Looking at Pang Xiao’s gentle gaze, Huzi inwardly chuckled and teased, “Master has always been an intelligent person. How could someone you fancy be a fool?”

Hearing this, Pang Xiao gave Huzi a light glance. When had he ever said he fancied her?

“Master Zheng would overthink things precisely because of your loose tongue speaking nonsense first.”

“Ah! How can Master blame me for this?”

Seeing Pang Xiao walking away, Huzi quickly followed, lowering his voice to mutter, “It’s clearly Master who has taken a fancy to her. Otherwise, why would Master rush here the moment something happened to the Sun family? Not only helping to collect her grandfather’s corpse, but even acting like a cat burglar to sneak into their manor to observe the situation. If this doesn’t count as taking a fancy, then what would? You’ve just been stripped of your position as Grand Marshal of Pingnan and received such a severe reprimand from the Emperor, yet you still have the heart to worry about others. You…”

Huzi chattered on, not noticing that the person ahead had suddenly stopped, nearly colliding headfirst with Pang Xiao’s back.

“Master…” Huzi nervously swallowed, suddenly wanting to slap himself.

Really, his mouth was too loose! Bringing up precisely what shouldn’t be mentioned!

Because Pang Xiao refused to massacre the city and submitted a memorial to the Emperor, he had incurred imperial wrath, causing the Emperor’s great fury. Two grand eunuchs were hastily dispatched – one to deliver an imperial edict stripping Master of his position as Grand Marshal of Pingnan, the other to deliver an oral decree that thoroughly berated him, calling him “a man with a woman’s benevolence, someone who seeks fame and reputation, unworthy of great responsibility.”

This wasn’t all – the Emperor immediately arranged for Minister of War Lian Shengjie to command the Pingnan Army and assume the position of Grand Marshal of Pingnan. Master went from Grand Marshal to a Huben General.

And this newly appointed Grand Marshal was an elderly man given to lust and greed for wealth!

His surname was Lian, but he wasn’t upright at all. Called Shengjie, but his character had nothing to do with sanctity either.

Upon entering the military camp, he immediately set up red tents, claiming it was to “reward the troops.”

The Pingnan Army consisted of two forces – nine out of ten men were from the Prince’s Huben Army, while one came from the original rebel army. Even if just this ten percent of men took turns in the red tents, it could completely corrupt the camp’s atmosphere. Lian Shengjie himself required female companionship every night.

The camp’s atmosphere was now thoroughly rotten.

Master had been holding back his anger and had just used forceful means to have the red tents removed, provoking Lian Shengjie to blow his beard and glare his eyes, threatening to submit a memorial impeaching him. Yet here he was, riding at full speed to the capital to check on Fourth Miss Qin’s situation.

And this was called not caring? Still claiming he hadn’t taken a fancy?

But he really shouldn’t have brought up the Emperor’s matters.

Originally, before the Emperor ascended the throne, he had sworn brotherhood with their Prince and Marquis Dingbei Ji Zeyu – the three were as close as could be. Now, however, one was sent south to Pingnan, another stationed in the north to resist the Tatars, while the Emperor sat securely on his high throne but began to fear their Prince, keeping his own troops unused while sending the Prince’s Huben Army to all the dangerous places where people might die!

Even he, a mere attendant, could see the Emperor’s intentions – how could the Prince not know?

The Emperor was no longer the person who had wholeheartedly served the people when overthrowing the Northern Ji tyranny.

Huzi’s thoughts raced through a hundred turns, though barely an instant passed externally. He smiled apologetically, lightly slapped his own mouth, and changed the subject: “But Miss Qin truly has a chivalrous heart and is quite resourceful.”

Pang Xiao nodded and resumed walking.

Huzi breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, “That day at the Immortal Maiden Temple, ‘Tianji Zi’ said she had good marriage prospects and her romance star was moving – she was looking at you when he said that. If Master likes her, why not just directly take her? After all, the Qin family is doomed anyway.”

But Pang Xiao said, “It’s not yet time.”

Was it not time to take her? Or not time for the Qin family to be doomed?

