Return of the Swallow

Qin Yining followed Pang Xiao on horseback. When the team arrived at the city gate, they saw that the city gate had slowly opened. More than a hundred soldiers rushed out from inside and formed a formation on both sides. The sharp ends of their weapons were aimed at Pang Xiao and his party.

Then I saw a man over forty years old, wearing a golden helmet and golden armor, riding out on horseback. Behind him was a middle-aged man with a big waist and a round waist. The armor of the Gyeonggi camp looked particularly conspicuous.

Pang Xiao held the reins of his and Qin Yining's mounts with one hand, and played with the whip in his hand with the other. He raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "Yes, your battle to welcome me is quite big. I am very pleased."

Yi Binghu's face turned red when he heard this, and he almost fell off his maroon horse. He rode up and scolded him in a deep voice: "Hey! You traitorous maniac, you still have the nerve to talk nonsense here!"

Pang Xiao didn't even look at Yi Binghu, he smiled and urged his horse forward, and cupped hands with Kang Qiong: "Marshal Kang. Long time no see."

"Your Majesty." Kang Qiong hurriedly returned the gift and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, you have worked hard all the way, so please go to the city to rest. The official has ordered people to clean out the best room in the post station, and the hot water and wine are ready. The reception banquet has been prepared and we are just waiting for the prince."

"Marshal Laokang has arranged it." Pang Xiao nodded with a smile and took Qin Yining and the brothers behind him into the city.

When Yi Binghu saw this, his eyes turned red with anger. He kicked his mount in the belly and rushed forward, blocking him sideways in front of Pang Xiao and his party.

"No! How can you, a treasonous traitor, enjoy such high treatment! Since you still know how to come back to the country, you should feel a little ashamed! You betrayed Zhou Dynasty at the beginning, and now you are guilty of the crime when you come back. I didn't tell you. Just put on the shackles, you still want to have a feast?"

As he spoke, Yi Binghu pulled out the saber from his waist with a clang, pointed it at Pang Xiao and said, "Come here, bring this treasonous sinner to my general!"

quiet.

Still quiet.

No one from the Longxiang Army brought by Kang Qiong or from the Gyeonggi Camp brought by Yi Binghu made any move.

The Jinghu Guards brought back by Pang Xiao were all expressionless at this time, staring at Yi Binghu with pairs of cold eyes, as if they were looking at a dead person. The hairs on Yi Binghu's back stood up one by one in fright.

The wind blew, making Yi Binghu's look a little desolate while holding the knife.

"You guys do it! Wei Erbao! Li Daniu! And you!" Yi Binghu turned around,

He pointed at his men angrily.

Pang Xiao chuckled and rode forward again, as if he didn't care that Yi Binghu's knife tip was pointing at him. He passed by the soldiers wearing the uniforms of the Gyeonggi Guard camp one by one and called out their names one by one.

"Wei Erbao, you seem to have gained weight again?"

"Li Daniu, smile, still smile, look at your cigarette teeth! I told you to stop smoking!"

"Qian Dong, look at you like this. Is Wei Erbao stealing all your food?"

"Tsk, Wu Xiaogui, why are you still looking like a skinny monkey?"

…

Every time Pang Xiao passed by, he could accurately call these people's names, and he could also laugh and joke a few words easily. It was obvious that although these people were all the failed ones in the Hu Ben Army, Pang Xiao had never forgotten them. Pass them and remember their preferences and situations clearly.

When these people saw Pang Xiao, everyone's eyes were filled with admiration, and there was no trace of hatred.

Li Daniu chuckled, and then covered his mouth in embarrassment, "Your Majesty, it's hard for me to quit smoking. Once I've mastered my martial arts, I'll give it a try to the Tiger Army. If I succeed, you can accept me!"

His honest words made everyone laugh.

Pang Xiao smiled and said: "This is not possible. Now the coach of the Tiger Army is Ji Lan. I will talk to Ji Lan later. If you are good and can catch Ji Lan's eyes, Ji Lan will accept you."

"Hey! Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Daniu replied in a very loud voice.

The Ji Lan that the prince is talking about is Ji Zeyu, the current prince-in-law. He was the former commander of the Hundred Thousand Dragon Army. He is also a hero as famous as the prince. He is one of the few generals in the world. If he can catch the eye of Ji's prince-in-law. , that’s also the best!

Pang Xiao talked to people cordially, and the scene seemed particularly relaxed and lively. It didn't look like Yi Binghu brought people to intercept, but more like a meeting between Pang Xiao and Hu Benjun's old acquaintances.

Yi Binghu was completely confused at this time. He saw that those who were supposed to arrest Pang Xiao were now talking to Pang Xiao with admiration on their faces. They had no intention of taking him down. Yi Binghu Both anxious and angry.

"What are you people thinking! Have you forgotten the painstaking efforts of the Holy One! If you follow this general, you must obey my orders! I order you now to arrest Prince Zhongshun and Princess Zhongshun and return them to the capital immediately!"

Yi Binghu was so angry that his hair was about to explode, and his roar could shake avalanches in the distant mountains.

But none of the people very close to him were willing to listen to him! Although he came under orders, his orders were not imperial edicts. If no one was willing to listen to his orders, what could he do on his own?

