The Emperor nervously wiped the cold sweat from his face and smiled obsequiously: “What words does Prince Zhongshun speak? The peace negotiations are a great blessing that both Yan and Zhou nations hoped for. How could We have any dissatisfaction?”
“If there’s no dissatisfaction, what is the meaning of Great Yan’s Sacred Majesty setting up such a grand spectacle today? If this king hadn’t happened to encounter it, I’m afraid your country’s Grand Secretary’s wife would already be headless. This king doesn’t care how many people your country kills, but you’re killing the family member of the official who presided over peace negotiations—this can’t help but make this king ponder. This king is a crude person who can’t analyze all the twists and turns involved, so I’ll have to memorialize my country’s Sacred Majesty for judgment.”
Pang Xiao was someone who had truly seen blood, so when he turned stern, his imposing presence was naturally different.
The Emperor was accustomed to being flattered and had never seen someone who dared release killing intent toward him. How could he withstand it? He immediately broke out in cold sweat all over, his undergarments soaked through, and his stomach rumbled as he vaguely felt the need to relieve himself.
The Emperor’s cowardly appearance made Pang Xiao look down on him with contempt, and he snorted with disdain.
“Audacious!”
Yuchi Yan could bear no more. He strode forward and said in a deep voice: “You are merely a prince, yet you dare be so arrogant before our Great Yan Emperor! When we Yan people conduct affairs, is it the turn of outsiders to interfere?”
“Tsk tsk, the Crown Prince is indeed full of pride. You’re so aggressive—it seems this is also your country’s Emperor’s intention?”
Pang Xiao crossed his arms and looked down at them condescendingly: “This king is indeed merely a prince and cannot interfere with your country’s methods of harming loyal subjects, but this king’s Huben Army is certainly under this king’s command!”
A threat! This was a blatant threat!
Yuchi Yan’s pale face flushed red with anger. Just as he was about to argue further, the Emperor viciously slapped him across the face.
“Audacious! We are still here—is it your turn to speak?” He then turned to smile placatingly at Pang Xiao: “This is all a misunderstanding. Prince Zhongshun need not mind it.”
Yuchi Yan covered his face, looking at the Emperor in disbelief, his eyes full of hurt and anger.
The watching common people, seeing this scene, were also filled with righteous indignation and began whispering among themselves.
Pang Xiao raised an eyebrow at Yuchi Yan and chuckled mockingly.
Seeing Pang Xiao remain silent, and having already shown such submission publicly while the other party still wouldn’t give him a way out, the Emperor heard the buzzing voices of the people and felt as if he were being paraded naked through the streets. He couldn’t help but feel embarrassed and angry, yet was completely helpless against someone like Pang Xiao.
The Empress understood the Emperor’s intentions and laughed charmingly at the right moment: “Prince Zhongshun doesn’t know, but today’s matter actually…”
“Get lost! Did this king ask you? What kind of thing are you!”
The Empress stared in disbelief, her beautiful eyes filling with tears as she looked grievously at the Emperor.
The Emperor’s expression was already extremely ugly, as if explaining yet also reproaching: “This is Our Empress, Cao Shi.”
“When the hen crows at dawn, the household is in decline. Does your country have no men left? You actually let palace women jump about!” Pang Xiao said contemptuously.
The Emperor immediately turned livid with anger, yet forced himself to act unconcerned due to fear.
Though the watching common people couldn’t stand Pang Xiao’s arrogant and insolent behavior, his rebuke of the foolish ruler somehow hit their sweet spot.
Pang Xiao had said everything they wanted to say but didn’t dare to—seeing the foolish ruler and demon empress’s faces showing anger they dared not express was truly satisfying!
The Emperor took a deep breath before forcing himself to calm down, smiling placatingly: “Actually, today’s matter was a test We set for Beloved Minister Qin and his wife. Minister Qin and Sun Shi have deep marital affection, and now We and the Empress are very gratified to see this. We find their deep marital love truly moving. Since Prince Zhongshun is also here, please serve as Our witness.”
The Emperor turned around and, seeing that Sun Shi was still bound with ropes, angrily rebuked: “Why haven’t you untied Lady Qin!”
Someone immediately hurried forward, removing the torn cloth gagging Sun Shi’s mouth and cutting the ropes.
