The Tatar Khan had once bowed and submitted to Great Zhou after defeat in battle, bringing his family to the capital to pay tribute and homage. Who could have imagined that in just a few years, the Tatar Khan would become a prisoner!

Such tremendous success made all the common people rejoice and celebrate with great enthusiasm.

For many years, even during New Year celebrations the capital had never been this lively. The current scene could truly be called universal celebration. Many merchants filled with patriotic fervor had even begun preparing rice and grain, planning to distribute porridge and rice to help the poor and beggars in celebration of such a great victory.

The commotion in the streets naturally alarmed Shuntian Prefecture.

The Prefect of Shuntian immediately arranged for his subordinate officers, together with the Capital Guards, to take to the streets to maintain order among the people, forcibly organizing the crowds gathered on the roads to the sides of the streets. If any commoners pushed and shoved, they would immediately be scolded, and might even be struck a couple of times with sword sheaths by the Capital Guards.

Only in this way could the chaotic streets be calmed down again.

Just then, the sounds of horse hooves and cart wheels could be heard from the city gate. Everyone craned their necks to look and immediately saw a line of prison carts approaching under military escort.

The man confined in the first prison cart had disheveled hair and stubble, and from his torn clothing one could tell this should be Tatar nobility. However, his body was still covered with mud, and he crouched in the prison cart in an awkward, painful position. Everyone began speculating whether this was the Tatar Khan.

When the escorting Huben Army loudly announced, “This is the Tatar’s Uterkin Khan!”

The common people immediately erupted in cheers.

Some shouted “Long live!” while others, poisoned by hatred and fury, with new and old grievances combined, angrily grabbed mud to throw into the prison cart. Those whose family members had been killed by the Tatars simply rushed to the prison cart, grabbing Uterkin Khan’s hair to try to drag him out.

The escorting soldiers were already accustomed to such scenes, as this had been the situation everywhere they had passed along the way. The common people had their great revenge, so everyone was very excited. They even understood the Prince’s intention in arranging things this way. After such wearing down, they didn’t believe Uterkin Khan wouldn’t say whatever he was asked when he met His Majesty.

It wasn’t just Si Qin who had mud thrown at him, but everyone in all the prison carts that followed.

Some commoners pointed at the third-to-last prison cart and asked in confusion, “The one inside seems to be a female prisoner?”

“Indeed a female prisoner. Ugh! She’s so filthy!”

“You don’t know—this is the wife of the Lu family’s household head. Her husband committed suicide before being captured, and now she’s left alone, a weak woman who has to bear the blame for her husband. It’s quite pitiful.”

Someone shook their head and retorted, “You only see her current misery, but you don’t see how she sowed discord and harmed people. Prince Zhongshun is no incompetent person—a woman he would arrest and parade through the streets in a cage must certainly be unforgivably guilty.”

“Right!”

Many commoners echoed in agreement, “The Prince is not someone who bullies women. If she weren’t extremely evil, the Prince wouldn’t treat her this way.”

The prison cart was passing in front of them at this moment. The woman in the cage had disheveled hair, was filthy all over her face and body, and emitted a foul stench that made people cover their noses and step back. But she seemed like a wooden puppet, staring ahead with vacant eyes, as if all sounds couldn’t enter her ears and all sights couldn’t enter her eyes.

Some people recognized Bian Ruohan. After all, the Bian family had once been considered imperial relatives, and Bian Ruohan had prided herself on her nobility, often walking the streets, her daily life consisting of shopping in the markets.

Seeing her reduced to such a state now, everyone sighed with emotion. Some even shouted loudly, “She deserves it! Collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country—extremely evil!”

One phrase about collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country being extremely evil completely extinguished the compassion that some had temporarily felt.

That Lu fellow had led the Tatars through the pass and even fought all the way to the foot of the capital, nearly breaking through. Could the terror all the commoners had endured at that time be forgotten so quickly? Wouldn’t everyone feel afraid in retrospect, wouldn’t they feel hatred?

The procession of prison carts continued forward, and finally the commoners followed closely behind, shouting loudly behind the prison carts: “Your Majesty, severely punish these criminals!”

“Kill the Tatar Khan!”

“Kill the traitors! Avenge the innocent people who died!”

The commoners’ shouts shook the heavens.

In the crowd, Qin Yining wore coarse cloth clothing, cleverly disguised by Xie Yue as an ordinary young man. Seeing the procession gradually moving away, a slight smile appeared at the corners of her lips.

She didn’t believe that facing such strong public outcry and the chaotic court situation, Li Qitian could still sit steadily on that dragon throne!

“Master, shall we return?” Jingzhe, disguised as an ordinary farmer beside her, asked in a low voice.

Qin Yining nodded, and she and Jingzhe disappeared into the sea of people together.

At a manor on the outskirts of the city, Xie Yue was sitting on a folding chair under the corridor eaves drinking tea. Seeing Qin Yining and Jingzhe return, he quickly put down his tea bowl and stood up, bowing and saying, “Princess Consort, you’ve returned.”

Qin Yining smiled and nodded, “We’re back. Master Xie’s prediction was correct—the city was very lively today, with the commoners acting as if they were celebrating New Year.”

