Gu Shixiong was indeed old ginger. After helping Yuchi Yan search for treasure and leaving the capital, the old and young members of the Gu family, including his beloved granddaughter, had all been tortured to death under Li Qitian’s interrogation. He was now left all alone, his hatred for Great Zhou almost materializing as he shot knife-like glances at Qin Yining.
This hatred masked the slight guilt he felt toward Qin Huaiyuan.
Especially when facing Qin Yining, who had ruthlessly tricked him in the matter of the treasure, his anger became even more obvious.
He was more open-minded than Yuchi Yan—even if their efforts had fallen short, this was still Great Yan’s territory. The people here had almost no sense of belonging to Great Zhou, but deep down they still considered themselves people of the Yan Dynasty. So when Yuchi Yan returned and raised his arms in a rallying cry, many among the people and those in the martial world responded.
Gu Shixiong didn’t believe that Pang Xiao and Qin Yining had any ability to steal away the people’s hearts!
“Indeed, so Princess Zhongshun still remembers us old ministers. I thought the princess now wholeheartedly favored her husband’s family and viewed us all as dangerous floods and savage beasts.”
“You’re joking.” Qin Yining smiled, being extremely courteous to Gu Shixiong. “You’re still as humorous as before. Your health is also still so robust.” She began making small talk here.
Gu Shixiong sneered coldly, “No need to worry about me. These old bones can still withstand some hardship.”
Seeing that Gu Shixiong’s malice and anger were almost materializing and stabbing toward them, Pang Xiao quickly pulled Qin Yining behind him and responded to Gu Shixiong with a broad smile. “Elder Gu is robust, so His Majesty can rest assured. When leaving the capital, His Majesty specifically instructed that Elder Gu is a veteran minister who should be treated preferentially. There’s no reason to let you run around outside, lest you exhaust yourself.”
Gu Shixiong became wary: “This old man is used to hardship and doesn’t mind such things. Running around is all for our Emper… Prince Zhengnan, so it’s nothing at all.”
“Ah, it shouldn’t be so.” Pang Xiao sighed softly.
Alarm bells rang loudly in Yuchi Yan’s heart. He looked at Pang Xiao somewhat helplessly, then heard Pang Xiao say in a voice filled with gentle, smiling warmth: “Elder Gu is advanced in years. After you left the capital, there were even rumors in the capital that you had passed away. His Majesty was very saddened when he heard this. Now that you’re well, His Majesty also misses you greatly. Therefore, His Majesty’s intention is to prepare carriages and escorts to send you back to the capital to enjoy your twilight years in peace.”
“No!”
Before Gu Shixiong could speak, Yuchi Yan had already anxiously said: “Elder Gu cannot leave!”
Pang Xiao smiled, inwardly despising Yuchi Yan greatly.
As the leading figure among Great Yan’s ministers, he was still clumsy and spoke without thinking, completely losing his leadership demeanor.
“Does Prince Zhengnan have some instructions?”
Pang Xiao’s tone was gentle, as if spring breezes caressing one’s face.
But to Yuchi Yan, he seemed like a snake flicking its tongue, waiting for the opportunity to strike at his throat.
Yuchi Yan’s face looked very ugly, but he had at least made some progress compared to before and knew to force himself to save face in front of his enemies.
Yuchi Yan said: “Elder Gu is this king’s father-in-law, my old father-in-law. Since our family members are all gone, as a son-in-law, I naturally have the responsibility to serve Elder Gu until his final years.”
Gu Shixiong was now his strategist. Without Gu Shixiong by his side to offer counsel and advice, Yuchi Yan would have no confidence or plans for the future.
Although the people in the city now favored Great Yan, they might not necessarily firmly support him.
After all, the people of the old capital still remembered that year’s famine, when his father—the foolish ruler in the people’s mouths—had actually fled with the tax grain, leaving the capital and watching them fend for themselves.
The people’s sense of belonging was given to Great Yan, but they harbored hatred for the imperial family that had been foolish and muddled back then.
Without Gu Shixiong by his side to encourage him and help him make decisions, Yuchi Yan simply couldn’t imagine his own future.
Pang Xiao looked at Yuchi Yan with a smile. “Prince Zhengnan speaks reasonably, and it’s only human nature.”
Yuchi Yan’s eyes lit up, not expecting Pang Xiao to be so reasonable.
Pang Xiao continued: “However, His Majesty’s words are imperial edicts. As ministers, neither you nor I should violate imperial orders.”
Yuchi Yan’s smile froze on his face.
Hatred surged in Yuchi Yan’s heart like raging tidal waters.
He had already fallen to this state—could he not even protect Gu Shixiong?
“Law doesn’t override human feelings. Since His Majesty is a wise ruler, he would surely be considerate of his ministers’ feelings.” Yuchi Yan spoke the words “minister” through gritted teeth, his rage almost ready to burst from his mouth and nose.
But Pang Xiao smiled: “Prince Zhengnan, don’t be anxious. None of us can immediately change His Majesty’s will. How about this—since you hope to keep Elder Gu by your side, this king will memorialize His Majesty and speak favorably for you both, to see if Elder Gu can be allowed to stay.”
Would Pang Xiao be so kind-hearted?
Yuchi Yan looked at Pang Xiao suspiciously.
But Pang Xiao smiled: “Prince Zhengnan doesn’t believe me? In such matters, this king has no need to lie.”
The people around Yuchi Yan looked at each other.
Several had already begun to change their impression of Pang Xiao.
At least this person wasn’t someone who completely refused to reason and would kill at the first disagreement.
Yuchi Yan was also somewhat stunned. Did Pang Xiao not know about what had happened between him and Qin Yining in the past? Based on that alone, Pang Xiao couldn’t possibly have any goodwill toward him.
Had the sun risen from the west? Was Pang Xiao really being so kind-hearted?
Qin Yining watched quietly from the side, finding it amusing in her heart.
This time they had come to the Yan Dynasty to stabilize the situation in the south, giving the north some breathing room and preventing fires from breaking out in both north and south.
By making such a fuss, Pang Xiao had diverted these people’s attention elsewhere. At least when making decisions now, they had no time to consider Great Zhou’s predicament of being attacked from both front and rear.
Their thoughts had already been led astray by Pang Xiao’s few words.
“If His Majesty can be understanding, it wouldn’t be in vain for this king’s heart of submission.” Yuchi Yan gritted his teeth, telling himself that a great man could bend and stretch. As long as he could keep Gu Shixiong with him, he would still have a chance to turn things around in the future.
Thinking of this, Yuchi Yan resumed his smile and stiffly bowed to Pang Xiao, suppressing his temper.
Pang Xiao smiled and returned the courtesy: “Rest assured. This king is the Pingnan General, and you are Prince Zhengnan. In the future, we’ll need to cooperate and jointly guard this place. There will be many occasions where we need to support and look after each other. A memorial is nothing troublesome and not worth mentioning.”
The atmosphere had changed from the initial sword-drawn, hatred-filled confrontation at their first meeting to the current state where Yuchi Yan was asking for favors.
A minister beside Yuchi Yan suggested: “Prince Zhongshun has traveled long and hard, suffering much hardship along the way. Why not enter the city first to settle in?”
Yuchi Yan also nodded: “We’ve already prepared side halls for your party to rest.”
Side halls?
Qin Yining raised her eyebrows upon hearing this.
Pang Xiao immediately understood.
After Yuchi Yan returned to the old capital, he had moved into what was once the imperial palace of the Yan Dynasty. And the accommodations he had arranged for them were also in the imperial palace!