Married her
Xiao Yucheng was well-connected and had people buried deep in the palace. When such a big mess happened, his people secretly passed the news to him by sending the first wave of female relatives.
When Xiao Yucheng received the news, he immediately realized that it was his spoiled sister who had leaked the secret. He arrested all the maids and servants around Xiao Caizhen and interrogated them about their recent actions, and at the same time summoned his advisers to discuss the matter.
Lu Yunqi prepared Yangrong Pills for Pei Zhaoying's health. One of the ingredients in the pills was missing from the palace treasury, so Pei Zhaoying paid Lu Yunqi to buy it on the market. Upon learning of this, Xiao Caizhen consulted with Chen Pozi, a former medical practitioner, and decided to add a rare, incompatible spice to the powder, intending to poison Pei Zhaoying.
By then, the original wedding of Pei and Xiao would be over, and it would be Xiao Caizhen's turn to marry Pei Heng and enter the harem.
Xiao Yucheng was angry that Xiao Caizhen had acted rashly and fancifully behind his back, and he ordered people to drag Chen Po, who had given her bad advice, to the yard and beat her to death with a stick, blaming her for negligence and making irresponsible remarks. He was so panicked that he could not sit still, fearing that Pei Zhaoying would use a killing move, and he wished he could not rush into the palace to save his sister.
After his outstanding military achievements, he became more and more arrogant, and even went to the palace with sword and shoes on. For the sake of his sister, he put on plain clothes, swallowed his anger and laid down his weapons, hoping that the young emperor would give him face, let it go, and take a step back, so as not to make things awkward and leave no room for mediation.
He knew that it was impossible for an emperor in all dynasties to confine a powerful official to the palace at night. He was willing to keep a low profile and wait for a night, letting Pei Heng vent his anger on him, and then he would not make things difficult for Xiao Caizhen.
Finally, the sun broke through the clouds, spreading its bright sunshine. The palace gates reopened, and the chief eunuch hurriedly invited Xiao and Cheng in and took them to the imperial study.
"Your Majesty, my sister was naughty and offended you. I am willing to take the punishment on her behalf."
Xiao Yucheng glanced at Pei Heng silently and found that the little emperor was still the same as before, showing his anxiety and fear on his face when encountering things, which made him more confident when bowing.
Pei Heng was worried all night and dared not close his eyes, for fear that as soon as he closed his eyes, Xiao Yucheng would draw his sword and kill him in the palace.
He had only seen Xiao and Cheng wearing armor and holding weapons, commanding thousands of troops, like gods of war descended from the sky. Today, Xiao and Cheng were only wearing cloth clothes, and those halos seemed to dim at this moment. Pei Heng looked left and right, and felt that Xiao and Cheng were just mortals after all.
Mortals can be victorious.
Behind the imperially noble and gorgeous landscape painting, Xiao Bo stood listening attentively. He anticipated Xiao and Cheng's sophistry and curled his lips in sarcasm.
Pei Heng knew that Xiao Bo was there and that someone was helping him to restrain Meng Hu. He coldly followed the result of the discussion and asked the eunuch to show Xiao Yucheng the results of the imperial physician's poison test.
"Grand Marshal, I know you have a deep brotherly bond, but isn't it the same for me and the eldest princess? The eldest princess was poisoned and her life or death is unknown. According to the law, I am showing mercy by not implicating the Xiao family."
Pei Heng wanted to move Xiao Yucheng, but relying on Xiao Caizhen alone was not enough. He could only use this game to compete for the greatest benefit.
Xiao and Cheng also knew about it, but they refused to admit it was murder.
"Your Majesty, please understand! My sister was an accidental offender. A girl in the boudoir, weak and helpless, how could she intentionally poison the princess? It was an unintentional mistake. I beg Your Majesty and the princess to forgive me. If you are truly angry, please cut me into pieces to vent your anger!"
Xiao Bo sighed: Pei Heng wanted to get rid of Xiao Yucheng, but he was powerless now. If he captured Xiao Yucheng, his best soldiers and generals would be forced to rebel.
Pei Heng's face darkened. "Can a simple statement of an unintentional mistake lightly brush aside the pain felt by the Imperial Sister? Grand Minister, the safety of the Imperial Family is not something that should be lightly exposed. This time, the Imperial Sister was murdered, and I ignored it. When I am murdered, will you also take it easy?"
