressing her against the wall with hands like iron clamps, and one leg effortlessly restraining her two wildly kicking legs.

What was even more terrifying was that Manager Zhong, Ji Yun, and Bingtang outside the door had no reaction at all!

The lips and tongue of the person in front became even more urgent, his forceful tongue attempting to conquer territory in her mouth.

In desperation, Qin Yining deliberately relaxed her jaw, and when that person’s tongue explored over, she bit down hard.

“Hiss! Are you trying to murder your husband?”

Qin Yining froze upon hearing this voice.

The large hand covering her eyes loosened. Through the blur, she saw Pang Xiao’s familiar long eyebrows and phoenix eyes. Below his high nose bridge, his crimson lips still bore traces of blood. This person’s face was so close, their breaths intermingling. He changed to gripping her waist with both hands, then bent down to kiss her cheek hard with a loud smack.

“After not seeing each other for so long, you can’t even taste my flavor anymore? Seems my impression last time wasn’t deep enough.” Pang Xiao grinned roguishly and brought his face close again.

“You, you…” Qin Yining raised her hand and slapped him.

The crisp “slap” made Huzi, guarding at the door, grimace.

After receiving this slap on his face, Pang Xiao wasn’t angry at all. He only felt that the person in his arms was fragrant and soft, a warm and tender bundle nestled against his chest. Even her appearance when raising her hand to hit someone looked exactly like the fluffy, soft Er’Bai. Those eyes filled with anger and mist stared wide and round, eyelashes fluttering, making his heart melt.

No wonder there was the line “Spring nights are too short, the sun rises high, from then on the ruler no longer holds early court” – such beauties were truly fatal!

“Scared? Did your hand hurt from hitting?” Pang Xiao intimately nuzzled Qin Yining’s nose with his.

Qin Yining was so angry that tears spun in her eyes. Just moments ago, she truly thought she had been set up, that Manager Zhong had somehow betrayed her and tricked her into being handed over to some villain. Her heart was still pounding frantically from the terror and hadn’t yet calmed down.

Seeing Qin Yining remain silent, Pang Xiao carefully bent down to look at her. Seeing her appearance of about to cry but forcibly holding back tears, Pang Xiao’s heart ached terribly as he held her and swayed.

“Really scared you? I was just teasing you. How about you hit me a few more times?” He grabbed her hand and pressed it against his handsome face with stubble. “Here, here, hit this side. I’ll let you hit me, okay?”

“Who wants to hit you?”

…

Outside the door, Huzi shook off goosebumps all over. This shameless wretch who offered the right cheek after being hit on the left was actually his prince? Simply couldn’t bear to watch!

He immediately got up, pulling the red-faced Bingtang aside to talk.

Ji Yun and Manager Zhong also awkwardly moved further away.

Qin Yining took several breaths, but couldn’t hold back her tears no matter what. Since their parting, she had first nearly been devoured by the Empress, then there were all sorts of household matters, her father being arrested, her scheming and planning, managing the household, supporting thousands of refugees, and at the crucial moment all the manor’s servants abandoning their duties… Though she adapted to circumstances and planned calmly, who knew how much she was suffering inside?

Now facing Pang Xiao, for some reason, the tightly wound string in her heart suddenly loosened. Like a child who had been wronged, her tears even rubbed onto his shoulder.

“Alright, alright, don’t cry anymore. It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have scared you like that. How about you beat me up? I’ll let you hit me!” Pang Xiao was panicked by her crying. He sat on a wooden plank bed nearby, holding her on his lap, frantically wiping away her tears.