“Boss Qiu actually does care about Young Master Mu. When she heard that he was safe, she was overjoyed. Knowing that you were entering the city, she hurried home to welcome you. Otherwise, she had been staying at our mansion all these days.”
Qin Yining’s movements paused slightly. After thinking for a moment, she continued: “Actually, I feel that she seems to mind somewhat about what happened the day she married Young Master Mu. But since they’re already married and now expecting a child, everyone has accepted reality. However, don’t let her worldly sophistication and excellent business acumen fool you—when it comes to emotions, she’s not good at expressing herself and always feels too embarrassed to act.”
Pang Xiao remained noncommittal, completely uninterested in what kind of person Qiu Feishan really was, and simply said: “Mutou also broods over the circumstances of marrying Boss Qiu that day. After all, she was a wife obtained through force and coercion, so he naturally has some worries in his heart. What he fears most is that Boss Qiu was never sincere with him from the beginning.”
“That’s only human nature.” Qin Yining sighed and nodded. “It seems every family has its difficult scriptures to recite.”
Qin Yining took the wooden ladle and had Pang Xiao tilt his head back to help him rinse the lather from his hair.
Pang Xiao closed his eyes comfortably, his voice lazy: “How many people could be as fortunate as I am? Yi Jie’er, I’ll wash yours in a moment too.”
Qin Yining’s face heated up, and she shook her head: “No need. We’ll be eating dinner soon. The two children might come looking for us later.”
Pang Xiao was somewhat displeased. He hadn’t seen his wife for many days, and now she was right beside him with such a wonderful atmosphere—how could they not indulge themselves passionately?
However, he ultimately respected Qin Yining’s wishes, knowing she was thin-skinned in front of his family members and not wanting her to become the subject of gossip.
Pang Xiao smiled and pulled Qin Yining’s hand, drawing her close to him, and didn’t stop until he had thoroughly tasted her petal-like lips.
The evening banquet was particularly lively. After dinner, Pang Xiao deliberately slowed his pace to walk and talk with Qin Yining and Ma Shi.
“Grandmother, my mother’s health is poor, and her spirits are also bad. When I returned this afternoon and saw her condition, I was truly worried, so I’ve arranged for people to escort her to my southern estate.”
Ma Shi was stunned, the smile on her face freezing.
Qin Yining frowned: “How could it be so sudden? Where is the Old Madam unwell? Has a physician examined her?”
“It’s mainly mental strain.” Pang Xiao soothingly took Qin Yining’s hand.
Qin Yining was still absorbed in the matter of Yao Shi being suddenly sent away and didn’t notice that Pang Xiao was now holding her hand while his other arm protectively embraced her shoulder.
Ma Shi was a perceptive person. Seeing Pang Xiao’s behavior, what didn’t she understand?
Yao Shi was her daughter, so naturally she felt pain for her. But Pang Xiao was her beloved grandson, a child she had watched grow up from small—how could she not know Pang Xiao’s temperament and character? He wasn’t an unfilial person. For him to decide to send Yao Shi away, it must be because Yao Shi had done something truly unbearable.
Actually, ever since Yao Shi and Yao Chengu had conspired to give the pregnant Qin Yining red flower extract, Ma Shi had long anticipated this day would come. In her imagination, Pang Xiao would be even more extreme, perhaps even cutting off all contact with them forever.
Now that Pang Xiao was only sending her to an estate and arranging for people to specifically serve and protect her, his methods were already quite gentle.
However, although she understood the reasoning, Ma Shi’s heart was still very sad. Why did Yao Shi have to be that way? It was ultimately her own incompetence in failing to properly educate her daughter.
Pang Xiao had originally feared that Ma Shi might harbor resentment toward Qin Yining, which was why he had so firmly demonstrated his cherishing of Qin Yining. But seeing Ma Shi’s expression as she lowered her eyes, he ultimately couldn’t bear it and released Qin Yining to step forward and embrace Ma Shi.
“Grandmother, don’t worry. That place has clear mountains and beautiful waters, and it’s within Nanyan’s territory. I’ve also arranged for people to serve and protect her. The Old Madam will live very well there. She can quietly rest her mind there, and with no more of those troublesome matters around her, it will be good for both her body and spirit. Once her health improves, I’ll bring her back.”
Ma Shi felt very heartbroken but nodded: “I know you had no choice. Your mother… it’s ultimately because I didn’t teach her well.”
“Grandmother, don’t think that way. Everyone has their own path to walk, and choices are made by oneself. Moreover, her current temperament was also shaped by the environment she faced in the Pang family back then. It doesn’t matter—everything will be better in the future.”
“Mm. You’re right.” Ma Shi smiled, then took Qin Yining’s hand. “Yi girl, don’t take it to heart. Your mother-in-law needs a quiet environment to recuperate, so going there to rest is just right.”
After her initial shock, what didn’t Qin Yining understand now?
She also felt it was good for Yao Shi to go rest quietly, so she wouldn’t disturb the household and ruin her own health, always doing things that harmed others without benefiting herself.
What pained her was Ma Shi.
Caught between her daughter and her grandson’s wife, the days of being torn between both sides were not easy. Moreover, Ma Shi’s choice would also affect her relationship with Yao Chengu—wouldn’t it be tragic if an elderly couple became estranged?
Qin Yining held Ma Shi’s hand, unable to say a single word.
