“Yes.” Qin Yining said with amusement: “What kind of popularity does Tianji Zi have? Even Young Master Mu, who has such a good temper, was somehow offended by her.”

Pang Xiao also found this very interesting: “I actually think it doesn’t matter whether we confine her or not. If she wants to leave, she has many ways to get out. When the time comes, she can still stir up trouble as usual. Besides, when we return, we’ll need to take all trustworthy people with us – there won’t be enough spare manpower to guard her.”

Qin Yining thought the same way, smiling: “Actually, I think Tianji Zi won’t cause trouble anymore. Having Young Master Mu protect you is exactly what she hopes to see.”

Her previous indifference was only because Tianji Zi had wanted her dead.

Now that Pang Xiao was being forced to gradually walk the “right path,” Tianji Zi had resolved a major worry and probably wouldn’t be as calculating as before.

Pang Xiao naturally understood Qin Yining’s meaning. He sighed and rubbed Qin Yining’s head with his large hand: “Let’s start preparing these days. We’ll try to depart quickly.”

“Mm. Actually, there’s one more thing I want to tell you.”

Seeing Qin Yining’s serious expression, Pang Xiao asked curiously: “What is it? Tell me.”

Qin Yining hesitated, then finally called Lian Xiaozhou over and instructed Bingtang and Ji Yun: “Guard outside and don’t let anyone approach.”

Seeing Qin Yining so solemn, Pang Xiao immediately straightened his posture.

Seeing this scene, Bingtang and Ji Yun became quite worried, afraid that Lian Xiaozhou had gotten into some trouble. Bingtang especially had some premonition – though she didn’t know exactly about Lian Xiaozhou’s situation, they had been together day and night for so long, and she cared particularly for Lian Xiaozhou, so she could always detect some clues.

However, their masters had their own judgment – it wasn’t their place to speak.

Ji Yun and Bingtang went out to guard.

Qin Yining pulled Lian Xiaozhou closer.

Four years had passed, and Lian Xiaozhou was no longer the malnourished child she once was. She was now a thirteen-year-old girl who had grown into a graceful beauty, wearing a light green vest over a light pink cotton jacket, her hair in twin buns decorated with pink and white pearl flowers. She was as tender and beautiful as peach blossoms blooming in spring.

Having been by Qin Yining’s side for so many years, Lian Xiaozhou had long since learned to speak properly. Seeing Pang Xiao’s very serious expression, she tugged at Qin Yining’s sleeve somewhat anxiously: “Sister…”

When she first arrived years ago, she had dared to confront this “uncle,” but over time, she had actually become afraid of him…

Qin Yining said: “I’m sorry, Zhixi. I’ve been hiding something from you.”

Pang Xiao looked at Lian Xiaozhou with surprise and suspicion.

Qin Yining also looked at Lian Xiaozhou, holding her hand and saying quietly to Pang Xiao: “When Great Yan fell and my father took the family to relocate to Great Zhou’s capital, passing through the border city of Liangcheng, our convoy was intercepted and killed by Ji Lan’s troops. To escape, I was forced to flee into the deep mountains, where I met Xiao Zhou.”

“Yes, you told me. That day you nearly froze to death on the mountain, and Xiao Zhou saved you. Her father had died, and she couldn’t survive alone on the mountain as a ten-year-old child, so you brought her down and raised her like a sister.”

Qin Yining nodded: “Yes, that’s what I told you and my father at the time. But actually, I deceived you about this matter. Lian Xiaozhou doesn’t actually have the surname Lian – her name should be reversed. Her surname is Zhou, and her given name is Xiaolian. She’s also not fourteen years old this year, but thirteen.”

Pang Xiao was stunned: “Zhou Xiaolian, her surname is Zhou?”

“Yes. Her father’s courtesy name was Weixian, and her title was Yongfu.”

Pang Xiao was shocked: “You’re saying she’s actually Princess Yongfu of Beiji?”

“Yes.” Qin Yining nodded.

Pang Xiao found this hard to believe for a moment: “How is this possible? Why have you never told me this?”

Qin Yining hugged Lian Xiaozhou, comfortingly patting her slightly trembling hand, saying softly: “When Beiji hadn’t yet fallen, the last emperor could see the situation was dire. The emperor was especially fond of the young Princess Yongfu, so he sent word to General Liu Jinxuan, asking the general to take the princess away.

“General Liu took the five-year-old Princess Yongfu out of the capital and had been hiding in the mountains, but they were constantly being hunted. General Liu soon sacrificed himself to lead the pursuers away.

“Princess Yongfu was only five years old. How difficult it must have been for her to survive alone in the mountains – living by herself until she was nine, until she met me. Because she was so young when she left the palace, her memories had become blurred. After more than four years without seeing people, when I found her, she couldn’t even speak properly – she was like a little wild child.”

Qin Yining held Lian Xiaozhou, her expression sorrowful: “When I saw her, I thought of myself. I knew that Beiji’s foolish emperor had committed many evils, and his dynasty’s fall wasn’t unjust. But Princess Yongfu was so small – she had done no evil deeds. She was even implicated by her elders and suffered so much at such a young age.

