Return of the Swallow c1-644

by Edited by Deyna up to chapter ~100.

  Huzi started to say something, but stopped.

  “I still want her for myself even if she wants to be empress, so I can’t let her become the empress no matter what. The Qins can’t defy an imperial decree, so I can only make the new emperor give it up himself.”

  Huzi nodded. He knew that Pang Xiao was a deeply thoughtful man with an eye for the future. It wasn’t unusual for the prince to be able to swiftly analyze a situation and come up with a countermeasure even when in a towering rampage.

  Mu Jinghu on the other hand, snorted. “What a fox indeed. Actually, you two match well. You didn’t see how she looked when she was plotting against those assassins — that was so scary! I thought she was possessed by a fox! You two foxes belong together. I’m waiting to see how you plot against each other after you get married, hmph!”

  Pang Xiao knew how quick-witted and innovative Qin Yining was. When he heard Mu Jinghu’s words, he could almost see the mischievous light shining out of her wise eyes as she plotted. He inwardly relaxed whenever he thought of her.

  Huzi heaved a long-awaited sigh of relief when he saw his master return to normal. “Master, are you planning on teaching the Prince of Ning a good lesson?”

  “Yes, but we need to act like we’re very tired as well. When his troops are scared witless after tasting the might of our Valiant Tigers, that’ll be half of my plan complete.”

  “And the other half?”

  Pang Xiao called the guard to his side and murmured, “Stay in the city after you get an answer from my girl. When news of difficult times due to the fierce clashes between the Valiant Tigers and Great Yan army spread, this is what you should do…”

  Pang Xiao dropped his voice even further.

  The guard’s eyes grew brighter the more he heard of the plan. He nodded rapidly. “This is fantastic! Alright, I’ll be on my way!”

  Mu Jinghu rose when he saw that everything had been discussed. Pang Xiao personally saw the two out of camp before summoning some generals to discuss some important issues.

  The next day, Huzi disguised himself and hid in a hookah bar, choosing to nap on the couch in a single room.

  Since Mu Jinghu was a new face, he wouldn’t attract any suspicion when delivering a message. He was given the task of bringing Steward Zhong to the hookah bar for a meeting.

  When the steward heard that Pang Xiao’s men was waiting for him, he immediately set aside what he’d been working on to meet with the prince’s representative.

  Worried that someone would eavesdrop on their conversation, Mu Jinghu kept watch outside and left the room for the two to talk.

  Steward Zhong placed his hands behind his back and snorted when he saw that Huzi didn’t seem to be in a great hurry. “So now you think of us? Where were you earlier?”

  Having just woken up, Huzi was still very groggy and nonplussed by the steward’s angry lecture in lieu of a greeting. However, his answer was still very loyal to Pang Xiao.

  “Don’t be angry, noble steward. You know how hard it is for those of us outside to get any news. My master sent me into town the moment he learned of what’d happened.”

  The steward snorted again and sat down with an expansive motion. “And what’re you doing here now? Anxious because our miss is going to be the empress? I didn’t see your master anywhere when her family suffered all those disasters. But now? Now you’re here huh?”

  The steward glared at Huzi, counting off of his fingers. “The owner has beauty and brains, an excellent background, is quick-witted and good with strategy, and virtuous and filial! In this old man’s eyes, there’s no better girl in the world! With her status, she’s more than suited to be empress! Our new emperor is young and accomplished, and loves her wholeheartedly. I say it’s wonderful if she becomes the empress! Is your master jealous after hearing her new position and wants to mess things up? Let me tell you something, the miss is even-tempered, but I’m not!”

  Huzi could tell by now that the steward was sulking.

  When the Qins had suffered such a calamity, the prince had been miles away and stuck in the military camp. He hadn’t helped at all, and the person he’d sent had arrived late, resulting in the loss of so many lives.

  An outsider such as the steward was incredibly indignant whenever he thought of this, to say nothing of Qin Yining, who was actually caught up in things. Huzi inwardly wiped away a forehead of sweat for his master.