Qin Huaiyuan then draped his own dark gray cloak over Sun Shi’s shoulders, smoothed her hair, and sighed.
Sun Shi craned her neck to look behind Pang Xiao, seeing Qin Yining still unconscious. Tears of worry flowed as she said, “Master, Yining she…”
Qin Huaiyuan placed his index finger to his lips, making a silencing gesture to indicate she should speak later.
Sun Shi nodded and followed Qin Huaiyuan to kneel before the Emperor in grand ceremony.
The Emperor said with satisfaction: “Grand Secretary Qin has merit in peace negotiations and deep marital affection with his wife. We are greatly comforted. Today We confer upon Grand Secretary Qin the title of Marquis Anping, hereditary and irreplaceable, and bestow upon Lady Qin the title of Super First Rank Lady Anping.”
“Your subject (subject’s wife) thanks His Majesty for this great favor.” Qin Huaiyuan and Sun Shi kowtowed together.
The common people also began discussing among themselves.
What was the Emperor trying to do? First wanting to kill someone’s wife, then claiming it was to test their marital affection? Absolute nonsense!
Now, fearing the powerful, so afraid of Prince Pang that he was nearly kneeling, he hastily conferred upon Qin Huaiyuan a hereditary and irreplaceable marquis title. This sounded like great favor, but everyone knew Qin Huaiyuan currently had no legitimate son, and there were rumors that Qin Huaiyuan had no hope for male heirs—what good was “hereditary and irreplaceable” if there was no one to inherit it? If he truly wanted to honor him, wouldn’t it be better to confer a duke title!
The common people were full of silent criticism, whispering and muttering in low voices.
The Emperor couldn’t make out the buzzing discussions, but he sensed they weren’t saying anything good.
Today’s scheme had been completely disrupted by this brute before him, yet as the Nine-Five Supreme, he couldn’t show any dissatisfaction.
The Emperor held back a belly full of fire with nowhere to vent, yet still had to smile when facing Pang Xiao.
“With Prince Zhongshun’s arrival, We have ordered a banquet to be prepared…”
Pang Xiao waved his hand to interrupt the Emperor’s words: “No hurry. Miss Qin was so worried about her mother’s life and death that she fainted from fright. This king is concerned and wants to see her recover before having the mood for anything else.”
The Emperor was so choked his face turned purple, not daring to have an outburst. He could only nod and laugh dryly: “Of course, of course. Indeed, heroes are undone by beautiful women, haha!”
Pang Xiao couldn’t be bothered with Old Dog Yuchi and turned back to check on Qin Yining’s condition.
Qin Huaiyuan and Sun Shi also took leave of the Emperor.
The Emperor gave Qin Huaiyuan a meaningful look.
Qin Huaiyuan understood and stepped forward: “What orders does Your Majesty have?”
The Emperor said in a low voice: “If that fierce one likes her, you know what to do.”
Qin Huaiyuan looked at the Emperor in shock, saying anxiously: “Your Majesty, your subject plotted to kill Pang Zhongzheng years ago and has enmity with Prince Zhongshun. He persistently entangles with your subject’s daughter—who knows what intentions he harbors! How can your subject send his beloved daughter into the hands of an enemy?”
“Do you want to resist the imperial decree?!” Hearing Qin Huaiyuan’s words, the Emperor actually dismissed his suspicions of treason and collaboration with the enemy.
“Your subject… doesn’t dare.” Qin Huaiyuan bowed.
Only then was the Emperor satisfied. He brought the aggrieved Empress back to board the imperial carriage.
Yuchi Yan, who had heard everything clearly, looked at the Emperor’s departing figure, then at Qin Huaiyuan’s worried expression. Under the people’s discussions, he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
“Grand Secretary, this… I shall return first.” Yuchi Yan awkwardly turned and left.
After the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince had gone far, Qin Huaiyuan put away his earlier anxious and helpless expression, straightened up, and calmly gazed at the direction where the imperial entourage had departed.
Sun Shi had already run to Qin Yining’s side, gathering her unconscious daughter in her arms while sobbing: “Yining, don’t frighten Mother! I kept shaking my head at you—I wanted to tell you they weren’t really going to kill me, but they had gagged my mouth! Yining, wake up!”
Hearing this, Pang Xiao raised his eyebrows. It seemed Old Dog Yuchi’s actions were highly problematic.