“What’s the matter? Quickly let him in.” Qin Yining put down her chopsticks and took the handkerchief from Zi Yuan’s hands to dab the corners of her mouth.

Pang Xiao also hastily slurped down the porridge in his bowl and picked up his tea bowl to rinse his mouth.

Huzi strode into the main room with large steps, stopped beside the treasure cabinet, and bowed. “Reporting to my lord and princess, our scouts outside have detected the movements of Tatar Khan Wutejin and his Khatun’s party. They should arrive at the county seat in at most five days.”

After rinsing his mouth and wiping it, Pang Xiao smiled. “Their speed is too slow. If this were on a battlefield, how much would they delay?”

Huzi grinned. “My lord, who could lead troops as swiftly and decisively as you? Besides, with the current flooding outside and difficult roads, Khan Wutejin is accustomed to a pampered life. It’s already not easy for him to travel such a long distance to Huichuan in the rain.”

“Indeed.” Qin Yining also said, “We can’t demand too much from barbarians.”

Everyone laughed.

Pang Xiao said, “Now Earl Zhongyi will be busy.”

The difficult situation lay before them – Lu Heng now had to consider both the Emperor’s opinion of him, ensure the treasure wouldn’t slip from his grasp, and guarantee the proper handling of escorting the Tatar Khan.

Such a predicament made even Pang Xiao want to wipe sweat for him.

Thinking of this, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but pull Qin Yining over and rub her cheeks.

“Fortunately you’re clever and threw off this burden early. Otherwise, the one in difficulty now would be me.” He sighed and continued, “From now on, I’ll ask you about everything. People say listening to one’s wife brings wealth – I see it’s truly not false.”

Qin Yining couldn’t help but laugh at Pang Xiao’s words.

“Alright, alright. If you have free time, quickly come try on this outer robe. I always feel the sleeves seem a bit long.”

Qin Yining pulled Pang Xiao’s hand to try on clothes.

Pang Xiao turned back and waved at Huzi.

Huzi immediately understood and withdrew to continue monitoring the Tatars’ movements.

Si Qin and his accompanying Tatar ministers had no idea their every movement was under Pang Xiao’s surveillance. They spent three and a half days reaching the outskirts of Huichuan county seat, where they set up camp outside the city and sent people into the city to negotiate with Lu Heng.

The next day, the weather remained overcast. Months of continuous drizzle had caused serious flooding on the roads. The Lu family servant who came to the Prince’s mansion to deliver the message had mud spots all over his back.

“Reporting to my lord, Khan Wutejin and his Khatun’s party have arrived outside the county seat. Someone just informed the Earl, and the Earl specifically ordered this humble one to notify my lord, requesting that my lord come to the government office to go out together with the Earl to receive them.”

“Understood.” Pang Xiao replied expressionlessly.

After the man left, Xie Yue sighed, “Just as my lord predicted, Earl Zhongyi has sent someone to find you to receive the Tatar Khan together.”

Xu Weizhi asked, “Does my lord plan to go? Originally when the Emperor issued the decree, Earl Zhongyi alone received it. By rights, it’s only natural for Earl Zhongyi to receive Khan Wutejin. He’s involving you now, but you could completely ignore it.”

“Yes.” Xie Yue also said, “Earl Zhongyi only sends someone to inform you when he needs you, and who knows what schemes he’s plotting behind the scenes. My lord needn’t bother with such a person. I imagine even if you don’t go, Earl Zhongyi couldn’t find any fault.”

Pang Xiao tapped the table with his finger, pondering for a moment before sneering, “Lu Heng is very cunning. Khan Wutejin’s experiences are extraordinary. In Great Zhou people’s eyes, he’s someone with both deep schemes and the ability to mount a horse and kill enemies, plus exceptional strategic ability. Such a person must seem somewhat fierce to ordinary people. Though Lu Heng comes from a prestigious family, as a civil official, he’s likely to lose in terms of presence.

“Though the Emperor didn’t arrange for me to receive him, Lu Heng specifically sent someone to inform me. At the crucial moment, I can’t not go. If I decline, Lu Heng will inevitably seize the opportunity to impeach me later. Whether the Emperor or other colleagues, they’ll all think I don’t know to prioritize the nation at critical moments. So Lu Heng is forcing me to go help him maintain dignity.”

Hearing this, both Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi fell silent.

They had to admit that thinking carefully, Pang Xiao was right. But as Pang Xiao’s advisors, watching him suffer such indignity before these people made them feel wronged on his behalf.

“The reasoning is indeed as you say.” Xie Yue hesitated, “If my lord doesn’t want to go, you could actually claim illness and not leave home. After all, my lord’s ‘condition’ hasn’t completely healed, and with months of rainy weather, a relapse wouldn’t be impossible.”

Hearing this, Pang Xiao chuckled and shook his head. “This time I really don’t plan to avoid it by claiming illness.”

“My lord?” Both Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi were puzzled.

“How Si Qin treated my Yining back then – others may forget, but I haven’t! I haven’t repaid this grudge yet!”

When Qin Yining was initially kidnapped to Tatarstan by Si Qin, she nearly died crossing the desert and was almost abandoned like Lady Liao of the Azure Sky Alliance. After reaching Tatarstan, she was constantly bullied by A’na Ri and the Si Qin couple, then later hunted down. The suffering was truly indescribable.

