Lu Heng also dared not speak much at this time. Offering counsel required proper timing and the ability to read expressions. Since this matter didn’t involve his own life and property, he had no need to displease the Son of Heaven and bring trouble upon himself for nothing.

But though Lu Heng lowered his eyes, he strongly disapproved of Li Qitian’s current approach.

The Emperor was a person of wisdom and resourcefulness. To speak irreverently, someone who could raise Pang Zhongzheng’s banner in rebellion and successfully ascend to the throne—how could such a person be an incompetent fool? It was just that now, perhaps having been high above others for too long, he no longer liked to think when doing things, preferring instead to use thunderous methods to suppress.

Pang Zhixi appeared to be a rough man, but he was meticulous within his roughness and knew how to employ people well.

It was said that Qin Yining had returned long ago, yet Pang Xiao had delayed his return. When Pang Xiao finally returned to the capital, this was the situation in the city. Clearly this scene had been orchestrated by the husband and wife together, yet the Emperor completely ignored this and stepped right into their trap!

Most frightening was that the couple had perhaps long predicted the Emperor’s character and the ministers’ psychology, knowing that none of them serving as subjects would stop an enraged Emperor from drilling into a trap himself.

Such flawless calculation…

What appeared in Lu Heng’s mind was Qin Yining’s spirited little face and her intelligent eyes.

His heart felt gloomy—this woman ultimately did not belong to him.

Though the melancholy and unwillingness in his heart could not be resolved, Lu Heng could only pretend to be calm, not letting his thoughts leak out in the slightest.

At the city gates, there were now even more people than at the beginning. The lively scene was comparable to a temple fair. Some opportunistic small vendors even carried their loads weaving through the crowd selling baked cakes, tea eggs, and other foods. There were also ten-year-old girls carrying baskets selling sweet pastries and malt candy.

The capital was still quite cold in early spring. Everyone had been waiting so long that they were already hungry, and those who could afford it naturally bought food to eat.

Just then, a fast horse suddenly galloped through the main street. On the horse sat an inner palace attendant wearing an iron-gray round-collared sunflower shirt.

The common people all stared in the direction the eunuch had gone, watching him reach the city gates, speak a few words with the gate guards, naturally be allowed through, and head straight outside the city.

People in the crowd began speculating.

“Could he be coming from the palace to deliver an edict?”

“Very likely.”

“But with the Prince’s great achievements, even if the Emperor doesn’t personally welcome him, he should at least arrange for a high official. Just sending a eunuch to summon him—what does this mean?”

“Hey! Boy, do you not want to live? How dare you babble such things!”

…

Though some spoke and others advised restraint, this wasn’t just one person’s thinking. The topic that had already been discussed once among the crowd was brought up again. The people ate their snacks while exchanging their thoughts. Some were even speculating that Pang Xiao’s cold treatment despite his achievements was probably because his merit threatened the master.

“Hey, someone outside the city saw that eunuch master go meet the Prince.”

Someone near the city gates called out loudly.

The news spread by word of mouth, and soon all the onlooking people knew that the eunuch had indeed gone to deliver an imperial edict. Speculation and discussion became even harder to suppress. The Five Cities Military Commission personnel were sweating profusely trying to maintain order, scolding those speaking nonsense, but with so many people present, how could they manage them all?

In the temporary camp outside the city, Xiong Jinshui bowed to Pang Xiao with a face full of smiles: “Your Highness, the Emperor orders you to immediately enter the city and present yourself at the palace. Your Highness has been away so long—the Emperor surely misses you.”

Pang Xiao smiled and cupped his hands toward the capital: “This minister obeys the decree.”

Then he turned to order the breaking of camp.

Xiong Jinshui hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly and couldn’t help secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

The Prince had returned to the capital but camped before the city gates refusing to enter—he must have his own plan. The Emperor summoned him back with just one sentence, and moreover arranged for him, an inner court official, to deliver the message. This was already indirectly expressing the Emperor’s displeasure with Pang Xiao’s delay in entering the city.

His status was humble, his words carried little weight. He dared not question the Emperor, nor dared speak much before the Prince. It was truly difficult to handle. What he feared most was that the Prince would become displeased and capture him for punishment. Never mind punishment—even if the Prince killed him, the Emperor probably still wouldn’t do anything to the Prince. Wouldn’t he have thrown away his life for nothing?

Fortunately, the Prince was not an unreasonable person.

Huzi and the others had long prepared for breaking camp. Upon hearing the order, they efficiently packed everything up. Soon, Pang Xiao ordered the party to set out.

Seeing him so straightforward, Xiong Jinshui was also full of smiles. He mounted his horse and followed Pang Xiao’s party toward the city gates.

They soon reached the city gates, where quite a few onlooking people had already gathered.

Commander Gong quickly came out to greet them, bowing respectfully: “This humble officer Gong Wen pays respects to Your Highness!”

Pang Xiao dismounted and helped Commander Gong up, smiling: “It’s you, lad! It’s been over two years since we’ve seen each other. You haven’t changed much.”

Facing such a forthright Pang Xiao, Commander Gong naturally recalled his days serving under Pang Xiao, and a surge of joy and admiration arose spontaneously.

