Chapter 77 "Now she is free."...
After seeing Fan Qingxi off, the two were "invited" back to the hall by Minister Lü.
Shen Lingyue sat at the lower end of the table and said sincerely, "Lord Lü, there's no need to be so polite. To be honest, my sister-in-law and I weren't much of a help. Now that Zong-ge'er is safe and sound, and you and Lord Lü are finally reunited as father and son, shouldn't the whole family close the door and celebrate properly? Right?"
Minister Lü was speechless for a long time after she rattled off a string of questions.
When he was Minister of Justice, he was known for his ruthlessness. Even after retiring, he was still the absolute head of the household. His daughters-in-law and grandchildren treated him with utmost respect. Who would dare to speak to him like that?
However, these two were, after all, the young mistresses of the Marquis of Changning's mansion, and their marriage was bestowed by the Emperor. Even out of consideration for the Pei, Shen, and Zhou families, Minister Lü could not be too harsh on them.
He cleared his throat, trying to make his stern face appear more amiable. "Please have a seat for a moment. I only have one more question: how did you two learn that my son's identity had been stolen?"
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi exchanged a glance, their faces showing just the right amount of bewilderment.
"Lord Lü was replaced...didn't they just admit it themselves?"
“That’s not right.” Xu Yanhe retorted, staring intently at Shen Lingyue, “On the night of the Lantern Festival, you and Young Master Pei followed me to the tavern and said to Lu Donglou in person that I was a fake.”
Shen Lingyue's eyes widened, her face full of innocence. "Who followed you? You were the one who sneaked away from the Lü family's lantern-watching group. My husband and I were there to catch Qingxi cheating on her!"
Xu Yanhe froze, instinctively looking at Lü Lin, "I didn't—"
“You do,” Yan Yi spoke up at the opportune moment, her tone icy. “If you hadn’t been so cold to Sister Qingxi, how could she have misunderstood that you were seeing someone else? She even came to us a few days ago to complain about running into you in the red-light district…”
Lu Lin suddenly remembered that he had gone to the red-light district that day to find a spy of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to pass on information, but he was unexpectedly seen by Qingxi. He was caught off guard and panicked, which is why he ran away and seemed very guilty.
Fortunately, Xu Yanhe was nearby at the time and appeared in time to cover for him.
With Yan Yi's help, Shen Lingyue became even more self-righteous, "It was clearly your poor performance that aroused suspicion, yet you want to pin it on me? When I said you're 'fake,' I wasn't referring to your identity, but to your feelings for Sister Qingxi!"
"That's right, you broke Qingxi's heart first, which is why she suspected that her husband had changed his body. Otherwise, why is he different from the gentle and considerate newlywed husband he was ten years ago?"
The two of them, speaking in unison, left Lü Lin and Xu Yanhe speechless.
Lu Lin subconsciously stroked the yellowed and frayed purse hidden in his chest. It was embroidered by Qingxi herself not long after he and Qingxi got married.
For the past ten years, he has carried it with him every day, and several times he has been unable to suppress the urge in his heart, wanting to rush into her room and tell her the truth.
But he was even more afraid of meeting her shocked and disappointed gaze.
What happened back then was a mistake, and what's done is done. From the moment he abandoned Qingxi for the greater good, there was no turning back.
His only hope was that Xu Yanhe could completely replace him, including his position in Qingxi's heart, and become a husband who cared for and loved her.
But... why are these two accusing and blaming Yan He for hurting Qingxi's feelings?
He couldn't help but question Xu Yanhe with his eyes: "Why didn't you treat her well during the years I was away?"
Xu Yanhe dared not meet his gaze, and turned her face away somewhat awkwardly, her voice hoarse.
"Because I...feel guilty."
Ten years ago, Lü Lin and Xu Yanhe hastily switched identities. No one knew how long this situation would last or how they would have to be honest about it in the future.
He was a poor scholar who grew up in the Northwest, lost his parents at an early age, and relied on the kindness of relatives to help him grow up. He barely had any academic talent. Even if he was lucky enough to pass the imperial examinations and enter the capital, he would still be a poor scholar with no background or ability. How could he possibly dream of marrying a noble lady like Fan Qingxi?
