Lu Heng, Uncle Alham and the rest had come out by now, and general delight and worry spread when they saw that Qin Yining really had been returned to them.
Lu Heng asked eagerly after Zhou Meng’s carriage left, “Are you alright? Did they bully you?”
Qin Yining heaved a long sigh before speaking. “Something did happen, but it doesn’t really matter.” She turned to introduce Biyu and Xinyu to Lu Heng, explaining their situation before concluding, “I hadn’t thought that Biyu would be dragged down by me and hurt her head like that.”
Lu Heng was also worried about her. “Good thing you were clever and used that to come back to us.”
Chapter 539.1: Asking For Her Hand (II)
Qin Yining nodded and didn’t give an immediate response. “Let’s have the tribe show them where to rest. Biyu’s injured, so please tell them to cook some porridge and take care of her well.”
Lu Heng understood and called two female tribesmen over, telling them to take Biyu and Xinyu elsewhere to rest. When there were no further outsiders, he asked, "Are you worried they're spies?"
"Although we aren't familiar with each other, Biyu did end up getting hurt because of me. If I can help them a little, I might as well. But, that doesn’t mean we should lower our guard either. The amount of provisions we have here is simply too eye catching, and I’m worried the Xiyue prince will grow impatient and start a fight over the supplies. It will come to unnecessary losses then.”
"It’s as you say." Lu Heng inspected their surroundings in passing as he walked around the camp with Qin Yining.
“We must prepare for everything though. Although that prince isn’t very shrewd, a person like him is also unpredictable and can do preposterous things.” She narrowed her eyes involuntarily and stuck her hands beneath her armpits when the frosty night winds came howling at them.
“You’re right. We can’t use logic to understand his way of thinking, so we have to be even more cautious,” Lu Heng continued, “The tribe has relaxed greatly and recovered since arriving here, so general health is much better now. The Minuo is a feisty people to begin with, and we have many skilled with the bow and cavalry.
“They were persecuted and suffered under Anari’s rule, causing even the womenfolk to bear an undying will unafraid of death. Compared to the unblooded children in the oasis who have never seen battle, our numbers and fighting strength mean that we won’t necessarily be at a disadvantage if it comes down to battle.”
“But both sides will suffer casualties if a fight breaks out.” Qin Yining frowned. “I’m not afraid of a battle, but I also don’t want needless injuries and fatalities. We only live once, and we can’t disregard other people's lives when we make our decisions.
“Back home, Pang Zhixi often said that everyone is born equal and that no one’s life is more precious than anyone else's. That’s why, when soldiers and generals die in the battlefield, that is a fulfillment of their duties. However, to drag the common people into war is absolutely a cruel act of heartless brutality. Most of the Minuo with us aren’t soldiers, and I don’t want them to throw their lives away because of us.”
A faint sourness couldn’t help but emerge in Lu Heng’s heart whenever he heard the pride and softness that unconsciously appeared in Qin Yining’s tones upon mentioning Pang Xiao. However, he was now capable of ignoring these moments of frustration and jealousy, instead focusing on analyzing the connotations of Qin Yining’s words. In fact, he was gaining a new level of understanding of the prince through their conversations.
“I didn’t know the prince was such a compassionate man. It looks like the rumors aren’t true at all.”
“Of course you can’t trust everything the rumors say,” chuckled Qin Yining. “The gossip mill churned out quite a few disgusting rumors about me in the past.”
Lu Heng involuntarily chuckled at that. “Nothing else matters so long as one has a clear conscience about their actions.”
“Yes, especially in our current situation.” Qin Yining tilted her head toward the sky. There wasn’t a single star in the night sky tonight; it was like a pitch black curtain had drawn across the cosmos. From the heavy overcast clouds, it seemed that a great snowfall would soon be upon them.
Lu Heng also looked up at the sky with her, remaining silent for a long time. “I’ve secretly arranged for the tribe to carry a portion of provisions with them at all times and prepared an adequate store of water. If something unexpected happens, we can take as much of the supplies with us as we can. We might have to stick with horseback and leave the wagons, but it still won’t be as bad as starving.”
