Su Pan’er silently nodded her head. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

She understood and sympathized with Qin Yi’s feelings, putting herself in his shoes.

The Su Family had raised her, Su Pan’er, and had even stood by her side at the brink of death, ready to accompany her to the Underworld!

Such immense kindness, Su Pan’er knew she couldn’t repay even if she had a previous lifetime to do so!

That’s why she also hoped that the Su Family could regain its past glory and that her younger brother Su Ke would be able to shoulder the whole family, becoming her right-hand man, so that she would have no further worries!

Yet, she couldn’t voice any of this.

Hearing the words Qin Yi hesitated to say, she could deeply empathize.

"What we can do, where we can satisfy them, we should, and we should also try our best to meet their needs. But remember, ’a rise in rice is a disgrace, a fight in rice is enmity’! It’s better to teach a man to fish than to just give him fish. They need the ability and responsibility to act; otherwise, all is empty talk!"

Su Pan’er’s words made Qin Yi nod incessantly, looking at her with approval.

"I understand!"

He turned back and glanced at the Qin Family’s Mansion, which was gradually getting farther away, "Because I understand, that’s why I didn’t say anything. She... after all, is my foster mother." The mother he had called for more than twenty years!

"She only likes to take advantage of petty benefits. Once we return to the palace, you can send some Imperial Physicians to the Qin Family’s Mansion to treat her. That madness should not be dragged on."

Su Pan’er’s smile held a different meaning.

But it made Qin Yi’s eyes light up: "Indeed, it’s time for the Imperial Physicians to take a closer look!"

They had walked to the Qin Family’s Mansion, but now, Qin Yi and Su Pan’er were sitting in the carriage of the Qin Family, slowly moving toward the Imperial City.

Passing each street corner, listening to the cries and hawking becoming louder in their ears, the laughter, both felt heavy-hearted, each looking at the scenery on one side, letting the carriage take them further and further.

"Oh!"

Su Pan’er lightly exclaimed as she suddenly lifted the carriage curtain and poked her head out.

In the direction she was looking, two carriages were parked under that teahouse, and next to the carriages stood two women, who seemed to be very intimate, talking about something with their heads down.

"What’s the matter, Pan’er?"

"I think I just saw someone I know."

Su Pan’er hesitated, then shook her head uncertainly and let the carriage curtain drop: "Maybe I recognized the wrong person, let’s move on."

"Who do you think you saw?"

Qin Yi was persistent.

"It was the Huang Family’s pampered daughter, Princess Anping, the one who later married Qin Ru."

A flicker of hesitation crossed the depths of Su Pan’er’s eyes, and she didn’t continue her sentence. Instead, she turned back again toward where the two figures had stood, only to find no one there now.

Princess Anping was not her focus of attention, her gaze instead was concentrated on the other woman who was talking to Princess Anping!

That woman...

Even though she stood sideways, the figure seemed so familiar!

Where had she seen her before?

Su Pan’er racked her brains, but couldn’t recall, with no impression in her mind.

"Are you talking about Marquis Shenwu and Princess Qilang’s only daughter, Princess Anping?"

Qin Yi naturally knew about this woman, "Marquis Shenwu helped me a lot when I successfully took over Shengjing. The reason for his help was precisely because his only daughter, Princess Anping’s marriage to Qin Ru, was a mistaken start. In Marquis Shenwu’s own words, ’He was only straightening out a historical error!’"

Princess Anping, adored since childhood, had a rather unfortunate path to matrimony.

After ’cursing’ three fiances to death one after another, and then deliberately arranging an incident with Qin Ru, which by mistake brought the two together, she later became the crown princess. Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last long. Qin Ru had no feelings for Princess Anping, and with Princess Anping’s arrogance and Qin Ru being overly protected by Former Prince Xuan from a young age, the conflicts between the two were incessant when brought together.

Especially after Qin Ru became the crown prince, he lost even more patience with the arrogant Princess Anping. The couple’s disputes reached the former prince, that is, His Majesty at the time, who would often scold them severely.

Former Prince Xuan didn’t have much fondness for Princess Anping either and even found two capable secondary consorts for Qin Ru. Within a few months, both secondary consorts became pregnant and gave birth to sons, which made Princess Anping’s existence even more isolated.

Furthermore, with differing political views, Marquis Shenwu was gradually squeezed out of the power center.

Fortunately, Qin Yi had collaborated with Marquis Shenwu for years and admired his abilities, so he extended an olive branch to him.

Marquis Shenwu was also looking for a way out and the two hit it off immediately!

Once Qin Yi had successfully ascended to the throne, he decided to let Princess Anping and Qin Ru divorce—and this was one of the reasons why Jun Ruoxue sought out Su Pan’er, hoping to divorce Qin Hong!

Now, as Su Pan’er mentioned Princess Anping, Qin Yi naturally thought of Marquis Shenwu.

"Indeed, it’s her!"

Su Pan’er nodded in affirmation, "It’s hard to imagine, after so many years, she hasn’t changed at all from how she was years ago."

She still likes to wear bright red dresses, likes to swagger through town with a horsewhip in hand, likes to look down on people with her chin raised. She’s as arrogant and domineering as ever!

Of course, she does have reasons to be proud!

So many years have passed, and time has indeed been kind to her, leaving hardly any traces on her face.

But, who was that woman talking to Princess Anping?

Su Pan’er pondered, a figure flashed through her mind but then quickly vanished without a trace.

"Right, if we walk two more streets ahead and then turn down a major avenue, we will reach Yingtian Academy. Ke’er is studying there. Shall we go and have a look?"

Seeing her in silent contemplation, Qin Yi took the initiative to suggest.

Qin Yi’s visit to Yingtian Academy was partly to check on Su Ke’s situation and partly to understand the academy itself.

After all, for students across the land, Yingtian Academy was the best place of learning.

And for the Imperial Court, students from Yingtian Academy were the best source of fresh blood for replenishment in officialdom.

"Sure, let’s go take a look!"

At the mention of Yingtian Academy, Su Pan’er instantly perked up.

At her command, the carriage took a turn and sped towards the avenue leading to Yingtian Academy.

Once they left the bustling market, the carriage journeyed down a broad and well-maintained avenue.

The road to Yingtian Academy was even wider than the avenue leading into the Imperial City, and at that moment, there were a few students sparsely scattered along the way.

The carriage came to a halt in front of the grand gates of Yingtian Academy.

Upon reaching this point, all carriages were forbidden to enter further, and everyone had to alight and proceed on foot.

Today, dressed in common attire for their incognito outing, Qin Yi and Su Pan’er did not seek special treatment. They too alighted from the carriage and walked toward the stone steps, starting their ascent.