None of those present were fools, and they immediately understood Qin Yining’s meaning upon hearing her words.
Before Pang Xiao could express his position, Li Qitian was already nodding with a smile: “If sister-in-law is willing to take action, it will be much easier. You can submit a request to enter the palace, saying you want to pay respects to the Empress. Given that Zhixi and I were trapped in the underground palace together, the Empress Dowager will definitely see you. Then you can explain everything clearly.”
The more Li Qitian spoke, the more excited his tone became, and he looked at Qin Yining with eyes full of expectation.
Qin Yining also nodded with a smile: “Your Majesty speaks truly.”
However, Pang Xiao felt something was amiss. “If it could really be so easy, that would naturally be good. I’m only afraid that the palace isn’t safe now either. If we act rashly, might we not implicate the Empress Dowager?”
What Pang Xiao was actually thinking was worry about implicating Qin Yining. Once Qin Yining entered the palace and was detained by Prince Li’s people, wouldn’t that place her in danger again?
But as a loyal and patriotic subject, these words were inconvenient to voice.
Qin Yining naturally also knew of Pang Xiao’s concern.
But since Pang Xiao hadn’t killed the Emperor in the underground palace and had now brought him home, it was impossible to ignore the Emperor’s affairs now. He would definitely have to support him in securing his throne.
Qin Yining didn’t know how Pang Xiao had analyzed the situation, but she felt that if she had the opportunity to kill Li Qitian, she wouldn’t strike either.
In the current court situation, Li Qitian being alive was the greatest benefit for them.
Firstly, each new emperor brought new ministers. If someone else sat in that position, their situation might be even worse.
Secondly, without Li Qitian to integrate the various factional forces of Great Zhou, facing the Tatar iron hooves, it would probably be a matter of time before they attacked the capital. Against the Tatars, Pang Xiao would still have no advantage. Moreover, Khan A’na Ri had been killed “by her,” so the Tatars hated them to the bone. What they would face then would definitely be a violent storm.
From Qin Yining’s perspective, for the sake of stability, supporting Li Qitian’s return to the imperial throne was actually the most advantageous choice for them.
“For this matter, I think we can walk on two legs,” Qin Yining made up her mind and quietly voiced her thoughts.
Qin Huaiyuan listened from the side, nodding frequently and occasionally offering suggestions in low voices. Pang Xiao and Li Qitian also shared their own views.
After less than two incense sticks’ worth of discussion, the strategy was decided.
At this moment, Li Qitian looked at Qin Yining with eyes that held barely suppressed heat. Why wasn’t such an intelligent woman his wife?
How could he not have Pang Xiao’s good fortune?
Thinking of his own Empress who still showed no initiative, Li Qitian couldn’t help feeling annoyed.
With everything properly discussed, Qin Yining gave up the main room of Siqing Garden for Li Qitian to live in. The couple moved to the side room next to Ma Shi’s.
Qin Huaiyuan left Siqing Garden behaving as usual, following the plan without revealing even the slightest bit about Li Qitian’s rescue.
Having Jian Yun and Lian Xiaozhou pay attention to restraining the servants and not allowing them to reveal any information, after watching the two respond and withdraw, Qin Yining finally leaned wearily into Pang Xiao’s embrace.
Only one silk lamp was lit in the side room, casting a dim yellow light that shone through a layer of gauze curtains into the canopy bed, making it difficult for them to see each other clearly.
Pang Xiao embraced her from behind, his large hands carefully covering her belly that had grown another size, carefully smelling her neck and the side of her face, finally burying his face in her shoulder and hair, his burning breath spraying on her shoulder.
“Sister Yining, I missed you so much.”
Hearing this, Qin Yining’s nose stung and tears nearly fell.
“Me too. Fortunately you’re safe and sound—this time there was danger but no harm. Otherwise I wouldn’t have known what to do.”
Hearing her muffled voice, Pang Xiao moved to her front and saw her cheeks glistening with tears. His heart ached beyond measure.
“Sister Yining, it’s my fault. Making you worry and fear—I was actually very anxious inside. I kept thinking, if I couldn’t get out, what would you do? I worried you might have some mishap, but I also knew you’re a clever girl with a sense of responsibility who wouldn’t abandon our family. You would give birth to the child and raise it, but no one would understand the suffering in your heart. You could only hide your troubles and put on a strong appearance in front of others.”
Pang Xiao’s lips were dry and cracked in several places, repeatedly touching Qin Yining’s cheeks, kissing away her tears.
Qin Yining smiled, but her tears flowed even more.
“Fortunately Heaven took pity.”
“Yes, fortunately Heaven took pity.” Pang Xiao held her, sighing contentedly, then asked: “What happened these past days? You didn’t encounter any trouble, did you?”
Qin Yining thought for a moment and didn’t mention Tianji Zi’s matter, only speaking of how Marquis Qingyang had wanted to come to the mansion to arrest Qin Huaiyuan but was protected by people Ji Zeyu had arranged.
“We must properly thank Marquis Dingbei later.”
Pang Xiao was also quite moved hearing this and nodded: “I understand.”
Qin Yining then asked: “Did you encounter any danger in the underground palace? With nothing to eat or drink inside, how did you persevere all those days? Look at you—you’ve lost so much weight.”
Pang Xiao smiled and, like Qin Yining, didn’t speak of the various hardships in the underground palace, only saying: “It was alright. The underground palace has always had people guarding it, and the tribute inside had been recently replaced. Though the ritual fruits made of oil and flour didn’t taste good, satisfying hunger wasn’t difficult. There was also underground spring water inside, so we didn’t go thirsty.”
“That’s somewhat better then. But in that kind of environment, unable to be certain if anyone would rescue you, it must have been truly torturous.”
