Chapter 103: False Appearances

The next day during the march, seeing Su Ruoqing's hesitant look, Pan Yueqing sensed that things were already developing in the worst possible direction. The gates of Suoyue City dared not be opened. Only after three drumbeats sounded on the city tower did a man wearing animal fur step out one leg from the edge of the city wall. He had a blade of grass in his mouth, his face was emaciated from hunger, but he exuded an air of fierceness like a wolf. The messenger in front had already exchanged letters, and then the gates slowly opened. Pan Yueqing looked at the cleaned street in the distance and couldn't help but frown.

There was an overpowering smell of rotten meat in the air.

Pan Yueqing felt a bit uncomfortable and raised her head to look at the approaching Commander Qian of Suoyue City. Commander Qian seemed to be older than Pan Haiyun. He was hunched over, and there was something rather comical about him, not looking like an upright and noble person. Pan Yueqing slowed down half a step and slightly reached out to touch Su Ruoqing's hand hidden under his arrow sleeve.

Su Ruoqing still looked extremely calm, as if nothing in this world could catch his attention.

Sensing Pan Yueqing's little gesture, he turned his head, half-closed his eyes, and slightly shook his head.

Commander Qian's full name was Qian Cheng. Seeing that all the people from the capital were high-ranking officials wearing purple belts of the first rank, his eyes rolled around and he had the intention of currying favor. He stepped forward and bowed obsequiously to Pan Haiyun, saying that he had prepared a welcoming banquet at the restaurant.

"The food and supplies are in urgent need. Where did you get the ingredients for a welcoming banquet?" Lin Shuzhi's eyes darkened. He had been guarding this extremely cold and harsh northern land for many years, and with this sudden and severe famine, he knew too well what it was like to be overwhelmed. His tone was not polite when he spoke.

"We can still spare some polished round-grained rice... polished round-grained rice for the meal." Only after hearing Lin Shuzhi's words did Qian Cheng realize that he had gotten carried away. He immediately raised his hand, wiped his forehead with his wide sleeve, and changed his words with an embarrassed smile.

Pan Yueqing knew too well what the smell of blood on the battlefield was like, and also what those corrupt officials in places where the rich indulged in luxury while the poor starved were like. Although she didn't want to get too involved now, she had simulated this unexpected situation countless times on the sand table and thought of countless ways to mitigate the consequences to some extent... But now that she was here, she really couldn't stay out of it.

Su Ruoqing, however, stepped forward and smiled, saying, "Polished round-grained rice is good. Father, let the soldiers also take a rest and I guess you mean "rest and reorganize" here. "

Su Jing nodded in agreement. Upon hearing these words, Qian Cheng was like having a backbone. He nodded repeatedly at Su Ruoqing and smiled obsequiously, "That's right! What this young master said is right. All the soldiers will have their share!"

The group of people arrived at the restaurant. There were already few people in the restaurant. The shopkeeper and the waiter who were taking care of the place were not afraid at all and greeted them. They said to Pan Haiyun and the others, "Gentlemen, the private rooms upstairs are ready. This is a small place and we don't have much to offer. We've roasted some deer that we hunted. I hope you will forgive us."

"Very good." Pan Haiyun smiled at Qian Cheng, as if his face was written with "I'm very satisfied". When Qian Cheng saw Pan Haiyun's smile, he smiled even more obsequiously, hunched his back even lower, and quickened his pace to make a gesture of invitation beside the stairs, "Prime Minister, please go slowly."

"Don't call me Prime Minister," Pan Haiyun said with a smile. As he passed by, he reached out and patted Qian Cheng's shoulder, "We're on the same side, so there's no need to be so polite." Perhaps it was Pan Haiyun's words of "being on the same side" that made Qian Cheng feel elated immediately. He nodded and bowed even more enthusiastically. Pan Yueqing, who was following behind, looked at Pan Haiyun's figure and couldn't help but smile: She had never noticed that Pan Haiyun had such a personality before.