  Though his master was an arrogant, domineering sort in front of others, Pang Xiao morphed from a tiger to a cat whenever facing Qin Yining. None of his usual sharpness was to be found. With the prince’s personality, he was certainly already feeling guilty that he hadn’t been able to protect the Qins. Add to that his identity as an enemy general and all manner of awfulness from Great Zhou, it was understandable if Pang Xiao was feeling self-conscious.

  Huzi didn’t dare add fuel to the flames. He plied apologetic smiles onto the steward. “Grand Steward, it’s one thing to be angry, but never act on it to separate a pair of lovers! You know how my master is wholeheartedly devoted to your miss. He treats no one else like how he treats her! If he wasn’t true to her, why would someone like my master try to be a flapjack, jumping into the Great Yan flames after being fried in Great Zhou? He’s crispy on the outside and tender inside, just like fried fish!”

  The steward burst out laughing at the metaphor. “Flapjacks and fish, huh? You must be hungry, kid!”

  Huzi smiled diffidently, relaxing. “My master told me to come, even at the risk of my life, to ask the steward for a favor. This has to do with both our masters’ happiness, so please do help me.”

  Steward Zhong was soothed by the guard’s words. Though he was still indignant on Qin Yining’s behalf, he couldn’t throw a wrench into the greater picture because of that. “Go on.”

  Huzi and the grand steward discussed for a long while in hushed tones. After the two were decided, Steward Zhong rushed off to put various things into play.

  On the afternoon of that day, a group of palace maids changed out the decorations and plants of the Jade Hall according to imperial orders.

  Qin Yining had just taken her medicine and was lounging on the reclining couch with Riceball. She looked up to see a merry Jiyun walk in with a bunch of lilies. The guard curtsied to Xingyu and Bixue.

  “Elder sisters, where should I put these flowers?”

  * * *

  Chapter 236: The Prince in a Rage (II)

  Chapter 236: The Prince in a Rage (II)

  Being tall and limber, Jiyun was a beauty that easily caught the eye. However, she’d taken pains to disguise herself today, turning her complexion sallow and creating moles next to the bridge of her nose and sideburns. She was also keeping her eyes downcast, avoiding attention from Xingyu and Bixue.

  Xingyu had just reached out for the vase when Qin Yining expressed interest, “Are those lilies? Let me take a look.”

  The two maids assigned to the Qin fourth miss jockeyed to take the vase. This was the perfect chance to earn some credit with the future empress!

  But Jiyun was a step faster than them and offered up the vase with two hands held high.

  Riceball knew Jiyun; it perked up on its owner’s stomach and fixed round, watery eyes on the approaching guard. Using her left hand, Qin Yining touched the flower petals with a smile. “Lilies are my favorite. All of you have gone to great effort.”

  “This servant doesn’t dare take credit. His Majesty knows the miss likes lilies and specially ordered them prepared. Even the vase was chosen by His Majesty. He says that the miss doesn’t like things that are too ornate or complicated and so chose this simple, white porcelain one.” Jiyun snuck a swift look at Qin Yining.

  The girl’s spirits seemed to be uplifted by her favorite flowers and she shook off some of her earlier dejection. She nodded cheerily. “I see, well done. You may put the flowers here.”

  “Understood.” Jiyun put the vase on the square table next to the reclining couch and left with a bow.

&nb
sp; Xingyu and Bixue had already forgotten about that completely ordinary palace servant. They were wracking their brains for flattery related to their mistress’ favorite flowers. However, they didn’t think of any before they were sent away.

  “I’m tired, you are dismissed.”

  That single line brought them up short. They weren’t the miss’ confidantes, so it was too much to expect that Qin Yining would immediately treat them warmly, even if they fawned over her. There was nothing to do but curtsey and take their leave.

  Qin Yining remained leaning on the couch and poked at the flowers, seemingly wanting to rearrange them in the most pleasing order possible. When everyone had cleared the room, she quickly assessed her surroundings and outside the windows. When she saw that no one was watching her, she placed Riceball on the floor and scrutinized the vase closely.

