However, because he was kept busy spinning from day to night, order soon returned to the city.
The Valiant Tigers were stationed outside the city walls, while Pang Xiao took only a small contingent with him into the city during the day. He would discuss the day’s agenda with Weichi Yan, whereupon Weichi Yan would order the respective officials to carry out the prince’s orders. Pang Xiao would then leave at the hour of the dog and return to the army camp with his attendants.
The prince had a stern and impartial style; he also had quite an awe-inspiring reputation. He generously doled out both favors and threats, quickly winning begrudging acknowledgement from some of the Great Yan officials. They hadn’t wanted to listen to his orders, but for the peace and prosperity of the people, they had to do as they were told.
While there were officials relieved the emperor had agreed to surrender, there were even more willing to martyr themselves in a show of integrity and moral courageousness.
Everyday, bodies of those who’d laid down their lives for the country were lifted out of manors. Some hung themselves, other took poison, some others took a blade to their neck… there was all manner of ghastly deaths.
But none of their actions could budge Weichi Yan’s resolution to submit to Great Zhou.
Though the capital had been dealt a severe blow in this tribulation, reconstruction efforts went ahead steadily. There were no more refugees present in the city after a month, some of the stores had reopened, and the people had the strength to go about their daily business again.
Order had been restored, and in fact, there was an even more vigorous atmosphere reigning than before the war.
It was now the beginning of winter.
“My darling, why don’t I bring you into the city today? You’ll suffer from the cold if you keep living in the tent.” Pang Xiao flung his cotton cape, lined with a sable fur collar, around Qin Yining’s shoulders.
She had indeed felt a bit under the weather these days. Her weakened health hadn’t had the time to recover before she’d suffered through two months of starvation and weariness. When her taut heartstrings had been able to fully relax by Pang Xiao’s side, all the aches and pains she’d staved off came looking for her.
Rain had fallen a few days ago and the days had gotten colder. Qin Yining had only suffered a bit of a breeze before she came down with a cold. She’d spent the past couple of days in a half-feverish state. Pang Xiao could hear her coughing every time he came back from his day’s duties. He knew that he couldn’t selfishly continue to keep her in the military camp just because he wanted to spend more time with her.
Qin Yining smiled. “No worries. I don’t think I’ll be as happy after going back as I am here with you.”
She wanted to stay by his side. Though he was busy during the day, they could still meet everyday. He’d long since asserted his attitude towards her anyhow. It was an unavoidable fact that she was his, so she decided to discard all thoughts of her reputation and just focus on their rare time together.
If she returned home, it wouldn’t be so easy for them to meet again.
How would Pang Xiao not know what Qin Yining was thinking? He rubbed her head lovingly with a smile. “Alright, since you want to stay and keep me company, I’ll have them prepare more silver charcoal for you. Honestly, I don’t feel right if you go back either. It’s better if you stay right beneath my nose.”
Qin Yining covered her mouth as she coughed again, slowly resting her head on Pang Xiao’s shoulder afterwards. Just at this moment, Huzi’s urgent voice carried in from outside. “Your Highness! The emperor’s sent someone!”
Qin Yining looked up at Pang Xiao. To send someone out at this time… did the Zhou emperor have new orders?
Pang Xiao reacted to the news with narrowed eyes, slowly sorting out some possible developments. A black whirlpool slowly grew in the depths of his phoenix eyes. However, he was as gentle as ever with Qin Yining. “No worries, I’ll go take a look. Just rest here, I’ll send Jiyun and Bingtang to keep you company.”
“Alright.” The girl nodded docilely, her long hair spilling down to her chest with the movement of her head.
Pang Xiao rose, put his hand to the back of her neck, and dropped a devoted kiss on her forehead before exiting the tent.
In the adjutant’s tent, the prince strode in to see a familiar face.
“And here this prince was wondering who it was! So it’s Sir Lian! Long time no see, you’re looking much better.” Pang Xiao smiled superciliously and drifted elegantly into the head seat. He pointed a casual finger at a nearby chair. “Have a seat, Sir Lian.”
