Return of the Swallow

Translated by: etvolare

“My cousin hasn’t completely recovered, and with the fright she received yesterday, her illness has only worsened. She even ran a fever yesterday, so she’s been in a deep all day. I hope Your Grace understands.”

The meaning behind his words was very clear: if it weren’t for the harpies in your palace, Qin Yining’s illness wouldn’t have worsened. Despite that, you still have the face to come see her?

Sure enough, the cocky expression on Zhou Meng’s face turned stiff as awkwardness and worry colored his voice. “Then is she alright? Shall I summon the physician to look in on her?”

“Many thanks to Your Grace, but we’ve already asked the physician to come. If you have any instructions, please tell me and I will pass it on.”

Zhou Meng couldn’t help but frown. If Lu Heng kept using this as an excuse, wouldn’t that mean he wouldn’t be able to see his beauty in the future?

However, the prince also wasn’t at leisure to debate this irksome cousin out in the open air.

“There will be a banquet tonight, thrown to celebrate the birth of my newborn daughter. I specifically came here to invite Miss Pang to attend.”

“I’m afraid that might be difficult. The birth of a royal is certainly a momentous event, but my cousin is quite ill. It may be inauspicious if she attends.”

“Is that so? This prince hardly thinks so.” Zhou Meng narrowed his eyes dangerously at Lu Heng, his expression turning into a sneer. “Miss Pang is the goddess who brought us food, the goddess the Xiyue tribe reveres. My newborn daughter will be blessed with health and good fortune only if the goddess attends the banquet. Do all your obstinate and vehement refusals mean that you don’t trust this prince?”

So this fellow actually has some self awareness about him! Of course I don’t trust you!

Lu Heng repressed his curses and smiled faintly. “What could Your Grace be talking about? I am eternally grateful for your aid in sending the godly physician to my cousin’s side. How would I not trust Your Grace?”

“Hmpth! This prince won’t bother talking about such nonsense with you!” A threat laced Zhou Meng’s words. “You better prepare Miss Pang for the banquet tonight, or I won’t mind personally bringing troops to fetch her!” With that, he rode away with his entourage of guards.

Harbhara and Caganbhara couldn’t understand what Zhou Meng was saying, but his repugnantly smug attitude already elicited their dissatisfaction.

Uncle Alham pulled Lu Heng over. “What do we do? Should we go or not?”

“Of course we should go and have a look.” Qin Yining’s voice rang out behind them.

The group hastily turned around and saw Qin Yining standing behind them, looking much healthier and dressed neatly with her loose hair pulled into a simple bun.

“When under someone else’s roof, we unfortunately must do as they say. I fear that his intentions are hardly to invite us to a banquet though,” Lu Heng fretted.

“I know.” Although Qin Yining hadn’t heard what Lu Heng and Zhou Meng had discussed earlier, it was more than clear what Zhou Meng wanted. “Even if we avoid it for now, we can’t avoid it forever. It’s better to just see what he wants. As long as we’re prepared, we can respond with the initiative. However, everyone needs to reach into the depths of their courage.”

Although emotionally speaking, Lu Heng didn’t want Qin Yining to take risks, on a rational level, he knew Qin Yining was right.

The Minuo viewed both of them as the tribe chiefs and had spared no effort to rescue them from Khanbaliq, evading Siqin’s pursuit all this time. There was no earthly way that the two of them could abandon the tribe now.

Lu Heng couldn’t help but sigh.

Qin Yining took some medicine and rested for a little as she conversed with Lu Heng, Uncle Alham, Harbhara, and Caganbhara. Before long, the sky started to darken.

While they talked in Uncle Alham’s tent, a mix of jumbled footsteps grew outside, sounding almost like the continuous slap of the ocean waves.

Qin Yining was just about to send someone to take stock of the situation when a panicked tribesman on guard duty rushed into the room. His voice was anxious as he shouted, “Not good, not good! There’s a lot of people outside and our camp is completely surrounded!”

Lu Heng’s face changed when he heard the report, translating it for Qin Yining.

Qin Yining’s expression also turned grave as she stood up. “I’ll go have a look.”

“You shouldn’t, it’s too dangerous. It’s better if I go.” Lu Heng blocked Qin Yining from moving forward.

“Then let’s go together.”

Lu Heng stared at Qin Yining for a moment before nodding helplessly. “Alright, let’s go together.”

A light flurry of snow had fallen in the night, highlighting their brightly lit camp in the dark of the night. The crowd of young soldiers surrounding their camp were all stone-faced as they stood in formation.

The youths gave way when they saw Qin Yining and Lu Heng emerge. Zhou Meng walked up with his hands behind his back.

“Let’s be on our way, the banquet’s about to begin. I was worried that Miss Pang wouldn’t know the way there, so I came to escort you there.”

Qin Yining looked around and raised her brow with a sneer. “Is such an extravagant display necessary for bringing me to a banquet?”

“What’s so bad about an extravagant display?” Zhou Meng waved behind him as soon as he finished speaking. fr𝚎e𝙬𝚎𝚋𝚗૦ν𝚎𝒍.c૦m

Seeing the gesture, the general behind them unsheathed his sword with a ringing swing, campfire light glittering on his blade. The other soldiers also drew out staffs and swords, weapons gleaming as they stood there threateningly.

Qin Yining’s voice turned ominously sullen. “I’m afraid such a display is hard for me to enjoy.”