Return of the Swallow c1-644

by Edited by Deyna up to chapter ~100.

  With that thought in mind, Qin Yining took Jiyun and circled around the carriage, making their way toward Ji Zeyu.

  The prince consort recovered his signature cold composure. He watched impassively as Qin Yining drew closer.

  He couldn't help but concede that the girl undeniably had what it took to stir Pang Xiao’s interest; her looks could easily launch a thousand ships. Also, as stunning as she was, she didn't strike him as crass, nor did she have the toady looks shared by many women. Rather, her appearance radiated intelligence and poise. It was immediately apparent that she was well-educated and a model of propriety. “Prince Consort Ji, what brings you here today? Why don’t you come in for a visit?” Qin Yining came near and curtsied with a smile.

  Ji Zeyu answered coldly, “I’m simply passing by. I saw the excitement of preparations underway and stopped to take a look.”

  Qin Yining offered a smile in return. “I appreciate your concern, Prince Consort Ji.”

  “I am not at all concerned. I’m just passing by,” replied the man, his tone cold and hard.

  Slightly discomfited by Ji Zeyu’s answer, Qin Yining’s smile turned awkward.

  She could tell that the prince consort had always found her loathsome. What could she have possibly done wrong to incur such dislike? Did he hate her as a person, or the fact that she was the daughter of the man responsible for the death of Pang Xiao’s father?

  She coughed dryly. “Very well. I won’t force an invitation if the prince consort has other business to tend to. But please do come by the manor for the wedding banquet.”

  Ji Zeyu looked at her, his face inscrutable and unresponsive.

  Qin Yining felt at a loss as to when she had offended Ji Zeyu. Otherwise, how could a veritable god of war, who led troops and had fought many wars, be so lacking in polite speech?

  Simply put, the cold and indifferent prince consort just happened to despise her.

  She didn’t feel like being snubbed anymore, so turned around to head back to the manor.

  But at this time, Ji Zeyu blurted out, “Miss Qin, do you truly like Pang Zhixi? Will you treat him with a true heart? Will you be able to put Pang Zhixi above all else if the histories of your two families resurface to complicate things?” Startled by the questions, Qin Yining’s eyes snapped up to look at Ji Zeyu.

  He definitely isn’t just passing by! He made this trip specifically to grill me with these questions!

  Chapter 411: To Resolve

  Qin Yining was the epitome of astonishment.

  She herself harbored some suspicions of Ji Zeyu. She didn’t know what the real relationship between Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu was. However, it was impossible for one’s hands to remain lily-white at court. Other than that, she wasn’t certain of how much true brotherhood suffused the two brother’s mutual usage and probing.

  Coldly aloof to begin with, Ji Zeyu wasn’t the sort to easily express his thoughts. All had to be speculated upon. The previous attack upon the Great Yan convoy also served to prejudice Qin Yining against the prince consort, such as deeming him a violent, ruthless character.

  Therefore, the fact that he was here in person, on the doorstep of her home, to ask these questions before the wedding staggered her greatly.

  Does he mean this, or is this another test?

  Qin Yining’s beautiful eyes met Ji Zeyu’s equally stunning, naturally flirtatious ones.

  She read only trustworthiness in them, not the slightest sliver of guile.

  In that instant, she was almost certain that there was no grander scheme or trick up the prince consort’s sleeve. There was just deep concern and care.

  Perhaps this is what’s meant by friendship between men.

  If Bingtang or those by her side were to marry, she too would carefully select their matches. She’d be deathly afraid of them meeting someone cruel and unscrupulous, or that they’d lead unhappy lives.

  Ji Zeyu was probably worried that Pang Xiao wouldn’t find happiness after the wedding?

  So it looks like even though the prince consort’s used Pang Xiao before, their ties of brotherhood are real.

  For those who fostered goodwill toward Pang Xiao, so too did she nurture goodwill toward them.

  With a smile, she withdrew her ill will and circumspection. “Men and women are different. A man can have multiple wives and concubines, but a woman is faithful to her husband unto death. No matter how many old personal scores there are between us, my life was tied to His Highness the day the emperor bestowed this marriage.

