After it was known that Qin Yining was with child, Pang Xiao spent every day like he was celebrating the new year. Tao Jun compounded his joy by holding a banquet every dayâwhat a great coincidence that this happened to delay the princeâs return to the capital as wellâso Pang Xiao went through his days with even more joyous gusto.
As for Yi Binghu, it went without saying that he wasnât invited to Pang Xiaoâs gatherings with his Dragon Rider brothers.
He felt something clawing within him everytime he heard another mention of who Pang Xiao had been feasting with, or men singing praises of the princeâs fighting prowess after sparring with him.
This man had plainly committed the grave crime of treason, so why was he living his best life? His wife was pregnant, he garnered the admiration of those around him, and even his popularity among the people grew.
Conversely, Yi Binghu was here by royal decree, yet cast aside and thoroughly ignored like a dried vegetable. The Dragon Riders couldnât be bothered with him, and even those heâd brought from the Metropolitan refused to take orders from him. They also never treated him with as much respect as they showed to Pang Xiao.
For Yi Binghu, every passing day felt like a year. If the prince continued to dilly-dallying like this, would His Majesty take his anger out on Yi Binghu when they finally returned to the capital? Though the emperor had been the one to send the decree, it wasnât uncommon for those who didnât execute his orders to his liking to still experience his wrath.
In contrast with Yi Binghuâs turmoil, Qin Yining had never lived in such comfort before.
When Pang Xiao wasnât attending a banquet, he was essentially joined at the hip with her. He served her tea and water, personally fed her, and spent the rest of his free time massaging her shoulder and legs. He even once attempted to carry her when she needed the washroom, which had earned him a swift kick from a furiously blushing Qin Yining.
Though Qin Yining had little appetite and often felt nauseous, she was elated to be so carefully doted upon by Pang Xiao.
On this day, Pang Xiao once again moved to take his leave.
âI really must be going. Spring will be upon us soon and we must travel slightly slower than weâd anticipated before. I estimate it will be summer by the time we return to the capital. We have already delayed our return for too long, so it will be difficult explaining ourselves to His Majesty.â
Having interacted with the prince in close quarters for almost a month now, Tao Jun could read Pang Xiaoâs strong determination to return to the capital. It wasnât right for him to keep delaying the prince like this. Whatâs more, though Yi Binghu couldnât make sugar sweet if he tried, he could definitely make vinegar sour without even attempting to. The situation would become sticky if he really decided to tattle to the emperor.
With this in mind, all Tao Jun could do was sigh. âHis Highness must treat this matter with utmost caution. I shall await your good news at these borders.â
Pang Xiao nodded with a smile and clapped Tao Jun on the shoulder. "I appreciate your concern, thank you for your hospitality.â
"Say nothing of it. Your Highness is a good friend of my former commander and a war god that my brothers admire. What Iâve done is nothing worthy of gratitude. If we have the chance to get together again in the future, we must drink together until the sun comes up."
Pang Xiao smiled. "Indeed,â he vowed. âLet us meet again.â
He then excused himself to make arrangements for departure and the servants busied themselves with organizing the luggage.
Yi Binghu could finally have a sigh of relief upon seeing him getting a move on. Up ahead were Skyaxis Pass and Skygates Pass, he certainly wasnât going to let Pang Xiao delay the trip any further. Otherwise, it would be more than a year before they returned to the capital.
His worries would later be proven groundlessâPang Xiao had no intent of postponing their journey to begin with, so he wasnât about to deliberately delay their upcoming travels. Though the guards of Skyaxis and Skygates Pass welcomed them with eager hospitality, the prince stayed only for two days before setting out once more.
Their travels were to be smooth-sailing once they passed through all four major passes of the border. Seeing their shortening distance to the capital, Yi Binghu was finally able to heave a big sigh of relief.
The closer they were, the more he could call on men from his own factionâPang Xiao would be increasingly less capable of stirring up trouble.
After a month of long faces, Yi Binghu finally broke out into a wide grin. However, no smiles were to be found just a few days later.
As the emperorâs instructions were for Yi Binghu to indulge the prince with patience and allow Pang Xiao to return with pomp and circumstance as befitting his station, every citizen on their way back knew that the Faithful Prince of the First Rank was returning to the capital with his princess consort.
Since the princess consort had killed the former Tatar khan and the prince was an awe-inspiring hero, the general populace held the couple in extremely high regard. Since Li Qitian had previously declared to all that Pang Xiao was a traitor who had defected to Tatar, it was incredibly thought provoking that he now appeared again in public with the princess consort, and with his usual entourage.
Not only did the people gossip, so did the scholars and officials exchange notes.
Ultimately, the rumor mill was divided into two schools of thought: one faction held the view that nefarious masterminds were behind the accusations of treason, since Pang Xiao had made significant contributions to Great Zhou and his princess consort had killed the Tatar khan. The emperor should severely punish those involved!
The other faction believed His Majesty was the originator behind the rumors because he envied the princeâs military accomplishments. This brought back memories of what had happened to Pang Zhongzheng back in the day.
Of course, no one dared voice the second version aloud; they only whispered it amongst themselves in secret. Since it was a sensitive subject involving confidential imperial affairs, that only made such speculation all the more convincing.
Pang Xiao naturally noticed people spreading such hearsay as he travelled, but he didn't take them to heart in the slightestâhis mind was completely occupied by thoughts of Qin Yining.
Qin Yining had fallen into a constant state of discomfort ever since boarding the carriage. Whether it was because her body was too weak or that the traveling had taken a toll on her, her nausea intensified as they continued to traverse bumpy roads.