Seeing her expression as if she was about to cry, Ma Shi chuckled, patting Qin Yining’s cheek with her rough, age-spotted hand. “Don’t overthink it. We’ll continue living as usual. When we have free time later, we’ll go visit her. If she’s improved, we’ll bring her back; if not, we’ll just take a look and return.”
Ma Shi’s words made Qin Yining feel even more guilty.
When they each returned to their rooms to rest, Qin Yining was still sighing deeply over this matter. “How could you just send your mother away? There are only so few people in the household. For your mother to live alone in the south doesn’t sound good no matter how you put it.”
Pang Xiao smiled and embraced Qin Yining, pressing her cheek against his chest and reverently placing a kiss on the top of her head.
“It’s nothing. This matter is between her and me and has nothing to do with you. Don’t concern yourself with it. Now that the children are back, you just focus on taking good care of the children and the household, understand?”
The phrase “has nothing to do with you” nearly brought tears to Qin Yining’s eyes.
Qin Yining wrapped her arms around Pang Xiao’s lean, solid waist, wiped her tears with his clothing, and mumbled: “I understand.”
“Your Highness, Your Highness.” Just then, Ji Yun softly called from the corridor outside the door.
Qin Yining looked up and said: “Come in. What is it?”
Pang Xiao released Qin Yining and sat down on the other side of the day bed.
Ji Yun entered the room, bowed, and said: “Your Highness, Your Highness, Miss Biying from Boss Qiu’s mansion has come.”
Qin Yining was surprised: “Why has she come? Please invite her in.”
“Yes.”
Soon, Ji Yun brought Biying in.
Biying’s eyes were red, clearly having cried. Qin Yining was alarmed and asked anxiously: “What’s wrong? Is it your mistress?”
“Reporting to Your Highness.” Biying curtsied. “After returning home, Mistress kept waiting for Master to come back, but Master just wouldn’t return. Mistress cried lying on the table by herself. When this servant suggested sending someone to look for him, Mistress wouldn’t allow it… Mistress has now fallen asleep from crying herself out, so this servant hurried over.”
Biying knelt down and kowtowed: “This servant oversteps her bounds to ask Your Highness and Her Highness on behalf of my mistress—why won’t Master return home? Mistress is now heavy with child and cannot bear such heartbreak.”
As Biying spoke, she began sobbing again, showing how deeply she felt for Qiu Feishan’s grievances at home.
Qin Yining felt both helpless and sympathetic. She had warned Qiu Feishan earlier, but Qiu Feishan wouldn’t listen.
“Your Highness?” Qin Yining looked to Pang Xiao for help.
Pang Xiao thought for a moment and said: “Your master is currently helping me with a matter together with his martial uncle, which is why he hasn’t returned home. Go back and tell your mistress this. I’m also about to go to the military camp now. Your master’s safety can be guaranteed, so tell your mistress not to worry.”
Biying was a clever girl. Seeing the expressions of Pang Xiao and Qin Yining, she knew that Pang Xiao’s words served both to preserve Mu Jinghu’s dignity and to save Qiu Feishan’s face.
For a prince to agree to visit the military camp and make promises about safety was already quite remarkable.
Being of lowly status, Biying dared not make any other requests and gratefully bowed: “Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness.”
She hurried back to watch over Qiu Feishan, kowtowing before rushing back.
Qin Yining watched Biying’s quickly departing figure and sighed helplessly, then turned to ask Pang Xiao: “What should we do? We can’t just watch this young couple develop such conflicts. Boss Qiu is still pregnant—if she becomes too heartbroken and harms the pregnancy, what then?”
Pang Xiao said: “I wasn’t just pacifying that girl earlier. I’ll go to the military camp to see. If I can persuade him, I should still try to talk to Mutou. If a man doesn’t cherish his own wife, should he wait for others to do it? Besides, it’s better to speak openly about misunderstandings face-to-face than to blindly speculate.”
Qin Yining nodded in agreement and sighed: “Why don’t I go with you? What you find inconvenient to say, I can support from the sidelines. Moreover, Young Master Mu is thin-skinned—perhaps with my persuasion, he’ll be too embarrassed to refuse and go home.”
Pang Xiao thought about it and nodded: “That’s fine. There’s no time to waste—let’s go now.”
Qin Yining nodded and called Ji Yun, Bingtang, and Qianyun in, instructing them to take good care of the two children.
Pang Xiao ordered horses to be prepared and took Qin Yining with him. The two shared a single mount to the Pingnan Army camp.
When they arrived, night had already fallen. The Pingnan Army camp was built against the mountains, occupying vast grounds. The camp was brightly lit with bustling voices. This was Qin Yining’s first time seeing the Pingnan Army camp at night, and she couldn’t help but remember past events.
Back then, when she and Pang Xiao had just met, her father had brought her to participate in peace negotiations under the foolish emperor’s orders. Just when she had prepared herself mentally to die to protect her chastity, Pang Xiao had boldly announced before the Huben Army that she was his…
Qin Yining’s face heated up with the memory, and she couldn’t help but chuckle.
Pang Xiao didn’t understand what Qin Yining was laughing about and looked down at her in confusion: “What is it?”
“Nothing, I was just remembering the peace negotiations from years ago.”
Hearing this, Pang Xiao was stunned, naturally also remembering when Qin Yining had entered the wrong tent and caught him bathing.
“So you remember it so clearly.”
“Yes.”
“Could it be that seeing your husband’s muscles for the first time already made you secretly give your heart away, which is why you still remember it so vividly?”