Ji Yun, Bingtang, and Lian Xiaozhou heard Qin Yining’s voice and came out from the main room.

“What a pity we missed such excitement.”

“Not letting you go out was also to avoid any danger. I didn’t dare linger either—Jingzhe and I observed the situation clearly and came back.”

Lian Xiaozhou smiled and said, “Sister, look if I’ve made progress today?”

Lian Xiaozhou wore a lake-blue arrow-sleeved robe with her hair in a high topknot, the remaining long hair half-loose. Xie Yue had made slight adjustments, thickening her eyebrows. If Lian Xiaozhou stood still, she would look like a young master who hadn’t yet reached full stature.

Unfortunately, Lian Xiaozhou was ultimately a woman and naturally different from Qiu Feishan, who had worn men’s clothing for years. Her walking gait and temperament were also different, making it easy to expose flaws. Therefore, these days Lian Xiaozhou had been presenting herself in men’s clothing, deliberately changing some of her small habits to avoid exposing the truth at crucial moments and letting people know that the Northern Ji remnant was not actually a prince, but a princess.

Actually, Lian Xiaozhou had once asked why it had to be a prince—wouldn’t it be fine to tell the truth and reveal her princess identity?

But Qin Yining had taken her hand at the time and carefully explained, “In today’s world, men are ultimately superior to women. If the person bringing out the imperial seal were a woman, which minister would care? But if it’s a prince, that’s different. Because a prince holding the imperial seal has the legitimate status to inherit the throne. Though there’s no need to inherit any throne now, at least one can speak with more authority and create greater intimidation for certain people.”

The “certain person” Qin Yining mentioned was naturally Li Qitian.

She had come up with this method to add fuel to Pang Xiao’s fire. If Lian Xiaozhou’s true identity were revealed, probably no one would take her seriously.

Qin Yining praised Lian Xiaozhou, making her more confident. She grabbed Jingzhe and the others to learn how to be a “man.”

Just then, the sound of babies crying came from the inner room. This crying was contagious—when one cried, the other immediately followed with loud wails.

Qin Yining hurried into the room to check.

Seeing Qin Yining arrive, the wet nurse quickly curtsied, “The young master and young miss just woke up—they’re probably hungry.”

Seeing nothing was wrong, Qin Yining finally breathed a sigh of relief. She was now hiding here with everyone, waiting for Pang Xiao’s return.

Fortunately, there were many matters to keep the court busy. Li Qitian had to deal with the Tatars’ defeat and surrender, handle the people who had just arrived in the capital, and catch whoever had been posting the proclamations.

Thinking about it this way, Qin Yining almost felt like shedding tears of sympathy for Li Qitian.

Meanwhile, Pang Xiao received news from the capital.

“Your Highness, the prisoners have arrived in the capital. The city’s commoners are jubilant and very lively, all praising this battle as deeply satisfying. His Majesty has not yet decided how to deal with the prisoners. Additionally, proclamations denouncing His Majesty have appeared again in the capital. We subordinates have not yet found where the Princess Consort has settled.”

Pang Xiao nodded and let the Elite Tiger Guards go rest.

He then turned to smile at Xu Weizhi and other strategists.

Xu Weizhi’s smile was very relaxed: “The Princess Consort’s move was brilliantly played. When Old Xie’s letter came some days ago, I saw it and found it hard to believe for a moment that all this was the Princess Consort’s decision. Your Highness, having such a wise helpmate as the Princess Consort is fortunate, and having such a wise helpmate who can fight alongside you is truly a blessing you’ve cultivated.” He turned to Qin Huaiyuan and cupped his hands, “Master Qin’s teaching has been excellent.”

Qin Huaiyuan waved his hand, “Hardly worth mentioning. That child truly didn’t enjoy much comfort by my side. Perhaps it was the trials outside that made her more cautious and mature.”

“Father-in-law,” Pang Xiao asked, “What do you think we should do in response?”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled, “Doesn’t Zhixi already have a judgment in mind? Actually, we needn’t be too hasty now. Everything comes down to one word: wait.”

“Wait?”

“Yes. Previously, Duke Dingguo also told me that after this battle ends, His Majesty will certainly settle accounts with Zhixi. I had originally been thinking of some method to make the common people’s support for you even higher. I never expected that before I could act, Yining had already made her move.

“Her method is excellent—it can both divert attention and force His Majesty to make wrong decisions, while continuing to build Zhixi’s image before the people of the realm.”

Xu Weizhi blinked, then cupped his hands and smiled, “Master Qin, forgive my dullness—for a moment I don’t fully understand what you mean.”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled, “It’s simple. Yining has now accomplished the first two parts. Next comes finding ways to build Zhixi’s image. That’s why I said we must wait.”

Xu Weizhi understood and immediately nodded approvingly, “Right, His Majesty is accustomed to being high and mighty—how could he willingly be inferior to others in everything? The more he has such thoughts, the more he can be used. Now is precisely when public opinion is at its highest—I believe soon, how His Majesty treats meritorious officials will be known to all.”

“Exactly so. Yining is also forcing His Majesty to become angry. Once a person becomes angry and loses composure, the things they do often disregard consequences. We just need to wait and see what develops.”