Chapter 34

In early June, the weather was already quite hot. Xie Qinghong had suffered from stomach pain due to drinking ice cream during her menstrual period, and could only rest on her couch. Two months had passed in Huaizhou, and she felt that she had adapted well to the southern climate. She was sure that she would not suffer from acclimatization problems when she got married next year, and it was time for her to return home.

Just as she was talking to her mother, Liang Yu showed her the letter he had just received: "Your father just sent a letter saying that things are in a mess in the capital, and that we should stay a few more days and not go back to Wangjing to get involved."

Xie Qinghong quickly opened the book and read it carefully. After reading it, she felt that her mother's words were somewhat understated, and there was probably more to the story than she wanted her to know. She frowned: "Mother, has something happened in the capital?"

Seeing her press for answers, Liang Yu sighed and said, "The Northern King is bedridden and I'm afraid he's not well. His Majesty has ordered the Northern King's heir to be imprisoned, saying that the assassination attempt on the day of spring plowing was a plot by the heir to frame the Hu people. He will be escorted back to Wangjing to await trial."

"How could this be?!" Xie Qinghong was greatly shocked. The assassination attempt on the day of spring plowing did not cause much of a stir. At that time, His Majesty did not investigate it in depth. Now, a season has passed, and the investigation has actually reached the Prince of the North.

She only remembered that the assassin's weapon was not the common cleaver or longsword of the Sheng Kingdom, but a curved blade, its shape resembling a crescent moon. She had read in books that the Hu people were skilled in using this type of curved blade, and carrying one in mounted combat was standard equipment.

Therefore, when the assassination first occurred, the entire court claimed it was a Hu assassination, but His Majesty, for the sake of diplomatic relations between the two countries, downplayed the matter, which incurred considerable resentment. Could there really be a hidden story behind this assassination, with the Crown Prince of the North framing the Hu to incite conflict and undermine the alliance between the two countries?

Xie Qinghong dared not think too deeply about it. If the Northern King died and his heir was imprisoned, who in the north could take his place as general? Liang Yu said, "His Majesty has promoted General Xing Ye of the Dragon Cavalry to General Zhenbei, temporarily giving him command of the northern troops. The court is turbulent and unpredictable; chaos may break out at any moment. Your father's idea is that Huaizhou is still relatively stable, so it's better to stay a few more days to avoid returning to the capital in a state of panic and uncertainty."

"We don't need to worry too much." Liang Yu took out a few more letters. "These are from your brother and A Luo. Remember to write back to them after you read them. I see you're having a good time at Bailu Academy. Are the exam results coming out soon?"

Xie Qinghong snapped out of her reverie, took the letter, and raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "Soon, the teacher asked us to go to the academy tomorrow, and I answered very well."

She returned to her room and opened her brother's letter first. As usual, her brother inquired about her health and then complained that it was unbearable to face his cold face every day without her at home. Then, he wrote a large part of the letter about how hateful the Hu people were and how he felt indignant on behalf of the Crown Prince of the North.

Then she read her brother's letter. He was much more composed, asking not only about her daily life but also whether she had fallen behind in her studies—he seemed even more concerned than her father. Next came her sister Cui Luo's letter, which only contained gossip.

The letter recounted all the interesting things that happened in Wangjing during her absence, with the longest section focusing on Qin Heng and Zheng Yingluo. Since the two were engaged, Qin Zheng regretted it immensely and even cornered her against a wall, only to be punched by Qin Heng who rushed over upon hearing the news, causing the cousins ​​to turn against each other.

The second most prominent name was Song Lingxi, a name Xie Qinghong hadn't heard in a long time and had almost forgotten. Upon seeing her, he realized this talented woman, seemingly a "literary star descended to earth," was truly extraordinary, having simultaneously attracted the admiration of both the Prince of Qinghe and the young master of the Zhong family. It's worth noting that the Prince of Qinghe was the future brother-in-law of the young master of the Zhong family. Zhong Yun was deeply embarrassed by this, and she refused to attend any of the poetry gatherings held by the Chunhui Poetry Society.

That wasn't all; Song Lingxi then composed another exquisite poem, which became so popular among the scholars of Wangjing that it caused a paper shortage. However, some accused her of using a ghostwriter, questioning how someone of her talent could produce such brilliant and unparalleled poetry. The literary star was now deeply embroiled in suspicion within the literary world.

After reading through the thick stack of letters, Xie Qinghong felt that Wangjing was truly bustling, but all that bustle had nothing to do with her.

