Return of the Swallow c1-644

by Edited by Deyna up to chapter ~100.

  “What’s there to think over? This prince is the best candidate.” Jubilation seized Zhou Meng’s heart. Qin Yining’s response meant that she had already come to terms with the situation! But when he saw the beauty’s brows knit, a sliver of pity for the fairer sex finally crept into his heart.

  “Alright, alright, this prince won’t force you to agree immediately. However, you’d better not spend years thinking it over. I won’t wait that long. How about this: I’ll disband the imperial harem and make you my only consort. In return, you will give me a reply tomorrow morning. If you still haven’t thought it over by then, then I’ll order an attack on your tribe. You don’t want your people to die because of you, right?”

  Qin Yining faced Zhou Meng with a slight smile, but a cold, mocking look filled her eyes. “Be at ease, Your Grace.” This prince really deserves to die!

  The farce of a banquet had been tidied away at some point. Zhou Meng swept out of the room with swaggering grace, taking his guards with him and leaving Qin Yining’s group of four alone in the grand hall.

  Qin Yining remained where she was, her mind spinning as she analyzed the situation. She wanted to take advantage of this time to figure out a feasible solution, but though she turned over everything in her brains until dawn, she still couldn’t think of a better countermeasure apart from agreeing to Zhou Meng’s demands.

  Thus, the only possible way forward was to agree. However, how could she ever marry another man?

  She stood up and stretched her limbs, stiff and tired after remaining in the same position all night. Behind her, Uncle Alham asked anxiously, “How about we run away? I’ll make sure you can escape safely!”

  She shook her head, “I can’t flee and drag the innocent tribespeople into this. Besides, it’s not really all that bad marrying this prince.”

  “Absolutely not! Just look at how calculating and brutal he is, he’s not a good man at all!” After so much time together, Uncle Alham had truly accepted Qin Yining as his chief and even more so, his own family. How could he possibly watch such a delicate girl be married to someone as vile as Zhou Meng?

  “Uncle Alham, we have no choice right now. If hostilities break out, the Minuo will absolutely suffer the worst of it. Think of how difficult it was for us to get here and how much energy it took to preserve the tribe. We can’t let it all go to waste.”

  “But you…”

  “I’ll be fine.” Qin Yining gave a slight smile, “Doesn’t he want to marry me? Then he can marry me.”

  In any case, she’d already decided she wouldn’t yield to another man. If worst came to worst, she’d just go down with Zhou Meng! Even if she died, the Minuo would still continue to prosper in Xiyue territory. She wouldn’t have let them down.

  Qin Yining was resolved to die.

  In fact, she’d been prepared to risk her life long ago. She’d given up struggling against life the very moment they entered the no man’s land. Since then, she considered every day alive to be another day snatched from the hands of fate.

  Although she could never see Pang Xiao, her parents, or her family ever again, Pang Xiao would surely take care of her parents even if she passed away. Furthermore, he was still young. Surely, with sufficient time, he would slowly forget about her. Perhaps in the future, he would come across a good girl and they could live together, birth and rear children...

  When she thought of this, her nose twinged and eyes stung, tears rushing to the fore. She bit firmly down on her bottom lip and screwed her eyes shut, struggling to hold back the floodwaters.

  No one had forced her to do anything in all of the events preceding this. Her own decisions had led her to this point. She didn't blame anyone for her circumstances, nor did she regret anything. Being Pang Xiao’s wife brought her great happiness, even if only just for a little while. Her life hadn’t passed by ordinarily and she’d lived it with purpose. From start to finish, she had never betrayed her own conscience.

  Uncle Alham stood behind Qin Yining, watching her put up a brave front. His hands were clenched with enough force to crush bone. No one present was an idiot. They all understood that right now, in the current situation, Qin Yining marrying Zhou Meng was indeed the best choice. But how could he simply watch such a heroic girl sacrifice her life for the Minuo? How could he remain unmoved?

  “If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve forced your aunt to take you away.” Uncle Alham thought of Cao Yuqing, possessing beauty was on par with Qin Yining and also incredible martial arts skills. He sighed, “Why did we just listen to you?!”

