Pang Xiao had long anticipated that with such an incident occurring, Li Qitian would surely call him forward to test him with questioning.

Pang Xiao stood and cupped his hands: “In response to Your Majesty, this minister believes this matter may be a trap.”

“Oh? How so?” Li Qitian’s expression remained calm as he imperceptibly studied Pang Xiao’s countenance, as if trying to discern any calculating expression from his face.

Pang Xiao considered that this matter didn’t involve his own interests and safety, so speaking frankly would be harmless: “Tianji Zi is full of cunning schemes and his heart favors foreign tribes, harboring hostility toward our Great Zhou. How could he possibly remind us where the Great Yan Dynasty’s treasure is hidden? If he truly knew the treasure’s whereabouts, he would be too busy trying to secretly transport it to the Tatars. Moreover, the defenses around the capital are strict—if someone had transported treasure in, Your Majesty would have discovered it long ago. This time, Tianji Zi has likely set up some trap to assist the Tatars. I hope Your Majesty will not believe him lightly.”

Li Qitian nodded, pretending trust: “What you say is very reasonable. I think the same.”

But Li Qitian’s heart was filled with suspicion.

Last time, Pang Zhixi had nearly been successfully impeached by his people—how could he truly help him this time? Could it be that there were real clues about the treasure’s whereabouts, so he deliberately spoke this way to mislead him, preventing him from obtaining the treasure?

With this thought, Li Qitian actually became more convinced that treasure was indeed hidden in Sui Mountain.

However, this wasn’t difficult to resolve.

Li Qitian made up his mind and ordered: “Immediately deploy three thousand men from the Five Military Camps’ Capital Guard to surround the Sui Mountain Imperial Tombs. I want to see whether this so-called ‘Yan dragon vein beneath Sui Mountain’ is real or false!”

Pang Xiao immediately frowned slightly, never expecting that Li Qitian would directly send people to such an obvious trap, surrounding the Sui Mountain Imperial Tombs just like his approach to surrounding the Great Yan Dynasty’s former capital, guarding against the treasure slipping away under his nose. But what if this was exactly the result Tianji Zi wanted—wouldn’t they be falling into his scheme?

Pang Xiao initially wanted to advise further, but upon reflection, he understood why Li Qitian had suddenly become aggressive and couldn’t help but smile as he raised his eyebrows.

It seemed his frank words had actually made Li Qitian even more suspicious.

No matter what he said, Li Qitian would think he harbored ill intentions. He decided not to say more.

The birthday banquet lost all interest for everyone due to this disruption. After hastily going through the motions, they all dispersed.

Not to mention how the Empress Dowager would grieve upon returning to Ci’an Palace, her birthday celebration having been so unpleasant.

Qin Yining and Pang Xiao sat in their carriage returning home, also pondering today’s events.

“What do you think Tianji Zi’s real intentions are?” Qin Yining leaned against Pang Xiao as a backrest. Pang Xiao opened his arms to embrace her, trying to minimize the carriage’s jolting motion.

Pang Xiao’s deep voice was like a gentle murmur as he patiently soothed Qin Yining: “Don’t worry about these things. We’ll just stay peacefully in our mansion and not get involved in outside disturbances.”

Qin Yining rubbed her temples, saying wearily: “I don’t want to worry either. But Tianji Zi’s several attempts to kill me were not false—she harbors hostility toward me, though I can’t be certain about her feelings toward you. This time she first came to warn you that staying home would ensure safety, then turned around and lit a big firecracker in the palace… People say ‘pregnancy makes you stupid for three years’—I feel my brain isn’t working well enough now.”

Pang Xiao carefully removed the heavy pearl ornaments and phoenix hairpins from her head, letting her long hair fall freely, simply tying it loosely with a hair ribbon before gently massaging her temples.

Qin Yining sighed comfortably, leaning even more weight against the person behind her: “I never used to find elaborate headdresses tiring—perhaps I’ve gotten used to being so slovenly at home.”

“Even if you don’t comb your hair or wash your face, you’re still the most beautiful.”

His lips brushed past Qin Yining’s ear, making her scrunch her neck and laugh as she avoided him.

Though Pang Xiao successfully diverted the topic, when they returned home and she lay sleepless in the deep of night, she still found herself speculating about Tianji Zi’s purpose for this visit.

She couldn’t understand it at all. But she could sense that whether it was herself, Pang Xiao, or Li Qitian, they were all Tianji Zi’s chess pieces. Tianji Zi was playing a very large game.

Such peaceful days lasted only two more days. This afternoon, just as Qin Yining had awakened from her midday rest, Lian Xiaozhou came running quickly in from outside.

“Sister!”

Qin Yining smiled at Lian Xiaozhou and extended her hand.

Lian Xiaozhou had been learning proper etiquette from Bingtang. Now she addressed her as “Princess Consort” in front of others and tried to maintain propriety even in private, only calling her “sister” when extremely anxious or excited.

“What’s happened? Look at you, covered in sweat. Come sit down.”

Lian Xiaozhou’s face bore the characteristic flush of a young girl. She pointed toward the direction outside the mansion and spoke slowly and clearly: “Outside, people are saying that at the East Gate and West Gate, they discovered two carts of treasure.”

Qin Yining looked shocked and surprised, beckoning Lian Xiaozhou to sit beside her as she took a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead: “Xiaozhou, you’re saying treasure was discovered outside? Has it been confirmed?”

“Yes!” Lian Xiaozhou nodded earnestly: “I just heard them talking. East Gate, West Gate, one cart each. When opened, they were all Great Yan Dynasty antiques.”

Qin Yining’s eyes showed contemplation: “Were they going out or coming in?”

Lian Xiaozhou was stumped by the question and shook her head, clearly not knowing.

At this moment, Bingtang and Ji Yun returned from outside together. Seeing Qin Yining talking with Lian Xiaozhou and noting some gravity in Qin Yining’s expression, they knew Lian Xiaozhou had already quickly told Qin Yining about the matter.

Bingtang tapped Lian Xiaozhou’s cheek and said to Qin Yining: “Princess Consort, one cart of Great Yan Dynasty antiques was discovered at each of the East and West Gates. They were originally being transported out but were stopped by the gate guards. This incident has caused quite a stir. His Majesty was greatly shocked and ordered his trusted Chief Eunuch Li and Prince Consort Ji to go investigate together. It has now been confirmed that these items are indeed from the Great Yan Dynasty.”

Qin Yining nodded slowly: “Where are the Prince and my father?”

“They’ve called their advisors and are all in the study in the outer courtyard,” Bingtang said, helplessly poking Lian Xiaozhou’s forehead. “We originally didn’t want the Princess Consort to worry unnecessarily, but who knew this little girl would speak so quickly.”

Qin Yining held Lian Xiaozhou’s hand approvingly: “You keeping everything from me would be wrong—Xiaozhou did well.”

Lian Xiaozhou blushed and nodded: “In the future, I’ll still tell sister… Princess Consort.”

Bingtang was annoyed by Lian Xiaozhou’s “traitorous” behavior and went to tickle her. Lian Xiaozhou laughed and dodged, and the two began playing chase in the room. The girls’ clear, joyful laughter carried far, even infecting the maids and servants in the courtyard, who couldn’t help but smile.

Compared to the relaxed atmosphere in the Prince’s mansion, Li Qitian in the palace was far from pleased at this moment.

His face dark as water, he sat behind the black lacquered paulownia desk in the imperial study, asking Ji Zeyu before him in a deep voice: “Did you see clearly just now? I’m not seeing things—they really are Great Yan Dynasty antiques?”