To him, she was always like the bright moon hanging high in the sky, unattainable and only worthy of his reverence; he dared not have the slightest thought of desecration.
Every day he spent as husband and wife with Qingxi felt like a stolen moment. The more careful he was, the more he pretended not to care. He could only try his best to appear diligent in his official duties, using the toil of paperwork to numb himself and suppress the growing desires in his heart.
He even had some wicked fantasies: what if Lü Lin stayed in the northern desert and never came back? Would he then be able to be with Qingxi openly and never have to be separated again?
The next moment he would despise himself, how could he be so despicable as to abandon his great cause for personal feelings?
Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, yet they also seem to have been an exceptionally long and agonizing time.
Now the day has come for them to face the harsh reality.
An eerie silence fell over the hall. The two men, who looked alike, remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts.
Minister Lü cleared his throat helplessly, trying to steer the conversation back to the topic that Shen Lingyue had taken a long way off from.
"Since things have come to this, allow me to take advantage of my age for once. I ask that you two keep today's events a secret and not divulge even a whisper of them, otherwise you will be suspected of treason—"
"Minister Lü, what an imposing official you are!"
Pei Jingyi strode into the hall, his handsome face cold and stern. He was dressed in the official robes of a sixth-rank official, yet his aura was in no way inferior to that of the former second-rank minister.
As soon as he appeared, Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had found their pillar of support, and stood up behind him.
"My husband."
"Big brother!"
Pei Jinghuai entered the house a step later, and the first thing he did was pull Shen Lingyue up and down, asking, "The Lü family hasn't bullied you, has they?"
Shen Lingyue shook her head and mouthed "thank you" to Lü Chong, who was peeking out from behind the door.
—Just now, she and Yan Yi were detained at the gate. Fortunately, she was careful and told Lü Chong to quickly go out of the mansion to get help.
Pei Jingyi came directly from the Ministry of War. He quickly regulated his breathing and, like a patriarch, protected his wife, younger brother, and sister-in-law behind him.
"Minister Lü was incorruptible throughout his life, treating everyone equally, from princes and nobles to commoners, which was admirable. How come now that he is old and retired, he only knows how to use empty talk about loyalty to the emperor and patriotism to threaten two defenseless young women?"
Pei Jingyi flicked his sleeves, his brows and eyes cold and stern, his words sharp and incisive.
“My wife and sister-in-law were invited to the Lü family as guests, but unfortunately they got involved in your family’s secrets. Even if Minister Lü hadn’t threatened them, would the Changning Marquis’s family be the kind of family that would spread rumors and gossip everywhere? The two of them were just speaking out out of sympathy for Madam Fan after being deceived for ten years. How did they get dragged into the crime of treason? Such a big label can’t be slapped on our family.”
With someone backing her up, Shen Lingyue became even bolder and chimed in, "That's right, that's right. You wronged Sister Qingxi first, and now that you've done it, are you afraid of what we'll say?"
Being reprimanded by a younger generation member made Minister Lü lose face. Ultimately, the Lü family was at fault, and he had no choice but to clean up the mess for his impulsive and inflexible eldest son.
“Master Pei, you flatter me. The Changning Marquis’s mansion has always been loyal to the emperor and I trust the Pei family’s character. Of course, I can understand the feelings of the two young mistresses, but this is ultimately a family matter of our Lü family.”
Minister Lü deliberately emphasized this, clearly because he didn't want Shen Lingyue and the others to interfere too much.
"Minister Lü, you also have a daughter. Put yourself in her shoes. If your daughter had suffered such a great deception and ten years of hardship, would you still be sitting here calmly offering some meaningless words of comfort?"
Pei Jingyi gave Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi a look that said, "Take it easy."
"If my wife and my siblings hadn't been here today, what would you have planned to do? Cover her with a quilt and force Madam Fan to accept her mistake and swallow the bitter pill of the past ten years under the guise of filial piety and womanly virtue?"
Pei Jingyi pressed closer, his gaze seemingly able to see through everything, piercing through Minister Lü's initial assumptions.
