How could I possibly desire her to have only me?
As we gradually entered Shangjing, the population grew denser, and the bustling city remained as vibrant as ever, as if nothing had changed.
The Imperial Law Enforcement officers were already waiting outside the city gate. Xia Chengen suppressed his smile and spurred his horse to the front.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!" A loud voice rang out from below the city walls, and the crowd knelt on the ground.
Xie An squinted at the man in the lead—it was the man who had sealed the mansion that day. He leaned closer to Pei Qinzhou and whispered, "My lord, it was he who was disrespectful to the lady that day..."
Pei Qinzhou then looked at the man properly, his gloomy eyes revealing no emotion.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Wen Zhibai walked over to Qi Yuning and gently took his arm.
He squeezed her hand back: "It's nothing."
"Your Highness, His Majesty has decreed that you, Lord Pei, and Miss Wen are summoned to the palace for an audience with the Emperor immediately."
"I understand."
The city gates were wide open, the people had already been cleared out, the long street was deserted, and even the teacups on the tea stalls were still steaming.
At this moment, General Qi led his men to greet them: "This humble general pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Xia Chengen dismounted and personally helped Qi Yuheng up, saying, "General, there's no need for such formalities."
"Brother!" Qi Yuning rushed forward and hugged her brother with joy.
“How dare you be so impetuous in front of Your Highness?” Qi Yuheng pulled her behind him. “Please forgive me, Your Highness. My younger sister has been spoiled by me since childhood.”
“Miss Qi is doing very well.” Xia Chengen’s gaze swept over Qi Yuning’s childish face, and then glanced at the people from the Imperial Law Division. “I still need to go to the palace to meet the Emperor. General and sister, you have been separated for a long time, please return to your residence for a reunion.”
"I..." Qi Yuning wanted to say something, but Qi Yuheng stopped her firmly.
"This humble general respectfully sees Your Highness off."
Watching the departing figures of the group, Qi Yining stamped her foot anxiously: "Why did you stop me, brother? I know it was wrong of me to go to Liangchuan on my own. I accept whatever punishment you may give me, but now that things have come to this, I absolutely cannot be the heartless person who refuses to share the burden!"
"You...come home with me!" Qi Yuheng pointed at her, hesitant to speak, but finally suppressed his anger and grabbed her wrist. "I'll settle the score with you when we get back."
——
The imperial palace was imposing, and atop the hundred jade steps, the emperor sat solemnly in the Mingtang Hall. Though his face was not visible, his imposing presence was palpable.
The three of them knelt down.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Pei Qinzhou pays his respects to His Majesty."
"Your subject, Wen Zhibai, pays her respects to Your Majesty."
The emperor handed the memorial in his hand to the eunuch Wang, indicating that it should be presented to the crown prince.
"This is a memorial accusing you of deceiving the emperor. Although you achieved military merit in the Battle of Liangchuan, the fact remains that you deceived the emperor. Your Highness, what explanation do you and your advisors have for this?"
"Father, I know my crime." Xia Chengen held the memorial high and bowed deeply.
Pei Qinzhou calmly replied, "Your Highness single-handedly held off the 100,000-strong Naqi army with only 30,000 troops, defending the territory of Great Xia and protecting the common people. What crime have you committed?"
"Pei Qing, there's no need to defend me." Xia Chengen said passionately, "For the sake of the Great Xia Dynasty, for the sake of my father's imperial authority, what does it matter if I'm shattered to pieces?!" As he spoke, he intentionally or unintentionally pressed his leg injury, his face turning pale.
The emperor noticed something was wrong: "Crown Prince, what happened to your leg?"
"Father, it's just a minor injury, nothing to worry about." As he spoke, Xia Chengen gave Pei Qinzhou a meaningful look.
Pei Qinzhou suppressed his helplessness and moved his fingers hidden in his sleeve, exposing Xia Chengen's leg wound to everyone.
The officials were in uproar.
"Wang Shuhuai, quickly help the Crown Prince up!" The Emperor's tone softened abruptly. "All my ministers have seen it; the Crown Prince was wounded for the country. Do you have anything else to say?"
Imperial Censor Xu stepped forward, holding his tablet: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has rendered meritorious service, but deceiving the Emperor is a grave crime. If he is not punished, others may follow suit. I believe that rewards and punishments should be clearly distinguished, and he should be given twenty strokes of the cane in court to uphold discipline."
