An Cangzhu glared ahead as Yi Sang dismounted, sauntering over with a loud laugh: “I set out from Ma Yuan, rushing all the way, yet I’m still late. I’ve kept everyone waiting, truly shameful!” He strode forward with great strides and, acting as if no one else mattered, brazenly sat down first. Only then did he seem to notice Pei You’an, turning to him with clasped hands: “I’ve kept Master Pei waiting, please forgive me.”

Pei You’an smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Across from him, An Jilong said coldly: “It’s one thing to keep all of us waiting, but why have you brought so many troops? Do you think you’re the only one who has such numbers? Or perhaps you believe we don’t?”

Yi Sang snorted through his nostrils: “You’re now a Grand Tusi. What difference does it make in how many men I bring? I apologize, but I don’t trust any of you people. If it weren’t for the fact that Master Pei once helped treat the plague in my Mengding Prefecture, why would I have come here today to waste words with you?”

An Jilong suppressed his anger and said: “We had already sworn an oath to cease hostilities. That Lord Ma was trying to sow discord between us. How could you be so easily deceived and cause trouble again? Do you truly think I fear you?”

Yi Sang sneered: “Fine words indeed! You’ve taken all the benefits, even my ancestral lands have been given to you. Do you take me for a dead man?”

An Jilong slammed the table and stood up: “This is outrageous! You’re making excuses to cause trouble! Allocating Anlong Pass to my Mengmu Prefecture was merely an empty statement from Lord Ma. Since his departure, when have you seen anyone from Mengmu Prefecture cross the border by even half a step? Yet your people recently crossed the border causing trouble and even injuring several of my men! I see you have not the slightest sincere intention for peace talks! I, An Jilong, never start trouble, but neither do I fear it! If you want to fight, then let’s fight!”

Yi Sang rose abruptly: “Everyone has heard what the Grand Tusi said. If that’s the case, what is there left to discuss? I shall take my leave; you all can fend for yourselves!” With that, he turned to leave, and the several hundred warriors he had brought erupted in a thunderous cheer. An Jilong’s face turned ashen, and the seated Tusi looked at each other in dismay.

“Yi Sang, you once swore a blood oath, promising to cease hostilities. You know that Mengmu Prefecture has committed no actual breach of agreement, yet you brazenly cause trouble. What is your reasoning?”

A voice came from behind, unhurried but resonant, subtly overpowering the clamor raised by the several hundred warriors behind Yi Sang.

Yi Sang stopped in his tracks and turned around to see Pei You’an standing and walking toward him.

He hesitated, then smiled: “Master Pei, don’t misunderstand, and certainly don’t believe just one side of the story. I have no intention of opposing you. I came here today out of respect for you. Since he and I cannot see eye to eye, what more is there to say? What will be, will be!”

He looked around and, seeing everyone watching him, loudly continued: “Besides, this is a grudge between me and An Jilong, requiring no outsider’s interference. Master Pei, I’ve always been straightforward. Forgive my bluntness, but you’re a Han person. Being of a different ethnicity, how could you truly understand our concerns? Your visit is supposedly to mediate, but I’ve heard you arrived at Mengmu Prefecture well in advance. Where is your neutrality? Your coming here must either be because An Jilong has promised you benefits or because you have ulterior motives, wouldn’t you say?”

An Jilong was furious. He slammed the table and stood up, rebuking: “Yi Sang! It’s one thing to slander me, but how dare you also defame Master Pei? When the plague broke out in your Ma Yuan city, if not for Master Pei’s assistance, would you, Yi Sang, still be standing here today speaking such nonsense?”

Pei You’an signaled An Jilong to remain calm, then turned to the contemptuous Yi Sang with a smile: “Tusi Yi Sang has hit the mark. I, Pei You’an, did indeed come with some personal motives on this journey.”

The surrounding Tusi whispered to each other, while Yi Sang looked pleased.

