Nanny Sun smiled: “Your Majesty is right. However, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple is at least two days’ journey from here, and with the rain just having stopped, travel is quite inconvenient. If Your Majesty wishes to go, why not allow this servant some time to make proper preparations so we can have better safety assurances.”

The Empress smiled, not particularly concerned: “What’s there to prepare? We’ll bring enough guards and travel slowly, enjoying the post-rain scenery along the way. When tired, we’ll rest; when sleepy, we’ll sleep. Though we’re going to Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple to pray for blessings, we can also treat it as an outing to relieve boredom.”

Nanny Sun was somewhat tempted by these words, but as someone close to the Empress, she naturally had to be responsible for the Empress’s safety. If anything happened to the Empress, she would be the first to be punished.

So Nanny Sun persuaded earnestly, finally preventing the Empress from insisting on departing that very day, at least giving them time to prepare.

At this time in the Prince’s mansion, Pang Xiao had just sent away the accompanying Tatar minister with a dark expression.

This person had embellished and exaggerated the story of how Qin Yining had claimed to be jealous last time and absolutely refused to let Tatar women enter the mansion, his intention to sow discord written all over his face. The four Tatar women he brought this time were different again, as if the Tatars could keep harassing them endlessly unless Pang Xiao agreed. It was utterly annoying.

Pang Xiao strode back to the inner quarters with a face as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Qin Yining was drinking milk when she saw Pang Xiao enter with such an expression, and couldn’t help but wonder: “What’s wrong? You look so angry?”

Pang Xiao snatched the azure-colored covered cup from Qin Yining’s hands and drank the half cup of milk, leaving a white ring around his lips. Realizing he had stolen Qin Yining’s milk, he felt somewhat embarrassed.

“Those Tatars have driven me to distraction. They’re far too persistent, coming every day to pester me about agreeing to take concubines. Today that person must have had a huge hole in his brain—he actually came before me to speak ill of you. I really want to close our doors to guests and directly refuse entry to Tatars next time.”

Qin Yining found this amusing: “If you don’t like it, then don’t see them next time. However, with Si Qin bringing people here, directly refusing to see them would seem too rude and easily give others something to criticize.”

Pang Xiao pulled over a stool to sit beside Qin Yining: “Why don’t I take you out for a trip instead? We can wander around. Look, whether the imperial mausoleum will be built still hasn’t received explicit orders, and who knows what His Majesty plans regarding the Loyalty Earl’s memorial to thoroughly investigate the materials. However, once the weather improves and construction on the imperial mausoleum begins, we won’t have a chance to go out. It would be better to take advantage of our current leisure to play around Huichuan County. First, it would relieve our minds, and second, we could avoid those bothersome Tatar flies, preventing people from secretly speculating whether I’ve conspired with the Tatars to reach some agreement.”

Qin Yining was somewhat tempted—going out with Pang Xiao, away from all the troubles, just enjoying the mountains and waters, would naturally be wonderful.

“That’s a good idea. But would it be inappropriate for us to leave now?”

After all, the Tatar Khan was still here. Leaving temporarily might not be good if something went wrong.

Pang Xiao knew of Qin Yining’s concerns and couldn’t help rubbing her long hair, laughing: “What’s there to fear? The Loyalty Earl is exceptionally capable—he won’t fail to handle such a small matter. With him watching over things, we can just go out freely.”

“You certainly understand his abilities.” Qin Yining was amused by Pang Xiao’s nonchalant tone.

Pang Xiao smiled: “Naturally I understand them. As an opponent, one must at least know oneself and one’s enemy. I imagine he also knows quite a bit about me.” Not wanting to mention Lu Heng in front of Qin Yining to avoid feeling bothered, Pang Xiao smiled and changed the subject: “How about it? We won’t bring too many people, keep everything simple, and go play in this area for a few days. What do you think?”

Qin Yining nodded with a smile: “Being able to go out with you would naturally be wonderful.”

Pang Xiao’s large hand embraced Qin Yining’s shoulder as his lips touched her forehead: “Good. As long as you agree, I’ll handle all the preparations. I’ll first find out what interesting places there are around Huichuan County, and we’ll go play for three to five days before returning. After we’ve rested enough upon return, we can consider our next destination.”

Qin Yining naturally agreed with a smile.

Pang Xiao enthusiastically went to arrange for people to prepare the itinerary. Bingtang and Ji Yun entered the room, laughing: “Princess Consort, shall we also start preparing?”

“Yes, bring light clothing and shoes, and also bring men’s clothing for me. Bring the disguise medicine as well, just in case.”

The two maids agreed with smiles and went to prepare with equal enthusiasm.

Qin Yining thought about having Pang Xiao bring Huzi and Tang Xiu as well. With the weather clearing, everyone had developed a playful mood. Moreover, Ji Yun and Bingtang had been cooped up with Qin Yining for a long time—being able to go out for fresh air would naturally be good.

Since Pang Xiao wanted to take Qin Yining out to play, naturally they didn’t need to report to anyone. The couple brought their trusted followers, left people to watch the house, and left the city directly the next day.

The area around Huichuan County was vast. Being located in the north, even summer wasn’t unbearably hot. However, with the rain having just stopped, there were many muddy spots on the road that weren’t very easy to traverse.

Fortunately, the group wasn’t in a hurry to travel. They walked and stopped along the way, pausing to look whenever they encountered nice scenery, and could stay overnight whenever they met villages. It was quite leisurely.

