When Qin Yining rose early in the morning, she could already hear the clamorous voices from the main hall on the first floor of the inn.

Last night, the courtyard across had caught fire, and their hurried arrival at the two-story building in the front courtyard of the inn meant they hadn’t chosen rooms that avoided the noise. Instead, by opening the inner windows, they could see the two rooms of the inn’s ground floor hall.

At this moment, everyone in the hall was discussing yesterday’s fire at the inn.

Although Jianchuan City wasn’t small and was situated at a strategic pass, the fixed residents were only so many. Because entering and leaving Jianchuan was extremely difficult, traveling merchants could tell at a glance which faces were unfamiliar.

Moreover, yesterday in the courtyard across, such a great “drama” had unfolded. What identity the guests staying in that courtyard had, the people of Jianchuan likely all understood by now.

“…They say last night’s great fire was because the Fire Goddess couldn’t stand that so-called princess consort’s promiscuous behavior, so she wanted to burn her up with one fire?”

“Exactly. Just look at that seductive appearance – you can tell she’s no good person. She actually dared to cripple Master Qiu, simply doesn’t want to live!”

“But I heard the matter was because Master Qiu molested the princess consort first. Don’t speak carelessly – this princess consort is different from ordinary young ladies. Her husband is Prince Zhongshun!”

“So what? Poor Prince Zhongshun didn’t find a good wife. He’s fighting wars outside, while his woman is here causing trouble recklessly.”

“Stop talking nonsense. It seems like there’s fighting between north and south now, and Prince Zhongshun is currently in the south, but there’s no war to fight in the south.”

…

Qin Yining sat by the window, letting Ji Yun comb her hair while listening to the high-spirited discussions of the crowd downstairs.

From these common people’s discussions, one could know the degree of isolation in Jianchuan. The news these people knew was fragmentary and not necessarily all accurate. Those who led in speaking ill of her were perhaps also disparaging her to curry favor with the Qiu family.

Qin Yining had long known that human nature was like this. Sometimes, even for things that harmed others without benefiting themselves, some people would still do them for petty thoughts. Slandering a person was merely a matter of moving one’s lips, and most speakers didn’t have to take any responsibility. In their hearts, they might even feel secretly pleased for having slandered someone else, but they never thought about how the person being slandered, suffering such an undeserved disaster, would receive enormous physical and mental harm.

Qin Yining sighed helplessly, “It’s fortunate I’m not one of those sheltered young ladies, nor do I have such a rigid temperament. Otherwise, being spoken of like this, wouldn’t I hang myself to prove my innocence?”

“Princess Consort, please don’t think like that. Those people are the ones who did wrong – you did nothing wrong. These people are just idle gossips wagging their tongues, daring to speak nonsense without understanding the situation. They’re simply detestable.”

Bingtang was both worried and indignant. Their current room had poor soundproofing, and those people outside, perhaps wanting to boast about the Qiu family, spoke very loudly, as if speaking well of the Qiu family but fearing others couldn’t hear if their voices were too weak.

Since Qin Yining married Pang Xiao, she had never suffered such grievance. It made one’s heart burn with frustration.

Bingtang’s face turned white with anger, yet she couldn’t push open the window to argue with the people outside.

Just then, they heard another round of discussion from outside.

“Do you know? Last night, something also happened at the Qiu family’s sixth branch.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! The Qiu family’s mansion is so large, with so many courtyard guards and martial arts masters they could rival the palace’s Golden Guards. How could anything happen there!”

“That’s exactly why this matter is strange. Yesterday the inn caught fire, and the Qiu family’s sixth branch also caught fire. There’s something even stranger!”

“You person, how do you only say half of what you mean? What’s the stranger thing you mentioned?”

That person lowered his voice and said mysteriously, “The sixth branch master, his wife, and two daughters-in-law all had their hair shaved off! Just in the span of one night’s sleep, in the blink of an eye their hair was gone! Now they all look like monks and nuns! The sixth branch is in chaos right now.”

“Nonsense! How would a mud-leg like you know about such things?” Those listening didn’t believe it.

“Hey! My cousin’s brother-in-law delivers vegetables to the Qiu family, how could he not know? This head-shaving is too impressive. This was just shaving heads – if they really wanted to kill people, wouldn’t those heads have to relocate?”

“Tsk tsk, this must be the work of ghosts, right? Both head-shaving and fires.”

“Who knows what offended the spirits and gods to cause fires in two places in one night.”

…

Qin Yining, Bingtang, and Ji Yun exchanged glances, all seeing some doubt and understanding in each other’s eyes.

After eating, Qin Yining went next door to see Mu Jinghu.

Mu Jinghu had also just finished eating and was sitting on a bench reading. Seeing Qin Yining come to visit, he smiled and led her inside, even pouring her tea.

Observing Mu Jinghu’s expression, this person seemed to have already emerged from his anger, his demeanor very calm, as if yesterday’s person who was about to explode with rage wasn’t him.

Qin Yining smiled and said, “Young Master Mu, you’ve worked hard these past days.”

