Pang Xiao’s personal visit surprised Qin Yining somewhat. Logically, Pang Xiao should avoid this place to prevent the emperor from suspecting that his relationship with the Yan Dynasty’s surrendered ministers had warmed.
But thinking it over, Qin Yining understood. Pang Xiao was no fool—this visit was likely part of another performance he had prepared in advance.
Pang Xiao’s eyes burned with twin flames of anger as he stared at Yuchi Yan, almost ready to burn through his thin frame.
“It seems Prince Yan, this fallen monarch, is living quite comfortably?”
“You!” That single sentence stabbed like a knife into his heart. Yuchi Yan’s face flushed red as he glared at Pang Xiao, trembling with rage.
Pang Xiao sneered coldly, “Among the men of the Yuchi family, the only one worth looking at was Prince Ning—now that was a real man! Knowing the country was doomed, he preferred to die fighting on the battlefield rather than submit! Though he died by my blade and left scars on my body, I still admire and respect him in my heart! As for you?”
Pang Xiao walked closer slowly, his height and presence completely overwhelming Yuchi Yan, who couldn’t even lift his head.
“If you had any backbone as a true man, you should have fallen on your sword to apologize to your ancestors. Then I would respect you as a hero, different from that foolish emperor.
“But look at you. Not only do you lack the shame of being a fallen monarch, you actually have the audacity to engage in romantic affairs here? Do you think you’re still an emperor?
“Though this woman is one I don’t want, you should look in the mirror and see what you’ve become now. Take care of someone? You should take care of yourself first!”
Pang Xiao’s voice wasn’t loud, but each word struck Yuchi Yan’s heart like a heavy hammer, nearly pounding it to pulp. His face burned with shame, and a voice in his mind kept agreeing with Pang Xiao’s words.
He was indeed as Pang Xiao described—lacking any backbone. He knew he didn’t have his imperial uncle’s courage…
He wanted to refute but couldn’t find a single appropriate word. This was Great Zhou territory; he was no longer an emperor but a prince of the second rank. The arrogant and domineering person before him was a prince of different surname who had entered the cabinet based on military merit and could participate in major policy decisions.
In comparison, he felt utterly ashamed.
Seeing Pang Xiao being so harsh and provocative, Qin Yining felt both angry and amused.
Pang Xiao’s actions were thirty percent performance and probably seventy percent jealousy.
Such a grown man, and she hadn’t done anything inappropriate. Yuchi Yan had only asked one question, and with his current status, he couldn’t stir up any trouble. Yet this person could still be so petty, like a child whose candy had been stolen.
Qin Yining maintained a composed expression while looking at Pang Xiao, but her beautiful eyes were full of laughter.
Pang Xiao felt his face heat up under her gaze, sensing he had gone too far, so he glared at her fiercely.
If he hadn’t happened upon this scene today, he wouldn’t have realized just how popular his Yining was!
When attacking Great Yan, Yuchi Yan had pursued Qin Yining relentlessly, even forcibly bringing her into the palace to claim her for himself.
If he hadn’t come up with that solution back then, Qin Yining would already be one of Yuchi Yan’s harem women by now.
This silly girl was actually in the mood to smile at him right now?
Though he thought this, the anger in Pang Xiao’s heart dissipated considerably under her gentle gaze. He coughed and glared coldly at Qin Yining.
“What, having left this prince’s mansion, have you finally found your way out? Rest assured, if someone truly doesn’t mind your past and is willing to marry you, this prince will certainly send a generous gift for your trousseau. It won’t be in vain that we’ve known each other. But you can’t become someone’s concubine, can you? A woman this prince once favored becoming someone’s concubine—isn’t that degrading yourself?”
“You, you’re going too far!” Yuchi Yan couldn’t bear seeing Pang Xiao humiliate Qin Yining like this and said angrily, “If I impeach you, I wonder how His Majesty would decide!”
“How His Majesty decides is a matter for later—it’s not your place to speak!” Pang Xiao mocked.
Yuchi Yan was so angry his face turned red, and he was preparing to argue further when Qin Huaiyuan’s group, having received Xiao Luzi’s report, arrived in the courtyard.
“Prince Zhongshun honors us with his presence. What important matter brings you here?” Qin Huaiyuan smiled warmly, his voice gentle.
Pang Xiao raised an eyebrow, “Nothing much, just dropping by to visit an old friend.”
His attitude was extremely arrogant, completely different from when he used to see Qin Huaiyuan.
Qin Huaiyuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, his mind already forming various theories.
Sun Shi, who followed closely behind, along with the Second Master and his wife and the Third Master, were all displeased by Pang Xiao’s dismissive attitude.
Especially Sun Shi.
Back in Great Yan, Pang Xiao had familiarly called her “mother-in-law,” doing everything possible to flatter and please for Qin Yining’s sake.
But now, after such a short time, this person had changed faces as easily as flipping through a book.
When they returned, they had heard some rumors about Qin Yining and Pang Xiao, but Sun Shi hadn’t taken them seriously. Now it seemed she had been too optimistic?
Sun Shi was furious, her face flushed, but she suppressed her anger and didn’t speak.
Qin Huaiyuan, however, maintained his gentle attitude and said politely, “I see. I never knew when Prince Zhongshun and Prince Yan became friends. Moreover, when did friendly greetings acquire this new method of yours? Or is this how it’s customarily done in the capital? I’m poorly learned and this is my first time witnessing such a thing.”
