“You don’t understand, I have my own difficulties.” The Empress sighed deeply. “What kind of temperament does Prince Zhongshun have? This kind of shameful matter, whether true or false, if spread around would make him lose face, and he would definitely hold a grudge. Moreover, to catch a thief you need stolen goods, to catch adultery you need the pair caught in the act. We only saw Earl Zhongyi moving about, we didn’t actually see what they were doing. Once this gets out, Qin Shi could dismiss it with a simple ‘discussing matters,’ and then wouldn’t I become the villain who destroys marital relationships?”
“But Your Majesty, since Consort Zhuang has already brought this matter before you, if you don’t handle it, I’m afraid it won’t reflect well on you either.”
“That’s precisely why this matter is so difficult.” The Empress stood up, rubbing her temples. “I shouldn’t have paid attention to Consort Zhuang’s clamoring that day and just let her figure it out herself. Now look what’s happened – the situation has become so troublesome, haven’t I been dragged into it as well?”
“Your Majesty, you’re simply too kindhearted. Seeing Consort Zhuang cry so pitifully, you couldn’t bear to ignore her.”
The Empress said helplessly, “All these years in the palace living through scheming and intrigue haven’t taught me to completely harden my heart. I keep thinking that we’re all women, life isn’t easy for any of us. It’s one thing for husbands to take concubines, but having an affair with a married woman is even more insulting than keeping a mistress. In my momentary anger, I lost my head, but now I’m stuck in a difficult position.”
“Your Majesty, how do you plan to handle this matter? Will you truly leave it alone?”
The Empress knew that Nanny Sun had a straightforward nature and couldn’t stand such sordid affairs. But if she truly interfered too much in this matter, she would only be asking for trouble.
“Even if I must intervene, I should prioritize protecting myself first, shouldn’t I?”
Hearing this, Nanny Sun immediately realized she had spoken too presumptuously and interfered too much in her mistress’s affairs. She lowered her head. “Please forgive this servant, Your Majesty. I have overstepped my bounds.”
The Empress waved her hand gently. “I don’t blame you. However, this matter is indeed difficult to handle. If I speak directly, I’ll be drawn into this affair; if I ignore it, it would be unfair. I need to find a way to subtly show that I’ve fulfilled my responsibility.”
“The Empress speaks truly.” Nanny Sun racked her brains thinking. “I just worry that Consort Zhuang and Earl Zhongyi’s wife will come clamoring again.”
The Empress smiled. “I didn’t come to this place to seek justice for them.”
Nanny Sun’s eyes brightened as she clapped her hands. “That’s right! Your Majesty came here to pray for blessings. You’re busy beseeching Buddha to bless us with the early cessation of these heavy rains. Where would you find the leisure time to deal with their trivial matters? Compared to the common people of the realm, they don’t carry such weight. If they dare to make a disturbance, we’ll say they’re disturbing Your Majesty’s Buddhist prayers!”
The Empress nodded. “Though that’s true, I still need to carefully consider how to express this tactfully.”
At this moment, Qin Yining was seething with anger, sitting at the table picking up an unfinished shoe sole, then angrily putting it down and spitting, “Such a grown man, yet acting so rashly and unreasonably! Is this how he’s always been, or has marriage addled his brains? I and he were already under suspicion, right in the eye of the storm, and under the Empress’s very nose no less. He didn’t even consider his own position before coming here like this. It’s fortunate no one saw, but if someone had encountered us, even a hundred mouths couldn’t explain it away!”
“Princess, don’t be angry. Getting upset with outsiders and harming your health isn’t worth it.” Ji Yun advised.
Bingtang also said, “That’s right. The Prince has always trusted you. Even if he knew Earl Zhongyi visited late at night, he would only blame Earl Zhongyi and wouldn’t think wild thoughts.”
“Even so, having our reputation inexplicably smeared by their husband and wife is still infuriating.” Qin Yining took several deep breaths, but her anger didn’t subside. “These past days of vegetarian meals and Buddhist prayers finally calmed my mind, but he’s made it all for nothing.”
Just as she was speaking, light tapping came from the window lattice.
All three turned to look simultaneously, then exchanged glances with each other.
Ji Yun quickly walked over and asked in a low voice, “Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
“My lord!?”
Hearing the deep male voice, Ji Yun hurriedly opened the window.
Immediately, she saw a tall, slender black shadow nimbly climb through the window into the room, then turn back to close the window and blow out the silk lamp by the window.
Pang Xiao was dressed entirely in black, soaked through, the wet clothes clinging to his firm muscles. Soon, quite a bit of water had dripped onto the floor.
But Qin Yining couldn’t care about such things. She quickly went over and threw her arms around his neck, hanging her entire body on him, exclaiming with delight, “How did you come here?”
Pang Xiao supported her slender waist and gently pushed her away. With her long hair flowing loose and her pale arms wrapped around his neck as she threw herself into his embrace, she looked so alluring that Pang Xiao’s heartbeat quickened. His wet, cold body grew hot, and even his close-fitting clothes felt like they might steam dry.
“Good girl, I’m wet. Don’t let yourself catch cold.”
Qin Yining laughed, “What’s there to fear? I’m not cold. How have you been these past two days?”
“Without you at home, whether I’m doing well or poorly doesn’t matter much.” Pang Xiao smiled and scraped her nose with his finger, leaving rainwater on her nose bridge. “How come I feel you’ve gotten thinner again?”
Qin Yining wiped her nose and laughed, “It’s nothing. I think this kind of life is quite good too. Eating vegetarian meals and praying to Buddha – without all that rich meat and fish, naturally I’ve gotten a bit thinner, but I feel much lighter.”