"How can the son of the Lü family be a son, while the daughter of the Fan family isn't a daughter? In my opinion, you should all be glad that Madam Fan is a woman of great understanding and righteousness. She just left the mansion quietly to calm down for a while, instead of running back to her parents' home to cry and complain that the Lü family had tricked her into marriage. If the Fan family had really come knocking on our door, then the Lü and Fan families wouldn't have formed a marriage alliance, but rather an enmity."
Lu Lin stepped forward, looking disapprovingly at the young man who was like a sword drawn from its sheath, his eyes flashing with cold light. "Master Pei, even if you are the heir of a marquis's mansion, you have no right to interfere in the affairs of my Lu family at will."
“I have not come here today to be your family’s judge.”
Pei Jingyi had one hand behind his back, using the wide sleeve to conceal it, and subtly hooked Yan Yi's little finger around it.
"Whether you believe it or not, it was the Pei family women who first suspected Lü Lin's identity was suspicious—I would like to ask Minister Lü a question: you are well-versed in the laws of Da Ye, what crime should be committed for impersonating an official?"
Minister Lü's voice was filled with weariness and weakness, "...he should be sentenced to hanging."
"That's right. Neither of them knew beforehand that Lü Lin and this Mr. Xu had switched identities for the greater good of the country. If they discovered that the identities of the officials registered with the court were problematic, why couldn't they investigate and report it? May I ask where they went wrong?"
Pei Jingyi glanced at the two of them indifferently, "In the end, if you had trusted Madam Fan a little more, been a little more honest, and told her the truth earlier, she would have cooperated with you to finish this good show of switching the pieces, and there would have been no kidnapping incident today."
He no longer concealed himself and openly grasped Yan Yi's hand, their fingers intertwined.
"The word 'wife' means 'to be in harmony.' After marriage, we are bound together by a bond of love and trust. A wife should be the one who accompanies her husband the longest, besides his parents and children, and walks hand in hand with him through life. But you two... are both unsuitable matches."
...
As soon as they left the Lü family home, Shen Lingyue showered them with compliments as if they were free.
"Big brother, from now on you're my real big brother!"
Oh my god, how can someone be so good at cursing! He took on three men at once and didn't fall behind at all, completely silencing the men of the Lü family!
Pei Jingyi glanced at her helplessly and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"It's all because you've been causing trouble everywhere... If I hadn't taken the moral high ground first, would the Lü family have let it go so easily?"
Since the Lü family kept saying they were fighting for the greater good of the country and for peace on the border, he could only go a step further and use the phrase his younger siblings often used: "magic defeats magic."
After walking a distance from the Lü family residence, Pei Jingyi coughed lightly, lowering his voice.
"Tell me honestly, was it you who gave Mrs. Fan this idea?"
Shen Lingyue looked up at the sky, trying to play dumb, "No."
Yan Yi tugged at Pei Jingyi's sleeve, "The idea came from both of us, so blame me if you want."
Pei Jingyi could easily see that she was sharing the blame for Shen Lingyue. But since the two of them were clearly going to stick together, he chuckled helplessly and had no choice but to give up.
Just as he was helping Yan Yi into the carriage, he quickly leaned close to her ear and whispered something.
"Okay, I'll settle the score with you slowly when we get back tonight."
...
A few days later, at the grand court assembly, the officials looked in horror at a scarlet figure standing at the far left.
A silent terror permeated the hall. From front to back, countless glances met, all conveying a terrifying message—
Lu Donglou! That man is back!
If the current commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Lord Lu Sheng, is somewhat cautious in his actions, and can even be described as fair and benevolent, and has a good reputation in the court, he is not quite like the stereotypical spy chief who would confiscate property and exterminate clans at the drop of a hat and is skilled in 180 kinds of torture.
Unfortunately, Lu Donglou was such a person. His actions were fierce and cruel, and his methods were so ruthless and vicious that he was hardly like Lu Sheng's biological son.
When he was transferred to the border by Emperor Qingxi, all the officials in the capital secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and some even wished they could hold a three-day banquet at home.
Now that this evil spirit has suddenly returned to the capital, who knows how many heinous crimes he has brought back, and how many families will never see the sun rise again...
