title of Lady of the County
The other party was not particularly surprised to see Pei Qingwu bow down.
"How did you find out?" Crown Prince Li Chen asked slowly.
Pei Qingwu replied, "Who else but His Highness the Crown Prince could be protected by the Imperial Guards General?"
Cui Chengzhou's armor was so easy to recognize.
"Then the younger sister Your Highness speaks of must be Princess Shouchun."
Li Chen smiled and said, "Master Pei is indeed intelligent."
After Pei Qingwu echoed a few words of "undeserved praise," he couldn't help but think of something else—
Now that even the Crown Prince has fled, has Chang'an already fallen?
As if hearing her thoughts, Li Chen said, "The rebel army attacked Tongguan a few days ago. The defending general fought bravely and died. The Emperor... then fled southwest with the Imperial Concubine and others."
Pei Qingwu stared wide-eyed in surprise.
"We only learned of this when we went to court and couldn't see the Emperor for a long time. We asked the palace eunuchs. By then, the army was already at the city gates, so we could only flee in panic. Fortunately, General Cui and I were on good terms..."
As he spoke, Li Chen's voice lowered.
Having been in this era for so long, Pei Qingwu had heard some of the royal secrets.
Under the patriarchal clan system, the heir should be the eldest son of the legitimate wife. However, the emperor's empress had been unable to conceive for a long time. After weighing the options, the emperor appointed Li Qian, the eldest son of Consort Zhao, as the crown prince.
Li Qian was quick-witted and eager to learn from a young age, and was exceptionally intelligent. Under the careful guidance of his teachers, he became even more accomplished in both literature and military affairs, and was a very good heir apparent.
But as the emperor grew older and more senile, the crown prince's excellence became his death warrant.
Ultimately, framed by the favored concubine, the crown prince was deposed and died in confinement, also implicating his two brothers.
With his older brothers all gone, the fifth prince, Li Chen, became the emperor's eldest son and ascended to the position of crown prince.
Even someone as talented as Li Qian couldn't sit still, let alone someone as mediocre as him.
In addition, his birth mother was not favored by the emperor and died early, and his maternal family could not help him. He was walking on thin ice and was even forced to divorce his former crown princess.
Even when the sage fled south, he didn't take him with him.
Ultimately, he was just an ordinary person and couldn't handle such a major event.
"May I ask, Your Highness, what are your plans after arriving in Lingwu?"
Perhaps it was because his nerves had been too tense during the past few days of fleeing, but Li Chen was willing to have a heart-to-heart talk with a merchant girl: "The military governor of Shuofang is General Cui's elder. He has already sent a letter to him. He is a loyal minister and will come to my aid."
"As for what comes next, let's just take it one step at a time."
The campfire crackled, and the buried taro and chestnuts were all roasted, emitting a delicious aroma that was incredibly tempting on this cold and tense night.
Pei Qingwu noticed Li Chen's nostrils twitch and tentatively asked, "The conditions are not good now, and this is all the coarse food we have. Does Your Highness find it offensive?"
"Not at all, not at all." Li Chen waved his hand and said, "It's already very good that we have food to eat. I should thank Master Pei properly."
Besides the roasted taro and chestnuts, Pei Qingwu also brought some pastries and snacks that he carried with him and distributed them to Li Chen and his entourage.
The other party was naturally very grateful.
"Master Pei's actions are truly a timely help. If there's anything you want, please feel free to ask, and I will do my best to fulfill it within my capabilities," Li Chen said gently.
Pei Qingwu's heart stirred.
He knew he hadn't made the wrong bet. If Li Chen could successfully ascend the throne, he would be the strongest ally he could rely on.
He was incredibly excited inside, but his face remained calm and composed.
"Your Highness, you flatter me. My only wish now is for the world to be at peace so I can continue running my shop. As for Your Highness's favor..."
Pei Qingwu paused.
Since the superior has given it to me, I should accept it gracefully.
"May I ask Your Highness to pay me back first, and I will come back to ask for it back once I have thought it through?"
Li Chen laughed heartily upon hearing this: "Of course."
