Chapter 153 Between Father and Son

Zi Yan smiled and said, "Your Highness is joking. I do hope the child in my belly is a daughter. Daughters are more considerate."

Pei Yanchi maintained his unfriendly expression, snorted coldly, and turned to walk inside.

Pei Zhong led him to the courtyard that Duke Xing had prepared long ago. After Pei Yanchi finished washing up, Pei Zhong came over to report the news.

"Your Highness, the First Prince is still in Shuohui City."

Shuohui City is very close to Suiye City, only a two-day journey away.

Our city of Suyab is closer to Suyab, about a day's journey away.

"If we use the Crown Prince's swift steed, the time can be shortened to half a day."

"Have they been in frequent contact these past two weeks?"

"Yes, we've met three times already. But for some reason, they don't seem to have reached an agreement yet."

Pei Yanchi held a handkerchief, wiping as he made arrangements:

"Get me something to eat, I'm hungry."

"Here you go."

Pei Zhong turned and left to make arrangements.

After finishing his meal, Pei Yanchi strolled around the house.

He saw a maidservant by the fishpond in the back garden. The maidservant quickly bowed to him, threw a crumpled piece of paper at his feet, and left.

Long after the maid had disappeared, Pei Yanchi turned around, kicked up the crumpled paper on the ground, and examined it carefully.

It was a message sent by Zi Yan, which read:

Three days ago, the Wan family sent a letter to the Duke, the contents of which are unknown.

The next day, the Duke of Xing left her boudoir in the middle of the night and was said to have gone to Shuohui City.

Afterwards, Duke Xing seemed to have something on his mind and remained sullen.

After reading the letter in his hand, Pei Yanchi tore it up and threw it into the koi pond.

The koi in the pond scrambled for the food, quickly swallowing it whole.

Pei Yanchi walked around for a bit and then went back to his room, where he fell fast asleep.

In the late afternoon, Duke Xing returned to his residence, and the first thing he asked was:

Has the Crown Prince arrived?

“Your Highness, it’s already noon,” Pei Zhong replied.

"Hmm... what is he doing now?"

"They should still be resting."

Duke Xing paused, then said, "Let him rest then, we'll talk about it at dinner time."

When Pei Yanchi was woken up by Pei Zhong, he saw that it was already dark outside.

He reluctantly got up and went to the main hall for dinner.

At the dinner table were only Duke Xing, Pei Yanchi, and Zi Yan.

"Greetings, Duke."

Pei Yanchi gave a perfunctory bow and then sat down at the table to eat.

Duke Xing then looked him up and down.

"Hmm, not bad, you've grown taller and look stronger."

She's starting to look more and more like your mother.

The Duke of Xing did not say the last sentence.

"Yes, the food at the academy is good, and the martial arts instructors are also excellent."

Pei Yanchi replied nonchalantly.

Duke Xing smiled upon hearing this.

"The academy...sigh...the eldest princess was truly farsighted."

Pei Yanchi glanced at him sideways and said:

“You’re not short-sighted, you’re just blindly following that Wan family’s advice. They want to ruin me and leave all the family property to her son.”

Zi Yan had never seen the father and son interact.

Now, hearing the prince's increasingly hostile tone, he was at a loss for what to do.

He then interjected, "Duke, why don't we eat first? The young master has come all this way and must be tired."

Duke Xing picked up his chopsticks and took a casual bite.

Zi Yan quickly poured wine for him and Pei Yanchi.

Seeing that he had started eating, Pei Yanchi picked up his chopsticks and began to eat and drink heartily.

He had endured wind and rain on his journey, so naturally he wanted to have a good meal now that he had finally arrived.

Duke Xing sighed as he watched Pei Yanchi wolf down his food.

Pei Yanchi completely ignored him, focusing only on eating and drinking.

“Eat slowly, what kind of behavior is this?” Duke Xing suddenly said.

"What should a meal be like?" Pei Yanchi looked up and asked him in return. "My mother died early, and my father never taught me."

One sentence from him left Duke Xing speechless for a long time.

Duke Xing just kept drinking, one cup after another without stopping.

Finally, Pei Yanchi was full.

I wiped my hands and rinsed my mouth.

Duke Xing then asked, "What exactly is the purpose of His Majesty's sending you to the Western Regions this time?"

Pei Yanchi listened, looked up at him, and said:

"Oh, it's nothing. I was just worried you might rebel, so I came to keep an eye on you."

Upon hearing this, Zi Yan shuddered and quickly stood up.

"As Your Majesty knows, I would never rebel," Duke Xing said calmly.

“You can’t, but Wan Shi can. You know better than I what she wrote in her letter to you.”

Pei Yanchi crossed his legs, picked up his teacup, and began to talk as he drank.

Zi Yan bowed to the two of them and then turned to leave.

What she was about to say was not something she should hear; hearing it might cost her her life.

Duke Xing listened and said calmly:

"His Majesty sent you here, so he must still trust me. Otherwise, he should have sent someone to arrest me."

Pei Yanchi rolled his eyes and snorted coldly:

"Hmph, it's only because His Majesty is soft-hearted. If it were me, I would definitely send someone to bring you to the capital."

Duke Xing remained silent.

"Tell me what you have to say as soon as possible, so I can pass it on to His Majesty and spare your life."

Otherwise, the Duke of Xing's mansion would be in grave danger.

Duke Xing looked at Pei Yanchi, hesitating.

Pei Yanchi sized up the Duke of Xing and then said:

Seeing you like this, I'm actually quite disappointed.

Before I arrived, I was hoping you would rebel so I could watch the Duke of Xing's mansion disappear from this world.

I want to discuss this with His Majesty. I want to change my surname to Xiao and inherit my mother's lineage.

But I know very well that you don't have the guts to rebel.

You've been completely manipulated by that woman from the Wan family all these years, without considering my situation or the face of the royal family. You don't have the brains for that.

So I'm very sorry.

Duke Xing remained silent, so Pei Yanchi continued:

"Before I came here, I went to the ancestral hall, lit three incense sticks, and told my ancestors about the current situation."

I said I would try to persuade you; if I could do so, it would be a fair exchange with them.

If I really can't persuade you, tell them not to blame me.

After the downfall of the Duke of Xing's mansion, I returned to the royal family, and since then, the Pei family has had no descendants.

After hearing his treasonous remarks, the Duke of Xing remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.

"Come with me."

Pei Yanchi put down his teacup, stood up, and followed Duke Xing outside.

The two went to the study, and Duke Xing took out a small iron box and placed it on the table.

"This box contains all the letters Mr. Wan has given me over the past two years. Take a look for yourself."

Pei Yanchi held the box in his hand but did not open it.

Instead, he looked at his father with a half-smile:

"Weren't you completely obedient to the Wan family all those years? You ignored me for so long."

Why would she choose to hand over her letter so easily now?

Did his conscience awaken, or did he suddenly repent?

Duke Xing glared at him and said, "Take your things and get out of here right now, or I'll change my mind."

Pei Yanchi knew when to stop, so he picked up the box and left.

Duke Xing sighed as he watched Pei Yanchi's graceful and elegant figure leave.

He really does have some of the style of Lao Tzu back in the day.

Thinking back on what he just said, it was all true.

It seems he understands himself very well.

I would never rebel; I have neither the guts nor the will.

As for the Wan family... I used to be misled by her, but after these past few years apart, I've come to see things clearly; she has no good intentions.

Faced with the bigger picture, he had no choice but to abandon the Wan family.

Pei Yanchi was unaware of his thoughts; if he had, he would have mocked him again.

Did he see it clearly on his own? Wasn't it Zi Yan who kept whispering in his ear?