  Qin Yining had made up her mind. She wouldn’t waver no matter how much pain and anguish wracked her heart, and would regret her actions even less so.

  She realized how Uncle Alham was blaming himself and tried to console him. “Uncle, don’t think too much. Everything I did was after careful thought and planning. I choose to do this, it doesn’t have anything to do with anyone else.”

  Uncle Alham’s lips pursed tightly. The calmer Qin Yining acted, the more his heart hurt.

  A creak sounded at this time as the large wooden doors to the hall were pushed open. Zhou Meng led his group in, lifting his chin up arrogantly. “So, have you finished your thinking?”

  Qin Yining nodded with a smile. “I agree, but Your Grace must promise me an official, legitimate wedding and a guarantee that my people will have equal status with the Xiyue in the future. They can’t be discriminated against. Furthermore, my tribe should have their own chief and listen to his orders, just as before. My people will not surrender and pledge fealty to Xiyue. We are just friendly, neighboring tribes.”

  Uncle Alham’s eyes rimmed with red, struggling to hold back his tears as he listened to how Qin Yining continued to fight for the Minuo’s best interests even now.

  Zhou Meng frowned and contemplated briefly before smiling, seeming to have figured something out.

  “Alright, I do promise you. Then we’ll hold our wedding this afternoon and I’ll publicly declare our agreement then. After our bridal night, your people may live according to your demands.”

  Qin Yining had a slight smile as she nodded, but her eyes were cold as ice. Zhou Meng couldn’t be permitted to live. She believed that with Lu Heng’s strength, as long as the man in front of her died, he would be able to lead the Minuo to wrest control of this area!

  Chapter 543.1: Dashing Grace (II)

  Excitement exploded in Zhou Meng’s heart. The glee and delight seizing it were beyond what words could describe. It took all of his willpower to keep himself from immediately advancing upon Qin Yining and claiming what was now rightfully his.

  There was no rush, no rush at all. She would be his tonight!!

  “Go and tell all of the princess consorts to get out of the palace, now!”

  Now that he’d achieved his goal, he reverted back to currying favour with everything he had. After giving orders to his attendants, he turned back to look at Qin Yining with a face full of love. “From here on, you will be my only princess consort. I don’t need any other woman!”

  Qin Yining sneered inwardly. These women that he’d just thrown away like useless rags had kept him company for many years and borne him children. The fourth princess consort in particular had just given birth to a little princess. Was she to be driven away before she even recovered? Those wives of Zhou Meng were truly pitiful!

  “Your Grace.” Qin Yining lowered her head and responded bashfully. “I made that demand before only because I wanted to test the depths of Your Grace’s affections. I now see that Your Grace is truly devoted to me. I don’t actually mind having other sisters around, so Your Grace mustn’t drive them away. Otherwise, I won’t even have anyone to talk to in the palace.”

  Startled, Zhou Meng blinked before breaking out in chuckles, the look in his eyes turning even more gentle as he looked at Qin Yining.

  “Miss Pang is truly knowledgeable and knows how to consider the bigger picture. However, I cannot renege on a promise given. I said I would disba
nd the harem for you, so I will disband the harem for you.” With a wave of his hand, his servants accepted the order and were about to move out.

  Qin Yining hastily objected, “Your Grace, please do not do so. Since I’ve agreed to marry you, that means I accept everything of yours, including your family. They are all women who have made your family fruitful and have accomplished the great deed of producing heirs.

  “If the people hear of Your Grace’s actions, there will surely be someone who doesn’t understand Your Grace’s sentiments and spreads vile rumours. Wouldn’t I then be Consorts Daji and Bao Si of old, the women who caused the downfall of their nations? Your Grace, please retract your order.” She bent her knee with her request.

  How could Zhou Meng possibly be willing to let her curtsey? Hands outstretched, he hastily helped her up.

  Qin Yining avoided him out of modesty and lowered her head, shyly taking a step back. “Could Your Grace please grant my request?”

