Bi Ying didn’t let the shop attendants come forward, personally going downstairs to bring up the tea tray herself. The tea tray held white porcelain teapot and teacups, with an additional azure-colored covered bowl containing warm honey water.

Qiu Feishan smiled slightly, taking the covered bowl that Bi Ying brought over, then gracefully arranged her sleeves to serve tea to Qin Yining.

Qin Yining accepted the tea, smiled her thanks, then got straight to the point: “You two have married?”

Upon hearing this, Mu Jinghu’s face immediately flushed red, nodding as he said: “Yes, we’re married.”

Qin Yining beamed with joy: “Congratulations to you both. I wasn’t aware beforehand and haven’t prepared a proper congratulatory gift, but I’ll make up for it immediately upon my return.”

“Thank you.” Qiu Feishan smiled warmly.

Mu Jinghu’s face grew even redder.

Qin Yining laughed and asked: “No wonder when you rescued Miss Qiu back then, you disappeared without a trace. So you kidnapped her away?”

Mu Jinghu nodded, then shook his head, explaining: “I’m not someone who breaks promises. Years ago, my master’s senior told me that my future wife would be an extraordinary woman of peerless beauty. When she sent me south, she also said my marriage fate was approaching.

“I had asked her about it, but she said heavenly secrets cannot be revealed. When I asked who my future wife would be, the old master only said to let me wander around and see who caught my eye to bring back, then she would help me evaluate the match.”

Qin Yining was astounded hearing this, couldn’t help but shake her head with amusement—this certainly matched Tianji Zi’s consistent style of doing things.

“So you took a liking to Miss Qiu and kidnapped her away?”

Mu Jinghu’s face was now so red it could nearly drip blood, lowering his head as he nodded.

Qin Yining looked at Qiu Feishan beside them with her serene smile, then at Mu Jinghu who had become even more wooden since getting a wife, couldn’t help but shake her head and laugh: “I have some matters I’d like to discuss with Mrs. Mu. Young Master Mu, would you mind stepping out for a moment?”

The address “Mrs. Mu” made Mu Jinghu beam with joy, nodding repeatedly: “Good, you two chat. I’ll go out first.”

Mu Jinghu turned to look at Qiu Feishan, seeing her smile and nod at him. He reluctantly touched Qiu Feishan’s hand before turning to leave first.

Qin Yining also sent Bingtang and Ji Yun downstairs, while Qiu Feishan likewise had her maid withdraw.

Only Qiu Feishan and Qin Yining remained in the room.

Qin Yining said: “Since you chose this place, it must be safe. I’ll speak plainly then.”

Qiu Feishan smiled: “Please, go ahead.”

Qin Yining nodded: “You weren’t willing, were you?”

Though she didn’t elaborate, Qiu Feishan understood Qin Yining’s meaning, smiling bitterly: “I had no other choice. Tianji Zi imprisoned me with absolutely no chance of escape.

“She came to talk with me every day, analyzing court politics, analyzing the current situation, and told me the news that my grandfather was killed by that traitor Qiu Yuanqing. The Qiu family has split into pieces—I couldn’t just watch the lifelong efforts of my grandfather and predecessors come to nothing.

“I wanted to revive the Qiu family, to avenge my grandfather, but I couldn’t remain imprisoned forever. That Tianji Zi was simply like a demon—she could tell what I was thinking just by looking at me, so she made a deal with me.”

Qin Yining continued: “Did she say that if you married Young Master Mu, she would give you freedom, help you strategize, avenge your grandfather, and help you reclaim the Qiu family?”

“It seems you understand Tianji Zi very well.” Qiu Feishan smiled bitterly, but her smile revealed some sweetness amid the helplessness. “Though things weren’t exactly as you described, it was close enough. Originally, I agreed to marry him out of desperation for freedom, but later I discovered he’s actually a very honest and particularly single-minded person.

“I had originally thought that after being captured back by my grandfather, I’d spend the rest of my life with only Buddhist lamps and scriptures to end my remaining days, and all my efforts would come to nothing.

“But now I have my own family and can accomplish more things with my husband’s companionship. This was truly an unexpected gain.”

Qin Yining smiled: “I can see that although you accepted this marriage out of helplessness, you can now feel happiness.

“Young Master Mu is an honest person, sincere with others, and single-minded. As long as you treat him with sincerity, he’ll return it a hundred or thousand-fold. I think your being together might not be a bad thing. At least you can raise the Qiu family banner again and have an honorable battle with Qiu Yuanqing.”

Qiu Feishan smiled slightly: “You always see problems so clearly. You’re right—not just me, I believe any woman forced to marry someone wouldn’t be happy about it. Being forced into marriage feels different from an arranged marriage. You and Prince Zhongshun have deep feelings, so naturally you wouldn’t understand this kind of fear and anger.

“Moreover, I was already at my wit’s end and being imprisoned and forced to marry! But as you said, I’m now content with this marriage. He has his virtues. I’m someone who likes to use her mind and prefers to make decisions about everything. If he had the same personality as me, we couldn’t get along. Now he supports me, indulges me, and protects me—I’m truly content.”

Hearing Qiu Feishan say this, Qin Yining could finally set her mind at ease.

Though Mu Jinghu was Tianji Zi’s disciple, she understood his character somewhat—he wasn’t someone with evil intentions, and was even more honest, straightforward, and loyal than ordinary people. He was also stubborn, and having identified himself as Pang Xiao’s friend, he had been helping his friend selflessly without complaint, even willing to risk everything for friendship.

Although Qin Yining had never heard Mu Jinghu complain, being caught between Pang Xiao and Tianji Zi must have caused him considerable difficulty.

As for Qiu Feishan, though she was a woman of great wisdom and deep schemes, Qin Yining could see she was now sincere toward Mu Jinghu.

In married life, one need not seek anything else—only sincerity.

Qin Yining smiled and asked: “What do you plan to do next? Will you return to the Qiu family?”

“Certainly not.” Qiu Feishan laughed. “Though the Qiu family’s power seemingly fell into Qiu Yuanqing’s hands, outsiders might not know that the Qiu family’s economic pillar all these years has been Sitong Trading Company. Sitong Trading Company is now completely under my control. The Qiu family has lost half its economic foundation, plus Qiu Yuanqing’s terrible reputation, and many people who want to avenge my grandfather.”

Speaking of this, Qiu Feishan showed a mocking smile: “Though everyone seeks survival and schemes, and I admit I’m no saint, for him to kill his own biological father for his ambitions—such scum, I can’t even bear to look at his face.”

Qin Yining said: “Morally, he’s already full of flaws. I believe he’s no match for you.”

Qiu Feishan smiled gracefully: “I hope your words prove true.”

The two sat facing each other for a while longer, then Qiu Feishan smiled: “We’ll be heading south in a few days. Is there anything Princess would like us to convey to the Prince?”