Yu Zhiyuan watched as Xiao Li’s group rode their horses into the rain curtain. His face showed the pallor of someone who knew great disaster was upon him, yet his eyes suddenly turned sinister and ruthlessly determined, as if he had already made up his mind to fight this desperate battle to the death. He immediately turned to Wei Tong and said: “General! Quickly intercept and kill this traitor. Once we let him return to the military camp, it would be like releasing a tiger back to the mountains!”
Because of the brief exchange of blows with Xiao Li just moments ago, Wei Tong’s tiger’s mouth still felt somewhat numb from gripping his weapon. His expression was solemn, as if he had briefly deliberated something in these few moments and made a decision. He shouted: “Pass down the order—quickly seal the city gates and intercept and kill the Xiao clan traitor!”
The personal guards below hastily mounted their horses and galloped away to relay the message.
Seeing this, Yu Zhiyuan’s previously anxious heart settled halfway. He said: “I will immediately draft a declaration document, inviting all the northern border regions to jointly attack this traitor! The Marquis trusted and valued him so much, yet he repaid kindness with enmity, brutally harming the Young Lord and the County Princess, and slandering the Princess. Such a scoundrel truly deserves death beyond redemption!”
—
After Wei Tong mustered troops to pursue Xiao Li, Yu Zhiyuan finished drafting the declaration and had it sent to various prefectures. Then he heard that upon learning of Wei Pingjin’s death, Wei Furen had nearly fainted on the spot. Subsequently, she also brought a physician to the main courtyard, apparently wanting to personally determine whether Wang Wanzhen was truly pregnant or not.
Fearing that Wang Wanzhen, having been frightened too much today, might let something slip, Yu Zhiyuan could not even attend to his own injuries. He hastily rushed to the main courtyard under the pretext of discussing Wei Pingjin’s funeral arrangements.
—
Inside the main courtyard, Wei Furen sat accompanied by her sister-in-law from her natal family, her eyes vacant, on a round-backed chair with embroidered cushions. Having endured the successive pains of losing her husband, daughter, and son over these two months, and having just awakened from crying herself unconscious, her dark hollow eyes now stared ahead without focus, as if only this physical shell remained.
After the physician examined the pulse of Wang Wanzhen, who was half-reclining on the bed, he seemed somewhat troubled and hesitated without speaking for a moment.
Lady Liu, Wei Furen’s sister-in-law, glanced at Wei Furen. Knowing that Wei Furen was currently in no state to manage affairs, she asked on her behalf: “What is the situation?”
The physician looked at Wang Wanzhen, who was leaning against a soft pillow with a pale complexion, then looked toward Wei Furen and Lady Liu. Somewhat hesitantly, he said: “The Princess… already has a two-month pregnancy.”
Lady Liu uttered a short sound of surprise, her expression becoming extremely unpleasant.
Wei Furen also raised her head, her gaze staring blankly at Wang Wanzhen.
Two months ago was precisely during Wei Qishan’s mourning period. Going back one month before that, Wei Pingjin had been accompanying Wei Qishan on the southern campaign. During this time, Wang Wanzhen had gone with her to Zhuojun and had not met with Wei Pingjin.
Family scandals should not be made public. Lady Liu hastily dismissed the physician, then scrutinized Wang Wanzhen with shocked uncertainty: “How could it be during that period…”
A child conceived during Wei Qishan’s mourning period—if this got out, where would the entire Wei mansion’s face be placed!
Wang Wanzhen’s eyes were half-lowered, her entire person seemingly still immersed in grief, her complexion also extremely weary: “That day at the Marquis’s funeral, after that man surnamed Xiao’s subordinates caused trouble and General Wei Ang took it upon himself to let them take over the commercial firms, my husband was in a bad mood and drank too much that evening…”
Wei Furen knew that Wei Pingjin had locked himself in his room drinking himself blind that night.
During the mourning period, alcohol and meat were strictly forbidden. The next day when sending off the coffin, when Wei Pingjin had not appeared for a long time, she had learned of this from the servants and had the kitchen secretly prepare sobering soup.
But whether Wei Pingjin had been improper with Wang Wanzhen after getting drunk—such matters in the junior generation’s courtyards, and it being the mourning period at the time—Wei Furen truly did not know.
Lady Liu glanced at Wei Furen, understanding that the child should have been conceived that night. Clutching her handkerchief, she thought for a moment and said: “We cannot say publicly that it is a two-month pregnancy. Let’s say it’s three months. It just happened to be during the Marquis’s mourning period, which is why we never announced it publicly.”