As expected, as soon as Emperor Qingxi appeared, the chief eunuch announced the start of court. Lu Donglou didn't give anyone a chance to speak at all. He had two large baskets of thick lists of crimes brought into the hall. They were all lists of officials who had been bribed by the Northern Desert over the years, including how much gold, silver, land, and beautiful women they had received, how much intelligence they had passed on to the Northern Desert openly and secretly, and how many mistakes and defeats they had indirectly caused in the war.
Lu Donglou held the death list in his hand. As he read out a name, an official would kneel down, trembling like a leaf, and beg for mercy.
Before long, half of the dark mass of people in the hall were gone, falling down in unison as if harvesting wheat.
Even more timid officials, before Emperor Qingxi could even speak to punish them, would faint or wet themselves in fear. A foul, fishy stench would spread, making the other officials roll their eyes. They dared not raise their hands to cover their noses, and could only try their best to hold their breath and endure it.
Emperor Qingxi listened silently to the long list of names. Even without uttering a word, his invisible imperial might seemed to materialize, heavily enveloping the hall and filling it with an immense sense of impending doom.
He tapped the armrest of the dragon throne repeatedly, the jade thumb ring striking against it with a crisp sound, like a death knell.
Emperor Qingxi looked coldly at the old man kneeling at the front.
"Wang Hong, are you surprised? I've clearly sidelined you for years, why are you suddenly bringing this up again?"
Wang Hong lowered his kneeling body even further, and spoke tremblingly, "Your subject is guilty, your subject is terrified..."
"You are guilty, you deserve to die!"
Emperor Qingxi roared like thunder, abruptly rising to his feet and pointing at him, "I gave you a chance, letting you return to the capital to live a life of luxury. As long as you behaved yourself, I could forgive all your past crimes. But what did you do? Are you very smug, thinking that I am old and senile, that I can deceive and fool you, that you can collude with those above and below in the capital, that you still regard the far-off Northwest as your fiefdom, and that you even allow your trusted subordinates to collude with the northern deserts, raising bandits to enhance your own power!"
He grabbed the teacup beside him and smashed it down on his face.
"Shameless traitor, unworthy of being a subject! Don't forget where your title comes from—it was inherited from your great-grandmother, who was renowned for her military exploits and refused to surrender even in the face of death! Marquis of Weiyuan…you dare to call yourself worthy?!"
...
Overnight, the imperial court underwent a complete upheaval.
An ominous gloom hung over the capital. Every household closed their doors, and the air was thick with fear. Even street vendors would hide at the mere sight of the black and red brocade robes of the Imperial Guards.
The mastermind behind all this, Emperor Qingxi, is secretly summoning Lü Lin, Xu Yanhe, and Minister Lü to the warm pavilion.
He took a few steps down and personally helped Lü Lin up. His gaze swept over Lü Lin's weathered face and hideous scars, filled with emotion and sighs.
"My dear minister, you truly deserve to be called the pillar of my Great Ye. You have raised a fine son," Emperor Qingxi praised Minister Lü.
Minister Lü hurriedly said that he dared not, "This old minister is willing to serve the Great Ye and Your Majesty with utmost devotion, even unto death. I only ask that Your Majesty forgive Lü Lin for acting on his own initiative and ordering someone else to take his place in office."
Lu Lin took a half step back and knelt down again. "This sinful subject dares not presume to ask Your Majesty for leniency, but I beg Your Majesty to forgive Yan He for his innocence, for he is also a person who has rendered meritorious service to the country."
"Both of you, raise your heads."
Emperor Qingxi looked the two faces back and forth, and couldn't help but slap his thigh, "They look alike, they look exactly alike, they're practically twins! How could such a thing happen in the world? It's truly a blessing from heaven to send me two capable ministers and generals like you."
He nodded appreciatively at Xu Yanhe, "I used to think you were just Minister Lü's son. Whenever I received a report from 'Lü Lin' showing how well you managed Yunzhou, I would praise you, saying that like father, like son. I never expected this."
Lu Donglou, who was serving by my side like a ghost, suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty sent me to the border to investigate spies in the army. Fortunately, Lord Lü Lin appeared and helped me. He handed over the intelligence he had collected over the years and cooperated with me in the northern desert to act according to the situation, which is why we have achieved such a successful result today."
