Yelu Qianqian did not return to camp with Situ Haonan — it seemed deliberate. Before leaving, Situ Haonan, who had been silent the entire evening, specially turned to look back at her once, but she only glanced back without any intention of going with him.

Yelu Qianqian stayed by Ziqing’s side the whole time, returning with her to camp instead.

Deep in the quiet night, not only could Ziqing not sleep, but Yelu Qianqian couldn’t either. The two of them sat cross-legged on the fur-covered bed, chins propped in their hands, gazing at each other without a word.

In truth, it wasn’t only Situ Haonan who had been silent that night — Ziqing had been quiet too, having answered General Dugu with only a few words before falling silent for the rest of the evening.

Yingzi stood off to the side, arms crossed around his sword, equally silent.

There was no denying it — the atmosphere was thoroughly grim.

Finally, Yelu Qianqian spoke up quietly. “I’ll go talk to him again. Don’t worry, Ziqing — as long as he was willing to sit and eat with us, nothing too serious will come of this!”

“Exactly, exactly, Your Highness. From what I know of Young Master Situ, that’s just his temper — he’s not someone who can’t be reasoned with. People of the martial world see things more clearly than we do; once you’re out there living that life, you stop dwelling on life and death!”

Yingzi went on, “Your Highness, I’ll write up a secret report to send to the Prince right away. Don’t worry about it, and don’t bother with him anymore — let him go find the Prince himself!”

Ziqing nodded. That was exactly what she’d been thinking — the rest could be left to Jun Beiyue, since Situ Haonan was, after all, his brother.

From what she knew of Situ Haonan, once he’d vented all that fury, it seemed things would settle down.

Let him scold her, and she’d take it. Let him hurt her, and she’d take that too. Whatever needed explaining, she’d already explained.

What remained now was simply a matter of time — she only hoped Situ Haonan would be man enough not to let this affect tomorrow’s proceedings.

Tomorrow, the Xijing army would formally accept Western Liang’s surrender — this would be the very day Situ Haonan truly established his authority within the army.

And whoever could establish authority within the army could establish authority at court as well!

“Qianqian, go talk to him. No matter what, make sure he keeps his personal feelings and public duty separate tomorrow. Countless eyes will be watching that ceremony — there mustn’t be a single mistake,” Ziqing said earnestly. Whether it was her personally rushing to Akbachu to bring Qianqian here, or arranging tomorrow’s surrender ceremony, everything she did was for Situ Haonan’s sake.

“Why though? Isn’t accepting the command token enough?” Yelu Qianqian didn’t understand. Wanyan Lie had already surrendered — what was there left to be careful about?

Ziqing smiled helplessly, pinching Yelu Qianqian’s cheek. “Do you know what my real purpose was in bringing you here?”

“To give him a surprise!” Yelu Qianqian said with a giggle, then immediately drooped her head. “But he didn’t appreciate it at all — he doesn’t even know it was you who sent me here…”

The surprise was, of course, part of it — but a surprise wasn’t something you could live on; it wasn’t the important part.

“Girl, think about it — if tomorrow Situ Haonan has you on one arm while accepting Wanyan Lie’s surrendered command token with the other hand, how do you think all those soldiers and officers of yours would see him?”

Yelu Qianqian froze for a moment, then grew instantly excited. “Ziqing, how did you even think of this — it’s brilliant, so commanding! That would infuriate Wanyan Lie to death, see how arrogant he’ll be after that! Never mind the soldiers — even if my father emperor heard about it, he’d be proud of us!”

Ziqing was amused by Yelu Qianqian’s exuberant reaction. “It’s been so many days now — even if Wanyan Lie waited this long for me to return, he still won’t submit to Situ Haonan! Otherwise he’d have handed over the command token long ago. Tomorrow, I worry that—”

Before Ziqing could finish, Yelu Qianqian cut in. “I know, he won’t submit to Haonan because… hehe, because I was stolen away by Haonan!”

Yelu Qianqian truly was carefree — moments ago the mood had been so heavy, and now she was laughing so hard on the warm bed she nearly toppled over. “And stolen away right during my own wedding procession, no less!”

“Aren’t you clever,” Ziqing said with a smile, pulling her upright. “So no matter what, Wanyan Lie is sure to try to provoke him tomorrow. Haonan’s still worked up right now, and I worry—”

“I’ll go talk to him. Don’t worry, I know exactly what to say — I definitely won’t tell him you sent me to talk to him!” Yelu Qianqian promised earnestly.

But Ziqing had more to say.

“Girl, tomorrow Haonan absolutely must establish his authority — he must personally accept the command token, representing your Xijing. Understand?”

“I know!” Yelu Qianqian nodded earnestly. “So that Father Emperor will truly recognize him from the bottom of his heart!”

To her surprise, at these words, Ziqing gave a helpless laugh. This girl really hadn’t thought things through enough.

How could the Emperor of Xijing ever truly recognize Situ Haonan from the bottom of his heart? Situ Haonan wasn’t even his son.

Given the current situation, as long as Situ Haonan still had his uses, and as long as Yelu Qianqian refused to let go of him, the Emperor of Xijing couldn’t do much about it anyway.

The real concern was everyone else!

“Qianqian, Haonan is, after all, an outsider — there’s no shortage of opposition at court. Remember, when Western Liang first declared war, Xijing itself was thrown into chaos. The start of an era of peace is also the start of court intrigue. Bringing back that command token tomorrow is exactly what will silence those people’s mouths!”

Yelu Qianqian nodded, and after a long moment, said, “Ziqing, I told you before — I don’t want Haonan to marry into the imperial family. I want to marry him myself. I want him to come with a proper eight-bearer sedan to formally take me out through the gates of Akbachu. I don’t want to fight with anyone in the palace, and I don’t want Haonan to fight for anything either. I don’t want to go to Situ City, or to Nangong City. Worst case, we’ll found our own sect. From then on, we’ll love who we love, hate who we hate — love and hate decided by our own strength, none of these complicated entanglements.”

What Yelu Qianqian said sounded so free and easy — perhaps it was even something Ziqing herself longed for. If she had never met Jun Beiyue, never been caught up in so many entanglements, perhaps she too would already be living such a life.

“That sounds lovely,” Ziqing said with a smile, then added, “But even if you do leave, you must leave gloriously. Not in disgrace, not like a deserter, not like someone giving up because they couldn’t hack it. Leave behind accomplishments, then walk away with your head held high. Bring the won command token with you — only then will those wolves at the Xijing court fear you, see you as a force to be reckoned with, something they dare not provoke carelessly. Otherwise…”

Ziqing didn’t finish the thought, but Yelu Qianqian felt a sudden chill run down her spine. Naive as she was about worldly affairs, even she understood the principle that in royal families, once the tree falls, the monkeys scatter, and once someone loses power, even tea grows cold toward them.

Otherwise… the moment her father emperor passed away, the moment chaos broke out, she — the most beloved, most favored Princess Qianqian — would be the very first one dragged out as a target!

Seeing Yelu Qianqian’s face turn pale, Ziqing gently patted her shoulder and said calmly, “Go on. Tell Situ Haonan that the past is the past, and the future needs him even more… I won’t ask him to stop Nangong City’s people from seeking revenge. But I will refuse to let him come seeking revenge himself.”

Yelu Qianqian seemed to have a sudden, thorough realization, nodding firmly before rushing off at once.

Ziqing walked out of the tent alone, pressing a hand against the dull ache of the wound on her arm, murmuring quietly to herself, “Jun Beiyue… I’m sorry. I did my best.”