Wang Wanzhen’s eyelashes lowered, concealing the strange expression in her eyes. On her face, she displayed the same sickly, listless appearance as Wei Furen, showing no interest in managing affairs: “Aunt-in-law is thorough in her considerations. I will follow Aunt-in-law’s words.”
Although Lady Liu had long known Wang Wanzhen’s true identity from Wei Furen, regardless of the truth, at present Wang Wanzhen was already an authentic former Jin Princess in the eyes of the world.
Wei Furen could put on the airs of a mother-in-law toward Wang Wanzhen, but now that Wei Pingjin was gone and Wang Wanzhen carried the Wei clan’s only bloodline in her womb, Lady Liu did not dare follow Wei Furen in putting on the airs of a husband’s family aunt. She could only say politely: “It is good that the Wei family still has bloodline remaining. Princess, please rest well. Do not grieve excessively and harm your body.”
Wang Wanzhen nodded slightly, seemingly still too grief-stricken to have the energy to express thanks. Just then, a maid outside announced that Wei Pingjin’s chief strategist had arrived, wanting to discuss with Wei Furen how Wei Pingjin’s funeral should be handled.
This series of matters left Lady Liu also quite overwhelmed. She immediately helped Wei Furen up and they departed first.
Not long after, Yu Zhiyuan dismissed everyone around him and entered, asking Wang Wanzhen: “You didn’t arouse those two’s suspicions, did you?”
Wang Wanzhen said: “I used the excuse of Wei Pingjin being drunk that night to cover this matter up.”
After that night, she had taken contraceptive medicine, but having caught a chill and contracted a cold, after drinking the contraceptive soup, she had felt chest tightness and nausea and vomited considerably. At that time, the mansion affairs were complex, and having maids secretly go to the medicine shop to fetch medicine was troublesome, so it was set aside.
Who would have thought she would truly become pregnant?
Wang Wanzhen used the excuse that during Wei Qishan’s mourning period, a pregnancy should not be publicized, making the physician who came to examine her believe this child was truly hers and Wei Pingjin’s—just that breaking the mourning taboo would sound bad if spread, having the other party temporarily keep silent. Yet she still worried that the matter would be exposed.
Thus on one hand she secretly sought abortion medicine herself, while on the other she secretly met with Yu Zhiyuan, wanting him to have someone eliminate that physician.
But unexpectedly they were discovered by Wei Pingjin, and under duress reached this step.
Too many things had happened throughout this day. Wang Wanzhen’s earlier weakness and fatigue before Wei Furen was not entirely feigned. Her head truly still throbbed with pain even now.
Especially knowing that Xiao Li had successfully fought his way out of the Wei mansion—after Wei Tong surrounded the mansion, she had thought Xiao Li would be unable to escape today no matter what, and had so recklessly framed him.
When Xiao Li came back to settle accounts, he would never spare her!
Her heart gripped by fear, Wang Wanzhen looked toward Yu Zhiyuan, her face haggard without much color: “That man surnamed Xiao escaped from the Wei mansion. What do we do?”
How could Yu Zhiyuan not see that Wang Wanzhen was getting cold feet? He had only changed out of the clothes soaked through in the rainstorm. His injuries had not yet been treated, the chokemarks on his neck still visible, yet his entire person seemed remarkably composed. He consoled Wang Wanzhen: “I’ve already had people spread the news that he killed Wei Qishan’s pair of children. Wei Qishan led the northern border for several decades after all. With him having just passed, and his pair of children immediately suffering such vicious treatment, this will surely form a tide of public opinion among the people. The popular support that Xiao Li accumulated in the northern border will be crushed by this tide of opinion in an instant.”
“The Wei clan’s former subordinates will likewise be swept up by the tide of opinion. Whether they continue to be loyal to Xiao Li or remain neutral, they will all bear infamy among the common people. Moreover, many of the Wei clan’s former subordinates under Xiao Li are not his direct lineage after all. By supporting the child in your womb instead, what they can gain is far more than following Xiao Li. What maintains the powerful families of this world, besides loyalty, is also interest.”
He stared into Wang Wanzhen’s eyes, his gentle and weak gaze carrying a seductive quality: “Don’t be afraid. I will plan everything for you.”
