The mountain path was quite flat at first, with a very gentle slope. Pang Xiao led the way holding Qin Yining’s hand, while the group behind them followed with laughter and conversation, enjoying the scenery along the way.

When in good spirits, even if the muddy road dirtied their shoes and stained their trouser cuffs and hems, no one minded. Their eyes held only the beautiful scenery and the people beside them.

Qin Yining spoke quietly with Pang Xiao about everyday matters. It was rare for them to set aside political affairs and immerse themselves wholeheartedly in nature. Qin Yining felt especially relaxed and happy.

However, after walking for about half an hour, the mountain path became much steeper.

“This road is too difficult to walk!” Bingtang stood with her hands on her hips, her small face flushed red from exertion, her forehead and temples covered in sweat, her hair stuck to her face with perspiration.

Huzi stood beside Bingtang, fanning her with a large leaf. “Are you tired? I’ll carry you!” His tone was eager to try.

Bingtang rolled her big eyes and pushed Huzi away, stepping on slightly less muddy ground at the roadside. But the ground was too slippery and muddy—she almost fell flat on her face.

“Oh my!”

Huzi quickly caught her with quick reflexes, laughing heartily: “You’re already a little potato sprite. If you lose your front teeth from falling, you’ll be even more impossible to look at!”

Qin Yining turned back to look at them while catching her breath, shaking her head with amusement.

Looking around, their group had already spread out considerably along the path they’d come. Xie Yue, Xu Weizhi, and the Elite Tiger Guards beside them had long been left far behind, almost out of sight.

She and Pang Xiao walked at the front, followed by Jingzhe and three others, then Huzi and Bingtang, with Ji Yun behind Bingtang, and Tang Xiu carefully following Ji Yun, not daring to get closer than three steps throughout the journey.

“After two months of rain, the mountain path is bound to be difficult. Fortunately, the slopes can’t retain water, and the vegetation helps stabilize them. Besides, further up Juhuan Mountain, it’s mostly cliffs and steep walls. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t dare bring you up here.” Pang Xiao used his sleeve to wipe sweat from Qin Yining’s face. “After such heavy rains, ordinary mountains shouldn’t be climbed—there’s risk of landslides and mudslides.”

Qin Yining nodded with a smile: “You’re right. I knew you had arranged everything properly before agreeing to climb the mountain with you. But Bingtang is right—this muddy road is too difficult to walk on. My shoe soles are already caked with thick layers of mud.”

Qin Yining carefully moved to the roadside holding Pang Xiao’s hand, scraping her shoe soles against a large tree.

Pang Xiao smiled: “A little mud doesn’t matter—what’s important is having fun. Your health used to be so good, but since being with me, your body has been increasingly weakened. In the past, not only could you walk up mountains like this, even if I made you run up, you wouldn’t be this tired.”

Qin Yining smiled and shook her head—she didn’t want Pang Xiao to recall those unpleasant past events.

“If my body has weakened, I’ll take good care of it and move around more—it will gradually improve.” Qin Yining looked back. “Mr. Xie and the others haven’t caught up yet. Should we wait for them?”

“It’s fine. I arranged for people to stay with them—they can take their time walking up. Let’s continue slowly.” Pang Xiao wiped more sweat from Qin Yining’s face.

He absolutely loved how Qin Yining looked now with her flushed face and sweat-dampened hair at her temples. Like this, she seemed to have shed the composure and maturity forced upon her by worldly pressures, like a carefree young girl.

But his Yining had been born to a difficult fate. During the years when she should have been most carefree, she was already toiling for survival. It was rare for her to have such purely relaxed moments—just bringing her out for a simple walk could make her this happy.

Pang Xiao’s large hand held her slightly cold and damp small hand, matching her pace. Whenever she slipped or showed signs of difficulty, he would pull her along.

“When everything is over, I’ll take you out to play more often.” Pang Xiao smiled. “Then you won’t have to be bothered by these trivial matters, nor worry about when we might be targeted again. You can just focus on what new fashions are available, what good rouge and powder to use, and only worry about the children’s affairs.”

Qin Yining’s lips curved in a gentle smile. The life Pang Xiao envisioned was too beautiful—she didn’t dare imagine it.

How could Li Qitian ever let them go? The situation was so complex, the treasure’s ownership still undetermined, the Tatars working behind the scenes. Since they were already in this circle, escaping wouldn’t be easy.

But Qin Yining couldn’t bear to burden Pang Xiao’s heart.

“Good. Didn’t we already agree? Then I’ll just take care of the children and ignore everything else.”

Pang Xiao felt inwardly guilty, and his smile took on a touch of melancholy.

Hearing their conversation, Mu Jinghu, walking with Jingzhe and the others, also thought of Qiu Feishan far away in the south. Though they exchanged letters, it wasn’t as reassuring as having someone right before his eyes.

He wondered if his son would recognize him as father the next time they met.

Thinking of this, Mu Jinghu couldn’t help but sigh softly.

Pang Xiao’s senses were acute—he turned back: “What’s wrong? Are you tired?”