When they reached the second floor, she truly realized that the so-called private room was not just a polite term. The tablecloths and stool covers were made of the finest Suzhou embroidery. The screen was a whole piece of tourmaline jade, exuding a green luster. Pan Yueqing watched as Pan Haiyun sat down calmly. She also looked at the delicious roasted deer meat on the table and a bowl of polished round-grained rice with a sheen.

Lin Shuzhi didn't look too happy, but he still sat down to show respect.

"Whoosh —"

Before anyone could take a bite, a flowing arrow I think it means "breaking through the air" came through the window. The force was so great that it directly cut through the Suzhou embroidery, and the arrowhead sank deeply into the table. Su Ruoqing quickly got up and stood in front of Su Jing and Pan Haiyun, shouting, "Father, be careful!"

Su Jing looked out of the window with a serious face. There was a young man standing on the roof opposite. He had a crossbow at his waist and made a face at them and shouted loudly, "Corrupt officials! Corrupt officials!"

"Who are you? Do you know that we're from the capital?" Seeing that the young man was not old, Su Jing laughed heartily three times, pushed aside Su Ruoqing's body, stepped forward and leaned on the windowsill with a bit of appreciation, saying, "Assassinating an imperial envoy will cost you your head!"

"I don't care where you're from!" Perhaps seeing Qian Cheng behind Su Jing, the young man was a bit scared. He flipped down from the roof and only stuck his head out to look at them. His voice didn't weaken as he shouted, "We're all going to die anyway, so who's afraid of losing their head?!" After shouting, he shrank back a bit, let go of his hand, and even made a face at Su Jing before leaving.

"Su Ruoqing." Su Jing looked at the young man, smiled, and didn't turn his head as he said, "Take some people to find out who this little brat is. He doesn't know his place."

"Yes." Su Ruoqing cupped his hands and obeyed the order.

Pan Yueqing sat there without being affected in the slightest. Instead, she picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of deer meat and put it in her mouth. She said inappropriately, "This deer meat is indeed tenderer than the usual kind."

"It's a young deer that has just grown up." Pan Haiyun also picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. After chewing it slowly a few times, he took a couple of bites of the polished round-grained rice. He greeted Su Jing and Qian Cheng who was standing beside them, "Come and eat quickly. It will get cold. Commander Qian..." After saying that, he called out to Qian Cheng and raised his hand to propose a toast. When he held the white jade cup filled with tea beside him, he shook his head and said with a bit of regret, "It's already cold."

Pan Yueqing suddenly raised her head and looked at Pan Haiyun, who had a normal expression, but she felt that there was another meaning behind these words.

Qian Cheng smiled obsequiously, "Sir, please wait a moment. I'll ask someone to bring a new one right away."

Pan Haiyun let him order the waiter to change the tea in his hand. However, Pan Haiyun didn't continue to use the chopsticks. Instead, he looked at Pan Yueqing, who had eaten half a bowl, and said in a gentle tone, "Have you had enough?"

Pan Yueqing nodded. In fact, she had already finished eating. She just buried her head and ate the rice grain by grain because she had nothing else to do. Pan Haiyun sighed and stood up, "Commander Qian, please send the latest register of the refugees and the record of the remaining food and supplies in the yamen to the courier station. That's where we'll stay."

Without allowing others to refute or listening to Qian Cheng's polite words and persuasion, he went downstairs. From a distance, he saw that Su Ruoqing was escorting the young man who had just caused trouble towards Pan Haiyun, who was about to mount his horse. The young man was wilder in nature than expected. Even though his mouth was gagged, he still unconsciously kicked Su Ruoqing twice while walking. Su Ruoqing avoided his movements and didn't scold him. Instead, he stepped forward to report back to Su Jing.

When Qian Cheng saw that the young man had been caught, he quickly stepped forward and said obsequiously, "Why don't you leave him to me?"

"No need." Pan Haiyun smiled and refused, "I like to do my own things myself."