Chapter 191 Because of You, I Want to Try My Best
At noon, General Gu's eldest grandson returned from town. He was nothing like what Zhuang Wan had imagined. She had thought the teacher would be gentle and refined, but she hadn't expected Master Gu to be strong and robust, with a full beard.
Yingniang caught the surprise in her eyes and asked with a smile, "But it was beyond your expectations?"
"A little bit." Zhuang Wan winked at her. "But Master Gu is very handsome, a good match for you."
Yingniang laughed heartily.
At lunchtime, the family set up two tables in the main hall. The women sat in the inner hall, which was separated from the outer hall by a single entrance, so they could clearly hear the conversations of the people at both tables.
The men of the Gu family sat in the outer hall. After drinking, General Gu spoke in a loud voice and boasted to the younger generations about how he had fought a tiger in the mountains when he was young.
The women were more reserved.
Besides Yingniang, Zhuang Wan also sat at the table with her sister-in-law, Pang Shi, the wife of the second son of the Gu family, and Yingniang's sister-in-law, Gu Chang. Gu Chang, two years younger than Zhuang Wan and still unmarried, was very shy but dignified and elegant, clearly being nurtured by the Gu family as a lady of good family descent.
Sitting on either side of Zhuang Wan were Yingniang's two children, a boy and a girl, twins, both three years old. The boy was bolder, constantly looking up at Zhuang Wan with his bald head tilted back.
"Mother," he asked, "is this Uncle Pei's wife?"
Yingniang glared at him: "Don't talk nonsense, your Aunt Zhuang and Uncle Pei are not married yet."
"We're not married yet." He suddenly became cheerful and turned to ask Zhuang Wan, "Aunt Zhuang, how about you be my wife?"
The childish words made the women at the table laugh.
Zhuang Wan couldn't help but stroke his bald head.
Pang Shi was holding a six-month-old baby in her arms. After she finished laughing, she said, "Ming'er, your Aunt Zhuang cannot be your daughter-in-law."
Mingge asked: "Why?"
"Because you are still young."
Mingge scratched his head: "Can I wait until I grow up?"
"That will have to wait until you grow up. But you have to eat well and not be picky about food, especially eat more vegetables."
“I still need to eat vegetables…”
This was a difficult situation for little Gu Ming, who didn't like vegetables. He looked at Zhuang Wan with a troubled expression, then at the vegetables on the plate. As if making a major decision, he nodded, "Okay, I'll eat lots of vegetables."
After these words were spoken, everyone burst into laughter again.
The noise in the inner hall could not be hidden from the outside, and the men naturally heard it, all smiling silently.
Pei Xingju drank two glasses of wine with General Gu. He said he only drank two glasses, but Zhuang Wan saw that his cheeks and neck were flushed, which was very strange.
"So you turn into Guan Gong after drinking." She joked.
Pei Guan Gong ignored her, but stubbornly pulled her to take a walk in the fields.
There is really nothing beautiful to see in winter. The mountains and fields are covered with snow. If you walk carelessly, you might fall off the ridge.
Zhuang Wan walked carefully at the back, his eyes focused on the ground below, and he ignored the people in front of him.
She suddenly looked up and met Pei Xingju's smiling and gentle eyes, and she was stunned.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm very happy today," he said.
I don’t know if it’s because he drank, but his red face looks gentle and bold.
"Zhuang Wan," he took her hand, "Do you like it here?"
Zhuang Wan nodded. Compared to the turbulent capital, she quite liked the peaceful and bustling atmosphere here.
"I like it too." Pei Xingju said, "Can we live like this from now on?"
Zhuang Wan was surprised. She didn't expect him to think so far.
Pei Xingju exhaled a little alcohol, his eyes serious and burning: "I also want to be like my mentor, to have a piece of farmland, raise three or five chickens, have children around my knees, and listen to my grandchildren's unrestrained words."