Hearing these words, Wang Wanzhen thought about how when Xiao Li lost all popular support, even if he could fight well, in the hearts of the common people he would be no different from Pei Song—just another treasonous rebel minister.
If Southern Liang still wanted to take the opportunity to recruit him back, then their Wei camp’s previous claim that Xiao Li was a Liang camp spy would be established. The infamy for killing the Wei Pingjin siblings would also continue to fall on the Liang camp’s head. This would be a losing proposition for the Liang camp.
As long as she could rally all the Wei clan’s former subordinates, what awaited Xiao Li was already a death trap.
The unease in her heart about Xiao Li successfully escaping dissipated somewhat. Lowering her eyelids to conceal the many thoughts in her eyes, when she spoke it was in a tone of extreme trust toward Yu Zhiyuan: “This palace can only rely on you, sir. When this child is born, I will have you personally teach him.”
For the great cause, what she would give birth to could only be a male infant.
Yu Zhiyuan, with his deep scheming, caught every flicker of expression on Wang Wanzhen’s face. His eyes were of indeterminate depth, only saying: “This subject will dedicate myself wholly to the Princess and the unborn little highness, until death. But to truly control the Wei clan, we still need to eliminate one more person.”
—
When Wei Ang learned of the changes at the mansion and hurried back, Wei Pingjin’s corpse had already been placed in a coffin. The Wei generals of any note within Weizhou territory had also all rushed to the Wei mansion, gathered outside the memorial hall.
Wang Wanzhen wore mourning clothes, standing before the coffin, her face completely pale and miserable. Wei Furen had already become somewhat muddled, her eyes empty, only knowing how to shed tears, not speaking a word.
This tragic scene made the Wei generals outside the memorial hall both grief-stricken and enraged. The hot-tempered ones had already punched the corridor pillars, shouting: “Immediately raise troops to attack that Xiao traitor! This old man will chop off the head from his neck and place it before the Young Lord’s spirit to offer!”
“Exactly, exactly! The entire Northern Wei originally belonged to our Wei clan. When the Marquis initially handed the Wolf Cavalry to that traitor, it was probably also under his coercion!”
Wei Ang walked in from outside the courtyard gate. He had watched Wei Pingjin and Wei Jiamin grow up. These two siblings meeting with successive misfortunes already made him feel extremely bad, but Wei Xian had previously suddenly suffered a stroke, unable to speak or move. Now they were saying Xiao Li had killed the Wei Pingjin siblings to seize power—he already sensed something was wrong. Thus when he parted the crowd and entered the memorial hall, his expression was extremely grim.
When subordinates reported his return, all the Wei generals made way and looked toward him.
Wei Ang walked to the front of the memorial, nodded slightly to Wei Furen and Wang Wanzhen, then went around to the side of the coffin. Lifting the white cloth, he looked once at Wei Pingjin who had been dead for some time. His eyes reddening, he lowered them and said in a low voice: “It was Uncle Ang who failed to protect you both.”
A Wei general shouted: “General, the Xiao traitor who killed the Young Lord and County Princess has escaped back to the military camp. Immediately recall the Wolf Cavalry in his hands and dismember this traitor to console the spirits of the Young Lord and County Princess in heaven!”
Wei Ang said in a deep voice: “Whether or not it was the Lord who killed the Young Lord and County Princess still requires deliberation.”
These words made the faces of the Wei generals, already filled with indignation, show even more anger. Someone questioned: “General Wei Ang, at this point you still want to shield that Xiao traitor!”
Wei Ang swept his gaze over those faces glaring at him with rage, his expression grave: “The Lord has always been upright. He would never commit such acts. Someone wants to throw Northern Wei into chaos!”
Standing to the side, Yu Zhiyuan imperceptibly signaled with his eyes. Immediately a Wei general ‘grief-stricken’ shouted: “I know General Wei Ang served under that Xiao traitor, like General Yuan Fang, and have always had friendship with that villain. The traitor also valued the General greatly. Although people moving on when circumstances change is normal, the Young Lord’s and County Princess’s corpses are right before our eyes. The Marquis’s bones are not yet cold. For the General to be so loyal to his new master—can you truly face the Marquis!”
“Outrageous!”
These words were truly grating, making even the normally good-tempered Wei Ang furious: “When I was serving at the Marquis’s side, you all didn’t know where you were playing in the mud! Is it your turn to question my loyalty to the Marquis?”
