Chapter 74 Selling one's wife for glory, offering one's wife for peace
Xie Yushu looked at the speechless Xie Jianing and said bluntly, "If you want to save him so badly, then go and ask the Emperor to grant you a marriage, and go to his mansion to be imprisoned with him."
"Xie Yushu, you..." Xie Jianing's face flushed with anger, and he seemed about to attack her, but Qiao Bao'er stopped him with lightning speed.
"The nun is still sick, don't make a fuss." Qiao Bao'er was also anxious, so she stopped her from going to see her daughter again and signaled her daughter to stop talking.
Xie Yushu withdrew her gaze and took the medicine from the maid. "Even if you see the Emperor now, it will be useless. Pleading will be of no use." She slowly fed Wan Susu with a spoon: "This matter is now known throughout the court. We must give an explanation to the court and the people of the world. Have you forgotten that he is not just a father but also the Emperor? This matter is not just a family matter, but a matter of the world."
Wan Susu stared blankly at her, as if stunned by her words. Yes, he was the emperor; his affairs were the affairs of the world. He couldn't show Zhen'er any mercy like an ordinary father...
"Come on, drink your medicine." Xie Yushu held the spoon to her lips and said patiently, "You don't need to worry too much. His Majesty has always ruled the world with benevolence. He won't kill Xiao Zhen."
"Really?" Wan Susu asked in disbelief.
It's true, of course. If it were found out that Xiao Zhen was indeed the late emperor's son, Emperor Xiao Xu would be even less likely to kill him.
Because the late emperor, who was Xiao Xu's uncle, usurped the throne and even took Xiao Xu's concubine, Wan Susu, as his own, Xiao Xu was able to spare the late emperor's empress and concubines after regaining the throne, in order to show his "benevolent emperor" persona. How much more so now?
At most, he would only imprison Xiao Zhen for life.
"If you don't believe me, then get well soon and we'll see," Xie Yushu coaxed Wan Susu into drinking two sips of herbal medicine.
Xie Jianing didn't refute Xie Yushu at this time, because she didn't want anything to happen to Wan Susu. It would be good if she could coax her into drinking the medicine.
After feeding her only half a bowl of medicine, the maid outside the room reported: Pei Shilin has come to pick up Xie Yushu and is waiting outside Suxinzhai.
Even Xie Yushu herself was stunned. How could her cheap husband come to pick her up for no reason?
Qiao Bao'er reached out and took the medicine from her hand, and said softly, "You go ahead and do your work. I will take good care of things here."
She had many things she wanted to say to her daughter, but with so many people around, she couldn't say them openly. So she simply squeezed Xie Yushu's hand and whispered to her, "I'm doing well here now and don't need any rewards. You need to take care of yourself."
Xie Yushu felt her hand being held and knew very well that her tactful words were a sign of concern for her.
She must have heard some rumors today and is worried that the emperor's grand reward might bring her disaster.
"Mother, don't worry." Xie Yushu smiled as she held her hand. "I know what I'm doing."
She had barely stepped out of the bedroom when a female servant quietly followed her out.
She didn't notice as she helped Yinya out of Suxinzhai.
Despite the chilly autumn wind, Pei Shilin was still dressed in his official robes, as if he had just left the palace to pick her up.
To an unfamiliar person, Pei Shilin might have thought he loved his wife dearly, but Xie Yushu knew very well that he had come with a purpose.
Sure enough, as soon as Xie Yushu entered, she saw Pei Shilin's ashen face, and he looked at her with an unspeakable embarrassment in his expression.
"I've come to take you back..." Pei Shilin couldn't pretend to be tender and affectionate, so he simply said, "There are some things I want to talk to you about."
Xie Yushu looked at him and suddenly sneered. She didn't say anything, but Pei Shilin felt that he could hardly breathe. It was as if she could see through his disguise, his fear of harming others, and even his outward appearance.
She just sneered, waiting to see his clumsy performance.
His face and body alternated between cold and hot, and he followed behind her without daring to look at her, feeling that every word he was about to say to her would be a self-humiliation.