"I dare not! Your Majesty, you are too kind. Your Majesty is deeply popular. During the heyday of the Spring and Autumn Period, we must avoid prophecies."
Xiao Yucheng knew that they could not touch Xiao Caizhen's life, and Pei Heng knew that Xiao Yucheng could not persecute him. Considering the overall situation, they had no choice but to fight against each other. The two of them knew this well, forming a strange balance.
Not long after, Pei Heng threw another memorial in a deep voice:
"Do you know what other sins your sister committed? She hit Scholar Sang's granddaughter in the palace! She hit the girl in the face, which was equivalent to trampling on Scholar Sang's reputation! Scholar Sang was eighty years old, and he was so heartbroken for his granddaughter that he burst into tears and wrote an impeachment memorial overnight. This happened in the palace! If she can do it in the palace, can you do it too? You really set a good example for your brother!"
The thundering pressure from the civil service group broke the balance of the scales.
Now, Xiao Yucheng had to deal with more than just the wrath of the royal family, and his breathing stagnated.
Xiao Bo squinted his eyes and smiled silently behind the screen.
He was well aware of human nature, and he imprisoned and blocked Xiao Caizhen step by step, breaking down her psychological defenses, just to make her lose her mind and make the trouble worse.
Some people only calculate superficial interests. Xiao Bo escapes from the game, sets up the chessboard, and silently drives people to take actions that are most beneficial to him, with scheming as the most important thing.
Pei Heng didn't have the ability to really take Xiao Caizhen's life, so everyone gave in and treated it as a business deal.
Xiao Bo knew how arrogant and stubborn he was just by looking at the indistinguishable figures of Xiao and Cheng. This arrogant brother and sister had once ganged up on each other to bully his mother in the backyard, and now they had extended their murderous hands to his wife!
It’s a pity that he hasn’t grown strong enough yet and can’t be eradicated completely.
Xiao Bo clenched his fists beneath his brocade robe, hoping Pei Heng would be a little tougher and seize this opportunity to gradually erode Xiao and Cheng's power.
Pei Heng was often afraid of Xiao and Cheng.
As he grew older, Pei Heng wanted to prove even more that he was different from all the puppet emperors!
He forced himself to sit on the dragon throne and sighed:
"Grand Marshal, you are my beloved minister and important general, a pillar of Daliang. How could I bear to punish you? Privately, I cherish you and your sister so much that I would not be willing to give you up. My dear, why did you make a scene in public and cause unrest in the court? Scholar Sang made such a fuss, and the civil officials responded one after another, saying that if I don't punish County Lady Xiao severely, I will be trampling on the integrity of the literati. If I bear such a curse, won't I become a tyrant for all time? But as for my sister, she is not a person who likes to deal with things easily. Regardless of whether your sister did it intentionally or not, without open punishment, my sister will have to take drastic measures to deal with her herself. You can spare her life, but Grand Marshal must also express his position and not make things difficult for me!"
Pei Heng was quick-witted. He put pressure on the front and acted sincere and considerate at the back, which really frightened Xiao Yucheng, who was only concerned about his sister.
Xiao Bo, on the other hand, was the one who could see the pros and cons most clearly among the three. Behind the screen, he secretly cursed Pei Heng for fanning the flames and bringing trouble to Pei Zhaoying.
Xiao Bo felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, and he felt sympathy for Pei Zhaoying because they were in the same boat. They were so similar, both of them had been abandoned by their own flesh and blood.
Xiao Yucheng hesitated for a moment, then bowed deeply and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, I understand your intention. I will raise half of the Tiger Guard's military expenses this year to show my repentance and amends to Daliang. As for my sister, Your Majesty has spared her life."
The national treasury was empty at that time, and half of the military budget was enough for Pei Heng to make big moves. Pei Heng was overjoyed, but he could not show his joy, so as not to make Xiao and Cheng feel that they had suffered a loss in the deal. So he kept a stern face and taught them a lesson.
Soon, the imperial decree spread throughout the six palaces:
Xiao Caizhen behaved improperly in the palace, offended the emperor, and implicated the eldest princess. She was stripped of her title of county princess and ordered to return home for three months to reflect on herself and was not allowed to go out.
