With one hand behind his back, Pang Xiao straightened his back and extended an arm to support him.
The two acted out the mutual respect perfectly.
But in their hearts, they both wanted to hug each other right now.
Qin Yining sat in the carriage. Pang Xiao also mounted his horse and led his men to follow behind. "This King is also going back to the barracks. I'll send you off."
Pang Xiao said he would send them off, but he sent Qin Yining and the secret envoy back to the capital more than a hundred li away from the old capital. This was the opposite direction from the barracks. If they continued to walk, they would be too far away from the barracks.
Urging his horse to walk beside Qin Yining's carriage, Pang Xiao said with a smile, "Go home and be at ease. Wait for me to return to the capital."
Pang Xiao was dressed in black. His face was as white as jade and his eyes were like dots of lacquer. Under the morning light, he was so handsome that he didn't seem like a mortal.
Qin Yining lifted the curtain and smiled at him with his head tilted. "I know. Don't worry. "
Pang Xiao looked deeply at Qin Yining. His eyes were filled with love, reluctance, and even more helplessness.
His large hand touched Qin Yining's slightly cold face. Pang Xiao instructed Ji Yun and the others in the carriage, "Take good care of Wangfei. The weather is getting colder. The further north we go, the colder it gets. Make sure Wangfei is well-dressed. Don't catch a cold."
"Yes, Wang Ye, don't worry." Ji Yun, Bing Tang, and the others all smiled and agreed. Their voices were very pleasant to the ears.
Pang Xiao didn't have any reason to stay any longer. He spurred his horse to bid farewell to Cheng Zongguan. Then, he took a dozen of his men and spurred their horses to gallop along the official road in the direction of the military camp.
Qin Yining sat upright in the carriage, feeling lost.
They had just separated, but she was already missing him.
The journey back to the capital was very smooth. Qin Yining was accompanied by a silver-masked secret agent and his personal maidservant. In addition, there were six Jinghu Wei guards arranged by Pang Xiao to surround the carriage. Their safety was guaranteed. Occasionally, they encountered some brave men, but they were beaten and fled.
After General Manager Cheng received benefits from Pang Xiao, he was very polite to Qin Yining. Qin Yining was not a domineering person, so he was also very polite to General Manager Cheng. Gradually, the two of them became more familiar with each other and maintained a mutual respect for each other.
However, with Your Majesty's decree, they didn't dare to delay on the road. They still had to eat and sleep in the open as they hurried to the capital.
Although Qin Yining said that she was going to be the wedding ambassador, she wasn't a proper lady after all. She learned the rules from the retired old nannies of the Yan dynasty when she was in the Dayan imperial court.
The rules and etiquette of the Yan dynasty were naturally different from those of Da Zhou.
The etiquette that Da Zhou followed was also learned from Beiji, so it couldn't be considered true ancient etiquette.
After all, Da Zhou had only been established for six years. Including the Empress, Empress Dowager, and Princess Royal, they could at most be considered "landladies." Compared to the well-educated ladies of the royal family, their etiquette was unbearable.
This time, after defeating the Tatan, Da Zhou wanted to show the power of the country. They also wanted to show outsiders the ancient etiquette and elegance of Da Zhou. Naturally, they wouldn't be careless.
General Manager Cheng smiled and said, "… So after the wangfei returns to the capital, she should first learn the ancient etiquette while waiting for Princess Tana."
Qin Yining nodded and said, "That's right. The Tatan occupied the north. Since the Beiji era, the border has been closed every year. The common people have suffered greatly. Now that Da Zhou's army has finally defeated the Tatan, the common people are at peace. We can't do anything to the main culprits who have surrendered, but it is essential to show them the etiquette and elegance of Da Zhou. This is also a way to show the power of the country. "
"Yes, wangfei is right." General Manager Cheng nodded repeatedly and admired Qin Yining in his heart. Qin Yining's thinking and bearing were indeed the pillow of Prince Zhongshun. Her words were watertight.
"Wangfei is indeed an intelligent person. Your Majesty's eyes are as sharp as torches. This servant really admires you."
Her words flattered both Qin Yining and Li Qitian.
Qin Yining and Chief Steward Cheng traveled together, so she had figured out this person's character.
A eunuch who could sit in his position was definitely not someone who acted impulsively. He was most particular about being tactful and didn't offend anyone. He always left a way out. Perhaps in the future, he would be able to create good karma for himself.
Qin Yining sometimes couldn't help but think that perhaps she should learn from General Manager Cheng how to conduct herself.
Because sometimes, she felt that ever since she married Pang Xiao, she had someone to rely on. It seemed that she didn't know how to be tactful and flexible. Her temper also became more irritable.
This wasn't good. It was easy to get into trouble.
The journey back to the capital was long. The closer they got to the capital, the colder the weather became. Qin Yining brought a thick sweater with her when she left the capital. She also often held an exquisite hand warmer in her hands. Even so, Qin Yining often felt cold.
"Wangfei's body is damaged after giving birth. That's why she's afraid of the cold. After we return to the capital and settle down, I still have to take good care of Wangfei's health. Don't think that you don't care just because you're fine. Why don't you think about how old you are now … … "
Bing Tang placed an exquisite hand warmer next to Qin Yining's feet as she nagged.
Qin Yining laughed and said, "Bing Tang is so caring. I can't even bear to give you to that blockhead Huzi."