Pei You’an glanced around at the various Tusi, large and small, and said: “As you all know, the Third Prince holds the late emperor’s authority to oversee this region, and pacifying the borders and ensuring the people’s safety is his primary duty. If war breaks out again between Mengmu and Mengding Prefectures due to misunderstanding, the Imperial Censorate would certainly fault the Third Prince for negligence. I have come on the Third Prince’s orders. If you would all be so kind as to give me, Pei You’an, some face, I will have something to report back to the Third Prince.”

The Tusi erupted in laughter, and one loudly said: “Master Pei, we have always admired you! Let today’s matter be presided over by you!”

Pei You’an bowed to the assembly: “In terms of seniority, I, Pei You’an, am far junior to all the Tusi present. I’m grateful for your regard and must thank you all. To everyone here, I have just one thing to say: No one is fortunate in war, and no one stays safe in chaos. Although Pacification Commissioner Lord Ma’s visit may seem unrelated to you everyone present is affected. Mengmu and Mengding Prefectures are pivotal in the southwest. If war breaks out again, how could any of you remain uninvolved and aloof? Whether coerced or for self-preservation, one thing leads to another. Add to that external enemies watching like tigers eyeing their prey, and the peace in the southwest would be gone forever!”

The smiles gradually faded from the Tusi’s faces, all expressions becoming solemn.

Pei You’an turned to Yi Sang: “Tusi Yi Sang if you and the Mengmu Tusi truly go to war again, ask yourself honestly, what are your chances of winning?”

Yi Sang sneered: “Even if I’m crushed to pieces, I won’t let outsiders take even half an inch of my ancestral land!”

Pei You’an smiled faintly: “Well said! But I want to ask the Tusi, Lord Ma verbally stated that Anlong Pass would be allocated to Mengmu Prefecture, and you became so indignant that you disregarded facts and brazenly broke your oath. Then, why did you secretly send people to occupy Mubang while many Tusi are gathered here today? What is your reasoning for that?”

At these words, Yi Sang’s expression changed, and the entire venue erupted in commotion.

Mubang was An Jilong’s ancestral land. An Jilong was greatly alarmed and rushed forward, shouting harshly: “Yi Sang! You have committed such a shameless act! Do you think I, An Jilong, fear you?”

An Cangzhu had already drawn his knife and led the twenty guards behind him to charge forward, shouting angrily: “You despicable person, I’ll kill you right now!”

Yi Sang shouted, and the several hundred warriors behind him immediately surged forward, surrounding the meeting place. Weapons were drawn, and conflict seemed imminent.

The Tusi all changed color, rising to their feet and rebuking: “Yi Sang, what are you trying to do?”

Yi Sang looked around and sneered: “All of you are in league with An Jilong. Master Pei, since you already know, I have nothing to hide. I’ve sent a large force to Mubang, and Mubang has no chance of escape. I’m telling you now, Anlong Pass has belonged to my Mengding Prefecture for generations. If An Jilong doesn’t agree to hand over Anlong Pass entirely today, not only will Mubang be lost, but none of you will leave here either!”

Curses arose from all sides, but Yi Sang remained unmoved, surrounded by a team of trusted guards, his manner extremely arrogant.

Pei You’an stared at him, his expression gradually turning cold. Suddenly, he clapped his hands, and a guard standing behind him released a fire signal that rose into the sky and exploded with a bang. A moment later, a group of horsemen appeared in the distance, quickly galloping near. Yi Sang turned to look, his face changing dramatically.

Yang Yun rode forward, drawing his sword and pointing it at a tightly bound man hanging from the side of his horse, shouting sternly: “Yi Sang, see who this is! If you don’t apologize to Master Pei immediately, my sword won’t recognize your son!”

This bound man was Yi Sang’s most beloved eldest son, Yi Nu, known for his military prowess and serving as Yi Sang’s right-hand man, viewed as his successor.

For this secret operation, he had sent Yi Nu leading two thousand elite troops to launch a surprise attack on the undefended Mubang, believing it would be an easy victory. He never imagined such a turn of events. Collecting himself, he immediately turned to Pei You’an: “What do you intend? If you dare harm my son in the slightest, I swear, today will not end here!”

