Chapter 103 On the Verge of Death

As evening approached, darkness fell.

Xie Pei entered the camp under the cover of night, and Sun Kan rushed over: "Your subordinate has something to report to the general."

Xie Pei stopped in his tracks: "Speak."

Sun Kan: "This afternoon, a bird flew into the camp and eventually landed on the general's tent. The bird looked familiar, and after thinking about it, I believe it to be your second daughter. I wonder if the general..."

Before he could finish speaking, water splashed up on the ground, and when he looked up, he found that Xie Pei had already strode away.

Er Ya is a stubborn bird; it doesn't want to get close to anyone. When Xie Pei arrived, he saw some millet on the ground. Er Ya was probably annoyed by the disturbance, so it turned its back to him and was grooming its feathers with its sharp beak.

Xie Pei called it, and it first tilted its head, as if trying to recognize the sound, then took off with a whoosh, circled once in the air, and landed on Xie Pei's shoulder.

Zhong Hui leaned over and scratched his head. “General, I had someone scatter some millet for it, but it’s very wary and won’t touch a single grain.”

Xie Pei turned his head slightly, "It has always liked meat and will find its own food, so we don't need to worry about it." After saying that, he led Er Ya into the tent.

Zhong Hui was left standing there, opening his mouth with a hint of envy. It turned out that the birds kept by the general didn't even eat rice, only meat. They lived much better than them. It had been so long since he had smelled meat.

He pursed his lips, squatted down, and carefully picked up the millet that Er Ya wouldn't eat.

Halfway through the search, a loud noise suddenly came from the tent. Zhong Hui was so startled that he immediately stood up. Just as he was about to ask a question, Xie Pei rushed out of the tent like a gust of wind.

Zhong Hui, still clutching millet in his hand, chased after him for a few steps and shouted, "General, there's a curfew in the city! Where are you going?"

Before he could finish speaking, he watched helplessly as Xie Pei rode away.

Inside the general's tent, the flickering firelight illuminated Xie Pei's face, making it seem as if no expression was visible.

But Guan Shao, who was familiar with Xie Pei, knew that Xie Pei's tense body revealed that he was under great tension at the moment.

Guan Jing sighed, "What am I supposed to do? I went to great lengths to petition the Emperor for the title of General Zhennan on your behalf. Although it's only a minor third-rank title, it's the best I can do for you right now. I wanted you to make some great contributions, which would lead to a bright future, and here you are, pulling this stunt?"

The cloth Xie Pei was clutching was soaked with bloodstains, whether from rain or sweat, making it look particularly shocking.

He had thought Er Ya's arrival would be a pleasant surprise from Zhu Mingyue, but the surprise turned into a shock. The brief plea for help written in blood on the cloth was clearly visible. Xie Pei's heart almost stopped, and then an indescribable panic swept over him like a storm.

In that instant, it seemed as if nothing else in the world mattered; he wanted to return to Ganzhou, and he wanted Zhu Mingyue to live.

Guan Jing's questioning echoed in my ears.

Xie Pei said calmly, "I must go back."

Guan Jing was exasperated: "The war with the Southern Barbarians is imminent. If you, as the General Who Guards the South, are not in the camp at this time, what will the soldiers think?"

“You…” Guan Jing shook his head, “Those who achieve great things should prioritize the well-being of the people and not be confined to their own families.”

Xie Pei's eyes flickered: "Even if the common people are of utmost importance, he is the only one under my command."

Guan Jing put on a stern face: "I only ask you, if you insist on leaving, I will write a letter to strip you of your general's position, are you willing?"

Xie Pei remained calm and showed no dissatisfaction. "Your subordinate is willing."

Guan Jing knew that he had been good at managing his subordinates for many years, but now that he was older, he was failing in front of the younger generation he had his eye on.

Although his words were not pleasing, weren't they also for Xie Pei's good? The court hadn't produced such a brave and resourceful general in decades, until he saw Xie Pei, and he thought he was a gift sent by heaven to Da Li.

