The scene fell completely silent.

The Huben Army, who had originally thought some major incident had occurred, now completely understood.

So the prince had taken a fancy to a woman!

The prince truly was no ordinary man – even when claiming a woman, he used such thunderous methods!

The Huben soldiers, who already held Pang Xiao in the highest regard, all craned their necks with curiosity and amusement to look at the other side, wanting to see clearly what kind of beauty could capture their prince’s heart and make him so boldly declare his ownership before everyone.

The Great Yan people, however, all had faces dark as iron.

Everyone already felt the emperor’s demand for Grand Preceptor Qin to offer up his daughter was utterly shameless. Now that Qin Yining was being insulted so publicly, it was practically slapping all these grown men in the face.

The Great Zhou soldiers were full of fighting spirit, gripping their weapons tightly with continuous cursing.

Seeing their reaction, the Huben Army also became serious and stood ready for battle.

The situation was extremely tense, ready to explode at any moment.

But Pang Xiao glared fiercely at Qin Yining once, then waved his hand: “Withdraw!”

The well-trained Huben Army, hearing the military order, uniformly sheathed their weapons and retreated in orderly formation with synchronized steps.

Pang Xiao brazenly returned to his tent wearing only his undergarments and bare feet.

Seeing the other side withdraw, the Great Yan people finally breathed sighs of relief.

After all, the Huben Army’s combat capability wasn’t only reflected in their commander’s leadership and formations, but more importantly in their individual soldier combat abilities. Due to regional differences and different daily training, an ordinary Huben Army soldier could match five of Great Yan’s top-ranked soldiers – such was the helplessly insurmountable gap.

Qin Huaiyuan said: “Everyone return to your posts and carefully guard your positions.”

“Yes.” The soldiers withdrew.

Cui Wenqing looked at Qin Yining with her tear stains still undried, then at Qin Huaiyuan with his tightly furrowed brow, and sighed as he turned to return to his tent.

After all, offering up one’s only legitimate daughter to another man was itself a humiliating matter. Cui Wenqing couldn’t very well press Qin Huaiyuan for details about what exactly had happened. However, the opposing Young Prince Pang’s intense interest in Qin Yining was truly unexpected.

After much consideration, Cui Wenqing still reported truthfully in the secret message sent to the capital that night: Grand Preceptor Qin has offered up his legitimate daughter. Liang remains unmoved. Prince Zhongshun publicly expressed his affection.

When this secret report reached the capital, the emperor was overjoyed upon reading it, so happy he couldn’t sleep all night. Young Prince Pang was a god of war with high position and great authority, and was even sworn brother to the Zhou Emperor. If they could win this person over, perhaps the situation could take a turn.

Then the emperor fell into a dilemma again, beating his chest and stamping his feet in regret over his poor strategy.

If he had known earlier that Grand Preceptor Qin’s daughter could win Young Prince Pang’s favor, he would have selected another beauty to bring for Liang Shengjie. One for each person, both satisfied, neither fighting over the other and hurting feelings. Now if the two fought over one woman, that might not be good either.

The emperor thought left and right, then issued another edict, ordering it sent to Xihua City by urgent eight-hundred-li relay.

So the next day at noon, Qin Huaiyuan received the emperor’s latest decree: “…Act according to circumstances, securing the peace talks is the primary goal.”

In other words, whoever could finalize the peace talks would receive Qin Yining.

After dismissing the eunuch who delivered the decree, Qin Huaiyuan gave Cui Wenqing a faint smile.

Cui Wenqing felt both guilty and helpless.

He had come by imperial order not only for the peace talks, but also with the task of monitoring Qin Huaiyuan. After all, requiring Qin Huaiyuan to offer up his legitimate daughter, the emperor also feared Qin Huaiyuan might harbor resentment and develop disloyalty toward Great Yan. The daily secret reports were also a helpless measure.

