Li Guanwen had already broken out in a cold sweat at this point.

As for what Ji Zeyu truly meant, he understood clearly in his heart.

Li Guanwen was a trusted aide by the Emperor’s side. When he walked through the court, even the cabinet elders would show him three parts courtesy. Sometimes Li Guanwen represented the Emperor himself, just like this time when he came to inquire about Ji Zeyu on the Emperor’s behalf.

This situation was known throughout the realm.

Even the rough soldiers in the Huben Army knew that the head eunuch supervisor by the Emperor’s side could not be offended.

Yet with just one word from Ji Zeyu, these men in the Huben Army arrested him without the slightest hesitation.

Li Guanwen had no doubt that if Ji Zeyu had casually said “execute him on the spot” just now, his head would have parted ways with his neck!

The Huben Army’s obedience to Ji Zeyu had reached a level where they didn’t even consider the Emperor. They didn’t even care about being impeached by the censors and officials for treason charges, single-mindedly following only Ji Zeyu’s commands. Didn’t this precisely demonstrate Ji Zeyu’s current level of control over the Huben Army?

Ji Zeyu was using such a direct method to answer Li Guanwen’s earlier question.

Some things were better seen than heard. If Ji Zeyu claimed he had complete control over the Huben Army, perhaps others might not believe it. But now, Li Guanwen had no choice but to believe.

Li Guanwen wiped the sweat from his forehead and scrambled up awkwardly, forcing a smile as he said, “Prince Consort Ji is truly a heroic figure. In such a short time, you’ve already organized the Huben Army into an impenetrable fortress. If the Emperor knew, he would surely be extremely pleased.”

Ji Zeyu merely nodded coldly, “Is there anything else?”

Li Guanwen choked.

He knew that Prince Consort Ji was always cold toward people. But his words just now had mentioned the Emperor. Normally, shouldn’t one be modest, exchange pleasantries, and express gratitude for the Emperor’s trust and cultivation?

Why did Prince Consort Ji seem like he was about to issue an order to see him out?

“In response to Your Lordship, this servant has no other matters. Please rest assured, when I report back to the Emperor, I won’t say anything inappropriate. As long as the Emperor knows you’ve mastered the Huben Army, he will surely praise you highly.” The smile on Li Guanwen’s face squeezed two deep crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes.

Ji Zeyu remained expressionless throughout, merely nodding emotionlessly at this moment, saying, “I won’t see you out.”

Li Guanwen quickly bowed and walked outside.

Coming out of the tent and breathing the free air outside, Li Guanwen finally felt he had come back to life. Ji Zeyu was indeed someone who had experienced countless battles and killed countless people. The cold, icy aura about him was truly terrifying. Being stared at by him even once gave one the feeling that one’s neck could be twisted off at any moment. After experiencing something like today, Li Guanwen felt he would have nightmares for over ten days.

However, fortunately, the news he obtained was good. When the Emperor learned that Prince Consort Ji had complete control over the Huben Army and no longer needed to worry about the Huben Army switching sides like Prince Zhongshun, he would surely be very happy.

Li Guanwen walked away quickly to report back.

Ji Zeyu in the tent returned to the map once more. His slender, powerful fingers with distinct knuckles traced from the border’s Tianyu Pass, slid to Tianlang Pass, then passed through Tianshu Pass and Tianmen Pass, traveling through countless cities and towns, gradually approaching the capital.

Pang Xiao was coming back. He had already found Qin Yining.

Only the Emperor had also prepared a large net, just waiting for them to walk into it.

For Pang Xiao’s matter, the Emperor had even confidently entrusted the Huben Army to him. Ji Zeyu thought that this time, the Emperor was definitely determined to eliminate Pang Xiao.

Ji Zeyu narrowed his eyes and tapped a certain spot on the map with his fingertip.

After a long while, Ji Zeyu finally came back to his senses, sighing lightly, thinking to himself, “This time it would be better if he didn’t come back. Why rush back with his wife so hastily?”

Pang Xiao and Qin Yining naturally couldn’t hear Ji Zeyu’s inner thoughts. However, their pace returning to the capital had indeed slowed due to Qin Yining’s severe morning sickness.

“Yi Jie’er, are you feeling better?” Pang Xiao fed a dried plum into Qin Yining’s mouth, coaxing her, “I heard this can relieve nausea. Try it.”

At this moment, they were lying together in the soft, comfortable carriage. To reduce the vomiting caused by bumping, Pang Xiao had specifically instructed people to wrap the wheels with thick cotton. This way, the vibrations were indeed much less, and the disturbing wheel sounds had also weakened. However, the slowed journey was unavoidable. Yi Binghu now felt his liver ache with anger whenever he saw Pang Xiao’s carriage.

“I’m fine now. Much better already.” Qin Yining frowned as she leaned in Pang Xiao’s embrace, tears from her recent vomiting still hanging at the corners of her eyes. She closed her eyes weakly and powerlessly, entrusting her entire weight to Pang Xiao.

Pang Xiao looked down at her pale face with pity, using his sleeve to help wipe the corners of her eyes, saying, “We’ll reach the capital soon. With your body like this, I’m really worried. After we return, let’s first ask an imperial physician to examine you properly.”

Qin Yining laughed, “We’re criminals being escorted to the capital. How can we just ask for an imperial physician as we please? If we request an imperial physician right away, the Emperor would probably be furious.”

