Return of the Swallow c1-644

by Edited by Deyna up to chapter ~100.

  According to Li Qitian’s investigations, the perpetrator had transported the treasure to a place in the old capital named Yang County. The general proximity was confirmed, but Pang Xiao would still have to track down exactly where it was being kept.

  Tidal waves of shock stirred in Qin Yining’s heart. The address she’d agreed upon with Azure Justice and the Silver Masks wasn’t located in Yang County!

  Could there be a mistake with Li Qitian’s findings?

  That was impossible. No matter how incompetent Li Qitian may be, he wouldn’t blunder when such a large fortune was at stake. In other words, it meant something had gone wrong with those she’d sent to intercept the treasure!

  Who was at fault, Azure Justice or the Silver Masks?

  Or had they worked together and conspired to betray her, splitting the treasure between them?

  Seeing the distressed look on Qin Yining’s face, Pan Xiao immediately murmured words of reassurance. “It’ll be alright. Don’t think too much of it.”

  Qin Yining stared at Pang Xiao, flabbergasted. “What exactly went wrong here?”

  Pang Xiao chuckled briefly. “Perhaps nothing. Or it may be that something suddenly happened, so they had no other choice but to send the treasure elsewhere. You should trust them instead of letting your imagination run wild and stress yourself out that way.”

  “Don’t console me.” Qin Yining laughed wryly and shook her head. “That’s impossible. The one at the top didn’t make any preparations apart from waiting to welcome the treasure. Why would he make any sudden moves? If it weren’t him, it’s even more unlikely for others to do anything else. Everything was conducted in secrecy. We were stuck in the mountains for over half a month. Either the person who leaked our intelligence was killed, or is one of his to begin with."

  How would Pang Xiao not understand the situation?

  But with Qin Yining this upset, he didn’t want to rub salt into her wounds.

  She herself had previously said not to completely trust Azure Justice completely. Though the Silver Masks were loyal, they were too few in number. It would be difficult for them to take control with such paltry numbers.

  The situation was moving into the direction they dreaded the most. How were they to remain unfazed?

  “My dear, don’t think so much. You’ve done enough already, and you handled it all better than most women would have. There’s no controlling the outcome of such matters, so you can’t blame yourself.”

  Qin Yining rubbed her forehead wearily and muttered, “I know, but the reason we’re in this situation is almost definitely because someone taking orders from me is a spy. Most unsettling of all is that I don’t know yet which faction they belong to. Your Elite Tigers would never betray us like this.”

  Pang Xiao felt his heart ache for her darling and drew her into his arms. “The fact that you were able to do so much has helped me immensely already,” he whispered. “Truly. The Elite Tigers have eyes on them everywhere. Were it not for you, we would be helpless to do anything but watch our enemy have his way. I may not have a rebellious mind, but I also have no desire to be a sitting duck. My dear, you’ve already helped me a great deal.”

  Qin Yining sat down and wrapped her arms around Pang Xiao’s toned waist, burying her face into his abdomen.

  There were times when she felt truly exhausted. However, she and Pang Xiao were irrevocably tied to each other now. As husband and wife, if one person retreated from fatigue, the resulting stress would be transferred to the other in equal measure.

  Under such dire circumstances, she couldn’t afford to relax her guard. She had no wish to cower behind Pang Xiao for protection; that would only make her his burden.

  She had to meet him in competence and strength in order to walk alongside him as his equal.

  “I’m fine.” An easy smile blossomed when she next stood up. “His Majesty wishes to track down the Yang County treasure, and we can’t not take action. We will need to carve out time to carry out his order. Furthermore, I want to see if I can’t get in touch with the Silver Masks and Azure Justice.”

  Pang Xiao bent down to kiss her forehead, smiling. “You’re absolutely right. We’ll do whatever you say. When I left, Sirs Xie and Xu were both very concerned. They wanted to come, but I had them stay because not having anyone I trust in the capital worried me even more. When they were the ones fretting, I told them I would have you by my side as my strategist. The way things are now, it would appear I made the right call.”

