After the Crown Prince symbolically rewarded the eight thousand soldiers, Pei Yan led three thousand Changfeng Guards to escort the Crown Prince’s procession back to the capital along the Yellow Earth Road.
The winter sun reflected off the dark armor of the Changfeng Guards, emitting a chilling light. Though only three thousand strong, their march resembled that of tens of thousands of cavalry on the battlefield. The robust killing aura from the frontier made the Imperial Guards brought by Jiang Yuan pale in comparison.
When this grand procession arrived at the Qianqing Gate of the Imperial Palace, it was already noon. Pei Yan requested the Crown Prince’s permission to enter Yanhui Hall to pay respects to His Majesty. The Crown Prince’s expression darkened as he sighed, “Father has not awakened. These past few days, even medicine has been difficult to administer. It’s truly worrying.”
Hearing this, Pei Yan’s face grew solemn. He said, “This subject is deeply grateful for His Majesty’s grace. On this occasion of great victory, I must report to His Majesty and pray for heaven’s protection for His Majesty’s recovery.”
The Crown Prince nodded, “Your loyalty is evident, Shao Jun. Father surely understands. Since that’s the case, let’s first pay our respects to Father, then hold the victory banquet.”
Pei Yan agreed, and they proceeded to Yanhui Hall.
Due to the Emperor’s grave illness and sensitivity to drafts, all windows in Yanhui Hall were tightly shut. The winter day made the interior quite dim.
Wei Zhao, dressed in light furs white as snow, sat before the dragon couch, his eyes fixed on the emaciated face lying there, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
As Pei Yan entered, he saw a beam of light filtering through the skylight, dust motes swirling around Wei Zhao, giving his face a melancholic air.
Pei Yan approached the dragon couch, gazing at the Emperor’s pale, thin face with a complex expression. He knelt on both knees and said softly, “Your Majesty, your subject has returned victorious.”
His words carried an undisguised pain. The Crown Prince, unable to contain himself, stepped forward and grasped the Emperor’s cold hand, choking out, “Father, please wake up. Shao Jun has returned victorious.”
Pei Yan knelt forward two steps, trembling as he took the Emperor’s hand, his voice thick with grief: “Your Majesty, your earnest instructions before my departure have never left my mind for a moment. I beg Your Majesty to recover swiftly, so that I may once again receive your sage counsel.”
The Emperor’s eyes remained tightly shut, his breathing faint. Pei Yan finally couldn’t hold back his tears. The Crown Prince helped him up, sighing softly, “Father has heard Shao Jun’s loyal heart. Let’s go to Hongtai Hall now; the officials are waiting.”
Pei Yan agreed and turned to Wei Zhao, saying, “San Lang.”
Wei Zhao sat woodenly, not uttering a word. The Crown Prince tugged at Pei Yan’s sleeve, and Pei Yan said no more. The two left the inner chamber.
As Pei Yan crossed the threshold, he looked back to see Wei Zhao still sitting motionless. In the dimness, it seemed as if he would sit there forever, until the end of time.
Taking a few more steps, Pei Yan faintly heard Wei Zhao call out from behind, “Your Majesty!”
This low cry seemed steeped in pain, yet also tinged with something else. Pei Yan had no time to ponder this as the Crown Prince began asking about the frontline situation. The two walked and talked, leaving Yanhui Hall behind.
In Hongtai Hall, the Crown Prince read the commendation drafted by Grand Scholar Tan, eloquently praising the unparalleled merits of Pei Yan and the Changfeng Cavalry. Pei Yan, as custom dictated, humbly declined the praise. After the officials added their accolades, the victory feast officially began.
The imperial throne remained empty. The Crown Prince insisted Pei Yan sit beside him, but Pei Yan repeatedly declined, not daring to overstep. He took his seat according to his rank, as did the other officials. There was much praise and toasting, but beneath the surface, each harbored their thoughts, with undercurrents surging. The taste of this banquet was known only to each individual.
