Return of the Swallow c1-644

by Edited by Deyna up to chapter ~100.

  “Your Majesty…” Qin Yining sighed and wanted to comfort him, but had no idea how.

  Weichi Yan sat dumbly on the ground for a while longer and suddenly surged to his feet. He was embarrassed, but spoke very politely. “You may rise. We went down the wrong path this time and wanted to play along when We learned of the duke’s plan. We kept your father in the palace for some company.”

  He seemed to fear Qin Yining misunderstanding and quickly added, “Don’t worry, Grand Preceptor Qin is Our teacher. We would never hurt him and would in fact, protect him. Once all of us go to Great Zhou, We’ll have to trouble you for some good words on Our behalf to the prince.”

  Qin Yining stood blankly, not sure how to respond as she looked at Weichi Yan’s slightly appeasing smile. In the end, she had to settle for, “Your Majesty is too polite. This subject won’t forget that I am a Great Yan citizen. I also know that everything Your Majesty is doing is for the people, not yourself.”

  Weichi Yan almost teared up. He looked at the girl once more, dusted off his robes, and swiped his hand across his face to restore his earlier expression. He called out, “Come, prepare the cart.”

  Someone harried over a mule cart before long. There was no compartment on top of it, making it apparent at a glance who the occupants were.

  Weichi Yan gave orders to an untied Bingtang, “Help your miss get to the other side.” He then turned to a young eunuch. “You, drive the cart and take Miss Qin to the other side.”

  The little eunuch almost burst out crying from fright. He shook and trembled, agreeing to the order.

  Qin Yining cast an astonished look at Weichi Yan. She hadn’t thought that he’d send her directly to Pang Xiao’s camp!

  The letter had indeed said to return her, but it meant to the Qins, not what he was doing now!

  Some further thought brought understanding. Weichi Yan was currying favor with Pang Xiao.

  This… is really… She didn’t know what to say.

  The two girls took their seats in the cart and the eunuch took the whip. He directed the cart out of the city with a pained expression, traveling past a spacious lot to the Great Zhou encampment.

  Weichi Yan watched the city gates open and close again, the cart wandering further and further away. A mixture of emotions assailed him, and vengeful resentment in his eyes was finally replaced with resignation.

  When he looked at the duke and others standing with their hands to their sides, he realized that he didn’t know what to do with them. The army had mutinied. If he gave orders now to punish the duke, he’d probably lose his life!

  Forget it, forget it. Let’s just stay alive for now.

  Weichi Yan returned to the palace with his servants.

  Within the Valiant Tigers camp, a messenger flew in. “Your Highness, a mule cart’s coming from the other side. Two pretty girls are on it.”

  Pang Xiao lit up with delight, threw down his book, and sprinted out of his tent.

  * * *

  Chapter 281: Heartfelt Outpouring (I)

  Chapter 281: Heartfelt Outpouring (I)

  Qin Yining sat up straight and peered into the distance, her eyes flitting between a myriad of tents and soldiers to search for that familiar figure. Individual faces sharpened into clarity as the distance closed between the cart and the Great Zhou encampment.

  She first saw a delighted Huzi and Jiyun, then a man in black war robes charge out of a central military tent, screeching to a halt behind Huzi. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw a foolishly happy expression dawn on the usually domineering and fiercely proud man.

  Pang Xiao forced himself to stand still, to maintain his mature and dependable bearing, but his heart pounded from rampaging emotions like he’d gone berserk in a battlefield all day. No, perhaps he wouldn’t be so agitated even after storming the fields.

  His darling’s smiling face, pretty as a flower, made it feel like someone was scratching at his heart. An answering grin spread over his face. If it weren’t for so many people around him and the need to maintain an authoritative bearing, he would’ve sprinted over a long time ago.

  Firmly stomping down the glee and delight overflowing his heart, Pang Xiao walked up to meet the cart in a stoic, reserved manner.

  The Valiant Tigers on either side of him may not have realized that something was off with their leader, but bodyservant Huzi had been chewing the insides of his cheeks for a while, holding back laughter.

  Your Highness, you’re walking so very quickly!