Commander Gong’s face flushed red with excitement as he grinned: “Your Highness still remembers me.”

“Of course. You’re one of my own brothers—how could I forget?”

The common people not far away heard this conversation between the two and began discussing in low voices:

“The Prince truly is a righteous hero.”

“The Prince has no airs at all.”

…

Normally, Pang Xiao wouldn’t deliberately speak with roadside common folk and would have already mounted his horse to enter the city directly.

But today, he smiled and greeted the roadside people.

Seeing this, the people felt as if heavenly meat pies had fallen and hit their heads. For a moment, they were all dizzy with joy—some cupping their hands, some bowing, some kowtowing, some praising, some expressing gratitude, and some so excited they couldn’t say a word.

The people’s excited expressions and joyful voices mixed together, their enthusiasm nearly warming early spring into midsummer.

Pang Xiao smiled and returned their salutes, even responding to some greetings he could hear clearly and answering some audible questions like “How was the South?” “Was life hard?” “Will Nanyan raise troops?” “Have the bandits who killed the Qin family been caught?”

Qin Yining had returned to the capital in plain mourning clothes, the prince’s mansion was desolate, and they were rehiring new servants. News that all the Qin family relatives and the old masters and mistresses of the prince’s mansion had been killed by bandits during this journey to the South had already spread everywhere.

The great hero, for the sake of the country and the people, had stayed to guard the South so they could all live and work in peace. Yet his own mother, elders, and his wife’s entire family had all lost their lives.

Such tragedy made many people empathize and feel compassion. Comparing this to Pang Xiao’s suffering, they felt even more pity and admiration, prompting even more people to comfort and console Pang Xiao.

Pang Xiao would take a few steps toward the city gates with his people, then stop to answer the common people’s questions. Seeing him so approachable, the people grew bolder, and even more tried to strike up conversations with Pang Xiao.

Xiong Jinshui followed beside Huzi, both leading their horses as they walked behind Pang Xiao. Now he was sweating anxiously on his forehead.

He had celebrated too early.

A little person in Xiong Jinshui’s heart was frantically shouting: This slave begs you, my Prince, please hurry into the palace! The Emperor has been waiting so long—he might unleash his dragon’s fury! This slave cannot bear it!

However, this time Pang Xiao completely ignored Xiong Jinshui’s inner wailing, continuing to greet the common people warmly.

Seeing that Pang Xiao had returned, the people all crowded toward the city gates. Their great hero in their hearts truly looked like a heavenly immortal, with such an imposing bearing that he seemed even more formidable than the fierce golden guardians in temples. Though formidable, he spoke with them so gently and without airs.

The people, who had been full of fantasies from listening to storytelling recently, were now seeing the great hero up close and simply couldn’t be more excited.

Surrounded by the people, even the Five Cities Military Commission’s scolding had no effect. Pang Xiao didn’t stop the people either, instead appearing even more gentle.

Just to enter the city gates and walk a hundred paces forward, Pang Xiao’s party took a full hour and more!

Commander Gong, Xiong Jinshui, and the Five Cities Military Commission personnel were all nearly in tears now.

The biggest problem was that quite a few people in the city, hearing that the great hero had entered the city, were all rushing hurriedly this way.

The area before the city gates was already chaotic enough, but who knew how many more common people would come!

Seeing the crowd, Pang Xiao also feared someone might accidentally fall and be trampled, so he called out loudly: “Everyone, don’t crowd! Pay attention to safety and don’t fall!”

When Pang Xiao spoke, people in the crowd immediately responded, and those who had been pushing were too embarrassed to push hard anymore.

At this moment, Qin Yining sat by a window on the second floor of a tea house, watching with a smile as the crowd surrounded the city gates so tightly that not even water could flow through.

Bingtang also watched in amazement: “It’s been over an hour and the Prince has only walked this far. How long will it take to reach the palace?”

Qin Yining smiled helplessly: “The people are too enthusiastic—he has no choice.”

Qin Yining nodded at Tang Xiu behind her.

Tang Xiu immediately nodded and quietly withdrew.

Soon, another voice emerged from the crowd.

“A great hero like the Prince, who’s such a good person and sacrificed his own family to protect our Great Zhou dynasty—why are only us common folk here to welcome him? Why didn’t the court arrange for anyone to come?”

This topic being raised again made those people who had close contact with Pang Xiao and even spoken with him feel the most indignant.

Just as that voice said, their hearts were also dissatisfied with Pang Xiao being treated so coldly.

Even more people began complaining.

In the people’s hearts, Pang Xiao was a hero, a famous general.

If the Son of Heaven was a wise ruler, he should treat famous generals with courtesy as described in story books or by storytellers. If he could personally come to welcome him, that would even better match everyone’s imagination.

Whether this imagination was reasonable or not, most people thought this way.

When people thought of something, they said it, and complaints grew even more numerous.

In the imperial study, Li Qitian had waited a full two hours without anyone arriving. Furious, he slammed his hand hard on the desk.

“That dog slave Xiong Jinshui is becoming more and more incompetent—how difficult can it be to deliver a verbal decree!”