Qin Yining looked up at him. “I naturally find it suspicious. There are so many noble ladies in the court, many with deeper qualifications and experience. Moreover, there’s still the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and it’s not like there are no other consorts in the palace. What’s more, there are imperial relatives too. To welcome Princess Tana, there’s really no need to have me, an outsider from the distant horizon, specially rush back.”

Pang Xiao nodded with concern. “Not only that. A’lan has now achieved great merit and received a duke title with hereditary succession without diminishment. He’s the commander who defeated the Tatars. To slap the Tatars in the face, who do you think would be most suitable to welcome the marriage princess sent by the Tatars?”

Qin Yining suddenly understood. “You mean Princess Imperial? To slap Si Qin and the Tatars in the face, naturally having Princess Imperial go would be appropriate. Princess Imperial and Prince Consort Ji are husband and wife after all. Moreover, Princess Imperial has imperial bloodline, making her status even more noble.”

“Exactly. Li Helan is just idling in the capital, yet the Emperor insists on making you the Marriage Reception Envoy. Perhaps he’s trying to transfer you away from my side. He knows what my weakness is. Perhaps he wants to make an issue out of you.”

Pang Xiao’s eyes grew dark, as if brewing a massive storm. The rolling fury seemed ready to blow the roof off at any moment.

Looking at Qin Yining, Pang Xiao had a dangerous thought.

Seeing him narrow his eyes as if calculating something, with murderous intent radiating from his entire being that he couldn’t hide, Qin Yining grasped his hand and said hesitantly, “Zhixi, what are you planning to do?”

Pang Xiao pressed his lips together and shook his head, then smiled. “Nothing. I’m just angry about the current situation.”

“No, you’re definitely hiding something from me.” Qin Yining looked at Pang Xiao, recalling what he had just said, when a guess suddenly emerged.

“You couldn’t be thinking of… pulling the rug out from under them, could you?”

Pang Xiao raised an eyebrow, looking at Qin Yining with interest in his eyes, smiling. “What do you mean?”

“You want to kill Princess Tana?”

Pang Xiao didn’t deny it. He pulled Qin Yining to sit beside him, then said in a low voice, “If Princess Tana died on the journey and couldn’t reach the capital, naturally there would be no need for any Marriage Reception Envoy. You wouldn’t have to return to the capital.”

Qin Yining looked into Pang Xiao’s eyes, certain he truly had this intention and wasn’t joking, realizing that Pang Xiao was truly anxious about her safety.

“Zhixi, you can’t be impulsive.” Qin Yining grasped Pang Xiao’s large hand, her slender, soft fingers rubbing the hard calluses on his palm. “Think about it – our situation is already so complex. We can’t create more complications and give the Emperor more reasons to target you.

“How easy is it to kill someone? Moreover, for the peace talks with Great Zhou, Si Qin will definitely protect Princess Tana closely. For you to eliminate her without alerting anyone would be simply impossible. Once your actions are exposed, the Emperor will have even more reason to move against you. Think about the situation of being attacked from all sides then – how many people would suffer because of this? Isn’t this something that cannot be done?”

Pang Xiao pressed his lips together without speaking, like a stubborn child.

Qin Yining continued with gentle words, “We don’t know what kind of person that Princess Tana is. Although she’s being sent by the Tatars for marriage, she’s still a life after all. Before confirming that the other party is extremely evil and deserving of punishment, we shouldn’t make decisions about her life. Taking someone’s life isn’t that simple. No one should trample on innocent lives. Don’t you agree?”

Pang Xiao hung his head, only nodding after a moment. “Mm.”

“I know you’re worried about me, but I promise you, I’ll be very careful and will definitely protect myself. You just need to leave guards with me, and I’ll handle everything else.

“After returning to the capital, naturally Father will look after me. Back in Great Yan, when the demon empress wanted to eat my flesh, didn’t I still manage to avoid her? So this time the situation isn’t even that bad, and I can handle it just the same. Trust me.”

Pang Xiao only held Qin Yining’s hand without letting go, refusing to speak, his head hung low in internal struggle.

Qin Yining smiled and shook his hand. “Don’t worry. Didn’t you say before that I was the cleverest? Since I’m clever, I can handle such things just the same – there won’t be any problems. Besides, back in Tatar territory, when I faced A’na Ri and Si Qin, I never fell behind. I really don’t take one Princess Tana seriously. This is Great Zhou territory after all, not the Tatar lands where she can do whatever she pleases.”

Qin Yining spent a long time persuading him before finally getting Pang Xiao to nod and sigh. “I know everything you’ve said is for my own good.”

“What are you saying? We’re family – naturally I’m thinking of both of us.”

Pang Xiao sighed softly, extending his arm to pull Qin Yining over again, holding her seated on his lap, burying his face in the hollow of her neck.

“Sister Yi, I don’t want to be separated from you. Once you go back this time, who knows when I’ll receive orders to return to the capital.”

Qin Yining’s heart was also very heavy.

Their family of four – one had to go to the capital, one stayed in the old capital, and Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er had gone to South Yan. Even when the two children were by her side, Pang Xiao was often away from home due to military duties.

