Pang Xiao had been in an excellent mood holding the little rabbit, but who knew Qin Yining would enter and immediately launch into sarcasm.

His expression darkened as Pang Xiao smoothly stood up while holding the rabbit.

“For you! Catch!”

Qin Yining was quite surprised, her gaze falling on the little rabbit.

That little white rabbit looked rather different from ordinary rabbits – its body appeared somewhat plump, with bulging cheeks and ears drooping on both sides. The entire creature was only palm-sized, covered in snow-white fur except for a black ring around its left eye, creating an indescribably amusing appearance.

The tall Pang Xiao holding such a tiny rabbit and presenting it to her nearly made Qin Yining unable to suppress a smile.

“What does Young Prince Pang mean by this? I cannot accept unearned rewards. How dare I delay your performance as Chang’e?”

This stupid girl was clearly holding a grudge!

Yesterday he had taken liberties with her, but didn’t she think – if he hadn’t happened to be there, would she still be able to stand here safe and sound, sparring with him verbally?

He had expended great effort to find such an adorable little rabbit to give her, hoping she would stop being angry. But not only did she not appreciate it, she actually mocked him!

“It’s for you, so accept it.” Pang Xiao’s face darkened as he stepped forward two paces, about to stuff the little rabbit into Qin Yining’s arms.

Qin Yining backed away, refusing to accept it: “I don’t want it. You keep it yourself.”

Pang Xiao’s expression became frighteningly grim, storms gathering in his eyes as he nodded: “Fine, you don’t want it? Then I’ll dash it to death!”

Saying this, he raised his arms high, making as if to throw the rabbit to the ground.

Qin Yining was startled and quickly grabbed his sleeve: “What are you doing! You’re being completely unreasonable!”

“You’re the one refusing the toast only to be forced to drink the penalty wine!”

Pang Xiao lowered his raised arms and held the plump little rabbit in both hands, offering it to Qin Yining: “Here, take it already!”

Qin Yining reluctantly accepted it. In her hands was a soft, warm little bundle. The little creature shifted in her palm and looked up at Qin Yining with pure black eyes.

Qin Yining felt her heart melting and couldn’t help but smile, holding it with one hand while stroking its back with the other.

Pang Xiao thought for a moment, then untied the jade pendant from his waist, removing the small red plum blossom cord from it, and walked close to Qin Yining.

Qin Yining backed away in confusion, about to ask what he was doing, when she saw his large hands nimbly tie the delicate red plum cord in a knot around the little rabbit’s neck.

He bent over with their faces very close together. He didn’t look up at her, concentrating on tying the bow in his hands, but from Qin Yining’s angle she could see his handsome long eyebrows and long lashes when he lowered his head.

She couldn’t help but frown and look away.

“Its name is Er’Bai. It’s this prince’s token to you, and also a token of the peace talks between Great Zhou and Great Yan. If you don’t take good care of it and mistreat it, this prince will consider everything from today’s peace talks null and void at any time.”

Qin Yining’s eyes widened as she stared at Pang Xiao in disbelief: “Your Highness is being far too childish!”

“Say whatever you want. Anyway, this prince has entrusted Er’Bai to you – do as you see fit.”

Qin Yining remembered this person had once said she resembled their family’s Da’Bai. He said Da’Bai was a pug, and their family also had a guard wolf-dog called Da’Hei.

Now this little rabbit was called Er’Bai…

If the occasion weren’t wrong, Qin Yining really wanted to mock the Pang family’s naming abilities.

But right now she only wanted to curse Pang Xiao for being unreasonable.

Wasn’t he supposed to be a bloodthirsty god of war who used devious military tactics?

Why was the Pang Xiao she knew completely different from the rumors? This person was simply a moody madman!

Looking down at the little rabbit wearing the delicate red plum blossom cord around its neck, the little rabbit shifted to a comfortable position in her hands and looked up at her with big black eyes.

Pang Xiao stood before Qin Yining with his hands behind his back, admiring the two soft creatures before him as if no one else existed, unable to suppress a smile.

In his eyes, she was just like Er’Bai – soft and well-behaved, making one want to hold her and pat her head and smooth her fur.

Qin Yining looked helplessly toward Qin Huaiyuan nearby.

Qin Huaiyuan and Cui Wenqing had been watching the activity on Qin Yining’s side.

Qin Huaiyuan’s expression remained calm, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

Cui Wenqing wore a completely knowing expression.

Qin Yining knew these people must have misunderstood.

With Pang Xiao’s repeated domineering presumptions, now giving this kind of “token,” she had been forcibly branded with Pang Xiao’s label.

Even if the peace talks went smoothly and she could return safely to the capital, there would probably be no shortage of gossip about her and Pang Xiao.

This fate of being manipulated by others truly left her helpless.

Liang Shengjie, seeing that Pang Xiao was using a cheap rabbit to win Qin Yining’s favor, felt suffocated with anger. Looking again at Qin Yining in her plain colors with white fur trim at her collar and her fair jade hands holding a little white rabbit – she truly did look like Chang’e, and he couldn’t help but stare in fascination.

What a pity, truly a pity that he hadn’t been able to spend a spring night with this beauty during this trip – it was his greatest loss.

He was about to look more carefully when Pang Xiao had already walked in front of him, blocking his view.

Liang Shengjie was so startled he nearly fell off his chair. Pang Xiao had given him psychological trauma, and the muscles in his face were twitching. The wounds all over his body ached terribly, making him want to hold his head in his hands for some sense of security.