“No, I wasn’t worried about that.” Pang Xiao’s index finger wiped across the tear tracks on Qin Yining’s face as he smiled: “Because I knew you and Ji Zeyu would think of every way to rescue me. Even if everyone else gave up, you would keep digging. As long as I preserved my strength and stayed alive inside, I would definitely be able to wait for your rescue.”
Hearing this, Qin Yining felt much more at ease in her heart. She smiled while nodding and leaned against Pang Xiao’s shoulder, safely giving all her weight to him.
In the deep quiet of night, the two whispered and murmured, talking for quite a while before unknowingly falling asleep.
The next day after rising and finishing breakfast, Qin Yining ordered someone to prepare the carriage.
“My lord should stay home properly. Today I must go up the mountain with Marquis Dingbei to put on a performance. I’ll also take the opportunity to scout the situation.”
This had been agreed upon with Ji Zeyu the previous day. Though Pang Xiao was reluctant to have Qin Yining endure the hardships of travel, he could only nod helplessly.
Qin Yining took clothes for Bingtang and Ji Yun and, under the escort of guards, traveled all the way to Mount Chong.
Pang Xiao secretly acted according to their strategy from the previous night.
When Qin Yining arrived at Mount Chong, Ji Zeyu had also just arrived.
At the foot of the mountain, there were still people from the Five Cities Military Commission surrounding the area. Seeing Ji Zeyu and Qin Yining arrive, someone immediately blocked their path.
Ji Zeyu raised his riding whip and said coldly: “What’s this? You say you’re capturing Tatar spies—what, don’t you recognize this Marquis anymore?”
Yesterday their brothers had been whipped for blocking Ji Zeyu, and they were still fearful. Moreover, after going up the mountain, they hadn’t found the people they were looking for, so they inevitably felt guilty.
The leader steeled himself and said: “This… Prince Consort Ji is naturally not a spy, but in this carriage…”
Qin Yining frowned and lifted the carriage curtain, her delicate face containing anger, her long brows tightly knitted, her eyes holding displeasure.
“Yesterday it was dark, so you checking closely was acceptable. Now it’s broad daylight—can’t you see clearly? I am Prince Zhongshun’s consort, not a Tatar! If you can’t even see this clearly, then you shouldn’t be working for the Five Cities Military Commission!”
Everyone was left red-faced and speechless by her rebuke, momentarily stunned.
Qin Yining lowered the curtain and said: “Up the mountain.”
Ji Zeyu spurred his horse to continue upward.
The people from the Five Cities Military Commission couldn’t brazenly pursue them, thinking that since they were going up the mountain anyway, could the people they were searching for possibly ride back up the mountain in a carriage?
So they didn’t carefully search Qin Yining’s carriage and didn’t discover that only Qin Yining was inside.
The carriage smoothly arrived at the incident site.
The previously noisy sounds of digging and shouting were now completely absent. There were people speaking quietly on the mountain, but no one was digging. Qin Yining felt something wasn’t right.
Getting off the carriage, Qin Yining exchanged a glance with Ji Zeyu, then walked around the large trees blocking their view toward the excavation site.
From a distance, they saw that the men they had arranged to dig on the mountain were now all dejectedly gathered together, sitting or lying, with Five Cities Military Commission people surrounding them.
Ji Zeyu said: “Continue according to the original arrangement—divide into groups and keep digging. His Majesty is trapped in the underground palace, and our rescue cannot be delayed for even a moment.”
“Yes!” Seeing Ji Zeyu arrive, everyone had a backbone and immediately rose to pick up shovels, pickaxes, and other tools.
“Wait! Don’t move!” The surrounding Five Cities Military Commission people immediately became agitated upon hearing this, loudly forbidding everyone from continuing to dig.
Ji Zeyu coldly rebuked: “What do you mean! His Majesty’s life is now hanging by a thread, yet you have the leisure to obstruct here. Can you bear the responsibility if you delay the rescue of His Majesty?” His eyes flashed as he sneered: “Could it be that you don’t want His Majesty to be saved? Do you have disloyal hearts, or do your superiors have disloyal hearts?”
The colder Ji Zeyu’s gaze became as he spoke, the more the crowd couldn’t bear his sharp eyes. Fearing they couldn’t bear the crime of obstructing His Majesty’s rescue, they all had to relent and no longer obstruct the rescue excavation.
Ji Zeyu’s people continued digging along the original excavation site.
Ji Zeyu stood in place watching for a moment, and after confirming everyone was working with peace of mind, caught sight of several Five Cities Military Commission people from the corner of his eye.
Ji Zeyu said with displeasure: “You’re still not leaving? There are no Tatar spies on the mountain, yet you dawdle here. Do you really not want to save His Majesty?”
“Of course not!” Everyone spoke at once: “We are wholehearted for the country, wholehearted for the people!”
Ji Zeyu sneered: “How truly noble. If so, His Majesty’s return and the kingdom’s stability—what’s bad about that for the people and country? You won’t leave—could it be you want to take the opportunity to strike at His Majesty?”
“Prince Consort Ji, don’t speak nonsense!” Everyone’s faces turned red. Unable to reason with Ji Zeyu, they didn’t know how to save face.
Ji Zeyu chuckled lightly, as if too lazy to bother with these people anymore, and said nothing more.
Everyone didn’t dare continue obstructing the excavation, fearing being labeled as rebels and implicating their families. Moreover, what Prince Li had ordered them to do, they had already accomplished. Continuing to entangle would only bring trouble upon themselves.
They still needed to return to report.
Thinking of this, the Five Cities Military Commission people all left.
Qin Yining watched this group leave, then imperceptibly breathed a sigh of relief. She went into the crowd to call Bingtang and Ji Yun to the carriage, had them change clothes and wash up, then accompanied her down the mountain.