The imperial court was silent.
“The censor is absolutely right,” Pei Qinzhou replied calmly. “Your Highness and I certainly deserve to be punished.”
“Pei Qinzhou, the person standing next to you is my Crown Prince.”
"Your Majesty, to reprimand the emperor's robe is to reprimand the emperor himself."
An appreciative glint flashed in the Emperor's eyes: "Very well! As you say."
The sky was bright and clear, and the court rods struck the two men's robes twenty times each. But the matter inside the palace was not yet over.
“Your Highness, you should learn a lesson from this. You are confined to the Eastern Palace for a month. Pei Qinzhou, the confiscation of your residence a few days ago was a minor punishment. Go back and reflect on your actions.”
"Your subject obeys the decree."
The emperor walked up to Wen Zhibai and scrutinized him: "Wen Lingchen's daughter?"
"Your Majesty, it is indeed I, your subject."
"The imperial court has clearly ordered the cessation of grain supplies to Liangchuan. Who instructed you to dare disobey my will?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I am only concerned for the people and soldiers of Liangchuan. Although I know that we are outnumbered and outmatched, I still wish to share Your Majesty's burdens."
"To share my burdens? What gives you the right to presume to know my will?"
"Your Majesty's benevolence extends throughout the land, and your heart is with the common people; this is known to all. As Your Majesty's subject, how can I presume to know your heart?"
These words were spoken flawlessly, and the emperor's eyes flashed with approval.
"What a quick-witted girl. If I don't reward her, it would make me seem petty."
"Thunder and rain, all are blessings from Heaven. Whatever decision Your Majesty makes, it will be a blessing to me."
"You have incurred considerable losses in providing disaster relief and transporting grain this time. It just so happens that the Empress's birthday requires 10,000 bolts of auspicious clothing. Originally, it was Qian who was to handle it, but now I have changed my mind - I will entrust it to the shops under your name."
Ten thousand horses... less than three months...
Wen Zhibai's heart sank. This was not only a matter of quantity, but also about snatching food from the mouth of the Qian family, the most prominent imperial merchant family in Shangjing. Xia Chengen was about to speak when the Emperor interrupted him with a "Dismiss the court."
Outside the palace gate
Pei Qinzhou stepped forward and took her hand: "Do you need my help?"
She smiled and shook her head: "You have to trust me, I'll handle it."
Xia Chengen: "Miss Wen, if you need my help, please feel free to tell me."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Back at the Pei residence, under the pavilion, the little bird that Pei Qinzhou had given her blinked.
As Wen Zhibai and Pei Qinzhou walked past it, they asked, "Where's Pei Qinzhou? Why hasn't Pei Qinzhou gone home yet?"
"!" Wen Zhibai's eyes widened, and he smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "It just loves to talk nonsense..."
He leaned down with a hint of teasing: "Looks like someone's lonely while I'm not around."
She covered her cheeks with her hands, trying to avoid his gaze.
"Heh, what are you hiding for? Put your hands down and let me see you."
"I don't……"
"Um?"
Before she could finish speaking, Tao Zhi came running over excitedly, and the two quickly let go of each other's hands.
"Miss! Sir!"
Tao Zhi showed her the account books she had kept during Wen Zhibai's absence.
Wen Zhibai flipped through it and smiled sweetly: "Taozhi, I didn't expect you to be so amazing."
"It's all thanks to Miss's excellent teaching."
At this critical moment, when manpower is needed, Tao Zhi is the person she trusts most, so she appoints Tao Zhi to manage a portion of the shops.
"Oh, by the way, Miss, take a look at this." Tao Zhi took out a bright red wedding invitation from her sleeve.
Wen Zhibai, puzzled, opened the package; inside was Wen Xian's handwriting—
My wedding day is the day after tomorrow, and I hope you can come.
"Taozhi, when was this delivered?"
"Yesterday, when I was reconciling accounts with the managers, a maid from the Wen family brought this message, saying that Miss's eldest sister is going to marry the eldest son of the Gao family."
The eldest son of the Gao family? Wen Zhibai suddenly looked up: "Could it be... Gao Zheli?!"
She exchanged a glance with Pei Qinzhou, utterly incredulous. Gao Zheli had long since gone mad; how could Qin Yanzhen let her daughter jump into this fire pit? Unless… the Gao family and the Qin family shared a common scheme.