As dawn broke, the campfire burned out, leaving only a pile of gray embers.
Both sides packed their belongings.
Li Chen solemnly cupped his hands to Pei Qingwu and Gu Heng: "Master Pei, Young Master Gu, I will always remember your kindness in helping me and providing me with food last night. If we have the chance to meet again in the future, I will definitely repay you handsomely."
Cui Chengzhou also clasped his hands in a fist salute, and the armor made a slight clanging sound.
Pei Qingwu and Gu Heng quickly returned the greeting.
"Your Highness, General Cui, you flatter me. It was just a small favor. I wish you all a safe journey and a speedy arrival in Lingwu."
After parting ways, the two groups headed in the same direction, but due to their different identities and speeds, they quickly drifted apart.
Pei Qingwu and Gu Heng drove their carriage along the official road. The closer they got to Lingwu, the more they could feel the tense atmosphere brought about by the war.
The number of refugees has increased significantly. They bring their families with them, their faces are filled with despair, and their eyes are filled with uncertainty and fear about the future.
On the road, messengers or small groups of troops would occasionally gallop by on horseback, kicking up clouds of dust.
As they approached the city gate, the checks became exceptionally strict.
The number of soldiers guarding the city had increased several times over. Each of them held a long halberd, their faces solemn, and their sharp eyes scanning everyone who entered the city.
The queue to enter the city moved slowly, with occasional questions and shouts heard.
When it was Pei Qingwu's turn, the soldiers carefully checked their travel permits and searched the items in the carriage. Seeing that they were ordinary people carrying only daily necessities and nothing prohibited, they waved them on, but did not forget to sternly remind them: "Troublemaking is strictly prohibited in the city. If you find any suspicious persons, you must report them to the authorities immediately!"
"Thank you, sir. We understand," Pei Qingwu replied in a low voice, exchanging a relieved look with Gu Heng.
Upon entering Lingwu City, a completely different yet equally heavy atmosphere, unlike the chaos along the way, immediately hits you.
Although this place has temporarily escaped the flames of war and gained a respite, the shadow of war hangs over every inch of space like an invisible net.
Most pedestrians on the street walked in a hurry, their faces solemn and few smiles. Although most of the shops along the street were still open, there were few customers and many shelves looked quite empty.
Everywhere you look, you see refugees fleeing from the war zone, huddled in corners or standing blankly on the street with empty eyes.
Discussions about soaring prices were incessant; the prices of a peck of rice and a foot of cloth had become staggering, and panic was spreading silently.
Pei Qingwu had no time to examine the city closely; his immediate priority was to find Qian Tao and the others.
Following the address on the letter from her memory, she inquired and identified the place several times before finally stopping in front of a relatively secluded courtyard in the western part of the city.
The house had blue brick walls, a black lacquered wooden door, and a slightly worn door knocker, but overall it seemed to be a respectable family. In this chaotic world, Qian Tao and her family must have put in a lot of effort to find such a place to stay.
"This should be it." Pei Qingwu muttered to himself, repeatedly checking the address in his mind. Only after confirming that it was correct did he raise his hand and knock on the door knocker.
The crisp sound of the impact was particularly clear in the quiet alley.
Footsteps soon echoed from inside the courtyard, and a wary female voice asked, "Who is it?"
It was Qian Tao's voice.
“It’s me, Qingwu,” Pei Qingwu replied quickly, her voice trembling slightly with excitement.
There was a moment of silence inside the door, followed by the sound of the bolt being pulled open quickly.
The door creaked open a crack, revealing Qian Tao's noticeably thinner face.
When she saw that the people standing outside the door were indeed the familiar Pei Qingwu and Gu Heng, she was stunned at first, then blinked in disbelief.
Immediately, a wave of surprise washed over her, instantly dispelling all the gloom on her face.
"Master! Aheng! You've finally arrived!" Qiantao's voice suddenly rose as she flung the door open, quickly ushering the two in. She then turned towards the courtyard, almost shouting, "Yinlan! Fifth Sister! Xiaoyi! Fanghua! Baizhi! Quick! Come out quickly! See who's here! It's Master and Aheng! They've arrived safely!"