  “I live if he lives. I will not cling to this world if anything happens to him. This doesn’t only have to do with the strands that previously connected our two families, but because we’re one family now, and can only be one family.

  “I am good to him and genuinely support each other throughout our days because I look to our future. Not just for him, and not just for me. My future is tied to his. Only when he is steady am I also steady. His future is my future.

  “Prince Consort Ji is a smart man. I trust you understand what I mean.”

  Qin Yining couldn’t directly tell Ji Zeyu just how much the two of them loved each other, and that the imperial edict played right into their hands.

  Even if she trusted Ji Zeyu, she didn’t know if the emperor’s spies was eavesdropping on this conversation.

  But her meaning was very clear.

  She and Pang Xiao shared the same future, so how would she hurt him?

  Ji Zeyu stared at Qin Yining; a faint smile floated onto the surface of a face that was normally aloof to outsiders. The smile was so indistinct that it was just the tiniest upturn of the lips.

  In fact, if one didn’t take a close look, the smile would’ve been entirely overlooked.

  “I understand. I hope you remember your words from today.”

  In Qin Yining’s ears, this was both a wish and a threat. However, she wasn’t the slightest bit irritated. She knew that the prince consort was saying this out of concern for Pang Xiao.

  She nodded heavily. “I will.”

  Whitecloud sidled over as the two talked, nuzzling Qin Yining’s cheek with its head.

  Rather taken aback, Ji Zeyu cast a complicated glance at the horse and smoothed down its mane.

  “This was his gift to you. It should be returned to you.” He made to give the reins to the girl.

  And yet, Qin Yining took a step back with a smile and a shake of her head. “It’s a good horse, and horses should have a large expanse of land to run freely over. Though I like it, I can only keep it in a paddock if it stays with me. Even if I give it the best food and care, it still won’t be happy. In fact, I’ll wear away at its nature. It’s better that it stays with you.”

  Ji Zeyu’s hands slowly tightened on the reins as his heart jumped violently, many complex emotions flashing through his mind.

  But when he met the girl’s smiling face again, he let them all go.

  “Perhaps Pang Zhixi is right, you’re a good girl.”

  Having mentally prepared herself for a cold shoulder, the Qin fourth miss hadn’t anticipated at all that this would be his rejoinder. She was very satisfied to gain the approval of Pang Xiao’s good friend.

  “Many thanks, you’re also a good brother.”

  The prince consort blinked, then shook his head. “A good brother?” He murmured to himself, then jumped adroitly onto Whitecloud. He shook the reins. “I’ll be off now.” His words scarcely echoed in the air before he prodded the horse onwards.

  Qin Yining looked at his back, smiling a moment later and turning back home.

  ……

  Wedding preparations flew fast and furious. Due to the short deadline, both sides were in a bit of a frenzy. Thankfully, they were neither short on helping hands nor friends who wanted to curry favor by lending aid.

  The tenth day of the fifth month arrived in a blink of an eye. Everything was in accordance.

  Pang Xiao roused the Elite Tigers early this morning. The eighteen handpicked soldiers were the
youngest, most handsome, and most stunning of the lot.

  In actuality, the eighteen young men were quite proud of themselves that they’d been picked for their looks. Their other brothers in the Elite Tigers were heavily jealous that the group could personally accompany the prince to deliver the betrothal gifts.

  “Dafu ah, don’t you be in a hurry. Be polite to your in-laws, you hear me? Put away that fearsome aura of yours. You’ve been in the battlefield and killed enemies, there’s blood on your hands. A violent air hangs about you, so don’t you let the in-laws think you’re here to carry off the bride, you hear?” Née Ma nattered about as she straightened the collar of Pang Xiao’s dusky-purple, python robe.

  “I know, grandmother. Don’t worry.”

  “Don’t worry? How can I not worry? Look at what you’ve rustled up outside. Who knows if you’re going to deliver betrothal gifts or pick a fight!” Irritation washed over née Ma when she flung a glance outside the open, intricately carved window and glimpsed the eighteen uniformed men standing at stern attention.

