Qin Yining leaned against Pang Xiao’s shoulder, saying languidly, “Do you know anything about the manor the Emperor has arranged for us to stay in?”

Pang Xiao smiled, “I’ve heard of it before. There are only so many imperial manors around the capital. But I never paid much attention to them.”

Qin Yining couldn’t help but sneer coldly, “Since he’s arranged for us to stay there, he must have chosen a manor you’re unfamiliar with and one where he can make arrangements easily. However, we don’t need to worry today. The Emperor has already taken ninety-nine steps—he won’t stop at this one. For the sake of reputation, our safety tonight can be guaranteed.”

Hearing this, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but pull her hand over and kiss it. He had originally wanted to comfort Qin Yining—these were all words he had planned to say to comfort her. He hadn’t expected she would figure it out first.

It had to be said that having such a clever and understanding wife as Qin Yining was truly fortunate for someone like him whose days would never be peaceful.

The carriage slowly stopped outside the manor. The palace servants who had been arranged in the manor beforehand hurriedly opened the main gate. Eunuchs and palace maids formed two lines, kneeling on the left and right sides to perform grand ceremonies: “We respectfully welcome Prince Zhongshun and the Princess!”

Seeing such a grand display, Pang Xiao found it quite amusing. He whispered in Qin Yining’s ear, “Are you tired? Let’s not worry about all this for now and go rest for a bit first.”

Qin Yining nodded with a smile. Seeing Pang Xiao get off the carriage, she was about to lift the curtain and come out when, just as she reached out her hand, Pang Xiao had already stepped forward to carry her out horizontally, striding quickly toward the manor.

The palace servants and eunuchs naturally didn’t dare raise their heads to look around carelessly. Each kept their eyes lowered, only watching a pair of black boots walk past in front of them. Only when they heard the footsteps growing more distant did they dare stand up and walk into the manor in bowed formation.

Qin Yining had initially felt somewhat uncomfortable being carried into the manor like this by Pang Xiao. But seeing that no one around dared to look even once, her heart finally felt a bit better. Blushing, she gave him a look and whispered, “It’s not like my legs are injured—why is this necessary?”

“Your legs aren’t injured, but you haven’t been eating or sleeping well this whole journey. It pains my heart just to look at you. For these few steps, let me handle it.”

Qin Yining felt even more embarrassed by his words and simply closed her eyes to rest against his chest, out of sight, out of mind.

Before long, Pang Xiao, carrying Qin Yining and surrounded by a group of people, arrived at the main building of the manor.

A palace maid in her early thirties with a dignified appearance came out to bow: “Your Highness, the Emperor has instructed that Your Highness and the Princess should stay in the main building. Everything has been arranged properly.”

Pang Xiao found this palace maid somewhat familiar and asked about it.

The palace maid replied, “In response to Your Highness, this servant is Lan Chi. I previously served in the Empress Dowager’s palace.”

Pang Xiao nodded, then remembered where he had seen her.

Lan Chi had indeed been in the Empress Dowager’s palace. However, before Princess Anyang married Ji Zeyu, the head palace maid who served her was Lan Chi. Later, when the Princess’s mansion was established outside, for some reason Lan Chi hadn’t followed along but had remained by the Empress Dowager’s side.

“I didn’t expect the Emperor to arrange for Auntie Lan Chi to come to this manor. This truly makes me feel overwhelmed. That my wife can receive Auntie Lan Chi’s care—I’m infinitely grateful.”

Lan Chi hurriedly bowed, repeatedly saying she didn’t dare, then summoned palace maids and eunuchs to escort Pang Xiao, Qin Yining, and their party to the main hall.

Although the capital was farther south than Tatar territory, it was still located in the north. The weather near May was still somewhat cold.

Charcoal braziers burned in the main hall, topped with premium silver-frosted charcoal that produced no smoke or dust. Everything in the room was arranged orderly, and the décor was both luxurious and warmly intimate.

Pang Xiao carefully placed Qin Yining on the soft couch in the inner room, then turned back to instruct: “The Princess is heavy with child now and prefers quiet. Unless instructed, you need not come in to serve. Lan Chi can remain.”

The palace servants responded and withdrew. Everyone unanimously breathed a sigh of relief—it was wonderful not to have to stay in the same room as Prince Zhongshun.

Lan Chi smiled as she served Qin Yining and made arrangements, then instructed people to prepare meals.

Pang Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly and instructed: “Have them prepare for the others first. The palace will arrange for imperial physicians to come. We need to ask the imperial physicians what the Princess needs to consume.”

Lan Chi paused in her steps. In the blink of an eye, she understood Pang Xiao’s meaning. Pang Xiao was indirectly reminding these palace servants not to tamper with the Princess’s food and drink. The Emperor still cared about this Prince—otherwise he wouldn’t have welcomed him so grandly, wouldn’t have arranged palace servants to serve at the manor, and wouldn’t have arranged imperial physicians to treat the Princess.

Lan Chi quickly responded: “Yes, this servant will strictly follow Your Highness’s instructions. This servant absolutely wouldn’t dare neglect the Princess’s meals.”

Pang Xiao didn’t immediately respond but looked at her with a serious expression.

Lan Chi knelt and bowed, bending her waist and lowering her head. Even though her calves were cramping from fatigue, she still tremblingly maintained the bowing posture. She could feel Pang Xiao’s sharp gaze stabbing into her back like a knife. For a moment, Lan Chi even thought she might be dragged out and beheaded directly.

