Qin Yining smiled and hugged Pang Xiao back, wrapping her arms around his neck and whispering in his ear: “Don’t worry. It’s not a dragon’s pool or tiger’s den—nothing will happen. Prince Li doesn’t seem to be an impulsive person. He definitely won’t do anything harmful to his own reputation, so he won’t make things difficult for me.”

“Even so, what if something unexpected happens?” Pang Xiao’s arms encircled Qin Yining, unwilling to let go. The reluctance and worry in his heart almost drowned him. “In any case, remember—don’t risk your life for this kind of thing. Whether it succeeds or not, I’ll handle it.”

Qin Yining nuzzled against his neck and said quietly: “I know. I won’t let myself get hurt.”

Pang Xiao took a deep breath to calm himself, touching Qin Yining’s head and then her prominently protruding belly, feeling the movement of the two children through the thick autumn clothing. Only after a long while did he step back two paces with his hands behind his back and say seriously: “Go then.”

The carriage slowly left Siqing Garden, heading all the way toward the mansion’s exit. Seeing that Bingtang and Ji Yun were accompanying her—one skilled in medicine, the other not weak in martial arts—perhaps they could protect Qin Yining’s safety if something happened?

The carriage traveled all the way to the palace gates. Qin Yining discovered that compared to previous palace visits, there were now many more guards than before. Stepping through the palace gates, without Pang Xiao by her side and without the Empress Dowager’s edict, Qin Yining no longer had the qualification to ride in a carriage or sedan chair and could only walk step by step toward Ci’an Palace.

Fortunately, Qin Yining’s health was well-maintained now. With Bingtang and Ji Yun supporting her on either side, and the guiding palace servant not deliberately making things difficult while accommodating her pace throughout, the journey wasn’t too arduous.

However, just before reaching Ci’an Palace, the chief eunuch guarding the palace entrance approached with his people, smiling as he bowed to Qin Yining.

“Princess Consort, greetings. This servant has been waiting here for quite some time.”

“Oh? How dare I trouble you to wait specially? Does the Empress Dowager have some important matter to instruct?” Qin Yining smiled graciously, already seeing the ill intent in the chief eunuch’s eyes.

The chief eunuch stepped forward two paces and smiled: “By Prince Li’s orders—now that the Tatars are attacking the borders and the northern war situation is tense, to prevent Tatar spies from infiltrating the palace or using nobles to carry dangerous items into the palace, everyone entering Ci’an Palace, no matter who they are, must undergo a search.”

Speaking to this point, the chief eunuch smiled with narrowed eyes and cupped his hands: “Princess Consort, please understand. This servant is also following orders. The Empress Dowager’s safety is most important. Don’t you agree this is reasonable?”

Qin Yining’s expression didn’t change as she thought darkly that Prince Li had indeed become suspicious. Acting so quickly was not beyond their expectations.

Ji Yun already said with displeasure: “Our Princess Consort is the legitimate wife of Prince Zhongshun. Prince Zhongshun is His Majesty’s sworn brother and the Empress Dowager’s adopted son. We’re all family—must we still be searched?”

The chief eunuch glanced sideways at Ji Yun with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes: “Prince Li’s meaning naturally isn’t that he doesn’t trust the relatives, but that he fears someone with ulterior motives might use the relatives to hide bad things on everyone. Miss, the Princess Consort hasn’t said anything yet—why are you so anxious?”

His tone was full of suspicion, as if Ji Yun was the ‘person with ulterior motives’ he spoke of.

Ji Yun gritted her teeth, extremely indignant. Bingtang also frowned tightly. Being searched at the entrance of Ci’an Palace—if word of this spread, what would they become?

The chief eunuch stood with his hands folded, smiling as he waited for Qin Yining’s reaction.

Qin Yining smiled and said: “I didn’t expect there would be this new rule. In these troubled times for the court, this is indeed human nature.”

