Chapter 55 The Past of Mu Hanyan and Pei Xuan
Chapter Fifty-Five: The Past Between Mu Hanyan and Pei Xuan
It was midsummer, the heat of June was intense, and the cicadas chirped incessantly in the palace gardens, stirring up the sweltering air. Although ice basins had been placed in the four corners of Yongshou Palace, radiating a slight coolness, Su Su still felt somewhat restless, holding a round fan and idly waving it.
Two days ago, when Li Qianche came to her place for dinner, he mentioned to her: "That brat Pei Xuan came to me again the other day, saying that Miss Mu is almost six months pregnant and he wants to take her back to the General's Mansion to rest and take care of her. I have already granted his request, and I think I will take her out of the palace in the next few days."
At that time, Su Su was drinking chilled plum juice with her head down, only giving a soft "hmm" without comment. Now, sitting alone in the hall, the words "She will be taken out of the palace in the next few days" inexplicably lingered in her mind.
Is Mu Hanyan leaving?
Since her rebirth, she has deliberately avoided the grudges of her past life and rarely had any contact with "Consort Wan," who had once filled her with jealousy and hatred and ultimately indirectly led her to her death.
Hearing that she was truly leaving the palace, a complex mix of emotions stirred within her. In the end, it was her resentment from her unrequited love for Li Qianche in her past life that she had inexplicably transferred onto this aloof woman. Looking back now, she realized that she had indeed wronged her with those harsh words and unfounded accusations.
Knowing that she was about to leave, and having met her, I should see her off, as if to settle the karmic debt from our past lives and to fulfill this little palace connection we had never met before.
Thinking of this, Su Su put down her fan and ordered, "Prepare the sedan chair and go to Shuning Palace."
The Shuning Palace remained quiet. Because the pregnant woman was sensitive to heat, more ice basins were placed inside, creating a cool and refreshing atmosphere mixed with a faint, calming herbal scent.
Mu Hanyan was leaning against a warm couch covered with a jade mat, wearing a light summer dress, her hand gently stroking her noticeably protruding belly, her expression serene. Seeing Su Su enter, she appeared slightly surprised and struggled to rise and curtsy.
Su Su quickened her pace, offering a helping hand, and said gently, "You're quite heavy-hearted, no need for formalities, please sit down." She sat down on the embroidered stool beside the couch, her gaze falling on Mu Hanyan's face. She studied her carefully for a moment, noticing her rosy complexion and the loss of her usual aloofness in her eyes, replaced by a gentle glow befitting a soon-to-be mother. Su Su felt somewhat relieved. "Seeing that you look well, I'm relieved. Have you fully recovered?"
Mu Hanyan smiled faintly and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I have recovered very well." Seeing Su Su's curious gaze fixed on her protruding belly, she said softly, "You are almost six months along. Lately, the baby has been moving more and more vigorously, so it must be a lively one."
This was the first time Su Su had observed a pregnant woman so closely. Looking at the rounded curves of her body and the frequent fetal movements she had imagined, she felt a sense of wonder.
The barrier in her heart caused by her past life strangely dissipated at this moment. She remembered that Li Qianche had briefly mentioned the matter between Mu Hanyan and Pei Xuan, and she couldn't help but feel a little curious, wanting to hear another side of the story, whether it was different from what she had imagined, or from her entanglement with Li Qianche.
"I have heard the Emperor mention your matter briefly." Su Su's tone was relaxed, with a hint of girlish curiosity. "Speaking of which, how exactly did you and General Pei meet?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Hanyan was taken aback. It seemed that the Emperor had already told the Consort about her affair with Pei Xuan.
She looked up at Su Su. The Imperial Concubine before her had bright eyes and a frank expression, without a trace of pretense or probing.
For some reason, Mu Hanyan suddenly felt that this concubine, whom she had heard was arrogant but now seemed to live a more insightful and genuine life, might be the one who could understand the complexities of the situation. She had always felt that Su Su was, at heart, a woman who dared to love and hate, and whose nature was sincere.
Thinking of this, a helpless yet slightly sweet smile curved her lips. The defenses she had built up over a long time because of the unspeakable past quietly loosened under Su Su's clear gaze, and she said softly, "If you ask me, from the beginning, Pei Xuan... was a scoundrel."
"A scoundrel?" Su Su's almond-shaped eyes widened slightly, full of surprise. "I never imagined that the renowned General Pei would be like this in private?" This was much more interesting than she had expected.
Mu Hanyan seemed lost in memories, and began to narrate in a calm tone: "There's nothing I can't tell anyone. I was originally a traveling doctor, with no fixed abode, making a living by practicing medicine. Two years ago, I heard that there was turmoil on the border, and many people in the vicinity were injured or sick, lacking medical care and medicine, so I went there, thinking of doing my part."
She paused, a trace of the gravity of that time flashing across her eyes, "Later, when the war broke out, countless soldiers were wounded, and the army camp was short-handed, so I went in to help treat the wounded. It was there that I met Pei Xuan."
“He had some minor injuries, and I went to treat him. That’s when he started targeting me.” Mu Hanyan’s tone carried a hint of resentment from that time. “From then on, he started to harass me in all sorts of ways… like a rogue. I couldn’t get rid of him, and I couldn’t reason with him. He was like a shadow I couldn’t shake off.”
Su Su listened with great interest and pressed on, "And then? You just gave in to him like that?"