  That brought a smile to Qin Yining’s face. “You’re merely humoring me. I’m no strategist. I just have a few clever tricks up my sleeves.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short. If the average woman were as clever as you, they would easily rule an entire nation as empress, never mind running a household.”

  “Nonsense.” Qin Yining rebuked Pang Xiao with a light pinch.

  His wife finally in a better mood, Pang Xiao breathed more easily and laughed. “I’m going out to survey the city. After discussing with Sir Gong, I’ll start by visiting the neighboring district officials. I’ll parlay that into a visit to Yang County. We’ll leave no tracks this way and will give no one any reason for suspicion. Let sleeping dogs lie, as it were. I’ve arranged for my men to send word about the situation in the capital, so we should hear from them soon enough.”

  Chapter 448: Donation

  The new knowledge took Qin Yining aback. “You’ve set everything up already?”

  “Aye. When we set out, I worried that we might lose all contact with the outside world. We’d be left in the dark if that happened, and with our eyes blindfolded at the mercy of others. So I sent some men to father-in-law. He’s highly intelligent and knows when to send information to me. He’s in charge of scrounging up information that my men deliver, so that we always have insight into the most reliable information from the capital.”

  Qin Yining was floored. Hidden somewhere in this whole thing was her father’s signature. “When did you consult my father? I never knew!”

  “Truth be told, it was father-in-law’s idea to begin with. I didn’t think of it until he broached the topic. He really is something else, my dear. He’s meticulous, anticipates challenges, and makes plans as such. In all honesty, all of my strategists combined are no match for him.”

  Qin Yining could discern the genuine sincerity in Pang Xiao’s admiration. He wasn’t saying this on purpose to lull her into a happier mood.

  Qin Huaiyuan was a good father and deserving of the illustrious reputation of “Wise Pan An.” For Qin Yining, her father had always been a source of pride and the strongest shield at her back that enabled her to move onward.

  Take their trip for example. Her assurance was rooted in the knowledge that the Qins and the Pangs would fare just fine as long as her father was around.

  “I saw you met with father all the time before we set out.” Qin Yining grinned. “So it turns out the two of you put your heads together to come up with all of these arrangements and kept me in the dark. What a conspiracy!”

  “Nonsense. What conspiracy is there?” Pang Xiao’s own mood was much improved after putting his beloved in lighter spirits.

  They burned the secret message and discussed further in a low voice.

  Setting aside other business for the day, the couple partook a simple supper of watery porridge and called it an early night.

  This was their first real bed in a long while. Fatigued by the travel, Qin Yining was fast asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

  Given how hale and hearty he was, long journeys were a walk in the park to Pang Xiao, which was why he found himself bursting with energy still. But his wife was a warm ball of softness next to him, inspiring him to exercise extra caution when cradling her. There was simply no other room for indecent thoughts.

  It was a night of deep sleep and good dreams.

  Early next morning, Pang Xiao headed to the bailiff’s office to meet with Gong You and discuss official business at hand.


  “Although we can’t be sure when supplies from the emperor will arrive, what we can do now is to set up soup kitchens and hospital tents. People are dying of starvation every day—that can’t be allowed to continue. Otherwise, the departed would’ve died for nothing when imperial aid makes it here.”

  “Your Highness speaks truly.” Gong You nodded with agreement. “This humble official didn’t make any moves because I really had no idea where to begin. The amount of food in the storehouses will last only ten days on a diet of watery porridge. This doesn’t factor in the people who will rush here when they get wind of the help available.

  “We didn’t set up any soup kitchens because our investigations showed that every family had food in stock. Foraging for wild vegetables also helped tide things over for a while. We wanted to save the rice for truly dire times. That way, we could buy some time until aid arrived.”

  Pang Xiao nodded in approval. “That was the correct decision. You’ve done well. This isn’t the time to let people have their fill, but to make sure that a greater number can survive. All of our problems will be solved when relief arrives.”