A flurry of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed through the courtyard. The crowd rushed to the gate, surrounding Pei Qingwu and Gu Heng, greeting them all at once. Their voices mingled together, filled with the excitement of surviving a close call.
"Master, did you encounter any trouble on the way?"
"Aheng seems to have lost some weight..."
"We were so worried! We were counting down the days, just in case..."
"It's good that you're safe and sound!"
Pei Qingwu was enveloped by this deep concern, and the hardships of the journey were all forgotten. Looking around at the familiar faces, although they all looked weathered and their eyes still held lingering fear, they all stood there safely.
My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled back down.
"Alright, alright, we're all fine now, it's all over." Pei Qingwu tried to calm herself down and gently patted the hands of Yu Yi and Ji Fanghua, who were closest to her: "I'm relieved to see that you're both safe and sound."
After the initial excitement, everyone surrounded Pei Qingwu and Gu Heng as they entered the house.
After settling down a bit and drinking some hot water to catch his breath, Pei Qingwu asked Qian Tao and the others about their journey in detail.
Qian Tao patted her chest, still shaken but also relieved, and began to recount: "Our journey was quite eventful, thankfully without any major incidents. We were fortunate that our employer had made proper arrangements beforehand. The镖局 (bodyguard agencies) we hired were all experienced and dedicated veterans. They chose relatively safe routes along the way, trying to avoid large groups of refugees and places where there might be soldiers. At night, they also sought out reliable inns or villages to stay in, so we didn't suffer too much hardship."
She paused, a hint of annoyance on her face, and continued, "It was just three days ago, when we were almost at Lingwu City. We stopped at a market to replenish our rations. With so many people around, when Fifth Sister was checking our belongings, she discovered that two packages containing a lot of money had been stolen without our knowledge. It's really impossible to guard against! Luckily, we discovered it early, and no one was hurt. The money we kept close to our bodies and the money belonging to the eldest brother are still here."
Wu Niang added from the side, "Yes, we were terrified at the time and quickly left that place. Fortunately, Lingwu was right in front of us."
Upon hearing this, Pei Qingwu breathed a sigh of relief and gently comforted him, "It's fortunate that no one is hurt. It's certainly painful to lose money, but it's just material possessions. As long as you're alive, there's always a way to earn it back."
Then, she remembered Shi Dayong and Jinniang, who were also on the run: "By the way, is there any way to contact Brother Dayong and Jinniang?"
Yin Lan replied, "Don't worry, boss. As soon as we settled in Lingwu, we immediately came up with a plan. We've already asked several caravans traveling between Lingwu and the surrounding areas to deliver a message, saying that we've settled here. We hope that if Brother Shi and the others escape, they'll see the message and come to Lingwu to join us as soon as possible."
"But in this chaotic world, whether the letter can be delivered, whether they can receive it, and when it will arrive are all up to fate."
Pei Qingwu nodded, understanding that this was the limit of what he could do at the moment.
In chaotic times, with communication cut off and human life hanging by a thread, it seems there is no other way but to wait and pray.
She could only silently hope that Shi Dayong, Jinniang's family, and her friends in Qinzhou would all be blessed with good fortune and get through this ordeal safely.
Over the next few days, Pei Qingwu settled in and familiarized himself with the situation in Lingwu City while keeping a close eye on all developments within the city.
Within days, astonishing news spread rapidly throughout the streets and alleys of Lingwu City.
With the support and protection of the military governor of Shuofang and a group of loyal generals such as Cui Chengzhou, Crown Prince Li Chen has officially ascended the throne in Lingwu and succeeded to the throne.
He issued an edict, proclaiming to the world that the sage who had fled south to Shu was now honored as the Supreme Emperor. The central government was temporarily established in Lingwu. He regrouped, based on the Shuofang Army, and called upon all loyal and righteous men to join him in the national crisis, to punish the traitor Murong Chengen, and to restore the nation.
The news caused an uproar in Lingwu City.
