Pang Xiao said: “I got my revenge quite thoroughly long ago.”

Ji Zeyu gracefully jumped down from his horse, casually tossing the reins to a follower behind him, and walked shoulder to shoulder with Pang Xiao.

“The one surnamed Qin—did you kill him?”

“No.”

The two entered the city gate and walked on the capital’s bustling streets, neither speaking for a while.

Both were tall and handsome. One wore a black sable cloak with an imposing presence, the other draped in a white fox fur cape, cold as frost. Walking together, they truly attracted the attention of many capital residents.

Quite a few people recognized that the one in black was the commander of the Huben Army, Prince Zhongshun Pang Xiao, and the one in white was the commander of the Longxiang Army, Marquis Dingbei Ji Zeyu.

However, since they were in public and not knowing whether these two powerful military figures had important matters to discuss, no one approached to disturb them.

As Pang Xiao walked, he worried about Qin Yining’s health. The capital was located in the north, a place beyond the pass that Qin Yining had never been to. She had been so cold even during southern winters—how could she endure it here? Moreover, her constitution was weak with insufficient qi and blood, and she was still coughing when they parted.

When Pang Xiao thought of these things, his expression showed unconcealed worry.

Ji Zeyu observed all of his expressions.

After a long while, so long that Pang Xiao had forgotten what he and Ji Zeyu had just discussed, Ji Zeyu suddenly said: “It’s fine.”

This statement came out of nowhere, startling Pang Xiao.

But Ji Zeyu had already taken the reins from his follower and leaped onto his horse. “His Majesty commands me to depart. I take my leave now.”

Pang Xiao asked in surprise: “So urgent?”

“Mm. Let’s gather again next time.” Ji Zeyu rarely curved his lips, showing a smile as he cupped his hands toward Pang Xiao.

Pang Xiao sighed lightly and said: “Very well, let’s gather again next time.” He also cupped his hands toward Ji Zeyu.

Ji Zeyu then put away his smile, looked coldly at Pang Xiao and those beside him once more, then turned and rode away.

Huzi shivered. “Marquis Dingbei’s temperament really hasn’t changed over the years. That look he gives people—it’s as if he has a grudge against you.”

Upon hearing this, Pang Xiao only smiled and shook his head, sighing: “Forget it. Since we’re already back, let’s first enter the palace to have an audience with His Majesty.” Otherwise, those well-fed censors might seize the opportunity to impeach him for disrespecting the Emperor.

Returning to the capital, Pang Xiao naturally had to tighten all his nerves to deal with the surrounding affairs.

The waters of officialdom ran deep. Back when fighting to establish the Zhou Dynasty, he had taken the lead in all the dirty work. Combined with his revenge killings by slow slicing for his father, not only was his fierce reputation widespread, but even those surrendered officials from Northern Ji now looked at him as if seeing their father’s killer. With open and hidden attacks impossible to guard against, he had to summon every ounce of his energy to deal with these matters.

Moreover, the one on the imperial throne still harbored reservations about him.

Things indeed unfolded exactly as Pang Xiao had anticipated.

In the majestic and dignified imperial palace.

A middle-aged man of medium build with a kind face, wearing bright yellow imperial robes, helped up Pang Xiao who was kneeling before him with both hands, his voice full of joy:

“Dear brother, please rise quickly. You’ve been away campaigning for so long, and we brothers haven’t spoken in ages. I’ve truly missed you terribly!”

Pang Xiao stepped back a few paces to stand below the steps, respectfully saying: “This subject feels the same. How has Your Majesty’s health been recently?”

“Good, all good. I’ve just been missing you terribly. You handled the Great Yan affair extremely well. However, matters like surrender ceremonies and handovers are too complicated—I didn’t want you to suffer further, so I simply called you back. You won’t blame me, will you?”

“What words are these, Your Majesty?” Pang Xiao smiled. “I’m delighted—you know this subject is most impatient with these troublesome, brain-taxing matters. I’d rather spend that time drinking good wine!”

