What Qin Yining didn’t mention was that while others might not succeed in making requests of Cao Yuqing, when it came to matters concerning Qin Huaiyuan, Cao Yuqing would definitely agree.

Previously, standing only from the Sun family’s perspective, Qin Yining hadn’t wanted Cao Yuqing to interfere in her parents’ marriage. Cao Yuqing was strikingly beautiful, possessed exceptional martial arts skills and rich experience, and her feelings for Qin Huaiyuan could be described as deep-rooted and unwavering. After observing coldly for so long, Qin Yining could see Cao Yuqing’s sincerity and magnanimity.

Only after seeing that Qin Huaiyuan truly had no romantic interest in her did she willingly step back and become his bodyguard to protect him.

Because of this love extending to all related to him, Qin Yining felt that Cao Yuqing was especially tolerant and trusting when dealing with her.

So for this matter of deploying the Silver Mask agents, if she were to speak personally, she’d probably need to spend considerable effort persuading and might not even succeed. But if her father spoke up, she was almost certain that whatever father said would be accepted without question.

Qin Yining actually felt some pity for Cao Yuqing’s unrequited love that could only manifest as protection, and also admired her way of handling things.

If it were someone with ill intentions possessing such formidable martial arts skills, eliminating Sun Shi to make room for herself would be effortless, wouldn’t it? But she hadn’t done so because she respected Qin Huaiyuan’s decision and also respected life.

Qin Yining and Pang Xiao discussed in low voices with Qin Huaiyuan for a while longer, then Pang Xiao instructed Huzi to quietly escort Qin Huaiyuan out. “Escort Minister Qin the entire way. Don’t let anyone discover your movements. Be careful.”

“Understood, Your Highness.” Huzi smiled as he accepted the order.

The next day, Qin Yining went out in the morning under the pretext of buying spices to meet with Madam Liao, and also instructed Manager Zhong about some matters, returning to the manor only at noon.

Lunch was eaten with the whole family together.

Qin Yining and Pang Xiao had just married, and their wedding canopy bed hadn’t even been warmed properly when His Majesty arranged such an assignment for Pang Xiao. The whole family felt reluctant to part. Even Yao Shi, who had been inclined to oppose Qin Yining, felt somewhat unwilling in her heart.

Behind closed doors, they could harbor petty thoughts, but when facing the outside world, they were still family after all. Yao Shi truly feared that His Majesty would cause more trouble during this trip.

“Sigh, fortunately Dafu can take Yi girl with him when he goes out, otherwise I’d really be worried sick.” Ma Shi sighed.

However, Yao Chenggu poured cold water on this: “But Dafu is going south for disaster relief. Who knows if there will be danger.”

Upon hearing this, Ma Shi’s brows furrowed.

Yao Shi worried even more: “I heard that the earthquakes near the old capital of Great Yan were very severe and affected a wide area. In such hot weather, people buried under the rubble would be very difficult to rescue. If the hot weather accelerates decay…”

“Enough, Mother.” Pang Xiao helplessly interrupted Yao Shi’s words, smiling to comfort her. “It’s fine. I’m just escorting Prince Yan. I won’t really need to take action myself.”

Yao Shi realized that what she’d just said was too inauspicious and smiled, saying, “That’s good, that’s good.”

Seeing Qin Yining smiling quietly beside them, Yao Shi felt somewhat uncomfortable inside.

It seemed that ever since Qin Yining entered the family, all her unfriendliness had been ignored by Qin Yining. No matter what unpleasant things she said, Qin Yining could laugh them off, never arguing with her, only showing compliance.

Yao Shi felt that such a Qin Yining was either truly magnanimous and kind, or deeply calculating. And she leaned toward the latter.

“Yi Jie’er, when you’re away from home, you and Dafu must look after each other. It’s hot there, so you need to be careful about heatstroke and illness.”

“Yes, Mother. Your daughter-in-law understands.” Qin Yining smiled. “Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, you needn’t worry. After all, the old capital of Great Yan was once my hometown. I’m familiar with that area, and I also have some business interests there, so the prince won’t suffer when he arrives.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Ma Shi smiled and patted Qin Yining’s cheek. “With you taking care of Dafu, we’re all at ease.”

Yao Shi also nodded.

The atmosphere became harmonious and pleasant again.

The departure time was settled.

The carrier pigeons that Qin Yining and Qin Huaiyuan had requested were also ready, mixed in among the thirty pigeons given by His Majesty. Since no one would think that Qin Yining and Pang Xiao would bring their own pigeons, and given Pang Xiao’s noble status, no one really dared to inspect the prince’s carriage, so the pigeons passed through unnoticed.

The disaster relief convoy was quite grand, causing crowds of common people to gather and watch when it left the capital.

At the very front of the procession, soldiers cleared the way with gongs. After the ceremonial guard came placards reading “Silence” and “Avoid,” followed by Prince Yan’s carriage, in which sat Prince Yan and his father-in-law Gu Shixiong. As for Li Yanyan and Gu Chang, they had been left behind at Prince Yan’s manor.

Behind Prince Yan’s carriage came a full two hundred Dragon Guard Army soldiers in formation, led by Deputy General You Meng, whom His Majesty had specially assigned to Pang Xiao for this mission.

Further back was Pang Xiao, dressed in a brilliant purple python robe and draped in a dark cloak, sitting straight-backed on a glossy black horse. Behind Pang Xiao came the prince’s regulation carriage and several vehicles for servants, with a hundred Dragon Guard Army soldiers bringing up the rear.

