Chapter 100: Life Gate
"In fact, only those who have been very close to Pei Ji can grasp those difficult-to-imitate charms. Habits have become ingrained in the bones, and deliberate attempts to change will only lead to numerous flaws and give others an opportunity to exploit them."
Luo Dinglian's eyes flickered slightly, obviously agreeing with Pei Ji's judgment.
"Secondly," Pei Ji continued, "even if we could get an authority to authenticate the handwriting in court, it would be time-consuming and laborious, and the final conclusion would be difficult to convince everyone. The forger is very deliberate and must have a backup plan. It would be a waste of energy and would make it easier for the other party to trick you into a trap."
His eyes were sharp as a knife. "Therefore, dwelling on the handwriting itself is the worst option."
Luo Dinglian leaned forward slightly and asked in a hoarse voice, "Then where is the solution?"
"It's the person!" Pei Ji's voice was firm. "Give up the muddy waters of authenticity and get straight to the heart of the matter. Who is framing me with this forged letter? What's their purpose?"
"Jump out of the other party's carefully laid text trap and trace back to the source." Pei Ji spoke a little quickly, but his logic was extremely clear. "Who could understand me so well? Who has a deep entanglement with me? Who has the motive and ability to set up this trap? Who can benefit from it? Such a meticulous and ruthless person, his purpose is definitely not just to destroy my reputation!"
His eyes fell on Luo Dinglian's face without any evasion, with a kind of confidence that could see through everything.
"Because it will backfire!" Pei Ji said word by word, "Concentrate all your efforts and catch this person! Investigate his whereabouts, find his flaws, and dig deep into the conspiracy behind his motives. This is the only way out! If you get entangled in words and traces, you will only be led by the other party by the nose!"
"General, if Pei Ji's inference is correct, the person you just mentioned, every word and every worry, is Liu Yueli, who was adopted by your family and then left?"
The moment the three words "Liu Yueli" came out of his mouth, Luo Dinglian's back suddenly stiffened.
In those calm tiger eyes, a violent wave suddenly arose.
Astonishment, shock, and then deep fatigue.
His Adam's apple rolled, and he nodded with a heavy heart. It wasn't an admission, but more of a resignation to fate.
"...It's her." Luo Dinglian's voice was heavy. "You guessed right."
After getting the confirmation, there was no trace of pride in Pei Ji's eyes, but he became more serious.
"Everyone in the general's mansion treats her like their own daughter, but it's a pity..." He stopped there without making any in-depth comments.
Luo Dinglian exhaled heavily, as if purging a long-suppressed depression, and finally began to reveal part of the truth: "Two months ago, Zhaohan went to Xiangguo Temple to burn incense and pray. Ever since Liu Yueli left, rumors have been rife in the capital, and my wife and I have always been concerned about Zhaohan going out alone. That day, she went out with a few capable guards, and the two of us followed in secret."
Pei Ji listened quietly with a focused expression.
"She was quietly worshipping Buddha in the temple," Luo Dinglian said in a low voice, lost in reminiscence. "Unexpectedly, she ran into Xie Wuqi and Liu Yueli, who had just returned from drinking at the Taoyun Tower outside the temple!"
Luo Dinglian's tone was thick with disgust at the mention of this name. Xie Wuqi was the son of General Wuwei who had abducted Liu Yueli!
"Liu Yueli seemed to be having a disagreement with Xie Wuqi and was angry. She ignored them and barged into the 'Bao Zha' courtyard behind Xiangguo Temple, which was specially designed to receive royal family members and noble ministers!"
"Treasure temple?" Pei Ji frowned slightly.
The branch courtyard of Xiangguo Temple is a place that even ordinary royal relatives cannot easily enter.
"That's right." A complex light flashed in Luo Dinglian's eyes, one of vigilance and even more of worry. "At that time, several distinguished people were taking a rest in the temple."
He took a deep breath, as if the scene were replaying before his eyes. "Liu Yueli took advantage of the guards' laxity and broke in. She stayed inside for at least a cup of tea before being dragged out by Xie Wuqi. Which of the nobles who entered and exited that temple wasn't extremely powerful?"
Luo Dinglian didn't finish his words, but Pei Ji instantly understood the deep meaning behind them.
A beautiful woman who can easily imitate other people's handwriting and is scheming, in that particular occasion, came into contact with a powerful person who could change her destiny!
What does this mean? Liu Yueli has likely already attached herself to a power far greater than the Xie family and the Fuyuan General's Mansion!
This force has become a sword hanging over the Luo family's heads!
Her forged letter to frame the Luo family might just be the first act of revenge.
All the clues are connected at this point, and the cruel truth comes to light.
