Return of the Swallow c1-644

by Edited by Deyna up to chapter ~100.

  If Pang Xiao were to fall in battle, it’d be the new Zhou emperor and surrendered Northern Ji officials who benefitted the most.

  The former wanted to exterminate a latent menace, and the latter wanted to clear away a clash of interests. Pang Xiao’s existence was a firm weight upon their heads. If they wanted to make a name for themselves and have a break of fortune at court, eliminating the prince was a top priority.

  Qin Yining couldn’t resist sighing quietly with admiration when she saw that Pang Xiao was as composed as always, not a flicker of change in his expression.

  “Your Highness.” Huzi called outside the tent at this time. “Sir Mu requests an audience. He says he’s here to take his leave.”

  * * *

  Chapter 283: Farewell

  Chapter 283: Farewell

  Pang Xiao and Qin Yining looked at each other, immediately rising and exiting the tent.

  Mu Jinghu looked to be in great health. Though he’d lost a lot of weight when keeping Qin Yining company on the mountain, he had a deep foundation of cultivation. He brimmed with vigor after two full meals and a night of rest.

  Pang Xiao walked up smilingly and clapped his friend’s shoulder intimately. “Did you sleep well last night?”

  Mu Jinghu returned the smile with a nod. “Very well. Things are much better here than in the city. I haven’t had a full meal in a long time. I ate well, so naturally slept well. But you, did you sleep well last night?”

  He was just purely curious and kept sneaking glances at Qin Yining. His gaze was very pure, but given the gentleman’s antics, mortified understanding dawned on the girl.

  Her face exploded with red and she wanted to find a place to take cover in. She’d gone straight to rest in Pang Xiao’s tent yesterday, who knew what everyone was speculating??

  Naturally, this occurred to Pang Xiao as well. He turned back to see Qin Yining’s flaming red cheeks and coughed dryly. “What the heck, Blockhead. Why are you talking like this?”

  Mu Jinghu was a pure individual and also felt that he’d gone overboard with how he’d approached things. He didn’t insist on an answer and changed the topic. “I’m here to bid you farewell. Your war is over, so it doesn’t matter if I’m around or not anymore. I’m going to the Tatars to look for my martial uncle.”

  Pang Xiao and Qin Yining were both startled by this. The Soothsayer is with the Tatars?

  The girl was reminded of the gentleman’s words that the Greedy Wolf Star was with the Tatars. Was there a connection between this and the Soothsayer’s visit?

  Pang Xiao nodded. “Alright, thank you greatly for your help this time. Just let me know if you need my help with anything in the future. I’ll help you without reservation.”

  “What kind of talk is that? I lost to you this time, so this is what I should’ve done. This wasn’t any sort of help.” Mu Jinghu was an honest man. Pang Xiao wasn’t someone with power or nobility in his eyes, but just an ordinary friend. From his relaxed expression, he wasn’t trying to toady up to the prince and receive credit for his achievement.

  The less important he thought this was, the more precious his sincerity was. Pang Xiao clapped the man’s shoulder with a smile. “When do you set off?”

  “In a moment.”

  “Then I’ll have people prepare dry rations for you. Also, take two good horses with you.”

  Mu Jinghu nodded with a smile. “Alright.”

  A small smile crossed Qin Yining’s face as she watched the two. It was Pang Zhixi’s good fortune to have such a real friend.

  ……

  At this moment, Qin Huaiyuan was frowning slightly as he perched sideways on the grand preceptor chair, keeping the emperor company. News had reached him of the emperor visiting the empress yesterday after his excursion, and the two having an enormous fight. The emperor had even whipped the empress!

  The marquis wasn’t someone who who easily believed wild rumors, but he was well acquainted with Weichi Yan’s personality.

  That declaration of fealty had enraged Weichi Yan beyond belief. Add to that all the external pressure he was under… It wouldn’t be surprising no matter how crazy the emperor became.

  He watched Weichi Yan run the conversation in all directions. The emperor seemed to want to say something, but couldn’t bring himself to voice it. The marquis didn’t rush his liege, but listened quietly with a faint smile.