Having pursued Xiao Li’s group without success and remaining silent throughout, Wei Tong suddenly asked: “Then why not raise troops to attack that Xiao-surnamed traitor?”
Seeing that Wei Tong had also spoken up, Wei Ang’s face showed some disappointment, as well as hidden anger toward whoever had set up this chess game to throw all of Northern Wei into chaos. He demanded: “You were at the mansion at the time. Did you personally witness the Lord kill the Young Lord?”
“I witnessed it with my own eyes.”
A desolate female voice rang out in the memorial hall.
Wang Wanzhen raised her head and looked toward Wei Ang. On her pale and sickly face, her red-rimmed eyes were particularly heart-wrenching: “Does General Wei Ang think this palace’s words are false?”
Her smile was miserable: “The corpses of over sixty mansion guards who died at that Xiao traitor’s hands today are also evidence. If Xiao Li was upright, why would he need to kill so many people to escape?”
Having said this, she cradled her abdomen with her hands, tears rolling down again: “If not for this palace carrying a pregnancy, I would certainly dash my head against a pillar to follow my husband, rather than continue witnessing such cold-heartedness from you all!”
On the surface, Wang Wanzhen was the former Jin Princess. The news Wei Ang heard upon returning to the mansion was also that she already had a three-month pregnancy. Though he harbored much suspicion in his heart, it was not appropriate to contradict her. He could only clasp his hands: “The Princess grieves excessively. With the pregnancy, under emotional extremes you may have misremembered. The Young Lord’s death must have some hidden circumstances. Perhaps it was Traitor Pei’s frame-up…”
“May I ask on what basis the General so trusts that man surnamed Xiao?” Yu Zhiyuan interrupted Wei Ang.
Wei Ang scrutinized him and replied: “Naturally because the Lord is the person the Marquis selected.”
Because of Xiao Li’s kick, Yu Zhiyuan still could not stop coughing at this moment, yet his eyes rippled with cold light: “But Xiao Li also once deceived the Marquis, and had long harbored a traitorous heart to betray the Marquis, did he not?”
Wei Ang was momentarily blocked from speaking.
Yu Zhiyuan continued to question: “Such a cunning traitor—what credibility does he have?”
Wei Ang wanted to argue on Xiao Li’s behalf, but at this moment, whatever he said, it was as if he stood in a quagmire. The more he argued, the deeper he sank into the mud. In the end, he could only say: “The Lord has established countless achievements for Northern Wei…”
“Which general present has not established meritorious service for Northern Wei?” Yu Zhiyuan interrupted him, looking toward the assembled generals, raising his arms in appeal.
The Wei generals present all responded in unison.
Yu Zhiyuan’s gaze fell back on Wei Ang, having become incomparably sharp: “For his own personal advancement, General Wei Ang probably no longer cares about the Young Lord’s and County Princess’s lives or deaths, nor about the Marquis’s kindness during his lifetime. Otherwise, two months ago at the Marquis’s funeral, when that Xiao traitor’s subordinates dared to openly cause trouble, why would the General also shield that man surnamed Xiao and hand over the commercial firms? The General’s heart is no longer with the Wei clan. For him to continue holding the Wei clan’s military tally—we will not accept it!”
Having said this, he clasped his hands toward Wang Wanzhen and Wei Furen’s direction: “Fortunately today both the Princess and the Old Lady are present and can serve as witnesses. Please, General, hand over the military tally.”
Wei Ang’s gaze swept over everyone present. He already understood—today’s trap also calculated him into it.
His expression turned coldly murderous, the aura around his entire body becoming sharp: “What if I refuse?”
Wei Tong, standing together with the Wei generals, raised his eyes and slowly said: “Then we can only offend the General.”
Wei Ang laughed coldly: “Good. So today that traitor wants to frame the Lord, then eliminate me, this obstacle to his grand plan to throw Northern Wei into chaos? I refuse to do as he wishes! If you want the military tally, you’re welcome to take it from my corpse!”
Hearing this, the Wei generals’ expressions changed.
Having been comrades for many years, and with Wei Ang being Wei Qishan’s trusted confidant with prestige in the army, no one present dared to truly strike a killing blow.
Just as the standoff reached an impasse, Wei Furen, who could only stand steady with a maidservant’s support, suddenly spoke: “What face do you have to refuse to release that military tally?”
Wei Ang froze.
Wei Furen turned to look at him, only extreme grief, pain, and emptiness remaining in her eyes: “You are not worthy of my Minmin and Jin’er calling you Uncle Ang.”
