Zhou Meng couldn’t help but stare again at Qin Yining’s charming appearance. When she thanked him, her red lips parted slightly with shy sweetness—the sight was simply too alluring!

Zhou Meng wished he could immediately marry her! Just thinking about possessing this woman, extinguishing the red candles at night, turning over red waves beneath the red curtains…

A surge of heat coursed through his entire body. Afraid of showing an unseemly appearance, Zhou Meng immediately crossed his legs and said, “Look around—is there anything here you’re not accustomed to? Or if there’s anything else you want, just tell this Prince directly.”

Then, bestowing favor like a benefactor upon Lu Heng, A’erhan, and the others standing behind Qin Yining, he said, “Your kinsmen may also make requests. This Prince will arrange everything as appropriate.”

This boastful tone was truly very annoying. Yet Qin Yining could still conceal her thoughts, saying without expression, “Your Highness’s previous arrangements were already very thoughtful. I lack nothing for now.”

“We’re all family now. If you lack anything or want anything, don’t be polite—speak up freely. Don’t wrong yourself, hmm?” The last sound was drawn out very long. As Zhou Meng spoke, he couldn’t help leaning forward to get closer to her.

Qin Yining lowered her head, hiding the annoyance in her eyes, and simply nodded.

Zhou Meng watched the long hair that slipped onto her shoulder with her nodding motion, feeling as if his heart was being caressed by this strand of soft hair. He wished he could immediately embrace her and shower her with tender affection.

But Zhou Meng still maintained his dignity, unwilling to appear too lustful in front of outsiders. Anyway, this entire oasis was his territory. His Xiyue people had explored for a hundred years without finding a way out of the no-man’s territory. He believed Qin Yining and her people couldn’t leave either. Since they would all have to stay here for life, he didn’t believe he couldn’t obtain this beauty!

There was plenty of time ahead!

Moreover, compared to when they first met, the beauty’s attitude had softened considerably—no longer cold as ice.

This was probably because seeing her kinsmen had put her mind at ease.

Zhou Meng’s mind churned with many thoughts, though it was only a matter of breaths.

He continued sitting in place, chatting with Qin Yining about various trivial matters. Though it seemed like casual conversation, every word was meant to extract information from her—wanting to know why their group had entered the desert, why they possessed so much grain, and how they had crossed the no-man’s territory to find this place.

Qin Yining summoned her energy to respond, answering each word very carefully, circuitously playing taiji with him. After chatting for nearly half an hour, Zhou Meng not only gained no useful information but also revealed much about the Xiyue tribe and his family situation. Rather than showing displeasure at not getting answers from Qin Yining, he conversed with great enthusiasm.

Qin Yining’s health hadn’t fully recovered yet. After such a battle of wits, she was already quite tired and appropriately showed some signs of fatigue.

Zhou Meng, eager to please the beauty and draw closer to her, how could he bear to let Qin Yining feel uncomfortable? He immediately had someone arrange for the imperial physician to examine her.

Seeing this man still refused to leave, Qin Yining felt very irritated inside. Even the several people standing behind listening to their conversation were extremely annoyed, though they had been restraining their emotions and dared not act impulsively.

While waiting for the imperial physician, a maid outside came to relay a message: “Your Highness, the Fourth Consort is about to give birth. The imperial physician says the situation is dangerous and requests you come take a look.”

Zhou Meng’s expression changed, and he immediately observed Qin Yining’s reaction.

Seeing that Qin Yining showed neither anger nor jealousy, he couldn’t tell whether he should feel relieved or disappointed. He could only stand up and say, “If there’s a problem, let the imperial physician examine her carefully. What use is finding this Prince? Can this Prince deliver babies?”

Qin Yining frowned: “A woman giving birth is a major matter. The Fourth Consort is Your Highness’s consort, isn’t she?”

The implication was blaming Zhou Meng for his heartlessness.

His own woman was about to give birth, yet he was busy seducing other women. Even when the imperial physician said the situation was dangerous, he was too lazy to go look.

Zhou Meng also sensed the meaning and felt he couldn’t let Qin Yining form an impression that he didn’t care about women. So he said, “I’m also very busy with affairs, with many ministers to see later. Since Beau… Miss Pang says so, I’ll go take a look. When the imperial physician comes to examine you later, you must take your medicine properly and rest well. This Prince will come see you when I’m free, hmm?”

Qin Yining was already beyond annoyed, thinking to herself: You’re finally leaving! If you stayed and I had to deal with you any longer, I couldn’t help wanting to hit someone!

“Respectfully seeing off Your Highness.” Qin Yining curtsied.

Lu Heng and A’erhan also led the farewell courtesies.

Only then did Zhou Meng reluctantly leave, turning back three times with each step.

After the man had gone far, Qin Yining finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Because there were still Xiyue maids nearby, everyone couldn’t speak freely, but Qin Yining could sense that everyone felt relieved.

Qin Yining called over the maid who had previously attended her bath: “Is that Fourth Consort the Prince’s consort?”

Upon hearing this question, the maid was immediately frightened into trembling all over.

The Prince clearly intended to marry the Divine Maiden. If the Divine Maiden learned the truth and became jealous, refusing to marry the Prince, wouldn’t all their grain be taken away by the Divine Maiden?

