Lu Wenru felt his heart skip a beat at the question, his thoughts racing as he replied: “My lord, this humble one believes this shows the Emperor’s trust in you.”

These words were hardly convincing to Lu Heng. Yet hearing them made Lu Heng feel somewhat more at ease.

“Trust? Does the Emperor not trust Prince Zhongshun then?”

Lu Wenru said: “This humble one doesn’t understand such matters deeply, but if you look at how Prince Zhongshun’s career has been steadily declining in recent years – his military authority stripped away multiple times, and his entire household wiped out – you can tell how many people are wary of him. The Emperor claims to be Prince Zhongshun’s sworn brother, yet there have been numerous impeachments against him, not to mention the harsh treatment that’s plain for all to see.”

As Lu Wenru spoke, he carefully observed Lu Heng’s expression. Seeing Lu Heng’s face soften slightly, he continued: “My lord is different from Prince Zhongshun. You have a centuries-old noble family as your foundation. The Emperor’s ascension to the throne was greatly aided by the Lu family’s support – both financially and through connections. The Lu family, together with the old noble families from the former Northern Ji Kingdom, form a mutually supportive network. Even the intricate web of relationships in the court relies heavily on the Lu family’s arrangements at crucial points. So the Emperor values you greatly, which is completely different from Prince Zhongshun’s background as a rootless military man.”

Every word Lu Wenru spoke scratched exactly the right spot in Lu Heng’s heart. After this speech, Lu Heng felt much calmer.

Lu Heng sighed: “Welcoming Wutejin Khan and the Khatun is already troublesome enough, let alone having to escort them to the capital. Once I leave Huichuan, the treasure matter will come to a standstill. There will be many unexpected complications then. Currently, only you, I, and Lu Xiong know the treasure’s location. But if I leave Huichuan and leave everything to fate, who can guarantee that Pang Xiao will never find out? With me in the capital, I’ll be powerless to act when the time comes, only adding to my troubles.”

Hearing this, Lu Wenru immediately performed a deep bow: “My lord, this humble one will forever remain loyal only to you. Regarding all your affairs, I will absolutely keep silent and never reveal even half a sentence to anyone.”

Seeing his nervous appearance, Lu Heng couldn’t help but laugh. “Get up quickly. Can I not trust you? When I say these things, I’m not targeting you, nor am I saying Lu Xiong would leak secrets. He’s watched so closely – if he could still leak secrets, all my subordinates might as well wash their necks clean and wait for execution. I’m simply talking about fate.”

Lu Heng’s smile gradually faded as he frowned with worry. “Fate is something mysterious and unfathomable – no one can say whether it truly exists. I used to think I was a favored son of heaven from a noble family, but as time passed I discovered that even when human effort reaches its limits, what can be accomplished is still quite limited. I worry that heaven won’t allow me to obtain that treasure.”

Lu Wenru lowered his eyes in thought, unable to find words to respond for a moment. After a long pause, he finally squeezed out a sentence with great effort: “If only we could make the Tatar Khan’s group come later, or after they arrive, make them stay and delay their journey to the capital.”

Hearing this, Lu Heng suddenly felt as if he’d been struck by enlightenment.

His mind had been too chaotic – at this moment he wasn’t thinking as clearly as the usually wooden Lu Wenru.

“You’re usually so quiet, but at crucial moments your suggestions are actually useful.” Lu Heng smiled.

Lu Wenru said somewhat helplessly: “My lord, this humble one has shallow knowledge – my words shouldn’t be taken seriously.”

“No, what you said just now was very correct.”

Lu Heng stood up, his earlier irritation completely swept away, once again displaying his usual composure and capability. He paced with hands behind his back to the bedside, looking at the small puddles formed by rainwater outside the half-open window and the few drooping weeds beside them, slowly breaking into a smile.

“You’re right – I need to find a way to make them stay temporarily.”

Lu Wenru dared not respond, vaguely feeling he’d heard something significant again, and lowered his head deeply.

Qin Yining thought that since the Empress had come here, though officially to pray for the early end of natural disasters, she certainly couldn’t spend all twelve hours of the day in the Buddhist hall. Since she and Bian Ruohan were the only two people here qualified to accompany the Empress, the Empress would naturally seek her out for conversation.

But she waited a full three days before a young eunuch from the Empress’s side arrived.

“Princess Consort, Her Majesty requests your presence.”

Qin Yining immediately agreed, had someone inform Pang Xiao, then took Ji Yun and Bingtang in a carriage to the separate courtyard that Lu Heng had prepared for housing the Empress and Imperial Consort Zhuang’s group.

The separate courtyard was much more spacious and luxurious than the government office. Outside the courtyard, guards stood in formation with strict security. Qin Yining and her companions were ordered to dismount at the entrance corridor, then female servants came to thoroughly inspect them, confirming they carried no weapons, poisons, or similar items before allowing them entry.

Following the servants along the covered walkway toward the inner quarters, Bingtang and Ji Yun simultaneously grew serious, nervously observing their surroundings.

Bingtang leaned close to Qin Yining’s ear and whispered: “Princess Consort, this servant feels the atmosphere isn’t quite right. It’s somewhat like that time when you entered the palace…”

Qin Yining’s “brief stay” in the palace had nearly resulted in her being framed for harming the imperial heir, and later she’d been confined in the Empress Dowager’s Ci’an Palace without food or water, nearly starving to death – these were truly unpleasant memories that still made her heart feel numb when recalled.