In particular, the group of followers brought by Pang Xiao are now stabbing him hard with their daggers. He is sure that if Pang Xiao gives the order, these palace soldiers and followers will immediately rush in without thinking about their own safety. Come up and die with him.

Yi Binghu couldn't help but shuddered again when he thought of this. He is still young, and he doesn't want to put his life on hold here for no reason.

So when he didn't get an answer, Yi Binghu didn't dare to continue shouting. He had to grit his teeth tightly to prevent himself from saying anything that would anger the other party.

Pang Xiao chatted with his old acquaintances and said, "Open the city gate." He turned around and said to Yi Binghu, "You guys have come at the right time. I am about to return to the capital to see the Holy Emperor. You might as well accompany me to escort him." .”

escort?

Is it okay to put him in a prison van and escort him?

Yi Binghu gritted his teeth and said after a long while: "Since the prince is willing, I naturally don't dare to disobey."

Anyway, the further you go to the capital, the closer you are to the capital, and the more people there are in the Holy Sage, the smaller the chance of Pang Xiao and his party escaping, and it will be easier for him to communicate.

Kang Qiong said in a timely manner: "Your Majesty has finally come to Tianyu Pass. Why do you have to have a drink with your brothers before leaving? The banquet has been set. Wouldn't it be a waste if Your Majesty doesn't eat? Besides, these brothers who Your Majesty brought also need it." Have a glass of wine to warm yourself up, the princess also needs a good rest."

Yi Binghu gritted his teeth and glared at Kang Qiong, thinking to himself that this man was really unnecessary, and he was just messing around with him if he didn't have anything to do!

Pang Xiao looked at Yi Binghu's nervous look. Having seen enough of his nervousness, he kindly stopped trying to tempt him and said with a smile: "In this case, how can I live up to Marshal Kang's kindness?" ?”

Kang Qiong heard this and said with a hearty smile: "Your Majesty, please!"

"Marshal Kang, please!"

Kang Qiong and Pang Xiao got off their horses and led each other to the city gate.

Yi Binghu was left alone. Seeing the soldiers brought by Pang Xiao entering the city one after another following the defenders of Tianyu Pass, Li Daniu and others around Kang Qiong also looked very anxious.

In fact, even if they entered the city, they were not qualified to have a drink with Pang Xiao, but they worshiped Pang Xiao in their hearts, as if they could catch the aura of the God of War by following him, and they always remained silent when they saw Yi Binghu. , everyone was waiting impatiently.

At this time, Yi Binghu deeply felt Pang Xiao's prestige and popularity in the army. It seemed that all the soldiers here worshiped him as a god, which made him look like a clown for what he had just done.

He was embarrassed and angry, and secretly cursed Kang Qiong, that old fox who was the best at pleasing his subordinates. Knowing that his subordinates admired Pang Xiao, he took advantage of the situation and invited them in for the banquet. He was really cunning.

After thinking like this for a long time, seeing that the city gate was about to close, Yi Binghu called the people around him with a cold face: "Why are you still standing there, waiting for your prince to come and take you in?"

Yi Binghu kicked the horse in the belly, and the horse rushed in. All his men looked at each other in disbelief, and finally curled their lips in disdain and followed him into the city.

Qin Yining was placed in the back yamen of Tianyuguan yamen, led by Kang Qiong's wife Chen, and settled in the upper room of the yamen.

"Princess, it's been a long journey. It's really hard. It's bitterly cold here, so naturally it's not as good as in the capital. However, there are warm rooms. Please don't dislike it, Princess."

"Mrs. Chen, please don't be so polite. This is already great. There is really no need for Mrs. Chen to vacate the main room. The prince and I will go to Beijing soon, and we are only staying for a short stay. Why bother?"

Hearing Qin Yining call herself Mrs. Chen, Mrs. Chen couldn't help but feel a little happy. When a woman marries her husband, most of them will call her by her husband's surname, but there are also some women who have their own careers or have a good reputation, and they will also be called by their maiden name. . Qin Yining showed great respect for her by calling her Mrs. Chen.

When Mrs. Chen saw Qin Yining's appearance again, and how well she advanced and retreated, she couldn't help but secretly praise her: She was Zhipan'an's daughter after all, and she was really different from ordinary women. No wonder the prince was so angry that he wanted to find her despite thirty-three imperial edicts. He even went deep into Tartar to find her for her sake, even if he was accused of treason.

If any woman in the world learns that the God of War Prince is so infatuated with the princess, I am afraid that no one will not envy Qin Yining.

But now that she has actually met Qin Yining, what Chen thinks is that she is indeed an extremely outstanding woman, otherwise it would be impossible for the God of War Prince to turn steel into soft fingers.

The two of them admired each other and chatted as they entered the main room. Mrs. Chen ordered people to prepare hot water for bathing. She also carefully checked the charcoal fire, bedding and other items in the room to make sure nothing was missing before she retreated.

Qin Yining soaked himself in the warm bathtub and closed his eyes to enjoy this rare leisure. Looking back now, the suffering he experienced when he was kidnapped to the Tartars and the sins he suffered in the desert seemed like they were all in the same place. The same thing happened in the dream.