Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Mother and Son
As Pei Lin said, their ship had just arrived at the Shengjing dock when the people from the Forbidden City arrived almost simultaneously.
"They arrived so quickly?" The light boat was slightly bumpy as it approached the shore. Wen Lingzheng took the opportunity to step forward and noticed that the eunuch standing in front of the dock looked unfamiliar, which aroused her suspicion.
She then whispered to Pei Lin, a few beads of sweat forming on her skin, and tugged at the corner of his sleeve, "Are you someone from the government?"
A trace of solemnity flickered in Pei Lin's eyes, like a bird soaring across the sky, fleeting in an instant.
It wasn't until he caught a glimpse of that familiar figure in the distance that he realized what was happening.
He reached out and pulled Wen Lingzheng close, his chin lightly brushing against the stray hairs at her temples. He chuckled softly and whispered, "No, but don't be afraid..."
Not a government official?
That means it can only be someone from the Empress Dowager's faction.
Wen Lingzheng's heart sank, but then she suddenly realized something was wrong. Recalling Pei Lin's relaxed tone when he responded, her gaze involuntarily followed him into the distance.
There's another team?
Under the hazy sunlight, the thin mist of Jiangnan seemed to drift along with the riverboats to the vast and cloudless Shengjing.
In the hazy light, Wen Lingzheng could vaguely make out that exceptionally familiar figure.
—Xiao Weiyuan?
What's behind him?
—Dong Daguan, a favorite of the emperor?
Coming to her senses, she couldn't help but look up at Pei Lin. Seeing his calm and composed gaze, she felt a slight sense of relief, but she could also see more clearly the sword hanging over their heads, about to fall.
The current Empress Dowager, née Yang, has given birth to two sons and one daughter.
But the only one she truly raised was the young Crown Prince Zhang Hui.
The bond between mother and son is not only the result of the longing and anticipation during the ten months of pregnancy, but also the deep affection accumulated through their daily interactions and companionship.
Unfortunately, the Emperor, who had been raised by Emperor Taizong's side since childhood, never experienced the Empress Dowager's innate maternal love.
The bond between mother and son was thin, yet it was further entangled with the power struggles and intrigues of the imperial court.
Even if both sides suffer heavy losses, it's probably too late to recover what's done, so a fight is inevitable.
What about the Marquis of Dingbei's residence? What about Pei Lin?
Wen Lingzheng subconsciously tugged at Pei Lin's sleeve.
She began to understand that perhaps from the moment Pei Lin entered the palace as a companion to the emperor, the Dingbei Marquis's mansion had already stepped into the vortex of power struggles.
They are all pieces on this chessboard.
—A crucial piece of chess, yet also teetering on the brink of collapse.
Wen Lingzheng couldn't help but look up at Pei Lin.
It seems as if we have crossed time and thousands of mountains and rivers to see the frost and snow of the Northland that drifts year-round on that vast land.
Did this young general, who was devoted to his country and loyal to the country, know that he had been plotted against by so many people all along?
Even among those schemes, there was more or less the handiwork of the person he swore to serve to the death.
“That’s Guo, the eunuch who serves the Empress Dowager,” Pei Lin whispered to her. “He’s been serving the Empress Dowager since the reign of Emperor Jianzhao.”
Their eyes met, and she understood his unspoken meaning, discerned the turbulent undercurrents hidden beneath his calm exterior, and clearly understood his decision.
He reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, then took her hand and led her slowly off the boat. His warm breath brushed against her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
"Ah Zheng, the roasted pork from the head chef at Xiangguo Temple is delicious. I've already told Xingyun to buy some. Try it later. You didn't get to eat it properly much back in Lin'an."
She sensed his apology, but couldn't help feeling annoyed.
What time is it?
How could he still be thinking about some damn roasted pork?
But with wolves and tigers in front of her, she couldn't show any of her anger or heartache.
She could only feign composure and reply, "It's been a long time since I've been back to Lin'an, and I'm finding it hard to get used to the taste of my hometown. Thank you for your consideration, my husband."
"Since there are many people in the family, we should buy more so that everyone in the household can have a taste."
“Of course.” He smiled, a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes, which disappeared in the blink of an eye, but was completely noticed by her.
As her annoyance subsided, Wen Lingzheng's thoughts became clearer.
—Does he have something to tell her?
After calming themselves down, he and she exchanged a knowing smile, then he looked with feigned surprise at the eunuchs who were waiting on the side of the boat.
Pei Lin's brow twitched slightly: "Guo, the eunuch?"
Guo, the eunuch: "This old servant greets Your Excellency."
The Marquis of Dingbei's mansion is now at its zenith thanks to Pei Lin. Although Guo, the eunuch, was acting on the Empress Dowager's orders, he still gave the emperor, a close minister, the due respect due to him.
Wen Lingzheng pretended not to understand and looked around, then glanced at the line of imperial guards behind her and asked, "The dock is not like the palace. Why is Eunuch Guo acting like this... Could it be the Empress Dowager's order?"
Before Guo could answer, she seemed to suddenly realize something and said, "My husband and I have just returned to Lin'an and were unaware of the Empress Dowager's decree. I hope that you, Guo, will be magnanimous and speak well of us to the Empress Dowager."
As soon as Wen Lingzheng finished speaking, Yao Guang stepped forward and secretly handed over the small gift she had prepared earlier, saying, "It's just a little something, please have a cup of tea, Your Excellency. It's nothing but a token of my respect."
