Return of the Swallow c1-644

by Edited by Deyna up to chapter ~100.

  Qin Yining’s thoughts flew rapidly as she continued to feign unconsciousness. She carefully opened her eyes to the barest hint of a slit, noting that she was in a very spacious carriage. Just like the fourth miss, Bingtang’s hands were tied. The maid was currently out cold by her feet. The Duke of An and another skinny man were sitting with their backs to her. There seemed to be another person tied up in the corner in front of them.

  Just as the girl registered the other person, she heard them make urgent, guttural noises. It seemed to be Qitai, and he apparently had words to say.

  The duke chuckled coldly. “Tsk, forgot about that thing. He has something to say, let him.”

  An attendant by the duke’s side came up and yanked out the rag stoppering Qitai’s mouth.

  The servant heaved rapidly before launching into an interrogation. “Didn’t you say you were going to use the fourth miss to lure over demon Pang Zhixi, that killing him would throw the enemy army into chaos, that we wouldn’t have to surrender then?! You lied to me! Duke of An, you’re a royal father-in-law! How could you have wanted to surrender long ago?? How can you face the emperor, how are you worthy of being a Great Yan citizen?? You had me trick the fourth miss into coming out here so you can plot my master’s death! You’re completely vile and shameless!”

  “Hah! Don’t talk like you’re a model of loyalty,” the duke jeered. “Your master has just one daughter. No matter the reason, you betrayed him when you tricked the apple of his eye into coming out here!”

  “But I never wanted to hurt milord! I did it for the good of the nation! I did it for Great Yan!”

  “What a fool.” The duke closed his eyes and waved carelessly. “Who dumped this dirty thing into the carriage? It’s a drag on the horses. Get it out of here and take off its head.”

  “Understood.”

  The carriage rolled to a stop, whereupon guards rushed up to drag Qitai out.

  The servant cursed loudly from horror. “Li, you’ll have a messy end! You’re a dead man walking! Dead man walking!”

  “I’m also cleaning house for your lord. A dog he kept for twenty years biting the hand that feeds him? He’s damned useless.”

  The curtains were slowly lowered as outside, Qitai abruptly cut off mid-curse. The carriage resumed forward motion.

  Tremors wracked Qin Yining. She’d closed her eyes again and was trying her hardest to calm herself. She couldn’t let her captors discover that she was already awake.

  If the duke discovered she was conscious, he’d certainly wonder just how much of their conversation she’d overheard. She’d be killed to keep their secrets. They just wanted to use her to lure Pang Xiao with. They could poison her or destroy her body, and then kill her when there was no more use to her.

  She was certain that whatever she could think of, a wily old fox like the Duke of An would surely think of the same. She couldn’t take the risk.

  But at least I can be certain that father’s fine for now.

  The Duke of An wouldn’t let a hint of this operation slip before he successfully killed Pang Xiao. With her father’s reputation as Wise Pan An, he could very well deduce the truth if any tricks were used on him.

  Continuing to feign unconsciousness, Qin Yining was already thinking of counter-plans.

  The carriage stopped once more before long. There seemed to be flags snapping in the wind outside, as well as scattered footsteps and the jingling of armor. She didn’t dare open her eyes, but she could guess that they’d reached a military camp.

  Someone lifted the curtain and respectfully helped the duke down. Another immediately entered to pick her up.

  The sour smell of sweat from an unknown male assaulted her nose. Men in the army camps didn’t have access to mountain springs like those in Ning Park did. Therefore, taking a bath wasn’t an easy thing to do during a drought.

  The Qin fourth miss held in her discomfort and continued to pretend unconsciousness.

  “Put this girl in a separate tent,” ordered the duke. “There’s still some use to her right now, so none of you are allowed to touch her.”

  “Your Grace, do you mean…” Blatant excitement crept into the tones of those around her. She could immediately feel numerous unfriendly gazes cast on her. If she hadn’t forced herself to remain limp, the habitual vigilance of many years would’ve caused her to tense and flee far away.

  “You bastards, blue balls getting to you?” The duke chortled to the answering laughter of some of the men.