Remembering the connection between the Spirit Binding Division and the Gao family, Wen Zhibai realized something. This wedding banquet was probably a trap set specifically for her.
"What do you think?" Pei Qinzhou asked.
"Wen Xian and I have never gotten along. I wonder what her intentions are in suddenly showing goodwill. Let me think about it some more."
"If you want to go, I'll go with you."
“I know, Lord Pei…” Wen Zhibai bit his lip and hesitated for a moment, “Actually… there’s something I’d like to ask you for help with.”
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back.
Although they are together now, she is still afraid of troubling him. Moreover, if, as Xia Chengen said, Pei Qinzhou had a health problem but did not tell her and asked her to do this and that, it would not be good.
"Between you and me, why should we hesitate?" He pulled her into his arms, his chin gently resting on the top of her head. "Being used by you is my promise, and the only thing I can give you. Don't be defensive, and don't hold back."
"Thank you, Pei Qinzhou." She leaned on his chest. "I need to find the Jiang family. I think there might still be relatives of mine in this world."
"..." He tightened his grip slightly. "Okay, I understand."
"Actually, if I could, I would want to be your only family. Because you are my only family... But as long as you are happy, it doesn't matter if there are other people in your world, I will love you with them."
These words were never spoken.
He didn't want to put her in a difficult position.
Having said that all I ask for is a brief reunion, how can I possibly ask for more?
It was midnight, and the candlelight was dim.
Wen Zhibai led Tao Zhi to the long street where Thirteen Niang was being settled. Tao Zhi gently knocked on the door, and the wooden door opened a crack in response.
"Miss Wen! You're back!" Thirteen Sister hurriedly welcomed them into the house. "I heard that Miss went to Liangchuan. Miss Taozhi and we have been working day and night to finish the job. We're all very worried."
"You've all worked hard these past few days. We should give you all some red envelopes." Wen Zhibai lifted her skirt and walked up to the attic.
The candlelight flickered, and the baby slept soundly. Thirteen-year-old sat by the bed, gently stroking the child's forehead.
Wen Zhibai walked up and gently touched her smooth and delicate face with her index finger: "It's so nice to be raised so well by your older sister."
"As a mother, I want to give my child the best. I only wish her to be healthy and happy."
His voice was choked with barely perceptible sobs.
Tao Zhi removed Wen Zhibai's cloak and brought him a chair. Shisan Niang took out a wooden box from under the bed, lifted the covering, and took out a long scroll.
“Ms. Wen, this is a joint lawsuit filed by the sisters.”
Wen Zhibai unfurled the long scroll, his fingertips tracing the names written in blood—
Twenty-four in total.
“Miss, there were supposed to be eighty people… but they’re all gone. The survivors are all here.”
“Eighty living lives…” Wen Zhibai’s hand trembled slightly; the number was more than she had imagined.
"It's already past midnight, they should be here by now. As for what you want to know, Miss, they will tell you themselves..."
After one incense stick
Four women dressed in black robes knocked on the door, and the three of them came downstairs to greet them.
Thirteen Sister spoke first: "This is Miss Wen."
"Please tell me, sisters, please tell me, what exactly did that witchcraft workshop do to you?"
One of them pulled back his hood, revealing a haggard face: "We are all victims who have nowhere to turn for help in the witchcraft brothel. The brothel owner, the witch Xibei, colluded with a noblewoman to prey on us helpless women—either widows whose husbands died in battle or weak women whose families have no men to support them!"
Tao Zhi gasped, "But why would they do this!"
"For her son's future!" Another person's eyes flashed with hatred. "Two years ago, I went to the witchcraft brothel to pray for a child and overheard their secret conversation. The witch doctor Xibei said that to gather the blood, a total of eighty-one women's lives needed to be sacrificed!"
Tao Zhi: "But then again, we're still missing one last person."
Eighty-one lives... eighty names...
Wen Zhibai suddenly trembled.
Perhaps, the last one isn't nonexistent—
It was her mother, Jiang Xuwan.
Thirteen Sister knelt on the ground, tears falling onto the floor: "We don't know how noble that lady is. We have no way to appeal, but if this blood feud is not avenged, those sisters who died unjustly will never rest in peace! Please, Miss, do us justice. We will serve you like a slave for the rest of our lives without any complaints!"
Wen Zhibai quickly bent down to help her up: "Thirteenth Sister, this is not only your enemy, but also my hatred."
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