  Zhou Meng looked down on Qin Yining’s raven hair, the adoration in his heart growing stronger. He held back a smile and ‘reluctantly’ acceded. “Alright then, I shall grant it. However, I don’t know your name even now. We’re about to be married—it can’t be that you’ll only tell me when we enter the bridal chambers, right?”

  Qin Yining’s voice was soft. “Your Grace, don’t say that. My name is Little Creek, a reference to babbling brooks and bubbling streams.”

  Her foster mother had found her by the creek when she was young, so Little Creek had become her name. Qin Yining didn’t want to use her real name at all, so she casually tossed out her childhood nickname.

  “Little Creek? Little Creek…” Zhou Meng rolled over Qin Yining’s name on his tongue and felt that such a tastefully chosen name truly suited her. “As beautiful and gentle as water. Your name is truly as lovely and soft as you yourself.”

  Qin Yining was close to throwing up from disgust. She kept her head ‘shyly’ lowered so that Zhou Meng couldn’t see her true feelings.

  A complicated expression floated onto Uncle Alham’s face as he watched the two of them talk. His fists were tightly clenched and he itched to charge up and kill the perverted Zhou Meng once and for all.

  However, he also worried that if he killed Zhou Meng, the four of them here would be immediately executed. The rest of the tribe back at camp would also have to face the Xiyue army and the people’s looting.

  Qin Yining was sacrificing so much for the Minuo. How could he let a moment of impulse destroy all of that?

  But he also couldn’t stand it if he did nothing at all. His conscience would never allow such a pure girl to serve a bastard like Zhou Meng!

  A group of maids walked in bearing brand new wedding robes and jewelry.

  “Your Grace, we need to help Miss Pang change. Your Grace should also get ready as well.”

  Seeing that the hour was growing late and preparations for the wedding already underway, it put Zhou Meng in an even better mood knowing that he would soon be holding the beauty in his arms. He was especially lenient towards the maids, nodding with a smile before heading off to his own arrangements.

  Qin Yining gave Uncle Alham a meaningful look before turning to the newly-arrived maids, “You are dismissed. I have my own people here.”

  “Yes.” The maids didn’t dare to object and immediately curtsied before departing.

  When they all left the hall, Qin Yining swiftly turned Uncle Alham. “The ceremony will begin soon. Now’s the chance for you to quietly slip off with Surnaa and Ulan to return to the tribe.”

  Uncle Alham grew worried, “What about you?!” His voice was overly loud in his anxiety.

  Chapter 543.2: Dashing Grace (II)

  Qin Yining hastily put a slender finger to her lips, signalling for him to hush before continuing in a whisper. “From here on out, you and Lu Heng will work together and think of a way to protect the tribe. Forget about me here.”

  “You…” Uncle Alham wasn’t dumb and guessed her intentions with just a glance. He immediately shook his head. “No, no, you can’t do this.”

  “We don’t have any other choice right now.” Qin Yining said calmly, “When I do things, I always seek the path with the greatest benefits for the lowest price. Just do as I say and don’t make things difficult for me.”

  Seeing the firm, decisive look on Qin Yining’s face, the words that Uncle Alham had prepared to change her mind were suddenly stuck in his throat. He knew her words rang true: there was no better way to resolve the situation at hand. He too couldn’t bear to see the innocent tribespeople lose away their lives because of this.

  Uncle Alham shook his head, filled with self-loathing. In the end, he too was selfish. He would rather have Qin Yining, an outsider, sacrifice herself than most of the tribe. The guilt in his heart was like an ever-expanding pool of water, threatening to drown him whole.

  Seeing that the elderly man still refused to move, Qin Yining changed tack.

  “Didn’t you say before that whoever kills Anari would become the new Minuo chief? Lu Heng and I are your chiefs—are you disobeying your chief’s orders?” This was the first time ever that she’d used her position to demand obedience. But even still, she was doing so to ensure the Minuo’s survival, instead of her own gain.

