The people had heard the great news as well and rushed over as if they were celebrating a national holiday. They lined the streets, cheering and yelling with all their might. The news of little Prince Pang falling in love with the grand preceptor’s daughter at first sight also spread rapidly throughout Xihua. Everyone knew that Miss Qin had accompanied her father to the peace talks, but had been instantly claimed by the little prince. That lecher Lian Shengjie hadn’t been able to take a single step near her.
Her reputation wasn’t ruined at all, but a new name was now tied with hers.
* * *
Again, the liberties I took with the names earlier come into play here. Second White has connotations of being poor in Chinese, so I changed it to a play on naming a pet after food here.
Chapter 115: Going Home
Chapter 115: Going Home
Bingtang and Songlan were both stunned after listening to Qin Yining’s recounting of the events over the past few of days.
“So Sir Yao is Great Zhou’s Faithful Prince of the First Rank? That legendary serial killer who drinks blood?” Bingtang’s eyes were wide with shock.
Qin Yining nodded. “But he doesn’t seem like what the rumors say.”
“Oh my heavens! I had so many opportunities to stab him to death!” Bingtang spun around in excitement. “No wonder his aura is so different from a regular person’s, and he has such high level martial arts abilities! But I don’t understand, Grand Preceptor Qin caused the death of his father, so you’re the daughter of his enemy. One usually can’t bear to coexist with such an enemy, but he treats you so differently. This really is very confusing.”
Songlan petted the bunny that Qin Yining was cuddling and smiled. “What’s confusing about it? Even heroes fall victim to beauties. Our miss is so pretty that even we can’t help but take a few additional peeks at her on a daily basis, much less anyone else, particularly the prince. Miss, see how much effort the prince has gone to for you. He’s even gifted you a little bunny. It’s so cute!”
Riceball seemed to understand Songlan’s compliments as it cutely nuzzled the palm of her hand. It then turned with a twist of its little butt and sought to hop down. Qin Yining knelt to place it on the floor, and Riceball paused after hopping to the door, stymied in its attempt to get out.
“Does it want to go out?” Bingtang walked up, mystified and opened the door for the bunny, following it out. Riceball twitched and bounced its way out, only to return shortly in Bingtang’s arms. She was smiling. “Prince Pang picks his presents nicely alright. This bunny is something else! It even knows to let itself out to answer the call of nature.”
Soft, cute, and furry little animals naturally invited affection. Not only did Qin Yining like it, but Bingtang and Songlan also adored Riceball. They cleaned it up carefully and handed it back to their mistress.
When Qin Yining looked at the bright red square knot around Riceball’s neck, she recalled how that arrogant man had bent over to fasten it around the bunny. She frowned slightly, but also blushed.
Bingtang and Songlan looked at each other.
“Miss, don’t think too much.” Bingtang smiled. “Didn’t you say that things will naturally sort themselves when the time comes? When we first came here, we thought that the future of the peace talks looked bleak. And yet we’ve weathered it all now. And, I’d like to say something that I hope you don’t get angry at me for.”
She turned and stooped next to Qin Yining, stroking Riceball’s head with a finger. “I feel that Prince Pang isn’t that bad. Rumors about you two are flying all around the city now. If they’d been between you and Lian, I would’ve wanted to go kill that old lecher. But with you and the prince, I actually feel like it’s a perfect match.”
Songlan nodded as well. “I agree. The prince saved you again and again, and not just at the nunnery. If it wasn’t for his actions in the military camp, not only would you not have escaped Lian’s clutches, but the emperor would still find fault if the milord had protected you. But with his antics, who can the emperor blame?”
Qin Yining’s blush deepened. They were only saying this because they hadn’t seen how atrociously he’d behaved! But she couldn’t tell others how he’d teased her and how he’d forcefully kissed her. Although he hadn’t behaved himself before, he still conducted himself like a gentleman. But his true form had revealed itself in the military camp, and he really was a demon incarnate!