Many officials, scholars, generals, and ordinary people who were unwilling to submit to the rebels and were loyal to the current dynasty flocked to join them from all directions.
Lingwu, which was originally just a border military town, became a new political and military center overnight.
However, with the new dynasty newly established and everything in need of rebuilding, the biggest problem also became apparent – the Shuofang Army itself had limited reserves, and the sudden increase in personnel, as well as the upcoming military operation to quell the rebellion, required a huge amount of money and food every day.
Even the most skilled cook cannot cook without rice; without sufficient logistical support, even the highest morale cannot be sustained.
Pei Qingwu keenly noticed this.
She knew the principle that "when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact." If Li Chen's new court could not gain a foothold and could not successfully quell the rebellion, then the world would inevitably fall into greater chaos, with warlords rising up and carving out their own territories, and the flames of war spreading for who knows how long.
By then, let alone reopening her shop and starting a business, even finding a peaceful place would be a pipe dream.
All her previous efforts and accumulations may be wiped out in this catastrophe.
Moreover, the "blessing" that Li Chen personally promised by the campfire that night still echoed in my ears.
This is not just a promise, but also an opportunity.
Offering help in times of need is far better than adding flowers to brocade. Extending a helping hand when the new emperor is in his most difficult time and needs support the most has a significance and value that cannot be compared to times of peace.
She discussed her ideas with everyone.
Yin Lan pondered for a moment and was the first to express her support: "What the master is worried about is very true. In the current situation, we are already tied to the new dynasty. Helping the new emperor is helping ourselves. Wealth can be earned back, but if the world is in chaos and our foundation is destroyed, everything will be over."
Although Qian Tao felt sorry for the wealth she had worked so hard to accumulate, she understood the reasoning behind it and nodded, saying, "Whatever the boss decides, we will all listen to you."
Fifth Sister also said, "Yes, if Master hadn't led us away from Qin Prefecture early, we would probably be... It's only right that we can help now."
Seeing that everyone was in agreement, Pei Qingwu no longer hesitated.
She personally inventoried and calculated the majority of their belongings, including gold, silver, jewelry, and a large amount of cash savings from running the Sushan market, and packed them into boxes.
She didn't give up everything, after all, her family still needed to live in Lingwu and needed capital to find new opportunities.
But what was donated was already an astonishingly large sum of money.
Then, through Cui Chengzhou's channels, he presented the money and a sincere letter expressing his intention to "sacrifice his family's wealth to relieve the country's difficulties and fund the army."
The arrival of this huge sum of money was like a timely rain after a long drought for the new dynasty, which was struggling to make ends meet in terms of military expenses.
Upon hearing the news, Li Chen felt a complex mix of emotions.
I was both surprised and deeply moved, and my respect for them grew even stronger.
He knew that Pei Qingwu was just a merchant. In such chaotic times, the fact that he could take out almost half of his wealth to support him, a new emperor with an uncertain future, showed that his courage, foresight, and loyalty to the monarch far surpassed that of many officials and noble families who made empty promises.
Especially at this moment, when he is weak, powerless, and in a sorry state, he is all the more precious.
Returning a favor is also setting an example.
A few days later, a bright yellow imperial edict, escorted by a eunuch and several imperial guards, arrived at the small courtyard where Pei Qingwu was temporarily residing.
The people inside the courtyard had already received the news, so they burned incense, washed their hands, and waited respectfully.
The official who proclaimed the imperial edict unfolded it and read it aloud. In the elegant parallel prose, he praised Pei Qingwu for being "commendable in loyalty and righteousness, deeply understanding the greater good, sacrificing his family to relieve the difficulties, and worthy of being a role model." He specially conferred upon her the title of "Lady of Jianing" to commend her achievements and praise her virtues.
"Lady Jianing, please accept the imperial decree and express your gratitude."
Pei Qingwu suppressed the turmoil in her heart, kowtowed according to etiquette, raised her hands above her head, and respectfully accepted the imperial edict that symbolized her status and honor: "This commoner, Pei Qingwu, thanks Your Majesty for your great grace! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"
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