  “Do this well, I tell you! You’re not allowed to mess it up! If you dare mess it up, I’ll beat you to death with my shoe when you come back!”

  “Mom, enough now. Let Dafu go already. Don’t make him miss the auspicious hour. Didn’t Dafu say he invited Prince Consort Ji? He should be here by now.” Née Yao took her mother’s arm to rescue her son.

  Pang Xiao heaved a silent sigh of relief and tugged on his narrow sleeves. Laughing heartily, he turned and left with large strides.

  Smoking his tobacco pipe off to the side, Yao Chenggu walked over to the window and watched his grandson march off with a parade of eighteen prim and proper young gentlemen. He shook his head with a chuckle. “This kid.”

  After leaving the inner residence, Pang Xiao was greeted with 210 litters of betrothal gifts in the main yard. Festooned with bright red, silk flowers, the servants transporting the litters were also ready.

  Ji Zeyu himself stood solemnly at the head of his manor’s soldiers, clad in a pale-gray robe with narrow sleeves.

  Chapter 412: Sparkling

  “You’re here.” Pang Xiao walked to the prince consort with a smile. “It’s rare to see you in this color. I’m used to seeing you in red or white.”

  Ji Zeyu replied expressionlessly, “I was afraid of showing you up.”

  Pang Xiao coughed, then answered brightly, “Ain’t that the truth! Ah Lan was born with such beauty. Where would my dignity be if I looked like a toad or a muddy pig next to you?”

  “That’s why.” The prince consort spread out his hands matter-of-factly.

  The bridegroom chuckled again.

  The soldiers at the prince consort manor were Valiant Tigers who’d braved hell and high water with Pang Xiao. Though their commander was the prince consort now, their worship and adoration of Pang Xiao remained the same.

  Seeing their former commander look at them, they stood even taller.

  Pang Xiao smiled. “I have to trouble all of my brothers today in making this trip with me.”

  “Yes, sir!” Eighty-eight manor soldiers chorused back with impressive ferocity, shaking the rafters with their roars. Somehow, their response painted the luxurious front yard of the Pang complex with a few touches of righteous bloodlust.

  It also made the eighteen Elite Tigers snap to even sharper attention.

  Following the disturbance, Yao Chenggu, née Ma, and née Yao were shellshocked by the imposing manner that seemed like the men were about to charge into the battlefield.

  After a long while, née Ma whispered with a frown, “Just what does he think he’s doing?? This won’t do, I need to lecture Dafu. He’s going to scare the in-laws out of their wits like this.”

  “Oh you, stop fretting.” Yao Chenggu pulled back his wife with a smile. “The boy’s not a baby anymore, he has his own plans. Don’t go messing things up.”

  “Can I not fret?? Who delivers betrothal gifts like this? With that bunch of hooligans, is he going to fetch the bride or raze her home?”

  “Mom! Keep some of those words to yourself!” Née Yao shook her mother’s arm, frowning from the inauspicious words.

  Realizing the inappropriateness of her words, the Pang matriarch quickly spat three times.

  By this point, Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu were already heading outside the manor on horseback. 210 litters of betrothal gifts followed them, with 106 sharply dressed, young soldiers bringing up the rear. The procession set out for the Qin manor in a vast and magnificent manner.

  Née Ma and née Yao saw them out the door, sighing together with perfect, unexpected timing when the tail of the long convoy rounded the corner.

  Not only was née Ma worried, but even née Yao felt by now that it was a bit terrifying for her son to bring such a large crowd with him to deliver the gifts.

  ……

  Qin Yining was teaching Lian Xiaozhou her characters when Bingtang flew in from outside.

  “Miss, miss, the prince’s entourage is coming!”

  “Oh my, this early?”

  “That’s right, and his entourage is exceptionally spectacular.” The maid doubled over from laughter.

  “How is it spectacular?”

  If it hadn’t been for her mother coming by first thing this morning to tell her that she couldn’t go out to take a peek, that a bride and groom couldn’t meet before the wedding, she would’ve dashed out the front door to take in her fill of the sights.

  Bingtang burst out laughing all over again when she thought of how stunned the neighbors had looked just now. “The prince and Prince Consort Ji brought soldiers with them to deliver your gifts.

