Seeing how the secret agents adored Qin Yining so, Qin Huaiyuan stood under the corridor with his hands clasped behind his back, unable to suppress a smile.

He didn’t blame Qin Yining for handling this matter without consulting him. On the contrary, he felt his daughter’s intelligence and strategy had grown increasingly mature. Not everyone could think of such a method that killed two birds with one stone.

Cao Yuqing stood beside Qin Huaiyuan, looking at his smiling profile, and couldn’t help but smile as well, saying: “Fourth Miss has surpassed her teacher. My lord now has a worthy successor.”

“Indeed.” Qin Huaiyuan nodded slightly.

Though he regretted not having a son, things were already as they were—what was the point of forcing what couldn’t be?

Besides, his daughter had both beauty and talent, was intelligent and resourceful, valued relationships and righteousness, and had keen insight into court affairs. Every time she pointed out current problems, it gave him a refreshing sense of enlightenment.

Such an obedient and sensible daughter simply left those second-generation wastrels who galloped through the streets in the dust by eighteen blocks. What was so remarkable about having such sons? If they had the ability, let them also raise a daughter who was both intelligent and beautiful—that would be impressive!

Qin Huaiyuan couldn’t help but laugh heartily as he walked toward the Old Madam and others who had already come out to greet them.

“Old Madam, you see, I told you the master would be fine. How highly His Majesty values the master!” Second Madam supported the Old Madam’s arm, flattering her.

The Old Madam smiled radiantly, nodding repeatedly, grasping Qin Huaiyuan’s arm and saying: “Next time His Majesty asks you to handle business, remember to send word home so your mother won’t worry needlessly.”

“I understand, Mother.” Qin Huaiyuan smiled consolingly, “Now we can be considered to have gained our footing. As long as we live peacefully, there’s no need to worry too much in the future.”

“Really?” The Old Madam grasped Qin Huaiyuan’s arm in delighted surprise.

Seeing his old mother like this, Qin Huaiyuan felt somewhat bitter inside, but smiled and said: “Of course it’s true. As long as we live properly and don’t cause trouble, all will be well.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” The Old Madam nodded repeatedly with a beaming smile, then turned to instruct Nanny Qin to have someone prepare dinner.

Qin Yining joined her family for a reunion meal. After dinner, she washed up and fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

In the middle of the night, Ji Yun, who was keeping watch, heard sounds from the back window. She snapped alert and looked back to see Pang Xiao emerging from the corner door of the washroom behind the canopy bed.

Ji Yun couldn’t help but find it amusing. Counting the days, the Prince should indeed be coming around this time. She smiled and curtsied, then quietly opened the door and withdrew.

Pang Xiao seated himself beside Qin Yining’s bed, using the dim yellow lamplight Ji Yun had left to observe the sleeping Qin Yining.

She lay on her side, her fair cheek pressed against the pillow whose exact color couldn’t be discerned in the candlelight. Her lips were slightly parted, revealing two somewhat large front teeth. Her long hair was scattered across the pillow, making her palm-sized face appear even smaller. Her long eyelashes cast shadows beneath her eyes like two small fans.

Pang Xiao gently rubbed her cheek with his index finger.

Qin Yining drowsily dodged away, frowning and mumbling something.

Pang Xiao couldn’t help but chuckle softly, unable to resist leaning down to kiss her cheek.

The continuous days of mental exhaustion had left Qin Yining in a state of extreme fatigue. Normally, she would have awakened already, but today she showed no signs of stirring, still frowning and humming softly in deep sleep.

Pang Xiao didn’t wake her, just sat beside her quietly watching, twisting a strand of her long hair between his fingers to play with it. When sitting became tiring, he lay down sideways on the edge of her bed for a while.

Only when the night grew deep did he press another kiss to her lips, whispering softly: “I’m leaving. I’ll come see you next time.”

The only response was Qin Yining’s regular breathing sounds in deep sleep.

Pang Xiao chuckled softly and left through the window.

The next morning, when Qin Yining rose and washed, she discovered several crooked little braids twisted into her hair.

She was covering her mouth yawning when she met Ji Yun’s teasing gaze.

“What’s wrong?” Qin Yining accepted the green salt to brush her teeth.

Ji Yun held a towel ready beside her, saying in a low voice: “Miss, those little braids in your hair are all the Prince’s handiwork.”

Qin Yining was startled and mumbled: “What?”

“Yesterday Miss slept so deeply that even when the Prince came, he didn’t wake you. He just sat beside you watching you sleep. Perhaps out of boredom, he played with your hair. Who would have thought he’d braid several little plaits for you, and you had no reaction at all.”

Qin Yining said with mixed amusement and exasperation: “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“When the Prince comes, this servant naturally had to withdraw. You should ask the Prince why he didn’t wake you.”

Qin Yining blushed with embarrassment, glaring at Ji Yun and saying in a low voice: “You’ve definitely learned bad habits from being around Bingtang—your words are getting more and more sharp.”

Seeing Qin Yining so flustered, Ji Yun laughed even more heartily.

With all troubles resolved and in high spirits, Qin Yining wanted to find time to discuss business matters with Shopkeeper Zhong.

Who knew that just as she had finished changing clothes, someone outside called loudly: “Fourth Miss, Madam wants you to come to the front hall immediately.”

Qin Yining was startled. She adjusted the jade hairpin on her head, pushed open the door and said: “What does my mother want with me?”

“Miss, just now a nanny from the palace came with the Empress Dowager’s decree, saying she wants to see Madam.”

Qin Yining immediately became tense. The messenger had just arrived without any fanfare, and she didn’t know about this matter!

Worried that her mother might be wronged, she quickened her pace. Arriving at the front hall, she saw Sun Shi speaking with a nanny of about forty years old dressed in palace female official attire.

Seeing Qin Yining enter, the nanny rose and curtsied: “Miss Qin, greetings. This servant’s surname is Chen, and I serve beside Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Today, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager invites Madam Qin and Miss to enter the palace for a gathering.”

Qin Yining was very puzzled upon hearing this, though her face showed a flattered expression: “The Empress Dowager summons us, but we haven’t prepared—we truly fear offending Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

Nanny Chen smiled: “Miss Qin jests. The Empress Dowager knows that Master Qin is His Majesty’s trusted minister and has always wanted to find an opportunity to meet you and Madam. Today, as it happens, the ladies from various families are entering the palace to pay respects, so the Empress Dowager instructed this servant to come fetch you and Madam Qin. You and Madam truly needn’t be nervous.”

To say they weren’t nervous would be false. Sun Shi was now so nervous that her palms were sweating. She very much wanted to say that Qin Huaiyuan was at court and they should wait for his return before deciding, but though she thought it, she knew such words would be inappropriate to speak.

However, Qin Yining calmed down.

Whatever the Empress Dowager wanted to do, she certainly wouldn’t take their lives. As long as they wouldn’t lose their lives, nothing else could be considered a major matter.

“Then we trouble Nanny Chen.”

“Not at all.” Seeing Qin Yining so agreeable, Nanny Chen smiled: “The carriage has been prepared. The Empress Dowager specially instructed me to come fetch Madam and Miss. Please come with this servant now.”

“Yes.” Qin Yining smiled in agreement, turned to instruct Xian Yun: “Go inform the Old Madam,” then brought Ji Yun and Bingtang, helped Sun Shi, and left the mansion together with Nanny Chen.