Qin Yining buried her face in Pang Xiao’s chest, exposing only the tips of her red ears. Her voice was muffled, “Utter nonsense, who taught you to say such things?”
Noticing that Qin Yining was truly in a fit of shyness, Pang Xiao didn’t continue his line of flustering proclamations. He helped her change, put on her socks and shoes, and even combed through her hair with his rough, clumsy hands. Although his handiwork wasn’t that skilled and in fact hurt her scalp from all the tugging, the finished bun was quite pretty.
He finished off his attentions with the black mink overcoat and carefully sorted out her collar before smiling, “My darling is truly beautiful,” and landed a loud kiss on her cheek.
Qin Yining’s face flushed beet red, a shade even brighter than her rouge. She couldn’t bring herself to look straight at Pang Xiao, just ducked her head and obediently followed him out the tent.
Huzi and the rest of the Elite Tigers were already ready. When they saw Pang Xiao and Qin Yining emerge, they led their horses into formation and stood at attention, arranging in orderly rows.
When everyone had tidied up their belongings, Pang Xiao shouted, “We ride!”
“Understood!” With that order, the group mounted their horses and rushed to Skyzone Pass, the northernmost gate between Tatar and Great Zhou territory.
Great Zhou’s northern border was guarded by four citadels: Skyzone Pass, Skywolf Pass, Skyaxis Pass, and Skygates Pass. Amongst them, the closest to the front lines was Skyzone Pass. It was the same area that Ji Zeyu had once led the Dragon Riders to defend.
Although the Dragon Riders were still stationed here, their commander-in-chief had undergone quite a few changes. They were currently led by Kang Qiong, one of Li Qitian’s men, but he wasn’t getting along with his new captains and lieutenants.
Ever since the Faithful Prince of the First Rank committed treason, things at court were as if hot oil had been ladled into hot water. Everything was in complete chaos, and since Li Qitian knew that Pang Xiao brought his estate guards to Tatar, he arranged for a trusted general to take a hundred men to Skyzone Pass so that Pang Xiao could be arrested on sight.
The official dispatched was called Yi Binghu, a twenty-nine year old fifth-rank General of Militant Loyalty. Although currently affiliated with the barracks of the Metropolitan Region, he had a connection to the Valiant Tigers.
As was common knowledge, Pang Xiao’s Valiant Tigers was a hundred thousand man cavalry who had all undergone stringent selection and training. Even if they entered the troop, it wasn’t a guarantee they would forever stay. Examinations were conducted every once in a while to determine who continued to make the cut.
Yi Binghu had once been a member of the Valiant Tigers but had only stayed for a month before failing to pass the examination. He’d to bribe the overseeing officer, but had been caught by a passing Pang Xiao and was thoroughly reprimanded in front of the men.
Yi Binghu’s clan hailed from Northern Ji and had produced many government officials. Since young, he’d always thought of himself as a noble son of the heavens, so being publicly humiliated by Pang Xiao had resulted in a strong grudge.
After being expelled for a string of minor offenses resulting from his scheming and plotting, he’d employed his family’s connections to snag a position in the capital’s barracks. However, resentment seethed toward the prince afterwards.
Li Qitian knew about their history, which was why he’d arranged for Yi Binghu to guard Skyzone Pass in case Pang Xiao really returned. It wasn’t just Yi Binghu either—the hundred men he led were all soldiers who’d been expelled from the Valiant Tigers.
The emperor was making use of their resentment and giving them a chance for revenge. This way, he didn’t need to worry about his men helping Pang Xiao or making things easy for the prince.
Chapter 555.1: Bastard
Qin Yining rode alongside Pang Xiao. Their group had just reached the city gates when the doors slowly creaked open. A hundred soldiers flooded out of the citadel, assembling into formation on both sides. They unsheathed their swords, blades gleaming as they aimed their weapons at Pang Xiao.
A man more than forty years old quickly followed, clad in a suit of golden armor and mounted on a horse. A burly, middle-aged man followed behind him, the capital barracks’ armor he donned particularly eye-catching.
Pang Xiao grabbed the reins of his horse and Qin Yining’s with one hand, and toyed with his whip in the other. He raised a brow with a smile. “Not bad, you’ve prepared a great crowd to greet this prince. I am quite pleased.”
Yi Binghu’s face purpled from anger and he nearly fell off his chestnut horse. He urged his mount forward, rebuking, “Tch! How dare a treacherous bastard like you to babble nonsense here!”
Pang Xiao completely ignored his would-be captor and urged his horse forward with a grin, raising a cupped fist salute to Kang Qiong in greeting. “Grand Marshal Kang, long time no see.”
“Your Highness,” Kang Qiong hastily returned the gesture and smiled as well. “Your Highness must be weary from the journey, so please enter the city to rest and recover. This junior official has already ordered servants to prepare the best rooms for you to freshen up. Hot water and alcohol have all been readied, along with a welcoming banquet. All that awaits is Your Highness’ presence.”