When they saw their mistress’ face go red, the maids knowingly didn’t say anything else. After all, women were the weaker sex in this world. With Qin Yining’s identity, her future wasn’t in her own hands. What if they really did send her down a certain path with their teasing, but fate had some other arrangement in store for her? They’d just be causing her unnecessary heartbreak. The two went to oversee the hot water for Qin Yining to wash up.
Qin Yining declined attending Prefect Liu’s banquet and fell into a deep slumber. She’d been on tenterhooks in the military camp, unable to eat or sleep for several days straight. The exhaustion caught up with her, and she fell into a deep sleep, not waking until the sun was high in the sky the next day.
Qin Huaiyuan had discussed with Cui Wenqing and decided not to tarry in Xinhua. They had missives sent back to the capital early on to let the emperor know that the peace talks were a success. All that was left was to get their affairs in order and depart Xihua.
When they left, citizens lined the streets and cheered, with yells of “Wise Pan An” reverberating loudly off the city walls. Qin Yining, Bingtang, and Songlan were taking the same carriage. They couldn’t help their curiosity and lifted the carriage curtains a crack to peek outside.
“The two of us didn’t do anything, but we’re basking in shared glory because of the lord and miss,” Bingtang murmured. “We’re swaggering about in borrowed influence!”
Qin Yining reached over to clasp Bingtang’s hands lightly when she heard this. The girl had a tough life. If the Tangs had lived, the people would’ve loved Imperial Physician Tang just as much.
Bingtang seemed to understand what Qin Yining was thinking and flashed a sunny smile back.
Songlan had been keeping an eye on the situation outside and suddenly asked, “Miss, look! Is that little Prince Pang?”
Qin Yining leaned curiously in the direction that Songlan was pointing at and saw two men on horses sidling into the rear of the convoy. They followed at a leisurely pace and wore regular, fine cotton cloaks. Their faces were half covered by fur collars, but upon further look, who else would those shapes and forms be other than Pang Xiao and Huzi? And what did they want??
Seemingly feeling Qin Yining’s gaze, the stone-faced Pang Xiao suddenly looked at the carriage and met her eyes. He flashed a grin that caused her heart to tremble. She whirled around and yanked the curtains shut.
Pang Xiao rubbed his nose and resumed his cold face. He’d practiced smiling in front of a bronze mirror for half a day. Surely his smile wasn’t that ugly?
Back in the carriage, Songlan was musing, “Are they headed to the capital disguised like that? That might not be the best…”
Qin Yining stroked Riceball unconsciously, smoothing its fur down and taking a moment to calm her heart. “The peace talks were a success and Great Zhou has withdrawn its troops. The two nations have resumed their previous relation, so no one will say anything if they walk around randomly in Great Yan territory.”
“Perhaps it’s just on the way,” Bingtang added. “Don’t think too much about it, miss. There’s nothing to be afraid of as long as they don’t mean you any harm.”
Songlan also nodded at this.
The convoy quickly picked up speed after leaving Xihua. Qin Yining snuck a few looks back as they blazed through the road and noticed that Pang Xiao and Huzi wasn’t trailing them anymore. Although she found it odd that they were so slow, she quickly flung it to the back of her head.
They’d felt that the road to Xihua had been pitted and arduous on the way here, and now everyone itc
hed to quickly return home. Their footsteps felt much lighter, so they spent only one and a half days on what was normally a two day trip. The entourage arrived at the outskirts of the capital on the noon of the 29th.
The emperor knew of the successful negotiations and had already arranged for eunuchs to wait at the city door by the time the group had started their return journey. When the metallic-gray clad eunuch saw Qin Huaiyuan and the others, he gave a respectful grand gesture of greeting.
“Grand Preceptor Qin, Sir Cui, I bear the emperor’s verbal decree to request the party to make camp outside the city walls for a night. The emperor will hold a welcoming ceremony tomorrow morning and will personally lead the officials out in welcome.”
“Understood, please take a message back to the emperor.” Qin Huaiyuan smiled. “We are all deeply admiring of the emperor’s great efforts.”