These words pierced Wei Ang’s heart with great pain. He hastily called out: “My lady…”
Wei Furen said: “After returning the military tally, you may throw yourself under that traitor’s command.”
Having said this, she was already being helped away from the memorial hall by the maidservant.
Wei Ang’s eyes full of grief, finally looked once more at the coffins of Wei Pingjin and Wei Jiamin placed side by side. Closing his eyes with deep sorrow, he said: “Fine. I will hand over the military tally. Having failed to catch the insider who killed the Young Lord and County Princess and undermined our Northern Wei, I, Wei Ang, am incompetent. I have failed the Marquis’s entrustment and request imprisonment.”
—
In just half a month, the claims that Xiao Li killed Wei Qishan’s pair of children in an attempt to usurp Northern Wei had spread throughout all of Liang territory.
Probably because this renowned hegemon had just fallen, then was nearly exterminated, and the culprit was a subordinate general he had personally promoted—all these narratives were too lamentable. The common people’s curses toward Xiao Li temporarily even exceeded those toward Pei Song.
In the tea houses and wine shops of the Guanzhong region, when storytellers mentioned Xiao Li, they would slap their gavel and directly call him “son of a prostitute.” After recounting his evil acts of killing at age eight and being imprisoned in Yongcheng, they would curse him as a “two-surname traitorous slave,” saying he first served the Liang camp, then betrayed the Liang camp to join the Wei camp instead, deceiving Wei Qishan of the power in his hands—truly a cunning and treacherous type.
Everything he had once done for the northern border people became mere pretense in the people’s mouths.
Zhang Huai knew that this matter, like the people’s curses toward the Liang camp and Wen Yu after the Ma Family Liang battle, must have people from Pei’s camp secretly manipulating and guiding public opinion behind the scenes. He also had people widely proclaim Pei Song’s evil deeds among the people, and brought up again how Xiao Li had been mistaken by the Liang camp as a spy and nearly poisoned to death, as well as his prison ordeal in Weizhou.
However, the effect was minimal.
Although Pei Song had once served as Ao Taiwei’s dog and later betrayed Ao Taiwei to destroy the realm, Ao Taiwei was originally a treacherous minister, and Pei Song was thoroughly evil from start to finish.
Whether common people or scholars, toward such thoroughly evil people, there were actually fewer curses.
Someone like Xiao Li, this kind of “deceitful fraud,” seemed to have become the truly unpardonable criminal. All the injustice and persecution he had once suffered suddenly all had reasons.
“What child kills at age eight? I say this Xiao traitor was rotten from the root! The bastard of some unknown father, raised in the pleasure quarters and prison—what good could come of that!”
“The Liang camp accused him of being a spy? He must have been acting suspiciously. Otherwise, the Liang camp had so many generals—why didn’t they suspect others of being spies, only suspecting him?”
“The Marquis of Shuobian imprisoned him back then? Probably the Marquis detected his wolfish ambitions and imprisoned him. Only later when the barbarians invaded the border, he took the opportunity to escape and seize military power. The Marquis was under duress when he passed him the position of new Lord. Now the truth is merely exposed!”
How good Wei Qishan’s reputation had been during his lifetime, how heartbroken and regretful the common people were over his pair of children’s deaths, their contempt and hatred toward Xiao Li was equally intense.
—
Inside the camp, Zheng Hu picked up a stack of reports containing the people’s curses toward Xiao Li and tore them to shreds, cursing: “Bullshit! All of it is utter bullshit!”
After tearing through a pile, he threw them violently to the ground, his face full of murderous rage: “We lost so many brothers on Yanle Mountain, risking our lives fighting at the barbarians’ blade-edge, and saved this bunch of trash? There’s not a single good person in this entire northern border!”
Zhang Huai said: “It’s Pei Song stirring up trouble behind the scenes, using the common people as his blade.”
Zheng Hu swept away with one hand the reports that filled several entire trays on the desk, roaring: “I don’t care! All I know is that Second Brother did so much for the northern border people and received a reputation covered in infamy—it’s not worth it!”
Song Qin entered from outside, lifting the tent flap. Looking at Xiao Li seated behind the main desk focused intently on studying maps, seemingly not disturbed at all by the outside world, he held several resignation letters in his hand: “My Lord… several more Wei generals have requested to resign.”