Pang Xiao couldn’t help but admire how Qin Huaiyuan spoke without leaving any openings. Being enemies with such a person would probably make life very difficult.
Though he thought this, his expression remained arrogant.
“Master Qin will have many more opportunities to learn in the future.”
Seeing Pang Xiao’s attitude and tone, Qin Huaiyuan could confirm that there was indeed something wrong with Pang Xiao’s behavior.
A person wouldn’t change so drastically in such a short time, even if they were going to change. Looking at Qin Yining again, as her father, he naturally knew about the feelings between Qin Yining and Pang Xiao. With Pang Xiao being so provocative, Qin Yining’s hurt didn’t reach her eyes.
These two children were plotting something again.
Confident in his assessment, Qin Huaiyuan shook his head with amusement and cooperatively showed anger on his face: “Prince Zhongshun is busy with important matters, so I won’t detain you longer. Please.” Qin Huaiyuan cupped his hands and called to Qin Yining, “Yining, let’s go back.”
Qin Yining lowered her head and followed behind her family. Her dejected appearance made Yuchi Yan’s heart feel as if someone had reached into his chest and was randomly stirring, about to tear out his heart and lungs.
Yuchi Yan had never yearned for power as desperately as he did now.
If he could possess supreme power, how could he allow Pang Xiao such insolence? He wouldn’t have to endure public humiliation, and when Qin Yining was being humiliated, he could actually stand up for her.
When the Qin family returned to the house, Pang Xiao and Yuchi Yan couldn’t continue staying in the courtyard.
Pang Xiao gave Yuchi Yan a provocative smile and lowered his voice: “What, unwilling to accept it?”
Yuchi Yan gritted his teeth, too lazy to answer.
Pang Xiao said, “Do you know there’s cause and effect in this world? What you’re enduring now—how do you know it’s not the fruit of the evil seeds your father planted?
“When your father allowed your mother to want to eat Fourth Miss Qin’s flesh, what did you do? When you came to power, what did you do to her? Now you’re putting on the act of an infatuated lover—aren’t you ashamed!”
Yuchi Yan was a weak scholar who had always dealt with kind-hearted, refined people. This was the first time someone had pointed at his nose and humiliated him so directly, and the worst part was that everything they said was true.
Seeing Yuchi Yan remain silent, Pang Xiao smiled and continued, “Oh, there’s one more piece of news. Considering you were once Emperor of Great Yan, since it concerns Great Yan, I’ll kindly tell you.”
Yuchi Yan suddenly looked up at Pang Xiao.
Pang Xiao said quietly, “Your Grand Emperor took all the silver from the inner treasury and state treasury, as well as the silver exchanged for tax grain, and hid it all in one place. Did you know?”
Hearing this, Yuchi Yan’s eyes widened suddenly.
Pang Xiao smiled, “Don’t worry, His Majesty has already sent people in several directions, determined to find the whereabouts of that treasure. This prince also thanks you on His Majesty’s behalf for your selfless contribution. I believe we’ll definitely find that treasure in the near future, and then I’ll host a banquet to properly thank you.”
Thinking of what his father had done, Yuchi Yan trembled as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
When his father hid that enormous sum of money, it wasn’t to build strength for Great Yan, but for his own potential comeback someday.
Why did he have to have such a father!
The Grand Emperor wouldn’t spend that money on the people or the country, but greedily kept it for himself. Now that Great Zhou was sending people everywhere to search, wouldn’t Great Yan’s silver soon fall into Great Zhou’s treasury?
Yuchi Yan’s face changed from white to red to purple, his throat tasted metallic and sweet, and he nearly coughed up blood.
Pang Xiao seemed too lazy to continue talking with Yuchi Yan. He clasped his hands behind his back, glanced toward the main house, then left with his full arrogance, humming a cheerful tune as he walked away with measured steps.
Watching Pang Xiao’s retreating figure, countless voices clamored in Yuchi Yan’s mind. He forced himself to endure the discomfort and, supported by Eunuch Lu, quickly returned to his own courtyard. As soon as he entered, he vomited, the filth mixed with blood, frightening both Li Yanyan and Gu Chang, who hurriedly ordered someone to notify the authorities to call for a physician.
While chaos reigned on Yuchi Yan’s side, Qin Yining followed Qin Huaiyuan to the back courtyard for a walk.
The area was open on all sides. Father and daughter stood in the courtyard looking at the snowy scenery, and if anyone approached to eavesdrop, they would quickly be discovered.
Qin Huaiyuan opened by asking, “Did Prince Zhongshun deliberately come to cause trouble today?”
Qin Yining nodded and smiled, “Not just this time. Even when he took me back when entering the city, and when I later went to file an imperial complaint, it was all deliberately planned.”
At this point, Qin Yining said somewhat anxiously, “Father, my relationship with Pang Zhixi isn’t as antagonistic as it appears on the surface. Are you angry with your daughter?”
Qin Huaiyuan stood with his hands behind his back, contemplatively looking down, “I won’t be angry with you.”
He thought for a moment, then said with some relief, “Life is only a few short decades, so naturally one should live it to the fullest to make it worthwhile. I spent too many years worrying about too many things, always holding myself back. I don’t want you to be constrained like I was. If you think Pang Zhixi is good, then don’t give up. Don’t overthink it—I’ll support you in everything. Do you understand?”