Return of the Swallow c1-644

by Edited by Deyna up to chapter ~100.

  She’d thought that sleep would be impossible tonight, but she had a night of unprecedented, peaceful rest. Even the nightmares that had plagued her for a long time didn’t disturb her.

  When she woke up, the place next to her was empty.

  The realization jolted her to full alertness.

  Has he left already?

  She sat up and called for her servants.

  * * *

  Chapter 262: Pang Xiao’s Circumstances (I)

  Chapter 262: Pang Xiao’s Circumstances (I)

  “Miss.” Bingtang put a tray down on the eight-sided table in the outer room and came inside to pull the bed curtains back, tying them to silver crabapple blossom hooks.

  “What time is it?”

  “Miss, it’s already the start of the hour of the snake.”

  “I slept that long?”

  “You did. You haven’t slept that deeply for a while. The prince wouldn’t let me wake you up because he wanted you to sleep until you woke up.” Bingtang merrily helped her mistress into a padded jacket and swept Qin Yining’s locks forward. “Miss, did the prince… last night…”

  “You’re awful.” A blushing Qin Yining levied a glare at her maid.

  Bingtang giggled even more happily.

  Jiyun and Qiulu came in to help Qin Yining awash up when they heard the disturbance. Though they didn’t ask as blatantly as Bingtang, teasing expressions flitted across their faces.

  The fourth miss pretended not to see any of it as she picked up a pair of pearl lilacs from her jewelry box. She murmured, “Where is His Highness?”

  Bingtang responded in a similar way. “He rose before dawn. After eating breakfast and taking medicine, I changed his dressing. He didn’t wake you on account of how deeply you were sleeping and jumped out the window, saying that he was going to arrange for the four Elite Tigers.”

  Qin Yining nodded, Pang Xiao had gone off to arrange for her father’s protection detail. The prince was from Great Zhou; arranging for his own bodyguards to protect an enemy strategist was sure to result in backlash from his own men. Despite that, she trusted that Pang Xiao would be able to handle it well.

  She followed her usual routine of making morning greetings to the old dowager, along with the eighth miss and Qin Huining. That was followed by a chat with née Sun before returning to Venerable Study Hall.

  Qin Yining specifically stayed in all day, but didn’t catch even Pang Xiao’s shadow. When night fell, it came with Mu Jinghu.

  “The fox was coming back when something urgent happened at the front lines. He left in a hurry with Huzi and wanted me to apologize to you. He’ll come see you when he’s free next time.” Mu Jinghu openly assessed Qin Yining’s expression, spilling out his explanation as he was afraid the girl would be angry.

  “Don’t blame him, he couldn’t help it. His emperor bullies him into the ground and it was hard enough to come see you even this time. With yesterday’s trip, he not only risked Great Yan finding out, but also Great Zhou’s spies catching wind of his movements. The danger this time seemed to be someone on the Great Zhou side finding out he’d left his post and was accusing him of conspiring with the enemy.”

  Worry crept into his tone at this point. “I say Great Zhou’s not any better. They scheme and attack each other without caring about the country’s safety. All of their efforts are focused on framing and dragging someone else down.”

  How would Qin Yining not know the difficult situation Pang Xiao was in? She was already immensely touched that he’d gone to the risk of visiting her — how would she ever blame him?

  After hearing Mu Jinghu’s words however, she fretted even more at learning how delicate the prince’s situation was in Great Zhou.

  “Sir Mu, can you tell me how things are like for him in Great Zhou?”

  Mu Jinghu had been deathly afraid that his friend’s departure without goodbye would set off Qin Yining, and delay the fox taking a wife. When he heard the Qin fourth miss’ interest, he was naturally willing to put in a good word or three for his friend.

  He spilled the beans on everything he knew.

  “Being in Great Yan, all you see is him charging here and there with men at his beck and call. He has elite troops under his command and a ton of prestige in the army. He has a mighty reputation and an illustrious future. But what you don’t see is that he’s actually suppressed by his emperor. You know that the emperor Li Qitian, Marquis of Northern Stability Ji Zeyu, and the fox are sworn brothers, right?”

