In the main hall, Qin Huaiyuan and Duke Anguo Li Mian had been waiting for a long time. Seeing the Emperor and Qin Yining enter one after another, they both stepped forward to bow to Yuchi Yan.

Yuchi Yan was still immersed in the excitement of the people’s compliance and heaven’s auspicious signs. When he saw the two men, his face no longer bore the gloom of recent days when worrying about silver. He waved his hand and said in a cheerful tone: “No need for ceremony.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Qin Huaiyuan and Duke Anguo rose and stepped back.

Yuchi Yan turned back to smile at Qin Yining, saying gently: “Today heaven sent auspicious signs, thanks largely to you.”

Qin Yining felt somewhat between laughing and crying.

A rainbow appearing after rain was perfectly normal – how had it become an auspicious sign in the Emperor’s eyes? This was far too superstitious.

Qin Yining hurriedly knelt down and bowed: “Your subject’s daughter dare not accept such praise. Heaven’s auspicious signs come because Great Yan has a sage ruler. Your subject’s daughter is merely a small woman, and regarding metaphysics, as Your Majesty knows, I was just learning as I went. How could I possess the ability to make heaven send down auspicious signs?”

The phrase “learning as I went” made Yuchi Yan unable to help laughing aloud.

Yuchi Yan’s fondness for Qin Yining had risen to a new height.

Though she had no romantic feelings for him, she showed loyalty to her ruler. She didn’t use her status as the “Saint” acknowledged by the people to deceive him with fanfare, but early on had been honest with him about what was real and what she was using to fool people to comfort their hearts.

For Yuchi Yan, newly ascended to the throne, Qin Yining’s honesty and Qin Huaiyuan’s excellent strategic wisdom were both great support. Combined with Prince Ning who would sacrifice his life for the country, and Imperial Uncle Duke Anguo Li Mian’s sincere loyalty.

For the first time since ascending the throne, Yuchi Yan felt that he as emperor was not alone, and perhaps could fight against Great Zhou’s wolf-like army.

“Regardless, you have rendered great service, helping Us pacify the people and finding a solution to the food problem for Us. Tell Us, how should We reward you, hmm?”

Yuchi Yan supported Qin Yining with both hands, his voice gentle and smiling, especially the final drawn-out rising “hmm” with a slight nasal tone and several degrees of indulgence.

Duke Anguo lowered his head, his ears twitching.

Qin Huaiyuan bowed his head and frowned, showing no reaction.

Qin Yining stepped back two paces and performed a Taoist salute: “Your Majesty granting your subject’s daughter Xuan Su Temple for quiet cultivation is already a reward. Your subject’s daughter dare not seek anything more.”

Qin Yining’s words were clearly double-edged, meaning to tell the Emperor: ‘You didn’t force me to marry you and gave me a villa for cultivation – I should thank you for that.’

But Yuchi Yan completely missed the deeper meaning in her words.

He smiled and said: “How to reward you – We must think carefully. Ordinary gold and silver would be too vulgar.”

Qin Yining lowered her head, wishing she could tell Yuchi Yan: ‘I am a vulgar person. If you really want to reward me, giving more gold would be good too.’

But she really couldn’t say such words. She could only try to step back and reduce her presence.

Yuchi Yan looked at her with appreciative eyes for another moment before turning back: “Imperial Uncle, Minister Qin, please follow Us back to the palace to discuss important matters.”

“We obey your decree.”

Yuchi Yan reluctantly glanced at Qin Yining once more before leading everyone away.

Qin Yining respectfully bowed in farewell. Only after everyone left did she maintain her “Master” demeanor and leave the front hall with Ji Yun and Qiu Lu. Any Taoist nuns they encountered along the way bowed and stepped aside, calling her “Master,” while Qin Yining politely nodded in response.

Only after climbing the long stairs, passing through the ornamental gate, and reaching the rear courtyard halfway up the mountain did Qin Yining finally let out a long breath. Her straight spine also relaxed as she murmured: “Finally resolved.”

“Yes, finally resolved without incident.” Ji Yun and Qiu Lu were also covered in sweat.

The three returned to their room and were just about to change clothes when someone came to report: “Reporting to Master, a distinguished guest has arrived outside.”

Qin Yining’s hand preparing to change clothes stopped.

“Who has come?”

“Reporting to Master, the distinguished guest forbade this subordinate from announcing their identity and requests Master to come out personally to receive them.”

A “distinguished guest” who could make the imperial guards silent as cicadas…

Qin Yining had already guessed somewhat. She hurriedly rose and went downstairs, quickly walking to the center of the plaza where she knelt down and called out loudly: “Your subject’s daughter respectfully welcomes Your Majesty the Empress.”

Li Yanyan had been standing around the corner with her personal attendants – Nanny Li, the senior palace maids Yuegui and Yueji, Head Eunuch Liu Bao, and dozens of palace attendants – waiting for Qin Yining to personally come welcome them before they would enter.

Following the suggestions of Nanny Li and Liu Bao, since this shameless hussy had unspeakable affairs with the Emperor, she must be very guilty. They didn’t allow the guards to announce their identities specifically to see her guilty expression when suddenly faced with the legitimate Empress.

Who knew this person would be so clever, kneeling down to welcome them from afar.

Could the guard have told her?

Li Yanyan looked sternly at the guard.

Qin Yining had already stepped forward to explain for the guard: “Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject’s daughter guessed Your Majesty’s identity first. Your subject’s daughter respectfully welcomes Your Majesty – may you live a thousand years.”

The guard looked at Qin Yining gratefully and then withdrew.

Li Yanyan smiled slightly, her eyes flashing with sharp light.

Seeing Qin Yining being so considerate now – wasn’t this also a means of winning people’s hearts? Looking at her otherworldly white robes that dressed her like a fairy, then recalling the harmonious scene when she and the Emperor looked at each other in the plaza, and the people’s comments about them being “talented and beautiful” and a “match made in heaven,” Li Yanyan felt as if she were being roasted over a fire.

She and the Emperor were the deeply affectionate married couple. If Qin Yining and the Emperor were a “match made in heaven,” what did that make her?

“Rise.” Li Yanyan spoke coldly, exerting some effort to control her temper and not scream in front of Qin Yining.

At this moment, Qin Yining already felt like needles were pricking her back under Li Yanyan’s stare. That intense hostility was even stronger than wild beasts in the mountains, making her entire body tense up.

Though she and Li Yanyan couldn’t be called close before, at least they hadn’t reached the point of mutual dislike. Who knew that after meeting again following Li Yanyan’s enthronement as Empress, she would harbor such great hostility toward her.

Qin Yining was extremely perceptive and immediately guessed the reason. If Pang Xiao married her and then set his heart on someone else, she would probably want to kill. Thinking of it this way, Li Yanyan’s ability to maintain such composure truly showed good bearing.

And she had been forced to become a vixen in others’ eyes, which was truly unjust.

“Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress.” Qin Yining stood up and respectfully stood to one side, showing her submissive and humble attitude: “The weather is hot. Would Your Majesty please take tea inside the hall?”

Seeing her attitude, Li Yanyan became even angrier: Such humility – wasn’t this guilty conscience?

When one person harbors prejudice against another, whatever the other does is wrong.

Li Yanyan entered the hall with a cold expression.

Nanny Li and Head Eunuch Liu Bao supported her on left and right. When passing by Qin Yining, they both snorted coldly and looked at her sideways, their gazes as if looking at worthless trash.

Qin Yining’s heart skipped a beat, feeling that today’s situation might not go well.