Lian Shengjie had had fear beaten into him. His heart spasmed when he saw the prince raise his arm, deathly afraid that he was in for another walloping. But when he thought about what he was here for, and how the emperor was his backer, he found new sources of courage.
“The Faithful Prince of the First Rank is so very courteous,” he responded proudly with his hands behind his back. “But this official is an imperial envoy and is here with the emperor’s verbal decree. Please listen to the decree, Your Highness!”
A serious expression settled over Pang Xiao’s face when he heard this, and he rose to bow.
Lian Shengjie delivered haughtily, “The emperor’s words are: ‘The Faithful Prince of the First Rank has done a great deed in pacifying the south. We are quite gratified, and it has been a long while since We have seen Pang Zhixi. We miss him dearly. The ceremony of surrender is a cumbersome and long-winded affair. If it falls on Pang Zhixi’s shoulders, it will consume an inordinate amount of time. How much longer will it be until We can see him? We order Pang Zhixi to quickly return to the capital!”
Another degree of confidence bolstered him after Lian Shengjie finished thoroughly conveying the emperor’s words. A fake smile blossomed on his lips. “His Majesty’s care of Your Highness is on another level alright! He’s afraid that you’ve been overtired from the reconstruction process and has ordered that you not be bothered with the ceremonial affairs. You are to return to the capital immediately.”
Pang Xiao’s expression was the same as usual, with a faint curve upturning his lips. His Majesty really has the best timing!
Or, perhaps Lian Shenjie had been hiding nearby all this time — only sauntering out after all the hard work was done. After all, there’d been a secret envoy who’d contacted the Great Yan officials to plot his murder!
The prince had put in backbreaking effort to conquer Great Yan, then ran to and fro for another month to restore the capital back to order. He’d settled citizen complaints, kept the plague in check, given clear duties to the Yan emperor and officials, and won everyone’s acknowledgement.
He’d put forth so much arduous effort, but it wouldn’t be him at the place of honor for the ceremony of surrender!
Something as momentous as accepting Weichi Yan’s surrender would be recorded in the annals of history. It was an extreme honor for a Great Zhou soldier, and well-deserved after such a long period of hard work.
But the emperor was urgently summoning him back to the capital and refusing to allow him the honor!
Though Pang Xiao knew the emperor was wary of him, he hadn’t thought that his liege would be so obvious about it.
“Well? You best pack your things up, Your Highness, and hurry back.”
Pang Xiao snorted derisively. “Even if this prince is to return, that is out of obedience to the imperial decree and loyalty to His Majesty. It would never be out of fear of a spineless worm like you. You throw your weight around — have you forgotten what happened before? Are you itching for another beating?”
* * *
Chapter 286: Casting the Bow Aside Once All the Birds Are Gone
Chapter 286: Casting the Bow Aside Once All the Birds Are Gone
If it’d been anyone else delivering such brazen insults and threats, Lian Shengjie would’ve long since exploded into a fit of fury. But when facing Pang Xiao, his temper didn’t dare rear its head
at all.
He could only tamp down a bellyful of dissatisfaction and jealousy to respond stiffly, “As opposed to wasting time arguing with me, Your Highness would make better use of time by packing carefully and preparing to return home. His Majesty means that since the Valiant Tigers have tremendous battle strength, they should remain temporarily stationed here in case any trouble flares anew in the Yan capital. Your Highness has always preferred a minimalist style, so I’m sure you won’t fail His Majesty’s good intentions.”
Lian Shengjie was back to grinning mockingly at this point.
How much were your deeds of valor worth now, Pang Zhixi? The emperor can decide where you should go with a single command, and even take away your life!
Leaving the Valiant Tigers at the Yan capital meant that Pang Xiao couldn’t head back with his direct subordinates. He would be completely helpless if the Great Zhou emperor wanted to make any moves against him.
