This was the first time the two had met face-to-face on Great Zhou territory after their long separation.

Yuchi Yan gazed at Qin Yining with infatuation, seeing her long willow-like eyebrows, sparkling starlike eyes, delicate nose and cherry lips, her every glance full of spirit. She had become even more breathtakingly beautiful, with every frown and smile captivating hearts. Uncontrollable emotions surged through his chest, and concerned greetings nearly escaped his lips.

However, Yuchi Yan still retained some rationality, realizing there were many people around and it wasn’t convenient to catch up on their time apart. He could only forcibly suppress those feelings and instead greeted Qin Huaiyuan.

“Grand Tutor Qin, have you been well these days? You’ve been gone for so long that rumors have been flying everywhere. I… this prince has been truly worried upon hearing them.”

Qin Huaiyuan looked at Yuchi Yan’s graying temples and saw his concerned expression, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart. He still performed the formal court etiquette as before, “To trouble Your Highness with concern is my fault.”

“Grand Tutor Qin, please rise quickly.” Yuchi Yan was deeply moved to see him maintain such propriety.

With the fall of the Yan Dynasty, his former ministers who came to Great Zhou might not have received promotions, but each had broader prospects than him. He was destined to be a caged bird for life, no longer able to help their careers.

Yet Qin Huaiyuan’s attitude toward him remained as respectful and close as when they were in Great Yan, with only the forms of address changed—everything else seemed unchanged.

For a moment, Yuchi Yan felt both melancholy and deeply moved.

“Great Zhou is more suitable than Great Yan for Grand Tutor Qin to display his ambitions. In the future, Grand Tutor must be diligent and not lose face for us people of Great Yan before the Zhou people. The other ministers who came from Great Yan will also need Grand Tutor’s care.”

Yuchi Yan’s words made everyone present feel uncomfortable, and they couldn’t help but be moved by his benevolence.

Regardless of whether these words came from his heart, his concern for Qin Huaiyuan was genuine.

Qin Huaiyuan respectfully bowed, “I will follow Your Highness’s instructions and do my utmost to take care of everything.”

“With your words, I can rest assured.”

Seeing that this place was full of women, and that his every move was under others’ surveillance, it was truly inconvenient to stay long. So after greeting the Old Madam with a few words, he prepared to take his leave.

Before leaving, Yuchi Yan hesitated repeatedly, but ultimately couldn’t resist his bone-deep longing and expectation. He turned back and said, “Fourth Miss, I have something to ask you.”

Qin Yining frowned slightly. She would never forget the unpleasant memories of being pressured by this man in the palace. Seeing Yuchi Yan’s prematurely gray hair at such a young age, though she felt sorry for him, it was impossible for her to harbor no resentment.

However, this was no longer the Great Yan palace, and Yuchi Yan’s every move was under others’ surveillance, so presumably he wouldn’t do anything to her.

Thinking of this, Qin Yining looked questioningly at Qin Huaiyuan. Seeing him nod, she followed behind Yuchi Yan as they walked outside.

Seeing this, the Old Madam teased in good spirits, “It seems Prince Yan still has feelings for our Yining. When Yining didn’t become empress before, it was because they had no fate. Now that Yining’s reputation is ruined, if she could become Prince Yan’s side consort, it would also be a good thing.”

Hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan frowned and was about to speak when Sun Shi spoke first, “What the Old Madam says makes sense, but Yining is not an ordinary girl, and her marriage should be decided by the master of the house.”

The Old Madam was momentarily speechless. Thinking of their family’s current position in the Zhou Dynasty, where they still had to depend on her eldest son everywhere, she really couldn’t say anything to pressure others with her status as an elder.

However, the Old Madam had never liked Sun Shi and naturally wouldn’t save face for her. She immediately said sarcastically, “Truly, one should look at someone with new eyes after three days apart. Someone who used to be so single-minded has now learned to drag Meng Ge’er into things.”

Having just returned, the Old Madam was already being so provocative. Sun Shi had never been one to swallow anger and was about to argue back.

But Cao Yuqing stepped forward first, taking Sun Shi’s arm and giving her a meaningful squeeze, “The Old Madam is getting on in years and should take good care of her health. Always getting angry like this over nothing will only harm her body.”

The Old Madam never expected Cao Yuqing to speak up for Sun Shi. Shouldn’t these wife and concubine be at each other’s throats? After going out together, they had actually joined forces against her!

Previously, the Old Madam had been flattering to Cao Yuqing because of her family background.

Now that the Yan Dynasty was gone, Cao Yuqing had long become rootless duckweed, just a concubine of her son. How could the Old Madam care about her?

“You really know the rules. When the masters are talking, do you, a mere concubine, have any place to speak?”

Cao Yuqing raised her eyebrows and laughed coldly, “From the beginning when I entered your family’s door, I was acting on imperial orders to cooperate with Master Qin in his work. Being a concubine was just a cover. Now I’ve long since asked the master for a letter of release from concubinage. I’m no longer your family’s nominal concubine but the master’s guard captain. If the Old Madam isn’t afraid of the Silver-Faced Scouts paying a midnight visit, please show some respect!”

Having seen blood, when Cao Yuqing truly glared at someone, it was indeed chilling.

Remembering Cao Yuqing’s skills leading the Silver-Faced Scouts against enemies back in Great Yan, plus the legendary reputation of the Silver-Faced Scouts, the Old Madam involuntarily swallowed and blinked, unable to say a word.

Sun Shi, hearing these words, was still in shock and momentarily forgot to react.

The scene fell silent for a moment before Qin Huaiyuan said, “I have my own arrangements for Yining’s matter. Mother need not worry.”

Qin Yining was his only precious daughter, and the Old Madam’s suggestion truly displeased him, which is why he had allowed the women to bicker for a bit. But as a son, he couldn’t anger his mother too much.

Qin Yining knew nothing of what was happening inside. At this moment, she was walking alongside Yuchi Yan in the covered walkway, slowly heading toward the courtyard gate. Both their attendants followed at a distance.

Yuchi Yan said, “You look well lately. I imagine your health has fully recovered?”

When Qin Yining was at the Prince’s mansion, she had been fed medicinal foods, abalone, and sea cucumber. Her health had improved considerably.

“Thank you for Your Highness’s concern. I am well. Please also take care of your health, Your Highness.” Qin Yining slowed her pace, falling half a step behind Yuchi Yan again.

Seeing her do this, Yuchi Yan also slowed down again, insisting on walking beside her: “Whether I take care of myself or not, this is how my life will be. I’m worried about you.”

Qin Yining felt these words were far too intimate. They had no relationship—what was there to worry about?

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Seeing her respond so dryly, Yuchi Yan said helplessly, “You still have the same temperament. It seems you do resent me.”

“Your Highness gives me too much credit.” Qin Yining continued with distant, polite responses.

Yuchi Yan simply stopped walking and looked at her seriously, “I know about what happened to you recently. Don’t worry—I’ll discuss it with your father later. You don’t need to fear that your ruined reputation will prevent you from marrying into a good family. Why don’t you come with me? Though I no longer have the chance for great success, I can still manage to respect you, love you, and give you a warm home for a lifetime.”

At this point, Yuchi Yan nervously clenched his fists and said anxiously, “Yining, let me take care of you, all right?”

Qin Yining frowned and was about to answer when suddenly a cold snort came from the courtyard gate: “Prince Yan certainly has fine taste.”

Everyone looked toward the sound to see a figure in purple brocade robes with a silver fox fur collar cloak at the gate—none other than Pang Xiao.

Mini Theater: Pang Xiao: Caught someone trying to steal my girl, not happy! Yining: Inexplicably panicking…