Qin Yining’s muscles were tense all over, her hand gripping the hairpin tightly without releasing it. Her head was still dizzy, stars dancing before her eyes. If she hadn’t been maintaining such intense mental focus, she would have fainted the moment she relaxed even slightly.
The instant Pang Xiao pulled her into his embrace, his brow furrowed even tighter. Qin Yining was simply too thin—when his large hand covered her shoulder blade, he felt nothing but bone.
Just how much suffering had she endured? How had a perfectly healthy person become so emaciated after returning to the capital?
In the past, when she was in his arms, just gentle, soft words would make her melt like spring water. But now she was like a frightened little beast, her entire body rigid as stone, as if the slightest stimulus might drive her completely into a frenzy.
“Yining, look at me.” Pang Xiao held her even more slender waist with one hand while lifting her chin with the other, bending his knees and leaning down to bring his handsome face close to hers. “Relax. Look, I’ve come to get you. No one will harm you anymore.”
Qin Yining trembled with tension all over. Perhaps having stood quietly for this moment, her strength had recovered somewhat. That feeling of seeing stars finally dissipated. Surrounded by a familiar scent, she instinctively felt safe, and her whole body gradually relaxed.
The person before her was real—truly Pang Zhixi. She wasn’t hallucinating in her moment of crisis.
Qin Yining raised her hand to touch Pang Xiao’s face, only to realize she was still gripping the hairpin with its sharp end pointing up, nearly stabbing his cheek. Startled, she loosened her grip and the hairpin fell from her fingertips to the ground.
“Zhixi, you came.”
“It’s me, it’s me.” Pang Xiao tenderly rubbed the deep marks the hairpin’s decorative head had pressed into her palm, then pulled her tightly into his embrace again. “Yining, it’s my fault. I came too late and let you suffer so much.”
Qin Yining shook her head, but tears she couldn’t control began falling steadily, quickly soaking Pang Xiao’s clothing.
Qin Yining was surprised and pushed Pang Xiao away, raising her sleeve to wipe her tears. But the tears completely disobeyed her will, continuing to fall unceasingly.
“What’s wrong with me? What is there to cry about?”
Pang Xiao looked down, his phoenix eyes filled with the reflection of Qin Yining’s tear-streaked face, his heart aching so much it felt ready to burst.
“My Yining has suffered so much. You’ve been wronged constantly since returning to the capital. It’s all because I’m incompetent, causing you to suffer because of me.” His large hand helped wipe her tears, but they only increased with each wipe.
At this time, Huzi had already led several Elite Tiger Guards to tie up all the bandits who had been chasing Qin Yining. Seeing Pang Xiao and Qin Yining’s condition, Huzi hesitated but ultimately said nothing, leading his men to take the bandits back to camp to await Pang Xiao’s decision.
Only Qin Yining and Pang Xiao remained in the forest. The surroundings quieted as the sun set and the light in the forest grew dim.
Pang Xiao lowered his head to reverently kiss Qin Yining’s eyes. “It’s my fault for letting you suffer in the palace, for letting father-in-law get into trouble. At the crucial moment, I couldn’t even protect you. I failed to protect you, and yet my mother led others in bullying you… Yining, hit me. It’s my fault. I know your grievances. Don’t cry anymore—what if you cry yourself sick? Hit me to vent your anger, alright?”
In Pang Xiao’s eyes, Qin Yining’s current appearance was like a child who had been bullied outside. When no one cared for her or stood up for her, she could still stiffen her neck and protect herself stubbornly. But once she saw family, that hard protective shell came off, leaving only a soft heart.
During this time, even though he wasn’t in the capital, he knew Qin Yining hadn’t lived well without him—bullied by Consort Shun, wrongly accused by the Empress Dowager, imprisoned with the Emperor’s tacit approval and nearly starved to death, then experiencing the great funeral arrangements for Qin Huaiyuan.
Pang Xiao knew Qin Huaiyuan’s importance in Qin Yining’s heart. When she was most heartbroken, not only could he not be by her side to protect her, but his mother had kicked her when she was down. He could imagine how wronged and pained she must have been.
Having finally completed the funeral arrangements, she had risked danger to send all family members south step by step. When his people in the south first received Second Madam and Old Madam Qin, Pang Xiao had already understood Qin Yining’s plan. Later, when he met Yao Chengu, the Ma family, and Yao Shi, he understood everything.
Pang Xiao arranged for people to receive the Qin family members heading south one after another. Unable to endure any longer, he secretly left the old capital with his Elite Tiger Guards and rushed toward the capital at full speed.
He trusted Mu Jinghu and knew Mu Jinghu would definitely protect Qin Yining’s safety.
But his own wife—he felt most at ease protecting her himself. He couldn’t completely relax leaving her protection to anyone else.
In fact, Pang Xiao was now more grateful than ever for his decision. If he hadn’t arrived in time…
Thinking of the scene he’d just witnessed—Qin Yining surrounded by four men with lustful, evil expressions—the rage in Pang Xiao’s heart burned intensely.
“Yining, why wasn’t Mutou by your side?”
Qin Yining shook her head. “Everything was fine before departure. But when we left this morning, Young Master Mu had disappeared. The personnel were all ready and the funeral departure date was set, so I couldn’t delay. I had to proceed like this.”
Pang Xiao nodded, somewhat angry at Mu Jinghu.
But Pang Xiao also knew Mu Jinghu’s character. He was always decisive and very loyal. If he hadn’t encountered some emergency, Mu Jinghu wouldn’t have changed his mind at the last minute. Moreover, Mu Jinghu knew Qin Yining’s complete plan and understood that his sudden change of mind could bring tremendous disaster upon her.
Still, regardless of the reason, Qin Yining had indeed fallen into danger because of Mu Jinghu’s broken promise.
Qin Yining wiped her face with her sleeve and took a long time to compose herself before saying hoarsely, “How did you suddenly come? If you’re caught for abandoning your post, won’t that be trouble?”
“As long as you’re safe, who can do anything to me?” Pang Xiao’s large hand stroked Qin Yining’s disheveled hair, then removed his outer robe to drape over her shoulders, covering her dress torn by branches.
Qin Yining gripped the collar, saying, “We must be cautious in our actions now. The Emperor clearly fears you to a certain degree. If not for your distinguished military achievements and exceptional abilities, and his remaining love for talent wanting to keep you for his use, he probably would have directly pinned charges on you long ago instead of doing so many things to test you.”
Pang Xiao nodded silently. Before coming, he had already discussed this matter with Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi. Both strategists of exceptional wisdom thought the same as Qin Yining—that Li Qitian’s actions were actually to test Pang Xiao’s loyalty.
Qin Yining took Pang Xiao’s hand and, after determining direction, walked toward the camp. “For this trip, did Master Xie and Master Xu agree?”
Straight to the heart of the matter—she’d asked exactly the right question.