“Why are you so domineering!” Qin Yining was quite angry. “I hate it most when you threaten to send me to Xiyue at every turn!”

“If you don’t want me to say it, then you must listen!” Pang Xiao carried Qin Yining into the bedroom, striding to the canopy bed and gently setting her down.

Qin Yining angrily rolled over and hugged the quilt with her back to Pang Xiao.

Her huffing appearance was truly pitiful and adorable—enough to dissipate any great anger. But Pang Xiao still maintained his stern expression, sitting sideways beside her and gently placing his large hand on her shoulder.

Qin Yining shook off the quilt to bury herself in the soft cotton batting, simultaneously brushing away his hand.

It seemed she was truly angry.

Pang Xiao felt both angry and tender. He kicked off his boots and turned to embrace Qin Yining along with her quilt.

“Be good. If you stop putting yourself in danger from now on, I won’t send you away.”

“I’m not a three-year-old child—what’s this about being good or not? Besides, which time I faced danger wasn’t I fully prepared? Which time wasn’t there danger without harm?”

“Even danger without harm isn’t acceptable!” Pang Xiao tightened his arms.

Qin Yining buried her face in the quilt, no longer wanting to argue with Pang Xiao.

She knew Pang Xiao was worried about her. This time he’d been frightened by what Manager Dahu and his men had said. But then again, who would seek danger for no reason? Which danger hadn’t come unexpectedly? It wasn’t that she wanted to put herself at risk—circumstances fell upon her leaving no choice.

But she couldn’t argue this point, as saying it would only make Pang Xiao blame himself more.

Seeing Qin Yining refuse to speak, Pang Xiao sighed helplessly and turned to tightly confine her beneath him. His thumb forcefully yet gently turned her small face toward him and kissed her lips.

“Yining, are you angry with me?”

His lips were warm and soft, slightly dry. Qin Yining felt a mild tickling sensation. She extended her tongue tip to moisten his lips bit by bit.

Pang Xiao’s gaze deepened and his breathing grew heavy.

A caring kiss was answer enough to his question. If she were angry with him, how could she possibly kiss him?

Thinking of his fierce attitude just now, Pang Xiao felt guilty.

After all, it was all his fault. If he could control the situation and let Qin Yining live without worries, why would a young woman like her need to take risks repeatedly? He’d gotten unbearably angry just from hearing the Tiger Guard’s report. But Qin Yining was the one who had to constantly face danger.

She wasn’t made of wood—she would also be afraid and sad. She’d sacrificed so much for him, and even when taking risks, it was for his sake. Yet he’d been fierce with her…

“Yining, I know I was wrong.” Pang Xiao buried his face in Qin Yining’s neck. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you so loudly.”

Qin Yining smiled slightly, her pale fingers stroking Pang Xiao’s hair as if caressing a loyal large beast.

How mighty and domineering this man was, yet every time before her, he would shed all pretense and show her his softest side.

Knowing he was wholeheartedly devoted to her, how could she truly be angry with him?

“I know you’re doing this for my good. The news they gathered just now frightened you.”

She truly could understand him.

Such a wonderful Yining—and yet someone dared harbor thoughts of harming her!

The more Pang Xiao thought about it, the more his heart ached. The more it ached, the more he hated Manager Dahu, Liu Ban and the others to his very bones, truly wishing he could devour their flesh!

“I’ll kill them!” Pang Xiao’s words squeezed through gritted teeth.

As he spoke, he moved to get up.

Qin Yining startled and quickly grabbed his hand. “No! We absolutely can’t touch them now. We don’t know how many other people they’ve secretly contacted. If we move against this group while another group explodes in secret, what then? The treasure’s secret will definitely be exposed!”

Pang Xiao removed Qin Yining’s hand and strode quickly toward the outside.

Qin Yining hurriedly rose to chase after him. “Your Highness, don’t be impulsive! Zhixi!”

But Pang Xiao turned around, speaking somberly like an angry vajra. “What secrets, what treasure! Should I sacrifice my own wife for a treasure? What can’t be killed? I’ll go personally and twist off their heads to kick like balls!”

With that, he turned and left.

Reaching the doorway corridor, Pang Xiao told the silent Bingtang and Ji Yun outside the door, “Serve the Princess well and don’t let her go out.”

Hearing this, Bingtang and Ji Yun remained silent as cicadas in winter, responding with submissive agreement.

Qin Yining angrily called out, “Pang Zhixi, if you kill them, all my previous efforts will be wasted! Pang Zhixi!”

But Pang Xiao absolutely refused to listen to Qin Yining. As his words fell, he’d already walked far away.

Ji Yun and Bingtang supported Qin Yining on either side, carefully persuading, “Princess, please don’t be angry. The Prince’s temper is just a bit quick, making his words so harsh. The Prince cherishes you most—he’s not really trying to quarrel with you.”