Before Xiao Li could speak, Zheng Hu was already cursing: “Let them scram! Acting as if our army values these Wei generals so much!”
Zhang Huai knew Zheng Hu was in a temper. He looked toward Xiao Li behind the main desk, who seemed to have all his energy focused on the maps with no intention of speaking. After a slight hesitation, he asked on his behalf: “Has there been any unusual movement in the Wolf Cavalry?”
His earlier unauthorized action of having people publicize the matter of the Liang camp once poisoning Xiao Li, attempting to clear Xiao Li of the infamy of betraying the Liang camp—this overstepping of authority had probably violated Xiao Li’s taboo.
Although Xiao Li had not explicitly reprimanded anything, the cold treatment these past days—with Zhang Huai’s cleverness, how could he not understand that Xiao Li was warning him?
Song Qin said: “After the Wolf Cavalry was previously broken up, it was the Lord who rebuilt it. Many of the veterans in it also went up Yanle Mountain battlefield and know how we won that battle. They deeply respect the Lord. Currently there has been no unusual movement.”
Zhang Huai said: “That is enough.”
He glanced at Xiao Li again and said: “The people’s curses are merely a tide of fog. Though it appears to cover heaven and earth, once the sun shines, it will all evaporate as water vapor and dissipate. The Wei clan’s former subordinates realigning themselves is a redistribution of interests. Pei Song wants to throw the entire northern border into chaos to break the north-south pincer attack on Guanzhong. He just underestimates the Lord too much. Although the Wei clan’s influence throughout the northern border is great, that was when Wei Qishan was alive. Those willing to become enemies of the Lord for a fake princess’s unborn fetus in her womb will only be fools. Huai rather feels that this is the Lord’s opportunity to truly unify the northern border and thoroughly erase the Wei clan’s mark.”
Xiao Li still did not speak.
Song Qin understood the reason for Xiao Li’s cold treatment of Zhang Huai these past days. He said: “The Liang camp helped clarify the people’s infamy toward the Lord, admitting they once fell for Pei Song’s alienation scheme and nearly mistakenly killed the Lord, which caused the Lord to leave the Liang camp. They also sent an envoy named Li Xun, currently outside the camp, claiming he has come to apologize and respectfully invite the Lord back to the Liang camp.”
Zhang Huai’s expression became somewhat subtly unpleasant.
Given the various infamies currently clinging to Xiao Li, recruiting him offered little benefit to the Liang camp—rather, it handed another weapon to the Wei clan and Pei Song’s side.
For the Liang camp to act this way showed the sincerity of their intentions.
If Xiao Li truly used this opportunity to return to the Liang camp…
Before he could think further, Xiao Li, who had not spoken throughout, coldly uttered two words: “See the guest out.”
Zhang Huai imperceptibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Song Qin seemed slightly hesitant, but still did not say anything more. After clasping his hands in acknowledgment, he withdrew.
Zheng Hu had not previously known the details of the injustice Xiao Li suffered in the Liang camp. After Zhang Huai publicized Xiao Li’s experiences in the Liang camp to counter the infamy Pei Song’s side had spread about Xiao Li, he had been so angry he could not eat for two days.
Now hearing that the Liang camp had actively helped clarify the infamy and sent someone to invite Xiao Li back to the Liang camp, he felt somewhat better and said: “The Liang camp did something decent at least!”
Thinking of the relationship between Wen Yu and Xiao Li, he paused, then added: “It was all that dog Traitor Pei Song using treacherous schemes to harm people!”
For him, whether Xiao Li continued to establish his own domain or returned to the Liang camp did not matter much. Wherever Xiao Li went, he would go too.
He was about to say something more when he saw that Xiao Li had already put away the maps, apparently having finally finished formulating some counterattack strategy.
He did not say another word about the Liang camp matter. After raising his eyes, his gaze went directly to Zhang Huai—this was the first time in these days he had actively spoken to Zhang Huai: “Have you investigated clearly what background that man surnamed Yu has in Pei Song’s camp?”
Zhang Huai knew that since Xiao Li had opened this topic, it meant the previous matter was considered past. But if he overstepped again in the future, it would certainly not be so easily turned over.
Some things need not be spoken—self-awareness was sufficient.
He nodded: “There are already leads.”
—
Luodu.