“You were already too thin to begin with. This won’t do.” Pang Xiao said gravely, “I’ll go ask the Empress later exactly how long she wants you to accompany her. It’s fine to stay with her for a few days, but I should take you home now.”
“You mustn’t! If the Empress gets angry, that would be troublesome.”
“I don’t care. Why shouldn’t my wife be able to return to my home? Even if she wanted you to stay briefly, I agreed to that and didn’t embarrass her in public. How can she forbid me from fetching my own wife? Her husband wouldn’t dare be so arrogant in front of me.” Pang Xiao’s tone was extremely domineering.
Qin Yining giggled at his words, her earlier anger completely swept away. As long as she saw Pang Xiao, her heart and eyes were filled with him alone, and she could forget all her worries.
Pang Xiao bent down and kissed her eyes. “Good girl, endure one more night. Tomorrow I’ll come fetch you.”
“Alright.” Qin Yining stood on her tiptoes and kissed his stubbled chin.
The two stood by the window embracing each other, speaking sweet words of affection.
Bingtang and Ji Yun had long since retreated to the outer room, while Mu Jinghu covered the roof tiles properly and crouched on the rooftop keeping watch for Pang Xiao.
Pang Xiao didn’t mention Lu Heng’s matter at all, nor did he speak of the investigation results from these past days. He only focused on making her happy.
But Qin Yining couldn’t keep secrets from Pang Xiao. She told him all about her speculations during these two days at the Empress’s residence and about Lu Heng’s sudden visit earlier that evening, inexplicably explaining various things.
“Their husband and wife truly leave one speechless. Instead of living their good lives properly, they create all these complications. Bian Ruohan probably has a hole in her brain, and Earl Zhongyi has been led astray into that same hole.”
Hearing Qin Yining say this, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, alright, don’t be angry anymore. I know what kind of person you are, isn’t that enough? How that husband and wife conduct themselves is their business. Tomorrow I’ll take you home, and we’ll live our lives well without worrying about others. Moreover, I think this matter won’t drag on much longer. Earl Zhongyi is busy with treasure matters and trying to avoid being affected by Khan Wutejin’s arrival. He’s quite occupied. Without us doing anything, he’ll naturally make this storm pass quickly.”
Qin Yining nodded and yawned while leaning against Pang Xiao’s shoulder.
Pang Xiao smiled. “Tired? It’s getting late. Quickly have them help you change clothes and go to sleep. I can’t stay long either – I’ll head back now.”
Qin Yining was jolted awake by the wet, cold clothes on his shoulder and laughed, “Alright, hurry back. Remember to soak in hot water and drink a bowl of ginger soup when you return.”
“I know. I’ll come fetch you tomorrow. Sleep well, and tomorrow we’ll go home.”
Qin Yining smiled and nodded vigorously.
The couple held hands reluctantly, not wanting to part, but thinking that Qin Yining could return home tomorrow, their moods lightened considerably.
After Pang Xiao left, Qin Yining changed her clothes and indeed slept soundly through the night.
The next day she rose and followed the usual routine of vegetarian meals and Buddhist prayers with the Empress.
In the afternoon, while Qin Yining was kneeling behind the Empress alongside Consort Zhuang, Nanny Sun softly announced from outside the Buddhist hall, “Your Majesty, Prince Zhongshun requests an audience.”
The Empress’s eyes snapped open, her prayer beads clutched tightly in her hands, her heart inexplicably nervous.
She hadn’t done anything wrong to Pang Xiao, but knowing such a significant secret yet being unable to tell him directly made her feel somewhat guilty.
After calming her emotions for a moment, the Empress slowly said, “Please ask him to wait in the front hall.” She then completed her prostrations, rose with a smile, and said to Qin Yining, “Since the Prince has come, Princess, please accompany me to see him.”
“Yes.” Qin Yining respectfully agreed and followed behind the Empress as they left the Buddhist hall.
Consort Zhuang stood respectfully in the corner with lowered head. Only after the two had left did she slowly raise her head.
She gently bit her lower lip with her white teeth, her eyes full of resentment.
She had clearly informed the Empress of the matter, yet the Empress continued to be wishy-washy. What was the point of just calling Qin Shi to stay by her side? Did the grievances suffered by the Bian family’s daughter only warrant Qin Shi eating vegetarian meals and praying to Buddha for a few days? If even the Empress couldn’t stand up for them, who else could they turn to for their family’s women’s grievances?
If it had been her former nature, Consort Zhuang would have been cautious and circumspect, trying to avoid approaching the Empress whenever possible. But today, after some thought, she gritted her teeth and followed.
Prince Zhongshun had come – she very much wanted to know how the Empress planned to deal with Qin Shi.
In the front hall, as soon as the Empress entered, she saw the back of Pang Xiao standing with his hands behind his back, wearing a deep blue arrow-sleeved shirt. He was tall with a narrow waist and broad shoulders. When standing quietly, his straight back resembled a spear, seemingly surrounded by flowing moonlight, so cold and austere that one couldn’t look directly at him or dare approach.
The Empress paused momentarily at the sight.
Nanny Sun had already announced loudly, “Her Majesty the Empress arrives.”
Hearing this, Pang Xiao turned around, his star-like eyes looking over.
“Your Majesty the Empress.” Pang Xiao bowed.
The Empress smiled, “Rise. What brings you here today?”
As she spoke, the Empress had already taken her seat in the place of honor.
Pang Xiao smiled and bowed, then said boldly, “In response to Your Majesty, this subject missed his wife.”