  “In the lead is your phoenix coronet and robes of rank. Sparkling rubies are embedded in the golden phoenix of the coronet, and they’re matched by the two litters of dazzling little gold fish right behind! Two more of red coral decorations follow it, and I didn’t see what else came after. But I’m sure they’re all treasures, and there’s 210 loads of them! The procession’s entered our front gates, but the tail is still two streets out!”

  Qin Yining dimpled despite herself as she imagined how the scene might look. She naturally understood Pang Xiao’s feelings for her, and she didn’t care for material wealth at all. But her beloved being willing to go to such lengths for their wedding still moved her greatly.

  The Qin fourth miss was touched, but the old dowager and others were utterly blinded by the economical prudence of the gifts.

  Qin Huaiyuan calmly watched two handsome, noble young men approach on the backs of tall and sturdy horses. The other young men that followed behind them were all clearly handpicked elites. The minister could sense the depth of Pang Xiao’s efforts, which made him very happy.

  Upon arriving, Pang Xiao jumped down from his horse and handed over the list of gifts with both hands.

  The Qin patriarch didn’t even look at it, giving the list to née Sun instead. He smiled as he greeted Ji Zeyu. “This old man is truly grateful beyond words that Prince Consort Ji is willing to come help.”

  Knowing that today was Pang Xiao fetching his bride, though Ji Zeyu didn’t like Qin Huaiyuan, he still put on a courteous demeanor and returned the gesture politely. He even responded genteelly, a first for the prince consort.

  “No need to stand on ceremony, Minister Qin. I am good friends with His Highness, so I naturally had to come help.”

  The friendly reply startled Qin Huaiyuan, but understanding dawned after he watched how the two young men interacted with each other.

  He turned back to instruct the Qin family servants to show good hospitality to the Pang servants for the betrothal gifts and the fine soldiers accompanying the retinue. Inviting Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu inside for tea, he also formally gave approval of the wedding on the morrow.

  The atmosphere within the house was very congenial.

  Back out in the yard, the variety of gifts utterly bedazzled the old dowager.

  “Aiyo, aiyo, oh my heavens, what an enormous sum! All of o
ur family valuables combined weren’t worth even one of the litters of gold fish, even back before we were robbed! This is just, simply too ceremonious, much too valuable! With this money, our family will have proper footing!”

  The old dowager’s hand shook as she grasped the list of gifts, but née Sun was highly displeased by the show of avarice. She whispered, “These gifts need to be transported back to the prince’s manor tomorrow, along with daughter Yi’s dowry. As rich as they are, we need to return them.”

  “Return them?!” demanded the old dowager shrilly. “Do we return them on your say-so? Are you the matriarch or am I?? I say no!”

  Née Sun didn’t fight with her mother-in-law. “I’m marrying off my daughter, not selling her. We can’t keep any of these betrothal gifts. If it was you, Old Dowager, would you want the in-laws to think that we’re a greedy, grasping sort?”

  There was no possible response to that, save for the old dowager flushing crimson with anger.

  Within the house, Pang Xiao had finished discussing the particulars of tomorrow’s wedding with Qin Huaiyuan.

  Since the Qin patriarch had already allowed the wedding, he was naturally the picture of cooperation. Everything was to be conducted based on convenience for Pang Xiao.

  When his future son-in-law nervously brought up the tests at the door, Qin Huaiyuan could finally no longer refrain from smiling. “Don’t worry, daughter Yi’s cousins all know the limits of appropriateness. I’ll make sure of if.”

  Pang Xiao could finally breathe a long sigh of relief and nod smilingly. Though he would formally welcome his bride across the threshold tomorrow, he still felt time was passing by simply too slowly.

  The magnificent procession came, and the magnificent procession departed. Heaps of betrothal gifts filled the Qins’ front and rear yards; when they ran out of space even there, they resorted to piling the presents outside the manor walls and hiring guards to supervise them.

  Qin Yining’s chance for a peek finally came around when Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu left. She too fell silent when she saw the two litters of gold fish beneath the covered hallway.