These words brought the common people, who had become dizzy with excitement, back to their senses. Everyone felt somewhat uneasy.
The prince was right—only the Son of Heaven could be called “long live.” In their excitement just now, they had shouted such things. If someone with ulterior motives had heard and reported it to His Majesty, wouldn’t they be guilty of treason…
Seeing that everyone realized the gravity of the situation, Pang Xiao offered comfort: “This prince can understand everyone’s excitement. After enduring disaster for so long, naturally you’re overjoyed to see that His Majesty has sent grain. What everyone wanted to express was that His Majesty cares for the people and is wise—long live His Majesty. I believe everyone can understand this.”
With the steps laid out, there were no shortage of clever people in the crowd who nodded in agreement.
“The prince is right—what we all wanted to say was that His Majesty is wise!”
“Thanks to His Majesty, we can survive!”
The people who had come to their senses all agreed.
However, facing Prince Zhongshun who had given them grain and supplies and helped cover for them, the admiration and gratitude in their hearts was beyond words. The mountains were high and roads were far—the emperor paid them no heed, but the one truly helping them had always been this prince who had suffered endless grievances and oppression.
According to rumors, Prince Zhongshun had been stripped of military authority and official position, and had even been publicly beaten with boards by His Majesty in the Golden Throne Hall for trumped-up charges. Yet now the prince still wholeheartedly spoke for His Majesty and thought of the people. Such a righteous person’s sincere devotion had always been trampled upon in every way. The common people all felt it was unjust.
“Your Highness.” Just then, the gates of the former capital opened wide, and a man about Pang Xiao’s age, wearing regular clothes and a deep gray fine cotton cloak, approached quickly with numerous attendants.
“This humble official, Yun Yancai, Governor of the Former Capital, pays respects to Your Highness.”
The people behind Yun Yancai also bowed in succession.
How could Pang Xiao allow a distinguished governor to perform such grand ceremonies? He hurriedly reached out to help him up: “Governor Yun need not be so formal. It is this prince’s oversight to have disturbed the order of the former capital. Please bear with us, Governor Yun.”
A flash of surprise quickly passed through Yun Yancai’s eyes.
In the former capital region, there were various rumors about Prince Zhongshun—some saying he killed without blinking, others praising him for loving the people like his own children. No matter how many rumors there were, none were as direct as actually meeting the person.
He didn’t know about other things, but this prince was certainly skilled at conducting himself, and his reputation for righteousness might not be entirely false.
Now that he had met him, he found that this man was indeed skilled at interpersonal relations.
A dignified prince showing such courtesy to a mere small governor like himself, giving him full face while earning tremendous goodwill before the people—the rumors were indeed true; he was a remarkable person.
Yun Yancai respectfully returned the courtesy, stepping aside and gesturing invitingly with a smile: “Your Highness is far too polite. This humble official was late in welcoming you. Your Highness, please enter the city.”
Pang Xiao nodded, walking ahead with Qin Yining, and the group followed behind Pang Xiao into the former capital.
Looking at the familiar streets, having experienced multiple wars and then disaster, the former capital was no longer as prosperous as when Qin Yining had first returned to the Prime Minister’s residence. Now it was the coldest season of the year. The fallen snow had laid a white blanket on rooftops, streets, and walls. Everywhere the eye could see was gray and white, making one feel cold and desolate.
“Your Highness, this humble official has prepared the governor’s yamen. Please don’t disdain it—would Your Highness and the Princess Consort move to the yamen to rest?”
“Thank you for Governor Yun’s kind intention. However, this prince has already sent people ahead to make preparations. My wife’s family has a residence here that hasn’t been lived in for quite some time. This prince plans to accompany her back to take a look.”
“I see. The Princess Consort is from the former capital—this humble official had forgotten.” Yun Yancai smiled: “If Your Highness has any instructions, please speak freely. This humble official will certainly see them carried out.”
Pang Xiao smiled: “Nothing else in particular. Governor Yun should prepare—the grain and supplies this prince ordered purchased in advance will arrive in the next day or two. First use the grain this prince brought to distribute porridge, let the people eat their fill first. Don’t be too sparing with the grain—more will be transported tomorrow anyway.”
Yun Yancai hurriedly nodded: “Yes, this humble official will see to it immediately.”
Pang Xiao thought for a moment and added: “Besides fixed soup kitchens, places like ruined temples and abandoned, unoccupied residences in the city should be prepared with firewood so refugees can keep warm. Those with homes in the former capital are one thing, but those who fled here from nearby areas probably don’t even have shelter from the cold in this first month of the year.”
Actually, before their group had arrived, a batch of corpses had already been processed in the city. The constant smoke and dust in the outskirts was from the place where bodies were burned. Just like when the earth dragon had turned over years ago, to prevent epidemic disease, the corpses could only be burned.
Fortunately, after the disaster broke out, they gradually entered harsh winter. If it had been midsummer, besides the disaster, epidemic disease would probably have been even more troublesome.
After Pang Xiao gave Yun Yancai various instructions, he went to the Qin residence with Qin Yining.
A middle-aged scholarly-looking adviser beside Yun Yancai smiled and said: “Sir, what do you think of this prince? Is he truly as Steward Qiu described?”
“Whether he’s the same or not, his concern for the people doesn’t seem false. If it were false, to be able to perform such a convincing act all along this route would truly be no easy feat.”
Yun Yancai then led his subordinates to make preparations according to Pang Xiao’s words.
On Qin Yining’s side, she returned to the Qin residence with Pang Xiao.
