What did he mean by take responsibility for him? What kind of talk was this!

Qin Yining’s face flushed red in an instant from his words, and her bright, water-like eyes glared fiercely at him. “Young master’s injury came from saving me, so naturally I will be responsible.”

“Why is the young lady so eager to explain? I didn’t say I wanted you to be responsible for anything else. The one who just said they’d serve someone for life wasn’t me.” Pang Xiao felt his heart surge from that glare, and couldn’t help wanting to tease her.

Qin Yining’s face grew even redder, truly finding this person detestable!

From their first meeting until now, he had already changed appearances too many times. Even with the same face, he had the ability to display different auras. Qin Yining no longer knew which one was his true face.

Thinking of his unfathomably profound martial arts, Qin Yining felt this person was inscrutable.

However, no matter how inscrutable a person might be, his mouth was truly too insufferable!

Qin Yining glared at him again.

Pang Xiao suppressed his laughter, clutching his shoulder and saying pitifully: “Truly treating good intentions as donkey liver and lungs. I saved someone’s life, yet receive nothing but disdain. Just now you said if I became paralyzed you’d serve me for life, but I’m not even paralyzed yet and you’re already giving me dirty looks. This shows your words earlier weren’t sincere—you were deliberately trying to fool me!”

Qin Yining really wanted to just abandon him!

With such good spirits and such a sharp tongue, he clearly wasn’t seriously hurt!

Bingtang also snorted, secretly thinking this master and servant pair were birds of a feather—they both spoke the same way!

But Huzi was shocked by Pang Xiao’s behavior.

Having followed his master for so many years, Huzi had seen many of his faces: pretending to be a crude man throwing tantrums, being cold and distant, being arrogant and domineering, having scholarly refinement, being cowardly and afraid of death, and being obsessed with money…

No matter which face it was, Pang Xiao could put on different masks and change his aura to perfectly act out those appearances, thereby achieving his goals.

But he had never before seen his master “flirting with innocent women.”

Since meeting this Miss Qin, he had truly seen it all!

Last time stealing her hairpin and touching her face, then going to spy on his mortal enemy’s home, giggling foolishly after spying, and now actually pretending to be pitiful to her face!

Was this still his master who was decisive in killing, godlike in military strategy, and cunning in schemes?!

Bingtang angrily prepared the silver needles and deftly began acupuncture on Pang Xiao.

Pang Xiao then asked: “How long will it take for my injury to improve? How long will the acupuncture and medicine treatment last?”

“The herbal medicine must be taken for half a month. Acupuncture is more troublesome—it requires daily sessions, also for half a month.”

Pang Xiao nodded and looked seriously at Qin Yining. “In that case, lend me your maid for half a month.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining frowned and shook her head without hesitation: “That won’t do.”

Bingtang was different from ordinary maids. Away from her side, she might be framed by the demon queen’s people. It was safer to keep her under her watchful eye.

Pang Xiao once again looked aggrieved, frowning: “What a cruel heart. It seems women’s words cannot be trusted. You just said if I became paralyzed you’d serve me for life, but now you won’t even lend me a maid who knows medicine.”

“You!” Qin Yining was so angry her face flushed red. She bit her lip before saying: “Don’t worry, though it delays your time, I’ll waive all expenses at Tayun Inn, and I’ll have someone escort Bingtang to treat your injury daily until you recover. How about that?”

Pang Xiao’s eyes were full of mirth as he pretended to hesitate: “That’s also a solution, but lodging fees at Tayun Inn aren’t expensive. How can I take advantage of you?”

“Don’t worry, that inn is my property. Besides, you were injured saving me, so I should naturally be responsible.”

“Oh!” Pang Xiao drew out the sound. “Since the young lady wants to be responsible, I’ll have no choice but to take advantage of you.”

Qin Yining blinked her long lashes, stunned for a moment before grasping his double entendre, immediately becoming so angry she wanted to kick him.

Pang Xiao, completely unlike an injured person, actually laughed heartily.

Bingtang poked him with a silver needle: “Don’t move around, aren’t you afraid the wound will split open!” Was this person made of iron, feeling no pain at all?

Pang Xiao was in good spirits and began bargaining again: “After all, I was injured saving you. Just having someone escort a maid back and forth to give me acupuncture seems too perfunctory.”

“Didn’t I also waive your lodging and meal expenses at Tayun Inn?” Qin Yining vaguely guessed what he was going to say.

“How can that be the same? I don’t lack money for lodging and meals. If you’re willing to visit me every other day, serve me tea and water, I’ll pay you double the lodging fees. Would that work?”

“Do I look like I need that money?”

Qin Yining’s face burned up instantly. If she wasn’t worried about his injury worsening from blood loss and death, she really wanted to punch him a few times!

Having such thoughts surprised even Qin Yining herself.

Though young, she had experienced much. Being steady in difficult situations had become a habit, and rarely did anyone have the ability to provoke her to such anger.

This kind of anger wasn’t like being annoyed by people like Qin Huining, where she could respond with schemes.

This kind of anger couldn’t be won through calculation—she simply wanted to punch this sharp-tongued fellow twice to vent her frustration.

Bingtang had finished with the needles and began cleaning up.

Qin Yining felt that if she stayed any longer, she’d inevitably be teased more by his words. She immediately called for Qiu Lu to arrange a carriage, then asked: “Will young master stay here temporarily, or shall I have someone take you to Tayun Inn?”

“Naturally you’ll personally escort me there.”

Had she said she would personally escort him?

Qin Yining pressed her lips together and finally sighed helplessly: “Very well, we’ll depart shortly.”

