Pang Xiao looked at that cartload of goods, his brow gradually furrowing.

The accompanying Valiant Tiger Guards, including Huzi, seeing Pang Xiao’s stern expression, couldn’t help but grow nervous.

Ji Yun felt uneasy – surely the prince didn’t disbelieve her explanation? Or had the prince seen through some flaw?

Who knew that after a long while, Pang Xiao managed to squeeze out one sentence: “Ji Yun, your mistress… is she angry?”

“Huh?”

Ji Yun accidentally made a sound.

Even the Valiant Tiger Guards like Huzi behind Pang Xiao were stunned into silence.

Ji Yun hastily said, “No, please don’t overthink it. The princess consort only instructed this servant to help with purchases. From what this servant could see, the princess consort didn’t appear angry.”

Pang Xiao sighed.

It seemed his declaration of confinement without reason had indeed made Qin Yining unhappy after all.

Otherwise she wouldn’t suddenly buy so many things – this was rarely seen before. Since she was confined and couldn’t buy things herself, she had Ji Yun go out to “help” with purchases. Clearly his precious one was still angry with him!

Just thinking about Qin Yining being angry with him made Pang Xiao feel like his hair would turn white.

“Go on then.” Pang Xiao frowned deeply and waved his hand.

Seeing that Pang Xiao didn’t seem to be overthinking things, Ji Yun quietly breathed a sigh of relief. After bowing, she got onto the carriage.

Pang Xiao watched that carriage gradually disappear into the curtain of rain. After thinking for a long while, he finally turned back and asked, “On the road we came from, wasn’t there a jewelry shop?”

Huzi was startled and hastily replied, “Yes.”

“Let’s go.” Pang Xiao turned and walked back.

Huzi led over ten Valiant Tiger Guards following behind Pang Xiao. The group marched with imposing momentum straight toward the jewelry shop.

The jewelry shop’s manager was a portly old craftsman over sixty years old. Seeing this formation, he was so frightened he nearly knelt on the spot.

Meanwhile, Ji Yun returned to the prince’s manor, had people move the goods back to the inner residence, then pulled Qin Yining into the side room to tell her everything that had happened.

Qin Yining said in surprise, “You actually ran into the prince? He didn’t become suspicious, did he?”

“He shouldn’t have.” Ji Yun said somewhat hesitantly, “But this servant noticed the prince seemed to have something on his mind.”

Qin Yining nodded thoughtfully. “I understand. Later you…”

“Princess Consort, the wife of Earl Zhongyi requests an audience.” Hanxiao lifted the curtain and entered to report.

Qin Yining raised an eyebrow.

Bingtang said, “Could she be coming to cause trouble again?”

Ji Yun also sneered coldly, “That woman definitely has ill intentions.”

Qin Yining sat down by her vanity table and said, “Then let’s invite the people from Earl Zhongyi’s manor in for a chat, in the flower hall of the inner residence.”

“Yes.” Hanxiao acknowledged and withdrew.

Qin Yining looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, “Quick, help me see if my hair is messed up. When dealing with someone like the Bian clan, just looking presentable wins you half the battle against her.”

Both Ji Yun and Bingtang laughed heartily upon hearing this.

Bian Ruohan was escorted all the way into the prince’s manor. Once she passed through the ornamental gate, the mocking smile on her face deepened even more.

“Tsk, your prince’s manor is truly courteous in receiving guests – you’re actually inviting me into the inner residence.”

The purchasing woman from her household had accidentally overheard several people from the prince’s manor’s purchasing staff quietly discussing the princess consort being confined. That purchasing woman was clever and went back to tell her immediately.

Bian Ruohan had originally been half-doubtful, but coming to the prince’s manor now – she, someone who wasn’t particularly familiar with Qin Yining and even had grievances with her, was being received not in the front courtyard but directly brought into the inner residence. Didn’t this prove that the confinement of that Qin woman was real?

The guide Hanxiao didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

Bian Ruohan hadn’t actually needed anyone to answer anyway. After her mocking comment, she was already laughing to herself.

They arrived at the flower hall of the inner residence, where Hanxiao lifted the door curtain to invite Bian Ruohan inside.

Bian Ruohan said, “Where is your mistress? When guests arrive, how does she not come personally to greet them? Is this your prince’s manor’s way of receiving guests?”

Qin Yining sat upright in the seat of honor, idly playing with the hibiscus jade ring on her left hand. Hearing this, she said lazily, “If they’re guests, and of noble character, they would naturally be worth my personal greeting.”

“What do you mean!” Bian Ruohan shouted angrily, pushing aside Hanxiao and barging into the room. “Are you saying I don’t count as a guest? What noble character – you, a harlot who seduces other people’s husbands, how noble is your character!”

Qin Yining helplessly raised an eyebrow at Bian Ruohan. “Did the wife of Earl Zhongyi come here specifically to quarrel with me?”

Bian Ruohan gave a cold laugh. “As if you’re worthy. I came to see what shameless thing you, this adulteress who doesn’t follow wifely virtues, has done to wrong your husband that you’d be confined!”

Qin Yining rubbed her temples and turned back to say to Bingtang and Ji Yun, “This news spreads too quickly.”

Ji Yun smiled and said, “Most likely someone is deliberately keeping tabs on us all the time.”

“Bah! Nonsense! Would I keep tabs on you people? I find you annoying just looking at you!” Bian Ruohan was furious.

Qin Yining looked sternly at Bian Ruohan. “You’re also a young lady born into a wealthy family. At such a young age, don’t speak so crudely – you’ll lose our dignity! Not to mention the wealthy families of Huichuan County, even ordinary small households don’t have their daughters spouting such foul language. Those who know would say it’s your own poor upbringing, but those who don’t might think all the noble ladies of the capital are goods like you. If you implicate everyone else’s reputation, wouldn’t that be your sin?”

“You! You’re talking nonsense!” Bian Ruohan was so angry at Qin Yining’s lecture that she jumped up and down. “If you were any good, the prince wouldn’t have confined you! You still don’t know to properly repent and are here spouting nonsense – simply detestable!”

Just as Bian Ruohan finished speaking, a deep, pleasant male voice came from outside: “There are guests at home?”

“Your Highness.”

The curtain was lifted by a maid, and with respectful greetings, Pang Xiao walked in from outside.

Bian Ruohan turned to look, only to see the newcomer was tall with broad shoulders and a narrow back, long arms and a slim waist, with exceptionally handsome features. His sword-like eyebrows slanted upward, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, examining her with an appraising gaze.

Bian Ruohan’s maiden heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.

She hadn’t expected Prince Zhongshun to look like this!

Pang Xiao held a sandalwood box in his hands, with a jade bowl placed on top. The bowl was filled with perfectly round eastern pearls, heaped full like a bowl of rice.

Qin Yining stood up and smiled, “You’re back.”

“I’m back.” Pang Xiao had hurried back from outside, thinking that his wife had been so angry with him that she’d sent people out to buy things – he had to coax her no matter what.

So seeing Qin Yining still so gentle now, still smiling like a flower upon seeing him, Pang Xiao even felt somewhat flattered.

“Yining, look quickly – do you like this?”

Pang Xiao presented what he held to Qin Yining with the utmost attentive attitude.

Qin Yining accepted the items in surprise, first lifting the azure jade bowl with her delicate white fingers like scallions, holding it up to the light to examine it, then scooping up some of the eastern pearls inside.