They had never lived the ordinary, peaceful days of knowing and staying with each other that common people enjoyed.

“Don’t think so much. Once you resolve matters here, naturally you’ll return to the capital. Besides, this arrangement isn’t bad – after I return to the capital, I can take better care of the Old Madam and Old Master, and can show filial piety before the elders again. This is quite good.”

What made him most heartbroken about her was that she always buried her melancholy deep inside, never showing it, always presenting her most beautiful and strongest side to him. She was always so understanding, never willful or capricious, never causing him trouble.

But Pang Xiao wished he could spoil her beyond all reason.

No matter how strong she was, she was still just a weak woman.

Pang Xiao embraced Qin Yining, his treasuring kisses falling on the corner of her lips. “Take good care of yourself. Don’t let yourself be wronged, don’t let yourself get hurt.”

“I know. You too – when you share hardships with the soldiers in the army, remember to treat yourself well occasionally. We’re not so poor that we need to mistreat ourselves, are we?”

Pang Xiao burst out laughing. “I understand. I’ll definitely eat and drink well.”

“Also, discuss matters more with Counselor Xie and Counselor Xu. Additionally, regarding the Emperor’s secret decree for you to eliminate Yuchi Yan, you must think carefully about how to handle it. If you really kill him and the Emperor later reveals the matter, who would speak in your favor? At that time, most people in the world wouldn’t know you were actually following the Emperor’s secret decree – they’d only think you killed the last emperor of Great Yan. The impact this would bring would probably be enormous.”

“Alright, I’ll listen to everything our Sister Yi says.”

Pang Xiao nodded obediently. If outsiders saw this, they would be absolutely shocked, because where was even half of his domineering and sharp presence now? He was completely like a gentle, large loyal dog.

The two continued giving each other all the instructions they could think of, afraid that once separated, something would be overlooked.

That night, neither of them slept well.

Because this was returning to the capital by imperial decree with time constraints, the next day before dawn broke, Pang Xiao called his elite Tiger Guards together and arranged personnel to escort Qin Yining back to the capital.

Pang Xiao selected those who had escorted Qin Yining to Jianchuan City the previous time. They had followed Qin Yining without any mishaps, and they also had some friendship with the Silver-Masked Agents, which would make things more convenient when the time came.

“The Princess Consort’s safety will depend on everyone from now on.” After explaining the details, Pang Xiao finally cupped his hands in salute.

Several Tiger Guards quickly stepped aside, not accepting Pang Xiao’s bow, returning deep bows as they said, “Prince, rest assured. We will protect the Princess Consort with our lives!”

In the bedroom, Qin Yining folded all the clothes she had made for Pang Xiao and placed them in a deep blue bundle, handing it to Huzi with instructions: “Take good care of the Prince. Although the south isn’t as cold as the north, it’s still quite damp and cold. Take these clothes to the military camp and remember to make him wear them.”

“Yes, I’ll definitely remember.” Huzi held the bundle, feeling somewhat sad. Looking at Bingtang packing luggage, he suddenly understood Pang Xiao’s current mood.

Bingtang and Ji Yun had already packed the departure luggage properly.

“Princess Consort, everything is packed.”

“Director Cheng has prepared the carriages and horses. Someone just came to ask if the Princess Consort is ready.”

Qin Yining came back to her senses, accepted the lotus-colored hibiscus petal cloud shoulder cape that Bingtang handed her, and smiled. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Everyone followed Qin Yining out the door.

Walking to the courtyard gate, Qin Yining turned back to look at the gate and plaque of Snow Pear Courtyard.

This vast residence was where her maternal family lived. Although her family members weren’t home now, this place contained many memories of her leaving the deep mountains and returning to the mundane world.

With this departure, who knew when she would return next.

Qin Yining suppressed the sourness in her heart and smiled as she led everyone toward the main gate.

Pang Xiao had already been exchanging pleasantries with Director Cheng at the gate for quite some time.

Director Cheng was a perceptive person who was already fearful of Pang Xiao. Combined with the generous monetary gift Pang Xiao had given and Qin Yining’s noble status as the Marriage Reception Envoy personally appointed by the Emperor, he dared not show the slightest negligence. Seeing Qin Yining emerge, he quickly stepped forward to bow.

“This servant pays respects to the Princess Consort.”

Qin Yining quickly stepped aside to avoid the bow, returning the courtesy. “Director Cheng, please don’t be overly polite. I must rely on Director Cheng’s care throughout this journey.”

“Not at all. Serving the Princess Consort is this servant’s duty. Princess Consort, please don’t be polite.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Qin Yining’s gaze fell on Pang Xiao.

Neither of them had slept well last night, and both had faint dark circles under their eyes today.

Pang Xiao smiled at Qin Yining. “Don’t worry. When you return to the capital, just focus on sharing the Emperor’s burdens. I’ll also complete the Emperor’s instructions and return to the capital as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Prince, take care. Your wife will depart now.” Qin Yining gave Pang Xiao a proper formal bow.