The night wind made the banners flutter and snap. On the flags of the Huben Army, the fierce golden-embroidered tiger head revealed sharp fangs under the torchlight.

Qin Yining pulled her cloak tight, her long hair flying behind her as she crossed the empty square, walking straight toward the luxurious tent in the center of the opposite camp.

She had investigated beforehand – as commander, Liang Shengjie held the highest military position and therefore lived in the most extravagant tent. This man was not only lazy and pleasure-seeking, but required beautiful women to accompany him every night.

At this hour, ordinary soldiers were already asleep, with only patrol and guard duty soldiers still on watch, making that most luxurious and ornate tent in the center the only place with lamplight.

The Huben Army guards had long since spotted Qin Yining’s figure. Her jade-colored brocade cloak shimmered faintly in the night, making her fair face appear flawless as jade.

In an army where even the rats were male, having a woman – and such a beautiful woman at that – naturally gave them quite an eyeful.

So when the soldiers on guard duty saw Qin Yining approaching, they didn’t stop her, just focused on admiring the view.

Qin Yining sensed several gazes watching her, her whole body feeling as if pierced by needles, the hair on her spine standing on end. But she couldn’t retreat, couldn’t be afraid, couldn’t let her father lose his life trying to protect her.

Lost in thought, she had already reached the tent entrance. Through the bright lamplight, she could see the shadows of furnishings inside the tent.

The two Huben Army guards on duty looked at each other, both somewhat hesitant.

Such a delicate beauty standing outside the tent late at night – she was clearly throwing herself into someone’s arms.

Should they stop her? Or not stop her? Or definitely not stop her?

The two exchanged a knowing look and said nothing.

Qin Yining’s face flushed red. She pressed her red lips together before saying: “This young lady, surnamed Qin, requests an audience with My Lord.”

The tent was completely quiet.

Just as Qin Yining was nervously and awkwardly breaking into a sweat, she finally heard a voice from inside: “Enter.”

Qin Yining gripped the dagger in her sleeve tightly, steadied her nerves, then slowly stepped forward and lifted the tent flap to enter.

The two Huben Army guards on duty looked at each other again, both revealing knowing smiles.

Four silk lanterns burned in the tent. On the left side was a side table with books and maps neatly arranged on top. Behind the side table was a folding chair, and a precious sword hung on the tent wall behind the chair.

The right side was covered with red felt carpeting, with a screen placed in the middle. Outside the screen was a military cot with bedding neatly folded on top.

A lamp seemed to be burning inside the screen, casting the outline of a bathtub onto the screen. There was a figure in the bathtub – clearly someone bathing. The sound of trickling water came through, and Qin Yining could see the silhouette of arms splashing water.

Qin Yining’s face immediately turned completely red.

No matter how strong she was, she was still an unmarried young lady. Just thinking about Liang Shengjie’s old, fat body made her feel goosebumps all over and waves of nausea rolling in her stomach.

It seemed that no matter how clearly she had thought things through when coming here, when actually facing it, she couldn’t remain completely unmoved.

Qin Yining bowed and said: “This young lady, surnamed Qin, pays respects to My Lord.”

A low, hoarse male voice came from that direction, speaking in a slow tempo: “Miss Qin, didn’t you look down on this official the other day? Coming here in the middle of the night today, aren’t you afraid this official will devour you?”

These words were spoken crudely. Qin Yining felt both ashamed and angry hearing them, but couldn’t lose her temper. She could only say in a low voice: “My Lord is a man of understanding. My Lord should understand this young lady’s purpose in coming today.”

“Oh? Then tell me, what purpose do you have?”

Hearing his frivolous tone, Qin Yining wished she could simply stab him dead with one knife thrust, but the peace talks couldn’t succeed without this person’s seal. She could only say:

“If My Lord is willing to seal the already negotiated contract, this young lady will naturally satisfy My Lord’s requirements.”

“Ha ha, you little lady, you do understand what’s called national righteousness, actually willing to sacrifice yourself for that foolish ruler of yours?”

Qin Yining didn’t want to acknowledge Liang Shengjie’s mockery. She slowly gripped the dagger in her hand tighter and said again: “Does My Lord agree?”

“What if I don’t agree? What do you plan to do then?”

The sound of splashing water rang out. Qin Yining saw a man’s silhouette reflected on the screen and shyly lowered her head immediately. She heard rustling sounds of fabric, then keenly sensed presumptuous gazes falling on her body. An unfamiliar man’s scent drew closer and closer, and bare male feet appeared in her lowered line of sight – feet with prominent tendons on the insteps that looked very strong.

Qin Yining gripped her dagger tight and couldn’t help but step back.

Who knew that in the next instant, she would be embraced by iron arms, held tightly against a burning chest.

She suddenly looked up, meeting Pang Xiao’s handsome face directly.

“You, you…”

His long hair was pinned up high, with water droplets falling from the ends onto the thin, snow-white fabric on his shoulders, making that patch of cloth transparent. Qin Yining’s hands pressed forcefully against his warm chest – she could even feel the firm muscles that were soft yet strong beneath her palms, and the powerful beating of his heart under those muscles.

“How is it you!” Qin Yining’s eyes went completely round.

“If not me, did you hope it would be that old dog Liang?”

“I wasn’t… I came to…”

“You came to throw yourself at that old dog Liang? Or…” One of his large hands suddenly grabbed her wrist, and with a clever twist, the dagger from her sleeve fell into his hand. Her body turned in a different direction, his hand firmly gripping her slender waist, her back pressed against his chest.