  Your Highness, is your fist clenched so tightly from nerves, or do you want to punch someone?

  ……

  When the little eunuch driving the mule cart saw a tall, muscular, intimidating man striding over, he felt this must be demon Pang. He almost peed himself with fright and stiffly made the cart stop a long distance aways, jumping off to kneel to the side. He trembled like a leaf with his forehead on the ground.

  How would Pang Xiao have any thought to spare for others? His eyes saw only Qin Yining right now. “You’re here.”

  Qin Yining nodded with a smile and alighted from the cart, about to sink to the ground in the grand gesture of greeting. “Greetings to Your Highness.”

  Pang Xiao wouldn’t stand for the slightest bit of abuse to her. He pulled her up to his side before her knees had even bent, taking out a red bean bracelet from his clothes. A red, knotted design adorned it, and he carefully tied the bracelet in an exquisite bow around her wrist again.

  The girl tilted her head up to look at his intensely concentrating expression, warm mist gathering in her eyes.

  Placing her plain hand in his large, tanned, and rough palms, Pang Xiao admired the sight for a moment before rubbing her head lovingly. “Let’s go, let’s chat when we’re inside.” He tugged her back to the tents.

  Upon seeing their leader come back openly holding the beautiful girl’s hand, the Valiant Tigers parted ways with unspoken accord. Despite how coarsely and plainly she was dressed, the girl looked tender and fragile, her cheeks bursting with a shy blush. Closer peeks revealed that she was the one who’d come to the peace talks!

  Some of them remembered a half-dressed prince in the middle of the night, planting his hands on his hips and arrogantly declaring, “You’ll be mine sooner or later!”

  Several Elite Tigers recalled when the prince had led them into the Great Yan capital to raid the execution grounds at the Meridian Gate.

  Their prince was a real man, a true man alright! What kind of woman couldn’t he get? Just look at this! The beauty had submitted to him!

  “Whoo! Aw yeah! Your Highness is mighty! Your Highness is glorious!” Cheers and whistles started up half a beat later. The soldiers applauded loudly and catcalled, all of them in high spirits.

  Pang Xiao didn’t stop them, and even smiled generously at some nearby lieutenants. “This is your princess consort. Come greet her when it’s our wedding.”

  “Understood, Your Highness!” The lieutenants smiled and snapped off salutes. “We’ll make sure to come with a hefty red envelope!”

  Pang Xiao laughed heartily and pulled Qin Yining into his tent.

  The raucous crowd grew even louder. She could hear Huzi harry them away. “Go on, get! Go do whatever you’re supposed to be doing. Stop making trouble here. Have you finished everything that the prince has told you to do…”

  She was so embarrassed that she wanted to find a hole to burrow into. Who knew what they would think was going on in the tent!

  “What was all that just now! When did I say I was going to marry you!” She yanked her hand free and turned around, refusing to look at him. “I’m going to go lift the door curtain.”

  “Wait.” Pang Xiao embraced her with heartache when he saw her thin frame. His lips landed on her earlobes, neck, and cheeks. “Who else are you going to marry if not me? I don’t care, everyone knows you’re mine. Your own emperor sent you to me, so no one from even Great Yan can object.”

  Qin Yining was held fast in his embra
ce. His lips had slightly peeled from dryness; the friction on her sensitive ears and neck made her shiver. She twisted her body around. “Stop that, there’s people outside.”

  “So this means I can do whatever I want when there’s no one around?” Pang Xiao started, then chuckled lowly. He blew hot air on her bright-red ears, making her bury her face in his shoulder.

  “You’re awful.” Qin Yining’s face was crimson. “I’m not talking to you.”

  “Not talking? Then we’ll do something else. You say I’m awful, so why don’t you check my mouth for me and see if it’s really that bad?”

  Pang Xiao clutched her shoulders and lowered his head, seeking her lips. He pressed down urgently, sucking and tasting heatedly, probing for every sensitive spot within her lips.

  It wasn’t their first kiss, but it was one of Pang Xiao’s most passionate.

