After a long night of turmoil, the sky had already begun to brighten, a pale light spreading like the belly of a fish. When Qi Yuan opened the door, she could just make out a faint glow behind the clouds. She nodded and said, “It’s about time. Everything that needed doing has been done. I have to go back and check on Changting.”
Xiao Yunting sighed. “You’re not going to look at me a bit longer?”
For some reason, his voice sounded pitiful when he said this.
It was hard to believe he was the same person who had just moments ago, without hesitation, sliced off Xiong Liangyong’s head.
Qi Yuan couldn’t help but laugh. “Haven’t we been seeing each other every day these days?”
Xiao Yunting took off his cloak and wrapped it around her, then pulled her into his arms, encircling her waist. Resting his head on her shoulder, he sighed. “How is that the same? Every time we meet, it’s hurried. I’m afraid, when added up, I haven’t seen you as much as Qi Wang has.”
Qi Yuan stiffened instinctively, but relaxed once Xiao Yunting leaned against her. She gently patted his back. “Once you return to the capital, we’ll be able to see each other every day again.”
Xiao Yunting was only sighing aloud. Even if Qi Yuan hadn’t said anything, he had already planned to send her back early.
Babao had gone to Longhu Mountain to deliver a message. Even if Master Zhang didn’t come to the capital personally, he would surely send someone.
It wouldn’t be good if Qi Yuan wasn’t in the capital by then.
Besides, he had already spoken to Emperor Yongchang about wanting to marry her. The emperor had been paying more attention to the Qi family since. If Qi Yuan disappeared for too long, it wouldn’t look good.
He gently touched her hair and suddenly placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “Alright. When I get back to the capital, I’ll ask Royal Grandfather to grant us a marriage.”
After a pause, he smiled again. “But for now, you should go get some sleep.”
In Qi Wang’s Manor, Qi Yuan must have been on guard every moment. A good night’s rest was impossible.
And they’d stayed up all night.
Xiao Yunting found a quiet courtyard, had it prepared, and personally escorted Qi Yuan there.
He himself went with Han Ding and the others to take care of some pressing matters.
Qi Yuan slept straight through until evening.
When she awoke, Qiu Mama, the other three senior maids, and the young maidservants were already back.
Qiu Mama quickly brought water for Qi Yuan to freshen up.
Qi Yuan frowned slightly. “What are you doing here?”
Qiu Mama still didn’t know the fate of Qi Wang, but seeing the manor reduced to ruins, she knew it couldn’t have ended well.
Now, hearing Qi Yuan ask this, she instinctively fell to her knees with a thud. “Young Miss, we came back of our own will to follow you! His Highness the Imperial Grandson said we are to accompany you back to the capital.”
Qi Yuan immediately understood Xiao Yunting’s intention.
She tapped her fingers on the table for a moment, then leaned forward to look at Qiu Mama. “There’s no real benefit for you to return to the capital. It’s crowded with prying eyes. Someone might recognize you.”
Seeing their faces instantly turn pale, Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow. “Relax. I said I wouldn’t kill you, and I meant it. I’m not going to change my mind. Besides, if you turned me in, you’d just die faster.”
Qiu Mama couldn’t even force a smile. In front of Qi Yuan, she knew words were useless.
Qi Yuan quickly came up with a solution. “You’ll stay in Jiangxi. I’ll inform His Highness.”
Qiu Mama let out a breath of relief.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. From outside, Liujin softly said, “Young Miss, His Highness invites you to dine with him.”
Qi Yuan responded and headed to the side hall.
Xiao Yunting was already waiting for her. When he saw her, he smiled and asked, “Did you sleep well?”
Qi Yuan nodded. “I killed a major scourge. Slept great.”
Xiao Yunting served her a bowl of porridge and said gently, “Eat something first.”
Then he told her about the situation in Gaojia Town. “The prescriptions the doctors provided are starting to work. I’ve already ordered that those infected be gathered. We’ve taken over the courier station and some houses, dividing the sick into mild and severe cases, and assigned doctors accordingly.”
Qi Yuan listened quietly. Thinking of the children, she exhaled lightly. “Not a single one of those people died unjustly.”
Wang Weiqi, Huang Hongzhong, Xiong Liangyong, and even Qi Wang were all of the same ilk, treating commoners as less than human.
They died far too late. If they’d died earlier, fewer civilians might have perished.
But at least they were dead now.
Xiao Yunting understood her anger. He’d felt the same way back in Xunyang.
He silently picked out a bite of food for her and said gently, “Yes. None of them died unjustly. The mountain bandits too, all guilty.”
After the flood, those bandits came down the mountain, looting and abducting women and children.
Xiao Yunting had dealt with them decisively.
Those who attacked the manor and died, so be it.
The rest would be forced into labor, repairing levees and aiding disaster relief. There would be no shortage of places to send them.
He looked at Qi Yuan. “Qiu Mama and the others have nowhere to go. I know you promised not to kill them, so I just brought them back. How to deal with them is up to you.”
“Please prepare a house for me in Jiangxi and let them stay there and watch over it,” Qi Yuan said without hesitation. “I’ll have use for it later.”
Xiao Yunting agreed immediately.
After a moment, he added, “I’ll be heading to Pingxiang tomorrow to meet with Qian Yuan and the others. What about you?”
“I’ll return to the capital tomorrow,” Qi Yuan answered firmly. “Your Highness, we’ll meet again in the capital.”
Truly, as decisive as ever.
Meanwhile, in the capital, the Crown Prince was being scolded by Empress Feng.
She pointed at him, nearly shaking with rage. “There’s so much debate in court right now, and you, as his father, aren’t doing anything to defend your son?”
Ever since the Eldest Princess’s remarks, Empress Feng had been upset with the Crown Prince.
She knew in her heart that the Crown Prince could never compare to the Imperial Grandson, and the Crown Prince had never shown warmth toward Xiao Yunting.
But it was one thing to be careless in trivial matters, this was important!
This was Xiao Yunting’s first major assignment.
Even the Eastern Palace’s own supporters had spoken out on his behalf, yet the Crown Prince remained silent.
She was furious.
The Crown Prince looked frail and coughed a few times, his face full of distress. “Royal Mother, I’ve always walked a thin line as the Crown Prince. Would it really make a difference whether I speak up or not? If I speak too much, I may even anger Royal Father.”
He had his own justification: “Royal Mother, as an unloved Crown Prince, when I say the wrong thing, all I get is harsh reprimand.”
Empress Feng looked at him, full of disappointment. “Is it really because you’re afraid of being scolded for saying the wrong thing, or because deep down, you think Yunting is too decisive, too outstanding?”
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