Although the poisoning incident was not reported, the issuance of this decree, coupled with the fact that Xiao Caizhen's fight with Sang Ningyun was witnessed by many women in the capital, ruined her reputation.
Xiao Caizhen had no idea how much of a concession it was to pay half of the military expenses herself, so she burst into tears and complained to her brother:
"It's all Pei Zhaoying's fault! It was Pei Zhaoying who caused all the trouble. I lost all my face this time. Brother, didn't you see how arrogant she was before? She made me stand in public without even giving me a seat. If it weren't for your timely rescue, I would have been quietly killed by her and would never see you again..."
"Don't talk nonsense. Pei Zhaoying is just a cripple who can't move an inch. How can she compare to you who are full of life and freedom? How can she control you? Go home and have a good sleep. I will keep watch for you. Forget all the unhappiness. We will teach them a lesson later."
In a few words, Xiao Yucheng coaxed his sister and helped her into the carriage. With the protection of the soldiers from the Grand Marshal's Mansion, the disaster came to an end slowly and steadily.
Xiao Bo and Pei Heng exchanged a few pleasantries and headed straight for Xiefang Palace.
The matter was settled, and as a man from outside, it would not be easy for him to stay in the palace. If he saw her once before the wedding, it would be one less time to see her.
Passing through the diamond-shaped window, Xiao Bo saw Pei Zhaoying being supported by someone and sitting at the desk. She was as frail as a willow in the wind, and his heart tightened as he quickened his pace.
"Why are you sitting up? You should have listened to Doctor Lu and laid down more. You haven't recovered yet, so be careful not to tire yourself out."
Pei Zhaoying had been carefully nursing his body for many days, but was beaten back to his original form by the poison. His chin was pointed, and the two pounds of flesh that he had grown with great difficulty were all gone. He was extremely weak.
She raised her wrist to write a letter, but after writing a few words, her wrist felt sore. She raised her head and smiled at Xiao Bo:
"Such a serious incident has happened. I'm afraid Yubai will be impatient. I need to inform the palace so they know what's going on and hold their troops in place until the right opportunity comes. They also need to train day and night and be extremely vigilant. Even the emperor's personal guards have sneaked in, so I can't let my guard down."
Xiao Bo originally wanted to touch her wrist and massage it to loosen the bones and make her skin feel more comfortable.
When he heard the name "Yubai" coming out of her mouth, he dropped his hands, his eyes darkened, and he frowned and didn't look at Pei Zhaoying.
The two were about to get married, but Pei Zhaoying had never called him affectionately, or only called him by his name in a proper manner.
Is it true that there is a difference between relatives? Her personal guard commander is her relative, but is her husband also her relative?
Xiao Bo's thoughts were in a mess and he couldn't make a clear statement. He responded with a stern face without any flaws. Only after Pei Zhaoying offered him a seat did he sit down, like a loyal minister and a good general, who was reserved and unprejudiced.
But they lost the warmth of holding hands in front of the bed.
Seeing that he had returned to his usual serious and stern self, Pei Zhaoying even suspected that their whispers were false. Feeling upset, she casually ended the letter and told Qiluo to send it out.
Without anyone around, Xiao Bo finally felt the comfort of being close to Pei Zhaoying, and began to speak:
"Your Majesty finally stood firm in front of Xiao Yucheng and asserted his authority, forcing Xiao Yucheng to shoulder half of the Tiger Guards' military expenses. What a pity! After much reflection, I realize that this outcome is beneficial to the overall situation, but it doesn't offer any redemption for your suffering."
"It's good to see progress. Take it slow. Your Majesty will be able to stand up and take charge, which will save me a lot of trouble in the future." Pei Zhaoying leaned back on the rosewood armchair, looking lost. "It's a pity that I can't take care of myself. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any need for all this trouble. I will deal with Xiao Caizhen myself. No matter who she is, I will fight back."
As he spoke, Pei Zhaoying crumpled the waste rice paper on the desk into a ball and threw it away angrily.
Hearing this, Xiao Bo's heart ached and swelled. He lost control of himself for a moment and reached out to Pei Zhaoying's sleeve, gently pulling it again and again.
"Why feel sorry for yourself? I promise I can find the best doctor to help you recover and be free from all restraints. Until then, I am your legs and your weapon. I will do anything you want."
