Xie Yue smiled: “Chaos is unavoidable. We have quite a bit of legitimate business to handle. If we don’t deal with the Bian family thoroughly all at once, she might cause more trouble in the future, inevitably distracting the princess consort. Don’t forget—there are still six people living in that residence.”

“Yes.” Qin Yining spoke seriously: “These days when I go there, I must be even more careful and vigilant. After all, none of those people are easy to deal with. Who knows if they’ve arranged several hidden watchers to monitor the area around them? We must be on guard.”

Xie Yue nodded: “Exactly my meaning. Now that the Bian family has suffered heavy losses, they probably won’t have time to trouble you for a while. She’s already overwhelmed just thinking about how to explain things to her family. This gives us a good opportunity to carefully consider how exactly to get those stones out.”

Qin Yining actually had some vague ideas in her heart, but she also knew that if she acted herself, it would easily draw others’ attention. Better to wait and see for now.

“The prince should arrive soon too. In a couple days we can discuss with the prince before making a decision.”

Xie Yue said: “Three cobblers are better than Zhuge Liang. Both the prince and princess consort are skilled at planning. With Brother Xu and the other strategists added, we’ll surely be able to discuss a proper solution.”

Qin Yining’s mind was entirely focused on planning the treasure matter at this moment. She didn’t engage in small talk with Xie Yue, only said honestly: “Hopefully. But this matter is indeed very difficult.”

Of course this matter was difficult.

The stones were for the emperor’s imperial mausoleum. Even if the local magistrate and the imperial commissioner supervising the mausoleum construction hadn’t yet taken office, someday they would have to face their responsibilities. If stones were secretly transported away, wouldn’t both of them be thoroughly investigated and held accountable by their superiors?

Moreover, simply trying to steal so many stones from heavy guard, even knowing their approximate location, was definitely not a simple matter.

So by what method could they openly and legitimately transport the stones away?

Qin Yining looked forward to Pang Xiao arriving quickly so they could properly discuss their next strategies.

But contrary to Qin Yining, Bian Ruohan hoped Lu Heng would arrive more slowly.

Because her residence was truly unsightly now.

But things went against her wishes. The next day, the procession of Lu Heng and Pang Xiao taking up their posts entered Huichuan County.

“Lord Zhongyi, this prince will return to the mansion first. If you have leisure time, please come to my humble abode for tea.” Pang Xiao lifted the curtain of his carriage and smiled while clasping hands toward another carriage traveling alongside.

The curtain of the blue-canopied carriage was also lifted, and Lu Heng smiled and returned the courtesy: “I’m much obliged to Prince Zhongshun’s care along the way. Once I’m settled, I’ll invite the prince to my mansion for humble wine.”

“Certainly. Farewell.”

“Farewell.”

The two parties took leave, and the processions went in different directions.

When Pang Xiao’s carriage slowly stopped, Qin Yining had already been waiting at the main gate with an umbrella for quite a while, the hem of her skirt stained with muddy water.

Pang Xiao leaped down from the carriage, and Huzi immediately followed with an umbrella.

“Yining.” At this moment, Pang Xiao’s eyes and heart contained only one person. He completely disregarded getting rained on, making Huzi chase after him quite strenuously, sticking his tongue out at Bingtang who followed behind Qin Yining.

Bingtang was amused by him and burst into laughter.

Qin Yining looked back at Bingtang, then smiled: “Was the journey smooth?” She then told Huzi: “I’ve already arranged rooms for the brothers. Have Tang Xiu show you around. The kitchen has prepared food—we’ll eat lunch together shortly.”

Such homely greetings showed that Qin Yining didn’t treat them as outsiders at all. Huzi, Xu Weizhi, and the others all felt extremely comfortable, with a sense of belonging like returning home.

Tang Xiu then led Huzi and the others to settle in the front courtyard.

Qin Yining and Pang Xiao walked hand in hand through the covered walkway. Pang Xiao held an umbrella, shielding against raindrops blown into the corridor by wind.

“Was the journey smooth?”

“Not bad. Just that this rain has been falling for a month straight—the roads were truly difficult to travel. Otherwise we could have arrived a few days earlier.”

“Don’t wish you’d come earlier—a few days earlier and you would have missed the good show.”

“Oh?”

Pang Xiao looked down at Qin Yining’s mischievous expression. They had been exchanging messages regularly, but since he was about to reach Huichuan County, he hadn’t bothered to gather more intelligence, only having someone inform Qin Yining in advance of his arrival date so she wouldn’t be caught off guard.

After just a few days without communication, had she accomplished something earth-shaking again?

The two entered the room where maids had already prepared fragrant bath water.

Qin Yining dismissed the others, removed her outer robe herself, rolled up her sleeves to serve Pang Xiao’s bath, and quietly told him about recent events.

Pang Xiao listened with great amusement, his hearty laughter particularly resonant in the bathing compartment.

Infected by his laughter, Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile: “Do you think I went too far?”

“Not at all. That Lu fellow has ill intentions—he deserves to marry such a ruinous wife. Say, is his wife stupid?” Pang Xiao turned around, his strong, solid arms resting on the edge of the tub.

Qin Yining used a wooden ladle to pour water over his back: “She’s not stupid, just overly pampered and not adapted to this environment. She doesn’t know what she can and can’t do, so she makes mistakes from time to time.”

“You.” Pang Xiao’s large hand touched her delicate chin. “You just won’t speak ill of anyone behind their back, even if they’re truly a scheming and brainless fool.”

Qin Yining was amused by Pang Xiao’s matter-of-fact tone and burst into laughter. Whenever she was with Pang Xiao, no matter what the situation, nothing seemed insurmountable. No matter how boring something was, it became amusing when Pang Xiao spoke of it. Just seeing him put her in an excellent mood.

Seeing her laugh like a blooming flower, how could Pang Xiao restrain himself? He stood up, his hands encircling her slender, supple waist, his moist lips touching hers.

“Yining, can we eat lunch a bit later?”

Qin Yining’s face flushed red as she gently pushed his shoulders: “No, we already said we’d eat shortly. Besides, it’s broad daylight.”

“It’s raining anyway, and the sky is quite overcast.”

A “hungry” man was difficult to deal with. Neither of them emerged for lunch. Bingtang and Ji Yun, knowing well that their masters would inevitably be affectionate when reunited, had long since arranged a feast below to welcome Huzi, Xu Weizhi, and their group.

Everyone was very tactful and didn’t ask many questions.

Early the next morning, after washing up, Qin Yining and Pang Xiao gathered Xie Yue, Xu Weizhi, and several other strategists in the study for private discussion of Huichuan County’s current situation.

Xie Yue said: “…So the princess consort pretended to join the Qingtian Alliance and took over providing food, clothing, and lodging for Guan Dahu’s group. Now those people are eating well and drinking heartily—they’re somewhat reluctant to leave this comfortable situation.”