“Miss.” Bingtang placed the tray on the Eight Immortals table in the outer room, then entered the inner chamber to lift the bed curtains and hang them on the silver begonia flower hooks.

Qin Yining asked, “What time is it now?”

“Miss, it’s already early si hour.”

“I actually slept so long?”

“Yes, Miss hasn’t slept so deeply in a long while. His Highness even said not to let this servant wake you, to let you sleep until you naturally awakened.” Bingtang smiled cheerfully as she helped her put on a small jacket, gently gathering the long hair that had been pressed under her clothes and bringing it outside. “Miss, last night did His Highness… with you…”

“Naughty girl.” Qin Yining’s face reddened as she glared at Bingtang.

Bingtang laughed even more merrily.

Hearing Qin Yining getting up, Ji Yun and Qiu Lu also came in to attend to her washing and hair combing. Though they didn’t ask as directly as Bingtang, both their expressions held some teasing.

Qin Yining calmly pretended not to see, picking up a pair of pearl clove earrings from her jewelry box and putting them on before the mirror. She asked quietly, “Where is the Little Prince?”

Bingtang whispered, “His Highness got up before dawn. After eating breakfast and taking his medicine, this servant helped His Highness change his bandages again. Seeing that you were sleeping deeply, His Highness didn’t wake you. He said he needed to arrange matters for those four elite Tiger Guards, then climbed out through the back window.”

Qin Yining nodded, knowing he had gone to arrange guards for her father.

Although she felt that as a Great Zhou person, arranging his own personal guards to protect Yan Dynasty’s military advisor during wartime would surely cause backlash from his subordinates, Qin Yining trusted Pang Xiao’s ability to handle it well.

Qin Yining went as usual with Eighth Miss and Qin Huining to pay respects to the Old Madam, then accompanied Sun Shi in conversation for a while before returning to Scholarly Pavilion.

She stayed in all day, deliberately waiting in Scholarly Pavilion. Who knew that even after dark, Pang Xiao hadn’t returned. Instead, Mu Jinghu came.

“The fox was just about to return, but there was urgent business ahead. He left in a hurry with Huzi. He asked me to come apologize to you and said next time when he gets the chance, he’ll come see you again.” Mu Jinghu openly observed Qin Yining’s expression, seeming afraid she might be angry with Pang Xiao, and hastily explained.

“Don’t blame him. He had no choice – he’s being bullied terribly by their emperor. It’s not easy for him to come see you even once. When he risks coming here, not only do the Yan people watch him, but Zhou Dynasty also has quite a few spies monitoring his movements. This time it seems people from Great Zhou discovered he left his post without permission and suspect him of colluding with the enemy.”

Speaking to this point, Mu Jinghu himself became somewhat worried, saying, “I see that Great Zhou’s court is no better – they attack each other, disregard national safety, but are quite skilled at framing capable officials.”

How could Qin Yining not know Pang Xiao’s difficulties? She was already deeply moved that he had risked coming in the first place – how could she blame him for this?

But hearing Mu Jinghu say this, learning that Pang Xiao’s situation in Zhou Dynasty was so awkward, her heart grew even more worried.

“Young Master Mu, could you tell me about his situation in Great Zhou?”

Mu Jinghu was afraid that Fox’s leaving without saying goodbye would anger Qin Yining and delay his quest for a wife. So hearing Qin Yining ask this, he was naturally willing to take the opportunity to complain on Fox’s behalf.

Mu Jinghu told her what he knew.

“You see him in Great Yan leading troops charging about, thinking he has elite soldiers under his command, prestige in the army, and fame outside – truly unlimited glory. But you don’t know he’s actually being suppressed by their emperor. You know that originally their emperor Li Qitian, Marquis Dingbei Ji Zeyu, and Fox swore brotherhood, right?”

Qin Yining nodded, “This matter is known throughout the realm.”

“But you definitely don’t know what my master uncle’s fortune reading for these three actually said. Meeting troubled times, a demon fox descends to stir up chaos and destroy the previous dynasty’s fortune. Three inauspicious stars – Greedy Wolf, Seven Kills, and Army Breaker – assist the Purple Star Emperor in reaching the summit, creating a peaceful age for the realm.

“This Greedy Wolf star falls in the northern grasslands. While Army Breaker, Seven Kills, and the Purple Star Emperor correspond to Li Qitian, Ji Zeyu, and Fox respectively.”

“You… you said your master uncle read their fortunes? You’re Tianji Zi’s grand-nephew?” Qin Yining was quite surprised.

Mu Jinghu covered his mouth, his face completely dumbfounded, looking like he’d swallowed a raw egg.

He had actually let it slip!

For Fox’s sake in getting a wife, he’d even revealed his background…

Seeing his expression, Qin Yining immediately said very understandingly, “Young Master Mu, rest assured. Since you’ve been frank with me, I absolutely won’t reveal your identity. Today’s words from Young Master Mu will definitely only be known by you and me.”

Mu Jinghu looked at Qin Yining’s sincere eyes and slowly nodded, “Good, then I’ll trust you. Anyway, you won’t know that my master uncle and I actually…” His voice cut off abruptly.

Mu Jinghu knocked his own head.

He had almost excitedly said “My master uncle and I are actually master and disciple.”

Mu Jinghu awkwardly hurried to change the subject, “After my master uncle read their fortunes, he thought they could rise to great heights. But after Li Qitian ascended the throne, my master uncle quickly fled. Can you guess why?”

Qin Yining’s mind was already racing. Her expression immediately grew grave as she lowered her voice, “Could it be that Pang Zhixi is actually the Purple Star Emperor?”

Mu Jinghu said in surprise, “How did you figure that out? How are you so smart!”

Just as cunning as Fox!

For the somewhat naive Young Master Mu, Qin Yining knew she couldn’t speak in half-measures – she had to be direct. Since he had revealed even that he was Tianji Zi’s grand-nephew, she couldn’t hold back either.

“It’s from what Young Master Mu said just now. Since you said Zhixi’s situation in Great Zhou is difficult, and mentioned Tianji Zi’s fortune reading, then the reason the Zhou Emperor wants to make things difficult for Zhixi lies within. Plus when you mentioned the order of Army Breaker, Seven Kills, and Purple Star, the answer became obvious. I’ve always heard that Li Qitian is cautious and suspicious by nature, steady and thoughtful. Why would an emperor develop such a suspicious nature? There’s only one reason – guilt.”

Qin Yining narrowed her eyes, “His imperial throne was obtained improperly, so naturally he worries day and night that someone will replace him, seeing everyone as plotting against him.”

Mu Jinghu admiringly gave a thumbs up, “No wonder they say birds of a feather flock together. You and Fox are equally clever. Indeed it’s like this. My master uncle fled after learning the true Purple Star Emperor hadn’t ascended the throne. I’m telling you this – perhaps you knew some of it before, perhaps you didn’t – but what you should know is that after the Army Breaker star took the throne, he naturally fears the Purple Star Emperor’s retaliation.”

“This fortune reading – ordinary people might comfort themselves saying it’s inaccurate, but Li Qitian definitely believes it’s better to believe it exists than not. It’s just that Fox isn’t someone to trifle with either. His reputation in Great Zhou’s military is ridiculously high. Not to mention his Huben Army – even if Pang Zhixi wanted to mobilize the Pingnan Army and Ji Zeyu’s Dingbei Army, he’d only need to stand in the troops once. He’s a living military tally!” Mu Jinghu spoke with rising excitement, admiringly slapping the table.