Seeing Cao Yuqing arrive, Qin Yining quickly had her sit down and said in a low voice: “Have you eaten? Please join me for a meal.”

Cao Yuqing shook her head: “I ate something casually. I found clues left by the agents.”

Seeing Cao Yuqing’s grave expression, Qin Yining couldn’t help but become serious as well.

She knew Cao Yuqing’s capabilities and had guessed the silver-masked agents would leave clues, but she hadn’t expected there would actually be some.

Could this mean the Azure Sky Alliance people really had problems?

At this moment, Qin Yining felt as if she were lost in a fog, not knowing which side she should believe. She desperately wished she could have loyal direct subordinates—if she had such a group, how could today’s situation have occurred? How would she be caught in such a dilemma?

Seeing Qin Yining’s difficulty, Cao Yuqing patted her shoulder consolingly and said in a low voice: “Following the clues, I found a ground fissure formed by the earthquake, located on the road from the old capital to Yang County. That fissure is quite large, with no cover around it, so ordinary travelers would try to go around it. I pretended to pass by and took a general look, but fearing I might alert them, I didn’t dare get close. However, I suspect the treasure is hidden there.”

Qin Yining’s fingers, white as scallions, gripped her skirt tightly, turning her originally cherry-blossom-petal-pink nails white from the pressure.

The taste of betrayal was truly unpleasant.

Especially when this matter concerned life and death.

Qin Yining wasn’t afraid of dying, but this matter involved the lives of both the Pang and Qin families. This couldn’t help but make her feel panicked. She even felt somewhat self-reproaching.

If she hadn’t been so presumptuous in offering strategies initially, how would Pang Xiao have used the Azure Sky Alliance people? How could things have developed to this point?

Cao Yuqing looked at Qin Yining’s pretty face, her gaze gradually becoming distant, and reached out to pat Qin Yining’s shoulder with her arm around her.

“Don’t think so much—this isn’t your fault. Since things have already happened, we’ll find ways to remedy them. When soldiers come, we’ll block them with generals; when water comes, we’ll cover it with earth. There will always be solutions. His Highness and I will both protect your safety. As for the capital, with your father there, he’ll take care of both families’ security. You can lack confidence in yourself, but surely you can’t distrust your father’s abilities?”

Qin Yining took a deep breath and slowly nodded.

“You’re right. My father is both wise and handsome—even if I cause tremendous trouble, he’ll have ways to solve it.” Whether Qin Yining was saying this to comfort herself, she wasn’t sure.

But Cao Yuqing smiled: “Don’t say that—I actually think you’re usually too worry-free. Your father would love for you to cause some trouble and then come crying home for his help. Though your father has few children, he’s actually someone who loves children deeply. Though he’s almost demonically clever, he also has a childish side.”

When Cao Yuqing spoke of Qin Huaiyuan, her tone became remarkably gentle.

Qin Yining knew she had deep feelings for Qin Huaiyuan and had silently loved him for many years, staying by his side through his most difficult times without regard for status. Such devotion commanded her respect.

Sometimes Qin Yining felt conflicted—for Sun Shi’s sake, she really should be enemies with Cao Yuqing.

But after Cao Yuqing discovered Qin Huaiyuan had no romantic feelings for her, she never again pursued him eagerly. Instead, she became the most loyal guard and subordinate, willingly giving silently without seeking reward. She really couldn’t bring herself to dislike her.

“Aunt Cao.” Qin Yining looked at Cao Yuqing, calling her aunt willingly. “Thank you.”

Cao Yuqing’s eyelashes trembled as she looked at Qin Yining’s sincere gaze and slowly bloomed into a gentle smile.

“Silly girl, your father and I are good friends—helping is only natural. What’s there to thank me for?”

Qin Yining shook her head, not explaining, but was moved nonetheless.

Actually, if Cao Yuqing had even the slightest improper thoughts, wanting to secretly harm Sun Shi and take her place, as a silver-masked agent she would have had a hundred ways to achieve her goal without anyone knowing.

But she hadn’t.

Qin Yining sighed and shook her head, not wanting to bring up topics that would make Cao Yuqing sad or uncomfortable, and said: “I understand the current situation now. I’ll discuss it thoroughly with His Highness before making any decisions.”

“Good. His Highness has strong opinions and is very good at controlling the overall situation. After you two discuss how to handle this, I’ll go investigate further and come tell you when I have news.”

Cao Yuqing stood up.

Qin Yining tried to keep her: “It’s not safe outside—you should stay here.”

“No need. It’s quite free outside, and besides, I need to constantly watch the Dragon Guard Army’s movements. Staying here would actually be inconvenient.”

Only then did Qin Yining nod understandingly, escorting Cao Yuqing to the window and watching her nimbly climb out.

After Pang Xiao returned, Qin Yining told him about this matter in detail as usual.

