Upon hearing these words, the handsome young man did not move immediately. He still sat lazily in his original position without speaking, only gazing indifferently at Immortal Liu.

His tiger-faced young attendant behind him looked even more composed, crossing his arms and raising his chin as if waiting for Immortal Liu to take a stance.

Immortal Liu sighed and said: “When has this humble Taoist ever failed to follow what the master patron says? I will do as you arrange.”

Only after receiving this affirmation did the young man finally stand up, adjusting his outer cloak: “In that case, I’ll also look around.”

At this time, Qin Yining had already followed Duke Dingguo’s wife into the courtyard. She vaguely heard a deep, magnetic male voice that sounded somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t recall where she had heard it before, so she didn’t pay much attention.

“Grandmother, shall we first go see the pagoda?” Qin Yining supported Duke Dingguo’s wife as they walked out of the moon gate, turned a corner, and arrived at the courtyard in front of the main hall, asking with a smile.

Duke Dingguo’s wife shook her head and sighed: “Yi Jie’er, if you like it, you can stroll around by yourself later. I’m somewhat tired and want to offer incense to Doumu Yuanjun.”

“Then I’ll accompany you.” Seeing the weariness clearly displayed between Duke Dingguo’s wife’s brows, Qin Yining also abandoned her own thought of taking a stroll.

Seeing her like this, Duke Dingguo’s wife’s smile deepened: “You young ladies rarely get to come out. Go explore on your own. I have Nanny Bao and the maids with me. After I offer incense, I’ll rest in the carriage. You can look around by yourself – it won’t be a wasted trip to Immortal Maiden Temple, right?”

Qin Yining was actually somewhat tempted but was still worried about Duke Dingguo’s wife’s health.

Seeing her like this, Duke Dingguo’s wife touched her cheek once: “Little girl, you’re so young – don’t let your thoughts be so heavy. What could happen to me? You and Miss Tang should go see the pagoda together. Later you can come to the hall to offer incense. It’s decided.” As she spoke, she waved her hand in a shooing manner and went toward the main hall first, pulling Nanny Bao along.

Tang Meng stayed by Qin Yining’s side, smiling: “Miss, don’t worry too much. I can see that the Old Madam’s health is fine – it’s just a heart ailment. She’s probably worried about family matters.”

Qin Yining nodded, thinking that Duke Dingguo’s wife must have been frightened by Immortal Liu’s words.

She didn’t know much about fortune-telling and mystical arts, being half-believing and half-doubting. Recalling that she had just been told about her “Red Luan star stirring,” Qin Yining felt her face flush with heat and couldn’t help thinking of that rogue who had suddenly descended from the sky that day, not only stealing her hairpin flower but also touching her face.

Qin Yining felt her face burning. She frowned slightly and coughed lightly: “Then let’s go look around first. You’re familiar with this place – where are the scenic spots?”

Tang Meng smiled and took Qin Yining to tour around Immortal Maiden Temple.

Qin Yining was still wearing that crimson brocade cloak trimmed with white rabbit fur. Against the winter landscape of grays and whites, her figure was like walking on an ink painting, becoming a prominent splash of bright color.

Pang Xiao and Huzi reached the open space in front of the main hall and from afar caught sight of her and Tang Meng’s retreating figures as they gradually walked toward the pagoda.

“Master, who would have thought we’d encounter Miss Qin here today. Don’t you want to go up and have a chat?” Huzi winked and gestured: “What that old Taoist nun said just now was quite pointed. Such a good opportunity – do you want to go…”

Pang Xiao frowned and glanced at Huzi.

Huzi coughed once and finally shut his mouth, stopping his chatter.

But Pang Xiao stood in place, watching Qin Yining’s retreating figure without moving.

There was no one else around. If there had been, they would have noticed that his elegant attire of white robes with a gray squirrel cloak didn’t match the sharp aura he unconsciously emanated.

Just then, the two heard approaching footsteps. Pang Xiao and Huzi quickly took cover behind a thick tree.

They heard Duke Dingguo’s wife and Nanny Bao’s group leaving the main hall and walking toward the mountain gate, talking as they walked: “…Yi Jie’er is sensible. She probably could see that the temple master was also testing her. If she couldn’t even bear to make donations, how could she truly treat Miss Tang well?”

“Aren’t you thinking too highly of that person? This old servant sees her as having a mercenary face.”

“These are all appearances. I see her as vulgar on the outside but benevolent within. Otherwise, how would she have taken in Miss Tang? I think the mercenary attitude is just a disguise…”

Duke Dingguo’s wife and Nanny Bao’s group gradually walked away, their voices growing fainter.

Only then did Pang Xiao and Huzi emerge from behind the tree.

“Master, who would have thought this Old Madam was such a perceptive person.” Huzi had a good impression of Duke Dingguo’s wife.

Pang Xiao nodded. After calming his mind, he restrained his overly sharp edge, softened his gaze that carried ruthlessness and hostility, and no longer habitually straightened his back but allowed it to hunch slightly.

This way, the person who had been radiating sharpness immediately transformed in bearing, becoming an elegant young nobleman.

“Let’s go. We’ll also go to the main hall.” Pang Xiao took the first step.

Huzi nodded: “Let’s also burn some incense. The Old Master, Grand Madam, and Old Madam are all still in the palace right now. We don’t know how they’re doing. I hope we can handle this matter properly and appease His Majesty’s anger.”

Speaking of his mother, grandfather, and grandmother who were temporarily detained in the palace for a “short stay,” Pang Xiao’s expression showed some worry.