  Weichi Yan had officially run out of things to discuss when he blabbered on about Great Zhou people and culture. He took a sip of tea to cover up the awkwardness.

  After a long afternoon of carrying on about nonsense, the emperor politely sent Qin Huaiyuan out of the palace in the end. “We’ve kept you from many things in requesting your presence over the past two days.”

  Weichi Yan was being courteous to the point that it greatly took Qin Huaiyuan aback. The emperor had been always been polite, but such courtesy was a rare sight after he’d gained the status and presence of one who ruled over all.

  The marquis quickly rose to bow. “Your Majesty treats me with too much honor.”

  “None of that, Grand Preceptor Qin.” Weichi Yan rose as well and continued with some awkwardness. “Um… We actually have another matter to inform you.”

  “Please do, Your Majesty.” Qin Huaiyuan raised cupped fists.

  The emperor continued bracingly, “The Duke of An used one of your servants to lure the fourth miss out. He wanted to use her as a hostage to bait and kill the Faithful Prince of the First Rank. After some investigation, We have discovered that they are in contact with Great Zhou.”

  Qin Huaiyuan’s heart skipped a beat. Out of his servants, only Qitai had sufficient prerogative to successfully lie to Qin Yining. No wonder he hadn’t seen Qitai over the past two days.

  “I see.” The marquis responded without a flicker in expression.

  That’s it?

  Weichi Yan had been thought Qin Huaiyuan would ask more, making it easy for the emperor to launch into an explanation. But the marquis had responded curtly with just that, how was the former supposed to continue from there?

  The emperor coughed dryly to cover his guilty embarrassment. “The fourth miss was already in the army camp when We received word. We specifically paid a visit and discovered that she was well. Because they threatened the prince, the prince wrote a letter to Us…”

  A hitch appeared in his throat. It was too mortifying to relay the full contents of the letter.

  “We felt that the prince was sincere and had the fourth miss sent to him. We know that they have a good relationship. After we surrender, those formerly of Great Yan will move to Great Zhou. Things will be smoother then if we have a relationship with the Faithful Prince of the First Rank.”

  Qin Huaiyuan nodded. “Your Majesty is wise.”

  From the emperor’s halting attitude and vague summary, the marquis had more or less guessed what had really happened. It was likely that the emperor had been involved from the very beginning. He wouldn't have kept Qin Huaiyuan in the palace for the past two days otherwise — supposedly for conversation and company. The letter that Pang Xiao had written to the emperor had probably scared the latter stiff.

  Rage boiled in Qin Huaiyuan’s heart.

  But the matter had already passed. There was no point in pursuing things further. Though they’d decided to surrender, the process hadn’t started yet and so Weichi Yan was still the emperor. He still grasped the power of life or death in his hands.

  Qin Huaiyuan felt that there was no need to erupt in open hostilities over something that was over and done with. He also trusted Pang Xiao’s feelings for Qin Yining. His daughter would actually have a better time of things at the prince’s side. It beat suffering on the mountain, in any case.

  However, the marquis no longer bore any goodwill for the Weichi clan.

  Qin Huaiyuan didn’t express it, instead maintaining his usual humble and genteel demeanor. He bowed. “Your Majesty is wise. This is a good way of approaching things. The prince is sworn
brothers with the Great Zhou emperor. It will do Your Majesty good to be friendly with the prince.”

  The marquis’ complete lack of displeasure and in fact, being so understanding, make Weichi Yan even more abashed. He spoke warmly with Qin Huaiyuan for another long while before instructing imperial guards to accompany the marquis back to Ning Park. He also sent some rations back with the grand preceptor.

  Qin Huaiyuan reunited with his family on the mountain after thanking imperial favor. Everyone in the park was frantic with worry after Qin Yining’s disappearance. Née Sun had cried buckets upon buckets. When she saw Qin Huaiyuan and Cao Yuqing returned, she flung herself into his embrace. “You’re finally back! Daughter Yi’s gone missing!”