“You mean that ground fissure was formed by this earthquake? The one we passed when coming from the old capital to Yang County?”

“Yes.” Qin Yining said with some emotion, “If Aunt Cao hadn’t found the clues left by the silver-masked agents, who could have imagined the treasure would be there?”

Hearing her changed way of addressing Cao Yuqing, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but pull her to sit on his lap and smile: “It seems you quite like Miss Cao now?”

“I respect her very much.” Qin Yining sat sideways on Pang Xiao’s leg and simply rested her head on his shoulder, saying quietly: “Though saying this wrongs my mother, objectively speaking, I think Aunt Cao has sacrificed a lot for my father. She doesn’t use underhanded methods to harm my mother, nor does she force her way into the household, but is willing to be a guard. I feel that if I were in her position, I couldn’t do it.”

Pang Xiao raised his eyebrows and tightened his arms around Qin Yining: “If you and I had met when I was already married, would you have ignored me and not fallen for me?”

Hearing this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but sit up straight and look up at him.

Pang Xiao also looked down at her.

Their gazes intertwined, and Qin Yining’s voice was full of laughter and tenderness: “Fool, such ‘what-ifs’ won’t happen—why think about such things?”

Qin Yining felt Pang Xiao was sometimes like a child, caring about impossible scenarios.

But Pang Xiao wouldn’t give up, gently shaking her: “No, you still have to answer me. If I had already been married when I first met you, would you not have liked me and refused to follow me?”

Qin Yining thought carefully, analyzing her own preferences, and finally nodded: “If external forces compelled me beyond choice, I might comply, but from my heart, I wouldn’t want to be someone’s concubine or steal someone’s husband. Being a woman myself, I understand women’s hardships best. I understand the principle of not doing to others what you wouldn’t want done to yourself.”

“But when human emotions truly explode, they’re hard to control.”

Qin Yining smiled and shook her head: “Emotions are one thing, actions are another. Is it right to disrupt others’ families for selfish desires? Can saying emotions are hard to control excuse all wrongs? I think what makes humans superior to beasts is that people have reason and can control their behavior. If everything were done on impulse according to instinct, how would that be different from beasts?”

“You little thing.” Pang Xiao laughed and planted a loud kiss on her cheek. “Your words cast quite a wide net—you’ve scolded all those men and women who couldn’t control themselves and kept mistresses or became concubines.”

Qin Yining smiled charmingly, resting on his shoulder: “People have different thoughts. I’m just expressing my own views. Though I support my mother and don’t want her to be unhappy, I also know Aunt Cao hasn’t done anything wrong. Her feelings for my father are probably no less than my mother’s, and she may have sacrificed even more.”

“So you trust her?” Pang Xiao rubbed his chin against her forehead.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but nod: “Yes, because of her feelings for my father, and because she’s shown ‘love me, love my dog’ behavior before. She wouldn’t deceive me. Even if those six silver-masked agents turned traitor at the crucial moment, she probably wouldn’t know about it.”

Pang Xiao listened to Qin Yining’s analysis and kissed her forehead again.

This matter wasn’t easy to handle.

Though roads were being repaired and the disaster area situation was basically stable with no immediate civil unrest, their every move was under Li Qitian’s surveillance. Moreover, Li Qitian had brought the Dragon Guard Army to station and surround the area outside the old capital. If they really made any rash moves, the desperate Li Qitian would truly turn ruthless.

If Pang Xiao had come alone, he wouldn’t care about these things, but the problem was he had brought Qin Yining.

He alone could act shamelessly and throw tantrums, but with Qin Yining there were many inconveniences—he couldn’t let her bear risks with him.

But if that treasure fell into Li Qitian’s hands, since disaster relief probably wouldn’t need the treasure now, one didn’t need to think to know what Li Qitian wanted it for.

Then not only he, but even Ji Zeyu’s position would become very awkward.

Previously without money, Li Qitian could think of various ways to weaken both their military power and sow discord between them, truly mastering the art of disposing of the bow once birds are killed.

Once he had money, heaven knew what other schemes Li Qitian might devise.

He was no longer alone—he now had more concerns and didn’t want to take risks at all.

Thinking of this, Pang Xiao decided the treasure still had to be seized. Regardless of whether he would actually need to use the treasure to support his army in the future, for safety’s sake alone, Li Qitian couldn’t be allowed to get it.

But in the current situation, with them all under strict surveillance, what could they do?

At this moment, Qin Yining suddenly said: “I’ve thought of a way to investigate the treasure. I don’t know if it’s feasible—will you listen?”

Hearing this, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but smile: “We really are kindred spirits—I was just thinking about how to investigate too.”

Qin Yining smiled and sat up straight, whispering in his ear. Pang Xiao listened and hesitated for a moment before finally nodding with some uncertainty.

“Alright. Whether this works or not, you can go directly back to the capital afterward. Better than staying here in danger and suffering.”