Pei Song looked at the latest secret letter the Eagle Dogs had sent back, a smile appearing at his lips. To the withered old man standing below, he said: “Your son is truly worthy of being Duke Yu’s son. Previously on the Luodu battlefield, he helped this Minister of Works lure that old fox Wei Qishan into the trap. This time, with one scheme, he has made that Xiao Li’s reputation utterly ruined.”
“Northern Wei is already in chaos. Yuan Fang, who joined hands with the Liang camp to attack my Luodu, should also be withdrawing troops back to the northern territory.” Pei Song was greatly pleased and said: “When your son returns to camp, this Minister of Works will personally reward him handsomely!”
Smiling as well, Yu Jingwen bowed respectfully: “To serve the Minister of Works is my unworthy son’s fortune.”
Another strategist beside them said: “Now that man surnamed Xiao has become like a rat crossing the street in the northern border—who doesn’t curse him?”
Other strategists also offered praise one after another.
Amidst the sounds of praise, Yu Jingwen smiled and contemplated for a moment, then clasped his hands toward Pei Song: “This subject has another scheme that can strike that Xiao clan boy once more.”
Pei Song raised his hand to indicate he should rise: “Gentleman, please speak freely.”
Yu Jingwen said: “That boy has people under him attempting to reverse public opinion, spreading word that my son is the lord’s spy. Since the Liang camp helped clarify his previous betrayal of the Liang camp and even sent people to win him over, why don’t we muddy these waters further and also send people to feign interest in wooing and recruiting that man surnamed Xiao? This way, this two-surname traitorous slave will have the suspicion of three surnames! And see who in the world will still trust him!”
“Afterward, we’ll continue dragging the Liang camp down as well. After all, in the Ma Family Liang battle, the Liang camp pushed all the blame onto Southern Chen, but that Xiao Li just happened to rescue Wei camp’s great general. Now it appears he also has deep connections with the Liang camp! So whether the Ma Family Liang battle was jointly perpetrated by the Liang and Chen camps—who can say clearly?”
Pei Song clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his eyes harboring a certain unknown cruelty and malice as he praised: “Worthy of being Duke Yu! This scheme is excellent! Approved!”
After the deliberations concluded and the strategists departed, only then did Pei Yuan, standing beside Pei Song, say: “Congratulations, my lord, on once again breaking the north-south pincer attack and trapping that man surnamed Xiao in a death trap!”
The thin smile had not yet faded from Pei Song’s lips. His gaze lazily looked toward the spring scenery outside the window. In the depths of those pale eyes, hidden was a hatred toward this human world accumulated over more than ten years. Like a sigh, coldly callous and malicious, he said: “You see, over ten years have passed, yet the essential nature of those ignorant masses under heaven remains the same.”
A bird landed on the windowsill, using its beak to peck at tiny grass seeds blown there by the wind.
Pei Song turned his head to look at this small creature bathed in spring light, as if seeing through this bird to something else being toyed with in his palm. He sneered: “Someone taught by Qin Yi—in his circumstances back then, what choice would he make? I truly cannot wait to see this fine show.”
Perhaps frightened by the cold glint in his eyes, the sparrow quickly took flight.
—
The white-feathered sparrow fluttered its wings and landed on the roof ridge of Zhanghua Palace.
Zhao Bai walked quickly through the corridor hung with fine bamboo curtains, holding a letter report. She entered the hall and said to Wen Yu, who was bent over handling government affairs at her desk: “Princess, word from Liang territory says Xiao Li refused to see Lord Li Xun.”
Wen Yu’s brush tip paused slightly, then she only calmly responded: “I understand.”
Zhao Bai was quite dissatisfied that Xiao Li had repeatedly refused Wen Yu’s invitations for him to return to the Liang camp. Resentfully, she said: “Princess, since that person has already chosen the path he wants to walk, you need not trouble yourself over his circumstances in the future.”
Wen Yu did not take up this topic, only saying: “After tomorrow’s morning court is dismissed, this palace’s pregnancy need no longer be concealed from the court. Watch Zhaoyun Pavilion and Zhanghua Hall more closely.”
Zhaoyun Pavilion was the residence of the female officials selected by Wen Yu to enter the palace to help handle some trivial government affairs. Inside were mostly ministers’ daughters, but there were also daughters from humble families who had entered through the women’s division examinations established this time.
Publicly it was said that humble family female officials were selected to avoid gossip, but to a certain degree, it was also to check the aristocratic family female officials within Zhaoyun Pavilion.
These were two balancing measures.
