Chapter 5: Exceptional Composure
Chapter Five
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, after all the servants of the household had finished delivering the banquet dishes to the inner courtyard, they all gathered around the public kitchen in the outer courtyard.
Old Madam Pei was kind enough to allow the servants to cook some food in the secluded outer courtyard kitchen on the first day of each year, and she would also give them a reward to bring good luck.
This year alone, even an insignificant nobody like Lin Rong received a reward of one or two taels of silver, which made her so happy she couldn't see the light of day.
Lin Rong happily saved up the money and counted it carefully. She had already saved fourteen taels of silver! One more tael would be enough to redeem her from her bondage. After working for a few more months and raising some travel expenses, she would be able to leave the Pei family!
From then on, Lin Rong could sleep as late as she wanted without fear of being blamed by her master, being beaten or scolded, or even being sold into a brothel.
After leaving the Pei family, Lin Rong will raise some chickens and ducks, laying one or two eggs every day for extra meals, and also raise a big yellow dog to guard the house... The beginning will definitely be a bit difficult, but Lin Rong is hardworking and willing to work, and things will gradually get better.
Lin Rong was filled with endless fantasies about a better future. It wasn't until Fu Gui came to call her to eat roast goose that Lin Rong stopped filling the water tank, dried her hands, and followed him to the brightly lit kitchen in the distance.
Fugui was a servant in the outer courtyard. He was sold to the Pei family three years ago and is now fourteen years old, three years younger than Lin Rong. Because of his young age and lack of manners, no one was willing to take care of him. However, Lin Rong was kind-hearted and would always give him a word or two of advice. From then on, Fugui treated Lin Rong like his own older sister, calling her "Sister Rong" and following her around.
Fugui handed the salted duck egg he had been hiding for half a day to Lin Rong: "Sister Rong, eat up! This is a delicacy that I snatched from the second branch of the family. I was planning to save it to eat with porridge!"
Lin Rong likes to eat salty pickled foods, sometimes salted duck eggs with runny yolks, sometimes pickled radishes that have been stored in a cellar all winter. With just a small piece of side dish, she can eat two steamed buns and a whole bowl of white rice.
Seeing how ravenously she ate, Granny Zhao laughed at her for being stingy, but Lin Rong just smiled awkwardly and didn't argue.
She never told anyone that life was better now than before. When she was young, her family couldn't get enough to eat, and they even thought of trading her for meat and rice to nourish her younger brother.
If it weren't for the broker's keen insight, recognizing her promising features and buying her for a sum of money, she might have died at the age of five or six.
Lin Rong was a content girl. She had no lofty ambitions or aspirations to marry into a wealthy family. She didn't even like new clothes or rouge. All she wanted was to finish her work each day, have a full meal, be warmly dressed, sleep soundly, and have a comfortable bed. That was all she needed to be happy with.
Seeing that she accepted the salted duck egg, Fugui asked curiously, "Sister Rong, everyone in the outer courtyard is saying that you are very capable, going to Yuchen Courtyard and coming back unscathed. Tell me quickly, what does the eldest young master look like? Is he handsome and extraordinary, like a god or bodhisattva?"
Fu Gui suddenly asked about Pei Zan, and Lin Rong froze, stammering, "I...I didn't dare to look..."
Fu Gui was dumbfounded. He thought his older sister was capable enough to make the young master treat her differently. It turned out she hadn't dared to look closely at all.
That's true. Otherwise, how could Lin Rong have returned safely to the outer courtyard? If she had dared to disrespect her master, she would have been beaten to death in the inner courtyard long ago.
“That’s for the best… Even someone like Sister Ziyan can’t elicit the slightest pity from the young master. Sister Rong, you should be careful with your words and actions so you can live longer.” Fugui shrank back, then grinned, “After all, we servants don’t ask for wealth and glory, we just want to live a long and healthy life!”
-
On the third day of the month, Xu Junmao, the governor of Jiangzhou, hosted a banquet and invited Grand Commander Pei Zan to a casual chat.
