When Qin Yining arrived at the entrance of Ning Garden with Ji Yun, carrying a somewhat worn oil-paper umbrella, she saw Qi Tai dressed in a sapphire blue fine cotton robe, also holding an oil-paper umbrella.

Seeing Qin Yining come out, Qi Tai quickly set down his umbrella and bowed: “Fourth Miss.”

“Please rise quickly. Uncle An has been an old retainer by my father’s side for many years – you absolutely mustn’t bow like this, it’s too much honor for me.” Qi Tai’s original surname was An.

But Qi Tai refused to listen, still performing his respectful bow before smiling: “The Marquis instructed this humble one to come and deliver a message, saying he has urgent matters to discuss with you. Right now the Marquis has been summoned by His Majesty to the palace for discussions and cannot spare the time. He likely won’t be free until evening, so he specially instructed this humble one to tell you – please wait at the foot of the mountain tonight at the hour of xu (7-9 PM). The Marquis will come to see you.”

Qin Yining nodded and smiled: “I understand. Did father say what the matter was? Why can’t he spare time to come up the mountain? The Old Madam and everyone at home miss father very much.”

“He’s truly too busy. To be honest with Miss, even this humble one following at the master’s side has been so busy these days that my feet barely touch the ground.” Qi Tai looked around, and seeing no outsiders present, lowered his voice: “His Majesty likely already has intentions to surrender. Matters of such importance naturally involve many complications. The Marquis discusses with His Majesty all day long – where would he find leisure time?”

Qin Yining nodded understandingly and sighed: “It’s truly difficult for my father. Please trouble Uncle An to take good care of my father and remind him to rest.”

“Yes, this humble one will naturally pay attention.”

“How has my father’s health been recently? How is Aunt Cao?” Qin Yining showed concern for both Qin Huaiyuan and Cao Yuqing.

Qi Tai smiled: “Though the master in the military camp also goes hungry one meal and full the next, it’s still somewhat better than outside. Aunt Cao has been disguised as a man, staying close by the master’s side for protection. The two of them are like friends – they don’t talk much, but they understand each other well.”

These words were Qi Tai’s roundabout way of telling Qin Yining that there was still no intimate relationship between Qin Huaiyuan and Cao Yuqing.

Qi Tai spent all his time by father’s side, so what he knew would certainly be accurate.

Qin Yining secretly breathed a sigh of relief for her mother and smiled: “I understand. Thank you. I’ll wait for father at the foot of the mountain tonight at xu hour.”

“Good, then this humble one will take his leave. I must return to the Marquis’s side to await instructions.” Qi Tai bowed.

Qin Yining nodded and watched Qi Tai’s figure disappear into the distance before turning to Ji Yun: “It seems His Majesty has truly decided to surrender.”

Ji Yun nodded: “Though it might be inappropriate to say this, when this servant heard the news of His Majesty’s decision to surrender, I truly felt a great relief in my heart.”

Qin Yining said understandingly: “I know what you mean. Setting aside everything else, at least once there’s no more fighting, the siege will end. We’ll have one more path to survival. As for national righteousness, that’s beyond what you and I can consider.”

“Yes, and once there’s no more fighting, His Lordship will definitely come looking for Miss immediately. Miss has suffered so much during this period – His Lordship will surely feel heartbroken.”

Ji Yun, thinking of Pang Xiao’s devotion to Qin Yining, could only fantasize about their future reunion. Even as an observer, she felt that the scene of their reunion would surely be very touching.

Qin Yining touched her burning ears. Though her expression remained unchanged, her heart felt inexplicably elated.

Although such elation seemed inappropriate with Great Yan’s impending fall, Qin Yining felt that given all the turmoil during the Great Emperor’s reign, the foundation of the nation had long been hollowed out. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, Qin Yining knew that such a court’s fortune wouldn’t last much longer.

Now, learning that Yuchi Yan already had intentions to surrender, Qin Yining actually felt a lightness in her heart.

The two entered Ning Garden’s gate to find Sun Shi already waiting eagerly.

Qin Yining went to tell Sun Shi about Qi Tai’s message, then emphasized the state between Qin Huaiyuan and Cao Yuqing during the city’s defense.

Sun Shi’s brow relaxed as she listened, her worried heart finally at ease. Today’s irritation from hunger and enduring hardship vanished completely, and she asked with a beaming face: “Yining, you mustn’t be deceiving me.”

“How could I deceive you? This is all what Qi Tai just said. He follows father all day long, so he must know more than we do. Unless Qi Tai was deceiving me with this information, otherwise daughter guarantees that father and Aunt Cao’s relationship is completely innocent.”

Sun Shi’s face reddened slightly. Feeling embarrassed that even her daughter had noticed her jealousy, she coughed: “You child, what are you saying? Am I the type of person who’s prone to jealousy?”

“Of course not – daughter was just worrying unnecessarily.” Qin Yining stuck out her tongue, making Sun Shi laugh despite herself.

Though everyone in the courtyard was going hungry, after the long drought finally meeting sweet rain, and hearing the cheerful laughter of Sun Shi and Qin Yining, everyone’s mood improved considerably. Their irritation and fear also settled down on this rainy day.

Qin Yining spent the day as usual.

When xu hour arrived, she brought Ji Yun and Bingtang and left Ning Garden.

Just as they stepped out, they saw Mu Jinghu, thin as a reed and wearing a light blue robe, standing with his hands behind his back.

“Are you going out?” Mu Jinghu’s refined features appeared more angular due to his thinness, but his eyes remained very clear and transparent.

Qin Yining nodded and smiled: “My father is looking for me about something.”

“Then I’ll follow in the shadows.”

Qin Yining said somewhat guiltily: “If Young Master Mu is tired, please rest on the mountain. During this period, everyone can’t eat their fill. No matter how high Young Master Mu’s cultivation, you’re still mortal flesh – not eating will make you hungry too. If you can’t eat your fill, where would you get the strength? I feel truly guilty about this. This time I’m just going down the mountain to speak a few words with my father – you needn’t follow.”

Mu Jinghu frowned and thought silently for a while: “That’s not quite right. I promised the fox to protect you. Don’t worry, I know my own limits. Besides, I eat even better than you do. If you, a young lady, are fine, how could I, a warrior who cultivates both internally and externally, be weaker than you? Or are you worried I’ll eavesdrop? Then I’ll just hide in the shadows. If you don’t tell me to come out, I won’t come out. Won’t that work?”

“Young Master Mu, what are you saying? How could I worry about eavesdropping? I’m just afraid of tiring you out. Well then, since that’s the case, Young Master Mu can hide in the shadows. If anything happens, listen for my signal from the shadows.”

“Good.” Mu Jinghu nodded and smiled: “Then you go ahead.”

Qin Yining knew that Mu Jinghu naturally had his own methods to keep up, so she linked arms with Bingtang and Ji Yun, carrying a lantern, and walked along the winding path all the way down Changchun Mountain.

Reaching the foot of the mountain, she indeed saw a carriage stopped on the road not far away. The carriage’s wind lantern swayed in the night breeze, and the air was filled with the moist fragrance of grass after rain, which improved Qin Yining’s mood somewhat.

The three quickly walked toward the carriage. The person standing by the carriage also came forward to meet them.

Qin Yining looked carefully but discovered that the person approaching was not Qin Huaiyuan.