As the celebration ended and Pei Yan escorted the Crown Prince from the hall, surrounded by officials as they left Hongtai Hall, it was already late afternoon. Seeing that Pei Yan had drunk quite a bit, his handsome face flushed and his speechless articulate than usual, and knowing the Pei residence would host another grand feast that evening, the officials didn’t linger. Jiang Yuan personally supported Pei Yan out of the Qianqing Gate, where the Changfeng Guards helped him into his carriage.
Outside the Chancellor’s residence, crowds of cheering commoners lined several streets. The Changfeng Guards escorting Pei Yan’s carriage finally managed to reach the gate. Butler Pei led a group of servants to help the intoxicated Pei Yan inside, while firecrackers and fireworks erupted outside the gate.
Pei Yan changed into casual clothes and dismissed everyone, heading straight for Butterfly Garden. Madam Pei, wearing a pine-scented padded jacket and a sky-blue silk skirt, her hair loosely coiled in a drooping horse-tail bun, exuded an air of refined elegance as she stood in the corridor feeding birds.
Pei Yan approached with a smile and knelt, “Greetings to Mother. After half a year, your son has missed you dearly.”
Madam Pei lowered the felt cover of the birdcage, suppressing a smile that betrayed her joy. “At least my care for you wasn’t wasted. Rise.”
Pei Yan’s face was still flushed as he stood to support Madam Pei. She adjusted his cap and sash, her voice tinged with affection: “You’ve grown darker.”
Pei Yan paused for a moment, then smiled, “Making Mother worry is your son’s fault.”
Madam Pei waved her left hand, and Shu Xia led the maids out of the garden. Mother and son entered the east pavilion, where Pei Zifang, dressed in a plain casual robe, stood at a table holding a brush. He looked up with a slight smile. Pei Yan hurried forward and knelt on one knee: “Yan pays his respects to Uncle.”
Pei Zifang put down his brush and smiled, “Rise.”
After Pei Zifang and Madam Pei were seated, Pei Yan’s expression turned solemn. He knelt before them, kowtowing as he choked out, “Your son thanks Mother and Uncle for their nurturing grace.”
Madam Pei merely smiled, while Pei Zifang bent to help him up. Looking at the peerlessly handsome figure before him, he felt many emotions. He patted Pei Yan’s hand, momentarily speechless. Madam Pei laughed from the side, “Enough of this. Sit down and let’s talk.”
Outside, the sound of water flowing over pebbles in the small stream added a chill to the winter air.
Inside, a small charcoal stove was lit, with a pot of wine warming atop it. When the wine was hot, Pei Yan poured for the two elders. Pei Zifang picked up his cup and asked, “Have you checked his pulse?”
“Yes. I felt his pulse was sometimes strong, sometimes weak. It seems his inner power is blocked by something, causing his meridians to be obstructed for a long time. His blood and qi naturally cannot circulate, so the chances of him waking are slim.”
Pei Zifang smiled faintly. Pei Yan, understanding, smiled and said, “Uncle’s inner power has become even more profound.”
Madam Pei glanced sideways at Pei Zifang: “What’s your next move, father and son?”
“The Hongzhou army is already being recalled. Although Marquis Xuanyuan and I have a good relationship, it would be difficult to ask him to take risks and side with us.”
Madam Pei pondered, “Prince Qingde’s attitude remains unclear, Marquis Suhai is stubborn as a rock, and Yue Fan likes to take advantage of the chaos. If Marquis Xuanyuan also takes a wait-and-see approach, our chances of success are slim.”
Pei Zifang said, “We can withdraw our people from the capital, but once things start, what about the families of the Pei clan, Rong clan, and the Changfeng Cavalry soldiers?”
Pei Yan hesitated. Madam Pei said, “It’s just us three closest relatives here. Say what you need to say.”
“Yes.” Pei Yan respectfully replied, “Mother, Uncle, I’ve thought it through carefully. No matter what, now is not the time to act.”
“Mm.” Pei Zifang nodded slightly, “I also feel it’s not the right time.”