With this development, Lian Shengjie felt all of his bottled up anger disperse. Pang Zhixi could only tyrannically throw his weight around outside. He still had to tuck his tail in and be as meek like a cat when facing the emperor.
Though Pang Xiao knew that his emperor was highly wary of him, he hadn’t thought that the emperor would be so blatant as to cast aside the bow as soon as all the birds were gone.
They’d only just conquered Great Yan!
It looked like the emperor’s wariness of the prince had reached new heights, in which he didn’t care about his own reputation. He just wanted to keep Pang Xiao down.
It was nauseating to look at Lian Shengjie’s smug face. But this was only to be expected. The emperor himself was showing that he was threatened by Pang Xiao, so how was it possible that this attitude wouldn’t be reflected by any of his subjects?
At the end of the day, this was all thanks to his good brother.
Pang Xiao rose and flicked the dust off his outer robes.
The dashing flair of his movements made Lian Shengjie’s heart skip a beat. He frantically took a few steps backwards, his heart pounding, deathly afraid that Pang Xiao would just outright murder him.
If the prince did, the emperor probably wouldn’t do anything to Pang Xiao for it.
Pang Xiao snorted derisively to see Lian Shengjie cower with dread. It’d only dirty his hands if he really did kill this milksop, and it’d give rise to future troubles.
He brushed past the nuisance when his thoughts took this course.
Lian Shengjie heaved a long sigh of relief after Pang Xiao’s figure vanished from the door. He sat down to continuously wipe away sweat. That demon was finally leaving! He would be scared into a heart attack sooner or later if Pang Xiao remained at the army camp!
The prince had just lifted the flap to his own tent when he heard Qin Yining cough. He frowned anxiously and asked Bingtang, “Why isn’t your miss’ health taking a turn for the better? She’s been taking a lot of medicine. How am I supposed to be at ease about this?”
“If my miss wants to fully recover, she’ll have to spend at least a year and a half resting.”
Pang Xiao sat down next to Qin Yining with furrowed brows.
The girl took the tea that Jiyun brought over and had a few sips. She asked with a smile, “Does His Majesty have further orders for you? You’re departing, right?”
The prince blinked. “How did you know?”
“I could tell that you’re preparing to leave when you said ‘how am I supposed to be at ease’.”
Jiyun and Bingtang dismissed themselves when they saw the couple engross themselves in conversation.
Pang Xiao took Qin Yining’s hand and kissed her fingertips before pulling a long face. “His Majesty has sent urgent orders for me to return to the capital. I’m not allowed to participate in the ceremony of surrender.”
Qin Yining nodded understandingly. “I see. He doesn’t want you to have any of the limelight. Since an imperial order’s come, you have to answer it.”
“That’s right.” Pang Xiao agreed glumly. “This sucks. I can’t bear to leave you. Why don’t you come with me? We may not have spent most of our days together during this time, but we still saw each other everyday. I can’t handle having to suddenly leave you.”
Qin Yining was teased into laughter by this rare display of childishness. “Look at you, saying such irresponsible things at your age. How can I possibly leave at this time? That’d be elopement! Whoever elopes becomes a concubine. Do you, Pang Zhixi, want to fob me off with just the identity of a concubine?”
Her tone was light, completely joking right back at the prince, but Pang Xiao considered it very seriously. He adjusted his posture upright and thought carefully, then responded gravely, “Forget it. You’re right. I’ll send you home in a bit. We can decide the rest when you reach the capital with your family.”
“How can you be so sure that my family will be summoned to the capital?”
“His Majesty means to treat generously all surrendered officials that are fourth rank and above. A renowned subject such as Grand Preceptor Qin will naturally be summoned from the Yan capital. Once the ceremony is over, the first batch of officials will set off with Weichi Yan.”
Qin Yining heaved a long sigh. It was still a very depressing affair that Great Yan had fallen, just like that. It stabbed at her heart despite knowing that this had been an inevitable outcome, given trash like the former emperor.