“Hardly.” Mu Jinghu walked very easily. “This little mountain path can’t trouble me. I just feel… such times are precious. Let’s end this chaotic world quickly.”

Pang Xiao smiled slightly and looked up at the lush green leaves blocking overhead. Precious sunlight fell through the gaps in the leaves, creating dappled shadows on their faces and bodies.

After a long while, just when Qin Yining thought Pang Xiao wouldn’t answer Mu Jinghu, she heard him say: “Good.”

Ending this chaotic world was completely different from ending one dynasty’s rule.

Making this promise might require Pang Xiao to pay much more—perhaps not just his life, but even a lifetime.

The group continued upward for about two incense sticks’ worth of time.

By now their队伍 had stretched quite long, with people scattered due to differences in stamina.

Fortunately, there was only one path up the mountain, so those in front didn’t need to worry about those behind getting lost on the way to Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple. However, Qin Yining’s hair at her temples was already dampened with sweat.

Looking up, being in the mountains with trees blocking the view, it was hard to tell how far they were from the peak. The winding mountain path seemed endless.

“Come.” Qin Yining looked down to see Pang Xiao crouching with his back to her.

“Get on, I’ll carry you.”

Qin Yining shook her head, gently patting Pang Xiao’s back with her delicate hand: “No need. Though I’m somewhat tired, I can still persevere. You can carry me when I truly can’t walk anymore.”

Pang Xiao was somewhat disappointed. He turned to look down the mountain, where through the tree branches he could vaguely see Huzi carrying Bingtang, while Ji Yun and Tang Xiu had fallen even further behind.

“Alright.” Pang Xiao sighed, taking Qin Yining’s hand as they stepped onto a relatively clean gentle slope. “With your stamina being so good, it’s truly a pity.”

Qin Yining was stunned for a moment before understanding what Pang Xiao meant to express. Her face grew even hotter, and she secretly pinched his arm, causing Pang Xiao to laugh heartily.

The mountains were quiet, and their group had already scattered, so Pang Xiao’s laughter echoed far through the mountains.

“Could the approaching person be Prince Zhongshun?”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice came faintly from the distance.

Both Qin Yining and Pang Xiao stopped in their tracks upon hearing it.

The voice was very familiar, yet Qin Yining couldn’t immediately recall where she’d heard it.

But Pang Xiao leaned close to Qin Yining, whispering: “It sounds like the Empress to me.”

“The Empress?” Qin Yining stared in amazement.

Pang Xiao turned back and gestured to Mu Jinghu behind them.

Mu Jinghu became alert, immediately nodding and quietly retreating from the mountain path through some inconspicuous bushes. Jingzhe and the other three quickly moved behind Qin Yining, all showing wariness in their eyes.

Seeing that Mu Jinghu had hidden himself in the shadows as previously agreed, Pang Xiao raised his voice in confusion: “May I ask who is there?”

“It really is Prince Zhongshun? This servant is from the Empress’s retinue—Her Majesty the Empress is here!”

Qin Yining was shocked to hear this. How could the Empress be here?

Pang Xiao took Qin Yining’s hand and led her with Jingzhe and the other three toward the source of the voice.

After walking a while longer, a gentle slope about two zhang wide appeared before them. On the platform, the Empress was resting awkwardly in the shade with Nanny Sun and one guard.

Pang Xiao quickly took Qin Yining’s hand and hurried forward to pay respects: “Your subject Pang Xiao greets Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Rise.” The Empress wiped sweat from her forehead, asking curiously: “How do you come to be here?”

Qin Yining sensitively noticed that the Empress’s tone seemed different from her usual lofty manner. Now when speaking to Pang Xiao, her tone and demeanor were like those of an ordinary household’s mistress—dignified yet with a touch of warmth.

Pang Xiao smiled: “In response to Your Majesty, seeing the weather improve made your subject very happy, so I brought my wife out for a stroll. Hearing that there’s a very efficacious Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple on Juhuan Mountain, we came to have a look.”

Having unobtrusively surveyed the surroundings, Pang Xiao thought and asked: “Has the Empress also come to sightsee?”

The Empress shook her head wearily: “I came to Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple to pray for Da Zhou’s peace and safety. But I came at an unfortunate time—not only are the mountain paths difficult, but I had originally prepared a sedan chair to carry me up the mountain. However, the sedan chair’s bottom suddenly gave way halfway up, nearly sending me tumbling down the cliff. To save me, a capable guard I brought fell and broke his leg. I had to send him down the mountain for treatment. Since the guard couldn’t walk, four young eunuchs took turns carrying him—I don’t know how they’re doing now.”

Pang Xiao respectfully said: “Her Majesty the Empress praying for the people’s welfare—such sincere devotion is truly moving.”

When Pang Xiao spoke with the Empress, he lowered his head according to protocol, his respectful posture evident. But his hand remained behind his back, constantly holding Qin Yining’s, as if she were his most precious treasure that couldn’t be released even for a moment.

Seeing how protectively Pang Xiao treated Qin Yining, the Empress felt an indescribable sourness spreading through her heart.

Look how Pang Xiao treated Qin Yining!

How many years had it been since her husband had held her hand?