  It looks like these are all the duke’s confidantes. He wants to use me and then give me to these people…

  “Wake the little girl up and send her to the other side with a message for Pang. Tell Pang that if he doesn’t come, I’ll throw his beloved to the soldiers. Have someone keep an eye on the little girl. Make sure she doesn’t get up to anything!” The duke walked off.

  Someone doused Bingtang with a bucket of water to wake her up. Her hands were tied, so when she took stock of the situation after waking up, she could only shriek, “What do you want?! Aren’t you afraid that the marquis will punish you when he finds out?!”

  “Punishment will come later. Right now, we’ll kill you if you don’t behave!”

  Someone relayed the duke’s orders, and Qin Yining was in the dark as to how Bingtang responded and her general status. She could feel the person carrying her walk off, bringing her to a tent and carefully putting her down.

  The man’s coarse fingertips remained on her cheek, smelling of sweat and tobacco. He swallowed audibly, the sounds of his breathing growing heavier.

  * * *

  Chapter 279: Resolution in a Dominant Fashion (I)

  Chapter 279: Resolution in a Dominant Fashion (I)

  Qin Yining tensed. She could endure any pain but the humiliation of rape!

  The stranger’s callused fingers and stench of his sweat gave her the urge to retch! Her eyes suddenly snapped open and she glared viciously at him.

  The man was watching her, entranced. He’d never seen such a beautiful girl in his life and felt that it didn’t matter if he caressed her a few times. Who knew she’d suddenly wake up?

  He jumped and stumbled frantically backwards, almost tripping over himself.

  Relief crept in when Qin Yining saw his reaction and she grunted, “What do you want? Don’t you know who I am?”

  The twenty-some-year-old man coughed awkwardly, his gaze still lingering despite his bright-red ears. He finally fled, helter-skelter, in the end.

  Raucous laughter greeted his exit from the tent. Some joked that he’d been disdained by the beauty, while others boasted of their prowess had they been the ones in the tent. Collective jeers sounded again.

  Qin Yining frowned ferociously with anger as she listened to the base mockery and lewd remarks. She took a look around to get her bearings.

  It was a medium-sized military tent. She was sitting on wooden, military-grade bed-slats that faced the tent door. A lantern made out of an ink well was placed on the table to her right, and a small jug next to a ceramic bowl off to the side. It looked to be for fetching water. There was a night bucket to the left corner of the bed.

  Though her hands were tied, her feet were unfettered. She rose to blow out the light. Once it was dark enough in the tent, she would be able to clearly see the shadows of those outside.

  There were five men standing guard around her. They were all very tall and broad, looking to be less than two steps away from the tent. Two were ramrod straight at the door while the other three were on her right. Their whispered conversation was punctuated by a round of snickering.

  Her brow remained tightly furrowed. What the duke said earlier probably gave these people hope that they’ll get me when the duke is done with me.

  She smiled coldly. Who would have the last laugh, hmm? They could have their fun for now.

  Qin Yining laid back down and decided to rest while she awaited news from Bingtang.

  Scattered footsteps sounded when dawn broke. The Qin fourt
h miss had been feeling a bit sleepy, but she quickly sat up at the disturbance. The tent door lifted and a man shoved in Bingtang, her hands bound behind her back.

  “Do as you’re told or we’ll kill you!”

  Bingtang spat viciously at the man before slowly walking over. Qin Yining relaxed to see the maid unharmed.

  The two sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the bed slats. When Bingtang saw that no one was forthcoming, she murmured next to her mistress’ ear. “Miss, I saw the prince.”

  Qin Yining nodded and breathed back, “Did you go directly to the Great Zhou camp? How is Jiyun?”

  “I did. Jiyun got there ahead of me. The prince is fine. He’s recovered and tells you not to be afraid. He can handle this. Don’t worry and stay put for now. He’ll have us released before the day’s out.”

  “Good. That’s good.” Qin Yining heaved a sigh of relief. “What did you tell the Duke of An? Didn’t he have someone follow you?”