“I thought then that your father, General Pang, died because of Beiji’s foolish emperor, and Beiji was destroyed by you. You and Xiao Zhou had the enmity of a father’s death. Even though she was still a child, I was afraid you might…”

“You were afraid I would kill her, so you kept hiding this from me?” Pang Xiao’s voice was gentle.

Qin Yining nodded: “These years Xiao Zhou has been with me, and I’ve been teaching her to understand this country and the current world. She gradually grew up, learned to read and write, learned medicine and pharmacology from Bingtang, and learned to distinguish right from wrong. So even though Zhou family blood flows in her veins, she’s truly completely different from Beiji’s foolish emperor.”

Pang Xiao nodded without taking a stance, then asked: “Then why are you telling me now? Why bring up the father’s death enmity to my face? Aren’t you afraid I might kill her out of wariness?”

“Because you are my husband. We’ve lived together for so many years – I understand you. Speaking of father’s death enmity, didn’t my father use a stratagem against Pang Zhongzheng and Beiji’s foolish emperor? Precisely because of that stratagem, Beiji’s foolish emperor seized the opportunity to move against the Pang family.

“But now, you treat me very well and have never hated my father. You distinguish right from wrong very clearly. Actually, it was my concern that clouded my judgment, making me hesitant to tell you all along. When I was small, you came to see me. At fifteen or sixteen, you could already distinguish right from wrong and knew I was innocent. Now that you’re approaching forty, you can naturally also tell whether Xiao Zhou is innocent.”

Pang Xiao smiled: “But she is Princess Yongfu. I can tell whether she’s innocent, but doesn’t she hate me for destroying Beiji?”

Lian Xiaozhou met Pang Xiao’s sharp gaze, first instinctively shrinking her neck, but immediately straightened up, stubbornly standing in front of Qin Yining to protect her.

“Don’t talk to Sister like that – Sister is a good person! Following Sister, I’ve also learned how to be a good person. I know that many things my imperial father did were wrong. Sister taught me about how prosperity leads to decline, and about the succession of dynasties throughout history.

“Great Zhou destroyed Beiji because my imperial father exhausted the people and harmed loyal officials – Beiji’s fate was exhausted before the country fell. You led troops to attack, but you did it so common people could live good lives. You’re not really a bad person either.

“My imperial father was very good to me, but he was too cruel to the people of the world. Although I remember you as the one who destroyed Beiji, I’ve never considered you an enemy. Not only because I understand the principles – that you did nothing wrong – but also because you’re Sister’s husband. Sister likes you very much, so you definitely can’t be a bad person.

“Sister concealed this from you to protect me, and she’s always been teaching me principles. I would never harm you, so you’re not allowed to be fierce to Sister!”

Lian Xiaozhou’s voice was clear and crisp, like scattered pearls, pouring out all the thoughts in her heart like spilled walnuts.

Pang Xiao listened with mixed emotions. In this little girl’s eyes, was he really such an unreasonable image?

However, her words “Sister likes you very much, so you definitely can’t be a bad person” truly made him feel pleasant.

But Pang Xiao wanted to tease Qin Yining, so he deliberately just smiled without speaking.

Sometimes a smile often has more intimidating power than words. When someone speaks, one can still judge their mood from their tone and content. But when someone says nothing at all, the consequences one imagines can be terrifying.

The hair on Lian Xiaozhou’s spine stood up, her shell-like teeth biting her lower lip, her whole body tense with nervousness.

Qin Yining was no ordinary person – she understood Pang Xiao too well. Just from a change in his expression, she knew he hadn’t taken it to heart. She couldn’t help but feel relieved while also feeling moved by Pang Xiao’s magnanimity.

Seeing that he still had the mood to tease people, she pulled Lian Xiaozhou to stand in front of her, glared at Pang Xiao, and comforted: “Ignore him. Your brother-in-law is just like that – never serious. He’s not angry.”

Lian Xiaozhou looked back at Pang Xiao’s fierce face, very doubtful of Qin Yining’s judgment.

“Sister, why don’t you just send me away to avoid having me around to arouse suspicion.”

Pang Xiao was amused: “Suspicion of what?”

Lian Xiaozhou said: “Of course, suspicion that I want to avenge my imperial father.”

Pang Xiao pointed to his chest: “I’ll sit right here and let you take revenge. See if you can kill me.”

Lian Xiaozhou was frightened pale but stubbornly said: “I just explained everything clearly – how can you not understand what people say? I don’t want revenge. Historical succession is the general trend. Sister taught me so much precisely to let me live well. Would I live well now if I killed you?”

“You talk as if you could actually kill me.” Pang Xiao laughed.

“You! Bad person, bad uncle!” Lian Xiaozhou glared in anger.

Seeing these two had completely derailed the conversation, Qin Yining shook her head with amusement. Her initial anxiety had also dissipated completely from this commotion.

Being called uncle, Pang Xiao remembered he was approaching forty while Qin Yining would only be twenty after the New Year. Plus his weathered appearance from battlefield campaigns made him look considerably older than Qin Yining. Compared to Lian Xiaozhou, he really did look like an uncle. He snorted and didn’t want to pay attention to her anymore.

Seeing this, Qin Yining smiled: “Alright, I told you this to share a secret with you. When we return to the capital, I want to make a detour to that mountain from before.”