In the hall, the golden statue of Doumu Yuanjun stood majestic and solemn.

Both Pang Xiao and Huzi offered incense, then knelt properly and performed the grand Taoist ritual, kowtowing and silently praying: “I beseech Doumu Yuanjun to protect my mother and family members’ safety. Let all the killing karma I have created be borne by me alone. I only hope it doesn’t bring disaster upon my family.”

With his forehead pressed to the ground, Pang Xiao looked somewhat fragile during his devout prayer, making Huzi, who knelt beside him, feel heartache.

He followed Pang Xiao like a shadow, understanding his difficulties best. Everyone knew that Young Prince Pang held high position and great power, decisive in killing, but who could see his loneliness at the heights?

The most tragic thing for a person was to give so much yet have no one understand, even facing various criticisms. Because of the Young Prince’s ruthlessness, sometimes even the Old Master, Grand Madam, and Old Madam would reproach him, hoping he wouldn’t be so disregardful of human life.

But who could understand their helplessness?

Sometimes, they were caught between a rock and a hard place.

“Creak—”

The sound of the door opening broke the silence in the hall.

Pang Xiao and Huzi both turned their heads and saw Qin Yining in her crimson cloak and Tang Meng dressed as a young Taoist nun entering together.

Perhaps in a good mood, Qin Yining still wore a brilliant smile upon entering, her dimples and smiling eyes appearing especially adorable.

Pang Xiao was stunned for a moment and quickly turned back around. His ears turned red as he knelt rigidly in place, looking up at the precious statue of Doumu Yuanjun as if praying sincerely.

There were three prayer cushions on the ground.

Huzi had initially knelt on the left side but was now standing to one side, leaving only Pang Xiao occupying the center position, with the left and right sides conveniently empty.

Qin Yining hesitated somewhat, but the temple was after all a public place, and she had no right to drive people away. She could only ignore the young man to the side, went with Tang Meng to offer incense, then knelt on the rightmost cushion, closing her eyes to pray sincerely.

Tang Meng knelt on the left cushion and also performed the grand Taoist ritual.

Although Pang Xiao was kneeling, from the corner of his eye, he hadn’t stopped watching her since she knelt beside him.

She was born so delicate and lovely, yet her fate was so bumpy…

She should be fourteen years old now, right?

When they first met, he was about the same age as she was now.

A seven-year-old little girl, wearing ragged clothes that were washed clean and white, trying to get medicine shop credit for her foster mother’s treatment but being driven out and pushed down by the shop assistants.

He had been watching from not far away with Teacher Zheng and Guard Zhao. When he heard Guard Zhao’s gleeful snort, he felt uncomfortable.

He had thought she would cry. In fact, she really had reason and qualification to cry. But she only stood up, patted the dust off her body, stubbornly shouldered her broken basket, and used her remaining copper coins to buy two meat buns to take home for her foster mother.

He still hadn’t forgotten those large, bright eyes on her small face, and her forced smile when she patted her shriveled little belly and told her foster mother she had already eaten.

Unable to bear it, he had pretended to pass by her house, wanting to ask for a drink of water.

When the little girl saw him, she stared blankly for a long time before smiling sweetly and calling him “Beautiful Brother,” then went to boil water for him.

After drinking the water, he gave her the money pouch he carried, which contained about ten taels of silver and some copper coins.

She was startled by so much silver and refused to take it.

He put on the air of a benefactor, saying it was a reward, then left her house under the angry gazes of Teacher Zheng and Guard Zhao.

Teacher Zheng and Guard Zhao were both his father’s former subordinates. After leaving, they immediately questioned him loudly.

“Why did you help the enemy’s daughter!”

“That dog thief Qin Huaiyuan deserves death! If not for his treacherous plot, how would General Pang have died unjustly back then, cut into pieces and fed to dogs! Even the Pang family didn’t leave a single survivor…”

He was fifteen that year, having just been found by Li Qitian and enlisted for one year. Li Qitian had raised General Pang’s banner in rebellion, establishing him as a flag representing revenge for his father and overthrowing tyranny.

No one asked whether he was willing. The army just suddenly stopped in front of the small restaurant run by his maternal grandfather’s family and took him away…

No one even knew that he was merely the product of General Pang’s one night of passion. General Pang himself probably didn’t even remember his existence.

And if the Pang family’s main wife had been good, how would she have quietly driven away his mother?

His fate had been decided by others from birth.

And this girl – wasn’t her fate also decided by others from birth?

He had asked Teacher Zheng then: “What does this little girl know? You brought her out back then and let her suffer countless hardships. These many years have been enough, haven’t they?! If you’re really capable, why don’t you seek revenge on her father instead of making things difficult for an innocent child?!”

Teacher Zheng only said one phrase – children should pay for their parents’ debts.

Their viewpoints differed in certain aspects. Arguments couldn’t solve problems.

Later, after another year passed, he had gained some prestige in the army and had become a cold-blooded person who no longer hesitated when killing.

Only when he thought of that little girl did his cold, hard heart seem to soften.

He had brought people to find her, wanting to help her somewhat.

But Liang City had already been ransacked, and only a broken, empty house remained where she had lived.

He captured people to question and learned that her foster mother had died the previous month, and she had also disappeared without a trace.

He thought she must have died.

A sensible little girl, a little girl who would sweetly call him “Beautiful Brother,” a sensible child who made him feel guilty and pitying – she had died so silently and miserably.

He never expected that seven years later, he would see her again. She had blossomed like a flower, and every time he saw her, he would lose his usual composure.