Luo Dinglian raised his eyes, his weather-beaten eyes now filled with a heavy feeling as he looked straight at Pei Ji:
"So, Pei Ji, the Luo family may seem prosperous today, but in reality, it is facing a storm, full of dangers, and may even collapse!"
Luo Dinglian stared at Pei Ji closely and asked the crucial question word by word:
"Under such circumstances, do you still insist on marrying Zhao Han?"
Before he finished speaking, Luo Dinglian had already clearly seen that a bright light suddenly ignited in Pei Ji's originally calm eyes.
Without any pause, Pei Ji straightened his spine and spoke with a resounding voice:
"yes!"
Luo Dinglian's eyes suddenly focused.
The unexpected yet seemed expected.
Pei Ji took a deep breath and met Luo Dinglian's scrutiny with an open gaze: "To be honest, General, it's clear..."
An intimate title came out of his mouth almost without thinking. Pei Ji immediately stopped and noticed the bitterness and loss that suddenly emerged in Luo Dinglian's eyes.
He quickly changed his words, his tone more sincere: "Ms. Luo is extremely intelligent and resolute. Ever since our last unexpected meeting in the mountains behind Hanshan Temple, Pei Ji has been attracted to her. Since then, we've met and talked several times. Although she hasn't said it explicitly, the lingering melancholy and worry between her brows has already given me a glimpse of it."
His voice dropped to a low note, filled with heartache, "The family burden she carries is far beyond the reach of an ordinary woman."
"Pei Ji is in the imperial court, serving as the Junior Minister of the Dali Temple, in charge of the prisons and deciding the merits and demerits of people, but in reality, his life is like walking on thin ice. Openly, he faces opposition from other kings, while in secret, he faces the encirclement of aristocratic families. Furthermore, countless others, who see this position as a thorn in their side, are eyeing him covetously. Pei Ji's situation has always been one of walking alone in a dark alley, surrounded by enemies on all sides!"
He paused slightly, his eyes blazing. "It's precisely because I know the Luo family isn't as safe and secure as it appears, and that the General's Mansion is also caught in a vortex. It's precisely because I know this, knowing that the Luo family may have made enemies in the dark, or face unforeseen dangers, that I dare to ask the General to marry Miss Luo!"
These words were completely beyond Luo Dinglian's expectations.
He had imagined that Pei Ji might be able to move people with his emotions and swear to protect Zhao Han, but he never expected that Pei Ji's starting point would be the common crisis.
"If the Luo family weren't also in turmoil, if the Luo family weren't surrounded by powerful secret enemies, Pei Ji would never have dared to speak to the general rashly just out of selfish motives! That would only drag Miss Luo Luo, who could have stayed out of it, into Pei Ji's murderous quagmire!"
"This is... an extremely despicable and selfish act! Pei Ji is unwilling to do it, let alone disdain to do it!"
"It is precisely because Pei Ji and the General's Mansion may be facing the same enemy or a group of enemies hiding in the dark, with the intention of overthrowing our two families, that Pei Ji dared to have such an idea and took the liberty to propose marriage!"
"Under such circumstances, a marriage alliance is not driven by love, but by a shared destiny."
"General! Pei Ji is determined to marry Miss Luo Luo!"
He took a step forward. Although still at the bottom of the stairs, his aura was like a sword drawn from its sheath.
"If the general doesn't abandon me and agrees to this marriage, for Zhaohan's sake, Pei Ji will be a thousand times more cautious and will not hesitate even at the cost of his life! Pei Ji has already bought a quiet and secluded house in the capital. This is not to separate the residence, but to stay away from the center of the vortex and reduce unnecessary attention and danger! All the necessary manpower has been secretly prepared. This matter is kept secret and has not been told to anyone except his confidants!"
Every word Pei Ji spoke was like a drum beating in Luo Dinglian's heart.
Each link is closely linked to the next, each step is carefully planned, there is no empty promise, and each sentence hits the point.
Luo Dinglian stared at the young man at the bottom of the stairs.
His handsome features were filled with nervousness, for this lifelong trust, and even more for the uneasiness about whether he could get his approval.
He even noticed the nickname Pei Ji had just blurted out - "Zhao Zhao".
Only when you can't help yourself will you reveal your love.
Like a stone thrown into a deep pool, it stirs up layers of ripples that are difficult to calm down.
Luo Dinglian's hands on the armrest unconsciously clenched into fists, and the knuckles turned slightly white.
He looked at Pei Ji's clear and deep eyes, and his throat felt slightly blocked.
Finally, it turned into a long sigh and dissipated into the air.
The hall fell into deeper silence.
Green smoke rises from the mouth of the Qilin incense burner.
Luo Dinglian's voice was a little deeper than before: "No need to say more."
These four words instantly sucked away all the air in the hall.
Pei Ji's pupils suddenly constricted.
