Neither Qin Yining nor Pang Xiao had imagined that the Pingnan Army would have such insider secrets. They both had subordinates and had carefully investigated the Pingnan Army’s situation, but if Lady Zheng hadn’t mentioned it, they would never have known!

No wonder that Lu Zhang had so easily “fallen ill,” and let Pang Xiao so easily gain control over the Pingnan Army – they were lying in wait here!

Whether it was Deng Minchang or Lu Zhang, if they continued as leaders of the Pingnan Army, wouldn’t they have to help them figure out ways to raise provisions and pay? That wasn’t all – those IOUs Lu Zhang had written would all be transferred to Pang Xiao when the time came. Any size hole could be left for this tall fellow Pang Xiao to fill, while those who had profited handsomely from the middle could shrink their necks and watch the show anytime.

Pang Xiao had always been a resourceful and scheming person, always the one calculating others. Now being calculated by others gave him a truly bitter feeling of not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

“This is truly whack-a-mole.” Qin Yining shook her head with a bitter smile. “What are these people thinking? They have the leisure to scheme against colleagues but no time to do practical things for the common people. If they used even half the brains they use scheming against people on proper matters, there wouldn’t be so many starving people outside.”

Lady Zheng consolingly patted Qin Yining’s shoulder, smiling: “Isn’t this human nature? They do this only because they’re driven by profit. Without profit to be gained, who would act? As for doing things for the people, they couldn’t care less.”

Lady Zheng spoke the harsh truth. But hearing such reality truly made one feel powerless.

All three fell into silence. After a long while, Pang Xiao finally said: “I understand, Grandmother. It’s just that I’m already mixed up in this now.”

Lady Zheng sighed: “It’s all my fault for being imprisoned and delaying so many matters.”

“How could this be your fault? You were only implicated because of Yining and me. Rest assured, I’ll find ways to handle these matters. I’m not some soft persimmon to be kneaded and flattened at will. If they want to use such trivial matters to make things difficult for me, they’ve miscalculated.”

Qin Yining composed herself and nodded with a smile: “Exactly. This isn’t the first time we’ve encountered such situations anyway. We’ll meet force with force and water with earth – what’s there to fear? Being able to firmly grasp the Pingnan Army in our hands and use them effectively at crucial moments – that’s the greatest benefit. Everything else can be solved with methods.”

Seeing both Pang Xiao and Qin Yining so cheerful without any gloom, Lady Zheng couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: youth is wonderful. When she was still young, all the major and minor affairs of the Duke’s mansion were entrusted to her management. She hadn’t thought much of it then – it seemed no matter how many matters arose, she wouldn’t worry much. She would just consider everything comprehensively and solve each problem as it came.

It seemed she truly was getting old to worry about things now.

Especially this time, she had originally emerged from retirement to help Qin Yining, but who would have thought – not only did she fail to help, she even got herself trapped, nearly losing her life, and in the end still had to have Qin Yining go to great lengths to rescue her.

Instead of helping, she had only added chaos.

It seemed this era already belonged to the younger generation.

Lady Zheng’s heart was full of emotion, and she was firmly determined to retire.

“I’m getting old, my mind isn’t as clear as before, and this emergence from retirement has greatly damaged my vitality. Yining, from now on I plan to peacefully spend my remaining years at home.”

Qin Yining was startled, worried that Grandmother felt defeated from failing to accomplish things and was saying this. She was about to speak persuasively.

But Lady Zheng saw through her thoughts, smiling and waving her hand: “You needn’t say more. I know your intentions. It’s just that I’m truly tired.”

Lady Zheng’s gaze fell on Pang Xiao’s handsome face, smiling: “Moreover, you now have such a reliable support, so I can feel at ease. Initially I worried that because of the previous generation’s grievances, you would suffer injustice, but now it seems I was overthinking. Since you both have your own lives, your own support and companionship, no matter how difficult the future may be, you have each other for mutual support on the path ahead. This old woman can also lay down her burdens and peacefully spend her remaining years.”

Lady Zheng’s eyes looked at Pang Xiao, but her words were directed at Qin Yining, and also to Lady Sun far away.

Hearing Grandmother’s such sentiments, Qin Yining actually felt a somewhat tragic sense of a hero’s twilight years.

But Lady Zheng was open-minded and didn’t mind much, saying: “I currently have no subordinates like the Azure Sky Alliance, but I have cultivated some connections and influence. Just like the former Azure Sky Alliance, they all have some beneficial relationships with each other. Later I’ll hand these people over to you – you can make them serve your purposes, but also be careful not to be harmed in return.”

“Grandmother, I…”

“Don’t refuse.” Lady Zheng smiled and patted Qin Yining’s shoulder: “Having more people at hand has no drawbacks. I know that with your abilities, controlling these people is achievable. You can normally assign them tasks, and when they encounter difficulties, you help resolve them. Coming and going, over time they’ll become like your other subordinates.”

Seeing Lady Zheng’s insistence, Qin Yining sighed softly and nodded.

Too many debts of gratitude were owed – she could only slowly repay them in the future.

Lady Zheng was getting on in years after all, and having suffered in prison, her body couldn’t withstand it. After saying everything that needed to be said and arranged, she became somewhat mentally fatigued.

Qin Yining and Pang Xiao withdrew, and regardless of whether today was New Year’s Eve or not, they didn’t disturb Lady Zheng, letting her rest well.