Pei Zan claimed to be recuperating at home, so he naturally declined all banquets and stayed indoors.
Despite Xu Junmao's repeated invitations, he seemed to be in a desperate situation with no other options.
Pei Zan was urged several times, so he had no choice but to prepare a sedan chair and take his seat.
In a private residence on the outskirts of Jiangzhou, as dusk fell, bright yellow lanterns lit up one after another under the eaves of the gable roof.
In front of the gate of the house stand two stone drums with lions playing with embroidered balls.
Beside the stone sculpture, two teams of soldiers, clad in armor and armed with weapons, stood on either side, patrolling their posts with solemn military bearing.
Inside the courtyard, the charcoal fire crackled in the cloud-patterned bronze brazier. The delicious food on the table had long since cooled, not even steam rising from it.
Sitting on a rosewood armchair was a lean man dressed in a green round-necked robe. He held a cup of Huangshan Maofeng tea, stirring the tea foam with the lid of the cup, but did not drink it for a long time.
This person was none other than Pei Zan, who attended the banquet while ill.
When Xu Junmao saw that Pei Zan had arrived but was not eating or drinking, clearly not wanting to have much to do with him, he became anxious and said dryly, "Grand Commander, this matter is easy to discuss. If you just give me a word, we can just let it go without saying a word!"
Upon hearing this, Pei Zan merely gave a cold laugh and did not respond.
Xu Junmao, with audacity, actually tried to embezzle the government funds intended for snow disaster relief.
Xu Junmao wanted to put on a show with Pei Zan, deliberately saying that the yellow boat was robbed by Japanese pirates while transporting silver by canal, which resulted in the loss of nearly half of the disaster relief silver.
But Pei Zan wasn't stupid. If he agreed to this, wouldn't that be admitting that his jurisdiction was ineffective and that even river bandits were rampant?
If he returns to the capital to report on his duties a month later, Emperor Yuanqing will likely use this as an excuse to execute him at the welcoming banquet.
Pei Zan lowered his eyes and remained silent. Xu Junmao knew that one couldn't catch a wolf without risking one's cub. He gritted his teeth and reluctantly promised, "If the Grand Commander agrees to this, I, Xu, am willing to offer more than 100,000 shi of grain to support the training of the soldiers in the two prefectures..."
Xu Junmao clearly knew that Pei Zan was going to the capital to be judged by the emperor. He knew that Pei Zan's death was imminent and that he would not sit idly by and wait for his demise. He might even cause a war and divide the country along the river.
Now, Xu Junmao is deliberately using military supplies and provisions as bait, hoping to drag Pei Zan onto the same pirate ship... After all, if Pei Zan wants to defy the imperial order and start a rebellion, in addition to having a strong army, he also needs sufficient food and provisions.
To everyone's surprise, Pei Zan sighed softly upon hearing this: "It's not that I'm unwilling to lend Lord Xu a hand, but rather that I'm willing but unable. Lord Xu should know that I've already surrendered my military seal, and in about twenty days, I'll be going to the capital to report on my duties. Who knows if I'll even have the chance to return to my hometown after this audience with the Emperor..."
Pei Zan hinted to Xu Junmao that he was in dire straits himself and had no way of helping Xu Junmao get ashore.
But Xu Junmao wasn't stupid. Did he think Pei Zan was blind? If Pei Zan truly had no military power, then who were those soldiers surrounding his private residence? Were they just thugs Pei Zan hired from some back alley?!
Xu Junmao believed that today's banquet was like a pillow being handed to him when he was sleepy, and Pei Zan would definitely accept it without hesitation.
Pei Zan said, "These are turbulent times, I dare not commit crimes against the wind," but in reality, he was not flustered at all, and was very calm and composed, which was really hard to understand.
Xu Junmao was speechless for a moment. He couldn't figure out Pei Zan's thoughts, so he could only force a smile and drink along.
Pei Zan drank two cups of tea, his fingers twitched slightly, and he gently touched the prayer beads on his wrist that had been blessed in front of a Buddha statue, remaining silent.
