Though Qin Yining was in the palace, at the center of the storm, she hadn’t sensed any major abnormalities. At least for now, as long as she followed the rules, she would be fine. When facing Princess Tana’s frequent unreasonable behavior, she only needed to deflect skillfully to get by.

“It’s almost February now. Though the capital’s weather isn’t as warm as the old capital, we can put away the heavy winter clothes.” Ji Yun smiled as she brought out a thick spring outfit in apricot yellow, placing it beside Qin Yining who was doing her hair. “Fortunately we prepared thoroughly when we came, otherwise we wouldn’t have spring clothes to wear.”

Bingtang took a hairpin and compared it against Qin Yining’s peony bun, looking at Qin Yining in the mirror with a smile. “Yes, who would have thought we’d stay in the palace this long? How many court ladies outside would be envious.”

Qin Yining smiled helplessly, using her little finger to smooth the colorless lip balm on her lips. She had always kept a low profile in the palace, even dressing as plainly as possible to avoid outshining the noble ladies and attracting their resentment.

“Alright, we’ll just live peacefully. When we can return, His Majesty will naturally order us to leave. Ji Yun.”

Qin Yining called to Ji Yun and smiled. “Don’t wear this outfit—it’s too delicate. Find something plainer. And the hairpin too—choose something simpler. Not this one.”

With her fair hand, she removed the kingfisher feather flower hairpin from her head, letting Bingtang redo her hair ornaments.

Ji Yun looked at the clothing in her arms and sighed helplessly, then went to find a lake-blue long dress and ivory white jacket instead.

“The princess consort is too wronged. Here she can’t even freely choose what to wear. It’s their own fault they’re not as beautiful as you, yet you still have to consider their feelings and dare not dress up properly. It’s truly unjust.” Bingtang said with frustration and helplessness, finding an elegant jade hairpin.

After Qin Yining finished dressing, she smiled to comfort them both. “If we want to dress up, won’t we be free to do so however we like back at the mansion? If I dress too elaborately now, it will only attract jealousy and hatred. Haven’t you seen that even when I say nothing, that person still acts like a jealous hen?”

Hearing her describe it this way, Bingtang laughed until she swayed. “She really is like a jealous hen! At first, this servant thought she wanted revenge for Khan A’na Ri’s matter. Though she was detestable then, at least her behavior was motivated by national and family vengeance, which had some merit.

“Who knew that later, every time she saw you, her face would be full of jealousy—clearly jealous of your beauty. Obviously she’s put the matter of avenging Khan A’na Ri behind her. You’re not His Majesty’s consort, so why should she be jealous of you?”

“Who knows what she’s thinking.” Qin Yining smiled casually. “Since she finds me displeasing, naturally whatever I do will be wrong in her eyes. Let her be—just endure a little longer.”

Though she said this, who could know when this endurance would finally end?

Ji Yun and Bingtang said no more, bringing the breakfast sent from the small kitchen. Bingtang tested it for poison as usual before letting Qin Yining eat.

Just as they were eating, there was suddenly a commotion outside.

Qin Yining set down her spoon and looked toward the door.

Ji Yun hurried over, bending down to press her ear against the closed lattice door to listen to the voices outside.

“It seems someone has come from Kunning Palace.”

Qin Yining blinked in confusion and lowered her eyes to pick up her hot tea to rinse her mouth.

The voices drew closer, and soon a palace maid knocked on the hall door.

“Princess Consort of Prince Zhongshun, there is a message from Kunning Palace.”

Qin Yining stood up and walked to the hall door, signaling Ji Yun to open it.

Ji Yun nodded and pushed open the door. Morning light illuminated the ground before the entrance. Qin Yining squinted to adjust to the brightness and saw someone in dark green palace attire with a round bun standing below the red steps—it was indeed Nanny Sun, the trusted confidant from Kunning Palace serving the Empress.

“So it’s Nanny Sun.” Qin Yining smiled as she descended the steps and approached to curtsy.

“This servant doesn’t dare.” Nanny Sun quickly stepped aside and returned the courtesy. “This servant greets the princess consort.”

“Nanny Sun, please rise. Does Her Majesty the Empress have any instructions?”

Nanny Sun smiled. “Yes, Her Majesty the Empress requests that the princess consort come to Kunning Palace. These past few days, the Empress Dowager has excused the Empress from evening attendance, so the Empress has some leisure time and wants to make two pairs of shoes for the Empress Dowager. Knowing that the princess consort comes from a scholarly family with good taste, the Empress would like to invite the princess consort to help select patterns for the shoe designs.”

There were countless palace maids skilled in needlework in the palace, not to mention excellent embroiderers in the embroidery workshops waiting for the Empress’s selection. How could it be a “newcomer” like herself, a lady from a great family, to meddle in such matters?

Qin Yining smiled. “Her Majesty honors me. This subject’s wife will go immediately.”

Nanny Sun smiled and nodded, gesturing respectfully for her to proceed.

Qin Yining also bowed and called for Bingtang and Ji Yun to follow.

But they had barely taken two steps when a mocking laugh came from the main hall.

Princess Tana stood at the hall entrance with her arms crossed, one hand playing with the curly hair hanging by her ear, sneering. “Her Majesty the Empress is truly kind-hearted, always finding time to care for court ladies. Does this princess’s Chuxiu Palace somehow mistreat Lady Qin?”

