Qin Yining stepped forward two paces to support Ma Shi’s arm. “Grandmother, His Highness has sent people to bring back the two children. They should arrive in the next few days. I’m usually busy with many things and have no experience raising children. Though we have wet nurses, it’s still not as reassuring as having family. When the time comes, could you visit my place more often to help me?”

“Do you even need to ask?” Ma Shi answered readily, smiling. “Even if you didn’t want me to come, I’d still go. Those two children are so adorable – they can even call me Great-grandmother.”

“Really? Then what do they call you, Grandmother? With both of you there, won’t they get confused with the titles?”

“No, they won’t. Madam Zheng taught them well. The two children call her Great-great-grandmother and call me Great-grandmother. They don’t get confused at all and are very close to both of us. You’ll know when you see them.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded. Those two precious treasures were the apples of her eye – she could hardly wait. If not for the tense situation requiring separation, those two children would be calling her Mother by now.

Just thinking about it, Qin Yining couldn’t help but harbor some treasonous thoughts.

Qin Yining escorted Ma Shi to her carriage.

When she returned to Changchun Garden, Ji Yun asked, “Princess, will you still watch fireworks tonight?”

“No.” Qin Yining shook her head. “I was just saying that. The fireworks transferred from our shops can be sent back to continue selling. It’s not a special occasion – no need for fireworks.”

“Yes.” Ji Yun nodded and immediately went to make arrangements.

The vast Changchun Garden had been so noisy earlier but was now exceptionally quiet.

Qin Yining stood there in a daze, her body and mind seemingly able to relax.

Qiu Feishan, supported by Bi Ying and Qiu Lu, approached her. “What is the Princess thinking about?”

Qin Yining snapped back to attention and smiled, shaking her head. “Nothing much. I just… made you witness an embarrassing scene today.”

“Not at all. Every family has its difficulties. Though you appear successful, you’ve truly suffered considerable grievances.” Qiu Feishan said. “Actually, looking at it this way, I’m much better off – at least I don’t have a mother-in-law to make things difficult for me.”

Qin Yining couldn’t say much on this matter, but couldn’t help thinking that though Qiu Feishan had no mother-in-law, she had a master uncle like Tianji Zi. One Tianji Zi was more troublesome than a hundred Yao Shis.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but look at Qiu Feishan’s tired face and prominently protruding belly.

She had it hard enough too.

Feeling sympathetic, Qin Yining smiled. “You’ve been living alone these days, and with His Highness away, if you don’t mind, why not stay at my mansion as a guest? We could keep each other company and look after one another. You don’t have any reliable female elders around you, and I happen to have experience in this area. I could help with some matters – at least I could share my experiences with you.”

Though Qin Yining said much, what moved Qiu Feishan most was the last sentence.

She indeed had no elders to consult. Though she had money to hire experienced nannies, it wasn’t as convenient as asking someone familiar.

Qiu Feishan wavered somewhat. “Would it be convenient at your mansion? Wouldn’t my presence disturb you too much?”

“Not at all. Though the courtyards aren’t as large as the former Prince’s mansion, we still have guest rooms and sufficient staff. With your pregnancy so advanced, if you don’t have someone trustworthy by your side at home, it’s ultimately not ideal. It would be better here with me.”

Hearing this, Qiu Feishan nodded. “Then I’ll impose upon you.”

Qin Yining smiled. “What imposition? I’d be delighted if you came. It saves me from being bored at home.”

Qiu Feishan instructed people to prepare her daily necessities to be sent to the Prince’s mansion, while she accompanied Qin Yining down the mountain and returned to the mansion by carriage.

Qin Yining directly escorted Qiu Feishan to the guest rooms in the front courtyard. After sitting briefly in the guest room, before she could return to her own room, Lian Xiaozhou came running to tell Qin Yining, “Sister, Old Madam was beaten by Grand Madam with a cane.”

Qin Yining was shocked. “How could this happen? Did you find out why?”

Lian Xiaozhou said, “I overheard secretly. It seems Old Madam secretly accepted gifts from someone and promised to do something for them. When Grand Madam found out, she flew into a rage, directly scolding Old Madam for selling her son… This has spread throughout the household – everyone knows.”

Qin Yining felt helpless for a moment.

She didn’t need to think to understand it must be about the affair between Yao Shi and Pan Keyu. Yao Shi’s nature wasn’t to be good to people for no reason – her special treatment of Pan Keyu meant the Pan family had given considerable benefits.

The Pan family had invested heavily to cooperate with Pang Xiao. However, they had targeted the wrong person.

But thinking of Ma Shi laying hands on Yao Shi again…

Qin Yining ultimately felt sorry for Ma Shi. Yao Shi was Ma Shi’s biological daughter – if they continued this way, they might develop lasting resentment, and wouldn’t Ma Shi suffer then?

Qin Yining stood up, wanting to go persuade them.

But after taking two steps, she stopped again.

Having been beaten, Yao Shi definitely wouldn’t reflect on her own behavior but would instead blame others for all the mistakes. If she went now, it would inevitably provoke Yao Shi’s fury. If she cursed her in front of Ma Shi, wouldn’t that fail to achieve the persuasive effect and only make Ma Shi angrier?

