Chapter 214 Because of You (Part 2)

When Pei Xingju came out of the secret room, it was already midnight. The moonlight in the sky was very dim, so dim that even the clouds seemed dark and broken.

The cool night breeze ruffled his clothes, but it couldn't blow away the hatred in his heart. Duan Hongyuan's words vaguely echoed in his mind...

"The Chang army feigned a retreat. General Pei sensed their intention and ordered Pei Yu to hold his ground. However, the military order that night was for Pei Yu to pursue the victory."

"Later, Pei Yu was trapped deep in the enemy's territory. To save him, General Pei had no choice but to lead his troops to continue the attack."

"General Pei was actually aware of this setup, but he had no choice but to do so in order to save your brother. On the tenth day of his battle with the Chang army, the enemy cut off their supply of food and fodder, leading to the death of General Pei and 100,000 soldiers. Only your brother made it back alive."

"Afterwards, someone from the imperial court impeached your brother for collaborating with the enemy, and the evidence was irrefutable. The Pei family was quickly confiscated."

"Who tampered with the military order?" Pei Xingju asked.

"You've probably guessed it," Duan Hongyuan said. "At that time, Duke Xin wasn't even Duke Xin yet. He was just a lieutenant general under your father. When your father was besieged, he led his troops to rescue him, but unfortunately, he arrived too late. Your father and the 100,000-man Pei army were completely wiped out. But Duke Xin took advantage of the situation. The Chang army had been fighting the Pei army for days and was already exhausted. He captured the Chang army generals and took control of the Northern Camp."

"He also tampered with the food supplies?"

After a moment of silence, Duan Hongyuan replied, "No, the food and fodder are mine. I led my men to pretend to be the enemy and robbed them. I'm sorry for your Pei family! You can kill me or chop me up as you please!"

It was clearly early spring, but the night wind was as cold as icy snow.

Pei Xingju walked slowly down the corridor, his blood running cold. Numb and silent, he dragged his feet aimlessly, his shadow coldly cast on the mottled walls.

He didn't know how long it had passed before he came to a door. It had been closed for many years, and even the beams at the door were covered with spider webs.

After a moment, he pushed open the door and looked at the empty training ground, as if he heard the voice of his childhood.

"Dad! Look! I defeated my eldest brother. I defeated him!"

"Your elder brother is just giving you the benefit of the doubt. With your tiny body, how could you possibly defeat him in three moves?"

"I don't care! I want to join the army in the future and fight alongside my father like my big brother!"

"Killing the enemy is no fun. You should study hard in the capital."

Little Pei Xingju pouted, threw his spear on the ground, and lowered his head in displeasure.

Pei Yu walked over and touched his head: "Ayan, don't be discouraged. You can't go to the battlefield because you are always sick. When you recover, I will take you to the battlefield to kill the enemy, okay?"

"real?"

"A man's words are hard to follow."

"Okay, then I'll wait for you guys to come back in the capital!"

The wind blew through the treetops, like the wailing of a compassionate old man, sometimes sad and sometimes sharp, breaking the long-lost memories.

Pei Xingju slowly walked to the weapons rack, stroking the spears one by one, and finally stopped at a shorter spear.

This was the only spear he owned as a child. He still remembers how he often sat by the martial arts arena, watching his older and younger brothers practice with spears. He was so envious that he would sneak over at night to practice. His father later discovered them and, on his fifth birthday, gave him a spear he had made himself.

The eldest brother promised to take him to the battlefield after he recovered, but after that day, he never came back.

Pei Xingju picked up the gun. The weapon that he had thought was so powerful when he was a child, now seemed like a child's toy, light and weightless.

The red tassel on the spear head has become old and the spear shaft is covered in dust.

After a while, he took out his handkerchief, wiped it carefully and put it back.

At this time, a dim light approached outside the door, and soon, a slender figure appeared at the door.

She carefully shone the lantern and called out, "Pei Xingju?"

Pei Xingju turned around and saw Zhuang Wan standing there wearing a cloak.

"You're really here." She came forward with a lantern. "I couldn't sleep, so I went to the study to look for you, but I heard you were here."