  * * *

  Chapter 284: Death of the Emperor Emeritus

  Chapter 284: Death of the Emperor Emeritus

  Née Sun buried her face in Qin Huaiyuan’s embrace, dampening his shirt and collar with her tears. “Qitai came the other day and said that you had business to discuss with daughter Yi. She was to wait at the bottom at the mountain that night so that he could take her to you. I let her go because I thought that since Qitai had been by your side for so many years, he would never betray us.

  “Yet not only did our daughter go missing, but our men found Qitai’s body as well! He died from a single stab through the neck! That’s when I realized our darling might’ve been kidnapped! She’s such a wonderful girl and I’m such a useless mother! She lives such a hard life these days and I couldn’t even keep an eye on her!”

  Pain wracked Qin Huaiyuan’s heart when he hugged his wife, noting that she was all skin and bones. “Don’t panic, don’t cry. Daughter Yi is fine.”

  “Really? You’re not lying to me?” Née Sun lifted a teary face to look at her husband.

  “Of course, she’s my only daughter and her safety is incredibly important. Why would I lie to you about this?” Qin Huaiyuan wiped her face off with his sleeve and comforted. “Come, let’s go in first. I’ll tell you what’s going on.”

  Née Sun had a deep understanding of Qin Huaiyuan’s personality. If he said that Qin Yining was fine, then she was fine. This was when she realized that she’d pounced on her husband in front of everyone and bawled her eyes out. Her face instantly flamed red and she quickly took a few steps back.

  Qin Huaiyuan didn’t mind at all and led the way while holding née Sun’s hand. He greeted everyone who came out to welcome him along the way. Cao Yuqing followed behind the two with a lowered head, heading upstairs as well.

  The old dowager was overwhelmed with joy that Qin Huaiyuan had returned. She came out on Qin-mama’s arm to welcome her son.

  “My Meng’er’s finally returned!”

  The man walked up with a smile to bow. “Greetings to you, mother.”

  “Hurry and get up, hurry hurry! I missed you so!” The old dowager grasped Qin Huaiyuan’s arm and looked him up and down, remarking with heartache, “You’ve gotten tanned and lost weight.”

  Qin Huaiyuan smiled, bidding a hello to the second and third elder master off to the side, as well as the other members of the family.

  Née Sun could hold back her questions anymore after a round of catching up. “My lord, where is daughter Yi?”

  The old dowager finally recalled that her granddaughter was missing.

  Qin Huaiyuan brought the family inside to relay what the emperor had said to him. He might’ve guessed at the exact sordid details, but didn’t mention them since they had to do with the nation’s dignity.

  “…the emperor has decided to surrender to Great Zhou. The days to come will be busy ones,” he concluded.

  Collective sighs echoed around the room. Though everyone shared the sorrow of the country being no more, it was a relief that these days were finally at an end.

  “Senior uncle, will the Great Zhou army retreat once the emperor agrees to surrender?” asked Qin Han.

  “They will.”

  “Will they raze the city?” This quite concerned the second madame.

  Qin Huaiyuan shook his head with a reassuring smile. “The Zhou emperor is a very shrewd person. He’s very adept at winning people’s hearts. I think not only will he refrain from killing people, but he’ll also send over food as soon as possible.”

  Everyone understood that since the former Yan emperor hadn’t given a hoot for the people and hidden all the silver, if the Zhou emperor ended mass starvation, the extreme contrast would build a highly favorable impression for the latter.

  To the starving people, they didn’t care about the country falling! They just wanted to know if they could stay alive. Even the Qins were happily expectant, to say nothing about the commoners.

  Only the old dowager had an ugly expression on her face. She’d just eaten the bunny that the Faithful Prince of the First Rank had given Qin Yining, and rubbed it in the girl’s face!

  Who would’ve thought that the emperor would send Qin Yining to the prince??

  If Great Yan surrendered, it was very likely that Qin Yining would become the prince’s bed warmer, or even a concubine if she was lucky! She would become a most noble mistress of Great Zhou in one leap!

  As for them? They would be the family of surrendered subjects. Their life and deaths would be held in someone else’s hands, their fates sealed with a word…

  “Does this mean that the prince is still very fond of granddaughter Yi?” The old dowager’s voice was a bit hoarse.