“Grand Preceptor Qin is the emperor’s deeply beloved and treasured official. It’s natural that the emperor highly values you.” The eunuch looked at the carriage at the rear of the convoy with another smile. “The emperor also gave orders to have Miss Qin enter the city first. After all, there will be many at the ceremony tomorrow, making for a chaotic scene.”
Was the emperor afraid of people gossiping that he’d sent a girl to the peace talks? However, Qin Huaiyuan too ardently wished to send Qin Yining back first. He didn’t want his daughter to be exposed to the assessing and suspicious gazes of the crowd. Therefore, he thanked the eunuch with a smile. “The emperor thinks most thoroughly. I never would’ve thought of this. I will have people send my daughter into the city immediately. Thank you, honored eunuch.”
The eunuch bowed respectfully to Qin Huaiyuan and Cui Wenqing before returning to the palace. Qin Huaiyuan and Cui Wenqing made camp outside the city walls and sent ten servants to escort Qin Yining back to the Qin Manor.
“Make sure to comfort Old Dowager well when you see her. Tell her I’ll return tomorrow after the ceremony is complete.”
“I understand, father. I won’t let Old Dowager worry.”
Qin Huaiyuan nodded and added on further. “Pay attention to what you can speak of the peace talks and what you can’t speak of.”
“I know, father. I won’t speak of what I shouldn’t. These are imperial secrets, after all.” Qin Yining agreed with a smile.
Qin Huaiyuan understood his daughter’s intelligence and smiled, at ease. “Thank goodness we returned safely. The rest of our days will pass well, so that’s something to look forward to.”
“Yes, father.” Qin Yining smiled at her father and couldn’t help but smile to herself as well. She’d gotten a deeper understanding of her father on this trip, and her admiration for her father had only deepened with it. After exchanging a few words with Qin Huaiyuan, she climbed into the carriage and entered the city.
When she passed Cloudsoar Inn, she paused to visit Grand Steward Zhong. When the grand steward saw Qin Yining return, he was so delighted that he knelt and kowtowed to all the gods and Buddha in the sky.
“All is well now that you’ve returned, miss!”
Qin Yining raised the grand steward from the ground with a smile. “I’ve troubled you these days. Has anything major happened in the capital in the ten-odd days I’ve been away?”
“Nothing major, just that the crown prince and the Prince of Ning had a major fight. The Prince of Ning was so angry that he swept the crown prince out of his door. Our people heard this from the tavern gossip. But who knows if this is true or not? Everyone’s saying that the crown prince isn’t thinking straight, to be openly hostile like this with his only backer. What else will he use to fight the trampress in the future?”
Qin Yining recalled the ridiculous act from the crown prince the day she’d set off and matched it to what the rumors described. Everything became clear after that. “Well, it wasn’t as if the Prince of Ning was a reliable supporter before.”
Grand Steward Zhong was a smart one as well. He grasped the heart of the matter with just that sentence. After nodding with a smile, he regained his serious demeanor. “And another thing that has to do with the Qin Manor has been making the rounds.”
“Oh? What?” Qin Yining flicked a puzzled eyebrow.
* * *
Chapter 116: A Situation
Chapter 116: A Situation
Grand Steward Zhong continued, “I may not know about the truth of small rumors, but this is an important matter. Some tavern customers were also talking about it as well. The empress sent for your mother a few days ago.”
The color drained from Qin Yining’s face, turning her already pale face into the color of bleached sheets. She knew née Sun’s temper well. Her mother could create trouble out of literal thin air. Setting aside the Cao's relationship with the late Duke of Ding, née Sun would likely offend the empress with her acidic tongue even if the empress didn’t do anything. And now the empress had summoned her for no reason at all? There was no way that it was for anything good.
“How is my mother now?” Qin Yining asked anxiously.
“This we really don’t know. But with the status of the grand preceptor’s wife, nothing too harsh should happen as a result of the empress’ summons.”
Qin Yining nodded and took a few deep breaths to calm herself, fighting the panicked urge to rush home immediately.