  Jiyun wouldn’t have brashly entered the palace like this. With her in disguise, she must be carrying a message. She’d also given a hint to the fourth miss earlier, so Qin Yining rummaged inside the vase first. Coming up with no secret compartments, she inspected the bottom of the ceramic and discovered a small hole in it.

  Poking a pinky in, there was indeed a note inside.

  Her heart racing, Qin Yining hastily fished it out and hid it in her handkerchief, rearranging the flowers back to how they were before.

  She rested a moment longer on the couch, only taking the note back out when she was certain that no one was keeping an eye on her. There were just five simple words on it. “Yao will cut supplies soon.”

  She swiftly crumpled it into a ball, planning on burning it when lamps were lit later that night. After that, she carefully noodled over the message.

  Yao must mean Pang Xiao. He’d gone by his mother’s surname when they first met. What did he mean by cutting supplies soon?

  When they’d first met, he’d styled himself as a merchant. If Sir Yao was a merchant, supplies being cut meant that there was no business to be conducted. But Pang Xiao was actually a commander leading armies…

  Enlightenment struck Qin Yining!

  He’d stop fighting soon!

  But why?

  Jiyun was one of Pang Xiao’s and had gone to the trouble of slipping into the palace to deliver this message. What did it all mean?

  She’d suggested to her father that after she entered the palace, he should send word to Pang Xiao that Weichi Yan wanted to make her empress. She wanted Pang Xiao to think of a way to help her, so… pausing the war was his plan? But what did that have to do with the emperor wedding her?

  She wracked her brains but couldn’t puzzle out the logic. Despite that, receiving such a fast response comforted her greatly.

  She didn’t dare express helplessness and fear in front of her father. She’d been alone since young, having a very deep understanding that she had to fight for anything she wanted, that she had to work hard for anything she sought to do. She’d try her best even if no one helped her.

  But now, Pang Xiao had sent word and let her know that she wasn’t alone in this fight. He let her know that he too was trying hard to help her escape Weichi Yan’s control.

  This answer reassured her that her staunch convictions weren’t in vain. Qin Yining smiled faintly, her mind at peace. She hadn’t been able to sleep even though she was very tired, but now drifted easily into a deep sleep after resolving this great burden weighing on her mind.

  Weichi Yan came by after the noon hour. He couldn’t bear to wake her up when he saw that she was sleeping soundly. He stood silently next to the reclining couch with his hands behind his back, gazing upon her for half an hour before caressing her cheek and reluctantly taking his leave.

  The emperor’s deeply besotted look stunned Jiao-mama and Xingyu. They respected the miss even more after witnessing the visit and served her even more carefully.

  The next day at breakfast, Qin Yining asked her usual question of whether anything major had occurred outside.

  Jiao-mama was quick with her answer and quite worried as well. “The Prince of Ning suffered a defeat yesterday. Those Great Zhou brutes are too ferocious when they fight. We have three hundred and fifty thousand guarding the city, but were tricked by a scheme and lost a few thousand men. The prince was also injured.”

  Qin Yining frowned at this. “The prince is such a brave person, but even he’s been injured? Great Zhou’s never won a victory like this off of us before.”

  “Indeed.” Xingyu and Bixue were also feeling nervous. “The prince has always been valiant. He’ll be able to defend the city.”

  Qin Yining nodded as well. Her thoughts turned back to the five words of yesterday. The war would be put on a pause in about three days, but Pang Xiao had severely injured the Prince of Ning yesterday? What is he trying to do?

  Her lips tightly compressed, Qin Yining took another bite of porridge. Inspiration suddenly struck. She understood!

  He wants to use the war to force Weichi Yan to let this issue go!

  Her hand tightened around the ivory chopsticks. Qin Yining used an enormous amount of effort to maintain her expression, but she was already lighthearted with anticipation. When she thought of Pang Xiao’s handsome face, she longed to see him like she’d never felt before.