He rested his chin on her shoulder, inhaling the fragrance from her hair and neck, murmuring: “Or did you come to assassinate?”

How could Qin Yining have expected that it wasn’t Liang Shengjie living in the main tent? And being in such close contact with a man for the first time, her mind was becoming complete mush, only focused on struggling with all her might.

“Let go of me!”

“I won’t.”

“Pang Zhixi, let go!”

“I won’t! This lord just won’t let go! What, you can come serve that old dog Liang, but can’t let this lord hold you!”

“You scoundrel!”

“I’m a scoundrel? You came to offer yourself voluntarily and blame this lord for being a scoundrel?”

Pang Xiao didn’t know where such great anger came from. His low voice was full of suppressed fury, his large hand gripping her waist fiercely. Breathing in her body’s faintly sweet maiden scent, he wanted nothing more than to wring her neck with one twist!

He didn’t dare imagine what would have happened to this foolish girl who didn’t know the heights of heaven and depths of earth if he hadn’t kicked that old dog Liang out of the camp with one foot today and taken over this main tent to live in himself!

“Tell me, if you had encountered that old dog Liang today, what were you going to do! Were you going to offer yourself, or assassinate him!”

“It’s none of your business! Let go!”

Qin Yining could sense the barely contained anger and murderous intent from the person behind her. Alarm bells rang loudly in her mind, her whole body breaking into a sweat from instinctive fear, struggling with all the strength she could muster.

She felt that if she didn’t escape, this person could probably strangle her with one hand!

Qin Yining’s strength was considerable, but she was up against Pang Xiao.

Feeling her strength that exceeded ordinary people’s, Pang Xiao thought she was extremely disgusted with him, and his anger became even more uncontrollable!

He had expended so much effort to keep himself from hurting her, but she hadn’t sensed it at all!

“You ungrateful stupid woman!”

Pang Xiao squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth, gripped her shoulders to force her to turn around, pressed her toward himself, and bent down to bite fiercely onto her red lips.

At first he truly intended to bite her, but the soft, sweet sensation intoxicated him, making him reluctant to bite down. Gnawing became sucking, his large palm changed to pressing the back of her head while his other hand pinched her chin, forcing her to open her cherry lips to facilitate his invasion.

Qin Yining only heard a thunderous sound in her brain, her whole person freezing.

He actually dared to kiss her!

That day in the tent, when he domineeringly declared “my woman” without regard for her feelings, she could still barely explain that he was helping her and Qin Huaiyuan out of a difficult situation, preventing the Great Zhou Emperor from misunderstanding that Qin Huaiyuan was unwilling to offer her to Liang Shengjie.

But what was this now?

This person had concealed his identity while staying by her side, saved her life, and befriended her.

She had foolishly treated him as a friend, dealing with him sincerely, even thinking of repaying his life-saving grace.

Yet now he was taking advantage of the opportunity to take liberties!

Tears began spinning in Qin Yining’s eyes as she started struggling with both hands and feet, making pitiful whimpering sounds in her throat like a small wounded animal.

Pang Xiao’s anger had long been extinguished by this kiss. Her current appearance was both soft and well-behaved – in his eyes she looked like a ruffled little rabbit, making him unable to resist wanting to hold and coax her. Moving his lips away, he planted a domineering kiss on her forehead with an audible sound.

“There, stop making a fuss, be good!”

“What are you? How could you do this!”

Qin Yining covered her lips, then changed to rubbing her forehead with the back of her hand, tears streaming down.

“What am I?!” The anger that had just subsided flared up again. Pang Xiao coldly cursed: “This lord is your man! You ask what I am! Would you rather sleep with that bastard old dog Liang than want this lord!”

“Get away from me! I don’t want to see you anymore!”

Qin Yining forcefully pushed him away, and taking advantage of his unpreparedness, turned and ran.

Pang Xiao was stunned in place by her words “don’t want to see you,” actually hearing the sound of something breaking. Feeling both angry and wronged, with all sorts of emotions stirring together, it finally turned into indescribable bitterness. He took two deep breaths before stepping out in pursuit.

“Stop right there!” Pang Xiao roared loudly.

The Huben Army soldiers outside the tent had been somewhat dazed seeing Qin Yining run out – had throwing herself at someone failed? Or had their prince been rejected?

Who knew Pang Xiao would chase out wearing only his undergarments and bare feet.

At his loud roar, the Huben Army became alert, and patrolling Huben soldiers immediately drew their weapons and gave chase.

The Great Yan soldiers on the opposite side of the camp also heard Pang Xiao’s voice.

Seeing the opposing Huben Army charging over with gleaming weapons, they thought the Great Zhou people were going back on their word and launching a night raid, throwing them all into panic.

“Get up quickly, grab your weapons! The Great Zhou people are launching a night raid!”

Qin Huaiyuan and Cui Wenqing also hurriedly threw on clothes and ran out upon hearing the commotion. The Great Yan soldiers formed battle formation, drew their weapons and advanced, creating a standoff with the pursuing Huben Army.

Qin Yining had by now run to Qin Huaiyuan’s side.

Seeing his daughter’s face covered in tear tracks, Qin Huaiyuan’s heart jumped as he quickly grabbed Qin Yining: “Yining, are you all right!”

Pang Xiao cursed “stupid woman” in his heart and strode over with large steps. Wearing his undergarments with his shirt half-open exposing firm muscles, standing barefoot with hands on his hips in front of the Huben Army formation, he pointed at the Great Yan people and shouted loudly:

“Stupid woman! This lord will let you go for now today! Just wait – sooner or later you’ll be this lord’s woman!”