As she walked, she looked around the environment and said, "I often pass by here, but the gate is always closed. I didn't expect it to be so spacious inside."

As they got closer, Zhuang Wan saw rows of weapon racks and asked curiously, "Huh? Why are there so many weapons? Is this a martial arts training ground?"

"Yeah." Pei Xingju responded softly.

"So the owner of this house is a martial artist." Zhuang Wan glanced at the different weapons and said, "He must be very skilled."

Pei Xingju said nothing.

"By the way, why are you here so late at night?"

After he finished speaking, Zhuang Wan discovered that something was wrong with his mood. Although his expression was calm, there was a hint of sadness around him.

She asked quietly: "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"No." Pei Xingju calmed down and shook his head: "I was just taking a walk."

"What do you want to talk to me about?" he asked.

"It's okay. I was a little hungry and couldn't sleep. I wanted to have some midnight snack, so I was going to ask you if you wanted one too." Zhuang Wan took his hand, only to find that his fingers were cold.

She tried to wrap her arms around his fingers and asked, "Are you hungry? Do you want some midnight snack?"

"Um."

"Okay then." Zhuang Wan nodded. "I'll make it for you."

The two of them left the martial arts arena and headed back. When they reached a fork in the road, Zhuang Wan asked Pei Xingju to wait in the study while she went to the kitchen in the backyard.

But she had only taken a few steps when she realized Pei Xingju was following her. She turned around and asked, "Why are you following me?"

Pei Xingju said nothing.

"Okay, come along if you want. I just need help starting a fire."

When they arrived at the kitchen, Zhuang Wan moved a low stool in front of the stove and asked Pei Xingju to sit there to light the fire while she was busy kneading the dough.

She planned to make a simple pasta dish.

Zhuang Wan learned the art of making noodles from her parents in her previous life. Children raised in the north often learn to knead dough from the moment they can walk. Dumplings, flatbreads, and steamed buns were all familiar foods, so making them wasn't difficult for Zhuang Wan.

She moved skillfully and rolled out the dough in no time.

"My favorite is the one with water chestnut and black pepper beef filling. The water chestnut is crispy and the thick broth and meaty aroma fill the air with it. It's so delicious."

"Of course, the ones with corn and pork filling are delicious too."

After rolling out the dough, she began to mix the fillings and asked Pei Xingju, "What kind of filling do you want? You can order tonight."

Before she could turn around, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her waist. Pei Xingju came up from behind and hugged her silently.

Zhuang Wan stopped and let him bury his face in her neck.

She asked softly, "Pei Xingju, do you like vegetarian radish and meat filling?"

"Yeah." Pei Xingju's voice came softly.

Zhuang Wan stared at the boiling water in the pot. The steam rising from the water dyed the night sky white.

Pei Xingju's mood was like the thick darkness of the night, which soon surrounded the steaming white mist and Zhuang Wan as well.

It made her heart soften and slightly painful.

After a while, she put her things down, turned around and hugged him: "Pei Xingju, if you want to cry, just cry. Don't be afraid of being embarrassed. I won't laugh at you."

After she interrupted him like this, Pei Xingju chuckled softly and nudged her neck with the tip of his nose.

"What's going on?" Zhuang Wan rubbed his back soothingly. "If you can, please tell me."

Pei Xingju didn't say anything for a long time.

"Okay." Zhuang Wan added, "It's okay if you don't want to tell me. You can tell me when you want to."

After a while, Pei Xingju slowly let go of her and suddenly asked, "Were you desperate at that time?"

"?" Zhuang Wan was confused for a moment before she understood what he was asking.

She nodded. "When the Zhuang Mansion was confiscated, I heard that I was going to be sent to the Jiaofangsi. It was indeed difficult to accept, but I didn't feel hopeless."

"Why?"

"Because of you." Putting aside the past embarrassment, she said frankly: "Because you are the omnipotent Pei Xingju, I believe that you can definitely change my destiny."

Pei Xingju's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and suddenly, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

Inexplicably, the deep sorrow that lingered in his heart also dissipated after reading the book.