Upon hearing these words, the entire court was truly shocked.
No one could have imagined that the Emperor would still value Prince Zhongshun so highly.
When arranging his assignment to distant places, the Emperor could even consider his newlywed status and allow him to bring his Princess along.
It seemed the Emperor still relied on Prince Zhongshun just as before!
Regardless of what others thought in their hearts, Pang Xiao at this moment clearly saw through Li Qitian’s calculations.
He was clearly deliberately trying to annoy him, wanting to remind him that Qin Yining had once been coveted by Yuchi Yan. Having Qin Yining at his side could greatly reduce the probability of “romantic rivals” cooperating.
Pang Xiao said aloud: “Thank you for Your Majesty’s great grace, this subject accepts the imperial edict!”
But in his heart, he thoroughly despised Li Qitian’s womanish behavior.
Li Qitian was probably thinking that since Qin Yining had once been engaged to Yuchi Yan in the Great Yan Dynasty, and Yuchi Yan often acted as if he harbored deep feelings for Qin Yining, traveling together this time would certainly create plenty of awkwardness for each other, right?
But what Li Qitian didn’t know was that Pang Xiao’s heart no longer harbored resentment. He wouldn’t doubt Qin Yining’s loyalty to him and had sufficient confidence in himself.
He believed Yuchi Yan couldn’t make any waves in front of him.
Li Qitian, however, interpreted Pang Xiao’s grave expression as sullenness, making his mood even better as he declared loudly: “Since this is the case, the matter is settled. You each go back and prepare. Depart at dawn the day after tomorrow. Court is dismissed.”
“Your subjects obey the edict! Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live forever!” All the officials prostrated themselves on the ground, calling out three times for long life.
After court was dismissed, Pang Xiao walked at the back of the ministers’ procession with a wooden expression.
He had originally wanted to turn back and discuss with Qin Huaiyuan what needed attention during this journey, but before he had walked far, a palace attendant came to relay a message: “Your Highness, by the Emperor’s command, please immediately go to the Imperial Study.”
The few people near Pang Xiao who heard this knew it must be the Emperor arranging some important task for Pang Xiao. They felt both envious and fearful of his current blazing favor.
Pang Xiao nodded and went to the Imperial Study with the palace attendant.
Upon entering, he saw Li Qitian sitting in a round-backed chair on one side, his posture extremely leisurely.
“May Your Majesty enjoy peace and longevity!” Pang Xiao approached and bowed.
Li Qitian smiled and said, “You’ve come. Rise, quickly come and sit.”
How could Pang Xiao truly dispense with ceremony? He still completed the proper etiquette thoroughly before going to the lower seat, carefully sitting down sideways.
Seeing him so respectful, Li Qitian smiled slightly and said: “Calling you here, you must already understand why. For this journey south, I’m only assigning you one task, which is to carefully monitor Prince Yan and his party’s actions throughout. I’ll allocate thirty carrier pigeons to you—take them all south. If there’s any news or suspicious activity, immediately send pigeons back with word.”
The carrier pigeons were specially trained. No matter how far they flew, as long as they were released freely, they could fly back to their own roosts.
So messenger pigeons weren’t randomly flying birds—they required specific training.
Pang Xiao understood Li Qitian’s intentions and said in a low voice: “Is Your Majesty worried that Prince Yan still has contact with Great Yan’s former officials?”
Li Qitian nodded: “That’s one concern. There’s another point, which is the most crucial—I’m worried that once I let him go this time, he’ll find the treasure himself and then claim it for his own use, recruiting soldiers and buying horses to oppose me. In that case, I would truly have released a tiger back to the mountains.”
Upon hearing this, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but smile: “Your Majesty is wise and has calculated without omission. How could the situation you describe occur? Please rest assured, this subject will certainly do his utmost to handle the assignment.”
“Very good, I trust you. This is your first time leading the Longxiang Army into action, so you must also act with caution. I will arrange a capable deputy general for you—he’s a talent from within the original Longxiang Army. Don’t overexert yourself; if there’s anything, you can instruct him to handle it.”
This was openly inserting a nail!
“Yes. This subject obeys the edict.” Pang Xiao respectfully bowed, showing no emotion whatsoever toward Li Qitian’s arrangements, only obediently listening to instructions.
Having achieved his purpose, Li Qitian had no patience to continue the act. He just smiled and gave Pang Xiao some instructions, then said: “You should also return early. You still need to arrange for the Princess to prepare. Her health has improved now, hasn’t it?”
Pang Xiao frowned slightly, saying with some worry: “Her health isn’t very good. Perhaps she suffered too much in her early years and damaged her foundation. The imperial physician prescribed medicine and told her to recuperate well.”
Li Qitian wasn’t truly concerned about Qin Yining—he was just being polite. Seeing Pang Xiao so sorrowful, he had to patiently console him a few more words before instructing Li Guanwen to escort Pang Xiao out.
Pang Xiao respectfully bowed and left the Imperial Study, walking along the lengthy palace road with Li Guanwen, one in front of the other.
On the ground paved with blue stone bricks, stubborn little grass stretched out from many crevices. The red walls and green tiles divided the azure sky into a narrow strip of space.
After thinking for a moment, Pang Xiao said: “Director Li, during this prince’s absence from the capital, Your Majesty’s side will have to trouble Director Li more. If Your Majesty becomes overworked, please help persuade him somewhat. Don’t let Your Majesty become too exhausted. Such a large court depends entirely on Your Majesty’s support—what would we do if he fell ill? Wouldn’t the entire court fall into chaos?”
