Chapter 285: Discarded After Use
Though Qin Yining was residing in the Valiant Tiger encampment, she didn"t spend much time together with Pang Xiao. The prince had to oversee the process of rebuilding, settle down the refugees, distribute congee, maintain order, clean out and cremate bodies, send in military doctors to work with the ones in the city so as to avoid the spread of plague, and report to his emperor to send personnel…
All sorts of duties descended on him, ones that weren"t any less taxing than leading the Valiant Tigers into battle. Pang Xiao was so busy hopping from one task to another that his feet barely had time to touch the ground. Even the meals he spent with Qin Yining were moments that he forcefully squeezed out of his schedule.
However, because he was kept busy spinning from day to night, order soon returned to the city.
The Valiant Tigers were stationed outside the city walls, while Pang Xiao took only a small contingent with him into the city during the day. He would discuss the day"s agenda with Weichi Yan, whereupon Weichi Yan would order the respective officials to carry out the prince"s orders. Pang Xiao would then leave at the hour of the dog and return to the army camp with his attendants.
The prince had a stern and impartial style; he also had quite an awe-inspiring reputation. He generously doled out both favors and threats, quickly winning begrudging acknowledgement from some of the Great Yan officials. They hadn"t wanted to listen to his orders, but for the peace and prosperity of the people, they had to do as they were told.
While there were officials that were relieved the emperor had agreed to surrender, there were even more willing to martyr themselves in a show of integrity and moral courageousness.
Bodies of those who"d laid down their lives for the country were lifted out of manors everyday. Some hung themselves, other took poison, some others took a blade to their neck… there was all manner of ghastly deaths.
But none of their actions could budge Weichi Yan"s resolution to submit to Great Zhou.
Though the capital had been dealt a severe blow in this tribulation, reconstruction efforts went ahead steadily. There were no more refugees present in the city after a month, some of the stores had reopened, and the people had the strength to go about their daily business again.
Order had been restored, and in fact, there was an even more vigorous atmosphere reigning than before the war. It was the beginning of winter now.
"My darling, why don"t I bring you into the city today? You"ll suffer from the cold if you keep living in the tent." Pang Xiao flung his cotton cape, lined with a sable fur collar, around Qin Yining"s shoulders.
She had indeed felt a bit under the weather these days. Her weakened health hadn"t had the time to recover before she"d suffered through two months of starvation and weariness. When her taut heartstrings had been able to fully relax by Pang Xiao"s side, all the aches and pains she"d staved off came looking for her.
Rain had fallen a few days ago and the days had gotten colder. Qin Yining had only suffered a bit of a breeze before she came down with a cold. She"d spent the past couple of days in a half-feverish state. Pang Xiao could hear her coughing every time he came back from his day"s duties. He knew that he couldn"t selfishly keep her further in the military camp just because he wanted to spend more time with her.
Qin Yining smiled. "No worries. I don"t think I"ll be as happy going back as I am here with you."
She wanted to stay by his side. Though he was busy during the day, they could still meet everyday. He"d long since a.s.serted his att.i.tude anyhow. It was an unavoidable fact that she was his, so she decided to discard all thoughts of her reputation and just focus on their rare time together.
If she returned home, it wouldn"t be so easy for them to meet again.