Pei You’an coldly replied: “Yi Sang, your son is being held at swordpoint, yet not a hair on his head has been harmed, and you’re already so anxious, threatening to perish together with me. If I hadn’t stopped your scheme in time, would you have shown any mercy to the unarmed civilians of Mubang? Your son is your flesh and blood, but don’t others also have loved ones?”

Yi Sang looked at his son, whose mouth was gagged and who was struggling continuously, his expression extremely ugly.

“Call your men back immediately!”

Pei You’an shouted sternly.

Yi Sang trembled all over, involuntarily taking a step backward, his face alternating between red and white as he signaled his subordinates to withdraw.

Soon, the several hundred warriors retreated like a receding tide, disappearing into the distance.

The previously tense atmosphere finally relaxed, and the many Tusi exhaled, all glaring at Yi Sang.

Pei You’an ordered Yang Yun to bring Yi Nu forward. Yang Yun pushed Yi Nu ahead, and seeing him still struggling forcefully, unwilling to kneel, kicked the back of his knee. Yi Nu fell to the ground, glaring at Pei You’an with angry eyes, continuously making muffled sounds through his gag.

Yi Sang barely composed himself and said: “Master Pei, I admit I’ve fallen into your hands today! What do you intend to do with my son?”

“Yi Sang, although your family has been Tusi for many generations, in the past you were merely a minor, unremarkable Tusi Prefecture. It wasn’t until your great-grandfather’s time that the Yi family grew powerful. I’ve heard that when the old Tusi was alive, Menglian Prefecture attacked your Ma Yuan city, putting the city in grave danger and the old Tusi in peril. Fortunately, the people of Ma Yuan City wholeheartedly assisted, turning defeat into victory. The old Tusi thereafter regarded Ma Yuan city as a blessed land and moved the Tusi mansion there. From then on, your Yi family began to rise. Why did the people of Ma Yuan City help the old Tusi back then? I’ve heard it was because he was kind and loving toward the people, kept his word faithfully, and was truly a heroic figure. Why did Menglian Prefecture lose the hearts of the people? Because of excessive warfare, the people’s suffering is unbearable. Now your Yi family is powerful, but where is Menglian Prefecture? Long turned to dust.”

“A person without trustworthiness cannot stand. I know you yearn for the imperial court to appoint you as Grand Tusi, but being as you are, merely because you didn’t receive the benefits you expected, you become discontented, your vision extending only three inches before your eyes, treating oaths as nothing, breaking agreements, and failing to keep your word. Even if you obtained the title of Grand Tusi, how would you establish yourself? And how would you command others’ respect?”

As Pei You’an’s words fell, all around was silent.

Yi Sang’s face and ears reddened. Seeing Pei You’an standing with hands behind his back, as stable as a mountain and imposing without anger, he didn’t dare speak, watching as Pei You’an turned to An Cangzhu, asking for his waist knife.

An Cangzhu immediately drew his knife and presented it with both hands.

Pei You’an took it, lightly touching the cold blade with a finger. The knife gleamed like frost, reflecting a chilling aura in his pupils.

He stepped forward toward Yi Nu on the ground, approached him, bent down, and removed the wooden plug from Yi Nu’s mouth.

Yi Nu immediately shouted: “Father, don’t worry about me! Let him kill me if he wants! This Han person is full of tricks, don’t be deceived!”

Pei You’an pressed the back of the knife against one side of his face, his wrist sinking slightly. Yi Nu’s head and face immediately became immobile, his eyes widening as he glared at Pei You’an with anger.

The atmosphere suddenly tensed, and everyone holding their breath. Yi Sang’s face turned ashen as he gritted his teeth and said: “If you kill him, I will be your enemy until the end!”

Pei You’an’s face was as calm as water. In one swift motion, his hand rose and fell, and the blade cut across Yi Nu’s arm.

Yi Sang was stunned, and before he could react, he saw Pei You’an do the same to his arm. A streak of bright red blood immediately ran down his sleeve.

