Qin Yining set down the medicine bowl and hurriedly pulled Pang Xiao’s hand, looking everywhere for a place to hide him like an ant on a hot pan.

Pang Xiao was amused by her appearance and chuckled. He had always found her tranquil demeanor when composed and thoughtful – as serene as moonlight – quite endearing, but he never expected her flustered appearance would be even more adorable!

Qin Yining glared at him. “You’re still laughing! What time is it now? Why don’t you hide in the cabinet… no, you’re too tall to fit. You’d better go hide in the washroom temporarily!”

As she spoke, she pushed him toward the washroom, not forgetting to whisper instructions: “You must not make a sound. If my mother finds out and causes a commotion, it won’t be fun!”

Pang Xiao watched her nervousness and laughed softly as he walked. “Don’t we two look like illicit lovers caught in a secret meeting?”

“What are you saying? You look so dignified, yet your mouth is full of such words.” Qin Yining hid him behind the washroom door. “I’m telling you to hide for your own good, aren’t I?”

“I know, I know it all.” Pang Xiao pulled Qin Yining close and pecked her lips.

Qin Yining’s face flushed red. She wanted to push him away but feared he might tear his wound, not daring to struggle too much. She could only pinch his arm. “Stop fooling around! I can already hear mother’s footsteps coming upstairs!”

“It doesn’t hurt at all.” Pang Xiao laughed heartily and stole another kiss on her forehead before releasing her with satisfaction.

Qin Yining gave him a look, patted her heated cheeks, and went out to greet the visitor while adjusting her clothes and composing her emotions.

She absolutely could not let Sun Shi discover Pang Xiao.

This wasn’t merely a matter of her reputation, but involved relations between the two nations.

She could view war and love as two separate matters, but others might not. If Pang Xiao, as a military commander, were captured, it would truly be cause for great celebration for Great Zhou. She couldn’t guarantee that her family wouldn’t turn him over.

Since he dared to risk coming to see her, she couldn’t let him encounter danger because of seeing her.

By the time she reached the door, Qin Yining had composed herself, and Sun Shi had already come upstairs with the assistance of Nanny Jin and Bingtang.

“Mother, why have you come at this hour?” Qin Yining smiled as she supported Sun Shi’s arm, and the two sat down in the outer room.

“I was bored and came to chat with you.” Sun Shi examined Qin Yining’s complexion. “Isn’t your health fully recovered yet? I see Bingtang brewing medicine again.”

“It’s nothing serious – that’s tonic medicine.” Qin Yining smiled at Bingtang.

Bingtang cooperatively explained, “Madam need not worry. Miss’s health will be vigorous again very soon with proper care and nourishment.”

Only then did Sun Shi nod with relief. “Since the medicine is already brewed, you should take it.” She considerately picked up the bowl of medicine intended for Pang Xiao and handed it to Qin Yining.

Pang Xiao in the washroom felt somewhat worried.

Ji Yun and Bingtang exchanged glances.

Ji Yun, like Pang Xiao, was nervous about whether this medicine would harm Qin Yining’s health.

Bingtang, however, found it amusing.

Though Qin Yining usually took medicine decisively without even frowning, Bingtang knew she actually feared bitterness greatly – she had even asked during casual conversation whether licorice could be added to medicines.

Both maidservants stared at Qin Yining, watching how she would handle this.

Qin Yining, however, very calmly placed the bowl on the table. “I’ll take it later – this medicine is too hot, and I just took other medicine. Bingtang says these two medicines can’t be taken so close together.”

Ji Yun breathed a sigh of relief, secretly praising Qin Yining’s quick thinking.

Bingtang lowered her head and began suppressing laughter.

Qin Yining pretended not to see the two maidservants’ expressions and smiled as she asked Sun Shi, “Mother usually sleeps at this hour. Are you worried about father’s affairs today?”

“Mm.” Sun Shi nodded somewhat melancholically.

After Duke Anguo Li Mian took over as Grand Marshal, he began avoiding battle. The Huben Army was incredibly brave, and Pang Xiao was skilled at military formations. Compared to him, Duke Anguo lacked much of Prince Ning’s wisdom and courage. Over the past month, he had suffered countless losses – of the 350,000 city defense troops, over 30,000 had been worn down by the Huben Army’s 100,000 men.

Even if Yuchi Yan wasn’t skilled at political maneuvering, he could see this couldn’t continue. So yesterday he appointed Qin Huaiyuan as military advisor to go to the outer city and assist Duke Anguo Li Mian in battle.

After Qin Huaiyuan departed, Cao Yuqing quietly packed her belongings and followed him.

When the Qin manor faced disaster, silver-masked agents had come to protect them. When the Qin family’s fortunes reversed, Cao Yuqing had also led silver-masked agents to assist. Though outsiders didn’t know, the Qin family all knew this delicate beauty was actually the leader of the silver-masked agents under the Grand Emperor.

Sun Shi was very pleased that Qin Huaiyuan had such an expert as Cao Yuqing to protect him.

However, thinking that Cao Yuqing was young and beautiful, with outstanding martial skills and wholehearted devotion to Qin Huaiyuan, it was hard to say they wouldn’t experience some shared hardships on the battlefield. This made Sun Shi’s heart both sour and bitter, even causing insomnia. But such embarrassing private matters she would never discuss with her daughter.

Watching Sun Shi’s momentarily changing expression, Qin Yining had already guessed most of the situation.

However, matters between parents weren’t for a junior like her to interfere with. Father wasn’t someone who refused concubines. Now the Cao family was destroyed, and the Grand Emperor was under house arrest by Yuchi Yan over the silver matter. Cao Yuqing had become rootless duckweed. Though she indeed controlled the silver-masked agents, she had now wholeheartedly devoted herself to Qin Huaiyuan. And the Grand Emperor seemed to have no intention of reclaiming his silver-masked agents.

Father was in his prime, brave and resourceful, and exceptionally handsome. Cao Yuqing had been deeply devoted to father for years, clearly treating him with single-minded dedication. Previously constrained by the Grand Emperor, now with no more worries behind her, even the hardest steel could become soft around one’s finger – this wasn’t unacceptable.

However, even if this happened quite reasonably, for the legitimate wife, it would still be bitter.

She wanted to comfort her mother, but since Sun Shi didn’t speak of it, she couldn’t ask too much, lest she cause more sadness. She could only say, “Mother needn’t worry. I hear Duke Anguo has begun avoiding battle these past two days. Father naturally faces no danger. Even if there are battles, father won’t need to go to the front lines. Just rest assured.”

Sun Shi nodded and forced a smile while chatting with Qin Yining for a while, but soon lost interest in conversation and returned with Nanny Jin.

Qin Yining escorted Sun Shi downstairs. When returning to her room, her mood was somewhat heavy. Only at the door did she remember Pang Xiao was still inside. She turned to Ji Yun and Bingtang: “You both go rest. You don’t need to keep night watch tonight.”

Bingtang raised her eyebrows and smiled teasingly at Qin Yining, making her blush completely red.

Ji Yun also suppressed laughter, though her actions were very loyally protective of her master. She bowed and pulled Bingtang away.

When Qin Yining pushed open the door, she actually felt somewhat nervous.

On second thought, this was her room! What was there to be nervous about returning to her own room!