As soon as Qin Yining’s words left her mouth, Lu Heng beside her furrowed his brows in worry and couldn’t help but tug at her sleeve.

He too could see that something was off about Si Qin, but this was after all a Tatar state affair. As outsiders, they had no need to speak up, especially when saying such things directly in front of Si Qin.

Lu Heng felt somewhat reproachful toward Qin Yining’s impulsiveness, and was even more worried that she might face retaliation.

Sure enough, Si Qin then stood up and walked in front of A’na Ri, looking at Qin Yining with cold, piercing eyes.

Of course, Qin Yining’s words weren’t spoken impulsively, but after deep deliberation. If the Tatar rulers were united as one, what benefit would that bring to Great Zhou? It would be best to make A’na Ri and Si Qin mutually suspicious of each other, keeping them too busy to invade outward.

Moreover, she could see that Si Qin was a man who placed particular importance on the desire for power. If A’na Ri continued being foolishly naive, sooner or later she would be usurped. If Si Qin became the master of the Tatars, the pace of southern invasion would accelerate. But with Great Zhou’s treasury currently empty, where would they find the strength to resist when that time came?

Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu’s military campaigns were already difficult enough – how many more soldiers would spill their blood on the battlefield, how many innocent civilians would die?

Qin Yining didn’t want to see war. It would be best if A’na Ri and Si Qin were kept busy with internal strife.

Qin Yining looked at Si Qin fearlessly, smiled slightly, and said, “Does the Prince Consort also think what I said makes sense?”

“It seems Prince Zhongshun’s consort has read quite a few books. Don’t you people of Great Zhou have a saying that ‘a woman without talent is virtue’? Acting as the Princess Consort does, wouldn’t that make her a heretical anomaly who defies tradition?”

Hearing Si Qin speak this way, A’na Ri also said, “Just looking at that seductive appearance, she’s clearly not someone who keeps to her proper place.”

Seeing A’na Ri’s expression, Qin Yining knew her warning had been wasted effort. Meeting A’na Ri’s angry and jealous gaze, she shook her head and sighed, “When the Khan speaks, she should also mind her own status.”

Only then did A’na Ri remember she was on a public street. She was the Khan of the Tatars, and so many people were watching her every move. Such fiercely jealous words would indeed invite criticism.

A’na Ri then turned back and said, “Return to the palace.”

The accompanying guards immediately responded affirmatively and gave orders to depart.

The procession moved forward again, heading toward the palace. The common people dispersed and once again resumed their earlier enthusiasm.

Qin Yining sat back on the wooden cart, and Lu Heng said in a low voice, “I understand your thinking, but you must also consider your own safety. You need to preserve your life to return to Great Zhou. You wouldn’t want to lose your life here for nothing.”

Qin Yining knew Lu Heng truly cared for her, so she replied quietly, “I know. Si Qin still needs to use me, so he won’t kill me for now. I always feel that his demeanor suggests he must have even deeper conspiracies. You should also be careful. Although you come from the Lu family, a distinguished household, you’ve been missing for so long that there’s no telling what changes have occurred at home. When you negotiate terms with them, also consider compromises – don’t trust the family too much.”

Qin Yining was someone who repaid kindness with gratitude. Now that she and Lu Heng had fallen into difficulty together, since Lu Heng genuinely considered her welfare, she also genuinely reminded Lu Heng.

Although it was like a bucket of cold water over the head, for Lu Heng, this sincere concern still made him feel warm. How could he not understand this himself?

The Lu family was a century-old distinguished household with deeply rooted and complex power structures – they weren’t united as one. He had been away from home for so long, and now was even “missing.” The power dynamics at home might have already begun reshuffling. Although Si Qin hadn’t killed him due to the Lu family’s distinguished status and was keeping him to negotiate terms, if the Lu family showed any intention of abandoning him, Si Qin would definitely not spare him.

Speaking of it, both of them were now in the same predicament.

The Tatar imperial palace had a completely different architectural style from Great Zhou’s imperial palace. The buildings here had less refinement but more grandeur. The female attendants in the palace all bowed in unison, respectfully welcoming the Khan.

A’na Ri was holding back her anger, and now that she was on her own territory, she immediately pointed at Qin Yining: “Lock her in the dungeon! Arrange for people to watch her closely. Without my orders, no one is allowed to release her!”

“Yes.” The guards immediately moved forward to bind her.

But Si Qin raised his hand to stop the guards.

“Khan, we still need to use these two people. The dungeon is dark and damp. If a woman is locked in there and falls ill or has an accident, it will affect our important matters.”

A’na Ri narrowed her eyes at Si Qin, moved close to him, grabbed his collar, and said through gritted teeth, “Can’t bear to part with her?”

Throughout this journey, Si Qin had already grown tired of A’na Ri’s domineering attitude. Now that she was still being so unreasonable, it made Si Qin’s anger surge even more.

Suppressing his fury, he said, “Khan, please stop speaking in such a sarcastic manner. We are husband and wife, not enemies. What I’m like toward you – haven’t you been able to see and hear it all these years? I’m very clear about your feelings for me, and I’m very moved, but your repeated false accusations against me make my heart very sad.”

Si Qin had refined, scholarly features and the bearing of a scholarly general. Now, frowning with his hands clasped behind his back, he naturally carried an aura that commanded trust.

A’na Ri had long been deeply in love with him, and the two had always supported each other until now. She both adored and worshipped this man. Hearing him speak this way now made A’na Ri’s heart skip a beat. Reflecting on her own actions, she felt somewhat regretful.

But her pride as Khan wouldn’t allow her to lower her head, so she just stubbornly bit her lips without speaking.

Si Qin sighed and turned to instruct the palace maids: “Take the two guests to separate side halls to rest, and arrange for personal attendants to care for them.”

“Yes.”

The palace servants received the order and led Qin Yining and Lu Heng in opposite directions.

Qin Yining glanced at the two elderly female attendants leading her. Seeing their light steps and well-trained appearance, she knew they all had martial arts skills.

Regardless of how Si Qin was appeasing A’na Ri, Qin Yining followed behind the maidservants, carefully observing the courtyards on both sides of the corridor and the tall, imposing buildings, clearly memorizing the surrounding scenery and routes.

The side hall where she was confined was very spacious. Upon entering, she immediately felt a cold air rushing toward her face. The floor inside the hall was laid with neatly arranged stone bricks, covered with bright red carpets. The moon-shaped windows on both sides were tightly closed. Behind a screen was a wide sitting couch, and in front of the couch was a square floor brazier sunken into the ground, with an unlit campfire inside.

“Please rest here for now, madam.” The maidservant spoke Great Zhou language very well, her voice echoing in the spacious side hall.

Qin Yining nodded.

Another maidservant then stepped forward to light the campfire.

Qin Yining sat down on the couch and extended her hands toward the campfire to warm herself.

At this time, several more maidservants brought cotton quilts and fur mattresses.

Qin Yining wasn’t polite – she wrapped herself in the cotton padding, burying half her face in it, and breathed a long sigh while warming herself by the fire.

The Tatars were even further north than Great Zhou’s capital. At this season, while the capital of Great Yan already experienced the chill of “each autumn rain brings more cold,” here one could already feel the northern wind cutting like knives.

Qin Yining shivered, warmed herself for a moment, then curled up to lie down and rest.

At this time, a maidservant came to relay a message: “The Khan has ordered that tomorrow morning there will be a hunt, and requests that madam must attend.”