  Qin Yining was a floating leaf being tossed to and fro on enormous waves. She instinctively twined her slender arms around his strong neck, molding her soft body with his tensed and rigid frame. Pang Xiao ran his hands across her back, then hoisted her up by her bottom.

  To prevent herself from falling, Qin Yining had to clamp her legs around his waist. But this position was really too mortifying! Since her lips were tyrannically preoccupied, she could only beat his shoulders out of chagrin and push him away forcefully.

  Pang Xiao was delighted by the beating and refused to stop kissing her no matter how she hit him. He didn’t let go until her lips were slightly swollen, then pecked her twice more out of lingering desire.

  Qin Yining panted with a reddened face, lowering her eyes and refusing to look at him. “Aren’t you going to let go of me yet?” she whispered.

  Her voice was even more soft than usual. The beauty in his arms, and so adorably bashful at that, made Pang Xiao’s heart itch and desire rear his head. He really wanted to do what every fiber of his being wanted to do!

  But in the end, he wasn’t that sort of person. Qin Yining was his treasure, and he didn’t condescend women like most men of the age did. His actions towards Qin Yining were powered with emotion, but also tempered by courtesy.

  “Alright, we’ll really go too far if I keep holding you.” Pang Xiao placed her on his bed, remembering to tease her all the while. He kissed her on the forehead before sitting down next to her.

  Qin Yining wordlessly shifted a bit away from him before responding, “I didn’t think you’d use that kind of method to rescue me. Aren’t you afraid that the emperor will hate you?”

  “So what if he does? Am I scared of him?” Pang Xiao chuckled and pulled over her bracelet wearing hand. “This period has been tough on you. Jiyun and Bingtang’s told me everything. It’s all my fault that you’ve gone hungry and suffered like this.”

  * * *

  Chapter 282: Heartfelt Outpouring (II)

  “Why would you think that?” Qin Yining clasped Pang Xiao’s hand with return heartache, running her fingers across his calloused fingertips and palm. Sympathy flashed across her eyes when she noted the new scars and scabs on the backs of his hands.

  “I know the difficult situation you’re in, why would I blame you for this? No matter how lofty your position is, it’s not the highest. Many things are out of your control. Besides, the drought is a natural disaster. You’re just a mortal, so why blame yourself for something you can’t do anything about?”

  Pang Xiao looked smilingly at Qin Yining, a pool of warm water within his phoenix-eyes. With her smarts and nature, of course she would understand. But to hear such comforting words straight from her mouth still moved him beyond words.

  “My darling.” Pang Xiao stretched out his arms and ensconced her in an embrace. He dropped a kiss entirely devoid of lust onto her forehead. “You’re wonderful.”

  His voice was low and pleasing to the ear, and a bit raspy because of how touched he was. Warm air huffed into her ears, sending tingles through them, but she didn’t want to dodge the hot sensation. She laid quietly on his chest, closing her eyes to enjoy this brief moment of peace and quiet.

  The two of them hadn’t spent time together like this for a very long time — just holding each other without the need to consider anything else. They could put everything down for a little while. He wasn’t Great Zhou’s Faithful Prince of the First Rank, and she wasn’t the daughter of Great Yan’s Grand Preceptor Qin. They were just simply a man and a woman who liked each other.

  Since the emperor had decided to surrender, they would no longer be on opposing sides. There wouldn’t be that many cares and woes of the world fettering them then.

  Perhaps because she was too much at ease, the weariness of not having slept much last night came crashing over the girl. Qin Yining was exhausted to the bone and wrapped her arms around Pang Xiao’s waist, mumbling, “I’m going to sleep for a little while.”

  “I’ve had people prepare some ingredients and can whip up a bowl of noodles for you. Sleep after eating, alright?” Pang Xiao knew his beloved hadn’t had anything to eat for a while. How could he bear to let her go to sleep hungry?

  She shook her head, murmuring, “That’s alright.” Her breathing immediately evened out as she fell asleep right after the last word.

  Pang Xiao looked down at the person in his embrace. She’d fallen asleep sitting up! His heart clenched painfully as he noted the shadows beneath her eyes and her sunken cheeks.

  He carefully gathered her up and placed her on his bed, taking off her embroidered shoes and pulling over the thin blanket.

