Qin Yining knew how much heartache lay beneath his glamorous exterior. Hearing him disparage himself this way, she couldn’t help but feel distressed and took his hand.
“Since ancient times, heroes don’t ask about origins. Your wealth and status were earned by risking your life, exchanged for those scars on your body and your military achievements. You have no need to rely on the Pang family’s inherited wealth—you yourself are the first generation of nobility who built merit and established a career! I believe if General Pang knew of your existence, he would certainly be proud of you.”
Her voice was gentle, yet her tone was more determined than ever before. Pang Xiao was deeply moved hearing this. But he was, after all, only human, and had moments when his heart was fragile. Pang Xiao couldn’t help but want to lay bare all his inner thoughts before Qin Yining.
“That may be so, but I am still an illegitimate child… When the legitimate mother arrives at the residence, the inner quarters will certainly be in chaos. I’m also worried that my mother and my maternal grandparents won’t know how to handle her.”
“Even if some legitimate mother appears now, so what? She is the madam of the General’s residence, while you are the prince of Prince Zhongshun’s residence. The General’s residence no longer exists, but Prince Zhongshun’s residence is at its peak. How you treat her is still up to you to decide, isn’t it? If you’re afraid she’ll bully the Old Madam and the others, that’s not a big problem either—just give her a courtyard and ensure she doesn’t lack food and drink. Surely His Majesty wouldn’t ask you to honor her above all others?”
“I think that’s exactly what His Majesty means.” Pang Xiao smiled bitterly: “The General’s residence never knew of my existence before, and I was never recorded in the Pang family genealogy. If not for raising the Pang family banner, His Majesty wouldn’t have commanded Master Zheng to find me initially. My mother was also determined never to tell me about my origins in her lifetime, wanting only for me to live happily and without want.”
Qin Yining was extremely indignant hearing this and couldn’t help saying: “His Majesty is supposedly a man, yet time and again he reaches his hands into the inner quarters. Is he really a man or not!”
Not to mention those ten beauties in the residence, just consider Princess Anyang’s affair—how much did Li Qitian manipulate from behind the scenes? And when Pang Xiao went on campaign, he would constantly invite Yao Shi, Yao Chenggu, and Ma Shi to stay in the palace, ostensibly showing affection and helping his brother show filial piety to elders, but actually keeping hostages by his side.
If he could truly employ both schemes and open strategies, Qin Yining would admire Li Qitian.
But Li Qitian’s methods truly made it impossible for Qin Yining to feel any goodwill toward him.
“These things don’t matter much. As long as we remain constantly vigilant, we can meet soldiers with generals and water with earth. As for who wronged whom originally, who was more aggrieved—those are matters of the previous generation. General Pang is already gone, so dwelling on these things is meaningless. Living well in the future is what’s most important.”
Hearing this, Pang Xiao nodded slightly and tightened his arm around Qin Yining.
The two sat quietly together, speaking in low voices. After a good while, Pang Xiao quietly departed.
In the following days, the entire capital was immersed in the joyful atmosphere of the approaching New Year.
For the Great Zhou dynasty, the realm was at peace with prosperity and stability. The Tatars were busy with internal strife and had no time to invade, so the north had been peaceful for a long time. Most of Great Yan had been incorporated into Great Zhou’s territory, and the south was also pacified.
This year brought nothing but good fortune for Great Zhou, and Li Qitian was in high spirits, full of pride and ambition.
But for the people of Great Yan dynasty, this year was the most difficult to endure. Because this was the first New Year they were observing after their country’s destruction and families’ ruin. From now on, they would never again have roots, just like now living as guests in the lodge—even if they became officials and bought houses in the future, they would ultimately be drifting duckweed in Great Zhou.
On New Year’s Eve, the Qin family had originally discussed whether to celebrate the New Year together with Prince Yan and his wife, Minister Li, and Minister Gu. But upon careful analysis, from now on, Yuchi Yan in Great Zhou would probably be just a bird in a golden cage, never able to fly again. Even if Li Qitian got drunk, he would never give Yuchi Yan any position with real power.
This person not only had no future, but getting too close to him might even bring disaster to one’s own family.
Thus the entire guest lodge was deathly quiet, with only occasional firecracker sounds from the streets outside.
The Qin family all gathered in the main room of the small courtyard for their New Year’s Eve dinner.
The table was laden with exquisite delicacies. With Li Qitian, this benevolent ruler’s special care for surrendered officials, the kitchen had truly put great effort into the New Year’s Eve dishes. Though they hadn’t specifically prepared southern specialties for the Great Yan people, the dishes were still excellent in color, aroma, and taste.
It’s just that the family had no appetite.
Because this so-called reunion dinner was happening when the family was not truly reunited.
The Old Dowager looked at the whole family seated together and sighed: “Last New Year’s Eve, who could have imagined we’d be spending this year like this?”
Second Madam supported the Old Dowager’s arm and patted it consolingly: “Old Dowager, please take care of your health and don’t think about these unhappy things.”
“How can I be happy? Meng Ge’er—I don’t even know if he’s doing well now, whether he’s still alive… Our whole family barely escaped natural disasters and man-made calamities to reach Great Zhou. We thought the road ahead would be smooth and safe, but Meng Ge’er was kidnapped. We wanted to agree to the kidnappers’ conditions, but Yining couldn’t enter the palace…”
As the Old Dowager spoke, grief welled up from within. She covered her face and began weeping.
Seeing this, the whole family showed sorrowful expressions, and Eighth Miss and Qin Huining also shed tears.
Qin Yining frowned: “Old Dowager, please don’t cry. Today is New Year’s Eve, a most auspicious day—we cannot cry.”
“You heartless little wretch! Your parents’ situation is unknown, yet you won’t let me cry? I think you’re simply cold-hearted and cold-blooded, unwilling to worry about your parents!” The Old Dowager slapped the table, sobbing: “How bitter is my fate! How did I end up with such troubles!”
The Old Dowager’s crying grew louder, causing Second Madam, Han Second Mistress, and all the maids to start crying as well.
Qin Yining frowned and looked toward Second Master and Third Master: “Second Uncle, Third Uncle, crying so loudly at this time—aren’t you afraid of angering His Majesty? How many eyes are watching our family? Those who know understand the Old Dowager is crying from worry about her son, but those who don’t might think we’re die-hard loyalists of Yan dynasty, crying for our fallen country on New Year’s! Do we still want to live in Great Zhou in the future or not!”
Though Qin Yining addressed Second Master, her voice was not small, effectively rebuking all the womenfolk in the room indirectly.
Hearing that this might offend the imperial family, the Old Dowager’s crying immediately quieted.
The other womenfolk also felt anxious and no longer dared cry loudly.
Second Master was also very impatient with the Old Dowager’s behavior. He even admired how Qin Huaiyuan used to be able to placate the Old Dowager with just a word or two.
Second Master said: “Yining is right—we must be careful with every word and action now. Moreover, Yining just secretly told me she has good news to share with the whole family today.”
The Old Dowager wiped her tears and looked at Qin Yining with displeasure: “What good news do you have to tell?”
Qin Yining thought to herself that Second Master was an old fox, actually passing the ball back to her. She said: “There is indeed good news. Old Dowager and everyone needn’t worry about my father. I believe that after the New Year, within the first month, my father will return.”