On the return journey, goose-feather snow began to fall, and the sky had already darkened. Thus, Pang Xiao and Huzi simply spurred their horses to gallop swiftly, rushing to return to the prince’s mansion before the gates locked at the xu hour.
Pang Xiao gripped his horsewhip and strode quickly through the entrance, casually asking, “Was there anything of note at the mansion today?”
The gatekeeper bowed his head and followed alongside, immediately responding upon hearing this: “Princess Imperial An’yang came again today.”
“Oh?” Pang Xiao’s steps paused slightly. “What did she come for?”
“She said she wanted to see you. This humble one replied that you were not present, but the Princess Imperial refused to leave. Later, Master Xu came out to handle the situation. This humble one does not know the deeper details of what transpired.”
“Mm. You did very well.” Pang Xiao patted the young gatekeeper’s shoulder. “The weather has turned cold. Dress warmly and be careful not to catch a chill.”
The gatekeeper immediately smiled with heartfelt joy and called out loudly, “Yes! Thank you, Your Highness!”
Pang Xiao nodded and instructed Huzi: “Go ask Master Xu and Master Xie to wait for me in the study first. I’ll go to Songhe Hall first.”
“Yes.” Huzi bowed and withdrew.
Pang Xiao then strode quickly through the drooping flower gate, heading straight for Songhe Hall.
As soon as he reached the courtyard entrance, Da Hei and Da Bai came running out, circling around his left and right sides while wagging their tails vigorously.
Pang Xiao petted Da Hei and Da Bai a few times before entering the courtyard gate.
The steward’s wife from Yao Shi’s side, Zhao Kun’s wife, smiled as she approached, saying, “It really is Your Highness returning. Have you had your meal yet?”
“I have.”
While speaking, he climbed the steps. Little maids on the left and right lifted the warm curtains and pushed open the doors for him.
After Pang Xiao entered, he casually tossed his cloak and horsewhip to Yao Shi’s head maid Xun He, then quickly entered the side room.
Yao Chenggu was sitting cross-legged on the kang smoking his pipe, while Yao Shi and Ma Shi sat on the other side of the kang table, peeling and eating peanuts while chatting.
Seeing Pang Xiao return, Ma Shi smiled and said, “Da Fu, have you eaten dinner?”
“I have.” Pang Xiao paid his respects to his elders, then asked directly: “When the Princess Imperial came today, did she make things difficult for you?”
The corners of Yao Chenggu’s lips, which held his pipe stem, curved upward. He took measured puffs and said unhurriedly, “No.”
Ma Shi, being straightforward, said, “Don’t worry. As soon as we heard the Princess Imperial had come, Master Xu immediately instructed someone to tell us to close our courtyard gates and pretend we weren’t home. Soon after, someone from Yi girl’s side came to remind us again. If you ask me, that Princess Imperial isn’t anything to be afraid of. It’s not like she eats people, is it?”
“Mother, the Princess Imperial is of golden branches and jade leaves. Master Xu and Sister Yi were afraid that if we met with the Princess Imperial, we would suffer grievances.”
“What grievances could there be? Could the Princess Imperial really do anything to an old woman like me? When people gain power, they become different from before. Really!”
Yao Chenggu casually knocked his pipe bowl against the kang edge a few times and said, “The Princess Imperial is imperial family, while we are Da Fu’s maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, and mother. That Princess Imperial looks upon our Da Fu with great favor and is trying every means to enter our family’s door. But I’ve heard that the Princess Imperial has already been granted marriage to the Marquis of Dingbei. Her coming here must certainly be with emotions. Master Xu and the Qin family girl were afraid the Princess Imperial would give us a hard time and make us suffer grievances.”
Ma Shi understood and nodded, then turned to Pang Xiao again: “Didn’t the Princess Imperial learn many rules in the palace? Surely she wouldn’t deliberately come to our door to make things difficult for us?”
Yao Shi smiled: “Mother, if the Princess Imperial didn’t make things difficult for us and treated us courteously when she saw us, even if we responded with proper etiquette, we still couldn’t guarantee that the Princess Imperial wouldn’t later think in her heart that we had slighted her. That’s why it’s best not to meet.”
