“If you encounter any danger out here, how could we account for it? Come, return to the Qiu family with us.”

As Qiu Yuanqing spoke, he gestured for his people to surround Qin Yining.

Ji Yun and Bingtang nervously protected Qin Yining behind them.

Mu Jinghu also placed one hand on his belt, ready to draw his soft sword at any moment.

Jingzhe and the others, along with the Elite Tiger Guards, had already drawn their weapons and stood ready for battle.

But Qin Yining just laughed lightly, pushing aside those protecting her and giving them a reassuring smile.

“Second Master Qiu really knows how to jest. You’d better have your people stop – if they come another half step closer, I can’t guarantee what consequences you’ll face.”

As she spoke, Qin Yining pulled out an apple-sized black spherical object from the bundle behind her. The sphere had a two-inch fuse extending from it, and Qin Yining had already taken out a fire starter with her other hand, blowing on it twice.

“This is… a thunder fire bomb!” Qiu Yuanqing turned pale with shock, hastily shouting, “Stop! Everyone halt!”

No one had expected Qin Yining to carry such a thing in her bundle. Even Bingtang and Ji Yun, who normally didn’t have the habit of searching through Qin Yining’s private belongings, had missed that she carried such dangerous items.

This was what Qin Yining had requested from Pang Xiao when leaving. Considering safety concerns, Pang Xiao had only given her two for self-defense, never expecting they would actually come in handy.

The Elite Tiger Guards’ eyes were bloodshot – they were useless, allowing their princess consort to be in danger and forced to resort to such measures!

The three from Jingzhe also had grave expressions.

But not one of them retreated. Instead, they moved several steps closer to Qin Yining. Even if they had to die, they couldn’t be deserters – otherwise they’d have no face to live afterward!

In contrast, the Qiu family’s guards and martial arts masters were indeed hired by the Qiu family, but they had no obligation to die for them. Seeing something that could cost them their lives, they absolutely refused to do it.

So these people retreated without hesitation, quickly exposing Qiu Yuanqing and the loyal servants and death warriors he kept around him.

Qiu Yuanqing said in a deep voice: “Princess Consort, why be so impulsive? What if you really hurt yourself? We have no ill intentions – we’re just worried about the princess consort suffering hardships outside and wanted to invite you to continue as our guest.”

“As a guest?” Qin Yining said with a smile: “If this is being a guest, then cutting off the guest’s contact with the outside world and confining the guest to one courtyard – is this also the Qiu family’s way of hospitality?”

“The princess consort misunderstands. At that time arsonists were rampant, and both the inn and Qiu family suffered. We were also afraid the princess consort might encounter danger, so we had no choice but to resort to this strategy. The princess consort is a reasonable person – how could you not understand my good intentions?”

“Of course I understand.” Qin Yining smiled: “Since the authorities have already brought the arsonists to justice, I should also leave. It wouldn’t be good to keep imposing on your mansion, would it?”

Qiu Yuanqing felt stifled. Qin Yining had taken his words, changed the angle, and thrown them back in his face, leaving him momentarily unable to find a response.

He had the feeling of facing his annoying grand-niece. Indeed, intelligent women were very irritating!

“Could it be that the princess consort is determined to refuse the toast and drink the punishment wine?”

“Toast and punishment wine? Ever since meeting your Qiu family, I seem to have been constantly forced to drink punishment wine. Qiu Feizhen harbored improper intentions, Qiu Yuanming and his womenfolk came to harass me, and even committed arson to murder me. Is it that only the Qiu family is allowed to bully people while I’m not allowed to resist? Has Jianchuan City lost all law and order?”

“For the princess consort to say this is not unreasonable.” Qiu Yuanqing laughed coldly: “You can inquire around Jianchuan City about what constitutes law and order. See whose domain this really is!”

“It seems the Qiu family harbors treasonous thoughts.” Qin Yining calmly stated a fact.

But Qiu Yuanqing’s heart jumped upon hearing this, and he said coldly: “The princess consort need not pin labels on us. Even if you talk until your lips are worn out, who would know? You’d better put away that dangerous thing, otherwise once it explodes, your entire group will be blown to pieces!

“Doesn’t the princess consort know what kind of place Jianchuan is? I’ll tell you frankly – even if your entire group died here today, no one would know. A simple explanation of dying from inability to adapt to local conditions would cover it up.

“Princess Consort, the wise submit to circumstances. I advise you not to act impulsively, harming yourself and also harming those who follow you.”

“Stop your nonsense!” Jingzhe angrily said: “We swear to follow the princess consort to the death. If you have the ability, come up – grandpa will slaughter you until none remain! If anyone fears death and blinks an eye, they’re born of a whore!”

“Right, slaughter them until none remain!” The Elite Tiger Guards also roared.

But Qin Yining blew on the fire starter and brought it directly to the thunder fire bomb.

The fuse made a “hissing” sound and sparks flew out.

Seeing this, although Qiu Yuanqing felt regretful, he had no particular feelings for those about to die: “Why must you be so stubborn? At such a good age, sigh.”