“Not hard at all. You needn’t be polite with me. I promised Pang Zhixi to protect you, so naturally I’ll do my utmost. Besides, nothing has happened that required me to risk life and limb.”

Qin Yining nodded and chatted with Mu Jinghu for a while before saying, “Young Master Mu should be careful of safety when going out at night.”

Mu Jinghu was startled, blinked, and after a long moment said bashfully, “You know everything?”

“I wasn’t certain originally, but with you saying this, I understand everything now.”

Mu Jinghu was speechless, his mind repeatedly thinking that Pang Fox’s wife was also a fox. Even before her marriage, he had already known her formidable nature, and now that she’d married Pang Fox, she was even more cunning.

Seeing Mu Jinghu’s silence, Qin Yining smiled and said, “I know Young Master Mu took such a great risk for his promise to Pang Zhixi, because he saw they went too far – clearly doing wrong themselves, yet turning around to bite me and slander my reputation.”

Seeing she didn’t blame him but understood him very well, Mu Jinghu’s slight discomfort disappeared completely.

“I promised Pang Zhixi to protect you, not letting anyone harm a hair on your head. But that Qiu Feizhen not only put his hands on you, and when his family came they were also unreasonable, wanting to grab and pull at you. We merely reasoned with them, yet they dared to set fires and hurt people. I was furious, but afraid of causing trouble for you, so I resorted to this stratagem.”

Qin Yining knew Mu Jinghu meant well. Moreover, silently infiltrating the heavily guarded Qiu family, finding the sixth branch alone in the Qiu family’s sprawling mansion compound, cutting off the hair of the sixth branch’s masters, and only setting fire to the sixth branch – this series of actions was even more difficult and dangerous than directly storming into the Qiu family to kill people.

“Young Master Mu, please don’t take such risks again in the future. No matter what, our own people’s safety is most important. That you agreed to Pang Zhixi’s request to accompany me on this trip already makes me very grateful. If you were injured or met with some accident because of me, wouldn’t I die of guilt?”

Mu Jinghu waved his hand and smiled, “Don’t worry, you should trust my abilities.”

No matter how trustworthy, Mu Jinghu was still one person fighting alone. Even the finest iron, how many nails could it twist?

However, since Qin Yining wasn’t anyone special to Mu Jinghu, having expressed her meaning clearly was enough – she couldn’t continue speaking in detail.

The two then discussed the matter of the exit pass.

“I plan to observe carefully today. If that doesn’t work, I’ll use the old method and steal an exit pass from the Qiu family. We’ve left people outside Jianchuan Pass to meet us anyway, so once we’re out, everything will be easy to handle.”

Qin Yining smiled, “Great minds think alike – we thought of the same thing. But this matter still requires your efforts.”

“It’s nothing significant – for me it’s just a simple task.”

While they were talking, a sudden commotion arose from the first floor of the inn. A group of men wielding clubs rushed into the inn, led by someone wearing a hat on his head – it was the shaven Qiu Yuanming.

“Right here! Arrest them!”

“Yes!” The men were like tigers and wolves, frightening the guests in the hall to scatter in all directions.

A strong man grabbed an inn worker and asked, “That so-called Prince Zhongshun’s consort – where is she staying? Lead the way!”

The worker was scared witless. How could they dare provoke the Qiu family? In panic, he pointed upstairs: “Second floor, second floor!”

The strong man’s muscular arm shook, pushing the worker back several stumbling steps until he fell on his bottom with an “aiya” of pain.

Having gotten the location, the men charged upstairs.

Hearing the commotion, Qin Yining had already gathered her people, forming ranks near the stairway on the second floor.

“What do you think you’re doing!” Qin Yining demanded sternly. “I am the Prince Zhongshun’s consort personally enfeoffed by His Majesty, a first-rank noble lady. Do you common people want to rebel!”

Qiu Yuanming’s face was iron-blue as he charged upstairs, standing on the platform between the first and second floors with hands on his hips, looking up at Qin Yining: “Stop your nonsense! You’re just a woman – would arresting you be rebellion? You’re not the Emperor – you’re being too presumptuous! Go, arrest this evil woman!”

“Yes!”

The Qiu family’s martial arts masters and guards had long been accustomed to running rampant. They were already proud of being Qiu family people. Moreover, the Qiu family’s position in Jianchuan was such that even if they committed heinous crimes, no one dared interfere. These Qiu family servants didn’t take Qin Yining’s group seriously at all, charging upward with clubs in hand.

Mu Jinghu, Bingtang, and Ji Yun stood beside Qin Yining, while Jingzhe and the other two masked secret agents guarded behind Qin Yining. The other Elite Tiger Guards had long been provoked to anger, resolutely guarding the stairway entrance. When those overconfident martial arts masters charged up, they were kicked in the chest by the Elite Tiger Guards, rolling down like balls. Those behind couldn’t dodge in time and were also knocked squarely, one hitting another, until even Qiu Yuanming was knocked down to sit on the ground, his hat falling off to reveal a head with only inch-long hair still showing blue scalp.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

What a clever idea Mu Jinghu had come up with – this appearance was too amusing!