Such blatant insults and threats—if anyone else had said such words, Lian Shengjie would have probably started a quarrel long ago. But facing Pang Xiao, he absolutely dared not display such temper, and could only forcefully suppress all his dissatisfaction and jealous hatred, saying with a stiff expression:
“If the Prince has leisure time here to bicker with me, why not return to carefully pack and prepare for the journey back to the capital? His Majesty’s meaning is that the Huben Army has strong combat effectiveness, and he fears that incidents might arise again in Yan Dynasty’s capital, so he’s temporarily leaving the Huben Army stationed here. The Prince has always preferred simple carriages and horses, so surely he wouldn’t disappoint His Majesty’s kind intentions.”
Having said this, Lian Shengjie was already smiling mockingly.
No matter how illustrious your military achievements are, Pang Zhixi, can’t the Emperor still determine your comings and goings with just one word, or even determine your life and death?
Leaving the Huben Army in the capital meant that Pang Xiao wouldn’t bring his direct military forces back to the capital. If Emperor Zhou made any unfavorable moves against him, he would have absolutely no ability to guard against or counterattack.
With this thought, Lian Shengjie felt that all his pent-up anger could finally be released. Pang Zhixi might act tyrannically outside, but before His Majesty, wasn’t he as obedient as a cat?
Although Pang Xiao knew that Emperor Zhou must be wary of him, he hadn’t expected that just after conquering Great Yan, the Emperor would reveal his intention to “hide the bow once the birds are caught” so nakedly and directly.
It seemed that Emperor Zhou’s wariness toward him had reached the point where he didn’t care about his own reputation, only wanting to suppress him.
Looking at Lian Shengjie’s smug expression of a petty person achieving success, Pang Xiao found it thoroughly disgusting. But this was human nature—when His Majesty the Emperor showed wariness toward him, how could he expect those below not to harbor their own thoughts?
In the end, it was all caused by his good brother.
Pang Xiao stood up and casually brushed off his outer robe.
That casual gesture of raising his hand scared Lian Shengjie so much that his heart skipped a beat. He stumbled backward several steps in panic, his heartbeat drumming like thunder, afraid that Pang Xiao would kill him directly.
Because even if Pang Xiao really killed him, His Majesty probably wouldn’t do anything to Pang Xiao.
Seeing Lian Shengjie’s embarrassed and frightened appearance, Pang Xiao snorted coldly. If he really killed this coward now, not only would it dirty his hands, but it would probably cause even more trouble.
With this thought, Pang Xiao walked directly past him.
Only after Pang Xiao’s figure had disappeared from the doorway did Lian Shengjie finally breathe a long sigh of relief, sitting down and continuously wiping away sweat. That murderous demon was finally leaving. If he had stayed here, sooner or later he would have scared him into a heart attack.
When Pang Xiao returned to his tent and lifted the curtain to enter, he heard Qin Yining cough several times.
He couldn’t help but frown with worry, asking Bingtang in a deep voice: “How is it that your young lady’s health still hasn’t improved? She’s taken quite a bit of medicine. How can I feel at ease like this?”
Bingtang replied: “For the young lady’s health to fully recover, she needs at least a year and a half of recuperation.”
Pang Xiao frowned and sat beside Qin Yining.
Qin Yining took the tea that Ji Yun handed her and drank a few sips, then asked with a smile: “Did His Majesty give you additional instructions? Are you leaving here?”
Pang Xiao was startled. “How did you know?”
Qin Yining smiled: “You just said ‘how can I feel at ease,’ and I could tell you had intentions of leaving.”
Seeing the two of them talking, Ji Yun and Bingtang withdrew.
Pang Xiao took Qin Yining’s hand and kissed her fingertips several times, then said somewhat dejectedly: “His Majesty issued an urgent edict summoning me back to the capital. I’m not allowed to participate in the surrender ceremony.”
Qin Yining nodded knowingly: “I see. Naturally, he doesn’t want you to steal the limelight. Since there’s already an imperial edict, you have no choice but to leave.”
