Eighth Miss had an open and honest nature. She had never thought about entering the palace and would actually find the palace frightening. Hearing Old Madam’s words, she naturally nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Qin Huining kept her head lowered, remaining quietly obedient without saying a word.

She was unwilling to give up this opportunity, but what could her unwillingness accomplish? His Majesty was high above, and even if she wanted to scheme something, it would be futile. For His Majesty to select any woman, one had to participate in the consort selection through family connections. She couldn’t possibly bypass the Qin family members to participate on her own.

After all, she was just an adopted daughter, not of truly noble birth. Whatever the family had would first be considered for Qin Yining and Qin Baoning—it would never be her turn.

In just one night, the news of Qin Yining beating the Dengwen Drum to file an imperial petition spread throughout the capital. Someone unknown was secretly embellishing the story, describing in vivid detail how Qin Yining had been abducted and tormented by Prince Zhongshun, as if they had been a spirit watching from behind to see so clearly.

Word spread from ten to a hundred people. Who among the upper circles didn’t know about the Qin family daughter being forcibly taken by Prince Zhongshun?

Recalling how Prince Zhongshun had ruthlessly persecuted Pang Zhongzheng’s former officials when he first attacked Northern Ji, people developed deep sympathy for Miss Qin.

But who told Qin Huaiyuan to use alienation tactics to harm Pang Zhongzheng back then? A daughter paying for her father’s debts was only natural justice.

Qin Yining’s name card was naturally returned, and the matter of participating in the selection was completely over.

Qin Yining spent her days with Lian Xiaozhou and her trusted maidservants. Each day, aside from paying proper respects to Old Madam in the early morning, she spent the rest of her time properly doing needlework in her own room, rarely coming out to walk around.

Second Madam, hearing that Qin Yining spent her days doing needlework with her maids, actually praised her quite a bit before Old Madam.

“Yining is truly sensible. Now that we have no personal savings and can only live in the guest house, although our food and lodging are provided here, we’re a whole family. If we want to buy anything, what can we do? We can’t ask Great Zhou’s Emperor for money. I see that Yining is now doing handiwork with her maids, probably wanting to supplement the family income.”

Hearing this made Old Madam’s heart ache.

Although Qin Yining did many things that didn’t please her, she had to acknowledge her sense of the bigger picture.

Old Madam then rallied all the women in the family to do needlework together.

Qin Huining and Eighth Miss spent their days nestled beside Old Madam. Qin Huining was skilled at subtle flattery, while Eighth Miss, having lost both her birth mother and legitimate mother, had no one to depend on. Both were extremely filial to Old Madam.

With the “rebellious and unruly” Qin Yining as a contrast, plus Old Madam’s decade-plus of nurturing relationship with Qin Huining, and Eighth Miss being innocent, lively, obedient and well-behaved, both were very much favored by Old Madam. Qin Yining became the least favored among the three granddaughters.

Qin Yining paid no attention to any of this, continuing to return to her room after paying daily respects.

One day, she happened to hear a little maid beside Han Second Madam gossiping and complaining with a maidservant from Second Madam’s side.

“Our family doesn’t have many people left now, yet only Fourth Miss acts precious, actually needing five maids to serve her. The Qin mansion isn’t as enormously wealthy as before—how can she put on such airs? Even our madam doesn’t have so many people around her.”

“Exactly. Our Second Madam only has me and Xiao Tao as personal attendants.”

Qin Yining stopped walking, holding Lian Xiaozhou’s hand and turning to look at the two people with their backs to her. She chuckled softly: “Throughout our escape, those who survived all had good luck. The maids around me have always had very good luck, so naturally they all live long lives. However, good luck can also run out. Don’t get too carried away and turn good fortune into misfortune.”

The two maidservants were startled and suddenly turned around to see Qin Yining wearing a tender green brocade cotton cloak, standing in the corridor with her maids. Several people looked at them with unfriendly eyes.

They hadn’t forgotten what kind of methods this Fourth Miss had when managing the inner residence at home. For a moment, both fell silent as cicadas, stammering and unable to speak.

Bingtang said mockingly: “This whole family lost all their money and now eats public grain without bothering anyone, yet some people still gossip. If we can’t stay at the guest house in the future and have to leave, we’ll mostly depend on my master and miss. Yet some people still don’t know life from death. Do they all have the backbone to not eat when the time comes?”

“Exactly.” Ji Yun sneered: “Truly no manners.”

The two maidservants were too frightened to raise their heads, standing there like quails.

Qin Yining had no interest in extending her reach to Second Madam and Han Second Madam’s side, so she left indifferently with her people.

Those two maidservants watched Qin Yining walk away. Seeing she had no intention of punishing them, they finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

More than ten days later, as Princess Imperial An’yang and Marquis Dingbei Ji Zeyu’s wedding date approached, the entire capital became lively.

As Ji Zeyu’s sworn brother, Pang Xiao naturally had to help. Being so busy, he only managed to secretly visit Qin Yining a few times.

On the tenth day of the twelfth month, after drinking Laba porridge, a grand wedding shocked the capital. Although the Qin family stayed in the guest house, they could all hear the sound of firecrackers and the enthusiastic discussions of the people. Some curious little maids secretly went to watch and returned to describe everything vividly.

