Qin Yining laughed: “He wants to live a secluded life with you. Actually, that kind of life would be quite nice – far from strife, no need to live in constant fear.”

“It would be nice, but only after resolving all troubles and having no more worldly concerns. Otherwise, even in seclusion, life wouldn’t be peaceful, and one would still have to worry about being found.”

At this point, Qiu Feishan said earnestly to Qin Yining: “Don’t worry about this trip back to the capital with His Highness. Yesterday that blockhead said that no matter what, he’ll protect you both this time.”

Qin Yining smiled: “I know he means well, but what if his senior uncle causes trouble again?”

“I asked about this too.” Qiu Feishan’s voice was very soft, but she seemed unable to suppress her laughter: “Originally, if his senior uncle hadn’t suddenly acted up, he could have protected you and you wouldn’t have nearly been in danger, and they wouldn’t have chased after you in the middle of the night only to be captured. But guess what he said?”

“What did he say?”

Qiu Feishan kept a straight face, imitating Mu Jinghu’s manner as she said in a low voice: “Even if Senior Uncle disagrees, it doesn’t matter. I see that fox Pang has been feeding her well with good food and drink – she’s gotten nice and plump and seems quite happy.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining burst out laughing: “He plans to continue letting His Highness keep Tianji Zi confined?”

“Exactly.” Qiu Feishan was both amused and satisfied.

Seeing her expression, Qin Yining understood and didn’t say much more.

Originally, Qiu Feishan had married Mu Jinghu because she was coerced by Tianji Zi. Now it seemed Qiu Feishan and Mu Jinghu had developed real feelings, but she still resented Tianji Zi. She just couldn’t act on it due to Mu Jinghu’s reputation and fear of Tianji Zi’s unpredictable supernatural methods.

Qin Yining quietly told Qiu Feishan about things to pay attention to when caring for children.

Over the following days, Qin Yining often visited the Mu household. Qiu Feishan was an intelligent person and enjoyed being close to Qin Yining. Their relationship progressed rapidly during this period. The rift in their friendship caused when Qiu Feishan had nearly betrayed Pang Xiao to save Mu Jinghu gradually disappeared.

The eighth day of the twelfth month – the proper day for eating porridge.

Qin Yining was ordering people to send laba porridge to the Mu household and serving laba porridge to Pang Xiao when Huzi hurried in to report: “Your Highness, Master Lu has arrived. Governor Qi has gone to receive him. Our people got word that Master Lu is currently at the government office with Governor Qi, and will later visit the Pingnan Army camp for inspection.”

Pang Xiao nodded with a smile and beckoned Huzi over: “Come, eat your fill first, then we’ll depart.”

Huzi had been somewhat anxious – after all, Pang Xiao was ordered by imperial decree to lead the Pingnan Army in guarding the south. If the imperial envoy arrived but Pang Xiao wasn’t at the military camp, this would spread as bad news.

Seeing Huzi’s worry, Pang Xiao smiled: “It’s fine, eat quickly. Lu Tingzhong won’t go to the camp so soon. He’s first accompanying Governor Qi to inspect the government office – he’s giving me time to prepare.”

Huzi suddenly understood, slapping his forehead: “Tsk, I completely forgot.”

Huzi wasn’t polite either, accepting the porridge Qin Yining handed him with both hands. He and Pang Xiao boldly slurped away, draining seven bowls in one go.

Qin Yining hadn’t finished half a bowl of porridge while Pang Xiao and Huzi together consumed an entire pot. After finishing and wiping their mouths, the two men discussed heading out. Looking at their abdomens, which showed no signs of being stuffed full, Qin Yining couldn’t help but click her tongue in amazement.

These Huben Army veterans ate like wolves and tigers.

Qin Yining was somewhat worried about Pang Xiao. Now that she had nothing to do at home, she discussed business matters with Shopkeeper Zhong and had Bingtang arrange for the Elite Tiger Guards Pang Xiao had left her to scout around.

Qin Yining had taken all the Silver-Masked Spies with Cao Yuqing this time.

Xiyu was an unfamiliar place, and they were such a large family. Though Pang Xiao had arranged Elite Tiger Guards and other bodyguards for protection, and they had people in Xiyu to receive them, when it came to who would spare no effort to protect Qin Huaiyuan, none could compare to Cao Yuqing. Cao Yuqing was the leader of the Silver-Masked Spies – having more subordinates made things more convenient and also helped Qin Huaiyuan establish roots in Xiyu.

So the people available to Qin Yining now were those Pang Xiao had left for her.

In the afternoon, the Elite Tiger Guards who had gone scouting returned.

“Reporting to Your Highness, His Highness is currently at the government office talking with Master Lu and Governor Qi.”

Qin Yining asked somewhat worriedly: “Is everything going smoothly? No trouble?”

“Nothing like that, just that His Highness seemed to have had words with Master Lu at the military camp, but they reconciled in the end.”

“What about Governor Qi’s attitude?”

“Governor Qi showed no abnormalities throughout.”

Qin Yining nodded slightly and dismissed them to rest.

So this Governor Qi remained the same – no stance, no taking sides, perpetually helping neither side.

The newly arrived Lu Tingzhong was Pang Xiao’s man. Qin Yining knew Pang Xiao acted with propriety, so she wasn’t worried about this. What she worried about was whether there might be other people’s spies among those who came with him. Given Li Qitian’s thoroughness, even if he trusted Lu Tingzhong, he wouldn’t send him alone – he must have arranged others.

