“How could you think such a thing?” Qin Yining gripped Pang Xiao’s large hand in return, her fingertips sliding over his rough, calloused palm and finger pads. Looking at the new scars on the back of his hand, a flash of distress crossed her eyes.
“I know your difficulties. How could I blame you for such things? No matter how high your status and position, you’re not the highest one. Many matters are beyond your control. Moreover, this year’s drought is a natural disaster. You’re just a mortal—how could you burden yourself with blame over something you have no power over?”
Pang Xiao gazed at Qin Yining with a smile, his slanted phoenix eyes seeming to hold a pool of warm spring water. He had long known that with Qin Yining’s intelligence and character, she would surely understand him. But truly hearing such understanding words from her mouth still moved him beyond restraint.
“Yi Jie’er,” Pang Xiao extended his arms to embrace Qin Yining, pressing a kiss devoid of lust to her forehead. “You’re truly wonderful.”
His voice was deep and pleasant, somewhat hoarse from being moved, his warm breath breathing against Qin Yining’s ear.
Qin Yining’s ears felt numb and hot, but she didn’t want to pull away. She simply nestled obediently in his embrace, closing her eyes to enjoy this moment of peace and tranquility.
She and Pang Xiao hadn’t had the opportunity to be together like this for a long time. Just holding each other this way, not thinking about anything else, setting down all burdens—right now he wasn’t Prince Zhongshun of Great Zhou, and she wasn’t the daughter of Great Yan’s Grand Preceptor. They were simply a man and woman who delighted in each other.
The Emperor had decided to surrender, so they no longer needed to be placed in opposition, no longer bound by so many worldly entanglements.
Perhaps because she felt too at peace, all the fatigue from getting almost no rest last night now surged up. Qin Yining was both sleepy and tired. With her arms around Pang Xiao’s waist, she mumbled unclearly, “Let me sleep for a while.”
“I had people prepare ingredients and will go cook you a bowl of noodles right now. You can sleep after you’ve eaten your fill, all right?” Knowing that Qin Yining had been in a state of starvation this whole time, Pang Xiao’s heart ached terribly. How could he bear to let her fall asleep on an empty stomach?
Qin Yining shook her head, murmuring, “I don’t want to eat.”
Then her breathing gradually steadied, and she fell into deep sleep even while speaking.
Pang Xiao looked down at the person who could fall asleep while sitting in his embrace, seeing the shadows under her eyes and her thin face with sunken cheeks. His heartache was beyond measure.
Carefully lifting her up, he laid her flat on his wooden cot, removed her embroidered shoes, and pulled over a thin blanket to cover her.
Her long hair was scattered on the azure mattress. What had once been lustrous and shiny as satin had now become dull. Her fair face appeared even paler against the dark pillowcase.
Pang Xiao looked at her with heartache, standing dazed beside the bed until he was certain she was sleeping deeply. Only then did he carefully lie down on his side on the outer edge, propping his head up with one hand and gazing at her with focused attention.
With his finger, he traced her slender eyebrows from a distance, brushed over her butterfly-wing-like long lashes, slid over her straight, delicate nose, and finally stopped at her lips.
This was their second time “sharing a bed.” Pang Xiao stayed with her like this, watching her until he too unknowingly fell asleep.
Who would dare disturb Pang Xiao while he rested in his tent with his future princess?
Forget disturbing them—anyone who came within ten zhang would be driven away by Huzi leading the elite guards, causing everyone in the military camp to detour around the commander’s tent.
Unable to see Pang Xiao, Mu Jinghu could only be arranged by Huzi to eat and settle in first.
Since His Highness never came out and no one went to wake him, and Huzi dared not approach to inquire, originally thinking His Highness would come out shortly, who knew the central command tent remained silent until the next morning when His Highness finally emerged quietly.
Huzi wasn’t on duty last night and had just gotten up, originally rubbing his eyes sleepily. Seeing Pang Xiao tiptoe out of the tent and carefully pull the door curtain closed, Huzi felt that every time in front of Qin Yining, he could see a brand new side of his prince.
However, they only finished now? His Highness really didn’t know how to be tender with women.
Though he thought this in his heart, Huzi wouldn’t dare directly ask Pang Xiao, much less show any teasing expression—daring to joke with His Highness? That would earn a severe drilling! He wouldn’t be allowed to stop until he vomited blood!
Pang Xiao glanced sideways at Huzi’s completely serious face, staring at him until he tensed up nervously all over, then finally turned back and said, “Go call Ji Yun and Bingtang to accompany their young lady. I’ll go prepare food.”
His Highness planned to cook even in the military camp?
Having so many people see wouldn’t look good—it would seriously damage His Highness’s image!
But Huzi absolutely didn’t dare advise against this. He could only obey the command and go request Bingtang and Ji Yun.
The two maidservants also thought Qin Yining and Pang Xiao must have done something, but who knew Qin Yining had simply slept purely in Pang Xiao’s tent.
When Qin Yining woke up, the two efficiently served her in washing and dressing.
At this time, Pang Xiao also brought in flatbread and four small dishes, followed by Huzi carrying a large ceramic jar of thin porridge.
During meals, silence was observed. Both Pang Xiao and Qin Yining had received special instruction in this regard, so both ate very elegantly.
Perhaps because she was too happy to see Pang Xiao, Qin Yining had a good appetite, eating half a flatbread and also a bowl of thin porridge.
Only after finishing the meal did Qin Yining discuss serious matters with Pang Xiao.
“Before I came, I was kidnapped by Duke Anguo. During our conversation, Duke Anguo carelessly revealed that he had dealings with a secret envoy from Great Zhou.”
“Secret envoy?” Pang Xiao raised his eyebrows in surprise. “How is there still a secret envoy? How is it that I, the commander leading the southbound Huben Army, don’t know about this matter?”
Qin Yining sneered coldly. “Do you know what that secret envoy discussed with Duke Anguo? The secret envoy wanted to use someone else’s knife to kill, using Duke Anguo’s hand to eliminate you, then frame my father and make him bear the crime of murdering a prince. Since there’s such a person, naturally the other party couldn’t let you know—would they let you prepare in advance?”
Pang Xiao naturally knew Qin Yining was right.
He nodded, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his index finger. “I understand what you’re saying.”
“Then do you know who the mastermind behind this might be?”
Pang Xiao’s large hand touched her forehead as he smiled. “Silly girl, think about it—if I were to die in battle, who would gain the most? Who would benefit greatly from my misfortune? Thinking this way, who wants me dead becomes crystal clear.”
Qin Yining had already engraved in her heart the saying that the Purple Star Emperor had not ascended to the throne.
The Emperor of Zhou must be wary of this divination! If Pang Xiao died in battle, the greatest beneficiaries would definitely be the new Emperor of Great Zhou and those ministers who had surrendered from the Northern Ji Kingdom to Great Zhou.
Between these two, the former was to eliminate future troubles, while the latter was due to conflicts of interest.
Pang Xiao’s existence was equivalent to severely suppressing them. If these people wanted any chance of rising again in the court, eliminating Pang Xiao would absolutely be their best choice.
Seeing Pang Xiao’s calm demeanor, showing no emotion on his face, Qin Yining couldn’t help but admire him inwardly.
“Your Highness,” just then, Huzi reported from outside: “Young Master Mu requests an audience. He says he’s come to bid farewell.”