Qin Huaiyuan stood up and encouragingly patted Pang Xiao’s shoulder. “I trust that you can arrange all these matters well.”
Hearing this, Pang Xiao was moved and bowed respectfully.
After he had caused Qin Yining to wander in hardship, this father-in-law had never said a single word of blame to him. Moreover, Pang Xiao could see that Qin Huaiyuan wasn’t pretending to be tolerant – he was genuinely tolerant and truly treated him as a beloved junior.
This kind of care from a male elder was novel to him, different from his grandfather’s dependence and expectations. Qin Huaiyuan was wise and tolerant, possessing a unique charm that belonged to fathers.
Qin Huaiyuan sighed. “I also have some people under my command – as you know, those secret agents of Great Yan’s former emperor led by Cao Shi. Though His Majesty knows of their existence, if we’re careful about deploying them, it shouldn’t arouse His Majesty’s suspicion.”
“Yes. After I’ve prepared everything, I’ll go talk with Aunt Cao.”
Qin Huaiyuan nodded slightly. The father and son-in-law then discussed other matters.
Time passed in a flash, and soon it was August twenty-sixth, the actual day of the Empress Dowager’s birthday.
Qin Yining felt somewhat resistant to entering the palace for the banquet. Now that she was further along in her pregnancy, her body was heavy and she tired much more easily than before. Having to deal with those who were either ill-intentioned or falsely cordial made her feel exhausted just thinking about it.
Qin Yining had been rather listless since beginning her grooming in the afternoon.
Pang Xiao could see Qin Yining’s resistance and felt only guilt in his heart.
If the current situation weren’t so tense, he wouldn’t put Qin Yining through this. But now he was seeking stability in everything, and what he least wanted was to anger Li Qitian.
He wasn’t afraid of Li Qitian, but he feared that any move by Li Qitian might harm Qin Yining. The current Qin Yining was sensitive and anxious, her emotions easily fluctuating. He was afraid of hurting both mother and children. At this critical juncture, naturally everything should be endured if possible, and trouble should be avoided whenever feasible.
Pang Xiao gently coaxed Qin Yining. “I’ll accompany you to Ci’an Palace later. Don’t worry, they wouldn’t dare do anything to you.”
Qin Yining suppressed her irritation and let Qianyun and Bingtang help arrange her long hair into a cloud-like chignon, adorning it with the three-tiered precious jade and kingfisher feather phoenix hairpin that only first-rank noble consorts and princess consorts had the privilege to wear, along with matching hair ornaments. She also changed into a light blue arrow-sleeved jacket and dark blue long skirt.
“Don’t you still have to accompany His Majesty? If the Empress Dowager only keeps the women to talk, could you really have the audacity to stay?”
“What’s there to fear? I’m naturally thick-skinned anyway. I’ll just say I want to hear the Empress Dowager’s teachings and find it endearing – surely the Empress Dowager couldn’t chase me away?” Pang Xiao smiled carelessly.
Seeing his handsome smile in the mirror, Qin Yining’s heart softened somewhat, and her face showed more of a smile.
“You always know how to sweet-talk me.”
“Where would I dare sweet-talk others?” Pang Xiao sighed dramatically. “If they knew my true nature, people wouldn’t fear me when I’m out and about in the future – what would become of me?”
Qin Yining was amused by his antics and burst into laughter, causing Bingtang, who was drawing her eyebrows nearby, to nearly smudge the brow paint.
Seeing Qin Yining smile, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
While applying her makeup, Bingtang said, “This time His Majesty won’t allow many people into the palace. This servant going along wouldn’t be as useful as Ji Yun’s natural wit… This servant has prepared emergency medicines and put them all in your personal pouch. If you feel unwell, please use them.
“Those are all pills refined from the medicines you usually take – they have the same effects. There’s also a wax-sealed pill in the pouch – that’s an antidote pill. Though it can’t cure all poisons, it has some emergency efficacy.
“That small paper packet contains sleeping powder. If anyone is disrespectful to you, you needn’t be polite with them. If necessary, just throw it in their face – it’s guaranteed to knock out ten strong men like His Highness.”