When Pang Xiao and Qin Yining returned to their bedroom, the wet nurses were holding the two boys and walking around the room.

Seeing his sons, Pang Xiao’s eyes lit up with joy. He smiled and approached, taking Zhao Ge’er, who was wearing a tiger-head cap, into his arms.

“Aiya, let me see if our Zhao Ge’er has gained weight. Zhao Ge’er, do you still recognize Daddy?”

Zhao Ge’er’s big grape-like black eyes stared blankly at Pang Xiao, then immediately reached toward Qin Yining, waving his arms and twisting his body, clearly not wanting to stay in Pang Xiao’s embrace, stubbornly seeking Qin Yining.

Pang Xiao felt both heartbroken and helpless – forced to be away from home, his own son didn’t recognize him anymore?

“Zhao Ge’er, Daddy is right here.” Pang Xiao kissed Zhao Ge’er once. His slightly stubbled chin was prickly, and Zhao Ge’er immediately burst into tears with a “wah.”

The wet nurse was terrified, afraid the Prince would blame her. She wanted to take the child but didn’t dare, while Han Ge’er, hearing the crying, also started wailing with his mouth wide open. The wet nurse was immediately flustered.

Qin Yining quickly took Zhao Ge’er over, humming a familiar tune. In just a breath’s time, Zhao Ge’er stopped crying, nestling against Qin Yining’s shoulder with two streams of tears and snot, pitifully clutching Qin Yining’s hair and refusing to let go.

Pang Xiao sighed helplessly and said aggrievedly: “Do my sons not recognize me anymore?”

Qin Yining was amused by his tone: “You’re such a grown man, yet you care about these things? The children are still small, and you’re so unkempt, plus you haven’t been home for such a long time – it’s natural for children to be shy with strangers. If you spend more time with them in the future, they’ll naturally become close to you.”

“That may be so, but I’m still unhappy.” If it weren’t for all the mess in the court making him unable to advance or retreat, his hands tied, it wouldn’t have come to the point where his sons didn’t recognize him.

Pang Xiao wasn’t truly angry, and Qin Yining naturally knew this, but the wet nurses didn’t understand and were already pale with fright, not daring to move.

Seeing them like this, Qin Yining let them continue caring for the two children while she pulled Pang Xiao to the bedroom to change clothes and wash up.

The maids had already prepared hot water in the back room for Pang Xiao’s bath. Qin Yining removed her outer robe, wearing only her middle garment, rolled up her sleeves to reveal a section of fair elbow, and stood outside the large wooden tub filled with steamy mist, helping Pang Xiao wash his hair and scrub his back.

The sound of water was alluring, and Qin Yining’s voice seemed even more gentle in the misty bathroom.

Pang Xiao felt somewhat intoxicated, his tired nerves suddenly relaxing, and he became drowsy.

Knowing he was tired, Qin Yining gradually stopped talking, gently helping Pang Xiao wash with soft movements, working up a sweat herself without minding. After washing all the reachable places, seeing Pang Xiao had fallen asleep, she couldn’t bear to wake him, so she stayed nearby, occasionally adding hot water to the wooden tub.

Actually, Pang Xiao hadn’t slept long before firecracker sounds came from outside.

On New Year’s Eve, many households had already finished dinner and begun setting off firecrackers in celebration.

Pang Xiao was awakened by the firecracker sounds. Seeing Qin Yining still sitting beside him, using a wooden ladle to add hot water for him, afraid he might get cold, his heart had already softened to mush.

“Yining.”

“Awake? They’ve prepared the meal. Let’s go eat, then you can return to bed for a good sleep.”

“Alright.” Pang Xiao nodded with a smile and stood up carefreely.

Qin Yining’s face reddened, and she quickly got up and went out.

Pang Xiao couldn’t help but laugh. After efficiently washing and changing into clean clothes, he came out with half-dry hair to eat the reunion dinner with Qin Yining.

Qin Yining didn’t ask when Pang Xiao would return to the military camp. Asking such things – when it was time for him to leave, he would still have to leave, only adding unnecessary sadness. Just knowing he wouldn’t leave today and that their family could properly reunite was already enough.

Some families were joyful, others sorrowful.

While Qin Yining and Pang Xiao were celebrating New Year with Lady Zheng and their household, Yuchi Yan and Gu Shixiong were trying every possible means to contact Sitong Company.

In the past, they hadn’t needed much effort – people from Sitong Company would actively seek them out. Now that they wanted to request a meeting with the other party, they discovered how extremely mysterious they were, making them very difficult to find.

Gu Shixiong was anxious in his heart. In just two days, a string of fever blisters had appeared at the corner of his mouth.

With great difficulty, by the fifth day of the New Year, he finally contacted Master Liu, the accountant under Sitong Company’s Grand Manager who had been their contact.

Gu Shixiong hurriedly told Yuchi Yan to properly prepare a table of wine and food. That very afternoon, they invited Master Liu for a simple meal, with the location being the old capital’s imperial palace where Yuchi Yan resided.

Master Liu appeared to be in his early forties, with regular features and scholarly bearing, looking less like an accountant and more like a school teacher.

Entering the old capital’s imperial palace, Master Liu showed no curiosity of a first-time visitor, but smiled with scholarly propriety, exchanging pleasantries with Gu Shixiong and Yuchi Yan.