Mu Jinghu nodded, restraining himself from rushing straight down the mountain.

Qin Yining pulled Bingtang aside and asked quietly, “Is malaria a serious condition?”

Bingtang’s expression was grave. “It’s an extremely serious ailment. If not handled properly, it could… However, Princess, please don’t worry. If there’s a skilled physician who’s careful, it should be manageable.”

Hearing Bingtang’s words, Qin Yining asked anxiously, “Are you confident you can handle it?”

Bingtang lowered her eyes and thought for a moment. “Without seeing Boss Qiu, I naturally can’t make a definitive judgment, but if I were to treat malaria, while I don’t have complete confidence, I’d say I have about eighty percent certainty.”

Qin Yining nodded and discussed, “Bingtang, would you be willing to accompany Young Master Mu to the south? I know the south is currently still dealing with flood disasters, which makes it very dangerous. If you’re unwilling…”

“I’m willing.” Bingtang said earnestly, “Princess, please rest assured. Boss Qiu is Young Master Mu’s wife, and Young Master Mu is the Prince’s close friend—they’re all our own people. Besides, I couldn’t stand by and watch someone die without helping.”

Qin Yining quietly breathed a sigh of relief and said gratefully, “Regardless of the outcome, I must thank you on Boss Qiu’s behalf.”

“Princess, you’re too kind.” Bingtang blushed with embarrassment.

While the two women spoke quietly to the side, with Pang Xiao and Mu Jinghu’s keen hearing, they had naturally overheard everything. Seeing Bingtang nod in agreement, Mu Jinghu hurried over with large strides. “I also know some basic medical skills, so I can assist you when the time comes. As for safety concerns, Miss Bingtang need not worry at all.”

Bingtang laughed heartily, “That’s natural. With Young Master Mu there, safety is certainly assured.”

From the corner of his eye, Pang Xiao noticed Huzi’s reluctant expression. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Huzi, you’ll accompany Young Master Mu as well. It’ll be more convenient for us to stay in contact if something happens.”

Huzi was stunned and hesitated, “Your Highness…”

Pang Xiao knew he was worried about insufficient manpower around him. Although they seemed stable for now, regarding the imperial tomb construction, no one could predict when or what kind of accidents might occur.

Pang Xiao reassured him, “It’s fine. You can go with Young Master Mu without worry. Keep me informed if anything happens.”

Huzi understood this was Pang Xiao’s consideration for him and gratefully cupped his hands in salute. “Yes, thank you, Your Highness.”

With the plan decided, Qin Yining and Ji Yun went together to help Bingtang pack her belongings.

Bingtang stuffed a large pile of bottles and jars, various sized paper packets, and prescriptions into Ji Yun’s hands, instructing her what each was used for—what to take for colds, what to use for headaches, and even left behind two large bottles of medicine for itching.

Ji Yun carefully memorized everything. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep these safely and use them as soon as they’re needed.”

Only then did Bingtang nod in satisfaction.

Mu Jinghu and Huzi had already packed everything properly. When Bingtang emerged carrying a bundle, the three immediately descended the mountain.

Qin Yining watched the group’s increasingly distant figures with a grave expression, saying worriedly, “I hope Boss Qiu will be safe. Young Master Mu has left all his family’s affairs to Boss Qiu alone because of us, and Yan Ge’er is still so young—he hasn’t been able to look after them either. To be a friend like Young Master Mu is truly rare in this world. If Boss Qiu meets with misfortune because Young Master Mu wanted to help us and thus neglected her, I’ll never have peace of mind for the rest of my life.”

Pang Xiao nodded as well, his mood even heavier than Qin Yining’s.

As a fellow man, he better understood this kind of anxiety. Just like when Qin Yining had gone missing with her life and death unknown, his whole world had nearly collapsed. Mu Jinghu’s feelings for Qiu Feishan were no less than his own for Qin Yining.

The two returned to their meditation room in silence. They had originally come to enjoy the mountain scenery, but with Qiu Feishan’s situation, no matter how broad-minded they were, they would lose interest in the mountains and waters. Qin Yining and Pang Xiao began to consider returning home.

However, they had encountered the Empress, and she currently had only Nanny Sun and one guard with her, so Pang Xiao couldn’t very well abandon her at this time.

“I imagine the Empress’s people will arrive soon. The guards and palace servants must be afraid that if something happens to the Empress, they won’t be able to answer for it when they return.”

“But even if the Empress’s people come, we can’t easily leave.”

The two exchanged glances, both somewhat helpless.

Qin Yining said, “Since we’re here, we might as well make the best of it. Since we can’t return, let’s settle down and stay here temporarily. Although the Empress wants to worship Buddha, the Empress Dowager’s birthday is approaching, and we need to leave time for the journey, so we’ll only stay about ten days at most anyway. Besides, we need to give Marquis Zhongyi some time as well.”

Pang Xiao pinched Qin Yining’s cheek. “I understand. I’d actually be happy to stay here with you. If we could live in seclusion in a place like this for our entire lives, not having to worry about outside troubles, that would be the greatest fortune.”

Although they couldn’t completely shut out the outside world now, being able to steal a brief moment of relaxation was still a good thing.

Having settled their minds, Qin Yining and Pang Xiao visited all the scenic spots with beautiful views on the mountain.

The Empress spent her entire days busy worshipping Buddha with that accomplished monk. Qin Yining went to pay her respects daily but never saw her.

Nanny Sun was also somewhat helpless: “Her Majesty is in the Guanyin Hall discussing Buddhist teachings with that eminent monk, sincerely praying for blessings. She only sleeps three hours each day and spends all other time locked inside the Guanyin Hall.”