The red leaves rustled in the wind, falling all over the mountains and fields.
As Pei Heng landed on the jade steps, he glanced down at the red leaf, and then the palace doors behind him opened.
He heard footsteps, turned around, and saw Xiao Dao, dressed in a formal robe, stepping out of the alchemy room.
Xiao Dao's right sleeve was rolled up to his elbow, and his wrist was wrapped in white gauze, with a slight shedding of blood, as if he were injured. Upon seeing Pei Heng, he hurriedly lowered his sleeve. "General, have you come to see Father Emperor?"
Pei Heng's gaze remained fixed on his wrist as he asked, "Is Your Highness's wrist injured?"
Xiao Dao pursed his lips nervously. Before he could answer, the eunuch in the alchemy room behind him said, "General Pei, please. His Majesty is waiting for you in the palace."
Xiao Dao didn't answer and stepped aside.
Pei Heng glanced at him again. Ever since Xiao Dao became the fourth prince again, he had been busy learning to read and write, as well as palace etiquette, with Song Jie. He hadn't left the palace for quite some time, and Pei Heng had rarely seen him. Today, when he saw him again, he was much thinner and seemed much stranger.
He stood there obediently, and for some reason, Pei Heng felt uneasy. It was as if a cheetah that had been swiftly killing enemies on the battlefield had now been restrained and trained into a cat, obedient and well-behaved, not daring to make the slightest mistake, because he, the beggar prince, was being watched by pairs of eyes, waiting for him to make a mistake.
Pei Heng nodded and stepped into the alchemy room to see the Emperor.
The smell of herbs and sulfur was particularly strong in the alchemy room. Pei Heng saw Xiao Xu lying on his side on the couch, frowned and said again that he hoped Xiao Xu would take care of his health and not take too many pills.
But Xiao Xu simply waved his hand. He looked as if he had just taken a pill, his face radiant. He helped the eunuch to his feet and said in a refreshed manner, "I have a task for you to do."
Pei Heng lowered his eyes, awaiting instructions.
“Xiao Chong has been a beggar for over ten years, and some of his crude habits are hard to change. He’s also become a bit clumsy.” Xiao Xu sat down a few steps away. “Song Qing is also suffering from a chronic illness and can hardly take care of teaching the Fourth Prince. Go to Panlong Town and invite the retired Grand Tutor Zheng Xian back to teach the Fourth Prince.”
Pei Heng raised his eyes in surprise and saw Xiao Xu sitting there in his nightgown with his hair down. He then lowered his eyes and said, "Grand Tutor Zheng and the Meng family have been friends for generations. Perhaps it would be better to ask someone from the Meng family to go."
"Don't you think this matter is worth your personal trip?" Xiao Xu asked.
"Your subject dares not." Pei Heng simply did not understand why he was asked to go when he was not familiar with Grand Tutor Zheng and had not even met him many times.
When Pei Heng left the alchemy room, an autumn wind was blowing outside, and the jade steps were covered with a layer of red leaves.
He had barely stepped off the jade steps and gone a short distance when he heard someone call out, "General."
Following the sound, Xiao Dao stealthily walked over from under the corridor and handed him something: "Could you please take this to Yu Shu, General? It's inconvenient for me to leave the palace to see her right now. Too many people are watching me, and I'm afraid it will cause her unnecessary trouble."
Pei Heng took the heavy package from his hands.
He looked at Xiaodao and suddenly felt a little guilty. Was Xiaodao really happy and carefree as a prince again? She had to learn so many rules, and there were always countless people around her. He was afraid that even if she wanted to see the person she wanted to see, it would cause her trouble.
Xiao Dao was skilled in martial arts and was brave and invincible on the battlefield, but in the palace and in the emperor's eyes, he was crude and clumsy. Even his name, Xiao Dao, was disliked and changed to Xiao Chong.
The Emperor seemed unable to see Xiao Dao's merits, and Consort Wan didn't seem too happy to have found her biological son...
Pei Heng even began to doubt whether it was the right thing to do to retrieve the knife.