  The prince finished his remarks by fishing out a stack of bank notes from his clothes. Prefect Gong stared at the notes in astonishment, his lips quivering. “Your Highness, what are these?”

  “Before we set out, the princess consort sold all of the valuables in her betrothal gifts and dowry, the farmland to her name, her ancestral home, and gathered revenue from her storefronts. Ah, this stack also includes the silver I’ve made from my battles over the years.

  “However, you know that I also commanded one hundred thousand Valiant Tigers. Plenty of silver was made, and plenty of silver spent. Not much was saved, sadly. These bank notes are one thousand tael apiece, fifty in total. That’s fifty thousand taels of silver.

  “Hurry and use these to relieve the food shortage. I trust that the silver will help more people live to see another day.”

  “Your Highness…” Gong You’s lips quivered. His eyes rapidly reddened and he almost burst into spontaneous tears.

  The seasoned consultant by the prefect’s side was already moved to tears, and the four yamen soldiers on-duty sniffled as well.

  All of them were natives and their families had suffered from the ravages of the earth dragon. A few were bereaved of relatives; while the lucky ones didn’t suffer any loss, they were barely keeping their heads above water.

  The fifty thousand taels of silver gifted by the prince could fund enough troops for a battle. However, transportation was currently almost impossible and food prices outrageously inflated. Even with this money, there was no food to be bought.

  But still, they hadn’t heard of any local wealthy houses generous enough to make a donation, let alone an official from the imperial court.

  They still thought of Pang Xiao as the great enemy responsible for the fall of Great Yan, the one who charged into their homes with his soldiers. Come to think of it now, how lucky it was to be the subjects of Great Zhou and thus on the receiving end of the prince’s sincere generosity.

  Pang Xiao was a general, and it was his job to slay enemies in battle. He had to go wherever His Majesty directed him to. He was a sharp sword wielded by the emperor’s behest.

  Was it really fair to hold this man personally accountable for all the evils of war, a man so magnanimous in his care for the people?

  “Such moral integrity and thoughtfulness for the people. Your Highness, you’re donating family property for disaster relief! This lowly official cannot lift my head in front of you!”

  “Pfft, none of that. In times of disaster, those with money should pitch in, and those of us with time and energy should roll up our sleeves. Sir Gong’s hair has already gone white out of worry. This prince arrived too late and this donation is the least I can do for the cause. We share the same goal, which is to help the people survive and live on. That alone gives me great peace.”

  “Your Highness… I see. This lowly official will most certainly inform His Majesty. We cannot allow the prince’s act of kindness to be overlooked.”

  Consultant Lu chimed in, “Those in the capital as well. We should let everyone know where the silver for food comes from.”

  Pang Xiao waved his hand repeatedly. “Please, His Majesty’s made all this possible. What this prince did was nothing, really.”

  Gong You and Consultant Lu understood. Pang Xiao didn’t covet credit for his contribution; he only aimed to do what was right, and wished that the people would receive what they sorely needed. If they went overboard in advertising Pang Xiao’s contribution, it might give those with ulterior motives the chance to accuse the prince of nursing treacherous intent by buying the people’s hearts.

  The two understood, and were deeply moved, but they played along and nodded.

  “Yes, this is all because of His Majesty.”

  Pang Xiao and Gong You went on to arrange the inspection order of the four major counties. However, would this be kept under wraps just because the prince wished it so?

  The four soldiers on-duty told their families as soon as they reached home.

  The families had friends, and those friends had their own circle of confidants. Each quiet whisper of “don’t tell anyone else, I’m telling only you this” swiftly spread the incident.

  Soup kitchens were erected and open for service the following day. Long lines of hungry people quickly formed, exchanging information among themselves that it was Faithful Prince of the First Rank who contributed to the purchase of food. The news spread like wildfire and soon became public knowledge.