  Tears welled up in Uncle Alham’s eyes as he clenched his teeth with a nod. “Yes, Chief. No matter what happens, we’ll never forget you. You’ll always be our chief.”

  Qin Yining smiled when she saw him finally nod. “Alright, remember your words. When you go back, you should also tell Lu Heng what I said.”

  After saying that, she called Surnaa and Ulan to help her dress.

  The wedding robes prepared were bright-red formal robes of fine cotton. The style didn’t differ too much from Great Yan or Great Zhou, but the embroidery on it was very simple. It looked like something scrounged up at the last minute, as there wasn’t even time to rush a job through. In contrast, the jewelry was pure gold and precious gems. Though the craftsmanship was a little rough, the totem motif added a clear Xiyue touch to it.

  Qin Yining coiled her hair into a bun and chose only the golden phoenix pendant to top off her hairstyle. She abstained from the rest, then turned to a small mirror to do her makeup. If nothing unexpected happened, this would possibly be the last time she’d ever work on her appearance in this life. Even if she were to die, she would do so with dignity.

  She looked at her blurry reflection in the mirror and realized that she had really lost a lot of weight from her illness. Her eyes looked even bigger than before due to her gaunt appearance, and her complexion was terrible.

  She put on makeup, shading in her slender brows and dabbing on a little rouge on her lips before finally making her face a more presentable shade.

  Although Surnaa and Ulan didn’t understand what the topic of conversation had been about earlier, the sorrow and decisiveness that revealed itself from time to time in Qin Yining’s eyes as she drew her brows gave them an foreboding feeling. They both felt terrible.

  At this time, gates set in the palace’s mud walls slowly creaked open. A group of palace servants walked out, swiftly decorating the palace gates and setting up a platform in the plaza in front of the structure.

  Passersby who didn’t understand what was happening approached with curiosity. Servants brimming with excitement answered, “Our prince is about to marry the goddess!”

  “Really? Really?!” Joy and delight crossed their faces. The sacred texts of their tribe denoted that a goddess would come bringing large quantities of grain and seeds, and become their princess consort.

  That the goddess had agreed to marry their prince meant that he really was Xiyue’s true prince, and that the supplies would be theirs!

  The news spread like wildfire. Shortly thereafter, a large and lively crowd assembled in the main plaza.

  Back at camp, the Minuo were still surrounded by soldiers. When the surrounding commoners gathered up their friends and left, puzzlement descended u
pon the tribue.

  Lu Heng frowned worriedly, a bad premonition striking him. The Xiyue people were treating something with grave importance and everyone was so delighted that it looked like New Year celebrations had arrived early. That meant something wonderful for them was about to happen.

  What did the Xiyue lack here if not for grain and seeds? Were the people happy because they thought they were going to be receiving grain? What would make them think so?

  It was hard for Lu Heng not to connect it with the prophecy of Xiyue’s sacred texts. With that thought, all blood suddenly drained from his face.

  “Don’t tell me…” Qin Yining’s agreed to marry Zhou Meng?!

  Lu Heng swiftly analyzed the current situation and Zhou Meng’s character, instantly guessing that Xiyue prince had used the Minuo to threaten her.

  Qin Yining was both intelligent and kindhearted. She would never let others die for her sake. That meant the only outcome was that she had agreed for the tribe’s sake.

  Were these people all going to attend the ceremony?

  Lu Heng’s head spun with thoughts, already having a handle on the approximate situation. He forced down his fury and worry before turning to face the Xiyue soldiers with a smile. “I see a lot of people are happily going somewhere. Are we celebrating some sort of holiday today?”

  Chapter 544.1: Dashing Grace (III)

  The general leading the soldiers noted Lu Heng’s clearly well-read and scholarly appearance. Furthermore, he was the cousin of their future princess consort, so the general didn’t dare to slight him. He answered with a smile, “There’s no holiday today, so I guess something good must’ve happened.”

  Something good? What else could that ‘something good’ be?

  Although Lu Heng felt like his heart was on fire, he only displayed a look of delight on his face. “Can it be that my cousin and the prince are really getting married?”