But he was still the Minister of War after all.

Heaven knew how much effort Liang Shengjie used to steady himself and avoid making a fool of himself.

Pang Xiao stood before Liang Shengjie with a half-smile, his presence fully displayed, appreciating his pathetic state of wanting to crawl under the table. Only after a long moment did he say: “Minister Liang, have the negotiations been concluded?”

“This official is the Marshal of Pingnan, the person in charge of these peace talks. You, you…”

Meeting Pang Xiao’s intimidating gaze, Liang Shengjie unconsciously swallowed the rest of his words.

“Minister Liang has delayed His Majesty’s important business this time, repeatedly obstructing during the peace talks. This prince will definitely impeach you severely.”

“You dare turn the tables!” Liang Shengjie said angrily: “You clearly assaulted this official first – on what grounds do you impeach this official!”

“This prince assaulted you? Who saw it? Who can testify for you? You clearly behaved improperly, failed in your attempt to molest a decent woman, and were instead chased and beaten by her father and brothers. Minister Liang, at your advanced age, you should consider your family’s reputation. You’ve brought shame all the way to the Yan Dynasty – if you’re not embarrassed, do your children still want to live?”

“You’re talking nonsense! That day this official’s deputy general clearly saw it!”

“Is that so? Then suit yourself. Now seal the documents first.”

Pang Xiao casually took a seat nearby and leisurely picked up a cup of tea for a sip.

Liang Shengjie trembled with rage for a long while before realizing – why hadn’t any of his deputy generals appeared these past few days?

Thinking of Pang Xiao’s usual methods, the hair on Liang Shengjie’s spine stood on end. That deputy general couldn’t have been…

They were currently at the front lines, where the wrongful death of a person or two could be easily explained upon return. If he were killed, Pang Xiao could probably find various reasons that would convince His Majesty.

If it were someone else, they might act with some restraint. After all, when someone already held high position and great power with suspicion of overwhelming their master, wouldn’t continuing to act recklessly be asking to become a target?

But Pang Xiao was different – he never played by conventional rules. His nature was unpredictable and changeable, sometimes steady, sometimes cunning. He could play the refined scholar or act like a street ruffian. This person was simply an inscrutable troublemaker!

Cold fear crept into Liang Shengjie’s heart, and his hands no longer hesitated as he applied both his personal and official seals to the peace treaty.

Seeing both sides seal the two copies of the treaty, Qin Huaiyuan and Cui Wenqing both breathed huge sighs of relief.

Pang Xiao also smiled, crossing his legs: “Excellent. From now on we won’t fight anymore, we’ll restore trade and diplomatic relations, and live peacefully.”

He turned back to Qin Yining with that roguish half-smile: “This way, this prince can visit your Great Yan and see for myself what the prosperous lands of Great Yan actually look like.”

Qin Yining’s face reddened at his smile as she cursed silently: He speaks human words, but is that a human expression? He’s nothing but a dandy!

Qin Huaiyuan stood up and exchanged pleasantries with both Liang Shengjie and Pang Xiao. Both sides made polite conversation before taking their leave.

Pang Xiao looked at Qin Yining and said: “You must treat Er’Bai well.”

Qin Yining gave him a withering look and said while stroking the little rabbit: “What kind of name is that? ‘One poor, two white’ – haven’t you heard that phrase?”

Hearing this, Pang Xiao was stunned and actually crossed his arms to think: “Now that you mention it, it doesn’t sound very good. What do you think it should be called?”

Qin Yining felt this person was utterly boring – not only tying ribbons on rabbits but also naming them.

Then she felt she was being unnecessarily troublesome, actually arguing with an idiot like Pang Zhixi about a rabbit’s name.

Qin Yining held the rabbit and turned to leave: “Forget it, Er’Bai is fine.”

Pang Xiao smiled and chased after her two steps: “Hey! You also think this prince chose a good name?”

What answered him was Qin Yining’s back as she couldn’t even be bothered to turn her head, along with the surrounding Huben Army’s looks as if viewing a monster.

Only then did Pang Xiao come to his senses and resume his usual demeanor, ordering the camp to be struck.

Huzi followed alongside, having long since nearly injured himself from suppressing laughter. He didn’t dare laugh out loud now either, just kept his head down following behind Pang Xiao as they walked away.

The Great Yan people, hearing the peace talks had succeeded, erupted in thunderous cheers.

The group prepared to strike camp while Qin Huaiyuan and Cui Wenqing first set out with Qin Yining to return to the city.

They had come with a death wish and heavy hearts. Returning, everyone smiled joyfully, more festive than New Year.

Qin Huaiyuan had already sent word ahead, so by the time they reached the city gates, General Wang Hui and Prefect Liu had already brought people to open the gates wide. The common people, having heard the good news of successful peace talks, now rushed over as if attending a temple fair, lining the streets in welcome with loud cheers.

And the news that Young Prince Pang had fallen in love at first sight with Grand Preceptor Qin’s daughter spread throughout Xihua City as if it had grown wings.

Everyone knew that Miss Qin had accompanied Grand Preceptor Qin to the military camp, been immediately taken with by Young Prince Pang, and that lecher Liang Shengjie hadn’t had a chance to get within half a step of Miss Qin.

The originally feared damage to her reputation wasn’t avoided – only the person involved had changed.