She then politely addressed Fairy Liu: “I must trouble the abbot to take extra care of my grandmother here.”

“Infinite Heavenly Venerable! This poor Taoist will naturally keep watch.”

“Today’s incident brought trouble to the abbot. Though the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office is handling it, if the abbot encounters any difficulties, please feel free to send word to the Qin manor.” After all, because of this assassination attempt, they had lost two sedan bearers and three nuns had died.

The sedan bearers’ families naturally needed compensation, and those three nuns were innocent people. Qin Yining felt guilty about their deaths.

Fairy Liu opened her mouth, originally wanting to take the opportunity to ask for more money, but catching sight of Pang Xiao’s seemingly amused look, the words stuck in her throat. She smiled and said: “Thank you, Miss Qin. This poor Taoist understands.”

Qin Yining then said: “Young master, please prepare yourself. I’ll go to the side courtyard briefly and return shortly.”

Without waiting for Pang Xiao to speak, she quickly left with Bingtang.

The courtyard had been cleaned thoroughly, but the faint smell of blood in the air still disrupted the tranquility of this place. The sky had darkened, with lead-gray clouds pressing overhead as if it might snow at any moment.

Qin Yining dared not think about the hair-raising assassination attempt she had experienced today. She hurried to the side courtyard where Duke Dingguo’s family women were staying. Upon seeing Duke Dingguo’s wife, she pulled her aside and secretly handed her a thousand-tael banknote she had prepared beforehand.

“Grandmother, these thousand taels can be cashed immediately for use. You’re staying here with the whole family—food, lodging, and daily expenses all require money. Please don’t shortchange yourself.”

Seeing Qin Yining’s sincere expression, showing no anger or distance despite having just recovered from shock, Duke Dingguo’s wife felt both comforted and sad. She sighed, patting Qin Yining’s hand: “Grandmother won’t be polite with you—I’ll accept this money. When you return home, you must take extra care of your mother. Though your mother sometimes acts confused, her sincere feelings for your father cannot be denied. Before you came back, every time your father took a concubine, she would make a fuss. This time the concubine was bestowed by imperial decree and has such extraordinary origins—you all must be extremely careful!”

“I know.” Qin Yining nodded solemnly. “Please rest assured, grandmother. I will do everything possible to protect mother’s well-being and take good care of myself.”

“You’re a smart and sensible child. Grandmother knows you act with propriety.”

Duke Dingguo’s wife gave Qin Yining more instructions before seeing her out.

Looking back at the women of Duke Dingguo’s household, Qin Yining felt her heart ache.

In this world, nothing was more unpredictable than fate.

Who could have imagined that such a great ducal mansion would collapse overnight?

Who could have imagined that a family would be separated by death in the blink of an eye?

These people—perhaps couples would quarrel, perhaps siblings might have small misunderstandings. They thought this lifetime was still long, that quarrels would naturally be resolved, misunderstandings would naturally clear up.

Who could have thought that some regrets, once left, would last forever? No one could determine whether disaster or tomorrow would arrive first.

Qin Yining took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

No matter what, she must walk each step carefully, with full effort, never allowing herself to leave regrets.

Arriving at the mountain gate, Qin Yining saw a warm sedan chair heading down the mountain.

Qin Yining preferred not to ride in sedan chairs, so she walked down with Bingtang, Qiu Lu, and Song Lan.

At the foot of the mountain, the two groups got into separate carriages, and Qin Yining first escorted the people to Tayun Inn.

When they had first arrived, Manager Zhong had just escorted them over before leaving. Hearing that the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office had solved a major assassination case by Great Zhou spies at the Immortal Nun Temple, he was worried about Qin Yining’s safety, anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Now seeing everyone return safely, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Qin Yining recounted the events to Manager Zhong, who began looking at Pang Xiao with respectful eyes.

“Young Master Yao, thank you for saving our master’s life. The young miss is my family’s lifesaver, and you are the young miss’s lifesaver, so you’re also my benefactor.” Manager Zhong smiled politely, then turned to Qin Yining: “Young miss, rest assured, I will take excellent care of Young Master Yao.”

“Good.” Qin Yining looked at the sky and sighed: “I should return now. If I go back too late, it might bring trouble.”

Pang Xiao actually knew Qin Yining’s family situation well, but couldn’t show it now. He just asked seriously: “Are there difficulties? Do you need my help?”

Qin Yining glanced at him and shook her head: “For matters like ‘Heaven wants rain to fall, mother wants to remarry’—what can one do?”

She sighed, then rallied her spirits: “My surname is Qin, fourth in my generation. Young master may call me Qin Si in the future. May I ask how to address young master?”

For a young lady to tell an outside man her name was already showing intent to befriend him.

Pang Xiao smiled: “My name is the repeated character ‘Da Da’.”

“Yao Da Da?” Qin Yining couldn’t help saying it aloud, then froze, seeing from his smiling eyes that she had been fooled again. She immediately stamped her foot and walked away angrily: “You truly have no sense of propriety!”

Pang Xiao burst into laughter, clutching his wounded shoulder as he called out loudly: “Young lady, don’t be angry! My courtesy name is Zhixi—you can call me Yao Zhixi.”

Qin Yining didn’t stop walking or turn back, as if she hadn’t heard, leading her maids to the carriage and speeding away.

Pang Xiao stood watching Qin Yining’s carriage gradually disappear into the increasingly dark streets, only then putting away his smile and resuming his refined, aloof disguise.

“I’ll trouble Manager Zhong for the next few days.”

Manager Zhong smiled: “Don’t mention it, Young Master Yao. Please follow me.”