Seeing a frown cross her forehead, Pang Xiao’s heart ached and he gathered her into his arms, patting her back comfortingly. “Don’t worry and come to the capital with your father. I’ll figure out a way for us to marry when you’re there.”
Qin Yining closed her eyes and nodded morosely in his embrace.
……
Pang Xiao personally sent Qin Yining back to the Qin Manor. When they reached the avenue that the manor was on, he had the carriage halt.
“My darling, I won’t go any closer. You can go on, I’ll watch you from here.”
“Why aren’t you coming inside with me?”
Pang Xiao shook his head with a smile, but didn’t say anything else. Understanding dawned on Qin Yining.
Qin Huaiyuan was now a surrendered official and Pang Xiao possessed an exceedingly grand position. Her father would have to bow and greet the prince if they met. Pang Xiao plainly didn’t want to make things awkward or embarrassing for her father.
Qin Yining wrapped her arms around Pang Xiao’s neck and kissed his cheek. “I see. Take care of yourself. I’ll see you in the capital. It won’t take too long.”
A wave of heat rose in Pang Xiao’s body at her initiative. His heart racing, he hugged her and spent quite a while whispering sweet nothings into her ear before finally resigning himself to her departure.
Seeing the girl reach the manor’s door with Jiyun and Bingtang’s companionship, Pang Xiao put down the window curtains and headed back to the army camp.
News of Qin Yining returning home quickly traveled to the Garden of Loving Piety thanks to a fleet-footed runner.
Those in the manor were the same as the group who’d made it up Mt. Eternal Spring. Thanks to the fourth miss and Steward Zhong making early preparations, life had been difficult on the mountain, but no one had died of starvation.
In the residence, née Sun completely ignored the old dowager when she heard that her daughter was back. She came out in welcome, along with Jin-mama.
Awkwardness crept over the old dowager’s expression, but she had Qin-mama help her up when she thought of how the future looked. She too came out to welcome Qin Yining, along with the second madame, eighth miss, and Qin Huining.
Née Sun and Qin Yining had already entered the inner residence by the time the group made it to the flower-hung gate.
The old dowager smiled. “Aiyo, granddaughter Yi’s finally returned. The emperor’s given us orders to travel to the capital. We were wondering if you would be coming with us or the Faithful Prince of the First Rank.”
Qin Yining looked at her mother
, askance. “Travel to the capital? So the date for the ceremony and journey have been set already?”
* * *
Chapter 287: Prospects Ahead
Chapter 287: Prospects Ahead
Anxiety crossed née Sun’s face. “Your father has been discussing this with the emperor these days. Right now, the date to set off is the day after tomorrow, but I don’t know if there have been any further changes.”
“Is father at home?”
“Your father was urgently summoned into the palace yesterday and hasn’t returned yet. I believe it has something to do with the surrender. Many details need to be discussed. Your father is still thinking wholeheartedly on the emperor’s behalf, so he doesn’t want the emperor to come out worse for the wear.”
Qin Yining nodded understandingly. With her father’s personality, he would be standing firm on the last shift.
Seeing that Qin Yining was talking only to née Sun and not even greeting her, the old dowager felt some affront to her dignity. The smile she’d forced out gradually faded away.
“Granddaughter Yi, why do you have not even a word for your grandmother? Have your days in the military camp been so comfortable that you’ve forgotten all your manners? Our family has never had such a rude daughter.”
Qin Yining chuckled at this and looked gently at the old dowager, the girl’s words anything but.
“If our family has no rude daughters, then might I ask Old Dowager, does our family have the kind of petty thief who takes without asking?”
A dark cloud descended over the old dowager’s face and she responded resentfully, “I only ate a rabbit of yours. Is there a need for you to bear a grudge until now? Your filial piety has all been eaten by the dogs! What kind of times were we in? And you were still keeping a rabbit away from me! Were you going to just sit on by and watch me starve to death?”
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