In just over six months, he promoted Xie Pei from a lowly centurion to a general. It seemed that if he could achieve more military merits, he would be able to take over his position before Xie Pei retired.

Who would have thought that this child would be so loyal and devoted, returning to Ganzhou at this crucial moment?

His threats were merely an attempt to change Xie Pei's mind, but the boy showed no hesitation whatsoever.

Should he really be allowed to personally strip away the general's position he had so desperately sought? Xie Pei was willing to do so, but he was not.

Guan Jing's hand trembled slightly, but he finally relented: "Now that you are a general, it would be inappropriate for you to leave the camp for family matters. I will personally send someone to Ganzhou to protect your family."

Xie Pei knelt on the ground, still keeping his head down and remaining silent.

Even Guan Jingrao, with her good temper, got angry and her expression immediately changed. "Are you really determined not to listen to my advice?"

Xie Pei: "He is my only subordinate."

Again and again, Guan Jing gritted his teeth and suddenly remembered: "I heard that all your family members are no longer alive, and there is only one left in your family, your brother's widowed sister-in-law."

As his most trusted subordinate, Xie Pei naturally needed to investigate everything about his family. He knew from the beginning that Xie Pei's family was simple; he had lost his father at a young age, and his only brother had passed away two years ago, leaving behind a male sister-in-law who depended on him for survival.

Little did he know, Xie Pei was deeply devoted to his widowed sister-in-law, and for her sake, he was even prepared to give up his future.

He was well past fifty and had spent most of his life in the military, so he was well-informed and experienced. However, he understood in an instant.

Not to mention that many scions of noble families in the capital are fond of the south wind, even in this military camp, there are quite a few sworn brothers.

However, this was the first time he had ever seen Xie Pei like this.

Good lad, it's one thing to be bold in leading troops into battle, but to dare to have such thoughts about his widowed sister-in-law is truly astonishing.

Guan Jing was furious and muttered under his breath, "You bastard, what are you trying to achieve? Sigh... this is destined to be a dead end."

After saying that, seeing that Xie Pei did not move, he felt a little sympathy: "Fine, I will give you eight days. If you do not return after eight days and delay the war, you will be subject to military law."

Xie Pei: "Your subordinate obeys."

He was in a state of utter confusion, his mind filled with the scene of Zhu Mingyue's tragic death, and all he wanted was to return to Ganzhou immediately.

Just as he was about to get up and leave, Guan Jing called him back.

A jade talisman flew straight at Xie Pei's face, but Xie Pei's eyes flashed slightly as he caught it.

"Keep this safe." Guan Jing gave a cold snort. "This jade talisman of mine is more useful than your lowly general title in a pinch. Besides, you're a person of status now, and you need to have a troop of men with you at all times. Otherwise, you should establish yourself first..."

Xie Pei was grateful, lowered his eyes, clasped his hands and said, "Your subordinate thanks the general."

"Again..." Guan Jing wanted to give him a piece of her mind, but before she could finish speaking, Xie Pei had already run off.

Guan Jing felt a little frustrated. "Do you think he even respects me?"

The guard quickly said, "You have shown great kindness to General Zhennan, and he has shown you even more respect." Everything is relative. Xie Pei was born with a cold face and didn't give anyone a good look in the army, so his attitude towards the general was already considered very good.

"Heh, I didn't see much respect from him. I hope he'll heed even half a word I said. How can a great man achieve anything if he's always obsessed with love?"

The guard remained noncommittal, then changed the subject: "You've given him all the jade tokens; General Zhennan will surely understand your good intentions."

Guan Jing said, "Hmph, it's just a jade talisman. When I had the tiger talisman back then, I was only a generation older than him."

How could he not see through his little scheme? He shook his head and sighed, "You young people always yearn for matters of love and romance. I know you don't agree with me either; ultimately, we just have different ideas!"

