Chapter 86 The Breeze Has No Intentions

"Second Sister!"

After the Empress Dowager and Qi Sian had walked far away, Pan Yueqing slowly leaned on the pillar beside the viewing stand. She let out a sigh of relief while covering her chest. She took a deep look at the carriages that were moving slowly and then speeding away, as well as the eunuchs and maids, her eyes as sharp as a wolf's. But when Pan Lianshan's distant call reached her ears, she instinctively lowered her eyes to hide her emotions.

Pan Lianshan was followed by Xijiang and Luoshui. They rushed up to the viewing stand in a hurry. With an anxious expression, she reached out to support Pan Yueqing, who was still bending over. She frowned slightly and said, "Second Sister... Second Sister, are you okay?"

Pan Yueqing instinctively grabbed the hand that Pan Lianshan extended. The fear and anger in her eyes faded, replaced by panic and a forced calm look. She smiled at Pan Lianshan and said, "I'm fine. Let's go home."

The carriage of Old Madam Zhao had already slowly left. But under the viewing stand, Su Ruoqing was standing with his arms crossed, tilting his head slightly and looking at Pan Yueqing thoughtfully. He raised his eyebrows, stretched out his hand and beckoned to Pan Yueqing. Pan Yueqing's eyes darkened, and she let out a slight sigh in her heart. She didn't plan to let Su Ruoqing know about her conversation with the Empress Dowager today and her decision about those land deeds. But she still raised her hand and gently covered Pan Lianshan's hand, smiling softly, "Wait for me a moment. I need to talk to Third Cousin."

"I want to tell you that, given the current situation, there's no need to transfer Shangbei Fang," Su Ruoqing was satisfied with Pan Yueqing's move of not bringing anyone with her. After she got closer, he slowly said, "It's already meaningless."

Yes, of course it was meaningless. With Pan Miaoqian's incident, Pan Haiyun had to avoid it even if he didn't want to.

Pan Yueqing nodded in agreement. She followed silently behind Su Ruoqing and listened to him continue, "The fact that Shangbei Fang is in your hands can't be hidden. Maybe we were wrong. The mastermind behind the scenes may not want to compete for Shangbei Fang at all. Instead, they may create a gimmick to make various families compete for it, and they are waiting for you to be in a panic, and then throw out their trump card..." Although Pan Yueqing hadn't mentioned anything, it seemed that even the Empress Dowager had joined this competition.

Originally, in his opinion, Shangbei Fang was a place that could win over the largest number of candidates with its cheap rent and convenient facilities. Money and power had always been the simplest driving forces. So at the beginning of their plan, Shangbei Fang was going to become the second Langguan Alley. Just now, when the Empress Dowager left Pan Yueqing alone, he had guessed that Pan Yueqing might take this opportunity to get rid of the troublesome matter. But this "troublesome matter" might also save her life.

He knew very well what His Highness the Prince of Xiangyang wanted. He just didn't want the era of hereditary officials, where seven generations of the family served in high positions, to continue. These noble families had almost dragged the Northern Qi Dynasty to its death. So they wanted to create their own Langguan Alley and didn't want people like Pan Haiyun to be stuck in this era.

Pan Yueqing's heart stirred slightly. She said softly, "I understand."

Su Ruoqing stopped in his tracks. He looked back at Pan Yueqing. Originally, he didn't want to explain so much to her, but he was worried that if she got out of control, this battle would end in failure.

I hope she really understands. Su Ruoqing sighed in his heart. The worry on his face didn't fade, and this time he didn't hide his sigh. "Maybe, Uncle won't be very happy." And all the pressure of this matter had to be faced by Pan Yueqing. Before getting on the carriage, Old Madam Zhao had given a stern warning in his ear, ordering that no one in the Dingyuan Marquis's Mansion was allowed to get involved in the affairs of the Pan family.

"I can't help you. You have to face it yourself. Grandmother said that since you chose to stay in the Pan family, you must learn to take on responsibilities alone," he said, looking at Pan Yueqing who was standing behind him against the wind, and shook his head helplessly.

"Thank you, Cousin. I don't need help. Father will understand me, and I only need Father's understanding," Pan Yueqing smiled faintly at him, nodded to show her gratitude, and after some hesitation, she slowly said, "Third Cousin, help me investigate Concubine Li. I have a hunch that she's not simple."

She couldn't believe that Li Rou was just a weak woman who was constantly suppressed by Liu Yingwei, considering that she knew clearly about the false birth date of Pan Miaoqian, which had been kept a secret from Liu Yingwei.

"Also, check whose birth date that is. I have an intuition..." Before Pan Yueqing could finish speaking, Su Ruoqing interrupted her, "It's the Empress Dowager's. Originally, a daughter who married into the imperial family should be crossed out in the family genealogy. But the great - grandfather couldn't bear to do that to his only daughter, so he didn't do it for a long time. I read the genealogy when I was young, and I remember clearly that it's the Empress Dowager's."

Pan Yueqing nodded. Everything made sense now. She slowly smiled, curtsied slightly towards Su Ruoqing, and took her leave in a low voice. Although Su Ruoqing was a bit worried, he still watched Pan Yueqing leave with a smile. The words "be careful" lingered in his throat for a long time, but in the end, he hid them in his heart.

"Fourth Sister, let's go home. I think our home must be in chaos now," Pan Yueqing smiled at Pan Lianshan, then turned and walked towards the carriage. Pan Lianshan stood there stunned. It was only when Xijiang gently urged her in her ear that she came to her senses and responded softly.

In the carriage, Pan Yueqing leaned back and closed her eyes to rest. Calculating the time, Pan Haiyun should have left the official office by now. If she went back now, there would probably be a tough battle to fight. The Old Madam Pan, who doted on Pan Miaoqian so much that it was almost biased, now had the opportunity to add fuel to the fire.

Sure enough, as soon as the carriage stopped at the gate, Nanny Liu, who was standing beside Old Madam Pan at the gate of the Pan family, looked at Pan Yueqing, who got off the carriage with the support of Luoshui. She didn't have a good expression at all. She directly rolled her eyes at the Second Miss but didn't dare to be too presumptuous. Instead, she scolded Pan Lianshan, who got off the carriage and entered the gate, "The Old Madam asks the Fourth Miss to go to the ancestral hall and kneel there to reflect on her mistakes!"

Pan Lianshan was stunned by her words. Pan Yueqing could see that Pan Lianshan originally wanted to ask why, but in the end, she bit her lower lip and responded with a "Yes" with red eyes. Unexpectedly, Nanny Liu didn't let it go. She sneered sarcastically, "Who are you showing that aggrieved look to, Fourth Miss?! You were able to slander your own sister like that on the horse - racing field. It's obvious that you're a traitor!"

"Slap!"

A loud slap sounded in the empty front yard. Nanny Liu covered her old face and looked up in disbelief. She saw Pan Yueqing calmly wiping the hand that had slapped Nanny Liu. Looking at Nanny Liu's indignant expression, Pan Yueqing sneered and said, "Sorry, your voice was too loud, and it made me feel uncomfortable."