“Your Highness speaks truly,” Li Guanwen looked at Pang Xiao with emotion, saying: “After all, it’s Your Highness who understands how to care for Your Majesty. This servant stays by Your Majesty’s side all day and knows best how hard Your Majesty works. Your Highness can rest assured—this servant will certainly do his utmost to serve Your Majesty well.”
“With Director Li present, this prince has nothing to worry about. Then, farewell.”
Pang Xiao politely cupped his hands to Li Guanwen and quickly departed.
Li Guanwen stood in place, watching Pang Xiao walk away, then smiled and returned to the Imperial Study, casually mentioning Pang Xiao’s concern for the Emperor.
Upon hearing this, Li Qitian merely smiled, seemingly not taking it to heart or treating it seriously.
When Pang Xiao returned to the Prince’s mansion with Huzi, Qin Yining had already received news that she would accompany Pang Xiao on the journey.
This news came too suddenly, causing Qin Yining to be stunned for a moment. However, Li Qitian’s petty schemes were obvious, and after thinking briefly, she understood the connections involved.
Since it was an imperial edict, it absolutely could not be refused. The Emperor’s arrangement for her to accompany Pang Xiao perfectly suited her intentions—even if the Emperor hadn’t arranged it, she would have found ways to disguise herself and follow Pang Xiao. Not only because as newlyweds they were reluctant to separate, but most importantly because this journey would definitely not be as simple as mere disaster relief.
Qin Yining called Ji Yun over and whispered in her ear: “Go to Manager Zhong and tell him that the spices I asked him to help me buy from Mrs. Liao some time ago—I want to use them now. Please have Manager Zhong arrange a meeting so I can see Mrs. Liao. Also, go home once and tell my father that I want to meet with Mrs. Cao.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Yun’s expression became serious, and she immediately hurried out to handle the instructions.
Pang Xiao stood by the door for a while, hearing all of Qin Yining’s instructions. He smiled and approached, asking: “What spices do you want? Our family’s storeroom seems to still have some spices and fragrant baits. I’ll have them all found for you later.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile and pinch Pang Xiao’s earlobe.
His earlobes looked blessed at first glance, and surprisingly, his ears were remarkably soft.
She became addicted to pinching them and said with a smile: “I don’t actually want any spices. You know about the Azure Sky Alliance, right?”
Pang Xiao embraced her waist, pillowing his face on her shoulder, and said tenderly: “Naturally I know about it.”
Qin Yining said: “That Mrs. Liao is from the Azure Sky Alliance. She’s the person I use to contact several hall masters of the Azure Sky Alliance.”
“Yining…”
“You couldn’t possibly not know that I’m the leader of the Azure Sky Alliance, right? Although the Great Yan Dynasty has fallen and most of the Azure Sky Alliance’s people have re-registered in the population records, reforming themselves as subjects of Great Zhou, those who lead the Azure Sky Alliance would be considered rebellious subjects by any emperor. So they’re all now unregistered black households who don’t dare appear openly, only doing some business along the Tatar border.”
Pang Xiao never expected that Qin Yining would reveal all her trump cards to him without reservation. Regardless of how great her abilities were, this trust and genuine feeling alone was enough to move Pang Xiao.
He felt as if he were immersed in warm water, and that warm water was precisely Qin Yining’s embrace.
He rubbed her cheek with his, his breathing brushing against her ear: “You’re calling on the Azure Sky Alliance people—do you have some arrangement?”
Qin Yining was stirred by his breath and burrowed directly into his embrace, breathing slightly as she said: “I’m just being cautious, because I feel this journey isn’t simple. Your Majesty should have other moves, all for the treasure.
“The soldiers you’re taking this time are all from the Longxiang Army, and given Your Majesty’s suspicious nature, he absolutely won’t let you alone contact people in the Longxiang Army. So he will definitely plant a major nail in the Longxiang Army, having this nail contact you as a way to control you.
“That would be far too passive. I don’t want you directly placed under their blade.”
Pang Xiao smiled with emotion: “My wife is both intelligent and capable. I don’t even want to be a prince anymore—I’d just stay home as your husband, eating your soft rice and tofu. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
Qin Yining could hear the sincerity in Pang Xiao’s words. She understood that Pang Xiao wasn’t lacking ambition—he was just too tired.
“There will be opportunities in the future. When the time comes, we’ll find a place where no one will disturb us and live that kind of life.”
“Any way of eating tofu is fine?” Pang Xiao was deeply moved but still couldn’t help teasing her.
Qin Yining’s face turned completely red from his words. She twisted his ear once before saying: “We’re talking about serious matters—why are you like this?”
Seeing that not only her face but also her neck had turned red from his teasing, Pang Xiao laughed: “Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. I can understand wanting to contact the Azure Sky Alliance people. Your father’s guard Mrs. Cao should have been your wet nurse, right?”
“Mm, she’s the head of the Silver Mask Scouts. You should have heard about this already. Moreover, Da Xue and the other three around me are all Silver Mask Scouts. For this trip, I want the Azure Sky Alliance people and Silver Mask Scouts to secretly coordinate with us. Because you’ll be in the army, and even your Jinghu Guards will probably be monitored by the Longxiang Army people. Without capable people at our side, we’d be too passive.”