Pei Zhaoying saw his reassurance that he would not go beyond the line, and she really wanted to clasp his knuckles with her backhand. Unable to suppress her itch, she smiled at him, her eyebrows raised:
"Master Xiao Bo is known as the 'cold-faced devil' for his impartiality in solving cases. Does it look like he's going to become my personal possession? I'm really terrified."
Her relaxed and cheerful smile was like spring water bringing forth flowers. Xiao Bo was doing things for her and was fooled by her smiling face. He only felt that the stunning beauty before him became more lively and more charming.
Fighting against the numbing throbbing, Xiao Bo said seriously:
"Husband and wife are one, and we have to show favoritism. For you, I am for you."
Pei Zhaoying was stunned at how he could deliver such charming words in a businesslike manner without any romance, and gained a deeper understanding of the temperament of this heavenly man.
It seems that she worried in vain about whether the marriage would make Xiao Bo unhappy or happy. For Xiao Bo, it was nothing more than a change of job. Being the "son-in-law" to the country and the family was a job that required him to treat diligently and respectfully!
Pei Zhaoying covered her chest with her hands in frustration.
"Should we ask Imperial Physician Lu to come and see her?" Xiao Bo was not in a position to investigate the situation, but was worried about her every move, so he offered the safest solution.
Pei Zhaoying became furious upon hearing this.
How can a girl be jealous and call the doctor?
Pei Zhaoying flicked her sleeves and said, "No!"
The palace maids standing in a row outside shuddered visibly, fearing they would bear the wrath. Pei Zhaoying saw this and forced herself to change her temper, slowly issuing an order:
"Miss Sang is frightened this time. Send two people to Scholar Sang's residence. Under my order, deliver a bottle of Jade Skin Cream and two Jade Ruyi to comfort her. The palace maids in Xiefang Palace have served her well over the past two days, and each of them will receive an additional monthly allowance."
Xiao Bo suddenly tilted his head and asked her seriously:
"I'm neither young nor old, but I've been a meritorious official, working hard both inside and outside the country. Do I have a share of the rewards? Your Highness, will you show favoritism?"
He started with Jiang Yubai and became jealous. Even if it was someone who served Pei Zhaoying, he would act childishly and pull them out to compare lengths.
He clearly didn't want anything, but he still asked for a reward in a serious manner.
All the floating thoughts were crushed by Pei Zhaoying's laughing words——
"How greedy, Master Xiao Bo! You're about to have me, yet you're still asking for other rewards. You should just focus on preparing for our wedding."
One sentence ignited the thousand-year-old ice.
Pei Zhaoying imitated Xiao Bo and brought up the matter of marriage seriously. Xiao Bo had no idea that he was embarrassed and nervous. After hearing these words from her, he was completely defeated.
He, she...
A dreamlike reality.
The sweet taste can peel off a person piece by piece and soak him/her in.
Xiao Bo forgot how he thanked the emperor and left the palace. He could not get carried away by joy and went through the details of the wedding ceremony over and over again. Only in the dead of night did he take a deep breath, relax his heart and savor the happiness that had come after two lifetimes.
Pei Heng took this opportunity to strictly discipline his men. He punished and expelled the palace maids who colluded with outsiders to pass on information by beating them with a stick. He also said that it was not appropriate to see human life before marriage. He restrained himself from causing bloodshed in the harem. All suspicious guards were sent away to ensure that the people in front of the emperor only recognized one master.
Pei Heng became very suspicious and was afraid that keeping Pei Zhaoying in the palace would cause trouble, so he moved up the wedding date even though she had not fully recovered.
To show compensation and appeasement, Pei Heng officially issued an edict to exempt agricultural and commercial taxes, grant amnesty to the world, and celebrate together with the people, praying for the eldest princess's wedding.
On the day Pei Zhaoying surrendered from the palace gate, Xiao Bo came to greet her on a tall horse, his red robe fluttering in the wind, and the people along the way kept congratulating him.
He waited respectfully and reverently for Pei Zhaoying's sedan chair to come out. Although the time for the couple to meet had not yet come, Xiao Bo followed closely beside Empress Yitong's wedding sedan chair, feeling dazed with joy and as if life was a dream.
Including his previous life, this was the second time he had welcomed her out.
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