The chief eunuch smiled with narrowed eyes: “The Princess Consort is truly knowledgeable.”

Ji Yun snorted through gritted teeth.

Qin Yining said: “However, if there’s to be a body search, it’s not others’ turn to touch me. You can arrange for an old nanny to supervise.”

The chief eunuch’s expression changed: “How can this work? This…”

“How can this not work?” Qin Yining said coldly: “This Princess Consort is at least the legitimate wife of Prince Zhongshun, a first-rank imperial consort personally sealed by His Majesty. Does the eunuch mean to have servants search my body? Is this truly for the Empress Dowager’s safety, or to deliberately humiliate me?”

At the mention of Prince Zhongshun, the chief eunuch’s body trembled. Pang Xiao’s formidability wasn’t just talk—if this god of death was truly angered, the consequences would be unthinkable. Now Prince Zhongshun’s life and death were unknown. If he was dead, that would be fine, but what if he wasn’t?

Prince Zhongshun had previously defied thirty-three imperial edicts for the woman before him. If she whispered in his ear, would his own head still be attached?

The chief eunuch became somewhat compromising, calling two nannies to lead Qin Yining, Bingtang, and Ji Yun to a side room for inspection.

Qin Yining was attended by Bingtang and Ji Yun as she removed her outer garments. The two nannies didn’t dare approach to touch her but watched Qin Yining carefully from front and back, unwilling to miss any detail.

When Qin Yining had stripped down to her undergarment, she prepared to put on her outer robe.

One nanny said: “Princess Consort, inside the undergarment hasn’t been checked yet.”

Qin Yining let out a cold laugh.

Ji Yun raised her hand and delivered a slap, striking the nanny so hard she covered her face and stood there stunned.

“Don’t be shameless when given face! Don’t you know who our Princess Consort is? You want to check inside her undergarment? Are you worthy? The Princess Consort is carrying the Prince’s mansion’s heir—if she catches cold or gets sick from the wind, even cutting you two into pieces wouldn’t be enough compensation!”

The nanny wanted to retort but was pulled back by the other, forcing her to hold her tongue.

The other nanny smiled and said: “Princess Consort, please forgive us. We servants are too rigid in our thinking. The Princess Consort isn’t an evildoer or any kind of spy. We’re just going through the motions.”

Qin Yining smiled: “I’ve stripped down to just an undergarment, and you’ve seen everything inside and out, yet you say you’re just going through the motions? I think you shouldn’t go through motions anymore. If you want to search, search carefully. Don’t come back later and falsely accuse me.”

The two nannies cried bitterness in their hearts. This Princess Consort was too difficult to deal with—nothing they did was right, nothing they said was correct.

Fearing Qin Yining would hold a grudge against them, the two smiled apologetically and roughly inspected Bingtang and Ji Yun, confirming they carried no dangerous items, then went out to report.

After Qin Yining arranged herself properly and left the side room, the chief eunuch confirmed there were no abnormalities and let them pass.

Qin Yining and her two maidservants finally entered Ci’an Palace. After announcements by palace servants along the way, they were granted permission to enter the main hall.

The Empress Dowager sat upright in the seat of honor, looking at Qin Yining with a somewhat tense expression.

With her large belly, Qin Yining’s movements in paying respects were extremely clumsy.

Seeing her inconvenience, the Empress Dowager said: “No need for such ceremony. We’re all family—no need to be so formal.”

“Thank you for the Empress Dowager’s consideration.” Qin Yining stood up with a grateful smile. Her bright eyes swept around and noticed the Empress Dowager’s expression wasn’t quite right—she seemed particularly nervous.

The Empress Dowager said: “Lady Qin, what brings you to the palace to see me?”

Qin Yining narrowed her eyes and looked around left and right.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager immediately understood and waved her hand.

The palace servants filed out one by one. Bingtang and Ji Yun remained by Qin Yining’s side.

Qin Yining then said: “Empress Dowager, is it convenient to speak here?”