  “The prince took him down as soon as I reached the Great Zhou camp. I forced a poison pill down his throat and only I have the antidote. He didn’t expect the prince to suddenly attack him, and naturally obeyed all of my orders afterwards.”

  Qin Yining nodded. “Thank goodness you’re familiar with poison, or we wouldn’t even have been able to protect ourselves this time.”

  “That’s right.” Bingtang had a deep appreciation of her skills as well. If it wasn’t for her knowledge of poison, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly at all.

  Since Pang Xiao wanted Qin Yining to not worry and just wait, she relaxed completely. With the prince’s stratagems and grasp of the bigger picture, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to handle things.

  “Sleep a little if you’re tired.” Qin Yining murmured by her maid’s ear.

  Bingtang was indeed worn out and laid down on the inner side of the bed slats. “Let’s take turns resting. I’ll wake up and relieve you later.”

  “No worries, I rested well enough last night. Go to sleep.”

  Bingtang nodded and quickly fell fast asleep.

  And so Qin Yining and Bingtang took turns resting peacefully in the tent. The poisoned guard came by once, enthusiastically bringing the girls some food. Though it was just military rations of mixed-grain flat cake and enormously salty pickled vegetables, it was still an offering that couldn’t be found the outside world.

  The girls had enough of rest after splitting a flat cake between the two of them. They chatted softly as they sat on the bed, actually having an easier time of things than when they were at Ning Park.

  A noisy clamor suddenly disturbed the outside of the tent in the afternoon.

  Qin Yining and Bingtang looked at each other and sat up. They seemed to hear three shouts of “long live the emperor” when they cocked their ears.

  Qin Yining’s heart skipped a beat. Weichi Yan is here? Is it a good thing or bad that he’s here now?

  She had just scooted to a standing position when the tent flap lifted up, admitting ashen-faced soldiers and the Duke of An showing in Weichi Yan, who was clad in imperial robes.

  The sight put the Qin fourth miss at ease.

  Since they were going about things so openly, Weichi Yan would never allow himself to be tarred with the reputation of hurting noble scions. Her safety was assured. I wonder what Pang Zhixi’s done to make Weichi Yan pay a visit himself?

  “Greetings to Your Majesty.” Qin Yining and Bingtang both knelt.

  Weichi Yan strode in with expansive strides, halting near the door with his hands behind his back to look down at the kneeling girls. He didn’t immediately give them leave to rise.

  This struck Qin Yining oddly. With Weichi Yan’s usual personality, he would’ve allowed her to rise first. Or has something else happened?

  The emperor clenched his teeth and spat out, “All irrelevant personnel is dismissed. No one is allowed within ten yards of the tent.”

  “Understood.” The duke brought his guards, soldiers, and even Bingtang out of the tent, standing far away.

  Weichi Yan compressed his lips, chuckling darkly after a moment. “What amazing skill you have, such wonderful charm. Should We find you guilty of treason and conspiring with the enemy, hmm?”

  Qin Yining lifted her head abruptly, stumbling right into Weichi Yan’s furious, fathomless eyes. His fists popped from the force of clenching. “Answer me!”

  “This subject has never betrayed the country and so does not know how to respond to Your Majesty.” Qin Yining lowered her head without being arrogant or overly humble.

  A laugh rasped out of Weichi Yan. “How hilarious. We had wanted to go along with the plan and get rid of murderer Pang before surrendering. That would be worthy enough revenge for Great Yan. But that brute actually has the temerity to threaten Us!”

  The emperor furiously yanked out a letter from his sleeve and flung it full-force onto Qin Yining’s face.

  * * *

  Chapter 280: Resolution in a Dominant Fashion (II)

  Chapter 280: Resolution in a Dominant Fashion (II)

  Qin Yining didn’t understand why Weichi Yan was so upset and picked up the letter with some hesitation.

  “To the Emperor of the Yan Dynasty” was written on the envelope. Every horizontal stroke lifted slightly upwards, the spacing between each perfectly delineated. It was a beautiful effect, and the calligraphy as powerful as a flying dragon, each character vigorous and decisive. The author’s dashing flair and unyielding arrogance was on full display. It went without saying that it’d been written by Pang Xiao.

