Chapter 1 How could she dare to harbor even the slightest improper thoughts towards him? ...
"Became the Concubine of a Cold and Powerful Minister" by Caodeng Daren
Exclusive First Release
Chapter 1
In the depths of winter, a blizzard struck.
This year, Jiangzhou is bitterly cold, the whole city is covered in silver, and the north wind blows colder than elsewhere.
Snowflakes, like grains of salt, drifted between heaven and earth, and even the glazed windows of the Pei family mansion were covered with a thick layer of snow.
As dawn broke, Juxiang, the head maid of the old lady's courtyard, gracefully swayed her slender waist and emerged from the outer courtyard.
White smoke rose from the kitchen in the outer courtyard, where meals were prepared. The stoves were burning red-hot, and five or six iron pots on the stoves were sizzling with heat.
Several dishes were already laid out inside the lotus-embroidered silk tablecloth covering the vegetables.
There was red bean porridge, pickled vegetable shreds, and cold shredded chicken salad, which the old lady loved.
Madam Shen, the First Lady, wanted to drink walnut milk soup and osmanthus cake.
There were also pea flour cakes and milk tofu that the second wife specifically requested.
Upon seeing Juxiang, a favorite of Madam Pei, arrive, the sweet-talking maids and the stewards of the outer courtyard all stepped forward to inquire, "Sister Juxiang, has Madam Pei given any instructions?"
Although Juxiang was addressed as "elder sister," she was only in her early twenties. In an ordinary family, she would be considered old, but in the inner courtyard where servants worked, she had not yet reached the rank of nanny.
She had bright, kind eyes and gave Steward Liu a sidelong glance: "You're a whole twelve years older than me, don't make me sound old! I'm here today on the old lady's orders. Remember to set off some fireworks before going to the inner courtyard, and have the purchasing maid carefully prepare the supplies. Just buy any fresh fruit available in the market and send it to the inner courtyard. The ingredients must be fresh, and there can be no shortage of anything."
Manager Liu was completely baffled. His eyes were wide open, and he asked, "There's still a month until the end of the year. Why are you setting off firecrackers and stocking up on goods? Is some important person coming to visit?"
"That's right! The young master is going back to the ancestral home to visit relatives!"
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in shock.
Who doesn't know the formidable reputation of Pei Zan, the eldest son of the Pei family?
Pei Zan was a man of great learning and talent, and at the young age of sixteen, he achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations.
The Pei family was the most prominent and prestigious clan in Jiangzhou, unmatched by any other local gentry.
However, such a prestigious family background was somewhat inadequate when it came to the capital.
The Pei family did not have many connections in the capital, but there was a Pei family aunt in the palace who had given birth to an imperial heir.
Consort Pei had no family connections to rely on in the capital, making her life extremely difficult.
Fortunately, although the family was dwindling in number, it still had some exceptional talents.
Seeing that her nephew was promising, Consort Pei was determined to promote him.
Thus, under the constant influence of Consort Pei's pillow talk, Pei Zan gained Emperor Yuanqing's appreciation as soon as he entered officialdom.
In just ten years, he rose from a minor civil official to the Grand Commander of the Left Army Commandery, which governed the military garrisons in Jiangzhou and Yuzhou.
Consort Pei had two sons who were precocious and intelligent from a young age and were deeply loved by Emperor Yuanqing.
Emperor Yuanqing had not yet established an heir apparent and was still observing his eldest and second sons. On the one hand, he wanted to cultivate a trusted confidant for his waning second son to take power in the future, and on the other hand, due to the ways of an emperor, he was wary of the growing power of his concubines' fathers' families.
After much deliberation, he decided to send Pei Zan out of the capital to serve as the General Commander of Jiangzhou in suppressing the Japanese pirates, stationed in various coastal prefectures to help the court eliminate the Japanese pirates and train elite naval and land forces.
If there is no war, Pei Zan's seal of command and control of troops will be revoked, and the generals' military power will be taken away.
Unexpectedly, ten years later, Pei Zan, due to his years of military service, his support of the army and their families, his supervision of provisions and pay, and his command of the border defenses in the Jiangyu area, was deeply respected by the local soldiers and generals.
Pei Zan's military prestige was so great that he became a powerful force, a veritable regional overlord. There were even rumors that Grand Commander Pei could command troops without the official seal.
