Ji Yun was startled by the question. She blinked her long lashes and thought for a long while, then shook her head, “This servant doesn’t think so necessarily. Think about it, Princess Consort—if they had known exactly where the treasure was located all along, wouldn’t they have found a way to steal it all already? No matter how valuable that treasure is, it can’t fill too many chests, right? The reason they haven’t made their move is because there are too many stones to transport. Their target is uncertain.”
Qin Yining nodded in agreement, “You’re right. I also think that even if they know, they only know the general location. So I’m thinking, if they really do start transporting it, it would be fine if they moved everything out, but if they move half and leave half behind, when construction begins and they start moving stones, crash—gold, silver, and gems scattered all over the ground…”
That scene would be too horrifying. Even Qin Yining couldn’t help but rub her forehead as she spoke.
The silver pieces all had inscriptions like “Made by so-and-so” and dates carved on them. Anyone could tell at a glance that they were silver from the Great Yan Dynasty, making it easy to deduce that this was the batch hidden by Great Yan’s foolish ruler.
Once Li Qitian learned of this news, things would become difficult to handle. That rabble led by Manager Da Hu certainly couldn’t stand against the army Li Qitian would deploy. When Li Qitian obtained the treasure and had both silver and confidence, wouldn’t he come up with all sorts of ways to torment Pang Xiao?
Qin Yining shook her head.
This absolutely could not be allowed to happen.
Qin Yining hugged her quilt and thought for a while, finally making up her mind. She had Ji Yun call Tang Xiu over.
Ji Yun was already drowsy and yawning, but upon hearing this, she still said nothing more and quickly slipped on her wooden clogs, put on her jacket, and went out.
Qin Yining put on her wide-sleeved cloak and casually pinned up her long hair, then sat in the outer room waiting.
Soon Tang Xiu arrived. Although he had just been awakened from sleep, he was still in high spirits without a trace of gloom.
“Princess Consort, do you have instructions?”
“Yes. There’s an urgent matter that requires you to arrange for someone to handle quickly.”
“Please give your instructions.” Tang Xiu cupped his hands.
Qin Yining motioned for him to come closer and whispered, “Arrange for a trustworthy brother to quietly return to the capital and deliver a verbal message to the Prince. Tell him that we’ve arrived in Huichuan and everything is going smoothly, except for one problem—there’s a Black Wind Stronghold near Huichuan County with over a hundred bandits on it who are seriously disturbing the people. These people even had the audacity to come harass me. Have the Prince help me vent my anger.”
Tang Xiu blinked, somewhat dumbfounded.
Where was the Princess Consort going with this?
If this group of Jinghu Guards was accompanying the Princess Consort and still allowed her to be harassed by bandits from Black Wind Stronghold under their very noses, wouldn’t they all be dragged to the training grounds by the Prince for individual punishment?
Seeing Tang Xiu’s dazed expression, Qin Yining understood what they were thinking and giggled, “You needn’t worry. The Prince is a clever man and will immediately understand my intention. He won’t blame you.”
Tang Xiu, having his thoughts exposed, shyly scratched the back of his head, his face reddening. As if afraid of losing face, he also carefully glanced at Ji Yun’s expression.
Ji Yun hadn’t expected Tang Xiu to still be looking her way even while acting foolish, and couldn’t help but blush as well. She glared at him once and looked away.
Seeing these two acting this way, how could Qin Yining not understand? Knowing that Ji Yun was thin-skinned, she didn’t expose them directly and just smiled, “Thank you for your trouble. Go quickly.”
“Yes, this subordinate will go immediately.”
Tang Xiu became serious, quietly acknowledged the order, turned, and left.
Only after he had gone far did Ji Yun go close the door. Turning around, she met Qin Yining’s rather meaningful gaze and couldn’t help but say shyly, “Princess Consort, it’s getting late. Please rest quickly.”
Qin Yining smiled, “Alright, come here. Let’s sleep together. When Bingtang returns, we’ll have her sleep on the heated kang.”
“Yes.”
Ji Yun responded, and the two climbed onto the canopy bed. Each covered with a cotton quilt, they lay down close together.
In the darkness, Qin Yining asked Ji Yun softly, “I can see that Guard Tang has good character and proper appearance, and seems to have some feelings for you. Ji Yun, what are your thoughts?”
Ji Yun, suddenly asked about such matters, became fully awake from drowsiness. Both shy and flustered, she said, “Princess Consort, how have you also learned from that naughty girl Bingtang?”
Hearing this tone, Qin Yining knew that Ji Yun had truly been moved and couldn’t help but tease with a smile, “How am I being naughty? Besides, at this age, it’s time to consider marriage for you. This isn’t a bad thing.”
Qin Yining turned over and nudged Ji Yun, “Hey, what do you think of him? If you’re interested, I’ll have the Prince help investigate his family background for your reference. You’re someone close to me, so even after marriage, you’ll return to my side as a senior managing lady. If their family situation is complicated, we’ll need to consider carefully.”
“His family seems to have no relatives left, same as me. We were both saved by the Prince. If not for the Prince, he would have starved to death long ago.” Ji Yun’s tone was slightly urgent.
Qin Yining laughed, “So you already know this much detail.”
Only then did Ji Yun realize she seemed to have fallen into a trap, unconsciously revealing her understanding of Tang Xiu. She couldn’t help but say angrily, “Princess Consort is truly too wicked.” She hugged her quilt and turned away from Qin Yining, “It’s so late now, this servant won’t talk with you anymore. This servant is going to sleep.”
Looking at Ji Yun’s back, Qin Yining couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright, alright, I won’t ask anymore. I’m going to sleep too.”
