Pang Xiao had been in an excellent mood holding the little rabbit, but who knew Qin Yining would enter and immediately launch into sarcasm.
His expression darkened as Pang Xiao smoothly stood up while holding the rabbit.
“For you! Catch!”
Qin Yining was quite surprised, her gaze falling on the little rabbit.
That little white rabbit looked rather different from ordinary rabbits – its body appeared somewhat plump, with bulging cheeks and ears drooping on both sides. The entire creature was only palm-sized, covered in snow-white fur except for a black ring around its left eye, creating an indescribably amusing appearance.
The tall Pang Xiao holding such a tiny rabbit and presenting it to her nearly made Qin Yining unable to suppress a smile.
“What does Young Prince Pang mean by this? I cannot accept unearned rewards. How dare I delay your performance as Chang’e?”
This stupid girl was clearly holding a grudge!
Yesterday he had taken liberties with her, but didn’t she think – if he hadn’t happened to be there, would she still be able to stand here safe and sound, sparring with him verbally?
He had expended great effort to find such an adorable little rabbit to give her, hoping she would stop being angry. But not only did she not appreciate it, she actually mocked him!
“It’s for you, so accept it.” Pang Xiao’s face darkened as he stepped forward two paces, about to stuff the little rabbit into Qin Yining’s arms.
Qin Yining backed away, refusing to accept it: “I don’t want it. You keep it yourself.”
Pang Xiao’s expression became frighteningly grim, storms gathering in his eyes as he nodded: “Fine, you don’t want it? Then I’ll dash it to death!”
Saying this, he raised his arms high, making as if to throw the rabbit to the ground.
Qin Yining was startled and quickly grabbed his sleeve: “What are you doing! You’re being completely unreasonable!”
“You’re the one refusing the toast only to be forced to drink the penalty wine!”
Pang Xiao lowered his raised arms and held the plump little rabbit in both hands, offering it to Qin Yining: “Here, take it already!”
Qin Yining reluctantly accepted it. In her hands was a soft, warm little bundle. The little creature shifted in her palm and looked up at Qin Yining with pure black eyes.
Qin Yining felt her heart melting and couldn’t help but smile, holding it with one hand while stroking its back with the other.
Pang Xiao thought for a moment, then untied the jade pendant from his waist, removing the small red plum blossom cord from it, and walked close to Qin Yining.
Qin Yining backed away in confusion, about to ask what he was doing, when she saw his large hands nimbly tie the delicate red plum cord in a knot around the little rabbit’s neck.
He bent over with their faces very close together. He didn’t look up at her, concentrating on tying the bow in his hands, but from Qin Yining’s angle she could see his handsome long eyebrows and long lashes when he lowered his head.
She couldn’t help but frown and look away.
“Its name is Er’Bai. It’s this prince’s token to you, and also a token of the peace talks between Great Zhou and Great Yan. If you don’t take good care of it and mistreat it, this prince will consider everything from today’s peace talks null and void at any time.”
Qin Yining’s eyes widened as she stared at Pang Xiao in disbelief: “Your Highness is being far too childish!”
“Say whatever you want. Anyway, this prince has entrusted Er’Bai to you – do as you see fit.”
Qin Yining remembered this person had once said she resembled their family’s Da’Bai. He said Da’Bai was a pug, and their family also had a guard wolf-dog called Da’Hei.
Now this little rabbit was called Er’Bai…
If the occasion weren’t wrong, Qin Yining really wanted to mock the Pang family’s naming abilities.
But right now she only wanted to curse Pang Xiao for being unreasonable.
Wasn’t he supposed to be a bloodthirsty god of war who used devious military tactics?
Why was the Pang Xiao she knew completely different from the rumors? This person was simply a moody madman!
Looking down at the little rabbit wearing the delicate red plum blossom cord around its neck, the little rabbit shifted to a comfortable position in her hands and looked up at her with big black eyes.
Pang Xiao stood before Qin Yining with his hands behind his back, admiring the two soft creatures before him as if no one else existed, unable to suppress a smile.
In his eyes, she was just like Er’Bai – soft and well-behaved, making one want to hold her and pat her head and smooth her fur.
Qin Yining looked helplessly toward Qin Huaiyuan nearby.
Qin Huaiyuan and Cui Wenqing had been watching the activity on Qin Yining’s side.
Qin Huaiyuan’s expression remained calm, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
Cui Wenqing wore a completely knowing expression.
Qin Yining knew these people must have misunderstood.
With Pang Xiao’s repeated domineering presumptions, now giving this kind of “token,” she had been forcibly branded with Pang Xiao’s label.
Even if the peace talks went smoothly and she could return safely to the capital, there would probably be no shortage of gossip about her and Pang Xiao.
This fate of being manipulated by others truly left her helpless.
Liang Shengjie, seeing that Pang Xiao was using a cheap rabbit to win Qin Yining’s favor, felt suffocated with anger. Looking again at Qin Yining in her plain colors with white fur trim at her collar and her fair jade hands holding a little white rabbit – she truly did look like Chang’e, and he couldn’t help but stare in fascination.
What a pity, truly a pity that he hadn’t been able to spend a spring night with this beauty during this trip – it was his greatest loss.
He was about to look more carefully when Pang Xiao had already walked in front of him, blocking his view.
Liang Shengjie was so startled he nearly fell off his chair. Pang Xiao had given him psychological trauma, and the muscles in his face were twitching. The wounds all over his body ached terribly, making him want to hold his head in his hands for some sense of security.
But he was still the Minister of War after all.
Heaven knew how much effort Liang Shengjie used to steady himself and avoid making a fool of himself.
Pang Xiao stood before Liang Shengjie with a half-smile, his presence fully displayed, appreciating his pathetic state of wanting to crawl under the table. Only after a long moment did he say: “Minister Liang, have the negotiations been concluded?”