Thinking of this, Qin Yining helplessly sat back down.

Just then, a maid came to report: “Princess, Master Xie and Master Xu request an audience.”

Qin Yining had expected these two would come. Having heard about today’s events at Changchun Garden, as Pang Xiao’s most capable advisors, they would certainly be very concerned.

Pang Xiao departed with cavalry under the pretext of suppressing bandits, attracting no attention.

With the Pingnan Army present, bandits in the old capital and surrounding areas had to behave much better, pleasing everyone from top to bottom.

Pang Xiao led his men day and night at maximum speed, arriving within half a day’s journey of Bo’an Road.

Pang Xiao immediately arranged for scouts to reconnoiter: “Go see clearly whether the enemy has already positioned themselves. If we’re late, this Prince will think of another method. If we’re early, that’s even better.”

“Yes.”

The troops stopped to reorganize while the scouts went ahead.

However, the news the scouts brought back was very unexpected.

“Your Highness, there are no arrangements on Bo’an Road. According to people chatting in the tea houses, Bo’an Town not far away had a great fire last night. The Qiu family has an estate in Bo’an Town that was burned to ashes overnight with many casualties. Local officials have been busy with this matter, and there are fewer travelers on Bo’an Road.”

“Oh?” Pang Xiao raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Such an incident occurring so close to Bo’an Road inevitably made Pang Xiao suspicious.

Had Qiu Yuanqing’s subordinates eaten chaff? How could their estate be burned so carelessly?

“Your Highness, what do we do now?” Huzi asked with a furrowed brow.

Pang Xiao smiled. “Such a major incident at the Qiu family estate is truly shocking. It might have been bandits’ doing. We must go investigate. If bandits are indeed running rampant, the Pingnan Army doesn’t just sit idle.”

“Your Highness is right.” Huzi grinned eagerly. “The brothers haven’t had a chance to stretch for a long time – everyone’s restless from idleness. If we could get some practice, wouldn’t that be great?”

Not only Huzi felt this way – everyone accompanying them thought the same.

Pang Xiao couldn’t help but shake his head in amusement. Those former pampered soldiers and veterans in the Pingnan Army had all become quite warlike. They no longer feared shedding blood on the battlefield but actually looked forward to it. This made Pang Xiao feel his military training hadn’t been wasted.

Over a hundred men mounted again, forming a column along the official road toward Bo’an Town.

Pang Xiao rode at the front of the formation. In the distance, he seemed to see a small flat-topped cart approaching from the opposite direction.

With his excellent eyesight, he could see from far away that the driver was a scholar in light gray robes. The appearance looked very much like Mu Jinghu.

When they drew closer, Pang Xiao could even make out the face clearly. He couldn’t help but wave to halt the formation and joyfully rode up to meet him.

“Mutou!”

Mu Jinghu also saw Pang Xiao, stopped the cart, and leaped down with delight. “Pang Fox!”

Pang Xiao laughed heartily as he dismounted, looked Mu Jinghu up and down, and patted his shoulder with his large hand. “I knew you wouldn’t be easily defeated! I heard you were kidnapped? Your wife was even threatened that if she didn’t comply, they’d tear you apart!”

Hearing this, Mu Jinghu’s face couldn’t hide his anxiety. He said worriedly, “Is Shanshan alright? Sigh, I knew that surname Qiu had no good intentions. Unable to defeat Shanshan, he actually thought of kidnapping me to threaten her. Is he even a man! Shanshan is heavily pregnant – she can’t withstand such frightening!”

Pang Xiao watched Mu Jinghu’s anxious and honest appearance, thought of Qiu Feishan’s single-minded focus on the Qiu family while disregarding Mu Jinghu’s life and death, and couldn’t help feeling somewhat desolate and pitiful.

After hesitating for a long while, Pang Xiao ultimately didn’t reveal this matter, only saying kindly, “Don’t worry. Boss Qiu is doing very well, with many people serving her. She’s also hired people to care for her – she’s living quite comfortably.”

How could Mu Jinghu not worry? But thinking of his concern for his wife, he remembered how Pang Xiao had originally asked him to protect his wife, but due to his master uncle’s interference, he had missed the opportunity…

Thinking of this, Mu Jinghu felt so guilty he wanted to bang his head against a wall.

“Pang Fox… that… I was wrong before. Your wife had planned everything so well and trusted me so much… Is she alright now? How is she… doing? Could it be she hasn’t reached the old capital yet?”

Pang Xiao wasn’t a petty person. Moreover, he understood Mu Jinghu’s character – when he promised friends something, unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t break his word.

Therefore, Pang Xiao didn’t blame him, smiling. “Fortunately, there was no real danger. I arrived in time and rescued her from the bandits.”

Though he spoke lightly, thinking of what Qin Yining might have experienced in the bandits’ hands, Mu Jinghu bit his lower lip and lowered his head, then solemnly bowed to Pang Xiao.

“Hey, Mutou, what are you doing?”

“I feel guilty. Let me bow to you – it’ll ease my conscience.” Mu Jinghu said sincerely.