“My thanks for Grand Marshal Kang’s arrangements.” Pang Xiao nodded, smiling as he led Qin Yining and his brothers into the city.
Seeing this, Yi Binghu blew up from rage. With a sharp kick to his horse’s sides, he charged up and blocked Pang Xiao’s path.
”Absolutely not! A traitor like you cannot enjoy such honored treatment! You should possess a bit of shame since you still know to return to your nation. You betrayed Great Zhou and now come back as a criminal! You should already be thankful that you aren’t in shackles, and now you even dare sit down at a welcoming banquet?” Yi Binghu unsheathed the sword at his waist with a ringing swing, pointing it straight at Pang Xiao. “Arrest this traitor on the orders of this general!”
Silence reigned.
Further silence echoed.
Whether it was Kang Qiong’s Dragon Riders or Yi Binghu’s men from the Metropolitan Region barracks, no one moved. Each of the Elite Tigers was expressionless, their eyes chilly as frost as they stared down at Yi Binghu, almost as if they were looking at a dead man. The hair on the back of Yi Binghu’s neck rose from fear.
A cold wind swept by, highlighting how ridiculous his readied stance was.
”Do something! Wei Erbao! Li Daniu! All of you!” Yi Binghu turned around, angrily pointing at his men.
Pang Xiao snorted as he urged his horse forward again, not minding Yi Binghu’s leveled sword in the slightest. He called out each of the soldiers’ names as he passed through the group of soldiers from the Metropolitan Region.
“Wei Erbao, did you gain weight again?”
“Li Daniu, stop laughing, look at that mouthful of blackened teeth you have! I told you a long time ago to cut back on the smoking!”
“Qian Dong, just look at yourself. Did Wei Erbao steal all your food again?”
“Tsk tsk, Wu Xiaogui, how come you still look like a skinny monkey?”
…...
Pang Xiao accurately called out the name of every person he passed and engaged in some teasing banter with each soldier. It was clear that even though these men had failed to remain in the Valiant Tigers, the prince still remembered every single one of them. He even clearly remembered their likes and personal circumstances.
When these people saw Pang Xiao, their eyes all lit up with admiration. There wasn’t the slightest trace of resentment or bitterness.
Li Daniu guffawed before covering his mouth in embarrassment. “Your Highness, it’s too hard to give up smoking. Wait ‘til I’m done training and try out for the Valiant Tigers again. If I make it, take me in please!”
His straightforward answer elicited laughter from the crowd.
Pang Xiao smiled. “That won’t d
o. The current commander of the Valiant Tigers is Ji Lan. I’ll chat with him later. If you’re good and manage to get his approval, I’ll have him accept you.”
“Ah! Your Highness, many thanks!” Li Daniu’s reply was loud and resounding.
The Ji Lan that His Highness mentioned was the son-in-law of the emperor, Ji Zeyu, and the former commander of the hundred thousand man Dragon Riders. He was a hero equally as famous as His Highness, and commanders with such prestige in this era could be counted on one hand. If he could earn Ji Lan’s approval, it would be just as well too!
Pang Xiao chatted amiably with everyone, fostering a casual and lively scene. Rather than Yi Binghu leading his men to intercept the traitor, it looked much more like a reunion between Pang Xiao and former members of the Valiant Tigers.
By now, Yi Binghu was in a complete daze. He looked at the men who were supposed to be arresting Pang Xiao, yet were talking to him with faces full of admiration and worship. They clearly didn’t have the slightest intent of arresting him, a realization that both worried and infuriated Yi Binghu.
Chapter 555.2: Bastard
“What are all of you thinking?! Have you already forgotten the favor that His Majesty has shown us!? You followed me out of the capital, so you should be listening to my orders! I am ordering all of you to arrest the Faithful Prince of First Rank and his consort right now and bring them back to the capital immediately!”
Yi Binghu was ready to tear his hair out from fury. In fact, his hair had puffed up so much that it looked like he already had, and his howls of outrage would be enough to cause an avalanche on the snowy peak far away.
However, none of the people closest to him were listening to him! Although he was here on imperial orders, it’s not like his own orders were an imperial edict. If no one was willing to listen to him, what could he do alone?
This was brought to light even more since Pang Xiao’s group was currently stabbing into him with the force of their glares. He was willing to bet that if Pang Xiao gave the order, his private soldiers and entourage would throw caution to the wind and charge him to go down in a fiery blaze of mutual destruction.
When his thoughts traveled here, a chill ran down Yi Binghu’s spine. He was still young and had his entire life ahead of him. He didn’t want to meaninglessly lose his life here!
Therefore, he didn’t dare continue shouting after receiving no response. He could only gnash his teeth and refrain from saying anything that might infuriate the other side.