“Mm, I was thinking of doing that too. Good thing that you’re here and already thought of it.” Qin Yining stopped walking and flashed a grin. “But don’t worry, I won’t allow a situation like that to happen.”
Lu Heng naturally knew of the princess consort’s stubborn temperament. Once she decided something was her responsibility, she would grit her teeth and persevere until the very end.
But the Minuo tribe wasn’t her responsibility to begin with. He didn’t want her to haul such a heavy burden onto her shoulders.
“Ah well, let’s just rest well tonight.” Qin Yining smiled, “Now that I’ve returned, I can finally sleep peacefully, surrounded by our people.”
Lu Heng bobbed his head up and down, knowing she was still ill and certainly exhausted after that bout in the palace earlier. “Let’s go, I’ll escort you to your room.”
He gave his warm mudbrick house to Qin Yining and went to bunk up with Caganhbara and Harbhara. The other tribesmen had just set up tents like they’d done countless times while fleeing through the desert. They took turns keeping guard, not daring to relax in the slightest.
Reassured, Qin Yining entered the land of dreams.
Perhaps due to her fragile condition, she fell into a deep sleep. The tribesmen all knew the state of her health, so nobody came to awaken her when the sun rose the next day. Everyone tacitly agreed to refrain from disturbing her rest. But just after noon, the guards on duty came back to Uncle Alham with a worrying report.
“There’s a group of people outside, and they seem to be led by that fellow who escorted the chief back yesterday.”
Alarmed, Uncle Alham ran in search of Lu Heng, not daring to tarry.
Lu Heng hummed with contemplation, swiftly turning over several possibilities in his mind but immediately headed out to welcome them. He cupped his hands in greeting when he saw the prince draped in a black cotton overcoat.
“So it’s Your Grace! Please pardon me for not waiting outside to welcome you.”
Zhou Meng lifted his chin arrogantly, indicating that Lu Heng could dispense with the courtesies. “This prince has come, but why haven’t Miss Pang come out to greet me?”
Chapter 539.2: Asking For Her Hand (II)
Lu Heng spat inwardly—this shameless toad wants to eat swan’s meat! However, he kept a genteel smile on his face.
“My cousin hasn’t completely recovered, and with the fright she received yesterday, her illness has only worsened. She even ran a fever last night, so she’s been in a deep sleep all day. I hope Your Grace understands.”
The meaning behind his words was very clear: if it wasn’t for the harpies in your palace, Qin Yining’s illness wouldn't have gotten worse. Despite that, you still have the temerity to demand her presence?
Sure enough, the cocky expression on Zhou Meng’s face slipped away as awkwardness and worry colored his voice. “Then is she alright? Shall I summon the imperial physician to look in on her?”
“Many thanks to Your Grace, but we’ve already asked the physician to come. If you have any instructions, please tell me and I will pass them on.”
A frown crossed Zhou Men’s forehead. If the beauty’s odious cousin kept using this as an excuse, wouldn’t that mean he wouldn’t be able to see his beauty in the future?
However, he also wasn’t at leisure to debate this irksome man out in the open air.
“There will be a banquet tonight, thrown to celebrate the birth of my newborn daughter. I specifically came to invite Miss Pang to attend.”
“I’m afraid that might be difficult. The birth of a royal is certainly a momentous event, but my cousin is quite ill. It may be inauspicious if she attends.”
“Is that so? This prince hardly thinks so.” Zhou Meng narrowed his eyes dangerously at Lu Heng, his expression turning into a sneer. “Miss Pang is the goddess who brings us food, the goddess the Xiyue tribe reveres. My newborn daughter will be blessed with health and good fortune only if the goddess attends the banquet. Do all your obstinate and vehement refusals mean that you don’t trust this prince?”
So this fellow actually had some self awareness about him! Of course I don’t trust you!
Lu Heng sternly repressed his inner voice screaming curses and smiled faintly. “What could Your Grace be talking about? I am eternally grateful for your aid in sending the godly physician to my cousin’s side. How would I not trust Your Grace?”
