Qin Yining and Pang Xiao could never have expected the scout to bring back such news, but they had indeed heard previously about the difficulty of the Shu roads.
“The clue that Manager Qiu revealed turns out to be such a place. Do you think there might be some trap in this?” Pang Xiao tapped the table with his index finger, and a flash of killing intent flickered in his eyes.
If Qiu Feishan truly harbored malicious intent, then don’t blame him for being ruthless!
Qin Yining shook her head and said thoughtfully while lowering her eyes, “I don’t think that’s the case. I always have a feeling that Shu region might have some very important clues. Don’t you think Qiu Feishan’s approach to you and me isn’t purely motivated? Including this time with Shu region, she deliberately revealed this clue.”
“Indeed, it’s not pure. She uses the concept of mutual benefit quite beautifully.” Pang Xiao snorted with a cold laugh.
“But we can’t deny her intelligence. And she indeed hasn’t shown any particular hostility. At most, what she’s done seeks mutual benefit, and she’s never tried to harm you or me.”
“That’s why I say her deliberately leaving behind this Shu region clue probably has no simple purpose. If I had the leisure, I’d really like to go to Shu region to see what exactly is hidden there that would make her act so circuitously.”
“You’re currently in office and can’t leave.” Qin Yining smiled and glanced sideways at Pang Xiao. “How could you leave the old capital for no reason? Even if you wanted to take troops out for training, you’d need a pretext like bandit suppression. Moreover, if you acted alone, wouldn’t that be voluntarily handing the censors something to criticize you about?”
Hearing this, Pang Xiao immediately burst into laughter. His large hand unceremoniously touched Qin Yining’s fair cheek. “You little girl, although everything you say is the truth, why does it sound so frustrating?”
Qin Yining tried to dodge but couldn’t. Seeing the scout standing with lowered head and the surrounding maids, she noticed they all kept their heads down, but knew they had all seen Pang Xiao’s intimate gesture. Her face grew even hotter, and she glared fiercely at Pang Xiao.
Being glared at made Pang Xiao’s whole body tingle, and his depressed and irritated emotions were swept away.
Qin Yining pondered for a moment, then said seriously, “Your Highness, I want to personally go to Shu region to investigate.”
Pang Xiao was stunned, seeming unable to expect Qin Yining to make such a request. He shook his head like a rattle drum. “No, I can’t let you leave my sight. Have you forgotten all the troubles we’ve had before?”
When Qin Yining had disappeared while searching for the treasure, they had been separated for so long, with countless twists and turns, and they had almost been separated forever.
The situation then was actually similar to now – there was a thorny urgent matter, but Pang Xiao couldn’t leave, so Qin Yining had volunteered to help solve the problem.
At that time, to find Qin Yining, he had defied thirty-three imperial edicts and nearly had a complete falling out with Li Qitian. Although now the mountains were high and the emperor far away, the situation was still unstable, and there were people watching him as the prominent target.
Pang Xiao would never allow Qin Yining to go out and risk danger alone.
“Your Highness, listen to me.” Qin Yining straightened her expression and said, “Right now, Sitong Trading Company’s appearance is suspicious, and investigating their origins is an urgent priority. You can’t leave, so I’m the one who can take charge. If you send any advisor instead, they probably wouldn’t achieve the same effect as me going.”
“I admit what you say makes sense, but I absolutely cannot let you leave my sight. Either I accompany you, or you stay by my side!” Pang Xiao’s voice carried some urgency, and his volume involuntarily rose.
Seeing Pang Xiao’s face turn red with anxiety, Qin Yining sighed helplessly.
“I know Your Highness is concerned about me, but in the current situation, my going to Shu region to investigate is the most appropriate and effective method. If you’re worried, just arrange more people around me.”
Pang Xiao was like someone who, once bitten by a snake, feared well ropes for ten years. Sometimes he even had thoughts of retreating, wanting to simply take his wife and children to find a place to live in seclusion, completely avoiding these court disputes.
It’s just that he still retained some rationality – where in this world was there truly peaceful ground? No matter how far they hid, they could still be found. The most secure method was to face difficulties head-on and solve problems, which would also leave a clean world for their children’s future.
Pang Xiao also understood that Qin Yining was right, but he really didn’t want her to take risks.
Thinking of this, Pang Xiao simply chose a roundabout way to persuade her: “Even if I arrange enough people to follow you, what about the two children? Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er can’t be without their mother. If I’m not home, you should be home watching the children. If you also go out, what will happen to the children?”
Qin Yining’s heart ached upon hearing this. What mother could bear to be separated from her precious babies?
But for the sake of long-lasting peaceful days in the future, sometimes one had to make certain decisions.
Qin Yining remembered what Sun Shi had discussed with her.
“The other day, my mother said she wanted to go south with grandmother, wanting to bring the children and servants to stay at my grandmother’s house for a month or so. My mother hasn’t seen my grandmother for a long time and misses her terribly. Old people are especially affectionate with grandchildren and can’t bear to be separated from Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er.
“I originally didn’t agree. But now with this situation, why don’t we entrust Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er to my mother and grandmother? They’re both trustworthy people, and with Aunt Cao leading the masked scouts to accompany my mother and grandmother to Nanyan, if you make additional arrangements, it should be fine.”
Pang Xiao’s sword-like eyebrows furrowed tightly, his brow knotted with worry.
Qin Yining continued, “We have legitimate business to attend to – we’re not being irresponsible toward the two children. Besides, all our current efforts are for the children to have a better environment to survive in the future. If we don’t pave the way smooth, do you want Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er to live with their tails between their legs when they grow up and understand things?”
“I understand the reasoning, but… I’m worried about you and can’t bear to part with the two children.” Pang Xiao’s fingers gripped the armrest of his chair, and due to excessive force, his knuckles had turned white.
Reality was like this – it often didn’t allow people to have things go as they wished. Sometimes even when resisting, circumstances would still descend upon them.
What Qin Yining said was right. Only by solving all the problems would the future path for their children and family members be smooth.
But he himself was a troublemaker…
Pang Xiao, such a domineering person, actually developed rare self-pitying emotions because of this matter.
Seeing Pang Xiao lower his head and stop talking, Qin Yining waved at the scout and other maids. After everyone quietly filed out, Qin Yining walked to Pang Xiao’s front and put her arms around his neck, saying, “Don’t overthink it. When we encounter trouble, we’ll solve it – it’s nothing serious.”