Things were bearable when the road was flat, but when it was uneven and riddled with potholes, the carriage would shake so much that Qin Yining couldnât keep down anything she ate. Pang Xiaoâs heart ached so terribly for his darling that he ended up wrapping Qin Yining in a mink cloak and carrying her in front of him atop his horse.
Yi Binghu was highly impatient along the way, but urging them to hasten would be completely ineffective as their progress was tied to the princess consortâs condition. Therefore, it seemed to Yi Binghu that their return to the capital was to be delayed to the end of the year.
Seven hundred miles outside the capital stood the Valiant Tigers campsite, which had become a part of the local scenery. Stationed along the foot of the mountains, an army of a hundred thousand men formed a city of their own.
In a large tent of the Valiant Tigersâ central troop, Ji Zeyu stood pensively before a massive map with his arms crossed. He was dressed in a fiery red cloak with stiff, small collars that rounded out his look.
The map was a topographical depiction of the four northern border gates and Tartar border terrain. It was so detailed that it marked mountain rivers, creeks, and even a forest, a clear indication of how well Ji Zeyu knew the northern border after years of guarding the region.
A frowning head eunuch Li Guanwen was half inclined behind Ji Zeyu; heâd been here for nearly forty-five minutes.
Ji Zeyu had been in this exact position when Li Guanwen arrived, and seemed to have heard nothing after Li Guanwen relayed the emperorâs message to him. Or had Prince Consort Ji not heard him at all because he was contemplating some great dilemma concerning warfare or national security?
Li Guanwen pondered over whether he should bring up his inquiry once more, but he was also afraid of interrupting Prince Consort Jiâs train of thought. Growing bored of idly standing around, he craned his neck to peer at the map. As someone whose daily activities were limited to the meager confines of palace walls, however, he couldnât make heads or tails out of the map no matter how long he stared at it.
Thus, Li Guanwen was left with no choice but to continue waiting patiently. Since men of martial arts disciplines were typically very sensitive to their surroundings, perhaps the prince consort would notice there was a person standing behind him soon enough.
And so he waited for another fifteen minutes.
Finally, Li Guanwen began to lose his patience. As a favored subordinate of the emperor, it wasnât uncommon for people to curry favor with him whenever he was out and about. What was truly rare was for him to be thus given the cold shoulder.
Though Ji Zeyu was the supreme commander of the Valiant Tigers in addition to being a prince consort, Li Guanwen was still an imperial messengerâto treat him in this way was equivalent to disregarding His Majesty!
When his thoughts traveled here, Li Guanwen cleared his throat. Not daring to startle Ji Zeyu, he gently repeated himself. âPrince Consort Ji, His Majesty means to ask to what degree is your control over the Valiant Tigers? Please tell me so that this servant may report back to His Majesty and assuage his worries.â
Ji Zeyu, however, gave no response and continued studying the map.
Anxiety, irritation, and displeasure from being ignored chased each other in the eunuchâs heart.
âPrince Consort Ji? This servant has been sent in His Majestyâs stead to inquire after how much control you exert over the Valiant Tigers.â
Again, he received no response.
Li Guanwen began to suspect Li Zeyu meant to stand there until he turned into a statue. Impatience boiling over and he was just about to ask again when Ji Zeyu abruptly turned around and fixed his stunning eyes on the eunuch in a frigid stare.
The prince consortâs eyes brimmed with a frosty air that nearly froze Li Guanwen stiff. Despite being clothed in burning scarlet, it only served to accentuate Ji Zeyuâs proud, noble self. It was as if his entire being had been carved from ice, and he was thoroughly unapproachable.
Li Guanwen stared blankly, a shiver coursing through his entire body. At the same time, Li Zeyu coldly called out, âMen.â
âYes sir!â A troop of ten men rushed inside the tent and bowed in synchronized salute. âCommander!â
Ji Zeyu indicated Li Guanwen with a pale, slender finger. âOne hundred boards across the back. Take him away.â
âYes sir!â The soldiers immediately responded and dragged Li Guanwen out of the tent without another word.
Li Guanwen was so terrified that he dropped his ivory horsetail whisk and didnât think to adjust his cap thatâd been knocked askew.
âWhat is the meaning of this, Prince Consort Ji?!â he squawked shrilly. âThis servant is here on His Majestyâs orders! Do you mean to revolt with this kind of treatment?!â
Despite Li Guanwenâs wailing, the subordinates dragged him out of the tent with all their might, not faltering in the slightest.
Iâm done for, Iâm done for! Why did I have the misfortune of catching Prince Consort Ji planning a revolt?! Your Majesty, I became the protruding nail in carrying out your orders, youâve sent me to my death!
As he struggled, panicked tears streamed down Li Guanwenâs face out of fright.
Just as soldiers were about to haul him through the tent flap, Ji Zeyu spoke up again. âUnhand him. You may stand down.â
Though confused, the ten soldiers saluted him in unison without question.
âYes sir.â With that, they exited the tent in formation. The only people left in the tent were Ji Zeyu and Li Guanwen.
âDo you understand?â Ji Zeyu asked, a mild expression upon his face.
Li Guanwen's knees buckled, leaving him wheezing on the floor. His face had gone so pale that he was whiter than a sheet of paper.
After what seemed like half a day, he finally caught his breath and looked blankly up into Ji Zeyuâs aloof face. His brainâwhich had shut down from frightâregained its capability for thought.
âThis servant understands Prince Consort Ji.â