“Young Prince!” Zheng Pei was so infuriated by Pang Xiao’s words that his face turned red with anger, stomping his feet: “You cannot act so impulsively! You must consider the bigger picture! Your current position wasn’t easily achieved, and this is precisely when you should be mending relations with His Majesty!

“If you refuse to heed His Majesty’s decree, do you know what His Majesty will think? What will your court colleagues think? The surrendered officials from Northern Ji who submitted to our Great Zhou when His Majesty conquered it all harbor grudges against you! If they take this opportunity to slander you, your standing in His Majesty’s heart may be compromised again! How will you handle yourself then?!”

When Emperor Zhou destroyed Northern Ji, Pang Xiao was the vanguard who carried out all the killing and slaughter. Combined with his ruthless methods when avenging his father, in the hearts of many former Northern Ji officials, Pang Xiao was the chief culprit who conquered their Northern Ji territories.

Though these people now submitted to Emperor Zhou and some continued serving as officials at court, deep down they both hated and feared Pang Xiao. They inevitably engaged in shady schemes behind the scenes. For instance, Pang Xiao’s notorious reputation, which was as prominent as his prestige, was partly their handiwork.

“This prince understands.” Pang Xiao had calmed down by now, his voice firm as he spoke methodically: “A great man has things he will do and things he will not do. Moreover, this prince is now, frankly speaking, a relatively sharp and useful blade. Sooner or later there will come a day when I’m no longer suitable. Even if this prince retired from military service right now, would those so-called positions, colleague relationships, and provocations from surrendered officials disappear?”

“This…” Zheng Pei was momentarily speechless.

He had always known that Pang Xiao wasn’t stupid and saw many things clearly, but his methods of handling them were completely different from what Zheng Pei had in mind.

“Master also feels there would be no change, right? Since it wouldn’t help the situation, why should this prince be overly cautious? ‘One general’s success is built on ten thousand bones’—this saying isn’t false. But this prince doesn’t need the bones of women, children, and innocents to build his glory and wealth.”

“Young Prince, you’re too stubborn!”

Zheng Pei beat his chest and stamped his feet, pacing frantically, his face flushed red with anxiety as he spat while speaking: “You’re walking the exact same path your father took! I know you have a kind heart and don’t wish to harm innocents, but sometimes what you can do doesn’t depend on your wishes—it’s forced by circumstances! If you defy the imperial decree this time, you’ll be sabotaging His Majesty’s strategy, and His Majesty will surely hold another grudge against you!”

“Let him be. This prince cannot do something I’d regret for life out of momentary cowardice. This life is short, especially for someone like me whose head hangs by his belt—it’s even more uncertain. If I can’t live according to my own will in this already brief life, what difference is there from being a penned livestock?”

Pang Xiao picked up his wolf-hair brush and gestured for Huzi to grind ink.

Having heard Pang Xiao’s words, Huzi strongly agreed with his thinking, so ignoring Zheng Pei’s objections, he went to serve Pang Xiao with brush and ink.

After briefly considering, Pang Xiao wrote with flowing strokes, and a secret letter was completed in no time.

Seeing the letter’s contents, Zheng Pei anxiously scratched his ears and cheeks: “Do you still want your future career or not?! Defying imperial orders is a capital offense!”

“Don’t worry, I know my limits. Reprimands are certain, and resentment and suspicion aren’t new developments. But losing my life won’t happen. Go outside and ask—whom do the Great Zhou forces and Huben Army recognize as their leader?”

“Young Prince, you’re simply being reckless because you have military achievements and authority to rely on!”

“Exactly. Since I hold military power, I’ll be suspected even if I have no intentions. Since I have this capability, why shouldn’t I use it?” Pang Xiao casually tossed down his brush and instructed Huzi: “Go have someone rush this letter to His Majesty immediately.”

Huzi nodded in agreement and quickly left.

Zheng Pei angrily slapped his thigh: “Young Prince, you simply don’t care about your career!”

