Everyone has an appreciation for beauty. Even as a woman herself, Qin Yining couldn’t help but admire that young lady a few more times, finding her more beautiful the more she looked.

Pang Xiao also lifted his gaze to see the scene outside the carriage. Seeing Qin Yining actually staring at that young lady, he snorted lightly, turned her face toward himself, and whispered in her ear: “What are you looking at others so intently for?”

Qin Yining laughed: “Besides Aunt Cao, I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman – naturally I can’t help but look a few more times.”

Pang Xiao snorted lightly: “You should look in a mirror before saying you’ve never seen beautiful women.” That sour tone made Qin Yining burst into laughter.

The carriage stopped, and someone lifted the curtain from outside.

Pang Xiao stepped out first with steady steps.

Upon seeing the tall, handsome Pang Xiao emerge, the female family members behind Governor Yang glanced at him a few times, then all simultaneously lowered their eyes.

Governor Yang led several people forward in quick steps.

Who would have expected that Pang Xiao wouldn’t greet them first, but instead turned back to lean into the carriage, personally helping Qin Yining – dressed in a bright red arrow-sleeved jacket and skirt, with a white fox fur-collared cape and a white fox fur muff embedded with rubies – down from the carriage.

Governor Yang had met Qin Yining once before, but the scene had been too chaotic and Qin Yining had deliberately dressed plainly, so Governor Yang hadn’t observed her carefully.

Seeing her now, he couldn’t help but look several more times. Prince Zhongshun and the Princess – one handsome and imposing, the other radiant and extraordinary, with their intimacy and tenderness completely unconcealed – truly made an enviable perfect couple. Just watching their interaction made one involuntarily smile from the heart.

If Governor Yang felt this way, the emotional impact on the female family members would be even greater. The Governor’s wife and daughter gazed at Pang Xiao and Qin Yining with no small emotion, clearly very curious about the two.

But Qiu Feishan, dressed in men’s clothing, maintained a calm expression, only wearing a proper smile as she peacefully observed them both.

As soon as Qin Yining raised her eyes, she met Qiu Feishan’s gaze.

Qiu Feishan was clearly startled for a moment, but didn’t dodge either, smiling gracefully and nodding in greeting.

Qin Yining also nodded in greeting toward her, though somewhat surprised in her heart. This young lady wore men’s clothing, but it seemed she wasn’t trying to disguise herself as a man – she was just casually dressed in men’s attire. She didn’t deliberately hide that she was a woman, but also didn’t deliberately act masculine, as if wearing men’s clothing was perfectly natural.

Qin Yining became even more curious about Qiu Feishan.

Governor Yang had now approached them: “Prince Zhongshun, Princess, having you both honor us with your presence truly makes this humble residence radiant with glory!”

Pang Xiao smiled and returned the courtesy: “Governor Yang is too kind – it’s my wife and I who are imposing upon you.”

“Not at all, not at all. Your Majesty and Princess, please.” Governor Yang stepped aside, making a gesture of invitation.

Pang Xiao politely followed along.

Qin Yining naturally fell back two steps, walking together with the Governor’s wife and the two young ladies.

The Governor’s wife intimately linked arms with Qin Yining, smiling: “Meeting the Princess for the first time, I feel very warm and familiar toward you, without any sense of strangeness at all.”

Qin Yining smiled gracefully, going along naturally: “Exactly so – I also find the Governor’s wife very familiar. The same goes for both young ladies.”

The two women following behind the Governor’s wife and Qin Yining both smiled upon hearing this.

The Yang Mansion wasn’t very large. The group passed through the front hall, around a clean courtyard, then turned a corner to reach the warm pavilion used for entertaining guests.

Since no outsiders were invited this time – only these two families gathering – upon reaching the warm pavilion, everyone sat around an eight-immortals table together.

Governor Yang invited Pang Xiao and Qin Yining to sit in the seats of honor, then cupped his hands and smiled politely: “This is truly inadequate hospitality. Previously there was never an opportunity to gather with Your Majesty – such a simple banquet is truly poor treatment.”

“Not at all. Having the opportunity to converse with Governor Yang brings me great joy as well.” Pang Xiao seemed not to mind Governor Yang’s previous treatment of ignoring him at all – when he first arrived to take up his post, Governor Yang hadn’t even shown his face.

Governor Yang also knew what he had done before – any person would feel uncomfortable about it. Honestly, after being so badly tricked by Pang Xiao during the civil unrest, if he followed his true intentions, he absolutely wouldn’t want much contact with Pang Xiao.

But now…

Governor Yang laughed heartily: “This subordinate feels the same. Your Majesty handles affairs with brilliant decisiveness and exceptional wisdom – this subordinate has long hoped for an opportunity to gather with Your Majesty.”

Looking at the female family members, Governor Yang continued: “Your Majesty, Princess, let this subordinate introduce you both. This is this subordinate’s wife, Lady Yuan.”

The Governor’s wife stood up, bowing to Pang Xiao and Qin Yining: “This humble woman, Lady Yuan, pays respects to Your Majesty and the Princess.”

“You may rise.” Pang Xiao and Qin Yining said in unison.

Governor Yang then pointed to the clear-featured young lady dressed in women’s clothing: “This is this subordinate’s only daughter.”

Miss Yang immediately bowed as well.

“Miss Yang, please rise.” Qin Yining smiled and helped her up slightly.