“Exactly.” Pang Xiao said gloomily, “It’s truly helpless. I can’t bear to part with you. Why don’t you come with me? Although we can’t say we’ve been together day and night these past days, we’ve seen each other daily. I can’t stand the thought of suddenly being separated.”
Qin Yining was amused by his rarely childish tone. “You’re such a grown man, yet you say such unreliable things. How could I leave with you right now? That would be like eloping with you! Those who elope become concubines—do you, Pang Zhixi, want to brush me off with the status of a concubine?”
Her tone was light and playful, completely joking.
But Pang Xiao was very serious, actually sitting up straight to think carefully for a moment, then saying solemnly: “Fine, you’re right. I’ll send you home shortly, and we’ll discuss the remaining matters after you follow your family to the capital.”
Qin Yining asked: “How are you so certain my family will definitely go to the capital?”
“His Majesty’s meaning is that all former Yan Dynasty officials of fourth rank and above who are willing to surrender will definitely receive preferential treatment. And for renowned ministers like Grand Secretary Qin, naturally he cannot be allowed to remain in Yan Dynasty’s former capital. I imagine that once the surrender ceremony is finished, the first group to enter the capital will depart together with Yuchi Qingyan.”
Qin Yining sighed wistfully. Even now, she still felt that the fall of Yan Dynasty was truly quite melancholy, although she had always known that with such a foolish ruler, destruction was inevitable.
Seeing her frown, Pang Xiao heartachingly held her in his arms, patting her back soothingly: “Just rest assured and follow Grand Secretary Qin back to the capital. When the time comes, I’ll find a way to properly marry you.”
Qin Yining closed her eyes and nodded mutely in his embrace.
Pang Xiao personally escorted Qin Yining back to the Qin residence.
When they reached the street near the Qin family home, Pang Xiao had already instructed the driver to stop, saying: “Yining, I won’t go closer. Go back by yourself, and I’ll watch you from here.”
Qin Yining asked: “Why won’t you come in with me?”
Pang Xiao smiled and shook his head, not saying much more.
But Qin Yining had already figured it out.
Now that Qin Huaiyuan had become a surrendered official, and Pang Xiao’s status was so high, they would have to go through various formalities of greeting if they met. Pang Xiao didn’t want to put Qin Huaiyuan in a difficult position.
So Qin Yining hugged Pang Xiao’s neck and took the initiative to kiss his cheek. “I understand. Take care of yourself. We’ll see each other again in the capital—I imagine it won’t be long before we meet again.”
Pang Xiao was made hot-headed by her initiative, his heart racing as he held her in his arms, reluctantly engaging in intimate whispering for a long while before helplessly letting her down from the carriage.
Watching her reach the mansion gate accompanied by Ji Yun and Bingtang, Pang Xiao lowered the carriage curtain and instructed the driver to return to the military camp.
News of Qin Yining’s return home immediately had someone running to report to Cixiao Garden.
The servants in the mansion were still the same ones who had been brought up Changchun Mountain. Because Qin Yining and Manager Zhong had prepared early, although the people on the mountain lived somewhat harshly, not a single person had starved to death.
In Cixiao Garden, upon hearing that her daughter had returned, Madame Sun couldn’t be bothered with attending to the Old Dowager and immediately brought Nanny Jin out to greet her.
The Old Dowager’s expression was quite embarrassed, but thinking of future trends, she still had Nanny Qin help her up and went out to greet her together with Second Madam, Eighth Miss, and Qin Huining.
When they reached the hanging flower gate, Madame Sun and Qin Yining were already chatting and laughing as they entered the inner courtyard.
The Old Dowager smiled and said: “Oh my, Yining has finally returned. His Majesty has instructed us to prepare for departure, and we were wondering whether you would travel with us or follow Prince Zhongshun.”
Qin Yining asked Madame Sun in surprise: “Departure? So the date for the surrender ceremony and the time for departure have both been decided?”