Everyone was astonished and confused. Yi Nu on the ground was also amazed, staring at Pei You’an and ceasing his struggle.

Yi Sang’s heart had been in his throat, but seeing Pei You’an’s unexpected action, he hesitated, then said: “Master Pei… what do you mean by this?”

Pei You’an looked at him and said: “Yi Sang, you just said, being of different ethnicities, how could we be of one heart? Look now, your eldest son and I, though not of the same race, with different clothing and appearance, beneath our skin, our blood is the same color. Setting aside prejudice, why can’t we be of one heart? You and An Jilong are like the two tigers of the southwest, with many watching, wanting to replace you. Have you heard the saying, ‘When two tigers fight, neither survives, but the slow hound gains advantage’? Before I set out on this journey, the Third Prince said you were a good man, but unfortunately narrow-minded, which is why you were provoked into a trap, used by others without realizing it, leading to today’s conflict. Tusi An had no intention of opposing you, and the Third Prince hopes you will pull back from the brink. Whether it’s war or peace today, I won’t say more—it’s entirely up to you!”

Yi Sang was stunned for a while, then suddenly rushed forward, kowtowing to Pei You’an: “Master Pei, I, Yi Sang, have never admitted defeat in my life, but today I am convinced completely! I was wrong! Whether to kill or punish me, it’s all up to Master Pei!”

Pei You’an said: “No one is a sage; who can be without fault? It is a great virtue that Tusi Yi Sang is willing to turn weapons into jade and silk. Stand up.” He stepped forward to help him up, then turned to An Jilong: “Tusi An, Yi Sang sent people to attack your Mubang. How do you wish to resolve this?”

An Jilong was initially extremely angry and then fearful. Fortunately, Yi Nu had been captured by Pei You’an midway, averting a disaster, and allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief. Seeing that Yi Sang had admitted his mistake, for Pei You’an’s sake, he had no choice but to let it pass. He said: “Yi Sang, thankfully today’s events did not lead to terrible consequences. For Master Pei’s sake, I won’t hold it against you. But I warn you, if you transgress against my Mengmu Prefecture again, I will not easily let it go!”

Yi Sang looked ashamed and said: “Master Pei spared my son’s life, so I owe him a life debt. I’ll keep this debt for now, ready to serve Master Pei at any time. As for us, we’ll restore our previous treaty, everything as before. I’ll provide a feast and offer sacrifices according to tradition, publicly apologize to you, and let everyone here bear witness!”

An Jilong had originally thought he would, in his shame, offer to cede Anlong Pass entirely, but didn’t expect him to remain so calculating, unwilling to suffer the slightest loss. In his heart, he cursed him as an old fox. Being naturally generous, for Pei You’an’s sake, he let it go, turning to the others with a smile: “I’ll partake of Yi Sang’s feast another day. Today, since you’ve all worked hard, come to my residence. I’ll arrange a feast with Master Pei in the seat of honor, and we shall all drink until we’re drunk!”

…

Jia Fu knew today’s matters were of great importance and waited anxiously at the Tusi mansion. By nightfall, she suddenly heard faint sounds of banquet music from the front, guessing that Pei You’an must have returned safely. Shortly after, a guard came, saying the master had sent him to convey a message that all was well, and she shouldn’t worry.

Jia Fu was completely relieved and began eagerly waiting for his return. She waited until the hour of Hai, going out to look numerous times in between. Finally, she heard footsteps outside, quickly ran out, and saw Pei You’an being supported by a guard, his steps slightly faltering.

Having been by his side for some time, even here where there were frequent banquets, Jia Fu had never seen him drink alcohol. Tonight, however, was an exception. She hurriedly went to greet him, immediately supporting him.

Pei You’an told the guard to go rest, then withdrew the arm that Jia Fu was holding, making his way inside on his own.

Jia Fu caught up and again took hold of him, saying: “You’re drunk, your steps are unsteady. Let me help you.”

He paused in his steps, looked down at her, saw her worried expression, hesitated, and finally didn’t withdraw his hand again, allowing her to support him as they entered the room.