“Is that so? Perhaps there are some misunderstandings between you two?”

How different this version sounded from what Bian Ruohan had said.

With both sides giving conflicting accounts, what was she to do?

The Empress truly felt a splitting headache.

Even a wise magistrate finds family disputes difficult to judge, let alone disputes between two families. If Imperial Consort Zhuang hadn’t brought Bian Ruohan to tearfully plead with her twice, the Empress wouldn’t want to involve herself in such matters.

There were plenty of such secrets within the palace walls, and the Empress had long grown accustomed to minding her own business.

Moreover, Qin Yining was treasured by Pang Xiao like the apple of his eye. If any rumors arose from her involvement here, Pang Xiao might even turn his anger on her – who knew what he might do?

Yet she was, after all, the mother of the nation. When such matters were brought before her, she couldn’t simply ignore them.

Observing the Empress’s expression, Qin Yining knew she must be extremely troubled. Putting herself in the Empress’s shoes, who would want to get involved in such messy affairs between other families? Especially when it was all hearsay with no way to determine truth from falsehood.

Qin Yining sighed: “Your subject’s wife understands Your Majesty’s difficulty. But let me speak truthfully with you – Bian Shi misunderstood me first, refused to give me any chance to explain, and had already decided I was the kind of person she imagined.

“Then she used her status to oppose me at every turn. She brought people to break into my home and commit robbery – that I could tolerate. But she even made baseless accusations against people with her silver tongue. I’m completely at a loss with her. I can neither strike nor kill her, and I don’t know what Earl Zhongyi is thinking – unable to manage his own wife properly, always letting her roam about freely.”

The Empress listened in speechless silence.

So Qin Yining had also grown to resent Earl Zhongyi?

As an observer, the Empress naturally knew that Lu Heng had never given up on Qin Yining. When the Empress Dowager had hosted a banquet in the palace with Lu Heng, Qin Yining, and Pang Xiao all on the guest list, the Empress Dowager had tried to matchmake Lu Heng and Qin Yining. If Pang Xiao hadn’t angrily overturned the table in public, Qin Yining might now be married into the Lu family.

Lu Heng was an elegant, refined gentleman with handsome features and noble bearing. The cultivation of a centuries-old family couldn’t be matched by any nouveau riche. From the Empress’s observational perspective, she found Lu Heng and Pang Xiao to be two different types of handsome men, each with their own advantages. To outsiders, they were evenly matched in both looks and ability.

Most importantly, the Empress knew of Lu Heng’s feelings for Qin Yining.

So it was no wonder Bian Shi would feel jealous.

The Empress lowered her gaze to look at the beauty sitting properly before her.

The light in the room was somewhat dim, with silk lanterns lit even in the corners.

Qin Yining sat upright, her head slightly lowered, her posture elegant. Her bearing and demeanor were flawless, with raven-azure hair and porcelain-white skin. From head to toe, she exuded exquisite refinement, like a jade figure carved by master craftsmen, with not a single flaw to be found in her appearance.

This wasn’t the Empress’s first day knowing Qin Yining, yet she still felt dazzled when looking at her carefully. How much more so for someone like Bian Ruohan, a young girl who prided herself on her family background and beauty?

Sixteen years old – exactly the age when one’s temperament is unstable and prone to impulse. Her handsome, wealthy newlywed husband’s heart harbored another woman whose beauty she couldn’t hope to match…

Anyone would find this unbearable, wouldn’t they?

The Empress rubbed her temples. In her helplessness, she also thought of a strategy.

So be it – she wasn’t the Imperial Court of Justice, nor the Imperial Clan Court. She couldn’t investigate and clarify such matters, having neither the energy nor the leisure. She would simply make a statement and smooth things over.

These thoughts flashed through the Empress’s mind in just an instant.

Her pale fingers, painted with henna, picked up her tea bowl, then she smiled and said: “Princess Consort, you should also try this tea. Earl Zhongyi specially prepared it – I find it comparable to what we have in the palace.”

Seeing the Empress change the subject, Qin Yining couldn’t fathom her thoughts for the moment, so she smiled and picked up the tea bowl beside her. “The Lu family naturally has many fine things.”

The Empress smiled: “Indeed, the Lu family’s century-old enterprise has deep foundations. Though I’m already honored as Empress, I still feel inadequate before the Lu family’s vast heritage.”

Qin Yining took a sip of tea and set it down. “Heroes aren’t judged by their origins. Your Majesty is already Empress, the most noble woman in the realm. Why demean yourself? Besides, no matter how great a noble family, they’re still subjects before the imperial family.”

“Though you say so, this matter of heritage truly can’t be imitated or envied.” The Empress said with a slightly probing tone: “Earl Zhongyi, as head of the Lu family, already feels transcendent in court.”

Hearing the Empress constantly mention the Lu family and Lu Heng, Qin Yining became inwardly alert and didn’t respond.

The Empress smiled again: “However, though the Lu family is great and Earl Zhongyi excellent, Zhixi is also a rare military talent. When Zhixi and Alan followed the Emperor in conquering the realm, I was truly worried sick.”

Seeming to recall past events, the Empress sighed with emotion. “When the men went to war, not returning home even once a year, every time they came back the Empress Dowager and I would busy ourselves preparing tables full of good food and drink. Zhixi and Alan suffered much in the military and would practically embrace rice buckets to eat.” Remembering those times, the Empress chuckled. “Later, when the situation improved, Zhixi and Alan would still shout ‘Sister-in-law, we want food!’ the moment they entered the house.”