The guard smiled and said, "General, please don't tease me. I am not yet married, so how could I have any romantic feelings?" He was over twenty years old, and it would be a lie to say that he didn't want to find a woman he liked to marry. However, he was busy with affairs following Guan Jing and had no time to worry about such things.

Guan Jing's face also showed a smile: "You are good, but you are not as honest as Xie Pei. He dares to love and hate, and does what he wants." He even dared to covet his own brother's widowed sister-in-law. He has guts.

Guard: ...Just now you were criticizing Xie Pei for being so obsessed with love, but in the blink of an eye you're praising him for being bold and passionate. After all that, he's the one who's hurt the most; he's the one who yearns for love but isn't honest about it.

Guan Jing glanced at him and said, "You're not young anymore. After this war is over and we return to the capital, I'll have someone find you a suitable daughter-in-law."

Qin Wei grinned foolishly with delight.

Guan Jing waved his hand: "Go out."

After everyone had left, he sighed, "As you get older, your heart softens too." When he was young, he was just like Xie Pei, stern and unsmiling, able to silence his men with a single glance.

In truth, Xie Pei's personality was most like his own, even more so than his eldest son who died young on the battlefield. But in matters of the heart, Xie Pei far surpassed him.

Throughout his life, he always put Dali first. His wife bore him children and took care of the household for half her life, but he didn't show her much care. Even when she fell ill and passed away, he was unable to go back to see her one last time because he was on the front line.

His son was not raised at all, which caused his eldest son to resent him. After coming of age, the eldest son joined the Northwest Army alone, eager to make a name for himself, but ultimately died on the battlefield and his body was never found.

He was a general of the Li Dynasty, as well as a husband and father to other women. He claimed to be serving the country and its people, but had he ever fulfilled any responsibility to his family?

Perhaps Xie Pei was the most clear-headed one; why force others to share his lifelong regrets?

Jizhou is often cloudy and rainy, but near the border of Ganzhou, the sky is cloudless.

Sun Kan looked up and let out a long sigh of relief. "I'm exposed to wind and rain every day, and I'm almost covered in mold. The weather in Ganzhou is so much better!"

A soldier popped out from behind and said with a smile, "What the centurion said is just that it's the rainy season. It will be fine in a while."

"But to be fair, this place is truly beautiful. As far as the eye can see, Jizhou is all plains, and the mountains there are not even mountains, but slopes."

Upon hearing this, the group burst into laughter.

Sun Kan quickly told them to shut up, winked at Xie Pei, and the laughter instantly disappeared.

No one dared to laugh. The air pressure surrounding General Zhennan was so intense it could freeze a person to death. It was only during a rest that everyone relaxed and forgot about it. Otherwise, who would dare to laugh so heartily?

Sun Kan took the water bag and went up to Xie Pei, who was wiping the precious dart again. It was more like polishing it than wiping it, since the dart head was no longer sharp at all.

"General, have some water! We're not far from Shangyang County. If we ride fast, we can arrive early tomorrow morning."

Xie Pei's subordinate paused for a moment, then said, "If you've rested well, then continue on your way."

Sun Kan: "General, we can handle it, but the horses might not. We need to let them rest. It would be even more troublesome if something went wrong on the way and we were stranded halfway."

Even he knew this principle, so Xie Pei certainly understood the implications, but he couldn't wait any longer. He desperately wanted to see Zhu Mingyue, to see a Zhu Mingyue who was completely unharmed.

He gave a muffled order: "Depart in fifteen minutes."

"Understood!" Sun Kan breathed a sigh of relief.

He then comforted her, saying, "General, don't worry too much. I've heard Li Zhengyang talk about your sister-in-law. She's a very pure and kind person. Good people will surely be rewarded."

In the dungeon of Shangyang County, 150 li away from here,

A continuous stream of furious curses echoed from within.

"How dare you scare me! You've got a death wish!" The magistrate's face contorted with rage.

"I have sent people to the capital to inquire, and there is no Wang family in the capital that you mentioned that has any connection with Princess Huiyang."