“Hmpth! This prince won’t bother talking about such nonsense with you!” A threat laced Zhou Meng’s words. “You better prepare Miss Pang for the banquet tonight, or I will personally bring troops to fetch her!” With that, he stormed off with his entourage of guards.
Harbhara and Caganbhara hadn’t understood Zhou Meng’s words, but the man’s repugnantly smug attitude elicited their dissatisfaction.
“What do we do? Should we go or not?” Uncle Alham pulled Lu Heng off to the side.
“Of course we should go and take a look.” Qin Yining’s voice rang out behind them.
The group whirled around and saw the princess consort standing behind them, looking much healthier and dressed neatly with her loose hair twisted into a simple bun.
“When under someone else’s roof, we unfortunately must do as they say. I fear that his intentions are hardly to invite us to a banquet though,” Lu Heng fretted.
“I know.” Although Qin Yining hadn’t heard what Lu Heng and Zhou Meng had discussed earlier, it was more than clear what Zhou Meng wanted. “Even if we can avoid it for now, we can’t avoid it forever. It’s better just to see what he wants. As long as we’re prepared, we can respond with the initiative. However, everyone needs to reach into the depths of their courage.”
Emotionally speaking, Lu Heng didn’t want Qin Yining to take the risk. On a rational level, however, he knew she was right.
The Minuo viewed both of them as tribe chiefs and had spared no effort to rescue them from Khanbaliq, evading Siqin’s pursuit all this time. There was no earthly way that the two of them could abandon the tribe now.
Lu Heng couldn’t help but sigh.
Qin Yining took some medicine and rested for a little as she conversed with Lu Heng, Uncle Alham, Harbhara, and Caganbhara. Before long, the sky started to darken. While they conversed in Uncle Alham’s tent, a mix of jumbled footsteps grew outside, sounding almost like the continuous slap of the ocean waves.
Qin Yining was about to send someone to take stock of the situation when a panicked tribesman on guard duty rushed into the tent. His voice was anxious as he shouted, “Not good, not good! There’s a lot of people outside and our camp is completely surrounded!”
Lu Heng’s face changed when he heard the report, translating it for Qin Yining.
Her expression also turned grave and she stood up. “I’ll go take a look.”
“You shouldn’t, it’s too dangerous. It’s better if I go.” Lu Heng blocked Qin Yining from moving forward.
“Then let’s go together.”
Lu Heng stared at Qin Yining for a moment before nodding helplessly. “Alright, let’s go together.”
A light flurry of snow had fallen at dusk, highlighting their brightly lit camp in the dark of the night. The crowd of young soldiers surrounding their camp were all stone-faced as they stiffly stood in formation.
They gave way when they saw Qin Yining and Lu Heng emerge, revealing the appearance of Zhou Meng with his hands behind his back.
“Let’s be on our way, the banquet’s about to begin. I was worried that Miss Pang wouldn’t know the way there, so I came to escort you there.”
Qin Yining looked around and raised her brow with a sneer. “Is such an extravagant display necessary for bringing me to a banquet?”
“What’s so bad about an extravagant display?” Zhou Meng waved behind him.
Seeing the gesture, the general behind them unsheathed his sword with a ringing swing, campfire light glinting on his blade. The other soldiers also drew out staffs and swords, weapons gleaming as they threateningly stood at attention.
“I’m afraid such a display is hard for me to enjoy.” Qin Yining’s voice turned ominously sullen.
Chapter 540.1: Asking For Her Hand (III)
Qin Yining remained as coolly collected as ever, her bright eyes flashing with an icy look and narrowing with displeasure. Sharp as a sword coldly glinting in the desolate light of the moon, onlookers sucked in startled breaths, the hairs on the back of their necks raising.
Zhou Meng was equally shocked, but his heart surged not so much as with fear as with a fierce possessiveness. He’d come to a deep-seated realization the moment he’d laid eyes on this woman that he’d completely squandered his life thus far!
Though he possessed many women, they were all trite trollops who didn't hold a candle to this unyielding camellia of blazing beauty and talent.