Just when Lan Chi was about to be frightened to tears, a gentle, clear female voice came from the side: “Enough, what are you doing?”

Pang Xiao immediately moved toward that direction. “Are you tired?” His voice was incredibly gentle and tender.

Lan Chi tremblingly raised her eyes and met the gaze of the woman reclining on the soft couch. For a moment, Lan Chi even felt she was dreaming. Because this woman was truly too beautiful—she didn’t seem like a real person but rather like a jade figure carved from white jade by divine craftsmen. Every part of her was exquisite.

No wonder! Compared to Princess Zhongshun, Princess Anyang wasn’t worth looking at. No wonder the Prince would become as gentle as silk around his fingers for her sake.

Seeing the palace maid trembling all over yet still maintaining her bowing posture, Qin Yining said, “You may rise. I’m somewhat tired—please prepare some hot water.”

“Yes.” Lan Chi gratefully bowed and withdrew. In her heart, she knew clearly that preparing hot water was originally a task for junior eunuchs. The Princess was only sending her out to help her save face.

Qin Yining smiled as she watched the person walk away, then pinched Pang Xiao’s hand: “Are you making yourself the villain to highlight my role as the good person?”

“Not at all.” Pang Xiao touched his nose and smiled, “I’m just warning them a few words. If someone momentarily thinks wrongly and harms you, wouldn’t it be too late by then? So this is what I call planning ahead and preventing problems before they occur.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but laugh, “All the reasoning is on your side.” Leaning against him, she said, “Don’t make things too difficult for irrelevant people. Life is even harder for those living at the bottom. We should be cautious when we need to be, but we shouldn’t make things difficult for others, especially not create unnecessary killings. Now that we have a child, we need to accumulate merit for the child.”

Looking at Qin Yining’s gentle eyes, Pang Xiao’s heart became exceptionally soft and warm. He bent down to kiss her eyelashes, “I’ll listen to everything you say. I’ll also do more good deeds to accumulate virtue for you and our child.”

Actually, at this moment, Pang Xiao felt quite uneasy inside.

When Qin Yining didn’t bring it up, he hadn’t paid attention to these things. He had never believed in such metaphysical theories, only believing that human effort could triumph over fate.

But truly having a weakness, having someone he cared about, Pang Xiao realized he had begun to worry about the killings he had committed in the past. He wasn’t afraid of those things bringing retribution on himself, but he feared they might harm Qin Yining and their child.

So people like him should never have weaknesses. Having attachments might create hesitation when fighting desperately. But Pang Xiao still felt fortunate for everything he now possessed.

After the hot water was prepared, Qin Yining and Pang Xiao had simple wash-ups with the palace servants’ assistance.

Before long, Sun Guang arrived with two physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy who were most skilled in gynecology.

“Your Highness, the imperial physicians have been brought.”

Pang Xiao nodded. He didn’t intend to go out with Sun Guang but waited nearby as the two examined Qin Yining.

The two imperial physicians took her pulse and didn’t dare slack off in the slightest. Outside, they explained Qin Yining’s current symptoms to Pang Xiao. Hearing that their assessment was no different from the previous doctors who had examined Qin Yining, Pang Xiao felt relieved.

It seemed Li Qitian wouldn’t tamper with something like imperial physicians.

This further proved that Li Qitian had definitely prepared a den of dragons and tigers waiting for Pang Xiao this time. He already disdained such petty schemes and was just waiting to deliver a fatal blow to Pang Xiao and Qin Yining.

If it were someone else, seeing that tomorrow’s grand court assembly would be the time to face Li Qitian’s attack, they would definitely feel nervous or afraid. After all, for ordinary people to oppose imperial power, the chance of success was virtually nonexistent. How many heroes and champions who had established and stabilized the nation in history had ultimately fallen to imperial power.

However, Pang Xiao wasn’t afraid. Instead, he emanated excitement from his very bones.

He was the type who would definitely face difficulties head-on when encountering them. Retreating without fighting wasn’t his style. Li Qitian had used roundabout methods for many years. Pang Xiao wanted to see exactly what methods the current Li Qitian would use to place him in mortal danger.

Just as Pang Xiao and Qin Yining were resting at the imperial manor, someone—no one knew who—had already spread this news throughout the city.

“Prince Zhongshun committed acts of treason, yet the Emperor still arranged for him to stay at an imperial manor. The Emperor truly cherishes his subjects! It’s just a pity that his subject doesn’t live up to the Emperor’s expectations and commits such acts of betraying the country. He truly deserves death!”

“Yes. The Emperor is truly tolerant toward Prince Zhongshun. I heard Prince Zhongshun has become so arrogant he even dares to resist imperial edicts.”

…

As Qin Huaiyuan rode back to the mansion with the Second Master and Third Master, all along the streets and alleys people were discussing Pang Xiao’s return and placement at the manor.

The Second Master listened with trepidation, whispering, “Big brother, they are…”

Qin Huaiyuan calmly waved his hand, indicating the Second Master shouldn’t say more.

The Second Master immediately understood and quickly shut his mouth.

They were Qin Yining’s natal family. Presumably they had been under the Emperor’s surveillance during this time. If they carelessly said something that angered the Emperor, wouldn’t it bring disaster upon their family?

The carriage slowly returned to the Qin Manor.

The group got off the carriage and entered the mansion gates just as they always did.