If the root of the problem cannot be found, he will be leaving to take up his post in three days. This parting may be the last time we see each other. Whether we will meet again depends on his luck and whether the Emperor is willing to let him live.

Zhou tugged at her husband's sleeve, tears streaming down her face.

"What kind of loyal minister are you, always offering advice that the emperor doesn't want to hear? Now look what's happened! You've been banished to that desolate place, where you'll probably never come back. And to make matters worse, we're not even allowed to go with you. Isn't this a death sentence for us?"

The couple had been married for half their lives and their relationship remained harmonious and loving as ever. Pei Shuqin felt regretful as he looked at his wife's tears.

His wife was right, but he knew in his heart that the Emperor's disgusted expression was definitely not just because of that incident. He thought of the time when his eldest son went to the Shen family to propose marriage, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

Upon seeing this, Zhou's crying paused. "What have you thought of?"

Pei Shuqin suddenly turned around and took two steps, then paused, turned back to his wife and said, "You rest well, I'll come back to see you later."

Under Zhou's worried gaze, Pei Shuqin quickly left the inner room. Pei Shuwan was comforting her heartbroken and tearful sister when she saw her father rushing out. She took a few steps forward and asked anxiously, "Father, where are you going?"

At this moment, the family was in chaos, and with her father rushing out like this, Pei Shuwan was worried that her father might not understand and take his own life.

You must understand, my father was an upright man throughout his life, a respected and honest official in the court, and a loyal servant of the world. How could he possibly accept such an end?

Pei Shuqin paused, not because of his daughter's voice, but because he saw his eldest son, Pei Jingzhou, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

The eldest son has been away from home these days. The servants say he plays the zither every day in the teahouse outside the North Garden. The melodious music is so beautiful that many people in the capital now know that the eldest son of the Pei family plays the zither there every day.

Seeing his current state, Pei Shuqin felt complicated, and deep self-blame and disappointment showed in her eyes.

He blamed himself for not disciplining his eldest son properly, which turned his once fine son into a effeminate man who neglected state affairs, only knowing how to play the zither and compose music, spending his days like a secluded young lady, and becoming anxious and restless over a woman, abandoning everything else and caring about nothing.

Disappointingly, among his children, the most useless one was his eldest son. The family relied on the eldest son the most, yet he acted so recklessly that the whole family was implicated.

"Father, what's going on? Why would the Emperor..."

Before he could finish speaking, Pei Shuqin slapped his son across half his face, leaving a handprint on the young man's handsome features. Pei Shuqin's lips twitched stiffly as he coldly stared at his son, "How dare you ask me that question, you unfilial son!"

Pei Jingzhou's heart sank, and his eyes were filled with confusion.

Suddenly, something occurred to him, "Could it be that the Emperor is concerned about me and Daiyu?"

"What do you mean, 'Pin'er'!" Pei Shuqin felt even more annoyed upon hearing this address. "Don't you know the gravity of the situation? Are you complaining that the Emperor didn't just give your father a cup of poison, or do you hope that the entire Pei family will be ruined and executed because of your outrageous deeds?!"

Pei Jingzhou froze, but Pei Shuqin's mood was anything but lighthearted.

He sighed deeply, gradually calming his agitated mood.

"You need to understand that no matter who she is, she is now the Emperor's Consort Ming, an Imperial Consort. She is no longer someone you can care about. Do you even understand that?"

Pei Jingzhou's mind went blank. His father's words struck him like a hammer blow to the top of his head, instantly startling him.

He murmured to himself, "Yes, she's married, she's married..."

Looking at his son, who was still clueless and unaware of the world, Pei Shuqin had no more expectations. He coldly ordered the steward, "Arrange a carriage to send the young master back to the ancestral home first thing tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing this, Pei Shuwan, who had followed him out, was greatly alarmed. Disregarding all rules and propriety, she stepped forward to plead for her brother, saying, "Father, the ancestral home is so far away. How can my brother go back? He was just confused these past few days. I'm sure he has realized his mistake."

As Pei Shuwan spoke, she hurriedly tugged at her elder brother Pei Jingzhou's sleeve, signaling him to quickly apologize to their father.

Pei Jingzhou, however, tugged at his sleeve, turned around, and ran outside.

Pei Shuqin's expression turned completely cold. Seeing this, the butler hurriedly ordered someone to stop the young master.

Pei Jingzhou was ultimately unable to leave the mansion and was escorted back.

“Since you are so disobedient, then don’t blame your father for treating you this way. Get a good rest tonight, and set off tomorrow morning.”

Pei Shuwan watched with growing anxiety, and that afternoon she found an opportunity to go to the Shen family.

Madam Zhao had always liked Pei Shuwan very much and regarded her as her future daughter-in-law. Upon hearing that she had come to the house, she immediately ordered someone to serve tea and personally met her in the flower hall.

"Good child, what happened? You look so pale. Did you not get enough rest?" As soon as Zhao saw Pei Shuwan, she began to nag with concern.

When Pei Shuwan saw Zhao Shi, who had always been kind and gentle to her, her eyes welled up with tears. She told Zhao Shi what had just happened at home. Zhao Shi was shocked to hear this, as she was completely unaware of the matter.

“How could this happen? Beiyan County is no good place. Your father is no longer the strong and healthy young man he once was. How can he withstand such torment?”

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