Qin Yining shook her head and made a shushing gesture.

Bingtang immediately understood Qin Yining’s meaning and said no more.

After passing through the hanging flower gate, Qin Yining saw several more eunuchs standing guard. Seeing Qin Yining arrive with her two maidservants, they conducted another inspection.

After confirming no abnormalities, a eunuch led the way.

“Please don’t blame us, Princess Consort. We servants are just being cautious in our duties, with no intention of disrespecting you.”

Qin Yining smiled and shook her head. “This eunuch is too polite. What you’re doing is simply your duty – it’s understandable.”

The young eunuch smiled and cupped his hands. “Oh my, thank you for your understanding. People often say the Princess Consort is the most considerate toward servants – this is indeed true.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining only smiled.

Seeing that Qin Yining didn’t seem inclined to say more, the young eunuch tactfully fell silent, leading Qin Yining and her two maidservants to the main hall with a beaming smile.

“Please wait a moment, Princess Consort.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded.

The young eunuch went in to announce her arrival. Soon the curtain lifted, and Nanny Sun from the Empress’s side quickly came out to greet them, curtsying to Qin Yining in the corridor: “This servant greets the Princess Consort.”

“Nanny, please rise. You’re a senior servant by the Empress’s side – please don’t be so formal.”

Nanny Sun looked at Qin Yining with smiling eyes. “Her Majesty is waiting for you. Please follow this servant.”

Qin Yining said “Thank you for your trouble” and followed behind Nanny Sun into the hall.

Inside was a faint, elegant fragrance – like mint, or perhaps some refined floral scent. Due to the continuous rain, the weather still carried the damp chill of spring. To prevent moisture, braziers had been lit in the room. Lifting the pearl curtain to the side chamber, the fragrance grew stronger, and Qin Yining confirmed the aroma came from the nine-eared carved peony-patterned incense burner placed in the center.

The Empress wore a true red narrow-sleeved cross-collar jacket over a pomegranate-colored skirt. Her long hair was arranged in a high peony bun, with three matching kingfisher feather and twisted gold hairpins inserted in a row. A phoenix-headed hairpin adorned the other side, with the phoenix’s beak holding a lustrous oriental pearl. Though advanced in age with plain features, her majestic bearing was unmistakably evident.

Qin Yining respectfully knelt and paid her respects: “Your subject’s wife greets Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Please rise quickly.” The Empress smiled slightly and raised her hand. Nanny Sun immediately helped Qin Yining up, then turned with a smile, calling away the accompanying palace servants and taking Bingtang and Ji Yun with them.

Though Bingtang and Ji Yun had ten thousand worries, they could only comply.

Qin Yining caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye that no one else remained in the room, knowing the Empress must have important matters to discuss. She composed her expression and lowered her head, waiting for the Empress to speak.

Due to her bowed angle, Qin Yining didn’t see the complex expression on the Empress’s face.

The Empress looked at Qin Yining with eyes full of scrutiny and speculation, as if seeing her for the first time today, no longer showing the former closeness or helplessness due to their husbands’ opposing positions.

“How has Prince Zhongshun’s consort been adjusting to life in Huichuan?”

Hearing the Empress’s form of address, Qin Yining felt something was amiss. Previously, the Empress had addressed her directly as Princess Consort, sometimes even with sisterly familiarity, but today’s address felt very distant.

Qin Yining realized that during her absence, something must have happened to change the Empress’s impression of her.

Qin Yining cautiously replied: “Responding to Your Majesty, when your subject’s wife first arrived in Huichuan, I was indeed unaccustomed, but gradually adapted.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Qin Yining nodded: “Yes. When the Prince was ill and I first arrived, finding suitable lodging took most of my energy. With the bad weather, I caught cold from the rain. That was manageable, but later when I found lodging, people broke in and ransacked it, stealing many valuable items. They even declared that the house was one they had their eye on and wanted to drive me out… In short, the situation was very complicated, truly exhausting and troublesome.”

Qin Yining spoke extremely slowly while her thoughts raced. She had no grudges with the Empress. Though they both knew their husbands’ positions would eventually put them at odds, before that time they could still be friends discussing trivial matters.

Moreover, when the Empress first arrived, her attitude had been very affectionate – there was no reason for it to change without cause.

Therefore, someone must have spoken against her to the Empress while she was unaware. Here, the person most likely to do this was Bian Ruohan, especially since Imperial Consort Zhuang accompanying the Empress was Bian Ruohan’s cousin.

With this analysis, Qin Yining was certain the Empress’s changed attitude was due to her conflict with Bian Ruohan.

In the best case, the Empress had learned of her disputes with Bian Ruohan.

In the worst case, Bian Ruohan might have fabricated stories about her to the Empress.

Indeed, upon hearing Qin Yining’s words, the Empress frowned slightly. She didn’t immediately reveal her position but feigned surprise: “Is this really true? In Huichuan County, who would dare compete with Prince Zhongshun for lodging?”

Qin Yining smiled bitterly: “Your Majesty’s wisdom is unparalleled – you’ve naturally guessed it. The person in question is none other than Earl Zhongyi’s wife. Earl Zhongyi’s wife harbors deep prejudices against me. Despite my repeated forbearance, she persists relentlessly, which is truly vexing.”