Zhou Meng’s agreement to her request was beyond Qin Yining’s expectations. However, being able to leave the palace and go to the Minuo tribe’s side meant that even if she would be watched more closely, she could at least feel more at ease.
Whatever other plans Zhou Meng might have, she would take things one step at a time for now.
Qin Yining then rose to leave, but seeing Biyu with her head still bandaged and the trembling Xinyu, she worried that the Great Princess Consort might vent her anger on them after she left. So she said, “This young woman has another request. Biyu and Xinyu have served me wholeheartedly. I would like to take them both with me. I wonder if the Prince would grant this?”
Zhou Meng was currently anxious about having lost face in front of the beauty and having to personally escort her away. Though she would still be on Xiyue territory and couldn’t escape his grasp, he still felt insecure deep down.
However, Qin Yining’s proactive request for people actually eased his worries.
Being able to do this meant she wasn’t treating him as an outsider, right?
“Granted. Miss Pang’s request is not excessive—how could there be any reason not to grant it?” Zhou Meng eagerly stepped forward two paces. “But how could just two servant girls be enough to serve you? Would it be alright if this Prince arranges a few more for you?”
Qin Yining bowed, saying, “Thank you for the Prince’s kind intention. I originally had my own servant girls, but these two caught my fancy, which is why I made this presumptuous request. Including them, I have enough people to serve me.”
Her graceful figure—when she was in Great Yan, she had specially learned proper etiquette and deportment from palace nannies. The way she curtsied now was completely different from any woman Zhou Meng had seen in his lifetime, indescribably pleasing to the eye. Even the three Princess Consorts nearby couldn’t help but feel ashamed of themselves, thinking their every movement was far too crude in comparison.
Zhou Meng felt at a loss for a moment. When he hurriedly reached out to help her up, Qin Yining had already risen and was preparing to leave.
Zhou Meng hadn’t touched her and felt quite regretful, but for the sake of face, he acted as if he didn’t care at all. Instead, he commanded, “None of you are allowed to leave. Kneel here and wait for this Prince to return and question you.” He then pointed at Biyu, Xinyu, and Imperial Physician Wang, saying, “You all come with this Prince.”
The two servant girls and the physician immediately bowed and followed.
The three Princess Consorts all collapsed to the ground in despair.
They had thought that once the person left, the matter would be over. Having served the Prince for so many years, after he had vented his anger, he should let the matter pass.
But who could have expected this wasn’t the end? The Prince was clearly determined to deal with this matter.
The Great Princess Consort now deeply regretted her actions. If she had been more gentle in her methods and hadn’t angered the Prince, she might have had opportunities later to slowly deal with that vixen. Now it was terrible—not only was her scheme exposed and she had earned the Prince’s hatred, but that vixen had also left the palace and escaped her control.
Once someone was outside the palace, it would be nearly impossible for her to deal with them, especially since from what she heard, that vixen would be living with her clanspeople.
Not only the Great Princess Consort, but the other two were also secretly blaming the Great Princess Consort for her foolishness.
Meanwhile, Qin Yining had already put on her cotton cloak, donned her warm hat, and left the palace by carriage.
The palace under the night sky appeared simple yet grand. From the outside, this castle’s structure was built entirely of wood and mud. It seemed there weren’t enough resources here to construct more magnificent palaces.
Leaving the palace gates and walking straight ahead was a large square with a high platform in the center that looked like it was used for ceremonies. Beyond the square were wide streets with rows of houses on both sides.
As the carriage proceeded, Zhou Meng, sitting beside Qin Yining, began introducing the scenery they could see along the way. Qin Yining carefully noted everything and responded appropriately, making Zhou Meng feel very pleased.
Throughout the journey, Qin Yining observed carefully and discovered that this oasis city had already taken considerable shape. Apart from the palace they had just left, the tallest buildings were three stories high. The streets were all dirt roads, and the buildings were all wooden or made of adobe.
Though it was already dark, people were still coming and going on the streets, suggesting there were no curfew rules here. The clothes people wore all featured embroidered totemic patterns with distinctive characteristics, and the styles were quite similar.
Seeing their carriage approach, citizens would bow and greet them.
Zhou Meng was very proud of this, and his words carried a hint of pride.
They traveled smoothly to an area in the southeastern part of the small town.
This place was quite remote compared to what they had seen earlier. Though everywhere still looked like a normal riverside town with no sight of desert, in reality, riding out for just an hour would bring the edge of the oasis into view.
The people of the Minuo tribe had been arranged to camp here.
Zhou Meng had offered to provide houses for everyone, but the Minuo tribe had declined his kind offer. Their lives and fortunes now depended entirely on the grain in their hands. If they let their guard down and something happened to the grain, they probably wouldn’t have any way to survive afterward.
So when Qin Yining arrived in Zhou Meng’s carriage, the tribespeople guarding the outer perimeter watched the carriage very warily and called out in Tatar, “Who goes there!”
Qin Yining got out of the carriage. She could understand some particularly common and simple Tatar words, so she understood what the tribesman said. She smiled at him and said, “I’ve returned.”
Seeing Qin Yining, the guarding tribespeople were overjoyed. Some went to report the news while others curiously observed Zhou Meng beside Qin Yining.
Zhou Meng assumed a proud posture, saying, “You have good control over your clanspeople. They all listen to you well.”
Qin Yining said, “These are all things the clanspeople do voluntarily—I haven’t constrained anything. It’s getting late, so the Prince should return to rest first. You have many important matters to attend to.”
Zhou Meng was actually very reluctant to leave, but since he had already escorted her here, staying longer wouldn’t look good. Fortunately, she couldn’t escape, and there would be many days ahead.
Zhou Meng thus pretended to be magnanimous, saying, “Yes, this Prince still has matters to attend to. You rest well here.” He then turned to instruct Imperial Physician Wang, “Remember this location. From now on, come daily to examine the Divine Maiden’s pulse. Do not be negligent.”
“Yes!” Imperial Physician Wang received the order and hurriedly bowed in acknowledgment.
By this time, Lu Heng, Uncle A’erhan, and others had already come out. Seeing that Qin Yining had indeed been sent back as the clanspeople had said, everyone was both joyful and worried.
As Zhou Meng’s carriage gradually departed, Lu Heng couldn’t wait to ask, “Are you alright? Did they bully you?”
Qin Yining let out a long sigh, saying, “There was indeed some trouble, but I wasn’t seriously harmed.” She then introduced Biyu and Xinyu to Lu Heng, explaining their situation, and finally said, “I never expected that Biyu would hit her head because she was implicated by me.”
Lu Heng also broke out in a cold sweat, finally saying, “Fortunately you were clever and managed to find a way to return by making use of the situation.”