Summing it up in one sentence: A royal daughter’s marriage and a marquis taking a wife—magnificently extraordinary.

Outsiders only saw the grandeur and splendor of the wedding.

Only the bride and groom knew their own feelings.

Li Helan had cried several times. When she saw Pang Xiao, who had accompanied Ji Zeyu to the Princess’s mansion, she nearly burst into tears on the spot.

Ji Zeyu remained expressionless throughout, his handsome face like an ice sculpture. Rather than attending a wedding, he seemed to be attending a funeral.

No one dared criticize Marquis Dingbei for being dissatisfied with this marriage. They only dared discuss the Marquis’s personality—truly too upright and too serious.

The day after the wedding, Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu arranged to drink at the prince’s mansion. Both got thoroughly drunk, and Ji Zeyu didn’t even return to the Prince Consort’s mansion, staying directly at the prince’s mansion.

When the three-day return visit came, Li Helan naturally had to appear shy and bashful before Li Qitian, obediently expressing gratitude.

Ji Zeyu stayed in the imperial study to talk with Li Qitian, while Li Helan went to the rear palace.

The Empress, bedridden with illness due to her father’s affairs, only met briefly before Li Helan went to Cining Palace.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager, Li Helan’s tears immediately became uncontrollable.

“The Prince Consort isn’t enthusiastic toward me. He only went through the motions on our wedding night. Later, when I had a nanny summon him from the Prince Consort’s mansion, the servants said he had gone drinking with friends. With his personality, where would he have friends? He must have been unwilling to come serve me and made such excuses.”

The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt. Li Helan buried her face in the Empress Dowager’s lap, crying pitifully.

Although she had long admired Pang Xiao, Ji Zeyu ultimately had military achievements and exceptional appearance. He was an object of desire for women throughout the realm—how many women could escape his occasional smile?

Having become husband and wife with Ji Zeyu, Li Helan naturally had many fantasies about him. But Ji Zeyu was so cold toward her. Even during their wedding night, he had never kissed her, acting only as if going through the motions for the bridal cloth…

Such intimate secrets Li Helan naturally couldn’t speak aloud, but thinking of her unsatisfactory marriage, she pitied herself.

The Empress Dowager remained quite calm. She comfortingly patted Li Helan’s back, coaxing her to stop crying before saying: “Lan’er, don’t cry. This Empress Dowager thinks Prince Consort Ji isn’t that kind of person. Could there be some misunderstanding? Or perhaps…”

The Empress Dowager frowned, her voice becoming somewhat sharp: “Or are you still harboring feelings for Pang Zhixi, and he found out?”

Hearing this, Li Helan’s heart jumped, her expression becoming somewhat dazed. “That shouldn’t be possible.”

“Did you later seek out Pang Zhixi again?” The Empress Dowager seriously stared at her daughter, questioning her.

Li Helan shook her head repeatedly: “No, no. After Pang Zhixi sent me back to the palace to Imperial Brother, he was so cold. Why would I seek him out?”

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager frowned thoughtfully. After pondering for a moment, she said: “Where in this world are there walls without cracks? Perhaps Prince Consort Ji discovered something, but he’s always been fond of silence. What man in this world isn’t proud? Especially someone of his caliber. He’s your Prince Consort, yet your heart has always held another. How do you expect Prince Consort Ji to face you?”

Li Helan’s heart grew cold, and she began to understand somewhat. But how could she show weakness outwardly? She stiffened her neck: “I’m a Princess! If he marries a Princess, he should serve me well! When I summon him to the Princess’s mansion, he should hurry over from the Prince Consort’s mansion. When I don’t want to see him, he should stay obediently in the Prince Consort’s mansion and not even take any concubines! He’s here to serve me—should I have to accommodate him instead?”

Hearing Li Helan speak this way, the Empress Dowager angrily tapped her forehead.

“The Prince Consort isn’t some ordinary man without ability who lives off women. If you harbor such thoughts, don’t expect marital harmony! Since you only want a slave to serve you, not a husband, what are you complaining about?”

“I…”

Li Helan was momentarily speechless.

She understood in her heart what she wanted.

She wanted Pang Xiao’s love, but now married to Ji Zeyu, she truly liked Ji Zeyu’s handsome face.

She wanted Ji Zeyu to pursue her eagerly and obey her every wish. She didn’t want Ji Zeyu to treat her so coldly.

She also envied those couples who were harmonious and respectful, but she was unwilling to give up, always thinking that if she and Ji Zeyu didn’t get along well, would Imperial Brother pity her? Would she and Pang Xiao still have hope…

She knew she wanted too much, perhaps it was impossible to obtain, but she still couldn’t help thinking about it!

Seeing Li Helan like this, the Empress Dowager didn’t know how to instruct her and sighed heavily.

Contrary to Li Helan’s struggles, Qin Yining was very happy today.

Because Manager Zhong had finally arrived in the capital with a group of her trusted people!

“Has Master always been well? I came with the surrendered officials’ convoy. Along the way, I heard news about the first group being robbed by mountain bandits, and I was truly frightened out of my wits! Fortunately, Master’s family didn’t suffer any major incidents. Truly the virtuous are blessed by heaven!”

Manager Zhong looked at Qin Yining excitedly, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.