Qin Yining worried anxiously until Pang Xiao returned at the third watch.

Qin Yining got up to remove his cloak, asking: “Why did you end up arguing with Master Lu?”

Pang Xiao wasn’t at all surprised that Qin Yining would know these things, smiling: “If Master Lu and I seemed thick as thieves upon meeting, wouldn’t His Majesty be furious enough to have a fit?”

Qin Yining was startled, then suddenly laughed: “True, I was worrying unnecessarily. I was thinking wrong.”

Pang Xiao’s large hand encircled Qin Yining’s waist. As he leaned close, his breath carried a faint wine fragrance. He pecked her lips repeatedly, gently and tenderly, mumbling indistinctly: “If you didn’t worry about me, then I’d be angry.”

Qin Yining’s soft lips tingled slightly from contact with Pang Xiao’s somewhat dry lips. She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck: “What would you be angry about? Even if I didn’t worry, you’d still be fine.”

A low chuckle escaped from Pang Xiao’s throat, filled with transgression.

“My Sister Yi’s mouth is so sweet.”

Saying this, he kissed her deeply.

The next morning at breakfast, Qin Yining asked him: “Did His Majesty arrange the imperial envoy to monitor you?”

Pang Xiao ate heartily. Hearing this, he swallowed the food in his mouth before saying: “His Majesty’s meaning is that if I continue to disobey orders, the imperial envoy has the authority to arrest me and escort me directly back to the capital. If I’m willing to comply, the imperial envoy will continue stationed here to clear out my influence in this region.”

Qin Yining had expected Li Qitian’s arrangements were for these purposes, so she nodded without saying more.

Pang Xiao picked out a piece of fish, carefully removing the bones before placing it in Qin Yining’s bowl, asking: “Lu Tingzhong also asked about our family affairs.”

“How did he ask?” Qin Yining took a bite of fish.

Seeing Qin Yining enjoyed it, Pang Xiao continued picking out fish bones, saying casually: “Yesterday Governor Qi told Lu Tingzhong that locals often see Qin family members coming and going. Lu Tingzhong made a show of asking me about it. I said what family members could there be – Governor Qi’s servants must be seeing things, or else seeing ghosts. When our two families were transporting coffins back home, they all perished. Now only you remain alive.”

Qin Yining smiled: “What did they say to that?”

“What could they say? When I answered like that, Lu Tingzhong’s face went white with fright. He even ordered people to burn paper and incense, and to invite someone to conduct rituals for the departed souls. Seeing Lu Tingzhong’s attitude, Governor Qi didn’t say anything more.”

Qin Yining nodded with a smile. After eating all the fish Pang Xiao had deboned for her, she said: “Will His Majesty believe this story when you report it back? Before sending Father away, I thought His Majesty would believe such a story – after all, the mountains are high and the emperor is far away. That day I did leave corpses of bandits all over for His Majesty’s subsequent investigators, so blaming roadside bandits was plausible. But now perhaps I’m feeling guilty – I always feel His Majesty won’t believe it.”

“Whether he believes it or not, he can never find any of our family members again, so he can only believe it. Moreover, he was the one deliberately making things difficult back then. After Father-in-law’s ‘death,’ he made no statement and was still calculating his lost military payment of gold, silver, and grain. Now saying that the Qin family and my household’s masters all died at bandits’ hands on the return journey – he’d have trouble silencing public criticism, let alone having leisure to question us about it.”

Qin Yining smiled. Actually, Li Qitian might very well question them about it.

But as Pang Xiao said, Li Qitian definitely couldn’t find the people now. She could insist the people were gone, and Li Qitian could never imagine they had gone to an oasis in the desert.

Thinking of this, Qin Yining hesitantly put down her chopsticks: “Actually, I’m somewhat worried.”

“Worried about what?”

Qin Yining said hesitantly: “When Utekin Khan kidnapped people, it wasn’t just me and Mrs. Liao’s group – there was also a Master Lu Er. Lu Heng now seems to be His Majesty’s devoted loyalist. Could he possibly mention Xiyu?”

Pang Xiao gently scraped Qin Yining’s nose tip, smiling: “Don’t worry. Even if he thought of it, he couldn’t find Xiyu. Besides, His Majesty’s attention is all on me now – where would he have the mind to think about other things?”

Only then did Qin Yining nod hesitantly.

“Originally, Master Liao had planted a tracking parasite on Lu Heng, but Master Liao said that though tracking parasites can sense over great distances, they only survive for three years. It’s been three years since that day in Xiyu. Even if he wanted to use the tracking parasite to make trouble, it wouldn’t be easy now.”

Pang Xiao nodded with a smile: “You needn’t worry. Father-in-law had already discussed this with me. Since Father-in-law could propose moving the entire family to Xiyu, he must have considered all these things properly. Hall Master Liao is completely loyal to you and wouldn’t rashly mention Xiyu. You can rest assured.”

Qin Yining felt somewhat relieved and smiled after thinking: “True, and even if His Majesty knew about Xiyu, he still couldn’t find it.”

“Exactly.” Pang Xiao also smiled.

After finishing their meal, they discussed departure matters. Qin Yining told Pang Xiao what Qiu Feishan had told her.

“Blockhead still plans to keep his senior uncle confined?”