The next moment, Luo Dinglian's words remained unchanged: "From a worldly perspective, you, Pei Jingzhi, are definitely not my ideal son-in-law."
"As a father, I ask for very little. I only wish that my precious child live a peaceful, happy and worry-free life."
He closed his eyes slightly, a look of unwavering pity etched between his thick brows. "I've seen too many storms and understand the trials and tribulations of this world. I can't bear to see her suffer even the slightest grievance or regret in the future because of choosing you."
The hall was dead silent.
Luo Dinglian suddenly changed the subject:
"Yes, you are my daughter Zhao Zhao, the one she loves."
Luo Dinglian's tone was light, with a sense of helplessness after the dust had settled:
"She has nodded."
"As a father, there's no reason for me to stop you."
Pei Ji felt as if struck by a silent thunder and suddenly froze in place.
All the previous anxiety was completely eliminated at this moment, replaced by a feeling of weightlessness that I had never experienced before.
The corners of his mouth lifted up almost uncontrollably, and a somewhat silly arc quickly emerged and expanded on his usually restrained face, as if the glaciers were thawing and the spring water was melting.
Luo Dinglian looked at him in a daze. Even though he felt a heavy burden on his heart, he couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth, revealing a helpless and funny smile.
Luo Dinglian slowly stood up.
The tall figure came down with the pressure of a mountain, and its shadow fell on Pei Ji.
"Pei Jingzhi." Luo Dinglian lowered his voice, each word ringing loudly. "I have agreed to your marriage today, but I have only one request of you."
Pei Ji heard his own voice, which had become hoarse with excitement: "General, please speak. I pledge my life to you and will never disobey you!"
Luo Dinglian looked directly into Pei Ji's eyes:
"No matter what happens in the future." If the Luo family's luck is exhausted and they encounter a great disaster, their family will fall apart, or even be destroyed!"
The moment these four words were uttered, the air in the hall seemed to freeze.
Luo Dinglian stared at Pei Ji intently, saying word by word:
"I want you to protect my Zhao Zhao at all costs!"
“Alive!”
Pei Ji's whole body was shaking violently.
This is no longer a simple promise, but the heaviest love a father can give.
"My Zhao Zhao!" Luo Dinglian's voice trembled slightly. "She is kind and stubborn as a small stone. Once she sets her mind on a path, she won't turn back even if she hits a wall! Even if the sky collapses and the earth collapses, and she endures all the suffering and hardships in the world, her heart will be as pure as the spring water on the top of a snowy mountain. It will never change."
He cast his eyes sadly into the void, as if he saw some irreversible future. His voice became low and pleading:
"I don't want her...to be buried in the yellow mud with her parents and the hundreds of members of my Luo family!"
After just a moment of suffocation.
A warm current suddenly exploded from the deepest part of my heart, dispelling all fear, hesitation and heaviness.
A light that transcended life and death suddenly burst out from those deep eyes.
He did not kneel down and swear to the sky, "I can do it," as he had promised, nor did he show any sign of fear.
Instead, a smile appeared on that handsome face.
That is not a compromise with fate, but the ecstasy of finding the ultimate answer.
Pei Ji took a step forward, approached Luo Dinglian, and met the general's gaze fearlessly.
"General, you are wrong!"
"If there really comes a day like that..."
"If Zhao Zhao falls, our mountains and rivers will lose their luster!"
He abruptly retracted his gaze, his fiery eyes piercing deep into Luo Dinglian's heart, carrying the power to cut through everything:
"She is my lifeline!"
"If she dies, Pei Ji will never live alone!!"
The oath fell.
There was deathly silence in the hall.
The green smoke rising from the Qilin incense burner seemed to be frozen at this moment.
Luo Dinglian's tall body shook violently and uncontrollably.
He stood frozen, his pupils contracting violently.
A stream of hot heat suddenly rushed to my eyes, making me feel so sour that I almost cried.
"Life Gate"
These two words hit Luo Dinglian's heart like a heavy hammer.
It's not like he hasn't seen infatuated people before, but he has never seen anyone who can turn the word "love" into such a direct metaphor.
At that moment, the huge rock that had been hanging in Luo Dinglian's heart for a long time fell down completely with a loud bang and disappeared into thin air when Pei Ji made this oath.
This young man...this heart...
Luo Dinglian took a deep breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, and even his breathing became smoother.
"Okay... okay..." He said "Okay" twice in a row. Although his voice was still hoarse, it was filled with unprecedented ease and joy. He suddenly stretched out his hand and slapped Pei Ji's shoulder heavily. The force made Pei Ji's body sway slightly.
"I'm not blind! You, boy! You are so upright and honest! You are the most worthy person in the world for my Zhao Zhao!"
The general's attitude changed instantly, causing Pei Ji's mind to buzz and go completely blank.
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