  Chapter 449: Yang County

  Qin Yining wore a simple, pale-green cotton jacket with a black veiled hat, dressing herself like an average commoner. She stood by a street corner to observe from the shadows with Bingtang, Jiyun, Jingzhe and the three other Silver Masks.

  “Madame, ” Jingzhe asked quietly, “do we allow this to continue?”

  To keep their identities discreet while outside, they referred to Qin Yining as “madame”.

  Qin Yining nodded. “Yes, we can’t allow the prince’s name to always be raked through the mud. If he won’t claim the credit, we’ll do it for him.”

  “I only worry the emperor won’t stand for seeing yet another of His Highness’s achievements,” Dahan muttered. “He’ll get his knickers in a twist again.”

  Of the four Silver Masks with her, Dahan was the most experienced and skilled when it came to analyzing which way the winds were blowing.

  Tickled by his words, she laughed, “That one wishes to pull the wool over the people’s eyes and block their ears with foolish policies. The citizens would be difficult to control otherwise. Alas, if only he would stop to consider how simple it is to discern the fool from the wise and the genuine from the hypocrite?

  “Simply judge a person’s character by their actions, not their words. In a similar vein, all that’s needed to judge one in power is to see how well fed and dressed his people are.”

  With that, Qin Yining turned and led her retinue to the front of the yamen. “Right now, the people are constantly hungry without anywhere to call home,” she added under her breath. “While they live in a constant state of worry, a certain someone is still hung up over the whereabouts of that treasure...”

  Those were her truest thoughts. Even if she didn’t have the whole picture, she still had a general grasp of it.

  Xiaoman sighed, “That’s why there’s a saying that goes, ‘Prosper, and the people suffer; decline, and the people suffer still.’ It’s always the common folk who suffer most at times like this.”

  “Indeed.” The entire retinue muttered their assent, moods bleak.

  All of them had experienced hardships in their lives. Bingtang was the only one to be born with a silver spoon, but even her family had been persecuted by a tyrant. Left destitute and homeless, her story dropped from riches to rags, a noble girl demoted to maid.

  As for someone like Qin Yining, never granted th
e luxuries of a happy childhood, her circumstances required no further explaining.

  They were the best to understand and sympathize the most with the suffering of the people.

  More often than not, the common folk couldn’t care less about who governed them; their sole concern was whether they could feed and clothe themselves.

  All they asked was to live free from the turbulence of war.

  Alas, they lived in times of turmoil—catastrophe had struck Great Yan again and again, as if someone had cast a curse upon the lands. To have the most basic of needs fulfilled was even considered a luxury at times.

  With heavy hearts, the retinue returned to the yamen's front gates, where Pang Xiao and Gong You were readying horses for the group.

  The roads were severely damaged, with some mountain trails blocked off due to landslides. Thus, they would have to forgo carriages for traveling on horseback.

  “Your Highness, the way to Yang County will be strenuous. We may need to climb over piles of rocks. Will Her Highness be able to handle the strain?”

  Pang Xiao laughed, “She will be fine. She may look frail, but she’s just as tenacious as any of us men. An estate that was part of her dowry is also in Yang County, so she wants to visit it. If we can procure some provisions while we’re there, all the better, no?”

  Gong You smiled and nodded. “As expected of a woman befitting someone of His Highness’ stature. Speaking of which, Her Highness is from the Yan Dynasty, no?”

  Qin Yining had drawn close and grinned upon hearing this. “Indeed, Sir Gong. My father once served in the court of Great Yan as a minister, later as the Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and Marquis of Anping. After Great Yan fell from its inner rot, he pledged allegiance to His Majesty.”

  “Ah! I remember, I remember! Your father was Minister Qin, the Master Qin known as Wise Pan An, correct?”

  Qin Yining dimpled and nodded.

  “I see, so Her Highness is from a prestigious house. It’s no wonder your bearing is so unlike that of an average woman’s. That said, the silver from your dowry and ancestral home is also Minister Qin’s...”