The disaster relief convoy displayed impressive ceremony as it left the capital, only putting away the formal procession to speed up the journey after leaving the city.

However, when reaching the next town, they still had to beat gongs and drums to display their ceremonial procession.

At this moment, Pang Xiao handed his horse to Huzi and leaped onto the carriage himself.

The spacious carriage was laid with thick seat cushions, and fearing the hot weather, bamboo mats had been spread over the cushions. Qin Yining lay on her side on the bamboo mat, supporting her head with one hand while flipping through a travel journal with the other.

Her figure undulated like rolling hills, capturing all of Pang Xiao’s attention.

Pang Xiao crouched at the carriage entrance thinking: His wife was so pleasing to the eye that even lying casually, she was as beautiful as a painting.

Qin Yining had long ago sensed Pang Xiao’s return, but seeing him only crouching at the entrance without coming in, she couldn’t help but look up. “What’s wrong?”

The casual charm when she lazily lifted her eyes made Pang Xiao’s heartbeat accelerate. Although they were already married, whenever moments like this occurred, Pang Xiao felt his heart was beyond his control, his palms sweating, feeling that because he loved her so much, his heart became both sour and tingly.

“Nothing, I was just mesmerized watching you.” Pang Xiao spoke directly.

Qin Yining didn’t take it seriously, giving him a look as she said, “Come rest for a while. We still have a long way to go.”

“Indeed.” Pang Xiao reclined against the large pillow beside Qin Yining, pulling her into his arms to steal a kiss. “But there’s nothing wrong with this either – we can be together every day along the way. If we were in the capital without coming out, I’d still be busy with various matters and couldn’t accompany you whenever I wanted.”

Qin Yining laughed aloud, no longer wanting to read, and pillowed her head on Pang Xiao’s sturdy thigh. “I also think this is very nice. If I don’t think about the disaster situation, I’d feel like we’re out on a pleasure trip.”

Pang Xiao couldn’t help but kiss her forehead.

The journey south was not peaceful. Not only were there rainy days during this season that made travel difficult, but they also encountered “mountain bandits” coming down twice along the way.

Fortunately, the Dragon Guard Army was well-trained, and Deputy General You Meng was also a person of both courage and strategy, so they weathered all dangers safely.

The carrier pigeons His Majesty had given Pang Xiao were also released several times along the way. Pang Xiao didn’t simply use the pigeons to send greetings, but reported in detail various situations encountered on the road, emphasizing Prince Yan’s words and actions throughout the journey.

According to their ceremonial arrangement, Prince Yan’s group was at the front of the convoy while Pang Xiao’s group was at the rear. Except when camping outdoors, they had few opportunities to speak.

Pang Xiao’s dislike for Prince Yan was also quite obvious. Sometimes Pang Xiao would even confine Qin Yining to the carriage and not allow her to come out.

Both Pang Xiao and Qin Yining knew that there were definitely more than one pair of eyes watching them in their convoy. If they made even one mistake in their words or actions, it would make Li Qitian even more suspicious.

On the morning of the fourteenth day of travel, when the carriages had long entered the territory of what was once the Great Yan dynasty, Huzi suddenly came to their carriage with a beaming smile:

“Your Highness, Yuchi Yan and Gu Shixiong are no longer in the front carriage. Now there are two substitutes in the carriage – both were formerly actors who agreed to stay in the carriage impersonating Gu Shixiong and Yuchi Yan after receiving silver.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining looked at Pang Xiao in astonishment.

However, Pang Xiao wasn’t surprised at all. “Understood. Secretly keep track of their direction. As for our convoy, don’t get too close for now. Wait for You Meng to discover it.”

“Yes.” Huzi accepted the order and withdrew.

Only then did Qin Yining say, “I guessed that Gu Shixiong would use this opportunity to persuade Yuchi Yan to search for treasure, but I never imagined that Prince Yan would escape like a golden cicada shedding its shell in this manner. Isn’t he afraid that when news reaches the capital, His Majesty will kill Li Yanyan and Gu Chang, who were left behind in the capital?”

Qin Yining didn’t believe that if Yuchi Yan found the treasure, he would return to serve as an ox and horse.

Therefore, Yuchi Yan might have already determined when leaving the capital that he could find the treasure and perhaps wouldn’t return, and had already decided to sacrifice Li Yanyan and Gu Chang.

Seeing Qin Yining’s unpleasant expression, Pang Xiao comfortingly patted her shoulder. “Yuchi Yan is inhuman, having truly inherited his father’s ways. But don’t worry – I would never abandon you under any circumstances.”

Qin Yining hugged Pang Xiao’s arm and pillowed her head on his shoulder. “I know you’re good to me. I just feel that with his personality, he originally wouldn’t do such things. This move seems more like Gu Shixiong’s handiwork. Gu Chang is Gu Shixiong’s granddaughter after all, yet Gu Shixiong left his own granddaughter in the capital as a hostage, risking execution at any moment.”

Speaking to this point, Qin Yining sat up. “Perhaps in his view, Gu Chang is merely a woman and not worth much treasure.”

Hearing this, Pang Xiao nodded. “Don’t worry. No matter what others do, my feelings for you won’t change. My wife is so wonderful – I wouldn’t trade you for a mountain of gold.”

Hearing Pang Xiao say this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile softly. “Thank you, my prince.”

Pang Xiao laughed heartily, kissing Qin Yining’s cheeks and lips several times. “We’re husband and wife – why be so polite? When we have time tonight, let’s discuss the specific matter of when our little heir will be willing to move to the prince’s manor.”