Return Of The Swallow

She was his daughter alright! Her political ac.u.men as sharp as ever. She hadn"t become tepid or hesitant just because they were in a new country.

Blus.h.i.+ng from her father"s approving look, Qin Yining smiled bashfully. “Father being back is better than anything. Our family needs to work together in the future. There"s no way we won"t have good days ahead if we"re all of one heart!”

“That"s right!” Everyone nodded. They"d never been in a better mood since coming to Great Zhou.

Qin Huaiyuan looked at his family with great emotion. It was already a blessing from the heavens that they were able to reunite after weathering so many hards.h.i.+ps and traveling such an enormous distance.

Caught in the depths of his emotions, he was about to speak when a maid"s report travelled in from outside. “The Commandery Prince of Yan has come to visit!”

The door curtains raised to admit an urgent Yuchi Yan with a black sable cloak flung around his shoulders. He paused by the door when he saw his former teacher, breathing out in relief after a close study confirmed that everything was well.

“Grand Preceptor Qin! You"re back!” The prince"s gaze subconsciously drifted to Qin Yining. This was their first meeting in Great Zhou territory after their long parting.

He gaped foolishly at her, taking in her slender brows, the brilliance in her eyes, her pert nose and cherry lips, the general das.h.i.+ng air around her… She was becoming ever more the stunning beauty, her every dimple and chuckle were invitations to adore her. An uncontrollable impulse raged through his chest and he almost voiced words of concern.

Thankfully, he still retained a sliver of rationality when surrounded by so many others. it wasn"t an appropriate timing to chat about old times. He had to set aside his feelings for now and turn to Qin Huaiyuan instead.

“Have you been well, Grand Preceptor Qin? It was a long wait for your return and the outside world all said… We… this prince was quite worried when hearing of it.”

A wave of sadness rose in Qin Huaiyuan to see the white by Yuchi Yan"s temples and his former liege"s concern. The grand preceptor performed the bow of a subject meeting his emperor. “It"s my mistake for having the commandery prince worry about me.”

“Please hurry and rise, Grand Preceptor Qin.” Yuchi Yan was extremely touched to see Qin Huaiyuan go through all the motions like nothing had changed.

With the fall of Great Yan, while not all of his former subjects might enjoy the same rank and prosperity as before, all of their futures were brighter than his. He was destine to be a gilded pet for the rest of his life, unable to help their careers one bit.

But Qin Huaiyuan still displayed the same att.i.tude; he was just as respectful and friendly as he"d been in Great Yan. Though Yuchi Yan"s t.i.tle had changed, it seemed that nothing else had.

This threw the commandery prince off into a spin of despondency and loss. At the same time, he was also very gratified.

“Great Zhou is a more appropriate stage for Grand Preceptor Qin"s aspirations. You must be diligent in the future to protect Great Yan dignity in front of the Great Zhou officials. I leave the care of your countrymen in your hands.”

Yuchi Yan"s words weighed heavily on those present, and they also couldn"t help but sigh at their former emperor"s magnanimity.

Whether or not his words were genuine, his concern for Qin Huaiyuan was real.

The Qin patriarch bowed respectfully. “I listen to the commandery prince"s commands. I will naturally try my best in everything.”

“I am at ease with your words.” Seeing that he was surrounded by womenfolk and knowing that all of his moves were kept under close watch, Yuchi Yan wasn"t at liberty to remain for long. He only inquired about the old dowager"s health before leaving.

But before he fully left the Qin residence, the former Yan emperor paused, surrendering to his bone-deep yearning and antic.i.p.ation. He turned with a statement on his lips. “Fourth miss, I have something to ask you.”

Qin Yining frowned slightly. The unhappy memories of being forced against her will in the palace were ones she"d never forget. Though she felt badly for the commandery prince to have undergone so much suffering that he already had white hair at his age, it was impossible for her to bear no grudge at all against him.

But they were no longer in the Great Yan palace, and Yuchi Yan was kept under close surveillance. He couldn"t possibly do anything to her now.

Her thoughts traveling here, Qin Yining looked at her father to see him nod at her. Only then did she follow behind the commandery prince.

In a good mood, the old dowager teased cheerfully, “It looks like the commandery prince still likes my granddaughter. They didn"t have enough of a shared destiny for her to become his empress. Now that her reputation is ruined, it would still be a good thing if she can be his concubine.”

Qin Huaiyuan frowned and was about to respond when née Sun cut in ahead of him. “Though the Old Dowager makes sense, daughter Yi is no ordinary girl. The lord must make the decision when it comes to her marriage.”

The riposte stoppered the old dowager"s words in her throat. Based on the family"s current circ.u.mstances, they really did have to depend on her eldest son for everything in Great Zhou. She actually couldn"t use her seniority to force things to go her way.

But the Qin matriarch had never liked née Sun and naturally wouldn"t leave any face for the senior madame. She jeered, “They say that a scholar who"s been away for three days must be looked at with new eyes. It seems that"s very true. Someone simple-minded before now knows to drag Meng"er into arguments.”

The old dowager was being so p.r.i.c.kly right after their return! Née Sun had never been someone to just swallow an insult. She opened her mouth to retort hotly back.

Cao Yuqing however, was one step ahead. She took the madame"s elbow and squeezed it warningly. “The old dowager is getting up in the years and should take better care of yourself. Don"t be anger so easily like this—it will just harm your own body.”

How would the old dowager ever have thought that Cao Yuqing would speak up on née Sun"s behalf? Did these two used to point their spears at each other? Now they had teamed up and were pointing at her instead!

Wait, come back in three hours for the juicy tea between QYN and YCY! Heh.