Such rumors reached the capital, even causing the aging emperor to feel apprehensive...
The servants couldn't fathom the inner workings of state affairs; they only thought about how Grand Commander Pei Zan, despite spending many years on military campaigns, wielded immense power.
Because of Pei Zan's power and influence, the Pei family's status also rose along with this successful young master.
When traveling, as long as one says they are a servant of the Pei family, even the local magistrate will speak to them politely and inquire about the well-being of the old lady of the household.
With such a magnificent and elegant eldest grandson returning to the mansion for the New Year, how could Old Madam Pei not be overjoyed and rush to welcome him back?
Let alone a few trendy fruits, she would have to find a way to get even the royal cuisine.
The servants, having received the order, knew that this year's reward would be generous, and they all ran off with high spirits to deliver the message and get to work.
Even Lin Rong, the little maid who was sweeping snow outside the mansion, was deeply moved upon hearing this news.
Lin Rong tucked her frozen hands in, the frostbite on her fingers itching. She secretly applied some healing ointment, her mind filled with joy as she recalled what she had just heard.
Unlike the other maids in the mansion, Lin Rong did not harbor any lustful thoughts or desires towards this handsome and talented young master.
She was simply remembering the kindness shown to her by this young master.
Lin Rong is seventeen years old this year.
At the age of six, she was sold into the household by her family. Because she had little experience in serving people, she accidentally spilled a cup of tea on Steward Liu's silk robe, burning his hand and causing blisters.
The injury during the Lunar New Year made Steward Liu afraid to go to the inner courtyard to ask for a reward, so of course he would vent his resentment on Lin Rong.
Lin Rong was young and so hungry that she was emaciated. When she hunched over, her bones were protruding under her skin.
She knelt on the stone steps of the outer courtyard, her hands and feet numb with cold, as if her blood had frozen into ice crystals, and even if she broke a bone, no blood would seep out.
Countless whips, driven by rage, lashed her back, leaving her covered in wounds and her skin torn and bleeding.
Lin Rong stared blankly with her eyes downcast and head bowed, enduring the pain silently like a walking corpse.
Until a blue-curtained carriage stopped outside the courtyard.
The footstool was lowered, and the person bent down and stepped out of the carriage. A silk robe of wutong green swayed in the wind, fluttering in the fine snow.
The servants exclaimed "Young Master!" and rushed forward to offer them umbrellas to shield them from the snow and coats to protect them from the wind.
The figure drew closer, about to step through the side gate.
But Lin Rong was so cold that she was delirious. She stood on the stone steps at the entrance of the courtyard, shivering all over, unable to even get up and move.
Manager Liu was so frightened that he could hardly breathe. He quickly stepped forward and kicked aside the thin Lin Rong to make way for Pei Zan.
Lin Rong fell into the snowdrift, half of her face sinking into the fluffy, cold snow. Her ears were ringing, and she felt a sharp pain in her heart and lungs; she had clearly been kicked.
Manager Liu was furious at Lin Rong's shameless behavior. Seeing Pei Zan walk away, he was about to raise his hand to hit her again.
Unexpectedly, the young man turned back and walked up to Lin Rong.
Pei Zan glanced at the girl indifferently through her blood-stained head.
Immediately, the man's clear, slightly deep voice rang out, like heavenly music. He said to Steward Liu, "No bloodshed on New Year's Eve, do not harm anyone."
Having received Pei Zan's order, Steward Liu bowed and scraped, hurriedly agreeing, and even forcibly pressed Lin Rong's head down, making her kowtow and express her gratitude.
Lin Rong felt a tightness in her chest from the blood, her eyes obscured by a bloody mist, only vaguely revealing a section of white wrist bone beneath Pei Zan's wide sleeves.
His hands were slender and delicate, with long, jade-like fingers. A string of Bodhi wood prayer beads was tied around his sleeves, and a faint sandalwood fragrance filled the air.
At that moment, Lin Rong believed she had seen a celestial being based solely on that wrist bone.
The eldest young master has a kind heart and is a celestial being with a beautiful appearance.
She was grateful for Pei Zan's kindness and respected this noble master.
How could she dare to have the slightest improper thoughts about him?
-
The coastal area of Chongqing has just experienced a fierce battle to quell the pirates.
