Pang Xiao laughed coldly: “Thanks for the compliment. When it comes to being a scoundrel, this prince is still inferior to General You.”

“You! When have I ever been a scoundrel?”

“Detaining His Majesty’s treasure, yet claiming to be His Majesty’s most trusted minister, using your military authority to try stealing the treasure, then refusing to admit it and pinning the blame on this prince—if that’s not being a scoundrel, what is!”

“You’re making slanderous accusations!” You Meng was so angry he jumped up and down, pointing at Pang Xiao and cursing: “Don’t think you’re so great just because you’re a prince! Who doesn’t know your background! Now that you’ve lost your military authority you’re still acting arrogant. Back when you commanded the Huben Army, who knows how arrogant you were in front of His Majesty! No wonder His Majesty stripped you of your military power!”

This remark truly struck at Pang Xiao’s heart. If everything before had been acting, the emotions this statement triggered were genuinely from the heart.

The Huben Army was Pang Xiao’s life’s work—the officers and soldiers within were brothers who had shared life and death together. Having them transferred to someone else with just a word from Li Qitian would leave even the most magnanimous person feeling unwilling, let alone someone like Pang Xiao who lived under constant suspicion.

Pang Xiao’s face darkened. He didn’t continue arguing with You Meng, but simply grabbed Qin Yining’s hand and forcefully pushed You Meng aside: “Move!”

“Hey! You can’t go out!”

But Pang Xiao ignored him completely. Whoever blocked his path, he forcefully shoved aside. His strength combined with some internal energy meant that several Dragon Guards trying to block them simply couldn’t hold them back.

You Meng hurriedly ordered several men to follow.

After Pang Xiao and Qin Yining emerged, they didn’t go far but returned to rest in their carriage, as if everything in the cave had nothing to do with them.

Inside the carriage, Qin Yining leaned against Pang Xiao’s shoulder, holding his long, callused hand and stroking it repeatedly. “Don’t be angry. Getting angry with these people isn’t worth it.”

“I know.” Pang Xiao also held Qin Yining’s hand and played with it.

Qin Yining smiled: “You don’t need to feel regret either. Even if you no longer have military authority, the brotherhood forged through shared blood and tears—where could that just disappear? As long as everyone is still around, there will surely come a day when you can fight side by side again.”

These words hit right at Pang Xiao’s heart.

He looked up at Qin Yining’s charming smile before him and couldn’t help but reveal a smile himself: “How is it that everything becomes so clear when it reaches you?”

“Naturally it’s because this young lady thinks things through clearly.” Qin Yining laughed softly.

Pang Xiao stretched out his arms and pulled Qin Yining into his embrace, planting a kiss on her cheek: “I’m fortunate to have you by my side, otherwise I fear I might have resorted to violence.”

“I know you wouldn’t.” Qin Yining nuzzled in Pang Xiao’s arms: “You’re a rational person who knows what you’re doing and what you should do. So I don’t worry at all.”

Having someone who understood and trusted him so completely filled Pang Xiao’s heart with indescribable comfort and warmth, making him smile with satisfaction.

Fortunately, he had someone to accompany him at this time.

Li Qitian received carrier pigeon reports continuously. Only after reading the latest two messages did he finally set his mind completely at ease.

The first message was from Pang Xiao, saying the treasure had been found, but he suspected You Meng would embezzle it. He requested His Majesty to quickly dispatch troops to guard it and prevent outsiders from taking advantage, while also complaining slightly about why His Majesty didn’t trust him.

The second message was from You Meng, also brief and to the point: the treasure had been found and was being counted and prepared for transport. His Majesty could expect to receive the treasure in about half a month. Additionally, Prince Zhongshun and the Princess Consort were staying peacefully near the cave entrance without leaving, and although Prince Zhongshun didn’t trust this humble minister, his loyalty to His Majesty was genuine.

For Li Qitian, this was like receiving double good news.

The treasure had been found. Moreover, this treasure affair made him realize he had truly been petty-minded—Pang Xiao was still very loyal to him.

Li Qitian carefully examined the messages several times before finally burning them in the candlelight.

Breathing a long sigh of relief, he finally had a large sum of money, and the disaster relief efforts could be eased. Perhaps in the end there would even be a substantial amount left over for future emergencies.

Li Qitian’s good mood meant the court ministers’ days were also easier, and the capital was filled with harmony and joy.

Compared to the capital, although Pang Xiao and Qin Yining’s living conditions were somewhat inferior, their mood was excellent.

Thanks to the imperial edict, since His Majesty had ordered them to await commands in place, Pang Xiao had no choice but to await commands in place. Because the cave was being used to count treasures and transport chest after chest outside, which was quite troublesome, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to simply stay in the carriage with Qin Yining, he had his subordinates build a triangular shed made of bundled bamboo not far away.

Qin Yining was accustomed to living in the mountains, and with help from Pang Xiao’s people, she didn’t need to worry about food, clothing, shelter, or transportation. Their days were quite comfortable.

Under You Meng’s arrangement for Dragon Guard surveillance, Qin Yining even pulled Pang Xiao along to gather wild vegetables and hunt.

Pang Xiao carried a bow in one hand while his other arm was around Qin Yining’s shoulder: “Sister Yining, if we could live such leisurely days in the future, that would be wonderful. Self-sufficient without worrying about food or drink, and not having to worry about other troublesome matters.”

Qin Yining smiled: “We will be able to. As long as we manage things with care, each day will be better than the last.”

This was exactly the kind of confident and strong Qin Yining he admired—completely different from all those women who were like dodder flowers.

Due to concerns about secrecy, You Meng was very cautious in his excavation and transportation of the treasure.

Early this morning, Dragon Guards who had gone out to prepare carriages returned.

“Should we transport these goods immediately, or wait until all goods are brought out before transporting them together?”

You Meng was somewhat hesitant.

With such a large amount of “goods,” if transported together, what if an accident occurred and everything was lost at once?

But if transported separately, the escorts for each cart would have to be divided, naturally weakening protection. If even one or two carts were lost, he would still be unable to bear the consequences.

You Meng thought it over repeatedly, momentarily caught in a dilemma.

He couldn’t help but look toward the prince and princess who were being affectionate in the bamboo shed not far away.

He did want to seek Pang Xiao’s opinion, but having spoken so definitively before, he had no way to shamelessly ask now. If he requested His Majesty’s instructions, that would contradict his carrier pigeon message claiming His Majesty would see the treasure in half a month. If His Majesty judged this as deceiving the throne, that would also be problematic.

After much consideration, You Meng gritted his teeth and decided: “Let’s wait. With three hundred of us protecting a convoy, it will be somewhat safer.”

The Dragon Guards naturally followed You Meng’s orders.

Qin Yining and Pang Xiao could vaguely hear their conversation from nearby. They exchanged glances and then nonchalantly busied themselves with other things.

After You Meng’s group had worked for two days to bring out all the chests, Pang Xiao released his last carrier pigeon.

The content was a report to Li Qitian about how many chests the convoy had in total, what each contained, and a reminder to Li Qitian not to be deceived by anyone.