“Your Imperial Consort speaks too highly. How could you mistreat external court ladies? It’s just that since there’s no need to attend the Empress Dowager this evening, the Empress has leisure time and wishes to show filial piety.” Nanny Sun smiled and bowed to Princess Tana. “As mother of the nation, it’s the Empress’s duty to care for the six palaces. Princess Consort of Prince Zhongshun is an external court lady—if not for His Majesty’s compassion for Your Imperial Consort, ordering the princess consort to stay as a companion, she wouldn’t have remained in the palace so long. The Empress’s concern for the princess consort is also to share Your Imperial Consort’s burdens. Don’t you agree?”

Princess Tana’s face instantly flushed red. This old nanny was implying that she was too stupid to learn etiquette and the Zhou language properly, which was why Qin Yining had to stay in the palace so long to continue teaching her!

But everyone with eyes in the palace knew that initially she had merely found an excuse before His Majesty, and His Majesty had agreed because he doted on her. Now keeping the woman here was just to let her vent her anger for entertainment. Even the Empress Dowager didn’t interfere, yet the Empress always meddled—truly annoying.

Princess Tana’s Zhou language wasn’t very fluent yet, so she needed to organize her thoughts before cursing. She wanted to curse in Tatar, but these people wouldn’t understand, making it pointless.

While she was struggling, Nanny Sun had already given her proper courtesy and led Qin Yining’s party away.

Princess Tana could only stamp her feet in anger.

Leaving Chuxiu Palace, Qin Yining quietly breathed a sigh of relief, chatting casually with Nanny Sun as they made their way to Kunning Palace.

The Empress had been waiting for Qin Yining for some time. Seeing her arrive, she smiled. “You’re here. Come quickly and help me look at these patterns—I can’t tell which one I should choose.”

“Yes.” Qin Yining curtsied in acknowledgment and told Ji Yun and Bingtang not to follow, going alone with the Empress to the side hall.

The spring cold was still harsh, but the heated kang by the window in the side hall remained warm. The Empress sat down and raised her hand adorned with an agate ring, pointing to the opposite side of the kang table. “Sit down too—the floor is quite cold.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Qin Yining graciously thanked her and sat sideways on the opposite side of the Empress.

The Empress casually placed a sewing basket on the kang table and dismissed the attending eunuchs and palace servants.

Qin Yining now became even more certain that the Empress had something to tell her. Her nerves involuntarily tensed as she anxiously listened for any movement outside the hall.

The Empress said in a low voice, “I shouldn’t have called you here. But after thinking it over, I felt this matter was not trivial. Since you’re in the palace and don’t receive outside news, you should know about it.

“That day you saved Hao Ge’er from Noble Consort Yun’s hands and truly protected me as well. If I knew about this but didn’t tell you, my conscience wouldn’t be at peace.”

Qin Yining’s heartbeat suddenly quickened. Her pair of clear almond eyes gazed at the Empress, so clean and harmless that the Empress felt increasingly sympathetic and couldn’t help sighing:

“Ah, in the end, these are all matters between men—what do they have to do with us women? I’ll tell you so you’ll know in your heart, though it won’t change anything. I heard that His Majesty issued an edict a few days ago, dispatching Minister Qin to Tianyu Pass to reward the troops.”

To reward the troops?

Though her father was Minister of Rites and had previously received Li Qitian’s attention, the current situation was very complicated. Qin Yining couldn’t believe Li Qitian would trust Qin Huaiyuan enough to arrange for him to reward troops.

Moreover, after the great victory over the Tatars in the north, Ji Zeyu deserved much credit. Even if troops were to be rewarded, it should be Ji Zeyu going—how could it be an unrelated person’s turn?

“Your Majesty, is my father going alone this time, or is Duke Dingguo accompanying him?”

“From what I know, only your father is going. Duke Dingguo remains in the capital.”

“Then which day specifically was this? I haven’t received any news at all.”

The Empress shook her head, not wanting to say more, only adding, “It seems he departed the day before yesterday.”

Qin Yining nodded thoughtfully, holding embroidery samples with a somewhat dazed expression.

The Empress sighed. “Now that you know, that’s enough. I saw you confined in the palace, having to endure that Tatar woman’s harassment daily, while this major matter was kept from you, so I thought to tell you.

“These men’s affairs always end up in fighting and killing, but what do they have to do with us women? I can’t bear to see someone implicate you like this, yet I’m helpless. This matter—His Majesty didn’t let you know, and actually I wasn’t sure if I should tell you either, but…”

The Empress’s voice grew weaker as she spoke, full of hesitation.

She knew there was friction between Pang Xiao and Li Qitian. Sometimes she felt it wasn’t her place to interfere in men’s affairs. But Qin Yining had truly protected her and saved her son, and this matter seemed suspicious everywhere. Knowing the signs weren’t good, if she didn’t warn Qin Yining, she would feel uneasy.

Besides, she was only revealing information, not directly doing anything. Qin Yining was in the palace—knowing her father had gone to the border to reward troops was just knowing this news, which wouldn’t interfere with greater matters and shouldn’t concern His Majesty. If she wouldn’t even share this information, it would be too ungrateful.

Qin Yining vaguely understood the Empress’s thoughts. Temporarily suppressing her shock at the news and countless speculations, she smiled at the Empress. “Thank you, Your Majesty. This subject’s wife is deeply grateful.”

The Empress smiled and shook her head bashfully. “It’s nothing really, just…”

“What does Princess Consort of Prince Zhongshun have to thank the Empress for?”

A male voice suddenly interjected, startling the Empress so much that the embroidery hoop fell from her hands onto her lap.