Qin Yining tilted her head back, enduring his kiss that was like a violent storm. She could only feel his hard arms nearly breaking her waist, and she could hear the muffled, rough breathing in Pang Xiao’s throat like a trapped beast struggling. She could only extend her arms to embrace his neck, her fingers lingering in his hair to comfort him.
Pang Xiao’s kiss gradually became slow and gentle, as if expressing apology for his earlier rough behavior. He used his tongue tip to trace the lips that had been ravaged and swollen red by him. When their lips parted, he again treasuredly held her in his arms.
“Yi jie’er, you’re so wonderful. I’ve long decided that you’re mine. If someone suddenly told me that my future couldn’t include you, I’m afraid I’d do things even I couldn’t control.”
Qin Yining leaned against Pang Xiao’s shoulder, nuzzling against him obediently like a kitten.
“It won’t happen. Trust me, I can resolve this matter. Just let me think of a solution properly.”
“Good. I know you’re intelligent and will definitely think of a way. Tell me whatever you need me to do, and I’ll definitely cooperate with you.”
His cautiousness made Qin Yining feel both touched and heartbroken. His current situation was so difficult—she must handle her own affairs properly and not let him worry anymore.
“Your Highness, Your Highness!”
Outside the tightly closed room door, Huzi’s voice suddenly came: “His Majesty has arrived! Please quickly prepare to receive him!”
Qin Yining was startled and hurriedly withdrew from Pang Xiao’s embrace, looking around for a place to hide.
Pang Xiao pointed to the screen in the side room. Qin Yining understood and immediately ran behind the black lacquered red wood folding screen.
As soon as she stood still, she heard a burst of hearty laughter from outside the front hall door.
Pang Xiao pushed open the room door, ordered people to lift the warm curtain, and hurriedly knelt down to pay respects: “Your Majesty! Your Majesty’s great presence truly brings brilliance to this humble dwelling! Why didn’t you inform your subject so that I could prepare properly?”
Though respectful on the surface, Pang Xiao’s heart was already full of questions. He had just returned Li Helan to His Majesty earlier. Though he hadn’t spoken harshly, given His Majesty’s temperament, he was probably quite embarrassed. How was it that after such a short time, he had come to the door? Was it because of harbored resentment, or because of guilt? Or was he dissatisfied and had other schemes?
“Dear brother, please rise quickly.” Li Qitian supported Pang Xiao with both hands, entered the front hall hand in hand with him, and sat in the main seat, smiling: “I thought you would either be with your elders at this time, or in your study. I didn’t expect to learn from asking around that you were here. This front hall is quite cold—dear brother mustn’t catch a chill.”
These words seemed ordinary but were actually full of deep meaning and probing.
Pang Xiao was already alert. What had happened at the prince’s mansion earlier had probably reached Li Qitian’s ears word for word. Li Qitian might not know the inside story, but he definitely knew that the old matriarch had come to visit and left cursing and swearing, even being chased by the big black dog for a whole street.
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern.” Pang Xiao stood to one side with lowered head, respectfully saying: “The mansion just had guests who left not long ago. I was originally going to chat with grandmother and the others.”
“I see.” Li Qitian nodded.
Li Guanwen respectfully brought tea at this time.
Li Qitian took the tea and dismissed Li Guanwen and other attendants.
When there were no outsiders in the room, he smiled and said: “Dear brother, please sit and talk. Why should family brothers be so formal?”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Pang Xiao bowed and sat modestly on a round chair to the side.
Li Qitian said: “Tomorrow is the grand court assembly. I came specially because there’s something I want to discuss with dear brother.”
Hiding behind the screen, Qin Yining held her breath and didn’t dare make the slightest sound. Hearing Li Qitian say this, she immediately frowned in confusion.
Li Qitian took a sip of tea and said kindly: “Dear brother pacified the southern rebellion for me. I’m deeply moved and grateful. Previously, considering dear brother’s health, I arranged for you to rest for this period and haven’t given you any official rewards or titles. Dear brother won’t blame me, will you?”
“What are you saying, Your Majesty?” Pang Xiao said carelessly: “You understand my nature best. I’m habitually lazy and most impatient with troublesome matters. When I originally followed Your Majesty to conquer the world, it was so that one day I could live good days of eating well, drinking well, and not worrying about anything. Now my days are exactly what I hoped for in my heart. Everything I possess was given by Your Majesty. I’m grateful before it’s too late—how could I blame you? Honestly, without Your Majesty, how could I, Pang Zhixi, have today’s wealth and honor? Your Majesty keeps your promises—what you promised when we were conquering the world has all been fulfilled. I’m grateful to tears.”
Hearing this, Li Qitian’s expression became somewhat moved: “Sigh! Looking back on past events now still makes me feel lingering fear…”
Behind the screen, Qin Yining listened to Li Qitian beginning to reminisce about the past and play the emotional card, and couldn’t help but secretly praise Pang Xiao’s response just now.
This was the first time she had seen the interaction pattern between Pang Xiao and Li Qitian, and she finally understood why Li Qitian was so wary of Pang Xiao yet hadn’t immediately torn off the mask.
On one hand, Li Qitian probably didn’t have the confidence to tear off the mask with Pang Xiao. On the other hand, it was also the result of Pang Xiao’s constant humble submission. He showed weakness everywhere and would appropriately evoke memories of their passionate past years, which would not only relax Li Qitian’s vigilance but also occasionally make Li Qitian remember their past friendship, causing some hesitation when making certain decisions.
But Qin Yining felt more heartache for Pang Xiao. She really didn’t want to see her man being bullied, but with others holding the knife and them being the fish on the cutting board, there was no other way for now.
Li Qitian reminisced about past years and mourned some deceased brothers, then stood up and patted Pang Xiao’s shoulder: “How could I not know your temperament and nature? However, you’re a person of great talent, and I can’t bear to bury your abilities. This period of rest for you also allowed me to observe carefully. After consideration, I’ve decided to let you enter the cabinet as a Grand Secretary to be my right-hand man.”
Learning from the drawbacks of the Northern Ji Kingdom’s prime minister monopolizing power, Great Zhou had abolished the prime minister system and changed to a cabinet system.
The cabinet consisted of one Chief Grand Secretary, one Second Grand Secretary, and several other Grand Secretaries—three to seven people total sharing prime ministerial power. When deliberating matters, the cabinet members would discuss and then vote to decide, with the Chief Grand Secretary having two votes and the Second Grand Secretary and other Grand Secretaries each having one vote.
Li Qitian said earnestly: “Dear brother, you’re someone who followed me in conquering the world. I won’t hide my thoughts from you. Although I now sit on the imperial throne, how many people below truly submit willingly is uncertain. These ministers form cliques and factions, each governing separately. On the surface they’re respectful to me, but actually each harbors their own thoughts.
“Take the current cabinet, for example. The current Chief Grand Secretary is a veteran from the Northern Ji Kingdom’s surrendered officials faction—highly respected and prestigious in the former dynasty. If I want to maintain good relations with the Northern Ji surrendered officials and make them obey me, I must be careful. The Second Grand Secretary Zhou Min is better—he’s my father-in-law, one of my own people.
“However, things have now taken a turn. The Chief Grand Secretary is over seventy and has submitted a memorial requesting retirement, which I’ve approved. With the Chief Grand Secretary position vacant, naturally the Second Grand Secretary will move up, and the cabinet will be short one person. You’re my confidant. After you enter the cabinet with one vote, plus the Chief Grand Secretary will be my father-in-law with two votes, you two together have three votes and can suppress those other two Northern Ji old officials. When deciding matters then, won’t it be up to us brothers to have the final say?”