Pang Xiao looked at Qin Yining, momentarily unable to find words to refute her.

Every time it came to this, he despised his circumstances immensely. Why did he always have to face such helpless situations? He had no great ambitions—all he had ever hoped for was to let Qin Yining live a stable and prosperous life.

Pang Xiao turned around and irritably ran his hand through the scattered hair on his forehead.

Qin Yining watched Pang Xiao’s tall figure, sighed softly, and stepped forward, embracing his shoulders from behind and pressing her face against his shoulder.

“Zhixi, don’t worry. I know my limits and won’t risk my life for anything. I can swear to you.”

Her soft, delicate body pressed against his tense, steel-like frame. Pang Xiao pressed his lips together, turned around, and swept her into his arms.

“Yining, I should have let you leave with father-in-law and the others from the beginning.”

Qin Yining’s voice was muffled in his embrace as she laughed, “Given the situation then, neither of us could have left. If we had left, wouldn’t that have alerted our enemies?”

Pang Xiao naturally knew that everything Qin Yining said was true.

They had come this far, and every time they encountered danger, they chose the most appropriate way to handle it—many times choosing the best option available under the circumstances.

Pang Xiao held Qin Yining, turning the current situation over and over in his mind, sorting through it once more before finally asking, “What do you plan to do once you’re there?”

Finally willing to listen to her plan instead of immediately forbidding her the moment she opened her mouth.

Qin Yining then explained her ideas.

“Sitong Trading Company also has a branch in Huichuan County. After I arrive, I’ll contact Sitong. I’ll also use the opportunity of arranging housing to investigate the local situation and find ways to have people contact Liu Ban and Manager Hu’s group. Now that the Emperor has suddenly issued an edict appointing Earl Zhongyi as Huichuan County Magistrate, Manager Hu and their plans to buy official positions will certainly fall through. Whether their money goes down the drain is secondary—what’s important is that they have guilty consciences. Once they learn that both you and Lu Heng will be taking up posts there, they’ll definitely make some moves, giving me opportunities to exploit.”

Pang Xiao’s eyes lit up as he listened. He couldn’t help but embrace Qin Yining and sigh with emotion, “Master Xu and Master Xie repeatedly praise you as a female Zhuge Liang. No matter who disagrees with this, I must agree.”

Qin Yining smiled, “It’s just circumstances forcing my hand. Too many eyes are watching you. Comparatively speaking, my actions will be more convenient. We’ll do as we did when entering the capital—I’ll go first to arrange everything properly. If there’s anything that needs us to work together, I’ll contact you.”

Pang Xiao reluctantly nodded, “I suppose I have no other options right now.”

Pang Xiao knew his situation. Li Qitian was watching him, his colleagues were watching him, and ministers from various factions each had their own thoughts. Previously, when Qin Huaiyuan was in court, he not only served as an anchor, stabilizing some people, but could also keenly perceive which way the wind was blowing. Now, although he had quite a few people under him, they lacked Qin Huaiyuan’s wisdom and acuity. Many things happened right before their eyes, yet they failed to notice them.

Therefore, he had to be on guard while also being distracted by watching for any movement, and constantly maintaining the popular foundation that Qin Yining had previously helped him establish, ensuring that the common people wouldn’t doubt or be disappointed by his words and actions.

Being so constrained, naturally many things couldn’t be done. And currently, besides Qin Yining, he truly couldn’t find anyone else around him with such strategic thinking and decisiveness.

“So be it.” Pang Xiao nodded helplessly, “I have only one requirement: at any time, staying alive comes first. You cannot do foolish things thinking of winning something for me—you must put your life first.”

Seeing that Pang Xiao agreed, Qin Yining smiled, “Don’t worry, I understand.”

But Pang Xiao was very serious, “Yining, you must promise me that you will never gamble with your life. If any of your actions make me feel you’re risking your life, I’ll ask Mutou to help send you to Xiyue.”

Meeting Pang Xiao’s stern gaze, Qin Yining obediently nodded, “I know. I still want to return and reunite with our family. I’ve even made clothes for Zhao Ge’er and Han Ge’er. I can’t bear to part with our family, and I can’t bear to part with you—how could I risk my life? I treasure this little life of mine very much.”

Pang Xiao held Qin Yining tightly, placing several light kisses on her temple, “We’ve only just reunited—how long has it been?—and we’re separating again.”

“It’s just a temporary separation for a while. You surely can’t delay your departure for Huichuan County, can you? I think Earl Zhongyi definitely won’t depart too late. The Emperor’s words about ‘departing once preparations are complete’ to show his benevolence are just polite remarks. If you really wait until you’re fully recovered before leaving, who knows if memorials impeaching you for delaying the imperial mausoleum construction might fly around like snowflakes.”

Pang Xiao was amused by Qin Yining’s words. He was about to speak when he suddenly felt a raindrop land on his nose tip.

The sky had somehow turned lead-gray, with rolling dark clouds blown in by a strong wind.

Qin Yining laughed, “It’s raining. Let’s hurry back.”

The two ran hand in hand.

But the rain didn’t wait for them to reach their room before pouring down torrentially.

Even with Pang Xiao protecting her, Qin Yining got quite soaked. When they reached the corridor of the main hall, the two looked at each other, seeing each other’s drenched, bedraggled appearance, and couldn’t help but laugh.

After Qin Yining and Pang Xiao reached their agreement, she began preparing for departure.