"I never dared to imagine such a day before," he added. "Even now I dare not think about it too much. For me, this is an unattainable dream."
"But, Zhuang Wan." His eyes were filled with cautious yet bright emotions. "Because of you, I want to try my best."
Zhuang Wan felt a pang of sadness.
In the novel, Pei Xingju lives a life of sorrow and resentment, never marrying or having children. Even after achieving his ultimate revenge, he remains trapped in the struggle for power. He remains lonely yet powerful, walking alone to the end of the story. Back then, she didn't understand why, despite having a close confidante, he refused to marry. Now, she understands.
She stood on tiptoe and hugged him.
"Pei Xingju?"
Pei Xingju stood still and said "hmm".
"Do you know that you are really bad?" Zhuang Wan said with a muffled nasal voice.
"Why?"
Why?
She originally just wanted to have a relationship with him, but now, she had lost her heart without any defense. She actually wanted to grow old with him.
Zhuang Wan pounded his chest hard. "I don't care. I'll write down what you said when I get back. If you break your promise in the future, I'll chase you to the ends of the earth and make you pay double."
Pei Xingju chuckled.
After laughing, he lowered his head gently and found her lips accurately.
Zhuang Wan was surprised. She didn't expect that Pei Xingju, who had drunk a little, was so bold that he dared to kiss her in broad daylight.
Of course, she didn't refuse. Kissing Pei Xingju was a wonderful thing, especially when he took the initiative. It made you feel that you were the person he cared about most in the world.
The two stood on the edge of the field and kissed each other. Even the snow and ice could not stop their passion.
"Wanwan..." Pei Xingju's heart was surging.
Perhaps because Zhuang Wan was too short, the kiss wasn't very satisfying. He tried to lift her up, but just as he was about to move, he slipped and they both tumbled down the ridge of the field.
Zhuang Wan: “…”
.
After lunch, Pei Xingju and Zhuang Wan returned. Zhuang Wan sat opposite them and couldn't help laughing at Pei Xingju, who was dressed in a blue cloth.
Pei Xingju was helpless: "You have seen the excitement along the way, isn't that enough?"
Earlier, the two of them had been kissing on a ridge when they tumbled into the field. Luckily, it was winter and there was nothing but snow in the field, so they weren't in such a mess. However, their clothes were stained with mud, so they couldn't see clearly, so they borrowed clothes from Master Gu and Yingniang.
General Gu stared at the two of them, curiously asking what had happened. Pei Xingju was embarrassed and said that he had accidentally slipped while walking.
It would have been fine if he hadn't explained, but once he did, the truth was revealed. Who was Pei Xingju, and why did he fall while walking?
General Gu hummed twice shrewdly, and went to take a nap with satisfaction with an expression that said, "Don't try to fool me, kid."
Thinking about it now, Pei Xingju felt a little embarrassed. Seeing that Zhuang Wan was still staring at him and smiling, he raised his hand and covered her eyes.
"Stop it!" he said.
Zhuang Wan was struggling, when she suddenly heard a commotion outside.
The two stopped.
Pei Xingju lifted the curtain and looked, only to see pedestrians on the street standing aside, and several people holding tokens and riding horses towards the imperial city.
Zhuang Wan also saw it. He still remembered that the last time he saw this scene was when Japanese pirates appeared in Minzhou.
She whispered, "What happened?"
Pei Xingju recalled the letter he had seen from his mentor before, and understood.
After a moment's silence, he said, "I'm going to the palace now, you..."
"Don't worry about me, go ahead." Zhuang Wan knew something big must have happened, so she said immediately, "I'm going to the shop. It's been under renovation for the past two days, so I'll go take a look."
"Yes." Pei Xingju nodded, lifted his robe and got off the carriage.
.
Imperial Palace.
The young emperor Li Jinyu sat in front of the dragon table with a calm expression, but the movement of stroking the red brush back and forth revealed his anxiety.