Wen Yu wanted the aristocratic family women in power to become swords turning back against the aristocratic families when their fathers and brothers tried to force her to step down using the heir in the future.
The female officials’ source of power was her.
If she could no longer sit firmly in court, then the female officials would also be forced from the court.
The pressure the Wang faction ministers exerted upon her would ultimately be resolved by the female officials who also came from these aristocratic great clans.
But to prevent the aristocratic family women from unanimously plotting for aristocratic family interests after gaining power, she also needed to use humble family female officials to maintain that balance.
As for Zhanghua Hall, it was the Chen King’s residence. After last year’s Mid-Autumn palace banquet, the Chen King had become increasingly moody, taking pleasure in whipping concubines and palace maids. Feeling that his disgraceful behavior at the Mid-Autumn palace banquet had been witnessed by the Imperial Guards and eunuchs, he harbored resentment and even forced the Imperial Guards and eunuchs into acts of pederasty.
Once, when Wen Yu went to Zhanghua Hall at night in a show for the court ministers, she encountered Noble Consort Li being whipped until her entire body was covered in blood-red welts. Learning of the Chen King’s many absurd acts, she publicly announced that the Chen King suddenly wanted to cultivate immortality arts, widely summoning alchemists into the palace to retreat and refine elixirs at Zhanghua Hall.
In reality, she had placed the Chen King under house arrest, having alchemists chant Daoist scriptures daily outside his locked sleeping chamber, with layers of Imperial Guards standing watch outside.
The Chen King had long been acting strangely within the palace. His sudden pursuit of immortals and the Dao—whether palace attendants or court ministers—no one felt it particularly unusual. Instead, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, no longer having to worry every few days about cleaning up another mess for the Chen King.
Zhao Bai looked toward Wen Yu’s abdomen concealed beneath her wide and elaborate robes, understanding that the child’s gestational age was gradually increasing. Needing to hide this from the ministers while preventing them from seizing power during Wen Yu’s pregnancy under some pretext was currently the most urgent matter. She nodded: “This servant understands. This servant will give orders immediately.”
After Zhao Bai withdrew, Wen Yu caressed the koi carp wood carving placed on her desk, saying somewhat helplessly: “So stubborn…”
But she was not particularly surprised.
That person had refused to return to the Liang camp even when he held power.
Now that he had suffered a setback, even less would he return.
—
After learning of the changes in the northern border, Yuan Fang interrupted the plan to ally with the Liang camp to jointly attack Luodu and led his troops back.
The Liang army led by Fan Yuan could not support alone. With Pei Song having transferred troops from various places in Guanzhong, apparently intending to firmly defend this “royal capital,” Fan Yuan had no choice but to also lead his troops in retreat first.
The siege of Luodu seemed to be lifted. To deal with the fierce attacks from the main forces of the Liang and Chen camps south of Guanzhong, Pei Song dispatched other generals and strategists to provide support.
To prevent Xiao Li’s side from investigating Yu Zhiyuan’s identity and tracing back to Yu Jingwen, Pei Song deliberately had Yu Jingwen also go to the battlefield in southern Guanzhong to deal with Chen Wei, who was holding the line for Wen Yu.
Who would have expected that under such tight escort by the accompanying army, a light cavalry force that emerged from who knows where still ambushed the army halfway and captured Yu Jingwen alive.
Upon receiving this news, Pei Song was so angry he smashed half his study.
He coldly swept his gaze over the Eagle Dog who had rushed back to report. Stepping forward, he grabbed the other’s collar and demanded coldly: “This Minister of Works keeps you fed—is it so you can be useless wine sacks and rice bags?”
That Eagle Dog’s face still bore injuries. Although the light cavalry’s sudden raid and abduction bore greatest responsibility on the general leading troops to support southern Guanzhong, the one who had returned to report was not that general but himself. Besides saying “this subordinate deserves death,” he dared not say another word.
“You truly do deserve death.” Pei Song’s hand that had been gripping the Eagle Dog’s collar changed to strangling his throat.
That Eagle Dog, sensing Pei Song’s killing intent, truly panicked. But before the words begging for mercy could leave his mouth, his throat had already been crushed. Eyes wide open, his breath was cut off.
After discarding the person like trash, Pei Song braced both arms on the desk, closed his eyes to calm himself for several breaths. When he opened them again, he said coldly and sinisterly: “Yu Zhiyuan cannot be kept alive any longer. Pei Yuan, have the Eagle Dogs over there make their move.”