The coastline was ablaze with burning ship keels, and the corpses of thousands of black-armored soldiers hung high on the masts and decks destroyed by artillery fire. The rotting flesh and blood of their former comrades spilled all over the ground, and the stench of blood was nauseating.
Night fell, and stars hung low over the plains.
Corpses floated on the shore, and the dark seawater rose and fell with the tide.
The sea, though deep black, was stained a shocking red by the severed limbs of soldiers.
The loud and clear bugle call resounded through the sky.
The State of Wei achieved a great victory in this war against the Japanese pirates.
Deputy General Zheng Zhiming, following Pei Zan's orders, continued to mop up the remaining enemy forces and summoned medical personnel to quickly go to sea to treat the wounded on the battlefield...
In the distance, a tall young man clad in black armor waded out of the water. He removed his helmet, revealing a handsome face wet from the sea.
It was Pei Zan, who had returned from the War of Resistance!
Pei Zan strode ashore, his shoulders and back straight and aloof, his hair wet and swaying in the sea breeze, covering half of his hard, cold jawline.
He seemed to be drawn by the firelight, and closed his eyes slightly.
A pair of narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes, cold and piercing, seemed to tangibly affect people's faces, like a bone-scraping steel knife, leaving behind a lingering, icy, and bone-chilling pain.
Even though Minister Zhou of the Ministry of War had been an official for many years, he had never seen such a terrifying gaze. For a moment, he was stunned by the look Pei Zan gave him and could not speak for a long time.
Minister Zhou: "Grand Commander Pei, is everything alright?"
Minister Zhou was originally a government official in the capital, in charge of the Ministry of War.
This time, he was given a difficult task: Emperor Yuanqing dispatched him to Jiangzhou to supervise the army and oversee the troops, so that Pei Zan could go to the capital to report on his duties and receive rewards after the victory.
In the past, the only purpose was to seize Pei Zan's seal and take back his military power. This time, they want to invite Pei Zan back to the capital to report on his duties. Who knows if this is not a trap to massacre important officials?
Pei Zan, of course, wouldn't fall for the trap.
"I'm afraid this is not good." Pei Zan frowned slightly, the veins on his forehead bulging, and deliberately removed the armor on his chest to show Minister Zhou the wound that had been soaked in seawater.
On the man's well-defined muscles, there was a deep scar that revealed the bone, with salty seawater seeping into his marrow, making onlookers' scalps tingle.
It was clearly a shore that could only be reached through painful effort.
Such a serious injury… Minister Zhou moved his lips, but had nothing to say.
He couldn't guess that this was a wound left by Pei Zan during an attack in battle.
It was Pei Zan who used this scar to avoid returning to the capital to report on his duties, thus deceiving the officials in the capital.
Minister Zhou hurriedly urged the medical staff to help Pei Zan up: "Hurry up and treat the Grand Commander's injuries!"
Pei Zan feigned weakness, tilting his head and coughing up seawater. He said to Minister Zhou, "I'm about to return to the capital, and I'm afraid I won't make it in time. How about this: I'll stay in Jiangzhou for a month to recuperate. The generals can return to the capital with Minister Zhou, present the general record of achievements, report to the emperor, and return the military seals. Also, please send me a memorial requesting leave to recuperate... After a month, I will return to the capital to report on my duties and recount the defense and war efforts of these past years. Is that alright?"
Pei Zan spoke politely, but Minister Zhou could tell he was being hypocritical.
Pei Zan sensed something was amiss and dared not travel with them rashly!
Everyone knows that Pei Zan is deeply loved by the army. Even without the seal of office, he can still command troops from several prefectures. If we cannot bring him back to the capital to meet the emperor, it would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains!
However, Minister Zhou dared not offend Pei Zan, fearing that he might force Pei Zan into a corner and do something rash.
It should be known that Jiangzhou was a land of plenty and prosperous people, truly the premier granary of the Wei Kingdom.
If Minister Zhou loses his composure and reveals the emperor's suspicion of powerful regional officials, thus instigating war, the consequences would be unimaginable... Even if we want to catch a turtle in a jar, we must first lure Pei Zan into the capital.
Minister Zhou's face turned ashen; he was caught in a dilemma.