“There’s people waiting for me outside. I’m going to return to the manor first. It won’t do to have family elders wait too long for me. We can chat about business another day, alright?”
Steward Zhong nodded understandingly and sent Qin Yining back to the carriage. She urgently wanted to return home and rushed the groom several times. She’d actually been worried about née Sun before setting off for Xihua, but her own safety had been a murky question mark then. No one knew if she’d be able to come back alive, so she didn’t pay that much attention to other affairs and naturally didn’t have that much excess energy to pay née Sun.
Qin Yining felt a bit guilty. She’d really been too proud of herself, not rushing home immediately. How could she have gone to check on her businesses first?!
When Bingtang and Songlan noted their mistress’ solemn expression, they knew that something had gone wrong in the manor and started worrying as well. The carriage sped back to Qin Manor. When they arrived, they startled the guards on duty. It seems they hadn’t expected their fourth miss to arrive. The maids were quick on their toes and had servants lead their escort for some wine and refreshments, then sent runners inside to notify the old dowager. The guards finally recovered their wits and confirmed these orders.
With their escort given to the care of the butler, Qin Yining gave orders for a good reward to be distributed before quickly making for the Garden of Loving Piety with her maids. The old dowager had heard the news of Qin Yining’s return and could no longer sit still. She draped a long cloak around her, folding it around her body, and hastened out with Qin-mama’s support.
Qin Yining had just made it through the archway of the Garden of Loving Piety when she was met with the sight of the old dowager in a dusty gold cloak, embroidered with patterns of good fortune and longevity.
“Grandmother!”
“Aiyo! My granddaughter Yi!” The old dowager sped up her footsteps, but her bound feet couldn’t move all that fast. She lurched forward in her haste and her body swayed from side to side, making the jade embedded gold hairpin swing crazily from the sideways angle it was shoved in at. It only heightened the air of opulence about her.
“Grandmother, your granddaughter has returned.” Qin Yining lifted the hem of her skirt and knelt, primly performing the grand gesture of greeting to the old dowager.
The matriarch reached out with both hands to lift Qin Yining up. “Good, good! It’s good that you’re back. Where’s your father?”
“Father is still outside of the city. He told me to come back first.”
The old dowager beamed merrily when she heard that Qin Huaiyuan had returned safely as well. “The runners just deliv
ered the message, but I thought it was a bunch of imps trying to cheer up an old woman! To think that you really have come back!”
Head maid Jixiang and Ruyi, as well as all of the maids and granny servants in the yard, clustered together in concerted interest. They all curtsied to Qin Yining, the scene quite bustling. The old dowager held Qin Yining’s hands and looked closely over her granddaughter. But, she didn’t find anything in her scrutiny.
“Come in for a chat.” The matriarch turned to Qin-mama. “Lujuan, have servants tell the second and third branches, as well as the other girls. Tell them granddaughter Yi’s come back. Have them all come as soon as possible. They can have dinner here.”
“Understood.” Qin-mama answered merrily.
The old dowager took Qin Yining’s hand up the stairs, bringing her indoors. Maids came forward to help the two out of their cloaks. They circled past the intricately carved divider of magpies on plum blossoms. Qin Yining sat down on the luohan bed next to the window that was cushioned with bright red blankets. The old dowager, sitting down next to her, had Jixiang fetch a bronze hand warmer for Qin Yining and had more maids serve tea and snacks.
“Why didn’t your father come back with you? How did the peace talks go?”
After seeing Qin Yining, the old dowager had first asked twice about Qin Huaiyuan and then about the peace talks. It was more than apparent where the matriarch’s priorities were. Qin Yining smiled instead of growing angry.
“In response to grandmother, father and Minister Cui from the Ministry of Rites have made camp outside of the city walls. The emperor’s decree indicates he wishes to hold a lavish welcoming ceremony tomorrow and personally lead a hundred officials to welcome the party back into the city and celebrate the successful conclusion of the negotiations.”
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