Zhu Mingyue huddled in the corner, still stubbornly insisting even as she faced death: "Is it possible that she just prefers to keep a low profile?"

The magistrate roared, "Absolutely impossible!" Even now, they still want to treat him like a fool? Do they really think he's a magistrate for nothing?

"I've been tricked by you for so many days, and today it's time to settle the score with you."

Zhu Mingyue was tied to a rack, a whip soaked in chili water swirling in the air. Despair filled Zhu Mingyue's eyes as she closed them and shouted, "Wait!"

The magistrate snorted coldly and immediately ordered, "Give him a good beating!"

The feeling of the whip lashing her body was excruciating. Zhu Mingyue had fair and tender skin, and the other party had obviously used a lot of force. After only a few blows, she felt her skin and flesh were torn apart.

When the chili water touches the skin, it burns as if your genitals are being scorched.

Zhu Mingyue clenched her teeth, not daring to utter a sound. The pain was so intense that her soul seemed to have left her body, and her consciousness gradually blurred.

The jailer stopped whipping. "Sir, he seems to be about to faint."

"Keep beating me!" The magistrate sneered, holding the confession with his fingerprints already on it. "You really think you can escape punishment by playing a little trick? Let me tell you, your life is worth less than a dog on the street in Shangyang County. I can kill you whenever I want."

He seemed unsatisfied after saying that: "You think you're so great just because you made some money at Mingyue Tower? What good is money if you don't have it? I can arrest you whenever I want."

He had long harbored resentment towards Zhu Mingyue. Looking across the entire Shangyang County, anyone who ran a large business would inevitably receive gifts during holidays. Zhu Mingyue, with her thriving business, was surprisingly stubborn and showed him no interest whatsoever.

Therefore, when Sun Weifu approached him for cooperation, he naturally agreed immediately.

Zhu Mingyue's jaw was chattering, and the hair on his forehead was already soaked with sweat and stuck to his face. His originally fair face had become dirty and filthy. He slightly opened his lips, but he didn't even have the strength to curse.

The magistrate laughed loudly, "Tomorrow I will release the news that you committed suicide in prison out of fear of punishment. What a pity, I originally wanted you to die quickly, but who knew you would dare to lie to me. Naturally, I will torture you properly first."

Zhu Mingyue didn't regret lying to him, but she never expected that this corrupt old official would be so resentful about being lied to.

Is it really necessary?

Zhu Mingyue's body twitched slightly, completely unable to think anymore.

The magistrate continued his tirade: "These past few days I've thoroughly investigated your background. Tsk, not only do you not have any powerful family in the capital to back you up, but you're also an orphan. I've also inquired about your brother-in-law, Xie Pei. I heard he's become a captain in the army, but what good is that? Even if you confess, the prefect can't change your fate. And what if your brother-in-law finds out? He will never come back to save you."

Zhu Mingyue was in excruciating pain and was no longer able to distinguish the words around her. She could only vaguely hear Xie Pei's name. She subconsciously tried to look up, but in the end, she could only let her head fall limply.

In his unconscious state, his lips trembled slightly, and his voice was so weak it was almost inaudible.

Xie Pei, it really hurts!

The next morning, Zhu Mingyue was woken up by a bucket of cold water.

After staying up all night, Zhu Mingyue was almost on the verge of collapse. He finally understood why some people in the TV dramas he had watched in the past would rather commit suicide than be interrogated after being caught, because the physical pain was enough to break most people, including him.

The county magistrate, on the other hand, was in high spirits and stood in front of him with a smug look on his face.

"You probably don't know, but Mingyue Tower has been shut down. But don't worry, after you die, someone will take over the restaurant."

Zhu Mingyue raised her eyelids slightly. "If we take it, the company will go bankrupt."

Magistrate: ...Even after being beaten like this, you still can't help but be sarcastic. It seems we didn't punish you enough.

The whip was gently stirred in the chili water, just as it was about to be pulled out of the bucket.

A commotion suddenly broke out outside the prison gates.