Qin Yining nodded and pulled the two women inside, sitting silently at the Eight Immortals table.

Bingtang and Ji Yun had watched how Qin Yining and Pang Xiao endured countless hardships to finally be together. They were both moved and envious of their relationship. In their hearts, didn’t they also hope to find such a good man in the future who would treat them as the Prince treated the Princess?

Now suddenly seeing these two also had moments of bickering, with the Prince looking so furious, both women felt somewhat bewildered.

Qin Yining sat by the Eight Immortals table, her fingers playing with the tassels hanging from the bright red peach-patterned tablecloth.

“Princess…” Ji Yun hesitantly called out.

The Princess wasn’t speaking now, sitting there alone in a daze. No matter how you looked at it, there was a sense of desolate melancholy.

The Prince really was something—the Princess had done so much for him. Even considering their shared hardships, he shouldn’t truly quarrel with the Princess.

Qin Yining came to her senses and suddenly said, “Ji Yun, the Prince and I have a disagreement. Only you can help me now. Are you willing to listen to the Prince’s orders, or listen to mine?”

Ji Yun was stunned. After thinking for just a moment, she said, “Though the Prince gave me to the Princess, since following you I’ve only recognized you as my master. When the Prince and Princess agree, I listen to you. When the Prince and Princess disagree, I still listen to you.”

“Even if helping me means the Prince will punish you?”

Ji Yun nodded and smiled. “The Princess will protect my life.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded. “Good. Change into light clothing, cover your face so no one recognizes you, and use your lightness skills to reach the mansion where I placed Manager Dahu as quickly as possible. The Prince is selecting troops and might arrive first, or might be slower. If he arrives before you, don’t force entry—return immediately. If you’re faster than the Prince, go in and warn them, take them to escape to Four Seas Trading to find Chief Steward Yin. Say it’s Boss Qiu’s instruction to have them help hide people.” She gave Ji Yun the maple leaf jade pendant that Qiu Feishan had given her.

Ji Yun secured the item and nodded. “Alright, I’ll go immediately.”

Qin Yining quickly grabbed Ji Yun. “Remember, don’t expose your identity and don’t risk your life—prioritize your safety above all. Save them if you can, but let it go if you can’t. Also, the Prince left Tiger Guards there. Earlier he sent two people, but only one returned to report, meaning at least one Tiger Guard is still hidden there. Be careful.”

“Yes, I understand. Princess, rest assured!”

Ji Yun asked no questions and crisply agreed. As she walked, she removed the silver hairpins from her head, efficiently styling her long hair into a bun and quickly going to find men’s clothing.

Bingtang remained with Qin Yining, anxiously glancing toward the door twice before closing it.

Then she shut the door firmly.

“Princess, I checked—no one outside heard us.” Bingtang led Qin Yining toward the inner room.

Actually, as the Princess’s inner residence, aside from personal maidservants and the Prince, no one would move about here. So what Bingtang was guarding against were actually the newly arrived Ziyuan and Hanxiao.

She and Ji Yun could guarantee complete loyalty to the Princess—even when the Prince’s orders conflicted with Qin Yining’s, they would decisively choose to stand with Qin Yining. But Ziyuan and Hanxiao might not be the same.

Qin Yining smiled. “Good, let’s rest for now. Your Prince is such a stubborn mule, refusing to listen to me. If he really kills all of Manager Dahu’s group, what will we do when we need them later?”

“The Prince is only acting this way because he cherishes you.”

“Yes, I understand. He’d rather give up the treasure than vent this anger for me. I’m very pleased in my heart. But looking at the bigger picture, he’s still too impulsive.”

Seeing that Qin Yining’s own mindset was quite peaceful, Bingtang also let go of her worries and smiled. “That treasure—originally Prince Zhennan searched for it, Tianji Zi also searched for it, and even the current Emperor nearly lost his life in the imperial mausoleum for it. With such a vast sum of money, who wouldn’t be tempted? Yet the Prince doesn’t care about it for your sake. Sigh, countless people under heaven must envy you.”

“Indeed.” Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile.

Thinking of Pang Xiao’s earlier appearance of suddenly exploding like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Qin Yining’s heart melted into a pool of spring water.

Though he was somewhat domineering, every time he was domineering it was for her good. Moreover, in daily matters large and small, he was particularly respectful of her, always asking her opinion first before discussing with his advisors.

How many women in this world could receive such respect?

Pang Xiao had already made enough concessions for her.

The continuous heavy rain made the evening sky as dark as night.

The sky was gray and gloomy with black clouds pressing down. At this time, those who could avoid going out all tried to hide at home.

A slender figure ran wildly through the quiet alleys. Upon encountering blocking walls, instead of detouring, the figure directly leaped over them, moving like an agile monkey.

Soon, that large mansion appeared ahead. But even more chilling was that about a hundred soldiers had already gathered before the mansion gates.