"The two of you, one in the open and one in the shadows, are working together under the identity of Lü Lin to protect our country. You are both loyal subjects of Daye!"
Emperor Qingxi: "I will not pursue the matter of the substitution, but it is not convenient to make this public. Besides that, what other rewards do you two want? Just say the word."
Lu Lin and Xu Yanhe exchanged a glance and knelt down in unison.
"Your Majesty, we have no other requests, only one wish—"
...
"Extra! Extra!"
Shen Lingyue rushed into Jiusi Courtyard like a gust of wind, winking at Yan Yi, "The order for Lü Lin to remain in the capital has come down, guess what it is?"
Yan Yi suppressed a laugh and pretended to think seriously for a moment, "Could it be the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?"
Shen Lingyue puffed out her cheeks and let out a soft snort, as if she were a deflated balloon. "Big brother must have told you beforehand, right?"
"...No, he was just guessing, saying that this was the most likely possibility."
Yan Yi quickly pulled the person over and coaxed her a few times, "Tell me quickly, what other first-hand information have you received?"
Shen Lingyue perked up again, "Of course, don't underestimate my intelligence network."
She excitedly shared with Yan Yi, "Lu Lin was appointed as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a third-rank official—but we all know that the one who actually got this position was Xu Yanhe, after all, he served as an official in the Northwest for ten years, he is capable and experienced."
"What about the real Lü Lin? How will his identity be restored?" Yan Yi asked. "Or... will they just be completely switched?"
Shen Lingyue nodded, "Yes, Zhen Lülin will join the Embroidered Uniform Guard under the identity of Xu Yanhe, serving as the Deputy Commander, a third-rank official, in charge of the Northwest Garrison Command, and will continue to be responsible for border military intelligence."
Yan Yi seemed to be thinking, "Being only half a grade lower than Xu Yanhe is already very good."
"Oh dear, the official system of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is different from that of civil officials. Lu Xilou is only a fourth-rank commander. How can he compare to a fourth-rank prefect in terms of power?"
Shen Lingyue shook her head, looking like she knew it all.
Hehe, she learned all of this in an emergency cramming session, just waiting to show it off to Yan Yi ^_^
“There’s more.” Shen Lingyue clapped her hands. “Right now, everyone in the capital is saying that the newly appointed ‘Xu Tongzhi’ of the Embroidered Uniform Guard looks remarkably like Minister Lü of the Court of Judicial Review. The two seem like half-brothers. Even Minister Lü was alarmed, saying it was a predestined fate. And coincidentally, ‘Xu Tongzhi’ is an orphan, all alone. Minister Lü has decided to adopt him as his son, and they will treat each other like family from now on.”
Yan Yi's eyes flickered slightly, as if she were deep in thought.
"It seems the Lü family has decided to go with the flow and keep both their biological son and their adopted son."
She chuckled softly, "Minister Lü is quite the schemer. He's really in the wrong place; he should be the Minister of Revenue."
Shen Lingyue pouted, "That's right, the Lü family has gained both substance and prestige, and even won over the old emperor. This will ensure prosperity for three generations."
After making a few complaints, Shen Lingyue suddenly had a whimsical idea, "Shall we go see Sister Qingxi? I wonder how she's been doing lately."
Yan Yi was also somewhat tempted and agreed.
She smiled and corrected Shen Lingyue's form of address, "You can't call her Sister Qingxi anymore, you have to call her—"
...
"Lady Deyi".
The two arrived at Fan Qingxi's house and greeted the woman who came out to greet them.
Fan Qingxi grabbed one of them with each hand and said with a light reproach, "It's one thing for outsiders to tease me, but you're making fun of me too."
Shen Lingyue smiled and said, "After all, she is a titled lady. In the future, Sister Qingxi will also be a noblewoman who can receive a salary from the imperial court."
Fan Qingxi curled her lips slightly, "What imperial title? It's just a debt and compensation that's ten years late. I don't really care about it."
—That's right, this is the reward that Lü Lin and Xu Yanhe jointly requested from Emperor Qingxi after discussing it.
On the day the imperial decree of investiture was issued, Mother Lü also came over to deliver a message on behalf of the Lü family.