“This time leading troops into battle was very different from fighting in Cheng County a few years ago.”
“Tell me about it.”
“A key factor in defeating the Huan army this time was popular support,” Pei Yan said. “To achieve victory, I raised the banner of expelling the Huan rebels, reclaiming our land, and serving the country loyally to boost morale and inspire the people. Only then were we able to drive back the Huan army. He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. If we don’t act when the time is ripe and conditions are perfect, the situation will spiral out of control, and our years of effort will be wasted. In the end, we might even be labeled as traitors or usurpers.”
“Indeed,” Pei Zifang said slowly. “Right now, the world has just regained peace, and the people are still praising your loyal service to the country. If we were to overthrow the Xie clan now, we’d be slapping our faces and would struggle to win popular support.”
Madam Pei smiled, “That’s right. Whether we take the throne now doesn’t matter, as long as the person on it listens to us. We can slowly remove him later.”
Pei Zifang tapped his fingers on the table, pondering for a long while before saying, “Yan’er.”
“Uncle.”
“Between the Crown Prince and Prince Jing, who do you think is more suitable?”
Pei Yan replied, “In terms of personality, the Crown Prince is easier to control, and his health is weaker. If something were to happen to him in the future, no one would be suspicious. However, the people behind the Crown Prince could be troublesome.”
“Mm, Dong Fang is an old fox, not to mention the former Empress’s clan and the pure stream faction. None of them are easy to deal with. When the time comes to take that step, we’re likely to face verbal attacks and condemnation from all sides. We’ll need to remove these people first.”
“Then Prince Jing? Although I find him somewhat restless.”
“He’s stronger than the Crown Prince. But his foundation isn’t deep, his maternal relatives are weak, and he’s always relied on us. We’d only need to deal with him alone,” Pei Yan said.
“Mm, with the Emperor gravely ill, if something were to happen to the Crown Prince, and if that incident were caused by Prince Zhuang, then it would naturally fall to Prince Jing to ascend the throne.”
“So, is it decided?” Madam Pei smiled.
Pei Zifang looked at Pei Yan: “Can Wei San Lang be relied upon?”
“I’m not sure what he’s planning, but I’ll find a way to force him to comply,” Pei Yan smiled.
“Mm, with our people, Wei San Lang’s Guangming Department, and Jiang Yuan’s Imperial Guards, once Marquis Suhai’s troops return to Cangping Prefecture, we’ll find a way to secure the few camps in the capital region. That should be about enough.”
Pei Yan paused, “Jiang Yuan?”
Madam Pei smiled, “He’s taken a liking to your second cousin. Although he may not necessarily work with us, he won’t cause trouble.”
Pei Yan brightened, “That’s good. I wasn’t sure whose side he was on. He’s young and valiant, a good match for my second cousin. It would do justice to Uncle’s memory.”
Pei Zifang smiled with satisfaction. Madam Pei said no more, seeing the uncle and nephew drinking together. She smiled faintly, picked up a nearby pipa, and said softly, “Let me add some music to your drinking.”
Her expression was serene, she lightly stroked the instrument’s neck. The music began low and gentle, flowing continuously. After the opening passage, her fingers moved like spinning wheels, plucking several notes. The music surged, suddenly full of heroic spirit and hidden killing intent, as if thousands of troops were marching in the night, stirring up winds and clouds.
As the music grew more rousing and magnificent, Madam Pei channeled her energy into her fingertips. Several rapid notes sounded like silver waves breaking and angry dragons roaring, like a perilous boat passing through a gorge, heart-stopping. The pipa seemed to clash like metal on metal as if two armies were facing off, battle cries shaking the heavens.
Pei Zifang listened silently, seeming to recall something, his expression taking on a hint of excitement. Pei Yan also slowly tightened his grip on his wine cup.
