Chapter 9 (1/2)
Chapter 9: Crown Prince Qi Yin
Three days later.
Jun Huang stretched like a cat before walking out of the room with a yawn. She’d only been unconscious for a night and had in fact been awake for two days at this point. Nan Xun had happened to casually ask where she was headed, which is how they’d ended up traveling to the Northern Qi capital together. With a good night’s sleep under her belt after the hards.h.i.+ps of the road, Jun Huang felt invigorated. She saw Nan Xun as soon as she entered the main hall.
“Morning!” Jun Huang waved her hand and greeted Nan Xun. His nod back was his usual form of greeting. As she continued into the main hall, his eyes followed, tracking her. She was wearing her usual men’s outfit, her movements roguish with flair. Apart from her delicate features, there was nothing out of the ordinary with her act.
Breakfast had been set upl, prompting Jun Huang’s appet.i.te to stir into wakefulness. After greeting Nan Xun, she wielded her chopsticks and began tucking in with great gusto.
“Eat slowly, don’t choke.” Nan Xun looked on in amus.e.m.e.nt at Jun Huang scarfing down everything in sight. He poured a cup of water and handed it to her. There was a tenderness in his eyes that he himself didn’t even realize.
“Thank you.” Jun Huang took the cup without much ceremony and chugged down the contents. Having been fed and watered, the servants cleared the table. Jun Huang hesitated and then finally said, “I’ve been a burden to you these days. Now that we’re at the Qi capital, I think I should…”
“His Highness the Crown Prince!”
Jun Huang hadn’t finished speaking before a large crowd suddenly surged inside. A tall, well built man wearing a black robe with a gold collar led the group. His features were well defined and handsome, and great vigor emanated from his eyes.
Jun Huang started, whereas Nan Xun had already walked up to welcome the newcomer. “Your Highness.”
This is Crown Prince Qi Yin of Northern Qi? Jun Huang took a careful look at him. There was a bright smile on his face as he was in good spirits. His every movement and gesture spoke of an innate n.o.ble bearing.
“No need to stand on ceremony Prince Nan! My royal father has heard of the ambush you suffered on the way back and specially this prince to comfort you.” Qi Yin smiled broadly and turned back with instructions, “Bring the items over!”
Several guards walked over bearing five large, redwood trunks. Qi Yin laughed, “It’s all gold, silver, and jewelry! Although Prince Nan was unable to save Western Que, you held a grand funeral for her deceased ruler Jun Hongmo. You have heightened Northern Qi’s glory in doing so and should be rewarded!”
Jun Huang had a rough idea of what was going on at this point. Although Qi Yin was complimenting Nan Xun on a job well done with regards to the funeral, he was actually jeering at the general’s incompetence. Nan Xun had traveled all the way to Western Que and not only failed to save the country, but had even fallen victim to an ambush on the way back! It would seem that the ambush Nan Xun suffered on Northern Qi borders has much to do with the crown prince.
“Your Highness flatters me.” Nan Xun didn’t even blink. It was as if he hadn’t heard the mockery in the crown prince’s words.
Qi Yin seemed to have antic.i.p.ated Nan Xun’s diffident response as his face darkened briefly before swiftly returning to its previous expression. He looked around and rested his eyes on Jun Huang off to the side. “Who are you, and why do you not bow when you see this prince?”
Nan Xun frowned and was about to speak when Jun Huang gracefully got to her feet. “Greetings to Your Highness.” She bowed at the waist for her greeting gesture. “This commoner is Feng Baiyu. Please forgive my ignorance in not knowing Your Highness would be here today!” She was dressed in a man’s clothing, so her name of Jun Huang would no longer be appropriate. 1 Thus, she’d chosen the name Feng Baiyu. 2
“Feng Baiyu.” Qi Yin suddenly narrowed his eyes. “You’re the one who risked your life to save Prince Nan?”