As he spoke, a group of loyal death warriors were already protecting Qiu Yuanqing as they retreated, obviously not wanting to be blown up together with Qin Yining’s group.

Those around Qin Yining felt their hearts turn cold, but not one was afraid of death. Although they thought Qin Yining wanting to end her life without struggling was too impulsive, none thought of fleeing. They all stood firmly beside Qin Yining.

Who knew that at this moment, Qin Yining suddenly pushed aside Jingzhe who was blocking her front and hurled the thunder fire bomb in her hand fiercely toward the opposing camp.

The distance between the two groups wasn’t close, but Qin Yining’s advantage from her early years of survival in the wilderness showed at this moment – she had great strength. The thunder fire bomb’s fuse sparked as it traced an arc through the sky, heading straight for Qiu Yuanqing’s direction.

Qiu Yuanqing, who had been smugly waiting to watch the show, was scared pale by Qin Yining’s sudden attack.

“Quick, quick, quick! Run!”

“Ah! Run, it’s a thunder fire bomb!”

The Qiu family group from top to bottom were all scared silly, scattering in panic.

Qiu Yuanqing was pulled by loyal servants as they ran madly backward. Who could have thought Qin Yining was different from ordinary women? When surrounded by a group of men like this, wouldn’t ordinary women die to prove their innocence? But Qin Yining did the opposite – the thunder fire bomb wasn’t for herself, but for them!

“BOOM!”

A tremendous explosion shook the earth and mountains.

The fragments and debris from the explosion scattered like hidden weapons, affecting all those who hadn’t had time to run far.

This immediately left over ten people from the opposing side severely injured, with the rest also bearing light wounds.

Qin Yining seemed somewhat regretful as she turned back and pulled out another one from her bundle.

The masked secret agents and Elite Tiger Guards had initially thought Qin Yining wanted to perish together with the enemy, never expecting their princess consort to so decisively blow up the opposition.

Now everyone couldn’t help but laugh heartily. Even though surrounded by the Qiu family’s furious forces several times their number, the satisfaction in their hearts was indescribable.

“Princess Consort, excellent bombing! Give them another one!”

“No rush.” Qin Yining laughed lightly: “Second Master Qiu, please have your people stand aside.”

Qin Yining blew on the fire starter again, positioning the fuse correctly, ready to give them another blast at any moment.

Qiu Yuanqing gritted his teeth and said angrily: “Who would have thought Prince Zhongshun’s consort could be so ruthless and cruel! Your husband goes around boasting about protecting the people, yet you kill innocents indiscriminately. Aren’t you afraid of being ridiculed?”

“Ridiculous. For dealing with rebels, even His Majesty would praise me. You commit outrages and kidnap noble ladies, yet don’t allow me to resist?”

Qin Yining was about to light the thunder fire bomb.

Qiu Yuanqing’s group was frightened into retreating again.

However, Qin Yining’s hand about to light the fuse ultimately stopped.

She only had two thunder fire bombs. They were really just meant for deterrence and suppression. She wanted to save the remaining one for emergencies, not waste both here.

She quietly told those beside her: “Break out.”

Everyone immediately snapped to attention. Mu Jinghu grabbed Qin Yining’s arm and ran, while others protected Bingtang and Ji Yun respectively. Before Qiu Yuanqing’s retreating group could react, they escaped in the opposite direction.

Seeing Qin Yining escape, Qiu Yuanqing realized he’d been tricked. Cursing this woman’s cunning in his heart, he hastily ordered his people to pursue.

However, the scene of the thunder fire bomb explosion had too great an impact on everyone. The Qiu family’s guards and attendants were all frightened and still running without looking back.

Those around Qiu Yuanqing shouted several times before the fleeing people calmed down. Looking back, they discovered the people had actually escaped.

“Still not chasing!” Qiu Yuanqing roared.

“Yes!” Everyone rushed after them chaotically, their formation scattered like loose sand.

Qiu Yuanqing was so angry he stamped his feet. A trusted aide quietly consoled him: “Second Master, please calm your anger. We’re still more familiar with Jianchuan City’s roads. They’re only a few people – how far can they run? Besides, even if they reach the city gate, they can’t get out without passes. Don’t worry – what if you anger yourself ill?”

With consolation from those around him, Qiu Yuanqing finally completely calmed down.

Recalling Qin Yining’s every move just now, he finally realized. Qin Yining had deliberately caused this disturbance to provoke him into losing his composure and being unable to make correct judgments.

What a cunning bitch, just as detestable as Qiu Feishan!

“Chase!”

Qiu Yuanqing led his people in pursuit.

Qin Yining’s group had insufficient horses, only two carriages, so most people still had to run alongside the vehicles. However, some of the opposing side rode horses and quickly caught up.

In the carriage that jolted so violently it was nauseating, Qin Yining gripped the window frame tightly, lifting the curtain to look back.

Seeing the state of the pursuing soldiers behind, she called to those outside the carriage: “Let’s go faster, try to increase speed and widen the distance. They have some on horseback and some on foot – they’ll run at different speeds. When they catch up to us, there’ll be a sequence, so we won’t have to face a whole group at once. We can defeat them one by one!”

“Yes! Princess Consort!”