But he quickly suppressed the thought; he was a subject, and obeying the emperor's orders was his duty.
“Okay, I will teach her.” Pei Heng said gently to Xiao Dao.
"Thank you." In the autumn breeze, Xiaodao's eyes were exceptionally bright and gentle, as if she couldn't help but ask, "Is she alright?"
Pei Heng nodded. "She's fine, you don't need to worry about her." He then asked, "I heard you went to Yuqing Temple today to visit Yusu Nu?"
Xiao Dao's bright eyes dimmed, as if she didn't want to answer his question. She said, "I can't stay any longer; they'll be here soon." She looked up at him again and said without a trace of malice, "General, could you please take good care of Yu Shu for me?"
His words were offensive, because Xie Yushu was Pei Shilin's wife, and he shouldn't have asked Pei Heng to take care of his nephew's wife.
Pei Heng knew Xiao Dao's character very well. Xiao Dao was a straightforward and sincere person who never hid his likes and dislikes.
So Pei Heng answered him frankly, "I will."
He left the palace and returned to the Pei residence before nightfall.
As soon as he dismounted, Xie Yushu's maid, Yinya, rushed over anxiously, "General, you're finally back! Lord Pei is trying to force my wife to divorce me!"
What?
Pei Heng didn't have time to ask any more questions and immediately followed Yin Ya to Xie Yushu's courtyard. He saw Granny Xizhi and Jin Ye waiting in the corridor outside the door and gave them a shushing gesture.
He stepped outside the door and heard Xie Yushu and Pei Shilin's voices inside.
"I understand. So you're forcing me to divorce him because the Emperor has taken a liking to me?" Xie Yushu said with a sneer.
“It’s not that I want to force you to divorce, it’s that the Emperor has decreed that I must divorce you.” Pei Shilin said in a dejected voice, “If I disobey the decree, it’s not just me who will die, but also our Pei family, your Yong’an Marquis’s mansion, and your biological mother.”
"Really? Where is the imperial edict? Show it to me," Xie Yushu said.
“What more imperial decree do you need? His Majesty summoned me alone today and made it clear to me: I heard that you and your husband have been at odds for a long time, why are you dragging each other along? Do you think you are a good match for Princess Rou’an?” Pei Shilin’s tone also carried a hint of helplessness: “Can’t you see at all that His Majesty treats you… differently?”
Xie Yushu sneered and said, "Pei Shilin, you are a real coward. Back then, in order to save your brother, you gave me to Song Jie. Now you are afraid that the Emperor will blame you, and you want to give me away with just a few words from him."
“Yes, I am a good-for-nothing.” Pei Shilin said as if he had no strength left. “Yushu, Princess Rou’an, since you are already tired of me, let me go and let the Pei family go. I will not stop you from enjoying wealth and prosperity and rising to prominence.”
"A meteoric rise to power?" Xie Yushu's tone was icy: "You call being forcibly taken by a dying old man a meteoric rise to power?"
Startled, Pei Shilin immediately said, "Do you know what treasonous things you're saying?"
"Of course I know," Xie Yushu said. "He's old enough to be my father. Even if he were the emperor, I wouldn't want him. If you think you can rise to prominence, then clean yourself up and offer yourself up."
"Xie Yushu!" Pei Shilin hurriedly stopped her, then said helplessly, "I beg you, please? I'll kneel down and beg you to save me, save the Pei family..."
Pei Heng couldn't listen any longer and forcefully slammed the door open.
The door was almost shattered by the impact. Pei Shilin, who was inside, saw the cold and stern Pei Heng and turned pale instantly: "Second Uncle..."
Pei Heng walked in and glanced at Pei Shilin, who was already kneeling on the ground. He found it amusing. His family had been fighting enemies for generations, earning their titles of "Brave and Resolute" through their military exploits. Yet their descendants were so weak and cowardly.
Selling one's wife for personal gain, offering one's wife for security—how ridiculous!
He walked over to Xie Yushu and placed the heavy package in his hand on the table next to her. "He asked me to give this to you."
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Author's Note: Pei Heng: Hearing this made me furious! [Angry]
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