Pang Xiao sat sideways on the kang edge, listening to his family’s discussion. Knowing that his elders hadn’t suffered any losses, he truly felt relieved.
Ma Shi then smiled at Pang Xiao: “You boy have good judgment. These matters around you – Master Xu and Master Xie seeing them clearly for you is their duty as strategists, but that Yi girl can also see through things so thoroughly. She has both talent and beauty, and is worthy of you, boy. You must not bully her.”
Pang Xiao laughed, “How could I? I would never bully her.”
Yao Shi said, “You confined her to her quarters. Isn’t that called bullying?”
“That was unavoidable for me.”
“She’s a delicate young lady. Being scolded by you in public and then confined to quarters has already ruined her reputation enough to make her feel wronged. Today when the Princess Imperial came, she specifically asked to see her.” Yao Shi said seriously to Pang Xiao, “Mother advises you – since you like her, be more attentive to her and care for her more. Our family doesn’t produce those heartless men who are one way to your face and another behind your back. You should also learn to be more considerate. The Princess Imperial is heaven’s favored daughter and must be accustomed to being domineering. Coming to our home and not being able to see your maternal grandparents and me, who knows how she made things difficult for Sister Yi when she saw her.”
Hearing this, Pang Xiao completely understood today’s events. He had only thought about the elderly and forgotten about Qin Yining!
Pang Xiao was filled with guilt and stood up, saying, “Mother is right. I’ll go check on Sister Yi right now.”
Ma Shi said, “Go quickly. Oh, and also.” She turned around and retrieved a large bundle from the kang cabinet, stuffing it into Pang Xiao’s hands. “Take this to Yi girl while you’re at it. It’s cold here in winter, and looking at her small frame, I can tell she’s not resistant to cold. We mustn’t let her catch a chill.”
Pang Xiao opened the bundle. Inside was a purple sable fur cloak with a matching purple sable fur hood. The hood’s edges and the cloak’s collar were both inlaid with three-inch-wide black sable fur, with a thick lining inside. It felt soft and warm to the touch.
Ma Shi smiled: “Don’t think this color seems a bit mature, but this fur is of good quality. I had your mother go pick it out. The emphasis is on warmth, not on being too flashy. Besides, Yi girl herself is already flashy enough with her looks.”
“I thank you on her behalf.” Pang Xiao smiled as he wrapped up the cloak and hood properly, then picked up the bundle to leave.
Ma Shi still didn’t forget to stretch her neck and call out: “Hey, tell Yi girl that if she lacks anything, she should send someone to tell me!”
“I know.” Pang Xiao’s voice was already outside the door.
Yao Chenggu smiled as he grabbed a handful of peanuts, laughing and shaking his head: “That rascal boy.”
When Pang Xiao avoided the crowds and reached Suxue Garden, the snow had already stopped.
The courtyard was carpeted with a layer of white, and warm lamplight shone through the window lattices onto the ground, forming orange-yellow light and shadow. Faintly, two silhouettes could be seen reflected on the window.
Pang Xiao smiled. This feeling of having someone waiting at home for his return gave him an unprecedented sense of security.
There were women servants moving about in the courtyard. Seeing Pang Xiao standing at the entrance carrying a bundle, they hurriedly bowed in greeting.
The sounds of bowing and greetings alerted those inside. Soon, Qian Yun lifted the warm curtain: “Your Highness has returned.”
“Mm.” Pang Xiao entered carrying the bundle.
“Miss just instructed someone to prepare hangover soup for you, saying that since you attended a banquet today, you would certainly drink alcohol. However, Miss guessed wrong – Your Highness doesn’t look drunk at all.”
Laughter came from inside the room – Qin Yining’s voice: “Even if not drunk, he certainly drank alcohol. Still have some hangover soup – it’s good for the body.”
Pang Xiao smiled as he entered the room: “I’ll drink some since it’s all prepared. It would be wasteful not to drink it. What are you doing?”