Though they were in the capital, Qin Yining had never forgotten to maintain this place. Although it had suffered several destructions and reconstructions and experienced disaster, Steward Zhong had always been at the estates in the former capital and often brought people from the estates to check back, having people carefully watch over the house. Thus, when she and Pang Xiao’s group returned, the residence was clean and tidy, as if they had only stepped out for less than an hour before returning home.
The prince’s manor guards and Elite Tiger Guards formed ranks and stood at attention before the residence gates. Pang Xiao had just ordered the gates opened when they were pushed open from within. Steward Zhong led out a group of familiar faces, joyfully bowing to Qin Yining and Pang Xiao.
“We pay respects to Your Highness and the Princess Consort.”
“Steward Zhong, please rise quickly.” Qin Yining hurried forward to help him up, then nodded to Lu Dehan, Liu Jiu’er and others behind Steward Zhong who looked excited, smiling as she said: “You’re all here—this is wonderful! It’s been many years since we’ve met. How have you all been?”
“Well, we’re all well. Thanks to the Princess Consort’s care, we work on the estates, and Ning Garden has also been planted with terraced fields. Though the season isn’t good, at least we’re self-sufficient and can even support many people.” Liu Jiu’er still had her straightforward nature and wasn’t reserved upon seeing Qin Yining.
Seeing Pang Xiao nearby, Lu Dehan was initially somewhat constrained, but since even Liu Jiu’er, a woman, was so open, there was no reason for him to be overly cautious.
So Lu Dehan also spoke directly: “It’s truly thanks to the Princess Consort and Steward Zhong. During this period, not only those on our estates, but even the workers in the Princess Consort’s factories have been very well cared for.”
Qin Yining smiled as she looked at Steward Zhong, whose temples were touched with frost but who remained vigorous, and said with a smile: “I’ve been busy in the capital. The mountains are high and roads are far—I often couldn’t attend to things here. The factories have stopped work and everyone has nowhere to go. It’s thanks to Steward Zhong finding solutions.”
Steward Zhong smiled and cupped his hands: “Before departing, the Princess Consort entrusted everything to this old man. Most of the factory workers are disaster victims rescued previously, along with soldiers who followed Your Highness to war and were left disabled, and their families. Everyone is grateful to Your Highness and the Princess Consort, so they’re particularly willing to listen to this old man. Whatever arrangements are made for them, they go wherever directed. Precisely because Your Highness and the Princess Consort laid such good groundwork, this old man’s work has been much more convenient.”
Qin Yining smiled gracefully: “You’re still so modest.”
Steward Zhong blushed somewhat, but his heart was joyful. Having followed Qin Yining for so many years and watched her accomplish one thing after another, Steward Zhong had never regretted it, feeling fortunate to have followed the right master.
“Your Highness, Princess Consort, the kitchen has prepared food. In this bitter cold, after the exhaustion of travel, you must be both cold and tired. Why not go eat and rest first?”
Hearing this, Pang Xiao and Qin Yining didn’t decline. The vast Qin residence could naturally accommodate all those traveling with them. Bingtang, Ji Yun, Han Xiao, and Zi Yuan followed Qin Yining and Pang Xiao to Xueli Courtyard, while the others could stay wherever they liked. Steward Zhong helped Huzi and Tang Xiu make arrangements, settling the accompanying Elite Tiger Guards and prince’s manor guards, as well as the Azure Sky Alliance and Silver-Masked agents. Everything was arranged perfectly without requiring Qin Yining to worry about anything.
After Qin Yining and Pang Xiao washed and changed into comfortable home clothes, they came to the main hall of Xueli Courtyard.
A charcoal brazier burned in the center, making the room warm as spring. The table held three small dishes of pickled vegetables, one dish of salted fish, and porridge that was a thick mixed-grain congee.
Candlelight flickered, and under the warm lamplight, everything seemed tranquil and peaceful.
Qin Yining and Pang Xiao sat at the square table. She smiled and said: “When Father first brought me back, I lived right here.”
“I know.” Pang Xiao picked out the bones from a piece of salted fish and placed it in Qin Yining’s bowl. “I saw all the bullying you suffered after returning to the residence.”
Qin Yining remembered being thrown beside the bamboo grove by Nanny Jin to freeze, and couldn’t help but find it amusing.
“Now everything has changed while remaining the same. Nanny Jin is also gone. Thinking of all the prosperity from those days, I only feel wistful—the past cannot be pursued.”
Pang Xiao took a large mouthful of porridge and smiled: “But the future is promising.”
Qin Yining looked at Pang Xiao’s beautiful eye pouches when he smiled, and the gentle emotions he only showed when facing her. Her heart was filled with joy and emotion.
“Yes, the future is promising.”
After they finished eating, Ji Yun and Bingtang came to clear the table, then withdrew.
Having lived in the Qin residence with Qin Yining before, they all felt like they were coming home. Their mood relaxed, and even their footsteps were light and quick.
Pang Xiao pulled Qin Yining to the bedroom. The step-up bed had been made with bedding that had been warmed with heated pebbles.
“Let’s sleep for a while.” Pang Xiao turned and sat on the edge of the bed, slowly loosening his belt as he looked at Qin Yining standing before him.
His gaze was deep, and Qin Yining’s face reddened under his look. She hurriedly reached out to stop his hand from removing his outer robe: “Don’t—it’s still early in the day.”
Pang Xiao raised an eyebrow.
Qin Yining’s face grew even more flushed. With one hand fiddling with the blood jade gourd ornament hanging at her skirt hem, she said somewhat hesitantly: “Besides, I can’t serve you. My monthly cycle is already ten days late this month.”