"Qingxi, I know you don't want to see those two bastards, but this honor is yours to deserve. From now on, you can live here in peace. As long as you are willing, you will always be the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lü family, and Zongge'er's name will be recorded in the Lü family genealogy as the eldest grandson of the eldest branch, and this will never be changed."
Yan Yi said softly, "Having an imperial title is better than not having one. Right now, you and Lord Lü are still living separately. Even if you divorce in the future, the imperial title will not be taken back. Qingxi, you will still be Lady Deyi."
Shen Lingyue blinked and whispered gossipily, "Have Lü Lin and Xu Yanhe... come looking for you?"
Fan Qingxi nodded frankly, "Yes."
"So how did you deal with them?" Shen Lingyue's eyes lit up, rubbing her hands expectantly.
Fan Qingxi laughed at her words. She wasn't one to mince words, and said frankly, "Xu Yanhe came by a few days ago, saying he wanted to see Zong-ge'er. I asked him—Zong-ge'er is Lü Lin's son, who are you?"
"The next day, Lü Lin came and said he wanted to supervise Zong Ge'er's studies. I asked him, 'Is Zong Ge'er your own flesh and blood? What does it have to do with you whether he studies or not?'"
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi both burst out laughing.
That move was absolutely brilliant!
The two followed Fan Qingxi into the inner courtyard and were surprised to hear the sound of Zong Ge'er reading aloud coming from the east wing.
Fan Qingxi called out, "Zong-ge'er, come over and greet your two aunts."
The door opened, and Zong Ge'er walked out properly and bowed to the two of them.
"I have met Aunt Shen and Aunt Zhou."
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi were both shocked. Was this still the same little tyrant who caused all sorts of trouble?
What kind of magic pill did Fan Qingxi give him to transform him so quickly?
What did you learn from the teacher this morning?
Fan Qingxi quized him a few times, and Zong Ge'er answered haltingly, but it was clear that his attitude toward learning was quite positive.
She nodded in satisfaction and told Zong Ge'er to go play in the backyard for a quarter of an hour before coming back to continue reading.
"Thank you, Mother. I'll take my leave now."
Zong Ge'er went to the courtyard obediently, and soon after, loud shouts and playful noises came from inside.
Shen Lingyue patted her chest and sighed, "This is the Zong-ge'er I know."
Yan Yi couldn't help but become curious and asked Fan Qingxi how she disciplined Zong Ge'er.
She smiled slightly: "I only told Zong-ge'er that if he is still as unruly as before, I will divorce his father, and he will have to make a living under his stepmother and never see me again."
"Pfft, even a brat is afraid of his stepmother."
Shen Lingyue was relieved; it seemed there was still hope for this chubby boy.
That would be perfect, and it would also save Fan Qingxi a lot of trouble.
Sitting in the carriage on the way back to the Marquis's residence, Shen Lingyue kept chuckling, making Yan Yi feel uneasy. She asked her what was wrong.
Shen Lingyue whispered furtively, "Who do you think Sister Qingxi will choose in the end? One is the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and the other is the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Both are high-ranking officials with real power... No, no, only children make choices. We adults want both... Hey, is this a 'chasing-back-to-the-wife' scenario?"
Yan Yi could almost see her head full of yellow rubbish, and shook her head helplessly.
"After all this guessing, maybe she won't choose either of them?"
Yan Yi lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, and the cool breeze of early spring gently blew in. She looked at the newly sprouted willows by the street and said softly, "After all, she is free now."
...
That evening, Pei Jinghuai carried back a sheep, saying it was a gift from Lü Chong, the tenderest lamb from the Northwest.
After discussing it with Shen Lingyue, they decided to take the lamb to Jiusi Academy, where the four of them would roast a whole lamb together in the courtyard as a celebration.
"What are you celebrating? Are you celebrating that Lu Donglou didn't hold it against you and that the trouble he caused didn't implicate the Marquis's mansion?"
Pei Jingyi was sharp-tongued, scolding his troublesome younger brother and sister-in-law for a while, but in the end he gave in to his wife's pleas and ordered the incense and tea makers to prepare the mutton.
The tender, white lambs gradually turn golden and tempting under the charcoal fire, with rich drops of fat dripping down, spreading their aroma further and further away...