Pei Zan was unaware that Xu Junmao was embezzling and concealing his secrets, but Xu Junmao was foolish and insisted on walking right into the line of fire.
Now that Pei Zan knows that Xu Junmao has embezzled government funds and is wealthy, he should "rob the rich to help the poor".
Rather than following Xu Junmao's corrupt ways, it would be better to let Pei Zan send out this group of loyal "water bandits" to seize Xu Junmao's vast wealth and use it to support his army.
As for how to fill the hole in the national treasury that has been exposed, that is Xu Junmao's own business.
After all, Xu Junmao was a corrupt official, so making him take the blame wasn't entirely unfair to him.
The life and death of others are none of Pei Zan's business.
After several rounds of drinks, an uninvited guest suddenly arrived at the banquet.
He was a man nearing fifty. He wore a silver mink cloak and a golden crown, walked with an imposing gait, and exuded an extraordinary air, clearly indicating his noble birth.
After a moment's thought, Pei Zan guessed the visitor's identity.
He should be the Prince of Qin, who is enfeoffed in Yuzhou, and the emperor's younger brother.
Logically speaking, a local prince should be tending to his land and continuing his lineage, so why would he be at the Xu family's private banquet?
Pei Zan had a rare moment of doubt, but he was always good at concealing his feelings and did not ask any questions.
Pei Zan, who held military power and was not yet thirty, was so calm and composed that it surprised the King of Qin.
The King of Qin stepped forward with a smile and offered Pei Zan a cup of wine: "I have long admired Commander Pei's great talent and strategy. He is truly a man of extraordinary ability. It would be a great pity if such a national hero were to perish in the capital one day."
King Qin knew Pei Zan was a smart man, so he didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.
Emperor Yuanqing wanted to discard Pei Zan after he had served his purpose and take back his military power. Now Pei Zan was in a difficult situation and should think about his next move.
The King of Qin harbored ambitions to become emperor. He intended to form an alliance with Pei Zan to launch a joint uprising and discuss the establishment of an empire.
The flower branch has been thrown out; let's see if Pei Zan will accept his kindness.
Pei Zan is known for his deep and calculating nature, so how could he be swayed by a few words and become the subject of gossip?
Pei Zan only smiled and remained silent, saying perfunctorily, "Your Majesty flatters me. I am but an ordinary man, how dare I accept such praise?"
Pei Zan knew perfectly well that the King of Qin must think he was nothing more than a grasshopper in autumn, not going far, which was why he dared to test him like this...
The King of Qin raised an eyebrow slightly and laughed twice: "If Grand Commander Pei is an ordinary person, then there are probably no intelligent people in this world. Come, let me toast you."
Although Pei Zan embarrassed the King of Qin, he ultimately did not want to make an enemy, and accepted the cup of wine with a smile.
But as soon as he swallowed the wine, Pei Zan began to feel something was wrong.
Pei Zan, though not an exceptionally heavy drinker, could easily down several jars at a banquet. But today, as the wine entered his throat, he felt a burning sensation in his abdomen, as if it were on fire.
Pei Zan's phoenix eyes darkened, a slight smile playing on his lips, his expression icy... There's something wrong with this wine.
The wine wouldn't contain poison, because the King of Qin wouldn't dare to harm him.
After all, if the King of Qin wanted to form an alliance with Pei Zan, he should ensure Pei Zan's safety.
Not to mention Pei Zan's troops guarding the gate, he could easily send his army in and slaughter everyone in the house with just a single command.
With such a formidable military force, how could the King of Qin dare to act rashly?
Pei Zan's breathing grew heavier. He suppressed the hot sweat that had broken out at his temples and glanced discreetly at the pretty woman peeking out from outside the courtyard, guessing what was going on in his mind.
It seems that this strong liquor was mixed with some medicinal soup that "heats the heart and lungs and confuses the mind"... The King of Qin deliberately drugged him, took advantage of his vulnerability, and then offered his daughter as a gift in an attempt to please Pei Zan.