"Aiya, why is Wangfei like this? I'm concerned about you out of the kindness of my heart, but you turn around and make fun of me. "Bing Tang's face was as red as a cooked shrimp. She lowered her head and didn't look into Qin Yining's eyes.
Ji Yun, Xian Yun, Qiu Lu, and Lian Xiaozhou at the side couldn't help but laugh.
Everyone talked at once and made fun of Bing Tang.
Qin Yining gently pinched Ji Yun's and Xian Yun's cheeks and said with a smile, "Don't just focus on making fun of Bing Tang. You're not young anymore. When we return, I'll be careful and find you a good family. I won't let you cast pearls before swine."
"Is Wangfei crazy? Why did you think of matchmaking today?" Xian Yun's face was even redder than Bing Tang's. She said angrily, "If we leave, who will serve you?"
Qiu Lu also said, "I won't leave Wangfei's side."
Qin Yining smiled and said, "Idiot, you can all come back to my side in the future and be my wife. How can you not marry for the rest of your life? Find a reliable Ru Yi husband and live happily with each other in the future. Just like Wang Ye and I, we can support each other. Isn't that good? Also, Wang Ye and I can be your support. I don't believe that there will be anyone who won't open their eyes and dare to neglect you in the future. "
The women's faces turned red from Qin Yining's words, but they were all very moved. They all knew that Qin Yining was sincerely planning for their happiness.
As time passed, the closer they got to the capital, the closer it got to winter. The snow this year was especially heavy. Although they were returning to the capital by imperial decree and were very nervous on the road, they were still delayed by the heavy snow.
As a result, when the group returned to the capital and arrived at Da Xing Town, which was half a day's journey away from the capital, it was already the afternoon of the third day of the eleventh month.
Chief Steward Cheng was wearing thick woolen collar clothes. He crossed his arms and stepped through the snow, squeaking as he walked to Qin Yining's carriage. He smiled and said, "Wangfei."
Qin Yining heard the noise and quickly pushed open the window. He smiled and said, "Chief Steward Cheng."
"Wangfei, now that we've arrived at Da Xing Town, we'll stay here for the night and tidy up a bit. Tomorrow, we can directly enter the city."
"Chief Steward Cheng is very thoughtful. We'll do as you say." Qin Yining nodded.
"Yes." Chief Steward Cheng cupped his hands and ordered the group to head towards Da Xing Town.
The town wasn't very big. One could see the end of the main street at a glance. The only inn in the town didn't have any courtyards. There were only single rooms on the second floor.
The group of people was arranged to stay in the inn. Some of the accompanying imperial bodyguards had to go down and squeeze into a bunk. But when they thought that they could enter the city tomorrow and that the arduous journey was finally over, everyone was in a good mood.
After Qin Yining took a bath, he prepared the clothes he would wear the next day in advance. He sat in front of the lamp with his half-dried hair draped over his shoulders and sewed.
The servant girls were already very tired. Qin Yining sent them to rest quickly. "We still have to wake up early tomorrow. After we enter the city, there are still a lot of things to do. We have to rest well."
The people at Bing Tang were so tired that they couldn't open their eyes. Hearing this, they didn't refuse and went to sleep. Qin Yining only left Qiu Lu to sew the night in the outer room.
Qin Yining sewed the outer robe in her hands stitch by stitch. This was the spring clothing she had made for Pang Xiao. She had planned for him to wear it over the New Year. She wasn't good at embroidering complicated patterns. She had planned to let an embroiderer do it in the future. She could only make ready-made clothing. In any case, Pang Xiao wouldn't mind if her stitches were too thick. She just had to be careful not to drop the needle into the clothes and prick him.
Every day, she could only let her thoughts run wild when she was sewing clothes for him under the lamp. In front of others, she didn't want to reveal her emotions, especially when there were so many people around her. She couldn't let her negative emotions affect others.
She didn't know how the situation was in the old capital.
She was with Chief Steward Cheng, so she had to be careful when contacting Pang Xiao. She was afraid that she would leave behind something that could be used against her. She was also afraid that there would be spies among the people around Chief Steward Cheng who would specifically pass on information to Li Qitian.
Qin Yining sighed softly. She blinked her sore eyes and slowly tidied up her needlework. She also planned to go to bed.
At this moment, a soft voice suddenly came from the back window. "Wangfei."
It was Jing Zhe.
Qin Yining hurriedly grabbed a piece of clothing and put it on. She walked to the window and whispered through a layer of paper, "What's wrong?"
"Zhong Yibo wants to see you."
Lu Heng?
Qin Yining thought for a moment and whispered, "Where is he?"
"He's downstairs."
Qin Yining thought for a moment. Her room was not far from Chief Steward Cheng's room. The floor of the inn had not been repaired for a long time, so it would creak when one walked on it. If someone came in through the front door, they would definitely be discovered.
However, after learning about the secret between the Qiu family and the Lu family about the hidden and prominent families, Qin Yining really wanted to see Lu Heng and find out what he was thinking.
She just didn't know if Lu Heng had someone following him this time.
Qin Yining fell into deep thought. Jing Zhe, who was outside the window, didn't rush her and waited patiently. He squatted by the window and held the window frame with one hand. His figure was reflected on the paper window, as if he had turned into a stone statue.
After a moment, Qin Yining made a decision.
"Think of a way to not alarm others. Ask Zhong Yibo to come up."
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