"Ha ha ha ha!"
A red figure darted up the wall, and a scarf appeared uninvited, circling the whole roasted lamb, drooling all over the ground.
The four humans and one fox ate and drank, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
Shen Lingyue drank a few cups of fruit wine, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling. She leaned against Pei Jinghuai and grinned foolishly. Suddenly, she sat up straight and raised her hand like a primary school student, "Big brother, I have a question."
Pei Jingyi raised an eyebrow slightly. "Speak."
"On New Year's Eve, the person Minister Lü saw in his ancestral hall must have been Lü Lin, who had secretly slipped back, right?"
Shen Lingyue was dizzy. "But why did he leave behind a yak tail?"
Pei Jingyi was cutting off the tenderest piece of meat from the lamb leg, slicing it into small pieces and placing it on Yan Yi's plate when he heard this. Without looking up, he said, "Lu Lin is going to infiltrate the northern desert to gather intelligence. His words and actions must be similar to those of the Hu people. Yaks are sacred beasts in their hearts. It is said that some tribes use parts of yaks as accessories to pray for peace."
Yan Yi thought for a moment and then said, "Perhaps there is another explanation—"
"Madam, don't rush to reveal the secret."
Pei Jingyi raised his hand, his peach blossom eyes, glistening with the wine, gazing intently at her. "How about we play a game?"
The four of them got up and went to the study. Pei Jingyi took out two pieces of paper and handed one to Yan Yi.
"Let's answer at the same time, and then have my second brother and sister-in-law be the judges to see if our answers match?"
Yan Yi rediscovered a long-lost competitive spirit, smiled, and nodded in agreement.
She and Pei Jingyi stood at opposite ends of the desk, picking up their pens to write.
"alright."
"I'm all better now."
The two spoke almost simultaneously.
"I'll go first." Pei Jinghuai walked behind Pei Jingyi and read out the answer, "Upholding integrity and dying for righteousness, his will remained unchanged..."
Shen Lingyue also came to Yan Yi's side, trying to open her eyes wide: "There was once a Han envoy named Su Wu, who herded sheep with his staff, holding it up whether he was lying down or getting up. Even when the tassels on his staff fell off, his will remained unchanged..."
She suddenly realized that this was the essay material she had written countless times since she was a child!
They were so busy sentimentalizing Su Wu herding sheep that no one told her that the "knot" she was holding was actually a yak's tail!
Shen Lingyue clenched her fist: "Waaaaah, I'll fight you academic geniuses to the death!"
Pei Jingyi returned to Yan Yi's side, embraced her, and said calmly, "My wife and I are indeed of one mind."
Shen Lingyue snorted.
What's so special about this? Did they show off their knowledge and their love at the same time?
I'm already stuffed with dog food, how am I supposed to eat a whole roasted lamb?!
-----------------------
Author's Note: Pei Da: Seemingly nonchalant, but secretly smug [doge emoji]
The scarf left in the yard: If you guys won't eat it, I will! (chewing) Hahahaha (chewing)
/This part is finally coming to an end [Let me see] Qingxi has been given an OE (Out of the Eye), she is free, she has a house, a son, and an imperial title, she can sleep with whomever she wants in the future (just kidding).
//Oh, and I really, really want to recommend Nanjing Photo Studio! Before watching it, I thought it would be one of those overly sentimental and tear-jerking films, but while it was still very moving, the whole story was expressed very calmly and restrainedly. After watching it, you didn't feel overwhelmed by sadness and despair; instead, you felt a sense of anger, which gave me the courage to fight back against this terrible world! [cheering][cheering]
While watching, I kept reflecting on myself, wondering where the line is between consuming suffering and remembering suffering, how to maintain humanistic concern, and how to express what I want to say with the utmost empathy... The movie was very well done; many plot points were left unsaid, but it truly had a powerful, silent impact [crying][crying]. I cried until the end, and all I had left in my bag was wet tissue; I was so embarrassed, constantly wiping my face TAT
And I really love the line from the end credits song, "My beloved, don't be sad / May your smile always be like that." I think that's what the director wanted to express: we shouldn't forget, but we should also bravely move forward. [heart emoji]
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