  Her long hair scattered over the blue blanket. What’d used to gleam with luster like a bolt of satin, had now dulled. Her pale face appeared even more wan next to the dark pillowcase.

  Pang Xiao looked at her with heartache, standing dumbly by the side of the bed until he was sure she was fast asleep. Only then did he carefully inch his way to the outer side of the bed, propping his head up with one hand to look intently at her.

  An outstretched finger traced the shape of her slender eyebrows at a slight distance away from her face. It gave a phantom flick to her long, ephemeral eyelashes, slid past her pert nose, and finally ended at her lips.

  This was their second time ‘sleeping together’. Pang Xiao kept watch over her in this way until he himself fell asleep at an unknown time.

  …...

  The prince was resting with their future princess consort. Who dared disturbed them?

  In fact, anyone who approached within ten yards of the tent was chased away by Huzi and a pack of Elite Tigers. It got to the point where everyone gave a wide berth to the commander’s tent.

  When Mu Jinghu saw that he wouldn’t be able to see Pang Xiao, he could only go along with Huzi’s arrangements and rest after taking in a full meal.

  The prince stayed inside the tent all day without summoning anyone. Huzi didn’t dare approach either. He’d thought that the prince would be out shortly, but there was no movement inside all throughout the night.

  It wasn’t until the wee hours of the next morning that the prince stealthily crept his way out.

  Huzi wasn’t on night watch that day. He was rubbing his eyes after just waking up when he saw his master surreptitiously sneak out with exaggerated movements. The prince carefully closed the door curtain flap.

  I feel like I see yet another side of my master whenever he’s with Miss Qin.

  But they’d only just finished their business? The prince really wasn’t treating her with any tenderness at all!

  Those might be his thoughts, but there was no way that Huzi would ever dare ask or show any sort of teasing expression on his face. Joke at the prince’s expense? That called for cruel and unusual exercises! He wouldn’t be allowed to stop until he coughed up blood from exhaustion!

  Pang Xiao looked sideways at the oh-so-serious Huzi. He stared until the servant was tense with nerves before turning back around. “Have Jiyun and Bingtang keep their miss company. I’m going to prepare food.”

  His Highness is going to cook in the ar
my camp?

  It’s not good if so many people see him do so! That will severely affect his reputation!

  Once again, Huzi didn’t dare say any of this. He could only carry out his orders.

  The two maids also thought that something must’ve happened between Qin Yining and Pang Xiao. Who knew that their mistress had just spent the night sleeping in Pang Xiao’s tent?

  When the Qin fourth miss awoke, the two maids adroitly helped her wash up.

  Pang Xiao came back in with flat cakes and four side dishes, followed by Huzi hauling a large jug of congee. The couple ate without speaking — manners that they’d both been taught. The two ate with very genteel movements.

  Qin Yining had quite a decent appetite today, perhaps a function of seeing Pang Xiao again. She put away half a flat cake and a bowl of porridge. The two talked business only after the meal was concluded.

  “I was kidnapped by the Duke of An before I came here. He unintentionally revealed that he’s in contact with a secret envoy from Great Zhou.”

  “A secret envoy?” Pang Xiao arched a brow in surprise. “How’s that possible? How would I, the commander of the Valiant Tigers, here to conquer the south, not know anything about this?”

  Qin Yining sniffed coldly. “Do you know what the secret envoy discussed with the duke? The envoy wanted to kill via a borrowed knife. He wanted to murder you through the duke, then blame it on my father. Given his motives, of course he wouldn’t let you know. That’d only give you time to prepare.”

  Pang Xiao knew that Qin Yining was right. He nodded and rubbed the bridge of his nose with a forefinger. “I actually already know this.”

  “Then do you know who’s pulling the strings?”

  Pang Xiao rubbed her forehead with a smile. “Silly girl, just think about it. Who would benefit the most if I were to die? Who would gain the most from my stroke of bad luck? It’s easily apparent then who wants my death.”

  Qin Yining had engraved into her heart the fact that the Purple Star hadn’t ascended the throne in the end. The Great Zhou emperor must be wary about this fortune!