When Qin Yining suddenly stood up, she felt somewhat dizzy. She supported herself against the bamboo shed’s door frame and gasped for breath a few times before her vision stopped darkening.
Pang Xiao had walked several steps before realizing Qin Yining hadn’t followed. Seeing her struggling against the door frame in such discomfort, he hurriedly turned back and worriedly supported her: “How are you? Are you dizzy?”
“I’m alright. I am a bit dizzy, but it’ll pass after standing for a moment.”
Pang Xiao frowned with concern and helped Qin Yining walk forward.
Recently, Prince Zhongshun’s consort had fallen ill, and all the guards and Dragon Soar Army soldiers already knew. Through their daily interactions, they had all discovered that both Pang Xiao and Qin Yining were very easy to get along with. They never put on airs with them, never showed them sour faces, and never vented their anger on others arbitrarily. Thus, their impression of the Pang Xiao couple had already changed for the better.
Such a delicate beauty was trapped in the mountains and had suffered for half a month—they all felt quite uncomfortable about it in their hearts.
So when they saw Pang Xiao supporting Qin Yining as they came out, everyone felt very sympathetic.
The one who came to deliver the edict was a guard who served before the throne. He unfolded the imperial decree, and everyone knelt on the ground.
The content of the edict was simple: it commanded Prince Zhongshun to immediately take his consort and rush to the disaster area to handle all disaster relief matters with full authority, while Prince Yan and Gu Shixiong were to escort prisoners back to the capital.
Pang Xiao kowtowed and received the edict, then smiled and asked the guard: “His Majesty has received the treasure by now, right?”
The guard smiled bitterly and shook his head: “His Majesty has not received the treasure. The people Prince Consort Ji sent out to meet them have almost reached the disaster area, but they haven’t encountered those transporting the treasure. The treasure has vanished into thin air! Even General You Meng and the Dragon Soar Army who were escorting the treasure have disappeared without a trace.”
“What!” Pang Xiao stared in shock: “How could the treasure vanish into thin air! This prince personally watched the treasure being packed into chests and loaded onto carts for transport. I ensured everything was foolproof before letting them depart! Could it be… could it be You Meng?”
The guard shook his head and sighed: “His Majesty is furious. He hasn’t slept since receiving the news. He arranged for me to deliver this edict to Your Highness, and His Majesty also instructed me to remind Your Highness of something.”
“Please speak.” Pang Xiao adopted a posture of attentive listening.
The guard said: “This disaster relief mission was originally planned to use that treasure to purchase grain and disaster relief supplies. But since the treasure is lost, the grain and medicine for disaster relief will be delayed. His Majesty knows Your Highness is truly capable, so he asks that Your Highness must find a way to pacify the people’s hearts. This is, after all, Great Yan’s territory. After such a long time, who knows what condition the disaster area is in. What Your Highness will face is definitely a complete mess. But His Majesty believes Your Highness will certainly have a solution.”
Qin Yining listened from the side, frowning deeply.
What did this mean?
They had delayed them here, waiting idly for more than half a month. The disaster relief timing was delayed—had Li Qitian not arranged for anyone else to rush to the disaster area?
Li Qitian had no money—she knew that.
But as an emperor, even without money, he couldn’t be without heart!
Nearly two months had passed since the earthquake. They were relying entirely on local officials to maintain order. With no grain, no medicine delivered, and no money as foundation, what were the disaster victims supposed to eat and drink?
And those buried under the rubble during the earthquake who could have been saved might very well have lost their lives due to delayed rescue efforts.
Yet Li Qitian was still single-mindedly focused on the treasure, not caring about the life and death of those people.
After delaying for so long without arranging for anyone to comfort the people, now he was sending Pang Xiao to the disaster area to pacify hearts, but shamelessly expected Pang Xiao to comfort them himself without providing any relief rice or funds. How was he supposed to provide disaster relief!
Without supplies, just sending an official—was he supposed to cut his own flesh to feed the people!
Or did Li Qitian think they could pacify the disaster victims with just words?
This was clearly digging a pit for Pang Xiao to jump into. In a land that most despised Pang Xiao, he was being surrounded again by rising popular resentment. This was simply using a borrowed knife to kill!
Li Qitian was far too sinister and unscrupulous!
All these thoughts flashed through Qin Yining’s mind in an instant, and Pang Xiao naturally thought of the same things.
But he had no other choice now and still had to put on a pleased appearance: “That His Majesty values me highly is my honor. Go back and tell His Majesty to rest assured—I will certainly not disappoint His Majesty’s trust and will handle this assignment well.”
The imperial guard who delivered the edict was somewhat stunned.
Anyone who wasn’t a fool could figure out these twists and turns. Prince Zhongshun was such a brave and strategic person that he couldn’t possibly not understand completely, yet he accepted the edict gladly. What did this indicate?
This indicated that His Highness was magnanimous and loyal.
The imperial guard greatly admired the War God Prince, so after hearing Pang Xiao’s words, he said with great emotion: “Your Highness, rest assured. I will certainly report your words to His Majesty.”
Pang Xiao smiled and nodded: “Thank you for your trouble. His Majesty must be mentally and physically exhausted these days. When you return, also remind Eunuch Li to pay more attention to His Majesty’s meals and rest, and frequently summon imperial physicians to attend him. State affairs are important, but His Majesty’s health is even more important.”
“Yes.” The guard nodded heavily, presented the edict to Pang Xiao with both hands, then went to organize his own troops to take custody of Yuchi Yan and Gu Shixiong and escort them back to the capital.
The Dragon Soar Army troops who had originally been left behind to guard remained by Pang Xiao’s side to continue protecting him.
Qin Yining pressed her lips together and swayed slightly as she entered the bamboo shed.
Seeing Qin Yining in such condition, everyone didn’t dare urge immediate departure for Great Yan’s former capital.
Bingtang and Ji Yun hurriedly followed her inside.
Pang Xiao apologetically cupped his hands to the Dragon Soar Army soldiers: “Thank you all for your hard work during this time. Let’s prepare ourselves and depart shortly.”
“What words is Your Highness speaking? The Princess Consort is unwell, so resting a bit longer is good. How can we speak of hardship?”
“Thank you all for your understanding.” Pang Xiao smiled gratefully and cupped his hands.
All the men hurriedly returned the courtesy.
As Pang Xiao turned toward the bamboo shed, the crowd couldn’t help but feel somewhat admiring as they watched his tall retreating figure.
Such a War God-like figure could charge through battlefields, serve as a capable minister in court, and privately cherish his wife so tenderly. Combined with his forthright character and powerful presence, he truly inspired respect and admiration.
Pang Xiao didn’t know that he had already gained the loyalty of many subordinates without realizing it.
His heart was now entirely focused on Qin Yining’s health.
In the bamboo shed, Bingtang applied medicine to Qin Yining’s wrist and said: “I’ll go gather some more medicine later. We still need to take several more doses of our medicine. Please rest assured—there’s no serious problem, but you also mustn’t overwork your mind and body.”
“I understand.” Qin Yining smiled gratefully at Bingtang.
Seeing Pang Xiao enter, Bingtang and Ji Yun both withdrew, calling a few people to go gather medicine together.
Pang Xiao sat sideways beside Qin Yining and said tenderly: “Things came at such an inopportune time.”
“There’s nothing inopportune about it. My health is fine—I’ll be better after taking medicine for two days. Later, have Bingtang help prepare medicine for the journey. We shouldn’t delay here any longer and should hurry to the disaster area as quickly as possible, lest we give people grounds for criticism.”