Ten thousand of those run-of-the-mill wenches paled in comparison to the one before him. Like a prized possession or a good book, she enticed one to continuously caress and savor her. The more one understood her, the tighter infatuation gripped them. Every encounter left him with a maddening tingle aching for more.
This woman—he was determined to obtain her!
Zhou Meng stood with his hands clasped behind his back, displaying a dominance that he had never shown Qin Yining before. "The banquet will begin shortly. Miss Pang will walk with this prince now."
The surrounding soldiers raised their weapons in silent exhortation, their frosty glint directed at the grim Minuo tribesmen.
Qin Yining didn’t stand down in the slightest, fixing the eyes of a hungry tiger on Zhou Meng. "To see someone invite guests in such a manner is a first for me," she chuckled sardonically.
This prince didn’t seem like he was holding a dinner party in celebration of new life; rather, it appeared as if he were declaring war.
"The prince was speaking pleasantly just this afternoon," Lu Heng chimed in. "Why the sudden change in demeanor? I’d thought the prince to be an enthusiastic and considerate individual whom I sincerely wished to befriend, so I find myself rather disappointed by current circumstances."
Zhou Meng felt quite unsettled by this.
At first, he’d treated Qin Yining with gentle regard because he wished to win the beauty over, and since he’d arranged for her care in the palace, there was no escaping from him.
But look at how things were going now! A few of those foolish harlots had bullied the beauty and she’d taken that as an opportunity to leave the palace. He’d regretted her departure the moment he granted it—what if these people fled in the middle of the night?
If something like that really happened, wouldn’t that mean he’d have lost the provisions and the pretty lady? If that were the case, he might as well have struck first to gain the upper hand. The rest could wait after he had her!
"There’s no need for disappointment. I brought so many men with me so as to not neglect Miss Pang. Even if all of you attend the banquet, my own soldiers will stand guard over your camp, so there’s no need for excessive concern." Zhou Meng's brows scrunched together. "Or might it be that you don’t trust me?"
"Of course not," replied Lu Heng. "If we didn’t trust the prince, we would have taken our leave a long time ago. Why would we have befriended the prince with such sincerity instead?"
Zhou Meng gave a cold laugh—taken their leave? He quite wanted to see if anyone could leave
this no-man's land alive! If the Xiyue couldn't escape the vast desert after a century of trying, it was impossible for these people to do that!
Qin Yining studied the prince's expression. Combined with how he had the Minuo surrounded by his soldiers today, she had a good sense of what he was thinking. The situation was developing in a direction she least wished to see, and it was her mistake for provoking this pervert's predatory side.
Seeing Qin Yining's brows slightly knitted together with a worried look in her eyes, Lu Heng was beside himself with anxiety and wished even less for her to attend this red wedding of ulterior motives.
Before he could respond, however, Qin Yining beat him to it. "Didn’t you say there is to be a banquet? Let us go." She called for Uncle Alham, Surnaa, and Ulan. "I am allowed to bring servants and maids with me to the banquet, correct?"
Since he was forcing a young lady at swordpoint to attend a banquet in public view, Zhou Meng felt it would further reflect badly upon him if he didn't even permit her to bring a guard and two maids.
"Naturally, yes," he replied in a magnanimous manner. "There is no request Miss Pang can make that would be inappropriate." The favor in his voice made it seem like Qin Yining was a one-of-a-kind treasure.
Regardless of how the others perceived them, Lu Heng, Uncle Alham and everyone else who understood what Zhou Meng said rolled their eyes in contempt.
Lu Heng helped Qin Yining put on her hat.
"You must be careful," he murmured. Though he dearly wished to accompany her, that would leave the Minuo leaderless like a pile of loose sand without anyone to come up with a plan, should anything happen.
Qin Yining dimpled. "Worry not, things will be fine. I will make ensuring my safety a priority."
"So you say, but who doesn't know how obstinate you are?" Lu Heng sighed. So obstinate that she was willing to throw her life away! She was so unyielding, yet his heart ached for her all the same.
Qin Yining smiled in a comforting manner, then called Uncle Alham, Surnaa and Ulan to walk with her to Zhou Meng.
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