When he heard the eunuch outside reporting that Pei Xingju wanted to see him, he immediately stood up, but felt that he was not calm enough, so he sat down again.
"Hurry up and announce it!"
Soon, Pei Xingju came in.
Seeing Pei Xingju in a blue cloth shirt, Li Jinyu was surprised for a moment, but said, "Lord Pei, you have arrived just in time. I just happened to have an urgent report."
As he said this, he handed over the report.
Pei Xingju took it but didn't look at it. He said bluntly: "Your Majesty, I have already guessed it."
"Guessed it?"
"I also have a letter to present to the emperor." Pei Xingju took out the letter given by General Gu from his sleeve and handed it to the eunuch, who handed it to the emperor with both hands.
Li Jinyu unfolded it, read it word by word, his face darkening.
"Shen Mingchang! How dare he!"
"Your Majesty," Pei Xingju read the report quickly and placed it back on the dragon table. "Shen Mingchang is the governor of the Southeast Navy. He has guarded the Southeast for many years and has never made a mistake. He might not dare to do that."
"But the letter clearly states that Shen Mingchang's leaving the camp to attend a banquet at the end of the year was a dereliction of duty. If he hadn't left his post without permission, Ningju County would never have been plundered by Japanese pirates!"
"While Shen Mingchang certainly neglected his duties, I'm afraid he can't be held solely responsible for this."
"What do you mean?"
Pei Xingju was silent for a moment, then continued, "This letter was sent to me by my mentor, Mr. Gu, when I visited him today. He asked me to pass it on to His Majesty."
"General Gu Jing?"
"That's right," Pei Xingju said truthfully, "I dare not hide it from the emperor. Zhu Zaimao, the deputy commander of the Minzhou Navy, was once a subordinate of Mr. Gu. Although we haven't been in touch for many years, before General Zhu died, he asked a confidant to write a letter to the old gentleman."
"Why give it to Mr. Gu?"
"This is a serious matter. They must have sensed a hidden conspiracy, so they came up with this secretive plan."
Li Jinyu nodded.
"Just now you said that Shen Mingchang shouldn't be held solely responsible for this mistake. Do you know anyone else?"
"I dare not make any rash judgments, but the letter states that Shen Mingchang was invited to a banquet by Yang, the Supervisor of Minzhou, on New Year's Eve and remained drunk for several days. As far as I know, Yang was a Jinshi in the fourth year of Gengyin and was once a student of Duke Xin."
Upon hearing this, Li Jinyu's expression suddenly darkened. "Could it be that Yang Bozhou was instructed by Duke Xin? Or does Shen Mingchang have other grievances?"
"This is just my guess. The truth must be investigated carefully. Your Majesty..." Pei Xingju knelt down: "I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not."
"Lord Pei, I trust you the most. We are one, king and subject. What can't we say?"
"Yes." Pei Xingju nodded. "The Emperor has already made up his mind whether Duke Xin was involved. But the truth must be investigated, and the evidence must be solid to avoid giving people excuses. Furthermore, Shen Mingchang must be escorted to the capital as soon as possible."
"Didn't you say that Shen Mingchang might have been wrongly accused?"
"I suspect..." Pei Xingju lowered his eyebrows, a look of forbearance in his eyes: "Someone is colluding with the Japanese pirates and using the organization to frame loyal officials. Escorting Shen Mingchang to the capital is to protect him and to protect the truth about the Japanese pirate invasion in Minzhou."
Li Jinyu was shocked.
.
After Pei Xingju left, Li Jinyu sat on the dragon throne and pondered for a long time.
After a while, the eunuch came in with a letter.
"Your Majesty," the chief eunuch said, "The Imperial Astronomical Observatory has spent a full month calculating, and the date has finally been determined. Please review it, Your Majesty."
Li Jinyu turned his head and his eyes fell on the auspicious date on the mahogany lacquer tray.
This was the auspicious day for him to marry Liang Yixin. He had been looking forward to it, but now he was in a dilemma.