With a light laugh, Guo, the eunuch, tucked the purse into his robes. His gaze swept past Pei Lin and Wen Lingzheng, landing on Pei Zhun, who stood a step behind them. A half-smile played on his lips. "It was nothing serious. Disturbing the peace of the Marquis and his wife is truly this old servant's fault, but..."
His predicament was obvious. After a moment's hesitation, Guo, the eunuch, looked behind Pei Lin and then around Pei Zhun. After a long while, he sighed and said in a low voice, "My lord, you know that the matter of your third young master has really affected... Alas, even if I had ten lives, I would not dare to disobey the Empress Dowager's orders!"
This was exactly what Pei Lin wanted to hear. He smiled lightly, feigning understanding, and replied, "Eunuch Guo is too kind! It's just that my third brother is disappointing, causing even the Empress Dowager worry. He truly deserves to die! I should personally lead him to Qingren Palace to apologize to the Empress Dowager!"
Guo, the eunuch, was surprised that things went so smoothly and felt a pang of doubt.
His previously composed brow twitched slightly, and although he smiled as he looked at Pei Lin and Wen Lingzheng, it was impossible to discern his true emotions.
"Your Excellency has great magnanimity. Your willingness to put righteousness above family ties is truly a blessing for our Great Zhou." Guo, the eunuch, smiled and uttered a few polite words that were not entirely sincere.
Official Dong: "Hey! Eunuch Guo? What brings you here, sir?"
Xiao Weiyuan and Dong Daguan's group had also approached each other without anyone noticing.
Her upturned lips instantly froze. Guo, an official who had been immersed in the inner palace for more than twenty years, had a vague sense of foreboding in her heart, but she managed to compose her complicated emotions in the blink of an eye, and her appearance was calm and proper.
"Young Master Xiao? You're here too, Your Highness?" Guo, the eunuch, pretended to be completely unaware of the situation. She first bowed to Xiao Weiyuan, and then exchanged half-bows with Dong, the Grand Eunuch.
Xiao Weiyuan took a slight step back and returned Guo Neiguan's half-bow, "No need for such formalities, Neiguan, it's just..."
Following up on Xiao Weiyuan's words, Dong Daguan said, "If the eunuch has also come for the matter of Young Master Pei, then it is truly an unfortunate coincidence!"
Feigning a regretful sigh, Official Dong added, "I am also here on the Emperor's orders... Imperial orders are hard to disobey! I hope that Eunuch Guo will be magnanimous and have mercy on me!"
Upon hearing this, Guo, the eunuch, did not show it on his face, but he couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
Everyone knows that he, surnamed Dong, is a man who can speak with authority even before the emperor! Now, who is he trying to impress with this act?
—Isn't this disgusting him?
Even though his anger was surging and erupting like a flood and a raging fire, Guo Neiguan gritted his teeth and did not show the slightest displeasure. He even put on a smile of understanding.
"Since it is His Majesty's order, this old servant dares not disobey. However, what about the Empress Dowager..."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. He has said that he will personally visit Qingren Palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager afterward."
His previously harsh tone softened, and Dong Daguan took a step forward with a smile, looking at the guards behind Guo Neiguan. "What is Guo Neiguan doing? Or are you not going to let us pass?"
"Official Dong is joking."
Leading his men to the side, Guo, the eunuch, extended his hand, his demeanor respectful but his smile concealing a dagger. "Please."
Pei Lin gradually loosened his grip on Wen Lingzheng's hand.
She heard his reassurance and tried her best to maintain a smile.
But when she returned to the front of the Dingbei Marquis's residence and saw Old Madam Pei, who couldn't wait any longer and was being helped out of the residence by her maid, a sense of sadness inexplicably welled up in her heart.
In that past life known only to Wen Lingzheng, Old Madam Pei lost her husband in middle age, her son in old age, and on her deathbed, she saw off one grandchild after another...
Even Pei Jing, the youngest among them, had already passed away long before her.
Perhaps the saddest thing in the world is for an elderly person to outlive their child.
Old Madam Pei: "Lin-ge'er and Zhun-ge'er...?"
Not seeing Pei Lin and Pei Zhun, the matriarch of the Pei family, who had witnessed the changing dynasties, naturally realized something.
She released the maid's hand and walked towards Wen Lingzheng. "Ah Zheng, don't be afraid, Grandmother is here. Let's go home."
Before Wen Lingzheng could utter the words of comfort she had been pondering all the way, Old Madam Pei cut her off.
She turned her head to look at the old man in front of her, who was calm as if nothing had happened and could even instruct the maid to prepare dinner. She felt a mix of emotions.
Perhaps it was because Wen Lingzheng's gaze was too captivating, for Old Madam Pei, though not turning around, gripped her hand even tighter.
"It's still too small."
As they approached Rongshou Hall, Old Madam Pei pulled Wen Lingzheng inside to sit down, her expression both loving and resolute. "Ah Zheng, don't be afraid, your grandmother will always be there for you! Besides..."
Old Madam Pei paused, raised her hand to stroke Wen Lingzheng's hair, her gaze sharp, and pointed in the direction of the mansion gate, saying, "Ah Zheng, you must remember, it's not only men who can uphold the reputation of the Dingbei Marquis's mansion."
"Even if one day all the men of the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion die out, as long as we are here, this plaque will always stand proudly in this prosperous capital!"
...
Inside the Forbidden City, in the Funing Hall.
Dong Daguan: "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Dingbei has arrived."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