  Qin Han’s wife also looked to the marquis with watery eyes, obviously sharing the same thoughts as the old dowager. Regret draped suffocatingly over her. When momentary cravings had struck, she’d egged on the old dowager into eating Qin Yining’s pet. But just like the girl said, the animal had been all skin and bones. There hadn’t even been enough meat for a full mouthful!

  All she’d been thinking then was that any bit of meat was better than none. She’d inwardly cursed out Qin Yining, thinking that the girl was putting up a pure and holy front for not eating that rabbit even when starving to death.

  Who would’ve ever thought that it had been a token of affection from the prince to Qin Yining, and that her cousin-in-law was going to be the princess consort??

  The second wife regretted her actions from the bottom of her heart!

  Qin Huaiyuan surmised from his mother and niece-in-law’s expressions that he must be in the dark about something. He continued without a flicker of change in his expression. “Mm. The Faithful Prince of the First Rank quite likes daughter Yi. If nothing else happens, she’ll be the princess consort in the future.”

  The old dowager laughed dryly. “Now isn’t that just wonderful. So wonderful. Our granddaughter Yi has the true ability alright. We’ll have to rely on her much in the future.”

  The second wife nodded smilingly as well, but for some reason, her smile looked stiff no matter how one looked at it. Even her husband, helping her stand, could tell that something was off. However, Qin Han didn’t ask her publicly in the end.

  ……

  Qin Huaiyuan spent two peaceful days on the mountain. The Valiant Tigers did indeed retreat during this period, and the city doors opened up again to allow entry and exit as before.

  Refugees on their last legs stumbled out of the city, looking for any chance of life in the outside world. Many of them were faint with hunger, scrambling out on hands and knees.

  None too far from the main city gate, a Valiant Tiger called out, “His Imperial Majesty of Great Zhou pities those affected by war and has given orders to provide two meals a day. Congee stations will be set up inside the city gates of the inner and outer city, and at various places inside the city. Everyone will have congee to eat!”

  Carriages arrived after he spoke, people jumping down to unload enormous pots, rice, and kindling. They busied themselves with starting fires, emitting the fragrance of rice cooking in short order.

  How were the blankly staring refugees able to withstand the wide-ranging, delicious smell of food? They swarmed to the congee stat
ions.

  Starvation had sapped all the strength from some of them. Those were no longer able struggle back up when the anxious crowd swept them off their feet. No one had the mind to spare for anyone who fell down. Everyone was equally hungry, and it’d already be quite a feat if they lived. Who cared about what was beneath their feet?

  This was why no one heard a hoarse voice rasp out, “Get away from me. Move your stinking feet.” More breath was exhaled than inhaled. “We… We will kill you. How dare you attempt regicide…”

  Countless pairs of feet stomping over him was the only answer. A few more footprints were added to clothes so dirty that no one could make out their original color.

  He wanted to howl with pain, but couldn’t voice a single sound. A mouthful of blood spewed out when he opened his mouth. Though he wanted to crawl back up, he just didn’t have the strength to. His vision began to blur and only one signal was left in his mind.

  Pain.

  Heart-wrenching, bone-breaking pain.

  The congee station wasn’t too far away from his dirty, outstretched hand. But he didn’t get a single bite in the end.

  No one would’ve ever thought that Emperor Qinglong, pestilence of Great Yan for 35 years, would end up being trampled to death by those he despised the most — refugees.

  Chapter 285: Discarded After Use

  Chapter 285: Discarded After Use

  Though Qin Yining was residing in the Valiant Tiger encampment, she didn’t spend much time together with Pang Xiao. The prince had to oversee the process of rebuilding, settle down the refugees, distribute congee, maintain order, clean out and cremate bodies, send in military doctors to work with the ones in the city to avoid the spread of plague, and report to his emperor to send in personnel…

  All sorts of duties descended on him, ones that weren’t any less taxing than leading the Valiant Tigers into battle. Pang Xiao was so busy hopping from one task to another that his feet barely had time to touch the ground. Even the meals he spent with Qin Yining were moments that he forcefully squeezed out of his schedule.