Thanks to A’na Ri’s outburst, Qin Yining finally had a peaceful day. Si Qin was likely being watched closely and had no opportunity to approach her, allowing her taut nerves to relax.

The next morning, before dawn had broken and while Qin Yining had yet to rise, someone suddenly threw open the tent flap. The merciless autumn wind of early morning drilled into the tent, startling Qin Yining awake. She turned and sat up, looking guardedly toward the entrance.

The newcomer was a stocky middle-aged woman. She wore an indigo narrow-sleeved robe with a black vest over it, her hair neatly coiled at the back of her head.

Seeing Qin Yining, her face showed obvious disdain as she mocked in imperfect Zhou dialect: “Looks like you’re still sleeping quite comfortably? The Khan has ordered me to supervise you from today. The Khan and Prince Consort have already risen to prepare for departure, yet you, a mere prisoner, still have the audacity to oversleep. Get up and work!”

Qin Yining immediately understood. A’na Ri must have been unable to bear seeing her comfortable, so she had arranged for an old nanny to torment her. As for the maidservant from before who had served her carefully with bright, eager eyes upon seeing her, there would likely be no more of that in the future.

Qin Yining said nothing and rose to tidy herself. She washed her face with cold water, casually applied some face cream, combed her hair into a simple bun, and put on the hat adorned with red agate.

She had nothing with her, no baggage except for some medicine she needed to take, which she packed into a small bundle.

“Let’s go.” Having prepared herself, Qin Yining turned to address the nanny and walked out first.

The old nanny hadn’t expected Qin Yining to tend to herself so efficiently, neither bargaining nor dawdling, completely unlike the seductive woman she had imagined who would dare seduce the Prince Consort to live better.

For a moment she couldn’t keep up mentally, but still remembering the Khan’s instructions, she strode forward and shoved Qin Yining from behind.

“Hurry up, stop dawdling. Who do you think you are! You’re nothing but a captive, yet you dare put on airs before the Khan!”

Qin Yining was pushed so hard she staggered and nearly fell to the ground.

After steadying herself, she turned around in anger and slapped the nanny across the face.

“What kind of thing are you, daring to act wild before this Princess Consort!”

The old nanny was struck so hard she spun in place and fell to the ground dizzy, covering her face in disbelief as she looked up: “You, you dare hit me!”

“You are a slave, I am a master. You committed insubordination – why shouldn’t I hit you! I am a guest invited by your Prince Consort. You, a mere servant, dare be so presumptuous – do the Tatars no longer wish to negotiate with Great Zhou?”

Qin Yining’s voice was not loud, nor was she speaking quickly, yet it was extremely intimidating.

Everyone outside the tent who was busy preparing for departure looked this way. Seeing the scene where the nanny had intended to discipline Qin Yining but was instead disciplined by her, they all began whispering and pointing.

Qin Yining scolded: “Either you stay and serve properly, or get lost and have someone who knows the rules come instead! I’ve heard that the Tatars are the most hospitable and reasonable people. Such a fine people have had their character dragged down by things like you who know no rules and bully others with borrowed authority!”

Some of those nearby who understood Zhou language felt Qin Yining was too forceful, while others thought the old nanny was too domineering and had angered an honored guest.

The discussions grew louder.

At this moment, A’na Ri arrived quickly, wearing a bright red cloak and holding a riding whip. Seeing that the person she had arranged was actually sitting on the ground with a swollen face, she immediately flew into a rage.

“What audacity! How dare you act presumptuously on this Khan’s territory!”

“Khan.” Qin Yining performed proper courtesies and said, “This humble woman is but a mere female who understands little. But even so, I know what proper hospitality means.

“The Khan is a learned, reasonable woman with great wisdom. If you have people of such caliber doing things, they don’t understand propriety and instead drag down the Khan’s reputation. Isn’t this wronging the Khan? Those who know would say it’s the misdeeds of wicked servants below. Those who don’t know might think the Khan specifically instructed them to mistreat a defenseless guest!”

Looking at the increasingly swollen handprint on the nanny’s face, A’na Ri’s face went deathly pale with anger. “What thick skin you have! You’ve beaten someone’s face to this state, yet still have the nerve to call yourself defenseless!”

Qin Yining looked at the whip in A’na Ri’s hand and smiled slightly: “Khan, I respect you as a heroine among women. Though I was forcibly invited as a guest by your country’s Prince Consort, I am still the legitimate consort of Great Zhou’s Prince Zhongshun and daughter of the Minister of Rites. You may kill me, but you cannot humiliate me!

“I am not a patient person, and my temper is poor. Most importantly, I am prone to impulsiveness. If your people continue trying to disrespect me, I will simply end it all rather than endure your grievances. Whether your negotiations can succeed then, I cannot guarantee.”

“You dare threaten this Khan! Let me tell you, we Tatars have many soldiers and generals, abundant provisions. If we wanted to flatten your Great Zhou full of cowards, it wouldn’t take any effort at all! You can die, and we won’t negotiate conditions. This Khan will directly lead warriors to kill our way over and slaughter you all without leaving a single piece of armor!”

As A’na Ri spoke, she raised her arm.

The attendants beside her also cried out in response.

Hearing this, Qin Yining felt a wave of worry in her heart.

She could now be certain that there was definitely something wrong between Si Qin and A’na Ri. A’na Ri’s fearless manner showed she truly didn’t care about going to war, and even seemed to hope for war.

On Great Zhou’s side, Pang Xiao’s position was already quite awkward. If something happened to her, with Pang Xiao’s temperament he would certainly lead troops to avenge her. At that time, never mind whether the Emperor would release military authority, the carnage caused by war itself would be inexcusable.

Though her thoughts raced, Qin Yining didn’t yield an inch: “The Khan has many people and loud voices. I won’t compete with you on that. Didn’t you say we’re returning to the capital? Then I’ll go to the cart first.”

Qin Yining nodded slightly and walked directly toward a wagon.

Lu Heng had already been placed in the cart. Seeing Qin Yining approach, he smiled and scooted inward, making room for her.

Lu Heng said in a low voice: “Don’t provoke them, lest you suffer physical abuse. I can see their purpose in binding us two isn’t as simple as ransom.”

“You noticed too?” Qin Yining also asked quietly.

The two understood each other tacitly. It seemed that with Lu Heng’s intelligence, he had already grasped some of the situation.

Seeing Qin Yining get on the wagon and immediately start flirting with Lu Heng, A’na Ri became even more suspicious of her character. With a dark expression, she ordered departure. Without any rest along the way, they spent an entire day traveling, finally entering the gates of the Tatar capital “Dadu” after nightfall.

A’na Ri habitually turned back to boast: “We Tatars have a long history. Compared to your small places, it would be bullying you. Today this Khan will broaden your horizons.”