“Oh my!” Pang Xiao crossed his arms with an expression of genuine alarm. “There’s such a thing? No, no, Bingtang, you can’t play favorites. If your Princess Consort gets this wonderful item and later knocks me out to have her way with me, what then?”
Bingtang, Qianyun, Ji Yun, and Lian Xiaozhou were all made to blush deeply by Pang Xiao’s both suggestive and roguish words, yet they couldn’t help laughing.
Qin Yining’s gloom completely dissipated as she laughed until her whole body shook, even accidentally smearing the lip rouge she was applying onto the corner of her mouth.
Pang Xiao loved watching Qin Yining laugh most of all.
When she laughed, her eyes curved into crescents, the dimples on her cheeks were especially sweet, and her lips turned up, making her appear bright and charming.
Whenever Pang Xiao saw her smile, he felt his heart soften and his body go weak. Fortunately, Qin Yining wasn’t a woman who brought ruin to nations, and he wasn’t some foolish ruler, but at this moment Pang Xiao could understand the feelings of King Zhou of Shang and King You of Zhou.
“Dear Sister Yining.” Pang Xiao stepped forward, bending his tall frame like a shrimp as he embraced Qin Yining from behind as she sat on the embroidered stool. Not daring to put all his weight on her, he held her in a light embrace. “Don’t worry, I have ways to protect us. Even if that fails, you still have the miraculous medicine Bingtang gave you – if necessary, you can use the powder to protect me.”
Qin Yining touched Pang Xiao’s forehead with her finger, blushing as she pushed him away and scolded, “Enough, on such a hot day, aren’t you hot?”
But she forgot that her finger had lip rouge on it, leaving a red dot on Pang Xiao’s forehead.
Ji Yun and the others couldn’t contain their laughter. Seeing this, Qin Yining also couldn’t help laughing and hurriedly took a handkerchief to wipe it off for him.
Seeing his appearance in the mirror, Pang Xiao feigned fierceness. “None of you are allowed to spread word of this. Especially not to that boy Huzi.” The last sentence was obviously directed at Bingtang.
Ji Yun and Qianyun held back their laughter until their faces were red, but not as red as Bingtang, whose face was crimson to her ears. Not daring to banter with Pang Xiao, she could only stamp her feet coquettishly. “Princess Consort, look at them!”
What could Qin Yining do? She could only join everyone in discussing when to marry Bingtang off, causing Bingtang to feel too embarrassed to stay in the room and run off with the excuse of checking the medicines.
After this bout of joking, Pang Xiao instructed Ji Yun, “Stay by the Princess Consort’s side later. No matter who calls you, don’t leave. If anyone in the palace dares to harm the Princess Consort, don’t hesitate – I’ll back you up.”
Ji Yun nodded seriously. “Yes, Your Highness, please rest assured. This servant will definitely protect the Princess Consort well.”
Once everything was ready, Pang Xiao and Qin Yining took a carriage, bringing Huzi and Ji Yun, and headed toward the imperial palace.
The elite Tiger Guards from the manor and the silver-masked secret agents from Qin Huaiyuan’s side had already set up defenses in the manor and positioned backup personnel outside the palace, preparing for any contingency.
The carriage slowly stopped before the palace gates, and Qin Yining, supported by Pang Xiao, transferred to an oil-wall carriage prepared by the palace for transportation.
The oil-wall carriage had little space, so Pang Xiao walked alongside it, introducing to Qin Yining in low voices what buildings lay in each direction of the palace as they proceeded.
Qin Yining lifted half the window curtain and looked out in the directions Pang Xiao indicated.
Both were dressed magnificently. Pang Xiao’s gaze toward the carriage was so gentle it could melt the coldest ice, and Qin Yining’s smile was full of happiness and contentment. From a distance, they looked like a painting.
Princess Anyang stood not far behind them, clutching a silk handkerchief, her eyes filled with undisguised jealousy and hatred. She said to the ice-cold Ji Zeyu beside her, “Prince Consort, look at them. You’re both military men by background – why are you as cold as ice?”