  Qin Yining nodded. “Everyone in the world knows this.”

  “But you definitely don’t know that my martial-uncle once read their fortunes. In times of chaos, the temptress would descend to throw the previous dynasty into disarray and exhaust its fortunes. The three violent stars of Seven Kills, Destruction, and Greedy Wolf would aid the Purple Star in ascending to the top and create lasting peace throughout the lands.

  “The Greedy Wolf landed in the northern plains, whereas Seven Kills, Destruction, and the Purple Star are Li Qitian, Ji Zeyu, and the fox.”

  “You… you said your martial-uncle read their fortunes? Your master’s senior brother is the Soothsayer?” Qin Yining was quite taken aback.

  Mu Jinghu clapped his hand to his mouth, slack jawed with horror. He actually looked like he’d swallowed a raw egg. He’d let the truth slip!

  He’d spoken one of the greatest of all secrets to help the fox get his wife…

  Qin Yining immediately piped up understandingly when she saw the other’s reaction. “Don’t worry, Sir Mu. Since you treat me with honesty, I will never let your identity slip. Only you and I will know of what we talk about today.”

  Mu Jinghu nodded slowly after peering into Qin Yining’s sincere eyes. “Alright, I believe you then. It’s not like you know that my martial-uncle is actually…” He cut off mid word.

  And punched himself in the head.

  He’d almost said that his martial-uncle is his master!

  He awkwardly changed the subject. “My martial-uncle had thought this was the beginning of fame and fortune after the reading, but hastily fled after Li Qitian took the throne. Guess why?”

  Qin Yining’s mind whirred furiously. Her expression stiffened and she murmured, “Can it be that Pang Zhixi is the Purple Star?”

  “How did you think of that?? How are you so smart?!”

  She’s just as crafty as the fox!

  Faced with a dumbstruck Mu Jinghu, Qin Yining knew that she had to be straight as a rod with the gentleman. Her usual style of leaving things half unsaid wouldn’t work here, plus the other had already spoken of his relationship with the Soothsayer. It really wouldn’t do to keep things to herself.

  “It’s because of what Sir Mu just said. You said that Pang Zhixi’s life is very difficult in Great Zhou, then spoke of the Soothsayer’s fortune. This means that’s the reason behind the Great Zhou emperor giving Pang Zhixi a hard time. The answer is also apparent with the order of the Seven Kills, Destruction, and the Purple Star that you gave.

  “I’ve often heard that Li Qitian is a careful, paranoid, steady, and thoughtful man. Why is a ruler paranoid? There’s only one reason: he feels guilty.” Qin Yining narrowed her eyes. “He didn’t come about his position honestly, so naturally he worries day and night that someone will take it from him. Everyone must look like they’re plotting against him.”

  Mu Jinghu raised his thumb in admiration. “Like is attracted to like alright! You and the fox are equally smart. That’s right, my martial-uncle ran away when the Purple, also known as the Emperor Star, wasn’t the one on the throne. You might have known all this before, or not, but what you should know is that the Star of Destruction is naturally afraid of backlash from the Purple Star after stealing the throne.

  “Commoners might comfort themselves in saying that fortunes might not necessarily be accurate, but Li Qitian believes it unfailingly. But Sly Fox Pang isn’t a pushover either! His prestige in the army is terrifyingly high. If he wanted to deploy the
Army of Southern Pacification or even Ji Zeyu’s Army of Northern Stability, he just needs to raise finger, much less his Valiant Tigers! He’s a walking command talisman!” Mu Jinghu’s blood was boiling and he slapped the table in appreciation.

  * * *

  Chapter 263: Pang Xiao’s Circumstances (II)

  Chapter 263: Pang Xiao’s Circumstances (II)

  Qin Yining basked in shared glory to hear Pang Xiao so complimented, but worry quickly drowned out her joy.