“Indeed, I don’t.” This time, Pang Xiao didn’t refer to himself as “this prince” but spoke from the heart: “I won’t harm innocent civilians. Otherwise, when I eventually meet my father in the underworld, I definitely won’t be able to raise my head. My mother, grandfather, and grandmother constantly complain about the blood on my hands. Even if just for them, I won’t agree to massacre the city.”

Zheng Pei’s lips trembled, and after a long while he sighed deeply: “Young Prince, you’re walking exactly the same path your father took. Remember how your father became hated back then—the past serves as a lesson for the future!”

“Being born human, one should act humanely. Things unfit for humans—even with a blade at my neck, I won’t do them.”

Zheng Pei looked into Pang Xiao’s brilliantly shining phoenix eyes and finally just nodded, sighing deeply once more.

At this moment, Qin Yining and Sun Shi were preparing to go to Duke Dingguo’s mansion.

His Majesty had urgently summoned eldest uncle, second uncle, the two cousins, and their families to the capital. Sun Shi thought that at least she could see her two brothers and wanted to bring Qin Yining to show them.

Qin Yining was already properly dressed and, together with Nanny Jin, helped Sun Shi put on her fox fur winter hat. Seeing Sun Shi’s eyes filled with joy, she couldn’t help but give an early reminder:

“Mother, the situation at Duke Dingguo’s mansion is tense right now. When we see eldest uncle and second uncle later, we must think carefully, observe the situation closely, and be strategic in our speech. After all, eldest cousin just passed away, and eldest uncle is still grieving.”

Sun Shi heard Qin Yining’s words but didn’t take them to heart. She heard them but didn’t understand their deeper meaning, only saying: “I understand. I haven’t seen your eldest uncle and second uncle for years. I miss them very much. I wonder how heartbroken they must be knowing that Ming Ge’er is gone.”

Seeing that Sun Shi hadn’t grasped the key point, Qin Yining couldn’t say much more.

She always felt that eldest uncle and second uncle being urgently summoned back to the capital didn’t bode well. She reminded Sun Shi hoping she would watch for anything unusual and be able to think of solutions if needed.

Once the carriage was ready, Qin Yining and Sun Shi brought Nanny Jin and Bingtang along as they left, first going to Cixiao Garden to explain the situation to the Old Dowager. After all, Little New Year had just passed, and the household was busy preparing for the New Year.

Qin Yining smiled as she explained that they would return quickly. Seeing Qin Yining’s earnest request, the Old Dowager finally nodded in agreement.

The carriage traveled toward Duke Dingguo’s mansion.

But as soon as they turned onto the long street where Duke Dingguo’s mansion was located, through the carriage window they could see from afar that the mansion gates were wide open. Soldiers in armor and eunuchs in gray robes were clustered around an elderly man over fifty of medium build wearing a black sable fur cloak as he emerged from the main gate.

Seeing the situation was wrong, Qin Yining quickly ordered the carriage to stop: “Don’t get closer! Quick, retreat into the alley!”

The coachman immediately obeyed upon hearing this.

Sun Shi said anxiously: “What’s happening! Who dares to break into the Duke’s mansion?!”

“Mother, let’s watch from a distance first. Please don’t make any sound!”

Sun Shi also knew the situation was serious and nodded.

Soon, fully armed soldiers in armor escorted many people out.

The first person was Duke Dingguo himself in a deep blue brocade robe. Behind him were two men Qin Yining didn’t recognize, but she could confirm they were eldest uncle Sun Haicang and second uncle Sun Haijing. Further back were four young men, including fifth cousin and eighth cousin whom Qin Yining knew, plus two slightly older ones who by their appearance should be second cousin and fourth cousin. Even further back were several boys, the older ones seven or eight years old, the younger ones still carried by servants and appearing only four or five years old.

All the males were bound hand and foot, strung together like rice dumplings.

Behind the males were the female family members and servant women, similarly tied together in a string.

“What is, what is happening!” Sun Shi trembled in shock.

“The Duke’s mansion has been raided! Mother, let’s quickly return and find Father to ask about the situation!” Qin Yining held Sun Shi down to prevent her from standing up and quickly instructed the coachman.