As the music reached its climax, Madam Pei’s expression became serene. She struck the soundboard with both hands, then plucked the strings repeatedly, like endless rain falling from the sky and countless autumn leaves drifting to the ground. The music gradually shifted from high and passionate to low and reflective. The final section flowed freely, like a spring breeze caressing the face, a river flowing calmly, dust settling on the ground.
Her gaze moved between Pei Zifang and Pei Yan. She smiled faintly as she slowly ended the music, the sound fading away.
Pei Yan drained his cup and applauded, “Mother’s musical skill and inner power have become even more advanced. No one in the world can match you!”
Madam Pei gave him a bright, reproachful glance: “Half a year at war, and you’ve made no progress except in flattery.”
Pei Zifang laughed heartily: “Yan’er speaks from the heart. You should accept the compliment.”
Pei Yan stood up, smiling, “There’s still a celebration feast tonight. I’ll take my leave to make some arrangements.”
“Go on,” Madam Pei smiled, leaning back in her chair.
Pei Zifang held his wine cup and slowly walked to the window. Madam Pei joined him, standing shoulder to shoulder, watching Pei Yan’s retreating figure. She said softly, “Our efforts haven’t been in vain.”
“Indeed. After more than twenty years, we can finally seek justice for Big Brother and lay the foundation for the Pei clan’s eternal prosperity.”
Madam Pei slowly leaned into his embrace, her voice soft and melodious: “Zifang, you’ve worked hard all these years—”
Despite his profound inner power, Pei Yan still felt somewhat drunk. He stood silently by the lotus pond for a long while before straightening his clothes and walking towards the West Garden.
The West Garden was empty. Tong Min came to report that Cui Liang and Jiang Ci had gone to “Lanyue Tower,” saying they were visiting Su Yan and had sent people to protect them. Pei Yan intended to return to Shen Garden but found himself unable to move. As the effects of alcohol surged again, and thinking of the numerous banquets over the next few days, he decided to lie down on the bed in the west side room.
The west side room still had the same arrangement as when she had lived there last year. Pei Yan gave a bitter smile and slowly closed his eyes.
“Lanyue Tower” was bustling at night but very quiet during the day, with only occasional sounds of music. Su Yan was composing a tune with Bao’er and others when she heard that Young Master Cui and Miss Jiang had arrived. She hurried out, embracing Jiang Ci and sobbing softly. Jiang Ci, thinking of her senior sister in Shangjing, was also choked with emotion.
As the two women’s emotions settled, Cui Liang smiled and said, “You two talk. I’ll go outside. I’ve written a new poem for Elder Sister Su.”
Su Yan wiped her tears and cast a sideways glance at Cui Liang. “With General Cui’s reputation shaking the world, your poem is worth its weight in gold.” She then quickly called for Bao’er and others to bring paper and ink, leading Jiang Ci into the inner room herself.
She turned to the back of the bed and retrieved several letters. Jiang Ci read each one carefully, tears streaming down her face. Su Yan reached out to wipe her tears away, softly saying, “Silly child, don’t cry. Frost Qiao is doing well, and you are safe. You should be smiling.”
Jiang Ci felt a pang of guilt towards her senior sister. Su Yan continued with concern, “Little Ci, who is the person mentioned in Frost Qiao’s letter? Is he good to you?”
Jiang Ci lowered her head, and after a while, she replied, “He is very kind.” She looked up with a smile. “He has gone to Pingzhou on business and asked me to return to the capital and wait for him.”
Su Yan let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good to hear. I was worried that you might have some entanglement with Pei Yan. Tonight, at the minister’s celebration banquet, I need to go on stage to perform.” She sighed again. “I’m truly feeling a bit weary.”
Jiang Ci advised, “Auntie, you should just quit. Find someone reliable and live a peaceful life.”
Su Yan sat down in front of the stage, gazing at her still youthful reflection in the bronze mirror. Suddenly, she smiled and said softly, “Little Ci, if I could stop, I would have done so long ago.”
With a hint of agitation, she turned and grasped Jiang Ci’s hand. “Little Ci, no matter who you are with, you must leave the minister’s residence immediately.”