Off to the side, Pang Xiao exchanged some more greetings with old acquaintances before turning to Yi Binghu. “You came with good timing. This prince is just about to return to the capital to see His Majesty, so you may escort me there. Open the gates.”
Escort?
Could they escort him in a prisoner’s carriage, please?
Yi Binghu clenched his jaw, able to speak only after a long moment. “If Your Highness wishes it so, how would we dare refuse?”
In any case, the closer they were to the capital, the more of the emperor’s men there would be on the roads, decreasing the chances of Pang Xiao’s group escaping. It would be much easier to complete his mission that way.
However, Kang Qiong offered a timely interjection, “Your Highness has arrived at Skyzone Pass after enormous difficulty, so you must at least share a drink with your brothers before leaving. Besides, the banquet’s already prepared. It would all be a waste if Your Highness passed it by? The brothers with Your Highness must also be in need of a few cups to warm up their bodies, and I’m sure Her Highness would like to rest as well.”
Yi Binghu clenched his teeth and glared at Kang Qiong, secretly finding him to be an incredible busybody. None of this had anything to do with him, so what was he sticking his nose into things for!
Scanning the strained look on Yi Binghu’s face and having enough of his nervous antics, Pang Xiao kindly let him off the hook. “If this is the case, how can I disappoint Grand Marshal Kang’s kind intentions?”
Hearing that, Kang Qiong smiled broadly. “Your Highness, this way, please!”
“Grand Marshal Kang, I’ll be in your care.”
Kang Qiong and Pang Xiao both dismounted, heading into the city together. Yi Binghu was left hanging on the side—out of sight and out of mind. As Pang Xiao and his men followed the defenders of Skyzone Pass into the city, Li Daniu and the rest by Kang Qiong watched with growing anxiety.
In fact, even if they entered the city, they didn’t possess the qualifications to feast with Pang Xiao. However, they completely worshipped the prince and seemed to believe they could partake in his aura if they followed him closely. When they saw Yi Binghu stay silent, impatience shifted their feet.
Yi Binghu could clearly sense just how great Pang Xiao’s prestige and popularity were in the army. It seemed like all of the soldiers in this border station revered him like a god, and the general’s earlier actions only served to make him look like a clown.
Embarrassment and anger flooded his mind as he once again cursed that old fox Kang Qiong for being such a bootlicker. He clearly knew how much his subordinates adored Pang Xiao and had seized the chance to invite the prince to a banquet. What a truly wily old fox!
Head spinning with thoughts, only when he saw the city gates about to close in front of him did Yi Binghu call out to those around him. “What are you guys staring for? Waiting for your precious prince to personally escort you in?”
Yi Binghu dug his heels into his horse’s stomach and sent it bolting forward. His subordinates looked at each other, lips curling in disdain as they followed their commander into the city.
Qin Yining was led to the rear wing of the manor, whereupon Kang Qiong’s wife, née Chen, showed her one of the best rooms.
“Your Highness must be very tired from the journey. The pass is bitterly cold and cannot compare to the capital, but we do have plenty of warm rooms. I hope Your Highness finds it to your liking.”
“Madame Chen is too courteous, this is already wonderful. There’s no need for Madame Chen to clear out the main room for me. His Highness and I are just here for a short stay and will soon leave for the capital, so there’s no need to go to all this trouble.”
Nèe Chen was rather happy to hear the princess consort refer to her as Madame Chen. Many people called a married woman by only her husband’s surname, but some with their own businesses or an exceedingly good reputation would still be called by their maiden names. By calling her Madame Chen, Qin Yining was treating her with utmost respect.
Nèe Chen looked at Qin Yining’s face again and thought about the princess consort’s social deftness. She truly is Wise Pan An’s daughter, someone far different from any other woman! It was no wonder that the prince was so enamored that he would continue to search for her, even in the face of defying 33 imperial edicts. He didn’t hesitate to bear the crime of treason in order to go deep into Tatar territory to search for her.
There was likely no woman beneath the skies who didn’t envy Qin Yining after hearing how devoted the God of War was toward his consort.
After meeting Qin Yining face-to-face today, nèe Chen understood. Sure enough, she was an outstanding woman. Otherwise, the hard-tempered steel that was the God of War wouldn’t have melted into soft glue in her hands.
The two shared a mutual admiration for each other and chatted merrily as they entered the main room together. Nèe Chen ordered for hot bathwater and servants to stand by the ready, carefully gave another onceover to the room’s charcoal, bedding, and so on, and only took her leave when she made sure all was in accordance.
Qin Yining soaked herself in the tub of hot water and closed her eyes, enjoying the rare moment of leisure. Looking back on everything now, it almost seemed like everything she’d gone through, being kidnapped by the Tatar and the painful experiences in the desert, was all just a dream.
center>
Return of the Swallow c1-644 Page 305