Qin Yining said with concern, “Her Majesty’s devotion to praying for the people of the world is truly moving, but Her Majesty should also take care of her phoenix body.”

“The Princess speaks truly. This servant has tried to persuade Her Majesty, but she simply won’t listen. Now Her Majesty only eats one meal of vegetarian food each day, and sometimes she even sleeps in the Guanyin Hall.” Nanny Sun shook her head. “It seems that monk is indeed an enlightened master—his Buddhist teachings must be truly excellent, or Her Majesty wouldn’t be so absorbed.”

The Empress’s such devotion to Buddhist teachings wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Qin Yining continued to visit the meditation room daily, always returning empty-handed, but proper etiquette had to be maintained.

After two more days passed this way, Qin Yining had just finished her morning vegetarian meal and was about to pay respects to the Empress when she suddenly heard urgent footsteps outside, followed by someone bursting through the meditation room door.

“Something terrible has happened! No, something terrible!” Nanny Sun rushed in, pulling a young monk with her, panic and terror filling her eyes.

Qin Yining frowned slightly. “Nanny Sun, what’s wrong? Why are you in such a state?”

Pang Xiao also rose and came over to inquire.

Nanny Sun collapsed to the ground with a thud, covering her mouth in terror, afraid she might cry too loudly.

She barely contained her voice, looking up with tears streaming down her face as she whispered, “The Empress has disappeared!”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining and Pang Xiao couldn’t help but gasp.

“How could the Empress disappear?” Pang Xiao’s sword-like brows furrowed tightly, his phoenix eyes narrowing with a cold glint.

Nanny Sun trembled all over, pointing at the young monk standing dumbly to the side, his forehead covered in cold sweat: “He told me! The Empress has been spending nights in the Guanyin Hall these past few days, as the Princess knows. Each day, a vegetarian meal is delivered by the young monk, and the next day he collects the dishes. But when the young monk went to the Guanyin Hall today, Her Majesty was nowhere to be seen—it was empty!”

Pang Xiao looked at the young monk coldly and asked flatly, “What happened?”

The young monk trembled, shaking all over with fear: “Amitabha, this humble monk also doesn’t know. When this monk goes to deliver meals, he opens the hall door, sets down the food box, informs Her Majesty, and then withdraws. Her Majesty is gentle and always responds to this monk. But this morning when delivering the meal, no one answered from inside the hall. This monk was worried and looked inside the hall to find Her Majesty was not there!”

Pang Xiao looked down at Nanny Sun, then at the young monk: “You two, keep this matter quiet for now. Perhaps Her Majesty was tired and went for a walk somewhere without informing you—that’s possible. First, go search around, and be careful not to alarm anyone or tell people that the Empress is missing. Otherwise, how many heads do you have for the chopping block?”

Pang Xiao’s words served as a warning to Nanny Sun and the young monk, who both realized their earlier mistake and nodded repeatedly.

Pang Xiao then left the meditation room with Qin Yining, bringing along Nanny Sun and the monk, and called Ji Yun, Jingzhe, and Tang Xiu to quietly go examine the Guanyin Hall first.

Qin Yining pressed her lips together. Originally, thinking that this mountain had treacherous terrain with no outsiders coming up, and that the Empress spent all her time worshipping Buddha, she had thought there wouldn’t be any trouble, so she hadn’t arranged for anyone to guard or follow her. After all, the Empress was the mother of the nation—if they as subjects managed too strictly, it would also displease the Empress.

But it was precisely because of this sense of security that today’s incident occurred.

She could only hope that the Empress had truly gone out for a stroll. If something had happened to her, wouldn’t everyone have to accompany the Empress in death?

“Your Highness.”

Tang Xiu found a note under a meditation cushion in the corner.

Pang Xiao strode over and snatched up the note. It contained only a short sentence: “If you want to find the Empress, have Prince Zhongshun come alone to Destiny Peak.”

Standing beside Pang Xiao, Qin Yining also read the note’s contents clearly, and for a moment was so shocked that her palms broke out in sweat.

The enemy was targeting Pang Xiao!

The Empress was the nation’s mother, yet to deal with Pang Xiao, they had dared to kidnap the current dynasty’s Empress!

Qin Yining immediately thought of that accomplished monk.

“Your Highness, quickly ask the abbot.”

Pang Xiao had obviously thought of this as well and immediately instructed the young monk behind him, “Go quietly invite the abbot here. Remember, you cannot spread word of this matter, or none of us will survive.”

The young monk’s face turned deathly pale with fright. He nodded repeatedly and turned to frantically search for the person.

Pang Xiao examined the note once more and said in a low voice, “Destiny Peak is on the other side of the suspension bridge. It’s said to be this temple’s forbidden area. These past few days the fog has been heavy, and since it’s forbidden territory with only half the bridge visible, I didn’t go to investigate. I never expected the Empress would be taken there.”

Qin Yining’s mind had already conjured many possibilities. She asked Nanny Sun, “When was the last time you saw Her Majesty?”

Nanny Sun asked in panic, “Princess, do you suspect Her Majesty has been missing for some time?”

Qin Yining didn’t answer, only looked at Nanny Sun silently.

Nanny Sun immediately recalled and said with certainty, “It was the day before yesterday, early morning.”

Qin Yining nodded. “So Her Majesty may not have been here since the day before yesterday. The one responding to the young monk might have been someone else entirely. Of course, it’s also possible I’m overthinking this.”