  It’d been a long time apart from each other.

  News of the Prince of Ning being injured and the defending army eating an enormous loss spread like wildfire. However, there was also another version that said with the prince’s unparalleled skills, he’d heavily injured the Valiant Tigers as well despite coming off worse in the exchange.

  The latest news from Xihua traveled to the capital at the same time. The Valiant Tigers announced they were taking a break from fighting, that they would resume only after Emperor Yuan Kang took his throne!

  As the Qin miss was ordained to be a holy girl by the Soothsayer herself, it was too tiring to fight Great Yan while the nation was under her protection. She stood guard over the country’s fortunes, after all.

  Therefore, the Valiant Tigers would wait to resume fighting only after this talisman was rendered impotent with marriage. They would see twice the effectiveness at half the effort then!

  And so the notion of marriage neutralizing Miss Qin’s ability to ensure the nation’s peace was forcefully instilled into the people’s minds, clashing with the long-time rumor of their emperor wanting the lady to be his empress.

  “Aiyo! What can we do about this all? If the emperor really does make Miss Qin empress, then she won’t be able to keep the country safe!”

  “Miss Qin is a holy girl. Holy girls lose their abilities after they get married.”

  “For the sake of the nation, the emperor can’t wed Miss Qin!”

  Such conversations flourished in every street and alleyway in the nation and weren’t limited to the citizens. Various officials raised their concerns during court the next day, anxiously expressing that the emperor should reconsider his candidate for empress.

  * * *

  Chapter 237: Resignation (I)

  Chapter 237: Resignation (I)

  In his lofty seat above the assembled officials, Weichi Yan’s face was a looming thundercloud. He watched his subjects come forth one by one, asking him to reconsider his empress with the self-righteous banners of “for the good of the nation” and “to soothe the people”.

  But he knew full well that these people were just hoodwinked by another.

  He’d once felt that an emperor should naturally love the people like his own children, and that officials should be wholeheartedly devoted to the nation. But now that he was perched in the grand seat, he finally realized that things weren’t as simple as he thought.

  He did indeed love his people, but his people only thought of their own safety when push came to shove. They cared not a whit for their ruler’s own wishes at all! How can they strip me of happiness for a lifetime because of a single rumor?!

  And if he didn’t listen to them, he would be slapped with a label of trash emperor! Perhaps there w
ould even be denunciations that he was just like his father, that he only knew to enjoy women and not how to better the people’s lives.

  And his officials! Oh his officials. Each had their own ulterior motive and cared only about personal gain. They were even trying to use morals force his hand!

  Sanctimonious concerns of national stability and citizen morale abounded. What, would their country go down in flames if he made Qin Yining his empress??

  Weichi Yan burned with the desire to spit viciously on these holier-than-thou faces!

  But the vestiges of his rationality yelled loudly that he couldn’t do so. He’d only just taken his throne and his grip on the nation was yet shaky. If he offended his officials now, life would be very difficult in the future.

  The emperor closed his eyes, feeling them start to burn from angry tears.

  Dead silence reigned in the halls. Everyone looked carefully at their liege’s expression, trying to garner some clues.

  After a long moment, Weichi Yan opened his eyes and looked at Qin Huaiyuan standing at the head of the civil officials. “Beloved subject Qin, how do you think this should be handled?”

  The Qin patriarch only needed to glance at the emperor’s face to know what the younger man was thinking. He shook his head inwardly.

  The emperor was a dashing scholar at heart after all. He wasn’t much concerned with politics, nor did he have a knack for it. He employed emotion instead of logic when running into any problems. How would the nation’s future hold up in light of this?

  “This subject dares not conjecture about this matter. I’m sure Your Majesty will have a wise solution.” Qin Huaiyuan raised cupped hands in salute.

  The other officials were all rolling their eyes internally. The emperor shouldn’t have asked Qin Huaiyuan if he had any smarts at all. We’re discussing whether or not Qin Huaiyuan's daughter should be empress. Just how was the marquis supposed to respond?