Back then, when her husband was away fighting, he would still feel guilty toward his wife and mother at home, showing tenderness each time he returned.

But now that her husband had become Emperor and she had borne him sons, he was no longer the same toward her.

He lingered among young, beautiful concubines, having long forgotten her, his wife who had shared his hardships.

Due to their positions, the two men she had treated like younger brothers now only showed distance when they saw her, no longer calling her “sister-in-law” or carelessly shouting about being hungry.

Qin Yining could sense the Empress’s melancholy and helplessness, and couldn’t help sighing herself.

The Empress hadn’t forgotten her purpose and sighed: “You too are a woman of bitter fate. I know your heart isn’t at peace…” Thinking of how Qin Yining’s entire family was gone, and how the pair of twins who had once been so enviable were now dead, as a fellow mother, she understood this pain of losing children most deeply.

The Empress’s eyes gradually moistened as she lowered her gaze: “The Emperor has already ordered the capture of the mountain bandits and will give you justice sooner or later. You must also move forward, live well with Zhixi, and look toward the future.”

Qin Yining nodded with emotion, her eyes instantly moistening.

Now when she wanted to cry, she needed no ginger juice – she only had to think that the children far away in Xiyue might not even recognize her as their mother, and her tears would flow uncontrollably.

Teardrops fell like broken pearls. Qin Yining quickly stood to apologize, wiping her tears with her sleeve: “Your Majesty, your subject’s wife has been improper. Please forgive me.”

Seeing her grief over her children and family, the Empress’s own heart softened and she shed a few tears too. “Ah, there are only the two of us here. We’re simply having a heart-to-heart conversation – what crime have you committed?”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Qin Yining still performed a deep bow.

She felt slightly more relaxed – she should be in no danger today. The Empress was a kind-hearted person with no truly malicious thoughts and wouldn’t harm her.

However, though the Empress appeared to be having a heart-to-heart talk today, every sentence was actually probing her attitude toward Earl Zhongyi. Qin Yining knew that Bian Ruohan must have taken seriously the threats she’d made when binding and frightening her that day, and had probably already embellished the story when reporting it.

Indeed, the Empress wiped away her tears and spoke intimately: “Though you and Zhixi have faced many hardships since your marriage, and such tragedy befell your family, Zhixi’s feelings for you are truly moving. He was willing to quarrel with the Emperor just to go to Tatar territory to find you – I found it enviable to watch. Not just me, but Earl Zhongyi’s wife felt the same.”

Reading between the lines, the Empress’s meaning was: Though your married life has been rather tragic, your husband truly loves you. Mentioning Tatar territory inevitably brings to mind Earl Zhongyi’s shared hardships, but he has a wife now, so you should behave yourself.

Though the Empress spoke tactfully, her meaning struck like a slap to the face.

Qin Yining had never done anything improper as a wife, yet because of that troublemaker Bian Ruohan, she had to endure the Empress’s admonishment here with patience.

Suppressing her anger, Qin Yining smiled gently: “Your subject’s wife has always felt this way. Were I someone else, I too would feel envious.”

The Empress was momentarily speechless, feeling the words carried sarcastic undertones no matter how she heard them. But looking at Qin Yining’s clear eyes and the smile on her lips, she couldn’t be certain.

The Empress smiled and said: “I’ve always found conversations with the Princess Consort refreshing.” Her eyes flickered slightly as she continued, “I have an unreasonable request – I wonder if the Princess Consort might agree.”

Qin Yining’s heart immediately tensed – it seemed things weren’t over yet.

“Why need Your Majesty be so formal? Whatever you wish to instruct, please speak freely. Your subject’s wife will certainly do her utmost to handle it well.”

As she spoke, Qin Yining had already stood and respectfully lowered her head, waiting for instructions.

It must be said that Qin Yining, as a daughter of a noble house who had been taught by palace nannies specializing in etiquette and protocol, had every movement and word that was pleasing to watch and endearing.

Seeing her bow gracefully like a flower swaying in the breeze, the Empress’s heart had already softened with fondness, and her voice became gentler too.

“To be honest, though I’ve been well provided for in food, lodging, and necessities since coming here, spending each day fasting, chanting, and praying in the Buddhist hall is still rather lonely. You and I have always gotten along well, so I’d like to ask you to stay by my side and keep me company for a few days. I wonder if you can bear to leave Zhixi to come accompany me?”

At the end, she used “me” instead of the formal “this palace.”

Qin Yining understood – this was essentially house arrest in disguise.

Because of Bian Ruohan’s false accusations, the Empress couldn’t distinguish whose words were true and whose were false, so she wanted to keep Qin Yining by her side for gradual investigation. If she truly was having an affair with Lu Heng, this period could also serve to separate them.

The Empress meant well, but this decision was infuriating.

Though the Empress spoke tactfully, she was still the Empress, and her wishes were imperial edicts. Qin Yining couldn’t refuse.

Qin Yining smiled: “What’s there to be reluctant about? We’re an old married couple. Your subject’s wife also feels very compatible with Your Majesty. If I could stay and keep Your Majesty company in fasting, chanting, and occasional conversation, this would be my good fortune.”