“Haha! Exactly!” Li Qitian laughed heartily, then said: “You’ve worked hard this time. You’ve also campaigned abroad long enough. The elders at home miss you terribly, and you should spend more time with them showing filial piety. Moreover, you’ve overexerted yourself. I’m planning to temporarily have Minister of War Zuo Jinwei serve as acting commander of the Huben Army. You should rest peacefully in the capital. What do you think?”

He was taking away his military command!

Pang Xiao lowered his eyes and head, respectfully performing a grand bow: “Your Majesty’s instructions perfectly suit this subject’s wishes. This subject thanks Your Majesty for your generous grace.”

Li Qitian seemed not to expect Pang Xiao to agree so easily, pausing for a moment before smiling with narrowed eyes without showing his thoughts: “Good, good. I shall grant you one hundred acres of fertile land, one hundred taels of gold, and ten beautiful women as concubines. You must rest well during this time—my Great Zhou still needs to rely on you!”

“As long as Your Majesty commands, this subject is willing to sacrifice everything without hesitation.” Pang Xiao once again respectfully expressed his gratitude.

When entering the palace, Pang Xiao was still the commander of the Huben Army.

When leaving the palace, he had been stripped of military power, surrendered his military seal, and become an idle prince with only a royal title but no official position.

Behind him, besides his personal guards, followed eunuchs delivering rewards, and at the end of the procession were ten great beauties of various types, each with their own distinctive charm.

Huzi frowned and lowered his voice to whisper in Pang Xiao’s ear: “My lord, what will Fourth Miss do if she learns that before she’s even married into the family, you already have ten imperially-bestowed concubines?”

What an inconvenient thing to bring up!

Pang Xiao showed no expression, but his heart couldn’t be more impatient.

Returning to Prince Zhongshun’s mansion, he had someone take the ten beauties to be settled, then went to pay respects to his mother, grandfather, and grandmother.

Just as Pang Xiao was reuniting with his family, he didn’t know that Ji Zeyu, who should have left the capital with his personal troops heading north toward Tatar territory, had instead exited through the north gate, taken a great detour, and headed straight south toward Great Yan Dynasty.

“Miss, please hold this hand warmer—you absolutely mustn’t catch cold again.”

In the spacious carriage, Ji Yun stuffed a brass hand warmer into Qin Yining’s arms.

Qin Yining quickly took it and pressed her ice-cold hands against it, finally feeling much more comfortable. She smiled: “How could I catch cold so easily? Don’t worry—my health is much better now. I just didn’t expect Great Zhou Dynasty’s winter to be so cold. Traveling in the dead of winter is truly difficult.”

Ten days ago, Prince of Yan Prefecture had led his family members and the first group of officials and their families who had surrendered to Great Zhou, embarking on the journey north to Great Zhou’s capital.

Yan Dynasty was located in the south, and even when it snowed in winter, the snow could hardly accumulate on the ground.

But the farther they traveled toward the capital, the colder the weather became. By the time they crossed the border at Liang City and entered Great Zhou territory, everywhere was covered in silver, with pine and cypress forests standing among the mountains.

Such cold weather was hard for southerners to adapt to.

Fortunately, Qin Yining had lived near the border in her earlier years, so she adapted somewhat better than others in her family.

Just then, commotion suddenly arose from the front of the convoy, and the carriage slowly stopped.

Qin Yining asked strangely: “What’s happening?”

“This servant will go look.” Ji Yun jumped down from the carriage.

For this journey, Yuchi Yan along with his consorts and palace attendants traveled at the very rear of the convoy. Ahead of them was Duke Anguo Li family’s convoy, further ahead was Imperial Tutor Gu family’s convoy, and fourth from the rear was the Qin family.

Ahead of the Qin family were dozens more carriages leading the way.

Ji Yun craned her neck to look forward and suddenly her expression changed drastically.

In the white snow ahead, a large group of burly men wearing animal skins and face coverings, wielding swords, spears, clubs, and staffs, were charging into the convoy, cutting down anyone they saw. Especially the female family members riding in carriages and palanquins—they were being dragged out and cut down one by one!

“Miss, get out of the carriage quickly! Hurry, hurry! They’re bandits!” Ji Yun cried out in panic!