Pang Xiao gripped the bright yellow imperial edict tightly and angrily turned to glare at Gu Shixiong.
However, Qin Yining spoke first: “Minister Gu should first think about how it feels to fall short at the final step. Oh, and you might also consider how it feels to have harmed Prince Yan to this extent through your selfish actions. Prince Yan could have lived peacefully for the rest of his life, but now it’s all been completely ruined by your ambition, old sir. Not only have you abandoned your family and children, you’ve also harmed your master. How does it feel to lose both your wife and your soldiers? Comfortable?”
“You! Wretched woman!”
“I dare not accept such praise. Compared to you, old sir, who climbs over your master to rise up, I’m still far behind.” Qin Yining stood up with Pang Xiao’s support.
Gu Shixiong was so choked by her words that he began coughing violently, pounding his chest and gasping for breath.
Qin Yining’s words struck right at his heart. As an old minister like Gu Shixiong, he didn’t care about money—he only wanted his name recorded in history. In peaceful times, being a wise minister assisting an enlightened ruler would naturally be good, but encountering turbulent times, being able to serve as a capable minister who could restore order would better demonstrate his worth.
From the day Great Yan fell, he had been thinking about how to use that treasure to unite with Southern Yan and push Yuchi Yan back onto the imperial throne.
But lacking opportunity all along, he could only wait for the right moment.
Now this chance had presented itself before him. He just hadn’t expected to fall into another trap this time!
The last time with the treasure map incident, he had been played by Qin Yining.
This time, failing again, he had to see Qin Yining’s detestable face once more, and she had publicly exposed his embarrassing affairs.
Looking back at Yuchi Yan, Gu Shixiong was horrified to discover that Yuchi Yan was looking at him with some speculation and suspicion!
Gu Shixiong’s heart skipped a beat.
Yuchi Yan had taken Qin Yining’s provocative words to heart!
Originally, with both of them caught red-handed, their future situation was already unpredictable. Who would have thought that Qin Yining could successfully sow discord with just a few words, and that Yuchi Yan, to whom he had devoted his loyalty, would be so willing to listen to Qin Yining’s words.
A beauty who brings disaster—truly a calamity!
Gu Shixiong’s vision darkened, his body went limp, and he fell backward.
Seeing this, Yuchi Yan, who had originally harbored resentment, hurried forward anxiously to support him.
“Minister Gu, are you alright! Minister Gu!”
Seeing that Gu Shixiong had truly fainted, Yuchi Yan, no matter how much he might resent the old man, still considered him one of his own. He suddenly raised his head, his angry gaze fixed directly on Qin Yining. In the dim underground cave, Yuchi Yan’s eyes seemed to have two clusters of fire lit within them.
“Why must you be like this! You’ve now climbed to high branches and can live worry-free for life. Just because you’re living well, does that give you the right to treat people from your former country this way! No wonder books say that only women and petty people are difficult to nurture—truly ungrateful! I see you’ve completely forgotten that you’re a person of Great Yan!” Yuchi Yan’s roar was hoarse and desperate. In the spacious underground chamber, his voice seemed particularly shrill.
Qin Yining’s face darkened as she laughed coldly: “Do you even know what you’re saying? Don’t push the consequences of your own cowardice and incompetence onto others. Just because you say it’s all someone else’s fault, does that really make it not your fault? I am indeed a woman, but I conduct myself properly and sit upright. Throwing out your own woman to take the blame—that’s not something I would do!”
“You!” Yuchi Yan angrily pointed at Qin Yining, but couldn’t find words to defend himself.
Qin Yining sneered again, completely unwilling to say another word to Yuchi Yan.
She felt very fortunate that she hadn’t considered her family’s prospects back then and done something like currying favor with those in power. Otherwise, ending up with such a man, she would have collapsed before anyone else could do anything to her.
Seeing Qin Yining render Yuchi Yan speechless, Pang Xiao felt better than if he had been enfeoffed as a prince or appointed as chancellor. He possessively pulled Qin Yining closer and turned to address You Meng, who had been watching the drama for quite some time: “Although there is an imperial edict, this prince is after all His Majesty’s sworn brother, so I should still offer some suggestions. First, the local authorities should be immediately notified to surround the area with troops to prevent any disturbances. Second, we should wait until the forces are assembled and we receive imperial permission before beginning to transport anything.”
You Meng smiled without warmth and cupped his hands: “There’s no need for Your Highness to worry about this. His Majesty has instructed that all matters be handled by this general, and this general has everything under control.”
“You have it under control?” Pang Xiao laughed coldly. “I think you want to take the opportunity to steal His Majesty’s treasure!”
“Don’t make such slanderous accusations!” You Meng roared angrily. “Although this general’s rank may not be as high as Your Highness’s, this general’s loyalty to His Majesty can be witnessed by heaven and earth! What are your intentions in making such speculations about this general!”
“General You needn’t be so anxious. Those who are upright fear no crooked shadows. If you truly don’t covet His Majesty’s treasure, then you should conduct yourself openly for all to see. But you insist on acting arbitrarily, which makes it very difficult for this prince not to be suspicious.”
“This general is acting according to His Majesty’s verbal instructions! Your Highness has already received the imperial edict. From now on, Your Highness need only bring the Princess Consort and your attendants to await orders in place and await new instructions. There’s no need for Your Highness to worry about other matters.”
Pang Xiao fell silent at You Meng’s words, his fists at his sides clenched tightly, as if this could suppress all the irritation and anger in his heart.
“Acting this way, this prince must report to His Majesty!”
“Good! Your Highness is welcome to report. Are there enough carrier pigeons? If not, this general can lend you some. Haha!” You Meng looked at Pang Xiao’s deflated appearance and immediately burst into excited, arrogant laughter toward the sky. With a wave of his hand, he ordered the Dragon Guards to enter and count the silver in the chests.
Pang Xiao and Qin Yining were squeezed into a corner. Watching the soldiers busily working with great enthusiasm, Pang Xiao said: “Forget it, let’s go up first.”
Qin Yining also nodded.
However, just as they were about to step up the gentle slope to return to the surface, You Meng blocked their path.
“Your Highness, please stop.”
Pang Xiao turned back. “What is it?”
“His Majesty’s edict was for Your Highness to await orders in place. What do the words ‘in place’ mean? Your Highness can surely understand them.” You Meng’s smile was meaningful.
Hearing this, Pang Xiao restrained himself again and again before saying: “The Princess Consort has a weak constitution and cannot endure the cold air underground. Awaiting orders ‘in place’ doesn’t necessarily mean we all have to stay underground.”
“Your Highness, this would be disobeying the imperial edict. This puts this general in a very difficult position!”
As soon as You Meng finished speaking, Pang Xiao swung his palm in a full arc and slapped him across the face.
“Smack!” The crisp sound rang out as You Meng’s head was knocked to one side. He then looked at Pang Xiao in disbelief: “How dare you hit someone!”
“Now it’s not difficult anymore, is it?”
“What?”
“This prince refuses to stay in the cave. You tried to persuade me, I wouldn’t listen, and I even hit you. You can go tell His Majesty all about it. Now the fault isn’t yours to bear—not difficult anymore, right?” Pang Xiao flexed his fist, the iron knuckles making crisp cracking sounds.
Only then did You Meng understand, saying incredulously: “Your Highness is simply being a scoundrel!”