  “I’d guessed before that though he seems to have it all, life wasn’t easy for him.” Qin Yining rose to pace anxiously. “He was the vanguard that broke Northern Ji and visited terrible revenge on some of Northern Ji’s officials. There must be some surrendered officials in Great Zhou’s court, and they’re certainly on opposite sides to Pang Zhixi. Add to that his prestige in the army… the Great Zhou emperor must be on high alert against him. Just these two alone is enough for catastrophic consequences. Add that to what you said… the Great Zhou emperor won’t permit Pang Zhixi to remain on this earth.”

  Qin Yining paced with a slight frown, her hand clutching the armrests of the round chair and slowing turning her knuckles white.

  The color had also drained from Mu Jinghu’s face after her analysis. He also now felt that Pang Xiao was in a very dangerous situation. “Does this mean he’s in a lot of danger after his return?”

  The Qin fourth miss shook her head. “These attacks on him only add fuel to the flame, but the Great Zhou emperor won’t do anything to him for now. He needs the prince to conquer Great Yan, and the Valiant Tigers are the main force for the army. It’s a huge taboo to swap out the commander-in-chief on the eve of battle, so he’ll be fine for the time being.”

  The gentleman heaved a long sigh of relief. “Thank goodness.”

  Wait a second. He’d only wanted to let Qin Yining know of how difficult things were for Pang Xiao outside, but she had a better grasp on the situation than even him! He’d gotten entirely caught up in her analysis.

  Mu Jinghu scratched his head. “I’ll be going then, since you know everything.”

  “I must thank you though.”

  “Uh, for what?”

  “Thank you for your efforts on Pang Zhixi’s behalf. It’s his fortune for having such a good friend.”

  Mu Jinghu flushed bright crimson with the compliment. It was so straightforward that he didn’t know how to respond. He settled for a stately cough. “It’s nothing. I’m going then.”

  To someone unskilled with pleasantries and so very honest, Qin Yining responded with a smile and politely saw him out the door. She turned with a frown and headed upstairs after seeing him walk off swiftly into the distance.

  Pang Xiao had kept her company just last night. Though there had been a small table between them, they’d slept on the same bed. They’d been able to hear each other breathing, and she’d been able to strongly feel his presence even after falling asleep.

  Alas, their reunion had been so short. Not only had he left, but he’d gone back to face an unknown accusation of conspiring with the enemy. Even though she understood that the Great Zhou emperor couldn’t do anything to him in the short term, Qin Yining still brooded over the prince.

  Her mind full of worries, she couldn’t catch a bit of sleep that night. She barely managed to fall asleep when the sky began to brighten. Only an hour of sleep was available to her before she had to rise for the morning greeting.

  Even the old dowager’s blurring eyesight could see how wan Qin Yining was, much less née Sun. Worried that her granddaughter’s injury would flare up again, the matriarch quickly dismissed her to rest.

  As the Qin fourth miss caught up on sleep, Pang Xiao and Huzi had already returned to Xihua.

  Faced with a frowning, scowling white bun of a head eunuch, Zhao Yueshui, Pang Xiao arched a brow. “Zhao-gonggong’s greeting gift is certainly unique. What big labels you’re clapping onto me! Conspiring with the enemy? Treason? Zhao-gonggong, are these the crimes you’ve slotted me into?”

  Zhao Yueshui was here on imperial orders to monitor the army, with special focus on Pang Xiao’s movements on the front line. He had the right to make direct reports to the emperor.

  Not only did the eunuch enjoy immense imperial favor, but he was also from the same hometown as the approval eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Li Guanwen. The Directorate of Ceremonial was one of twelve eunuch agencies within the palace, and also the most powerful. Li Guanwen held the power to preliminary approve all decisions within the agency, and happened to be godfather to Eunuch Zhao.

  Before Zhao Yueshi had set out with the army, his godfather had given him many reminders in private. Add to that the rumors the eunuch had heard himself, it gave him a slightly dismissive attitude towards Pang Xiao.

  Besides, no matter what the eunuch did, his godfather would have his back. And would a smart person be less than polite to the army monitor?