Her tone was very relaxed, though her voice was weak and somewhat hoarse.

Hearing this made Pang Xiao’s heart ache. He didn’t respond to Qin Yining’s words but said, “If I had known you would suffer so much, I wouldn’t have wanted children.”

“What are you saying?” Qin Yining gripped Pang Xiao’s hand, closing her eyes and saying softly, “Even if you don’t want to be a father, I still want to be a mother. This isn’t just your matter alone. As long as our child can be born safely and live healthily, I’ll be satisfied.

“Besides, look at which mother doesn’t go through this? Your mother and mine both suffered like this back then. That’s why people say you don’t know your parents’ kindness until you raise children yourself. From now on, when we return, we must be filial to mother.”

Seeing her trying to cheer him up despite being exhausted made Pang Xiao’s heart ache even more.

“Alright, I’ll listen to everything you say. While you’re not feeling too bad right now, quickly get some sleep. We’ll reach the outskirts of the capital soon. I don’t know if anyone will be waiting for us there. If the Emperor doesn’t immediately act, I’ll get an imperial physician to examine you properly.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining could only nod obediently. Since she was indeed tired, she closed her eyes and hugged Pang Xiao’s waist, finding a comfortable position in his arms. Before long, she fell into a deep sleep.

Pang Xiao spread his arms to cover her with a blanket. The weather at the end of April was still somewhat cool, especially since Qin Yining was particularly sensitive to cold now.

Along their journey, they had consulted many doctors, all of whom said Qin Yining’s body was deficient in qi and blood, and now wasn’t actually the optimal time for conception. Every time Pang Xiao heard this, he would feel very regretful. He felt he shouldn’t have let Qin Yining have a child when her body was at its weakest. But since she was already pregnant, they had to do their best to protect this child.

Pang Xiao closed his eyes, never relaxing his arm that held Qin Yining, mentally planning the arrangements after reaching the capital. The Jinghu Guards had already investigated the general situation, and he had a good understanding of it.

Now it remained to be seen whether the people around him all had the right understanding, especially between him and Ji Lan.

Because Pang Xiao knew that the Emperor would definitely choose a time when he had no power to fight back to strike at him.

And this time would definitely be when he and Qin Yining had just returned to the capital, before everything could be arranged.

Everything indeed developed according to Pang Xiao’s expectations.

When Prince Zhongshun’s procession had just approached the northern suburbs, they encountered troops from the Capital Garrison head-on.

Seeing his own people, Yi Binghu immediately felt like he had finally come home. He joyfully went up to them, “Did the Emperor send you here?”

The leading general was named Sun Guang. He was fairly familiar with Yi Binghu. After meeting and exchanging greetings, Sun Guang said, “Yes, I was ordered to escort Prince Zhongshun’s procession into the capital. I’ve been waiting here for many days. The Emperor thought the Prince would return about now, so he’s had me waiting here all along.”

Hearing this, Yi Binghu felt helpless.

Having reached the capital, shouldn’t the Emperor simply arrange for people to arrest Pang Xiao and his party? Instead, he had the Capital Garrison come out of the city to welcome them, giving Pang Xiao full face. This situation was beyond Yi Binghu’s expectations.

Pang Xiao had already gotten off the carriage at this time. Due to Qin Yining’s poor health, his expression was somewhat serious as he said gravely, “So it’s General Sun. Please trouble General Sun to convey my gratitude to the Emperor.”

Sun Guang immediately bowed to Pang Xiao, saying, “Your Highness, you should thank the Emperor in person. However, the Emperor also said that since you’ve just returned today, please temporarily stay at a manor outside the city, where everything has been prepared. Tomorrow happens to be the grand court assembly, and the Emperor requests that Your Highness and the Princess attend court together. Then you’ll have plenty of opportunity to thank the Emperor personally.”

These words made Yi Binghu immediately beam with joy.

So this was the Emperor’s arrangement!

He planned to place Pang Xiao and his party under house arrest outside the city first, not allowing him any time to prepare, then bring him to court tomorrow for judgment!

Thinking this, Yi Binghu almost burst into laughter.

Pang Xiao naturally understood Li Qitian’s meaning, but he wasn’t afraid. He only said, “Thank the Emperor for the arrangements. However, my wife is with child. I wonder if a doctor has been arranged at the manor?”

Yi Binghu’s secret reports along the way had long mentioned Qin Yining’s pregnancy, and that their frequent stops were to seek medical consultation. Therefore, Li Qitian had known this news long ago.

Now that Pang Xiao asked directly, Sun Guang naturally couldn’t say the Emperor hadn’t made arrangements. He immediately said, “I will immediately summon a doctor for the Princess.”

Pang Xiao said, “Don’t find an ordinary doctor. I want an imperial physician from the palace who specializes in gynecology. You go find one. If you can’t find one, I’ll go personally.”

This threat was quite direct. Sun Guang wouldn’t dare let Pang Xiao go personally to summon an imperial physician. If this person escaped along the way, all these Capital Guards would suffer the consequences!

Sun Guang nodded repeatedly, bowing, “Your Highness, please rest assured. I will definitely handle this.”

While Sun Guang ordered someone to summon an imperial physician, Pang Xiao had already returned to the carriage and ordered the departure.

The procession, led by the Capital Guards, headed directly toward the manor the Emperor had arranged.