Thinking of this, the maid fell to her knees with a thud: “Please calm your anger, Divine Maiden! Because we prayed for a hundred years, the Divine Maiden descended to Xiyue. The Prince previously didn’t know of the Divine Maiden’s return. For the Xiyue tribe’s continuation, he had no choice but to marry. If the Prince had known of the Divine Maiden’s arrival, he surely would have waited for you!”

Qin Yining listened with amazement, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

It seemed the Xiyue people here particularly revered and upheld the Xiyue Cult, holy scriptures, and Divine Maiden. Compared to that lecherous Prince, ordinary people had perhaps been instilled from childhood with the belief that the Divine Maiden would bring grain to Xiyue, so they had always believed it without doubt.

So this could be analyzed to show that this place really needed grain seeds!

Qin Yining frowned, feigning worry as she sighed lightly: “You may rise. What is your name?”

“Replying to the Divine Maiden, this servant is called Biyu.”

“Mm. You needn’t be so nervous—I won’t do anything to you. Since I’ve come to Xiyue, I won’t leave easily, nor will I easily take the grain away. I just want to understand the situation here. I hope you can tell me.”

Upon hearing this, Biyu became even more nervous.

“Won’t leave easily” and “won’t easily take the grain away” implied that if displeased, she might still leave!

They must serve the Divine Maiden well and not let them leave.

Thinking this, Biyu immediately nodded: “Divine Maiden, this servant will certainly speak freely. The Prince has a First Consort, Second Consort, Third Consort, and Fourth Consort beside him. The Fourth Consort was only elevated last year. Below them are thirty-seven concubines. Some are newly elevated, while others are old concubines who have borne princes or young ladies. The Prince hasn’t yet established an heir apparent.” The implication was that if Qin Yining married the Prince and bore a son, he might become the heir.

It seemed the competition to become this Prince Xiyue’s concubine or consort was quite fierce?

From the titles, apart from the increased number of consorts, whether calling them consorts, concubines, heir apparent, princes, or young ladies, all followed the titles used when princes were enfeoffed during the Northern Ji Kingdom period.

So the people here must have been brought by some prince from a certain territory during the Northern Ji Kingdom period, forced to come here due to circumstances.

After Qin Yining asked a few more questions, voices came from outside.

Biyu said, “Imperial Physician Wang has arrived.”

Only then did Lu Heng interject: “Cousin, let the imperial physician examine you properly. Only with good health can you be well.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded, then went to sit on the heated brick bed. Lu Heng, A’erhan, and the others naturally stood nearby.

Imperial Physician Wang appeared to be in his forties or fifties, slightly hunchbacked, walking bent over with a bitter expression, like a pitiful person overwhelmed with worries and about to collapse under the burden.

Approaching, he performed courtesies and carefully examined Qin Yining’s pulse, finally saying, “The Divine Maiden’s cold has mostly healed. However, your precious body is still weak and requires proper nourishment and care.”

Biyu and another maid named Xinyu hurriedly inquired carefully of Imperial Physician Wang about what nourishment and care were needed.

While they were busy, Qin Yining winked at Lu Heng, A’erhan, and Chagan Bala.

Lu Heng couldn’t help smiling and nodding. Having an imperial physician properly examine her and receive the best treatment and most appropriate care, he believed her health would surely improve. This way, Lu Heng could also feel at ease.

As the sky gradually darkened, guards outside came to relay a message through Biyu: “The Prince has ordered that the Divine Maiden’s kinsmen should return to rest for now.”

Qin Yining frowned with some reluctance.

A’erhan asked quietly, “Are you afraid to stay here alone tonight?”

“There’s nothing to fear. Matters are still being negotiated, and I’m safe here. It’s good for you to return—it will prevent the tribespeople from worrying.”

Qin Yining also smiled at Lu Heng: “Cousin, you should also rest well when you return.”

Lu Heng understood Qin Yining’s meaning. She hoped he would properly manage the tribespeople after returning, observe the surrounding environment, and devise appropriate strategies.

Fortunately, they could meet daily to exchange intelligence and plan countermeasures. The brief separation would also allow him to observe the situation outside the palace to report to Qin Yining.

Apart from worrying that Qin Yining might be harmed by that Zhou Meng, everything else actually suited Lu Heng’s wishes.

Though thinking this way, given the actual circumstances, Lu Heng’s group had no choice but to leave first.

Qin Yining instructed Biyu to properly see them off, while she took her medicine under Xinyu’s service.

When the sky grew completely dark, oil lamps were lit in the hall.

Biyu and Xinyu brought the evening meal—the main dish was beans cooked until soft and mushy, several pickled side dishes, and green apples for fruit.

Beans were fairly common in the north. Since she was staying in the palace and Prince Xiyue was eager to please her, he would certainly instruct his people to treat her well. Yet they provided beans as the staple food—common people’s fare—rather than rice or wheat cakes. This showed this place truly lacked grain.

Seeing Qin Yining looking at the beans without eating, Biyu and Xinyu couldn’t help feeling nervous.

The grain the Divine Maiden brought included rice, millet, and wheat—though most was also beans. But given the Divine Maiden’s status, she probably wasn’t fond of eating beans. She must be unaccustomed to them.