“Grand Preceptor Qin, now that the other side remains inactive, should we add more fuel to the fire? This has been delayed for quite some time, and this official truly fears His Majesty’s anxiety.”

When the emperor became anxious, he was capable of anything.

If this peace talk truly failed, the emperor would probably ignore public opinion and directly execute both their entire families to vent his anger.

Qin Huaiyuan naturally understood Cui Wenqing’s difficulties and concerns. “Let’s observe one more day today. If still no success, tomorrow we’ll relax our conditions further.”

Cui Wenqing nodded.

Actually, he had always been conflicted.

When he and Qin Huaiyuan conducted peace talks here, they fought hard to secure the greatest benefits for Great Yan’s people.

Because the conditions couldn’t be agreed upon and Liang Shengjie deliberately refused to appear, the peace talks had reached deadlock.

But in his heart he understood that the emperor probably didn’t care at all about how much silver or how many cities they promised away – as long as the other side agreed not to continue fighting, the emperor would be so pleased he’d grant them promotions and titles.

Having such an emperor, Cui Wenqing didn’t know whether he should weep bitterly for himself.

At this time, Qin Yining was resting in her tent.

Having not slept all night, every time she closed her eyes she saw the events of last night: Pang Xiao’s burning embrace, his domineering kiss, his angry roar, his relatively gentle coaxing, and finally his loud declaration before everyone: “Sooner or later you’ll be my woman.”

These scenes were like various colored paints swirling together in her mind, forming a dizzying whirlpool.

She didn’t understand why Pang Xiao would act this way.

Accustomed to analyzing advantages and disadvantages, when facing her own problems, her mind was now complete chaos.

For Pang Xiao, she had no utilization value whatsoever. Why would Pang Xiao actively approach her, get to know her, befriend her, save her life, and twice rescue her from Liang Shengjie’s hands?

She didn’t want to be so conceited as to say Pang Xiao had taken a fancy to her. But since she had no utilization value, why would he act this way?

After all, her father was the enemy who had once caused Pang Xiao’s father’s death.

Facing an enemy’s daughter yet still acting this way, Qin Yining truly couldn’t understand.

But she had to admit that right now she felt fortunate.

Fortunate that she had entered the wrong tent, that it wasn’t Liang Shengjie inside.

Even being forcibly kissed by Pang Xiao was better than offering herself to Liang Shengjie.

Thinking of that kiss, having no experience with such matters, her face burned with embarrassment as she turned over and buried her burning, rosy cheeks in the pillow. Although her father hadn’t asked anything last night, with her father’s intelligence he surely knew what she had gone to the other side to do. Some things were inconvenient for father and daughter to discuss explicitly, but both understood tacitly.

Her plan had failed. She hadn’t even caught a glimpse of Liang Shengjie.

But what about the peace talks?

“Miss Qin!”

Just then, a soldier’s voice came from outside the tent, his tone carrying joy.

“Miss Qin, Grand Preceptor Qin requests you come to the central command tent immediately! The other side has come to actively negotiate with us. Young Prince Pang says you must be present!”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining immediately sat up, stunned for a moment before saying: “I’ll go right away.”

The other side actively seeking talks?

Had she heard correctly?

Qin Yining couldn’t spare time to think more, quickly arranged her hair, threw on her cloak, and headed straight for the central command tent.

Upon entering, she saw the bruised and swollen, grim-faced Liang Shengjie speaking with Qin Huaiyuan about something.

Meanwhile, Pang Xiao in his dark battle robe, accompanied by Huzi dressed in guard attire, was squatting to one side holding a snow-white little rabbit and speaking in low tones.

Cui Wenqing was also awkwardly squatting beside Pang Xiao, his expression quite stiff.

Qin Yining was somewhat surprised.

A dignified Prince Zhongshun was actually holding a little rabbit in a military camp, and at such a serious occasion as peace talks no less.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but mock: “Young Prince Pang, are you playing Chang’e now?”