After a long while, he said, "Let it go first. How is my cousin now?"
The eunuch was taken aback, not expecting the Emperor to suddenly ask about Miss Liang. He immediately said, "Miss Liang is still in seclusion praying for the Empress Dowager. Perhaps because of her sincerity, I heard that the Empress Dowager has been feeling better these past two days."
Li Jinyu sneered.
It wasn't that the Queen Mother was feeling better, but rather that after battling Duke Xin for days, she had finally found her chance to strike back, so she was feeling better. How could he not know the methods of this Queen Mother? It was just that my cousin had been imprisoned for so long, and I wondered how she was doing now.
That night, the snow, which had stopped for two days, began to fall quietly again. The white snow covered the red walls and green tiles, and also concealed the ugliness of the entire city.
In a side hall of Yongning Palace, the branches of a cherry tree are covered with snow, like a white-haired old man with his head bowed, silent and lonely.
Liang Yixin stood in the hall through the diamond-shaped window, quietly watching the falling snow, with a calmness in her eyes that looked down upon the hustle and bustle.
"Miss, it's time to rest."
The maid came in to clear the table, which contained the Buddhist scriptures Liang Yixin had copied for the empress dowager. She picked up a few and folded them neatly. Suddenly, a cold wind blew in, and the papers became a mess again.
"How could there be wind blowing in out of nowhere?" The maid was surprised and hurried to the west to check. However, when she saw who was coming in from the window, she fell silent immediately.
Li Jinyu raised his hand to her, and the maid bowed and retreated.
Noticing the movement, Liang Yixin turned around and was not surprised to see Li Jinyu.
But when Li Jinyu saw her, he was stunned.
Li Jinyu hadn't seen Liang Yixin since their intimate encounter two months prior. Unexpectedly, in just a short time, she had become skinny. Her neck had become slender, her collarbone prominent, and her chin had become pointed. More importantly, when he saw Liang Yixin again, her eyes seemed fogged, the light no longer visible.
"Cousin, you..." Li Jinyu moved his throat, wanting to ask her if she was doing well, but seeing her like this, he felt it was unnecessary.
"Don't worry, cousin, I will let you out of the palace as soon as possible," he said.
Liang Yixin smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. However, Your Majesty, please don't bother. It doesn't matter where I go."
She walked to the table, squatted on the ground and picked up the papers that had been blown away by the wind. "I think it's good here. I don't have to see anyone, and no one will bother me. It wouldn't be bad to live my life like this."
Li Jinyu only felt depressed and an indescribable sadness in his heart.
I still remember what he said when he went to see her the last time she hanged herself -
"Cousin, are you willing to marry me?"
"good."
"What if I can only give you the honor of being the queen, but cannot let you bear children? Are you willing?"
"willing."
Now, these words have become a knife, and it hurts every time I recall them.
After thinking about it, he walked over and squatted down to help her pick up the things.
"The Imperial Astronomical Observatory calculated the date for the grand ceremony today and asked me to choose one."
Liang Yixin listened and continued to pick up the paper indifferently. A piece of paper was right under Li Jinyu's feet. She raised her hand to reach for it, but was held down by Li Jinyu.
She paused, then heard Li Jinyu ask, "Cousin, don't you want to know what day it is?"
"It's the Emperor's decision," she said softly.
A bitter taste surged in Li Jinyu's throat.
Her fingers were slender, only half an inch away from his. He wanted to hold her hand and tell her not to worry, that he would treat her well for the rest of his life.
But he seems to be no longer qualified.
He was the emperor, the ruler of the Great Zhao Kingdom. Before today, he still had a glimmer of hope, but after receiving the letter from Pei Xingju, he had to choose between politics and emotions.
"Cousin..." He moved his throat: "Will you hate me?"
Liang Yixin paused for a moment and said calmly, "No."
After saying that, she pulled away the paper, stood up and left.
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