Huzi was completely confused, but seeing that his Prince was too lazy to speak again, he didn’t dare continue chattering.

The two hurried to a grand mansion with seven courtyards, front and back. At an inconspicuous corner gate hidden beneath vines in the back garden, they knocked in a regular pattern. Someone inside immediately opened the door and invited them in.

Above the main entrance of this grand mansion, the two large characters “Cao Manor” on the gilt plaque reflected the moonlight and the light of large red lanterns in the night, casting a faint glow.

Qin Huaiyuan returned to the manor early the next morning. Upon entering, he immediately heard about the previous night’s events. Without saying much, he went directly to pay respects to the Old Dowager.

The Old Dowager was currently in the main hall of the Garden of Compassion and Filial Piety, speaking with her daughters-in-law, granddaughters-in-law, and granddaughters.

The Second Madam laughingly explained, “Sixth Girl made a mistake yesterday and was confined to her room to read the ‘Female Precepts.’ I heard that Elder Sister-in-law fainted and is now resting and recuperating at Mother’s place?”

The Old Dowager’s aged hand holding the tea bowl paused upon hearing this, her jade thumb ring striking the bowl with a crisp sound. She paid no attention to what mistake Sixth Miss had made, but was reminded of last night’s anger by the Second Madam’s words. With a stern face, she placed the tea bowl down on the small table with a firm “thud.”

The Second Madam was startled and stood frozen, momentarily speechless.

The originally somewhat relaxed atmosphere in the room immediately became tense.

Fortunately, the voice of a young maid reporting from outside broke the oppressive mood.

“Old Dowager, the Great Master has returned.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief – who didn’t know that the Great Master was the apple of the Old Dowager’s eye?

The Old Dowager’s face indeed showed some pleasure: “Quickly invite him in. He was in the palace all last night without sleep – he must be exhausted today. Lu Juan, prepare food for the Great Master so he can eat and then get some rest.”

Nanny Qin smiled and acknowledged the order.

Qin Huaiyuan had already removed his cloak in the outer room and entered to pay respects to the Old Dowager, while the female family members also bowed to Qin Huaiyuan.

Qin Huaiyuan looked around and didn’t see Sun Shi or Qin Yining, only observing Qin Huining dressed in a water-pink brocade jacket and skirt, with downcast eyes seemingly lost in thought.

Seeing her attire, Qin Huaiyuan frowned.

“Is Yining attending to Sun Shi’s illness?”

He took his seat in the round chair beside the Old Dowager and accepted tea from the senior maid Ruyi, taking a sip.

With one sentence, everyone understood that Qin Huaiyuan already knew about yesterday’s events.

The Old Dowager felt somewhat embarrassed.

After all, she was the one who had demanded Sun Shi be divorced, and she hadn’t sought Qin Huaiyuan’s consent before saying those words that had caused Sun Shi to faint from anger. They were husband and wife, after all, weren’t they?

When the Old Dowager didn’t respond and others found it inappropriate to speak, Qin Huaiyuan looked toward Qin Huining: “Hui Jie’er, why aren’t you attending to your mother’s illness?”

Suddenly called upon, Qin Huining looked up sharply. Meeting Qin Huaiyuan’s all-knowing gaze, her heart jumped, and she quickly said, “Yes, I was planning to go. I intended to pay respects to the Old Dowager first before going.”

“Mm. Yining has already kept watch all night – it should be your turn now.” Qin Huaiyuan waved his hand dismissively: “Go now. Call Yining here – I have matters to discuss with her.”

Qin Huaiyuan’s words contained too much information, stunning everyone present.

First, though he hadn’t been home, he knew everything about the manor’s affairs like the back of his hand.

Second, in Qin Huaiyuan’s mind, Qin Yining had risen to a position where she could “discuss matters”!

This was clearly treating his daughter like a son!

But Qin Huining didn’t think so deeply – only overwhelming jealousy blazed in her heart once again. While respectfully acknowledging and withdrawing, she secretly regretted in her heart that she had been too gentle in her methods. How had she missed the opportunity to kill that wild creature Qin Yining!