Qin Yining was leaning against a large backrest pillow, with three silk lanterns lit on the kang cabinet and kang table, doing needlework by their light.
“I’m making a warm hat for the Grand Madam.”
Pang Xiao smiled, “You’re thinking of grandmother, and grandmother is also thinking of you, afraid you’d be cold. She specially had my mother go buy this for you. Try it on.”
He placed the large bundle on the kang and showed Qin Yining what was inside.
Qin Yining set down her needlework. Her pale hands stroked over the smooth sable fur before she hugged it to her chest: “It’s really warm. The Grand Madam and Old Madam are so thoughtful. Please thank them for me.”
“What’s there to thank? They truly consider you my wife already.”
Pang Xiao watched as she pressed her porcelain-white little face against the rather dark-colored cloak under the lamplight, looking as adorable as a little kitten. He couldn’t help but stretch out his arms to hold Qin Yining in his embrace, burying his face in her shoulder.
“Sister Yi, you’re so wonderful.”
At the doorway, Qian Yun had originally been about to bring in the hangover soup, but seeing this scene, she quickly retreated.
Qin Yining blushed as she wrapped her arms around Pang Xiao’s neck: “What’s wrong?”
“You were wronged today.” Pang Xiao smiled and kissed her forehead.
Qin Yining shook her head: “What grievance was there? The Princess Imperial didn’t make things difficult for me. I just needed to humble myself and not anger her. I’m well-practiced at handling such situations.”
Speaking of today’s events, Qin Yining sat up straight on his lap and said seriously: “I feel that His Majesty’s intention to sow discord between you and the Marquis of Dingbei is already quite clear. You must be more careful.”
“Mm.”
Pang Xiao was intelligent. What Qin Yining could think of, he had already analyzed thoroughly through his interactions with Ji Zeyu and his analysis of Li Helan’s behavior.
“Don’t worry. I have no interest in the Princess Imperial, nor will I give anyone the opportunity to attack me.”
“That’s good.” Qin Yining leaned against his shoulder and asked again, “Is His Majesty still telling you to continue resting at home?”
“Yes, but I think such days won’t last much longer. Now that the surrendered officials from Yan have arrived, it’s time to discuss merits and assign rewards. If His Majesty keeps having me rest, it will be difficult to convince the masses.”
Qin Yining nodded: “In any case, you must be careful. I feel things are becoming increasingly complex, and you must be more vigilant.”
Pang Xiao then rubbed her forehead with his chin: “You only worry about my affairs. The Qin family has already moved into the guest lodge today. Don’t you want to ask about them?”
“Ask about what?” Qin Yining said, “My father and mother haven’t returned. The Old Madam brought my second uncle, third uncle and others to stay at the guest lodge. I believe they’ve already heard about you forcibly taking me into your mansion. If they truly care about me, they would certainly come looking for me first. If they don’t come looking for me, then it’s better for both sides to remain peaceful and not interfere with each other.”
Hearing her tone, Pang Xiao knew she had already developed a deep dislike for the Qin family’s Old Madam.
After all, Qin Yining wasn’t a saint. Since the Old Madam didn’t consider her one of their own, she didn’t want to take the initiative to curry favor either.
If the Old Madam cared about her, given that Pang Xiao’s “forcible abduction” was being talked about throughout the city and known by all, she would certainly come to find Pang Xiao first to demand an explanation.
“I’m now waiting to see the Old Madam’s, second uncle’s, and third uncle’s reactions. Only when I know what they’re truly thinking can I decide about the property matter.”
“Property?”
“Mm. My family members have all come, and they can’t stay at the guest lodge forever, can they? Regardless of what official position His Majesty grants, we all need to settle down in the capital.”
Qin Yining thought for a moment, then continued: “Steward Zhong has already arranged matters properly on the Great Yan side, and has also left suitable people to watch over my properties and fields. In these few days, Steward Zhong will arrive in the capital and will bring all my silver. I want to first find a suitable residence and have my family move in. What I’m considering is the matter of household registration for the residence.”