At this time in the Loyalty Earl’s mansion, Lu Wenru stood carefully before Lu Heng, saying in a low voice: “The Tatars went to the Prince’s mansion again today. But the mansion’s gatekeeper turned them away, saying His Highness and the Princess Consort had gone out. The Tatars had no choice but to take the beauties back again.”

Lu Heng sat cross-legged beside the kang table, turning the lid of a white porcelain covered bowl in his hands, his fingertips producing slight porcelain friction sounds.

After a long while, he smiled, his tone full of helplessness: “They’re quite carefree—truly enviable.”

Lu Wenru kept his head down, not daring to say much.

With His Majesty’s edict in place, Lu Heng naturally had to follow the imperial order to receive and entertain the Tatar Khan. The Tatars constantly came to harass and attempt to sow discord between Da Zhou’s ruler and ministers. Staying in the city, he naturally couldn’t avoid them. Even if he agreed to nothing the Tatars proposed, just having Tatars frequently entering and leaving the mansion would be enough to arouse suspicion. Only by hiding away could he achieve complete peace.

Lu Heng looked down at the tea bowl in his hands, saying quietly: “Sometimes I truly envy him. He has an intelligent wife who can help him, and the courage and boldness to act as he pleases.”

Lu Wenru smiled with lowered brows and submissive eyes: “My lord, please don’t say such things. What you possess, others don’t have either. Do you know how many people consider you an object of envy?”

Lu Heng smiled and shook his head: “This is different after all. Perhaps people are never truly satisfied.” Lu Heng then said: “Have all the Tatar beauties been returned?”

“Yes.” Lu Wenru replied seriously: “The people you arranged personally escorted Madam to send them away. However, Madam has locked herself in her room and seems to be angry.”

“Angry? She still has the face to be angry?” Lu Heng said mockingly: “If she continues to act without thinking, what she loses in the future won’t be just face.”

Lu Wenru lowered his head—he never dared interfere much in such matters.

“How are the preparations for the Empress’s travel arrangements?”

“In response to my lord, everything is ready. As soon as the Empress gives the word, we can depart at any time.” Lu Wenru said with some worry: “However, the Empress has a precious body. If she encounters any danger while out, it might not be good. If something goes wrong, it could implicate you, my lord.”

“This is unavoidable. The Empress has probably grown tired of being a caged bird in the palace for so long. Now that she’s out, she naturally wants to find opportunities to have fun. This is understandable—the only concern is that the mountain path to Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple is difficult to traverse. I imagine when the Empress reaches that point, she’ll retreat when she realizes the difficulty.”

“My lord speaks truly.” Lu Wenru nodded with a smile.

Lu Heng pondered, then called Lu Wenru to his side and whispered a few instructions in his ear.

Lu Wenru’s expression became solemn as he immediately agreed and withdrew.

Qin Yining and Pang Xiao traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping and starting along the way. After three days, they arrived at the foot of Juhuan Mountain, which was under Huichuan County’s jurisdiction. Looking up, the entire high mountain seemed wrapped in white mist, giving it quite a mystical, cloud-shrouded feeling.

Huzi shaded his eyes with his hand as he looked up at the mountain peak, where a temple could be vaguely seen nestled between cliff faces.

“That should be Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple. However, this mountain path is quite steep—carriages probably can’t go up.”

Qin Yining took Pang Xiao’s hand as she got out of the carriage. Pang Xiao carefully arranged her skirts for her.

Qin Yining couldn’t help looking up and laughing: “This Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, built on such a high mountain, must have cost the skilled craftsmen enormous effort.”

“Indeed. This Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple is said to be very efficacious. There’s also an ancient tree on the mountain—supposedly this thousand-year-old tree had died over a decade ago, but last year it sprouted new buds. Those who sincerely make wishes here ultimately see them fulfilled.” Pang Xiao took Qin Yining’s hand and walked forward two steps, stopping under the shade of a roadside tree. He smiled: “Let’s go up together to make wishes—they’re sure to come true. How about it?”

Qin Yining smiled: “Naturally that would be wonderful. It’s fortunate I brought light clothing and shoes. It doesn’t matter that carriages can’t go up the mountain—we can walk up.”

Pang Xiao smiled: “Exactly so. We’ll park the carriages and horses somewhere shortly, bring enough dry provisions and water, and walk up together.”

Bingtang looked up at the mist-shrouded mountain peak and couldn’t help swallowing: “Princess Consort, perhaps this servant should stay behind to watch the carriage.”

Qin Yining turned back to look, and seeing Bingtang’s bitter expression, couldn’t help giggling.

Huzi bounced over to Bingtang, smiling: “It’s fine, I can pull you up. What fun is there in watching the carriage? Let’s all go up together to see the ancient tree and make wishes together.”

Bingtang blushed and stepped back two paces: “I don’t want to make wishes with you.”

Huzi followed for two steps: “Are you afraid of getting tired? It’s fine—if you can’t walk, I can carry you up.” He leaned close to Bingtang and whispered: “Holding you while going up would work too.”

Bingtang’s face turned completely red with embarrassment. She stomped hard on Huzi’s foot and ran to Qin Yining’s side.

Despite being stepped on, Huzi still grinned foolishly—the sight was truly unbearable to watch.

Seeing Huzi and Bingtang like this, Tang Xiu couldn’t help feeling envious and looked hesitantly toward Ji Yun.

Unfortunately, Ji Yun’s martial arts weren’t weak—probably wouldn’t need him to carry her, so he couldn’t find a way to show his gallantry.

After the group prepared, Pang Xiao instructed the Elite Tiger Guards to stay with Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi, then took Qin Yining’s hand: “Let’s go—we’re entering the mountain.”