Although the situation was tense and the treasure matter was thorny, seeing the people around her so full of life made Qin Yining happy from the bottom of her heart. Both Ji Yun and Bingtang had been through life and death with her and were utterly loyal. She must take responsibility for their futures to the end. She would need to carefully evaluate what kind of person Tang Xiu was before saying more.
The Jinghu Guard rode hard toward the capital. Even in the continuously rainy weather, their speed was much faster than the convoy of several carriages that Qin Yining’s group had used when coming.
Therefore, Pang Xiao received the message three days later.
That very afternoon, Pang Xiao sent out invitations to several former subordinates to come to the Prince’s mansion for drinks.
Since Pang Xiao had been “demoted” to oversee imperial mausoleum construction, the military officers felt more or less dissatisfied. Many had already seen their own eventual fate of being discarded once their usefulness ended through Pang Xiao’s experience. They had all shed blood together on the battlefield, and several had even been saved by Pang Xiao. Some of the scars on Pang Xiao’s body had been acquired for their sake.
Therefore, when Pang Xiao took the initiative to send invitations, these people all came.
Because Pang Xiao was “recuperating from illness,” he originally shouldn’t drink alcohol. But seeing his brothers happy, he still had several large bowls.
These former subordinates also all drank too much along with him.
When men drink too much, they inevitably become excited and talkative.
Pang Xiao’s tongue was somewhat tied, and his voice was much louder than usual. He slammed the table with slurred speech, “…Tell me, everyone, what kind of man am I? Huh? I can’t protect my son as a son, and I can’t protect my father as a father. This whole big family, including my father-in-law’s family—gone, all gone!”
Speaking of sad matters, Pang Xiao’s eyes filled with tears, and he gulped down another big mouthful.
Hearing this, these subordinates all felt heartbroken. A few with shallow tear ducts had already started wailing along.
Huzi and Xu Weizhi led people to pour wine and warm the atmosphere. Seeing this scene, even they who knew the inside story were somewhat infected by the emotion and felt their noses sting.
Truly, His Majesty’s treatment of the Prince was too unfair. No rewards for merit, yet constantly looking for the Prince’s faults. Even when there were no faults, one had to be fabricated.
With such treatment, who could endure it?
Pang Xiao gripped his wine bowl with his large hand, “This illness of mine comes at a bad time too. Damn that Black Wind Stronghold—they saw my wife was beautiful and harassed her. If I were more capable, if I didn’t need my wife to go ahead and buy property and houses for me, she wouldn’t have been scared sleepless by those bastards from Black Wind Stronghold.”
“What Black Wind Stronghold?”
“Prince, are you talking about that mountain stronghold northwest of Huichuan County?” asked an official who managed northern military affairs.
Pang Xiao’s phoenix eyes widened as he nodded, “That’s the one, next to Huichuan. They say there are about a hundred bandits in their stronghold, committing all kinds of evil daily. If only I still had troops under my command—back when I was in the south with the Pingnan Army brothers, we’d take on one stronghold after another. When southern bandits saw the Pingnan Army’s banner, they practically wanted to kneel and call us grandfather! Now I’m like a toothless old tiger, completely useless! Otherwise, I’d definitely go crush those vermin!”
Recalling the glory days of pacifying the Northern Ji Kingdom, all the brothers felt emotional. They had all heard the details of Pang Xiao’s suppression of banditry in the south from storytellers, and each time they listened, their blood would boil.
Now discussing this matter at the wine table, the brothers all felt indignant.
Everyone, emboldened by alcohol, cursed and swore, greeting the ancestors of all bandits and highway robbers.
Finally, the official managing northern military affairs said, “I think it’s time for our local garrison troops to learn from the Prince about training soldiers. Back when we were conquering the realm, when the army charged forward, they were like a pack of tigers descending the mountain. Now that we’ve had peaceful times too long, I fear those brothers who went to serve as local garrison troops in various places might turn into a litter of kittens? The Prince’s method of raiding mountain strongholds is good—it trains troops, provides combat experience, and brings in military pay. Why not do it?”
“Right, have them raid Black Wind Stronghold. Not only will it train troops, but it’ll also help the Princess Consort vent her anger.”
“Exactly!”
Everyone shouted and chattered, and in their half-drunk state, they settled the matter with their overlapping voices.
Finally, Pang Xiao, overcome by alcohol, collapsed drunk and started snoring with his head on the table. The others also all passed out drunk in the Prince’s mansion’s main hall.
Huzi and Xu Weizhi led people to carry them one by one, sending all the guests to guest rooms. Pang Xiao was also carried back to his bedroom by Huzi with the Jinghu Guards.
After the Jinghu Guards who had carried Pang Xiao withdrew, Pang Xiao immediately sat up energetically and whispered, “This Prince is drunk and might stay drunk for two days. Tomorrow morning you guard the guest room area and see what they say. If they’ve forgotten about the bandit suppression, casually bring it up.”
“Is the Prince worried they’ll play dumb and not handle the matter?”
Pang Xiao burped from the alcohol and said helplessly, “After all, I’ve been out of active duty for a long time. No matter how good brotherly relationships are, it’s hard to avoid the cooling of tea when people leave. With a reminder, they’ll handle the matter for the sake of appearances.”
“Prince, rest assured.” Huzi nodded with a smile, “They wouldn’t go that far. Tomorrow I’ll also play dumb and remind them. If they don’t do real work, we have plenty of words to shame them.”
“You’re the one with all the cunning ideas.” Pang Xiao lay down and said, “Also tell Master Xu to prepare for departure and arrange for someone to ask at Earl Zhongyi’s mansion when the Earl plans to leave. Let’s also stop the medicine from the Imperial Medical Academy for now.”
“Yes, understood.” Huzi nodded. Seeing that Pang Xiao had no other instructions, he went out happily.