Governor Yang smiled again: “This is a girl from my relative’s family, Miss Qiu, who out of seniority calls me uncle.”

Qiu Feishan then rose to pay respects to both Pang Xiao and Qin Yining, performing a woman’s bow but without any delicate or affected manner, instead radiating dignity and natural grace.

Qin Yining smiled: “Miss Qiu, please rise.”

Governor Yang explained further: “The reason she wears men’s clothing is because her family is in business, and she’s the only child in their branch, so she must shoulder the responsibility. Since wearing women’s clothing is often inconvenient when traveling about, she’s worn men’s clothing since childhood. Even without concealing that she’s a woman, at least it causes much less trouble when traveling.”

“Exactly so.” Qiu Feishan also smiled: “I hope Your Majesty and the Princess won’t find it amusing.”

Qiu Feishan was born beautiful, and this smile made her even more stunning. Her eyebrows resembled Qin Yining’s – both had long, willow-leaf brows with upward curves that weren’t ostentatious, only adding some heroic spirit to their refined faces.

Qin Yining felt this woman had a gentle temperament and elegant bearing, clearly a very cultured person, but she could also obviously sense this woman’s complexity, because her dignified bearing couldn’t be concealed – even the Governor’s wife and daughter lacked her noble air.

Qin Yining smiled: “Being able to support the family business as a woman is truly admirable. I wonder what kind of business Miss Qiu manages?”

Qiu Feishan smiled: “Thank you for your interest, Princess. My family’s business touches on various industries a little, though not expertly – it barely provides sustenance.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded, knowing the other party wouldn’t speak directly but would only offer evasive words, so she didn’t pursue the matter further.

At this time, pleasant string and woodwind music sounded in the hall. Maids dressed in green jackets filed in, placing exquisite dishes on the table one by one.

Everyone tacitly changed the subject, listening to music and watching dances while eating and drinking, occasionally chatting about unimportant topics.

One side came prepared, striving to be accommodating, while the other deliberately sought to please and flatter, so both parties became much more familiar after this meal.

When servants brought in tea service, Governor Yang picked up his tea bowl and coughed lightly.

The Governor’s wife immediately dabbed the corners of her lips with a handkerchief, smiled and stood saying “Please excuse me,” then gracefully left the warm pavilion with the Governor’s daughter.

The string music stopped abruptly. The dancing girls bowed and the musicians, who had only played half their pieces, all withdrew together.

Qin Yining knew they were about to discuss serious business.

The Governor’s wife had withdrawn with her daughter, yet this Miss Qiu remained in place, making it clear that Governor Yang’s invitation today was likely related to this Miss Qiu.

The hall became completely quiet. Neither Pang Xiao nor Qin Yining would speak first to inquire.

Governor Yang smiled and picked up his wine cup, taking a small sip as if nothing had happened, saying leisurely: “When my niece came to the old capital last year, didn’t she also meet several officers from the Pingnan Army during her travels?”

Qiu Feishan sat upright and elegantly, lips curved upward, nodding with a faint smile: “Indeed I did. Not just last year – I went there again a few days ago. Life in the military camp is hard – the officers and soldiers protecting home and country have it difficult. Being able to hold their posts in the old capital under such straitened circumstances truly shows Prince Zhongshun’s excellent leadership.”

Qiu Feishan’s words revealed two pieces of information.

First, she, this person in charge of some unknown industry, had the ability to enter the military camp freely. Moreover, her entry into the military camp was something Pang Xiao, the commander, actually didn’t know about, nor had anyone specially reported it to him – this was enough to show just how much influence her family background wielded.

Second was a sense of conferring favor. The implied meaning in her words seemed to suggest that she felt the Pingnan Army was having hard times and had some intention of donating money.

However, Qiu Feishan was a shrewd person. She didn’t speak directly but waited for Pang Xiao, the commander, to take up this topic.

Actually, the Pingnan Army truly did need money now. After all, Pang Xiao had just learned that Lu Zhang owed Sitong Company large sums, and now that the new year had passed, it was time to prepare the soldiers’ pay. If someone was willing to provide funds for the Pingnan Army, it would resolve his urgent needs.

Unfortunately, Pang Xiao wasn’t a short-sighted person.

Pang Xiao smiled: “Miss Qiu flatters me. As the Pingnan Army, we must have the awareness to protect the southern people. Not eating enough or dressing warmly can precisely temper the soldiers’ will – this is the character and style a military force should have. It can be very useful on the battlefield.”

Qiu Feishan just smiled and nodded: “The War God Prince truly lives up to his reputation, with your own methods of training troops.”

The rejection in Pang Xiao’s words was too obvious – even Governor Yang couldn’t help but carefully observe Qiu Feishan’s expression, as if afraid she might become angry.

But Pang Xiao didn’t mind, only smiling lightly: “I may not excel at other things, but I’ve indeed had the most contact with troop training methods.”

Qiu Feishan’s smile remained gentle and courteous, showing no signs of displeasure whatsoever.

They then discussed other matters. Qiu Feishan never again actively brought up this topic, and Pang Xiao paid it no special attention.

When the banquet ended and Pang Xiao took his leave with Qin Yining, both Governor Yang and Qiu Feishan bowed together. Only then did Qiu Feishan say: “If Your Majesty has any instructions, you may send someone to find me at the Yang Mansion. I would be happy to do good deeds for the Pingnan Army.”