Not long after Cuiji left, he had planned to take Xiao Shi away, but before he could make a move, Yuwen Huaji had someone escort Xiao Shi to the bedchamber. Ostensibly it was to let her rest well, but in reality, anyone could see that he wanted to monopolize Xiao Shi.

He naturally wouldn’t let the beauty at hand fly away like this and immediately argued with him. Who knew that Yuwen Huaji would actually use his status as Prime Minister to pressure him. Although he was ultimately forced to agree, he harbored a belly full of anger and deeply regretted having agreed to support Yuwen Huaji as Prime Minister in the first place.

Cuiji sighed: “It seems the General and I are in the same boat.”

Pei Qiantong frowned: “What do you mean by that?”

Cuiji recounted how Yuwen Huaji had ordered him not to make things difficult for Yunyi, then said: “Clearly before the uprising, it was already agreed that both Du Ruhui and Yunyi would be mine. Now he interferes and forces me to leave Feixiang Hall. It’s truly detestable.”

“Princess Jinyang is Xiao Shi’s most beloved daughter. It should be that Xiao Shi said something to Yuwen Huaji, which made him protect Princess Jinyang so much.” Speaking of this, Pei Qiantong said coldly: “Hmph, putting on the airs of Prime Minister in front of us – he should look at what kind of person he really is!”

Cuiji shook his head: “Actually, in terms of talent and merit, General Pei is the foremost person. Yuwen Huaji isn’t even worthy of carrying the General’s shoes, yet now we have to act according to his mood. It’s truly infuriating.”

Pei Qiantong glanced at him and said coolly: “Don’t think I can’t see what you’re plotting. The situation has just stabilized – it’s not appropriate to cause any disturbances.”

“What about Xiao Shi? Will the General just hand her over to Yuwen Huaji like this?” Cuiji’s words made Pei Qiantong’s eye corner twitch. After a long while, he said: “This matter is none of your concern!”

Cuiji smiled: “I’ve said what I needed to say. General, you think it over carefully. Whatever decision you make, the Cui family will fully support you.” Then he added: “Since Princess Jinyang can’t be touched for now, let’s deal with Du Ruhui first. For over a year, I’ve been thinking about him day and night.” The last few words were cold as ice, making one’s blood run cold.

“Fine.” Pei Qiantong agreed and brought him to his residence. After entering the main hall and sitting down, he called over the steward: “Go bring the person imprisoned in the firewood shed.”

Not long after the steward left, he rushed back in with a panicked expression: “Reporting to the General, that person… that person… is gone.”

“What?” Pei Qiantong was greatly shocked and quickly said: “Didn’t I have someone guard outside the firewood shed? How could he disappear?”

“When this humble one went over, I found that Awei and Awu, who were guarding the door, were both lying on the ground fast asleep. The firewood shed door was wide open, and inside was completely empty.”

Cuiji’s expression turned ugly: “General Pei, we had agreed on everything beforehand. What, now that the moment has come, do you want to go back on your word and protect that surnamed Du?” First Yunyi, then Du Ruhui – both people he wanted had encountered accidents. How could he not be angry?

“Where is Young Master Cui’s mind going? How could I protect Du Ruhui? Don’t worry, I will definitely give you an explanation.” With that, he strode outside. Cuiji hesitated for a moment, then followed.

All the way to the firewood shed, they indeed saw Awei and Awu sleeping soundly. Pei Qiantong’s anger had nowhere to go. He stepped forward and kicked forcefully: “Idiots, wake up!”

Strangely enough, with the force of Pei Qiantong’s kick, even the deepest sleeper would have been awakened, yet Awei and the other only moved a few times before falling asleep again, not even opening their eyes.

The steward who came along whispered: “General, from their appearance, it seems they were drugged.”

Pei Qiantong had the same thought: “Bring cold water to splash them awake.”

“Yes.” The steward quickly had someone bring two basins of cold water and splash them forcefully on Awei and the other. It was already late autumn, and being splashed with such large basins of water, the cold was imaginable. Awei and the other, drenched like drowned rats, finally opened their eyes. Upon seeing Pei Qiantong clearly, they disregarded the cold on their bodies and quickly knelt in salute.

Pei Qiantong kicked both men down and said grimly: “Speak! What exactly happened? Where is Du Ruhui?”

Awei and the other looked back at the empty firewood shed, knowing they had caused great trouble. Panicked and frightened, they said incoherently: “We humble ones have been guarding here the whole time, haven’t gone anywhere, not even a step away.”

The steward said: “Then why were you unconscious here?”

Awu thought hard for a while and said: “Right, the Second Young Master came and brought food for Du Ruhui to eat, but he refused to eat. The Second Young Master argued with him a few words, and when he came out, he gave the food to us humble ones. Halfway through eating, we humble ones felt very sleepy, our eyelids very heavy, and then… we knew nothing.”

The steward’s eyelid twitched as he whispered: “General, it seems the Second Young Master drugged the food, knocked out Awei and the others, then rescued Du Ruhui.”

Pei Qiantong snorted heavily: “Bring him to see me immediately. Also, pass my order – search house by house throughout the city. We must find Du Ruhui.” Since last night, all the city gates had been sealed by their people, with no one allowed in or out, so Du Ruhui must still be in the city.

Before long, Pei Qiancheng appeared before everyone. Before he could speak, Pei Qiantong had already slapped him hard across the face and shouted sternly: “Speak! Did you let Du Ruhui go?”

Pei Qiancheng touched his stinging cheek and said in a deep voice: “Ruhui is my good brother. I could never just watch him be killed by you.”

Pei Qiantong said hatefully: “So you drugged Awei and the others unconscious. You… are you trying to anger me to death? Or do you think Du Ruhui is more important than me, your own elder brother?”

“Ever since father and mother died, I’ve depended on elder brother for survival. If not for elder brother taking care of me everywhere, I would have died long ago. All along, elder brother has been a hero who stands tall in my heart. Yang Guang was cruel and tyrannical – elder brother rebelling against him, I have nothing to say. But what wrong has Ruhui committed?”

Cuiji walked over and said coldly: “He harmed me so back then – how is that not wrong?”

Pei Qiancheng stared at him hatefully: “That was what you deserved. I just didn’t expect that after such events, you would have no remorse at all and still only think of revenge. Back then, Ruhui and I were truly blind to become brothers with you!”

Cuiji grabbed his throat expressionlessly: “Tell me where you’ve hidden Du Ruhui, or you’ll die in his place!”

Meeting his venomous gaze, Pei Qiancheng suddenly laughed: “Ruhui has already left the city long ago. You’ll never find him.”

“Impossible, Jiangdu City…” Before Cuiji could finish, Pei Qiancheng said: “I know you want to say Jiangdu City has been sealed by you, but you have your ladder over the wall, and I have my stratagem. In any case, you needn’t waste your efforts.”