As expected, the King of Qin clapped his hands twice, summoned the beautiful young woman draped in a thin veil, and said to Pei Zan, "This is my concubine's daughter, named Jing Shu. Jing Shu has long admired Commander Pei, and upon hearing that Commander Pei is attending the banquet today, she specially requested that I bring her to the banquet so that she can serve Commander Pei closely."
After speaking, Jing Shu raised her captivating, watery eyes and looked shyly at Pei Zan, then curtsied.
Jing Shu originally intended to help Pei Zan undress, so as to take the opportunity to help him into the bedroom on the side. However, Pei Zan's eyes were clear and bright, and he did not look like he had been drinking aphrodisiacs or suffering. This made her suspicious.
Before Jing Shu could reach out, Pei Zan had already lightly raised his wide sleeves and brushed away the woman's slender, delicate hand.
Pei Zan rose and said to the Prince of Qin and the others, "It is late and the dew is heavy. I am still injured and need to rest. It is time to return home. Tonight's banquet was wonderful. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will certainly spend another night chatting with Your Highness and Lord Xu and offer them a few drinks."
Pei Zan insisted on leaving, and the King of Qin could not force him to stay.
The King of Qin went out to see the person off, and he stared at the elegant figure walking alone into the wind and snow, his brows furrowing deeply.
For a moment, the King of Qin couldn't figure out whether Pei Zan had exceptional self-control or had been careless in not adding the medicine to the wine.
However, Pei Zan's resolute attitude and unwillingness to accept the concubine's daughter sent by the Prince of Qin made him realize that Pei Zan was a proud and aloof person who had no intention of forming an alliance with the local vassal kings... The Prince of Qin originally thought that he could use Pei Zan's troops to rise up and directly attack the capital, but Pei Zan was unyielding and refused his attempts to win him over time, which was really infuriating.
You dull-witted brat!
Could it be that Pei Zan really intends to go to the capital to die in a month? If you say that Pei Zan is a sincere and loyal person who truly has a heart of loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, then even if you beat the King of Qin to death, he would never believe it!
-
Inside the carriage, the aphrodisiac in Pei Zan's body suddenly flared up, its effects so intense that his shoulders and back were drenched in sweat, his lower abdomen was aroused, and he could hardly suppress his burning desire.
Pei Zan's phoenix eyes were dark and fiery, like clusters of burning flames. His jawline was taut, and beneath his thin, porcelain-like skin, there were bulging, serrated veins, giving him the appearance of someone consumed by lust.
Pei Zan closed his eyes, forcibly suppressing these evil thoughts.
Seeing his master's pale face, Uncle Feng asked anxiously, "Master, what should we do? Why don't we find a brothel and get rid of the drugged wine first?"
Pei Zan frowned and said coldly, "Return to the manor."
Pei Zan disliked the filth of those around him and did not want women to get close to him.
But he knew the drug was very strong, and that masturbation alone could not relieve his craving.
...The only solution now is probably to bleed people to cool them down.
When Uncle Feng saw Pei Zan take out a dagger, he was so frightened that he lost his composure.
The old servant hurriedly knelt down, his hand trembling as he grasped Pei Zan's arm, trying to stop his master from acting foolishly: "Master! Why hurt yourself? If you find the prostitutes in that brothel too filthy, we can just find any maidservant back at the manor! It's nothing more than a favor, and which maidservant in the manor doesn't want her master's grace? It's a good thing, Master, consider it charity. Please don't hurt yourself with a knife..."
Uncle Feng tried to comfort him earnestly, unable to bear seeing his young master harm himself.
Perhaps Uncle Feng's advice had an effect, because when the carriage stopped at the Pei residence, Pei Zan finally softened his attitude. The man pursed his thin lips and said calmly, "Go and do it."
Seeing that his master had been persuaded, Uncle Feng was overjoyed. He hurriedly climbed down from the carriage and replied loudly, "Yes, Master, please wait a moment at Yuchen Courtyard. This old servant will go and summon someone right away!"
A note from the author:
Red gems drop =3= (I'm not going to say anything more, they drop every day anyway. It's so tiring to have to say something every time. I want to be a cool and aloof author, hehe).
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