Pang Xiao arranged for Tang Xiu and other elite Tiger Guards to accompany Qin Yining, and also assigned Xie Yue to her.

“Master Xie is exceptionally strategic, good at making decisions, and skilled in disguise. With him by your side, I’ll feel more at ease.”

Qin Yining had finally convinced Pang Xiao to keep Mu Jinghu to protect himself, so naturally she now nodded to whatever Pang Xiao arranged. If she objected, Pang Xiao might again think of assigning Mu Jinghu to her side, and then Pang Xiao truly wouldn’t have anyone reliable if he encountered danger.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Huzi, Xu Weizhi, and the other elite Tiger Guards, but among ordinary people, who could match Mu Jinghu’s superior martial skills?

Qin Yining busily prepared for departure, publicly claiming she was going to arrange housing.

This news reached Earl Zhongyi’s mansion, where Bian Ruohan heard it and couldn’t help but sneer coldly, violently throwing an ivory comb onto the table.

“We’re both supposed to accompany our husbands to their new posts, but this madam hasn’t even figured out what to do, yet that shameless little whore knows how to show off. Does this show she knows more? Bah! She’s just a cheap whore who’s been played by countless men!”

When Bian Ruohan cursed, none of the serving maids dared react, all lowering their heads to minimize their presence.

That day when the madam entered the palace, she caused Noble Consort Zhuang to be scolded by the Emperor. Afterward, they were all summoned by the master for severe punishment, beaten with rattan canes until their calves were still swollen, claiming the madam had done wrong and it was all because these servants didn’t know how to advise her.

But they were merely servants who couldn’t even speak up before the madam—what could they do?

“My lord.”

The voice of a maid greeting and saluting came from outside the door.

Then the pearl curtain lifted, and Lu Heng strode in quickly, leaving his oiled paper umbrella outside the door, his soft boots already dampened by rainwater.

“My lord, you’ve returned? It’s raining outside—you weren’t caught in it, were you? Why didn’t you have them accompany you?”

Bian Ruohan adjusted the tasseled hairpin at her temple and quickly stepped forward to greet him.

Lu Heng didn’t even spare her a glance, merely saying, “I’ve already instructed people to prepare for the journey, so you needn’t trouble yourself.”

Bian Ruohan’s eyes lit up, “My lord! Thank you for your consideration, my lord. I’m actually not tired at all. I’m very willing to help you with…”

“What I mean is, you needn’t trouble yourself with preparing travel gear.”

“What!” Bian Ruohan’s voice suddenly rose sharply, “You, you actually don’t plan to take me!”

Lu Heng smiled, “I’m going to take up my post. There will be too many things to do then, and I won’t have the energy to look after you. Moreover, if you went, you’d suffer hardships. Just stay peacefully in the capital and dutifully serve your parents.”

“You, you… don’t go too far! Aren’t my parents also your father-in-law and mother-in-law? To this day you won’t even use those titles! Besides, didn’t the Emperor say we’re newlyweds? I…”

Lu Heng waved his hand to stop Bian Ruohan’s words, “I think we should maintain an appropriate distance to preserve our mutual freshness. If we understand each other too well, I fear we won’t even have any illusions left.”

Hearing this, Bian Ruohan’s face turned purple with anger, her fists clenched tightly.

Someone like Lu Heng could insult others without using dirty words. He was clearly mocking her, every sentence stabbing at her heart.

Tears streamed down Bian Ruohan’s face as she grabbed Lu Heng’s arm and tugged at it, “Come! Come with me to the palace to see my cousin! What do you mean by humiliating me like this? You look down on the Bian family—do you also look down on the imperial family? Don’t forget, the current Emperor is my cousin-in-law!”

Lu Heng snorted and withdrew his hand.

“If I remember correctly, your sister hasn’t ascended to the empress position yet, has she?”

Bian Ruohan trembled with rage and burst into wailing cries.

“I don’t care, I don’t care! I must go with you to Huichuan County! What exactly did I do wrong? I just scolded that cheap woman once, and afterward you’ve treated me with such indifference—not consummating our marriage and constantly humiliating me with words. No matter how inadequate I am, it’s not your place to humiliate me! I’m going to tell the Emperor! I’m going to tell the Empress Dowager!”

Lu Heng smiled, “Go ahead and make a scene. The bigger the fuss, the more it’s still my face that’s lost.”

Bian Ruohan wailed loudly. With her makeup ruined by tears, she covered her face and ran out.

Her wet nurse and maids from her dowry quickly bowed and chased after her.

Seeing them leave, Lu Heng collapsed powerlessly onto the window-side daybed, wearily rubbing his temples.

A good wife brings few disasters to her husband. But he didn’t have such fortune. Since marrying Bian Shi, he had lost all face. Now the Emperor’s attitude toward him was increasingly unpredictable, court affairs kept him busy enough, yet Bian Ruohan still added to his troubles.

Compared to her, Qin Yining was planning to depart first for Huichuan County to arrange housing so that Pang Xiao could rest peacefully and recover from his illness.

How could these two women even be compared?

He didn’t know the Emperor’s intent in arranging for him to serve as Huichuan County Magistrate. To find out, he’d let Bian Ruohan make her scene. After all, it was women’s affairs—even if she offended the noble people in the palace, that would be a problem with the Bian family’s upbringing, and he could use this opportunity to see the palace’s attitude clearly.

As for whether Bian Ruohan would be punished for crying carelessly?

Lu Heng sneered coldly—that was not within his consideration.