At that time, not knowing if Qin Yining was alive or dead, how much of Pang Xiao’s hair had turned white from anxiety?

Now that Si Qin dared set foot on their territory, wouldn’t this be a case of enemies meeting with burning hatred?

After Pang Xiao spoke this way, both Xu Weizhi and Xie Yue felt their hearts skip.

No one understood better than them how much the Prince valued the Princess. Not to mention the suffering the Princess endured in Tatarstan, just the various aftereffects from the kidnapping had truly made Qin Yining suffer countless grievances. Not to mention distant matters – even the Prince’s birth mother had suspected the Princess’s chastity. Though this wasn’t fair to the Princess, ultimately all of this was caused by Khan Wutejin.

Since the Prince loved his wife so dearly, how could he endure this?

Moreover, the Prince treasured his wife like his life, while Khan Wutejin was completely opposite. To seize power and position, he had personally killed his devoted wife Khatun A’na Ri. Such a person was as venomous as the most poisonous scorpion in the desert, making people wish to eliminate him quickly.

So Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi, knowing Pang Xiao’s nature well, were now both worried about how Pang Xiao planned to deal with Khan Wutejin.

“My lord, you plan to…?”

“No need to be nervous.” Pang Xiao smiled, “The most foolish method would be to make a scene on the spot. I won’t do that. Moreover, my Yining worked so hard to secure our current situation – I can’t waste her efforts. I can still distinguish what’s important.”

Xie Yue breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. My lord thinks clearly. We two old fellows worried too much.”

“How could that be? You two gentlemen speak without reservation out of loyalty – I’m grateful it’s too late.” Pang Xiao smiled.

Xu Weizhi sighed, “But the Princess has truly sacrificed much for my lord.”

Thinking of Qin Yining’s various treatments of him, Pang Xiao’s heart felt as sweet as if filled with honey. But thinking of the grievances she suffered because of him, his heart ached indescribably.

After pondering for a moment, Pang Xiao stood up. “I’ll go find Lu Heng now. At least we’ll receive Khan Wutejin first. How to handle things afterward will depend on Earl Zhongyi.”

“Yes, shall this old one accompany my lord?”

Pang Xiao nodded in agreement, then had someone send word to Qin Yining in the inner residence before leaving with his people.

Lu Heng was already properly dressed, waiting at the Lu mansion’s entrance.

Lu Wenru stood behind with numerous attendants. After waiting so long without anyone coming, he couldn’t help but step forward and ask quietly, “My lord, might Prince Zhongshun refuse to come, deliberately making you wait here? Should we send someone to investigate?”

Lu Heng waved his hand, saying with certainty, “He’s very cautious and won’t give people grounds for criticism.”

Indeed, just as Lu Heng finished speaking, the sound of horse hooves came from the street corner. It was truly the Prince’s mansion’s carriage and guards approaching.

Drawing near, the carriage curtain lifted to reveal Pang Xiao seated within, smiling. “The rain makes travel difficult. I’ve kept Earl Zhongyi waiting.”

“Not at all. With my lord taking time from your busy schedule to come, this official feels more at ease.” Lu Heng smiled politely, then turned to instruct those behind him, “Prepare the carriage, depart.”

“Yes!” The Lu family guards responded in unison, quickly preparing Lu Heng’s carriage.

The two groups merged into one and headed straight outside Huichuan county’s main gate. They soon reached the location Lu Heng had arranged to meet Khan Wutejin.

Both Pang Xiao and Lu Heng alighted from their carriages, with attendants holding umbrellas for them. Standing side by side, they waited only half an hour before hearing horn sounds and crisp bell chimes in the distance, followed by the sight of a long procession slowly winding toward them.

The Tatar procession was vast and mighty. The men wore various colored narrow-sleeved robes, the women also in narrow-sleeved robes with various hats, their long hair braided. These people sang songs while walking and made coordinated celebratory gestures, surrounding an ornate carriage at the front. Behind the procession, neatly equipped Tatar soldiers escorted a convoy of carriages loaded with tribute.

The moment Pang Xiao saw the Tatar carriage, his eyes grew cold, though his lips still curved in an appropriate smile.

Lu Heng had already stepped forward first, bowing with a smile. “Khan of Tatarstan honors us with your presence. Our dynasty’s Son of Heaven specially commanded this minister to personally welcome you here. Please, Khan, move to the city’s relay station for accommodation.”

The Tatar procession quieted.

The ornate carriage door was opened by maidservants, and the red gauze curtains over the windows were lifted, revealing Si Qin seated within. He wore a black brocade narrow-sleeved robe symbolizing nobility, with a hat inlaid with pearls, gems, and red coral on his head.

Compared to before, the bearded Si Qin appeared more refined and mature, quite having the bearing of a strategist.

But no one dared underestimate this man, for he was equally a fierce general on the battlefield.

Si Qin looked up, his sharp gaze sweeping over the bowing Lu Heng before settling on Pang Xiao. “This Khan wondered who would come to receive us – it turns out to be Prince Zhongshun. Troubling my lord’s grand presence makes this Khan extremely anxious.”

If his tone had been more sincere and less provocative, perhaps the mocking intent of his “anxiety” would have been less obvious.