Mu Hanyan shook her head, her expression slightly somber: "I... was originally engaged to someone. My fiancé was a merchant, and we happened to meet while he was transporting supplies to the border. Who knew..."
She sighed. "I don't know how Pei Xuan found out about this, but he took a squad of his personal guards to 'visit' him. I don't know the specifics of what they talked about, but I do know that my fiancé was so frightened that he packed his bags that very night and left without saying goodbye. He even had someone else deliver the letter of annulment."
Upon hearing this, Su Su frowned: "General Pei, how can you do this? Isn't this forcing..."
Mu Hanyan picked up where she left off, her voice lowered, tinged with an unspeakable bitterness: "After the engagement was ruined, I was angry at his domineering nature and hated his tyranny, so naturally I refused to submit to him. But he... he still forced himself on me."
"Outrageous!" Upon hearing this, Su Su's eyebrows shot up, and she stood up abruptly, her face full of anger. "He forcibly abducted a woman and raped her until she became pregnant? How dare Pei Xuan do such a thing! Were you forced by him to keep this child? Don't be afraid, I will go and report to the Emperor and seek justice for you!" As she spoke, she turned to leave.
"Your Majesty! Don't rush, please let me finish!" Mu Hanyan quickly grabbed her sleeve and called out urgently.
Su Su was pulled back, her steps faltering. She suddenly remembered that she was pregnant and shouldn't be pulling and tugging like that. She suppressed her anger and looked back at her, her eyes still filled with indignation.
Mu Hanyan tried to pull her to sit down again. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but her eyes had softened. She whispered, "Later... in the time we spent together, I... I slowly fell in love with him too."
Su Su was stunned. She sat back down on the embroidered stool and asked in confusion, "You... forgave him?"
Mu Hanyan gently stroked her belly, her gaze tender: "How can you explain matters of the heart, whether you forgive or not? If you're moved, you're moved. What can you do if you've fallen in love? Besides... I'm carrying this child. Moreover, he has truly treated me exceptionally well. He always puts me first and respects my wishes. He solemnly promised that he would never restrict me after we got married, and I could still carry my medicine kit and become the itinerant doctor I want to be, treating those I want to save."
Su Su watched as the light in her eyes unconsciously shone when she talked about Pei Xuan. It was not a fake happiness. The anger in her heart gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of emotion.
She asked curiously, "So... what do you like about him?" She really found it hard to connect "rogue" and "domineering" with "like".
Mu Hanyan tilted her head and thought for a moment, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion, yet also with a clear conviction: "Perhaps... it's because I like his bravery when he fights for the people behind him on the battlefield? Or perhaps it's because I like his sincerity when he sees injustice and acts chivalrously? Or perhaps it's because he seems rough and tough, but in reality, he has a kind heart towards his soldiers and innocent people? I can't say exactly why, but I just... like him."
Su Su nodded thoughtfully, "I see." Love is irrational; only the person experiencing it truly knows whether it's hot or cold. She reached out and gently touched Mu Hanyan's round belly, feeling the pulse of life, her voice tinged with reluctance, "His Majesty said General Pei wants to take you back to his residence?"
Mu Hanyan nodded, looked up at Su Su, and asked softly, "Yes, it's been in the last few days. Your Majesty... have you reconciled with the Emperor?"
Su Su's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded: "I guess we've... made up." Recalling Li Qianche's previous confession, she added, "By the way, I heard from the Emperor that you were the one who comforted him last time. Otherwise, we would probably have been awkward for a long time."
Mu Hanyan shook her head and said sincerely, "Your Majesty is too kind. Even if I hadn't spoken up, His Majesty's feelings for Your Majesty would have ultimately led him to this. I can see that His Majesty truly loves and cherishes Your Majesty."
Su Su felt a little embarrassed by what she said and retorted, "Let's not talk about him anymore. When exactly are you leaving the palace?"
"It'll be in the next two or three days," Mu Hanyan replied.
A hint of melancholy flashed in Su Su's eyes. After this frank conversation, she discovered that Mu Hanyan was a cool and insightful person, very easy to get along with and worthy of deep conversation. More importantly, she was one of the few people in this deep palace who knew the many complicated details of her entanglement with Li Qianche. Being able to confide in such a sensible person was incredibly comforting, but this person was about to leave. A flurry of thoughts rushed through her mind, ultimately culminating in a soft sigh.
Mu Hanyan could see her reluctance and said softly, "Even if I leave the palace, I will definitely send a letter to visit Your Highness if I have the opportunity in the future."
Upon hearing this, Su Su smiled, her face as radiant as the first melting snow of spring: "Then Sister Hanyan must keep her word." This "sister" sounded natural and affectionate.
Mu Hanyan smiled and nodded earnestly: "Definitely."
The two chatted intimately for a while, mostly Su Su asking about the interesting things that happened while practicing medicine outside the palace, which Mu Hanyan patiently answered. As dusk fell, seeing that Mu Hanyan looked tired, Su Su knew that she was pregnant and should not overexert herself, so she got up to take her leave.
Su Su walked slowly out of Shuning Palace, the evening breeze carrying the warm, humid air of summer. She secretly rejoiced that she had finally come today, not only resolving her inner conflict but also unexpectedly discovering someone who could become a close confidant.
She glanced back at the palace gardens, which grew even more tranquil in the twilight. Her heart was filled with clarity and peace. The obsessions and grudges of her past life seemed to have truly vanished with this frank farewell.
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