  Zhao Yueshui smirked proudly. “Oh how you like to jest, Your Highness. How would I have the power to convict you of any crimes? But as the commander-in-chief, you left your post without any prior approval. This is an affront to His Majesty’s trust in you and his mighty favor!” He raised cupped fists towards the north as he spoke, tilting his chin arrogantly at the prince.

  Amused, Pang Xiao moved a cushion to his rear and leaned back comfortably on the round chair. He raised his black-silk clad legs and rested them on the table, responding leisurely, “The enemy’s new commander-in-chief avoids battle thirty days out of a month. This prince has been so terribly bored. What, could I not scope out the terrain?

  “The enemy refuses to fight, so this prince is thinking of ways to make them fight. You seem to have a lot of time on your hands — have you thought about how much food and silver the Valiant Tigers goes through in a day? His Majesty trusts you and gives you silver and rations, but this is how you repay him?”

  Zhao Yueshui’s tone remained hard. His dark eyes seemed like two black beans embedded in a white bun. “I find myself forced to report to His Majesty what Your Highness has been doing.”

  “Tsk tsk.” Pang Xiao played with a whip in hand. “How very interesting. Zhao Yueshui, have you forgotten where we are?”

  The prince’s tone was very indolent, so placid that he seemed to be discussing the weather.

  The eunuch however, tensed all over. He adopted a stern expression. “Don’t you forget either, Your Highness, who the world belongs to!”

  “How dare you!” Huzi had long felt this fat, rotund bun to be an eyesore. With a flying kick, he sent the eunuch stumbling backwards to a sitting position on the ground. “How dare you show such arrogance in front of His Highness!”

  “Pang Zhixi, how dare you! How dare you beat me!”

  “Beat?” Pang Xiao burst out laughing and propped his forehead up lazily. His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. “Let’s list out Zhao-gonggong’s crimes: selling himself to the highest bidder, stealing army rations, and colluding with the local gangsters. He’s in cahoots with the enemy and betrayed our nation. This prince’s guards caught him in the act, but he continues to spew nonsense.

  “Report all that to His Majesty. As the commander of an army, this prince will not allow such a plague to remain by my side. He shall be executed immediately. Write up another report for me requesting forgiveness from the emperor. Sadly, time was of the essence as we cannot suffer spies to remain in the army.” He closed his eyes in repose.

  Huzi assented and, with shining eyes, dragged the eunuch out by the collar.

  Terrified, all color had drained from Zhao Shuiyue’s face. He wet his pants. “You can’t do that! This is slander!”

  “Slander? Not only did you sell army intelligence for profit, but you blamed all that shit on His Highness! So after taking the enemy’s silver, it looks like you want to erase a loyal subject from His Majesty’s side as well!” Having served Pang Xiao for a long time, Huzi had quite the glib tongue as well. Holding the eunuch up with one hand, he thre
w Zhao-gonggong onto the parade ground and loudly proclaimed the eunuch’s crimes.

  The Valiant Tigers was already resentful of a eunuch throwing his weight around in the army camp, and Zhao Yueshui was truly an irritating character. Now that Huzi declared that the bastard eunuch had attempted to frame Pang Xiao, as the prince’s personal troops, all of them flew into a rage and vied for the right to tear the eunuch apart.

  For a while, discussions abounded of Zhao Yueshui betraying the country and furious calls to kill him. The situation had quickly grave. It was likely that the men would revolt if the eunuch didn’t die.

  * * *

  Chapter 264: Great Happenings

  Chapter 264: Great Happenings

  Just as the Valiant Tigers outside were clamoring to rip the eunuch to pieces, Huzi trotted into the tent and drew close to Pang Xiao. “Your Highness, I’m afraid this matter will be difficult to settle now that it’s such a mess. Are you really planning to kill Zhao Yueshui?”

  The prince raised his eyes. “Of course. He ran roughshod over people in Xihua and elicited public anger. I’d only be soothing the troops if I killed him. Besides, I really do have evidence that he sold military intelligence. I’m not framing him.”

  “But that eunuch is the emperor’s spy. If you kill him, that’s blatant confrontation with His Majesty! It might result in people gossiping about you behind your back, making the emperor even more wary of you.”