Pang Xiao was simply beside himself with joy. Holding the simple note delivered by Mu Jinghu as if it were some priceless treasure, his stubbled face was filled with wild happiness as he spun around the room in delight.
Huzi, Xu Weizhi, and Xie Yue also couldn’t care about master-servant distinctions anymore, crowding around to squeeze in and look at the note. After reading it carefully twice, they joyfully shouted: “It really is the Princess Consort! Who would have thought she was actually captured and taken to Tatar territory!”
“Young Master Mu’s letter really came at the perfect time! If there was still no news of the Princess Consort, wouldn’t His Lordship have gone mad with anxiety?” Huzi laughed as he joked.
Relief finally showed on Xu Weizhi and Xie Yue’s faces as well.
In recent days, Pang Xiao had been unable to eat or sleep peacefully, losing much weight. His handsome features had become even more sharply defined as a result, and combined with his disheveled hair and stubble-covered chin, he looked utterly haggard.
Ever since consecutively defying over thirty imperial edicts and finally being forced to return to the capital empty-handed, Pang Xiao hadn’t had a single peaceful day. Li Qitian’s suspicion had intensified, and there were even several times when Li Qitian angrily rebuked him in open court, making him lose face.
But Pang Xiao no longer cared about any of this—he only wanted Qin Yining to come back.
He hated his former self. Why had he been willing to let Qin Yining go alone to investigate the treasure’s whereabouts? Although the treasure was important to them, was it more important than Qin Yining’s safety?
Pang Xiao didn’t even know how he had been living since returning to the capital. He didn’t even dare to see Qin Yining’s parents.
He had begun to become violent, unable to control his temper. He even couldn’t help but have murderous thoughts when he saw Li Qitian.
If he killed him, wouldn’t Sister Yi be safe? Wouldn’t she become a sacrifice in their power struggle?
But now, all the negative emotions disappeared like smoke when he saw this note.
“Prepare a horse for this prince, quickly!”
Pang Xiao finally had the courage to see Qin Huaiyuan.
Huzi responded with an “Aye!” and rushed out to prepare the horse.
Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi also guessed what Pang Xiao was going to do and hurriedly said: “Your Lordship, should we tell the Old Master, Grand Madam, and Madam about this?”
Pang Xiao slapped his forehead: “I almost forgot. Please trouble you two to help me inform the elders. Tell them I’m going to find my father-in-law right now to discuss a solution.”
When something happened to Qin Yining, Yao Shi actually didn’t seem too anxious, but Ma Shi and Yao Chenggu were the most worried. Their grandson was so rebellious and stubborn that they had even wondered if Pang Xiao might remain alone for life. Then heaven rewarded him with such a beautiful and good-natured virtuous helper. Who knew the good times wouldn’t last long—shortly after their wedding, Qin Yining was forced to accompany Pang Xiao to the disaster area, and once she left, she never returned.
These days, Ma Shi had been chanting sutras and worshiping Buddha daily, even beginning to eat only vegetarian food, devoutly praying for Qin Yining’s safety.
When Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi came saying there was news of Qin Yining, Ma Shi immediately smiled so widely she couldn’t close her mouth, hurrying to burn incense and offer thanks to Buddha.
Yao Chenggu also truly breathed a sigh of relief, sighing: “Such a good girl—if she had lost her life, wouldn’t it be unjust? This is wonderful now, truly heaven protects the virtuous.”
“The Old Master speaks truly. Finally, she’s safe. Otherwise, His Lordship would have wasted away to nothing,” Xie Yue laughed heartily.
Xu Weizhi was more observant than Xie Yue. He had remained silent throughout, quietly observing the reactions of Ma Shi, Yao Chenggu, and Yao Shi, finally settling his gaze on Yao Shi, whose face bore worry.
“Madam, is there something troubling you?” Xu Weizhi bowed with a smile and asked.
Yao Shi was startled by his words, seemingly not expecting Xu Weizhi to ask her specifically. Considering that both Xu Weizhi and Xie Yue were older and both longtime confidants of Pang Xiao, she didn’t hide anything and sighed: “To be honest, I’m thinking that the Tatars are such barbarian tribes. Prince Consort Ji spent so many years maneuvering among them, yet even with his abilities couldn’t achieve immediate victory. Moreover, the soldiers he brought back all speak of how fierce and violent the Tatar customs are. Qin Shi was born with such beauty—being captured by Tatar Prince Consort, who knows how much suffering she has endured.”
These words were quite veiled.
As a mother-in-law, Yao Shi’s words could be understood as heartache for all that Qin Yining had suffered.
But from Xu Weizhi’s understanding of Yao Shi and his observation of her expressions, he sensed that what Yao Shi was worried about seemed to be what her “beautiful” daughter-in-law might have experienced after being captured by “fierce and violent” Tatars, and what to do if she couldn’t preserve her chastity.
Xu Weizhi was somewhat speechless, thinking of Qin Yining’s former wisdom and decisiveness, her understanding and help toward Pang Xiao, and how although Pang Xiao had failed to bring Qin Yining back to the capital and didn’t even dare see Qin Huaiyuan, Qin Huaiyuan had always been understanding and hadn’t pestered Pang Xiao.
The Qin father and daughter were so magnanimous and tolerant that Xu Weizhi greatly admired them.
Therefore, he found Yao Shi’s current pettiness rather distasteful, and couldn’t help speaking quickly: “Madam speaks truly. To say something unpleasant to hear, with Minister Qin’s family status, the Qin daughter could have lived peacefully and safely. Who would have thought that just by following His Lordship, she would suffer such hardship? Although she’s alive now, the situation is hardly optimistic.”
Xu Weizhi also spoke obliquely. On the surface, he was agreeing with Yao Shi’s literal meaning, saying it was pitiful that Qin Yining suffered. In reality, however, he was saying: if that daughter hadn’t married your son, she wouldn’t have had to suffer this ordeal. As a mother-in-law, you’re actually worrying about such trivial matters. Truly, since she’s not your biological daughter, you don’t care, and what you worry about is actually the chastity issue.
Although both Yao Shi and Xu Weizhi spoke unclearly, were there any foolish people present?
Yao Chenggu was the first to understand. Frowning as he glanced at his daughter, he took out his tobacco pouch and began stuffing tobacco into it.
Ma Shi took a moment to understand, then immediately widened her eyes. Unable to scold her daughter in front of Pang Xiao’s counselor, she could only endure until her fingers trembled while forcing a smile.
Of course, Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi were skilled at reading expressions. Seeing that the atmosphere had been ruined, they both tactfully took their leave. In the courtyard, they exchanged glances, both sighing involuntarily before quickly departing.
Once everyone had gone far away inside the room, Ma Shi immediately slammed her palm heavily on the kang table: “You foolish girl, what are you thinking in that head of yours? Don’t you have any conscience?”
“Mother, what are you saying!” Yao Shi stood up, looking helplessly at Ma Shi.
Ma Shi said: “Do you think I didn’t hear? Even if I were a fool who couldn’t understand, don’t you think those extremely clever gentlemen Xu and Xie could hear your meaning? You really are… what can I say about you? So Yi girl isn’t your biological daughter, and you don’t worry about her life and death anymore?”
“Who says I don’t worry about Qin Shi’s life and death? These days I’ve also been so anxious I can’t eat or sleep, especially seeing Da Fu in that state—how can I not worry?”
“But when you learned she was alive, instead of first feeling guilty that your family’s troublemaker dragged down such a good girl, instead of first worrying about her current situation, what you thought of first was actually her chastity issue!”