She continued opening the letters, but the signature on the next letter made her pause. Why was there another letter from Pei Du? It had only been half a month since they last met, so why was there a need for him to write? With barely perceptible thoughts, she opened it. Pei Du's handwriting, like the man himself, was cold and hard, with strong and vigorous strokes, yet it also possessed a unique elegance.

The contents of the letter made her eyes widen involuntarily—

"Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person. I have already mentioned that the flower crown was a gift from me, and Father King truly says I am indiscreet..."

Seeing this, Xie Qinghong was casually taking a sip of water when she saw this sentence and almost spilled the teacup inelegantly. What was wrong with this person? Could he really be so stupid as to actually repeat her exact words to the Prince of Nan?

She quickly put down her teacup and pushed it far away, carefully reading the page of the letter: "...Father's words, born of envy and jealousy, need not be heeded. I have already sought justice for Qiu Ran's actions. Enclosed with this letter are five baskets each of Huai twigs and cassia branches, as well as various kinds of melons and fruits. I wish you well."

Xie Qinghong's gesture stunned her. "Honestly, did you send this letter along with the fruit? The letter itself is only half a page long; it would have been better to just send a verbal message." However, she soon realized the advantages of the South. Because lychees are difficult to store, they were mostly tributes in previous years. Although the Xie family had extensive connections and could send several baskets from the South to Wangjing every summer, the lychees were not very fresh by the time they arrived at the Xie residence.

She went to the courtyard and saw ten baskets full of lychees, as well as a small mountain of various fruits and melons. Her cousin murmured, "Were these all sent by the Prince of Nan?"

Xie Qinghong had already sent some to each courtyard of the Liang family, and also set aside some to be sent to the academy for the students and teachers tomorrow. Seeing her cousin's disbelief, she explained for Pei Du: "After all, he is the heir of a royal family, so social interactions are naturally not a problem for him. Don't let his fierce appearance fool you, he is actually very considerate."

My cousin sighed, "Sister, we misunderstood Prince Pei before. Before we met him, we thought he was a fanged, eight-foot-tall man who would be wielding a sword and hacking people to pieces all day long."

This stereotype is too outrageous. Xie Qinghong asked curiously, "Why is there such a rumor? I've never heard of him before when I was in Wangjing. Later, I heard rumors that he had a bad temper. Just how bad is he?"

My cousin recounted in detail: "Young Master Pei's name is renowned throughout the South. He could fight adult mountain bandits when he was just over ten years old, and when he was fourteen, he wiped out two bandit dens. I heard that he used only a long sword to behead seventy or eighty people in one night, with blood flowing like a river!"

When Xie Qinghong thought of that scene, his first thought was that it really did seem like something Pei Du would do; his second thought was, what kind of sword is so powerful? It can cut off seventy or eighty heads in one night without dulling its blade?

"Furthermore, I heard that he went to the battlefield at the age of sixteen and made great military achievements. He was a master of horsemanship, capable of fighting against a hundred men single-handedly. He could shoot arrows from a hundred paces away and take the head of the enemy general as easily as taking something out of a bag! His martial arts skills were unparalleled in the world. However, he was cruel by nature and was forced by the Southern King to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures in a temple for half a year. During this time, he even frightened several highly accomplished monks to the point of illness."

Xie Qinghong gasped. Even a highly virtuous monk could be frightened to illness; his reputation for ruthlessness was truly well-deserved. She recalled how Pei Du had rammed her carriage while training his horse in the street, and how she had secretly mocked him as a "show-off." How could she have dared to do that? How could he have tolerated it?

"They're just rumors, don't take them seriously." Xie Qinghong thought it over carefully, secretly comparing the rumors with reality, and still felt it was too far-fetched. He calmly comforted himself and his cousin, "Rumors always have some exaggeration. Like before, Qiu Ran also had people spread vulgar rumors about me. Don't take them seriously."

Two statements that could not be taken seriously still did not soothe her inner doubts. Even the most knowledgeable and well-traveled noblewoman could not fathom the image of a ruthless young man who could wipe out a bandit's den at the age of fourteen and fight against a hundred men at the age of sixteen.

That night, her dream filled in the gaps in her imagination. A young man with a still-childish face, holding a sword, walked slowly toward her, leaving bloody footprints with each step, and revealed a terrifying smile: "Xie Qinghong, I have avenged you."

The subconscious mind is quite good at combining what it sees in the letter during the day.

Xie Qinghong sat up in the middle of the night, clutching her chest in a daze. Something was wrong, something was really wrong. How could she imagine what Pei Du looked like as a boy, and even think he was quite handsome?!

Xie Qinghong, something's not right with you.