Pei Zan, however, raised the corners of his lips slightly and said coldly, "Jiangzhou is rife with bandits and is not a place to linger. Especially this year, with the heavy snow, bandits are rampant and refugees are rioting... I advise Minister Zhou that it would be better to set off for the capital as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Minister Zhou was so angry that his face turned purple. How could he not hear the coercion in Pei Zan's words?
Pei Zan was clearly saying that if they didn't leave soon, Minister Zhou would probably "die a violent death," and that it was better to live than to be loyal to the emperor.
This brat is arrogant and presumptuous!
However, Minister Zhou was under someone else's control and had no choice but to comply.
It is said that when two armies are at war, envoys should not be killed. Pei Zan is heartless and does not play by the rules!
Minister Zhou was ultimately afraid of death, so he feigned weakness: "Grand Commander Pei is absolutely right... With the year-end approaching, it would be better to return to the capital sooner rather than later."
"Indeed. I am injured and cannot say more. I will go back to recuperate first."
Pei Zan ignored Minister Zhou and, despite his injury, led his horse and galloped back to the military camp.
Pei Zan's chest wound was not faked. He had only managed to hold on to the pain in front of the officials in the capital. Now, back in his tent, he was burning with fever and his thin lips were pale.
Before he could summon the physician, he saw a slender woman bowing beside the bed, serving him softly.
The woman said softly, "Grand Commander, you're back."
Pei Zan glanced at the person and recognized her as Zheng Huiyin, Zheng Zhiming's younger sister.
"Get out." Pei Zan's deep eyes narrowed slightly, showing no respect for the woman.
Zheng Huiyin's beautiful eyes filled with tears, and she lowered her head in embarrassment: "I only wanted to come closer to serve the Grand Commander because I saw that he was seriously injured..."
Pei Zan didn't even glance at her. He simply touched the sharp blade at his waist and said coldly, "Your brother should have warned you... I am only ever benevolent on New Year's Eve, and I have no bloodlust. If you insist on going forward, then I will kill you."
Zheng Huiyin wanted to argue again, but before she could speak, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her cheek. It turned out that Pei Zan showed no mercy. He twisted his wrist, held the sword, and insisted on slashing the cold blade into the woman's face, leaving a large scar!
Zheng Huiyin was terrified, her face paling. She screamed and backed away, covering her face. Blood trickled from between her delicate fingers, soaking the animal-skin blanket on the floor.
Zheng Huiyin was almost certain that if she hadn't dodged quickly, Pei Zan would have really ripped off her face!
"It was my fault. I will never dare to trespass into the military tent again. I beg the Grand Commander to spare my life for my elder brother's sake..."
Pei Zan sheathed his sword and finally stopped.
Zheng Huiyin escaped death by a hair's breadth. She hurriedly covered her face and fled, fearing that if she was even half a step too late, she would become a victim of Pei Zan's blade!
Zheng Huiyin was covered in cold sweat, and she was trembling with fear.
If it is indeed as her brother said... how could a ruthless general like Pei Zan, who is decisive in killing, possibly have a heart?
She has the appearance of a compassionate and delicate bodhisattva, but she is clearly a bloodthirsty demon from hell!
A note from the author:
Babies, I'm here!
This book will be a little slow-paced, please give me a few chapters to read. [hugs]
The official positions and dynasties are a mix of fictional dynasties, so they won't conform to the official system of any particular dynasty. Just enjoy it for fun.
It's essentially a case of forceful acquisition and coercion, so the male lead is no good and there's no need to have any expectations. The only thing that can be guaranteed is that he's a virgin who gives his body and soul to the female lead from beginning to end (this point is highlighted).
Also, as I've already said, this is a story about a male protagonist who's crazy and wicked; it's not a wish-fulfillment story, and it's full of melodramatic entanglements. Readers who aren't into that genre should proceed with caution. You can check out other authors' works instead. Please don't criticize the author. Let's respect each other and leave each other a chance to make a living. [hugs]
The youngest top scholar in ancient times was 17, so this age is not a problem. Secondly, our story is fictional, it has all sorts of settings, so just enjoy it. It might not be suitable for those who are into historical accuracy, just relax and have some fun. Thank you, let's begin our new story journey!
Then you'll get 100 red gems every day, mwah! That's all, hope you enjoy reading!
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