  The girl unfolded the paper within and almost burst out laughing when she read the contents.

  There were a short line on it. “Return her at dusk or bear the consequences of a city siege!”

  A cocksure “Pang” was the signature, as well as the seal of the Faithful Prince of the First Rank and Pang Xiao’s personal chop.

  It was supposedly a letter, but the contents so little. The seals had certainly been carefully affixed, however. The red official seal and small personal one almost filled the paper!

  The parting words of “bear the consequence” smacked of pure pompousness; they also fully displayed the writer’s contemptuous disdain of Weichi Yan.

  No wonder the emperor was so hopping mad! His face was almost swollen with all the slapping it’d received! If Pang Xiao besieged the city, what would Weichi Yan defend with?

  The Duke of An had already led most of the generals and numerous civil officials into authoring a declaration of fealty. They would just open the city gates if the prince attacked. Weichi Yan probably wouldn’t even have the chance to surrender then, because with the current circumstances, Pang Xiao didn’t care if he did or not! It didn’t have the slightest bearing on whether or not the prince could trample Great Yan.

  The girl compressed her lips, put the letter away carefully, and offered it back with both hands.

  Weichi Yan refused to take it. He sneered. “Are you feeling proud of yourself?”

  “Proud? This subject’s country will no longer exist in the future. What is there to be proud of? Rather, does Your Majesty know what you’re talking about right now?” Qin Yining lowered her highly raised hands since Weichi Yan refused to take the letter, and placed it on a nearby table. “Did Your Majesty just say that you knew the duke had kidnapped me and was using me to lure the Faithful Prince of the First Rank into a trap?”

  Though Weichi Yan raged with fury, a guilty conscience still pricked him when faced with this question. After all, he kept saying he liked her, but he’d also allowed her to become bait.

  The emperor didn’t respond.

  “Does Your Majesty know the full extent of the duke’s plan? He’s luring the prince here so that he can gift me to his bodyguards and soldiers after he kills the prince, then frame my father with Pang Xiao’s death!”

  Weichi Yan trembled violently upon hearing this and lowered himself down to eye level with Qin Yining. It was apparent he didn’t understand, so the girl continued
.

  “I woke up in the carriage when I was kidnapped, but pretended to still be out. I clearly heard everything that the duke said to his men. He’d come in contact with a secret envoy from Great Zhou a long time ago. The envoy promised the duke that as long as he cooperated with the Great Zhou army, the envoy could guarantee that all surrendered Great Yan officials would still be part of the aristocracy once we moved to Great Zhou.

  “The duke said that my father already eclipses him in Great Yan. Once my father murders the prince, he will certainly be punished after our surrender. The duke is planning on eliminating two political enemies, in the form of my father and the prince, before everything else happens!

  “Your Majesty, did you know about the duke’s intricate plotting?”

  The last question jabbed right into Weichi Yan’s heart, making him quaver all over just like the threat of “bear the consequences”. He fell to a sitting position.

  “Ha, haha!” Weichi Yan threw his head back tragically, crying and laughing at the same time. “Such are Our subjects! Utterly incompetent in defending the city, but adepts in games of power. They’ve included me as a pawn as well! Hilarious, absolutely hilarious! With so many subjects like these, it’s no wonder that the nation’s fallen. I well deserve to be the last emperor of a ruined nation alright! Hahaha!”

  Qin Yining knelt on the floor watching a crying and laughing Weichi Yan pound the ground. He didn’t care that his imperial dragon robes were all dusty and dirty.

  The girl was afflicted with heartache. Who wanted things to progress to this stage?

  The tumors and ailments afflicting the nation were chronic affairs. Add to that the emperor emeritus wasting a few decades with incompetence and debauchery… to be honest, even if Weichi Yan was highly skilled at ruling, it would’ve only prolonged Great Yan’s suffering for a while longer.

  The emperor really wasn’t talented in this area. He had the heart but lacked the strength. He’d tried his best.