Chapter 258 Cry for Help
Pei Dong dared not sit down: "This old servant can speak standing up."
“At a time like this, Steward Pei is still calling himself ‘old servant.’ Mu Xun used to call you ‘Uncle Pei.’ If you don’t mind, I’ll call you ‘Uncle Pei’ now too.” Mu Xi simply stood up and gestured for him to sit down.
Pei Dong could not refuse and sat down below Mu Xi.
Mu Xi reached out and pulled Cao Pan'er back, saying, "You come and sit down too."
Cao Pan'er didn't refuse and sat down next to Mu Xi.
Mu Xi had just mentioned Mu Xun, and the first thing she asked was, "Uncle Pei, do you have any news about Mu Xun?"
Pei Dong was taken aback, then thought for a moment and shook his head: "No, ever since the Second Young Master and the Heir Apparent went on the 'Yanshan Hunting Trip', he has never returned to the Jun Mansion. I had to find out about many things on my own."
Mu Xi's disappointment had become a habit, so she immediately changed the subject and asked, "What is Uncle Pei's current situation? Why was he able to find his way here? How did he know about me?"
Pei Dong sighed heavily again: "Alas...where else can this old servant go? This old servant has always been in the Jun residence. Ever since more than two years ago, when the Xuanyou army broke through Moyang, Lady Gao announced the death of the Marquis, and then... when the Prince of Yu recaptured the city, he was counterattacked by Gao Quan...back and forth, this old servant has been hiding in the residence and has been living in peace. It's just that I never expected the Crown Prince to actually..."
Mu Xi was worried, but also wanted to ascertain Pei Dong's stance: "Did the Gao family mother and son make things difficult for you?"
Pei Dong seemed much older than he had been three years ago, his face etched with deep sorrow and wrinkles: "Alas... it's not so much a problem as it is. The things and men that the Marquis entrusted to me before his death are enough to keep me afloat in the manor. Madam Gao still can't find the Marquis's seal and military tally, and some land deeds and documents from the manor are still in my hands. As long as I don't hand them over, and as long as Madam can't find any fault with me, I can manage to get by. I always hoped that I could wait for the return of the Heir Apparent or the Second Young Master... but two or three years have passed, and..."
Mu Xi was unwilling to lament her own predicament at this time, and only asked, "Then how did Uncle Pei find this place today?"
Pei Dong continued, "In the end, this old servant was entrusted by the late Lord to guard the mansion, so I have been keeping an eye on Madam Gao and the Third Young Master. Originally, it was not unusual for the Third Young Master to visit brothels, and this old servant did not pay attention. However, a few days ago, I suddenly received news that the Third Young Master had apparently killed someone in a brothel. So I had to inquire about it privately, and I found out that it was actually the Heir Apparent who had been captured and sold. After some preparation, I specially came here tonight, so that I could at least see the Heir Apparent."
Mu Xi knew that Pei Dong secretly commanded a number of secret guards, so it wasn't surprising, but she still had to get to the bottom of his stance: "Uncle Pei received the news and came here again, so which side is he on?"
"Which side?" Pei Dong smiled bitterly, his face revealing deep wrinkles. "Tonight, this old servant openly came to Fangfei Tower under the guise of being the head steward of Jin Fangjun's mansion. In private, I told the madam that I was only pretending to be working for the Third Young Master. It's just that these things can't be hidden, and it might even backfire. However, what this old servant told the madam was that Miss Pan'er is an old acquaintance of the mansion, and that the conflict between the Third Young Master and me was an accident. I spent a lot of money to keep her quiet. As for the Third Young Master... he hasn't left the mansion since that night of murder, and he doesn't know where this old servant has been today."
This explanation was tantamount to not answering Mu Xi's question, but Mu Xi was still secretly pleased to hear it: "So, Uncle Pei can take us out tonight?"
Pei Dong, however, frowned deeply and said, "I'm afraid it won't be possible in a while."
"Why?" Mu Xi was like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline, with no time to think of anything else.
Pei Dong was full of concerns: "I'm afraid I'll have to stay here for a few more days, Your Highness. Please allow me to make some plans."
"Uncle Pei, is there some other trouble you're facing? Is it about money? If it's a problem with money, then I..." In her desperation, Mu Xi remembered that she still had some money left at the "Hezhen Silver Shop" in the Qi family of Xiangnan.
Hezhen Silver Bank is ubiquitous in Yansheng, and it must be present in Moyang City. Their method of withdrawing silver is "recognizing the document, not the object." As long as Mu Xi can produce the "secret document" agreed upon with the bank, he can withdraw silver equivalent to the value of the collateral.
However, it may take a while for the bank to confirm the authenticity of the "ciphertext".
“Your Highness…” Pei Dong shook his head repeatedly, interrupting Mu Xi, “Your Highness has been away from Moyang for a long time and is unaware of the current situation. Leaving aside other matters, just consider this newly opened Fangfei Pavilion. Its backer is Wang Situ, who heavily supports Gao Da Sima’s uprising. This fact alone, I only learned in the last two days. If we were to redeem Your Highness immediately, not only would the madam’s exorbitant demands be too much for us to handle, but even if we did, it would inevitably alert the owner. The murder has just been suppressed; if it were to escalate again now, things could change. Furthermore, while I can keep it from the Third Young Master for now, if we make any significant moves, it will inevitably arouse suspicion, especially since the Third Young Master has Gao Da Sima’s spies among his accomplices…”
Speaking of this, Mu Xi finally remembered to ask, "What exactly is Mu Chong's situation now? Who bestowed upon him the title of 'Young Master Mu of the Golden Palace'?"
Upon hearing this question, Pei Dong gave a helpless, bitter smile: "Alas, speaking of the Third Young Master... it's a long story."
Mu Xi has become calmer these past few days: "Uncle Pei should know that I have spent most of the past two years in the East China Sea, and I am really out of touch with the news. Why don't you just give me a brief account? After all, Uncle Pei knows about the grudge between him and me. That night he wanted to kill me, but Zhe Lan died in my place. My identity has already been exposed to him, but why has he not said anything to us yet?"
Pei Dong looked helpless upon hearing this and sighed again: "Alas, things have come to this point, there are some things that this old servant no longer needs to hide from the young master. The young master just asked this old servant which side he was on. In the end, this old servant has only ever followed the lord in this life."
Mu Xi understood the deeper meaning of these words and, not wanting to pursue the matter further, could only nod.
Having stated his position, Pei Dong continued, "The late Lord Jin Fang's dying wish was for this old servant to remain at the manor, to provide a safe haven for the Lady and the young masters in times of crisis. When Moyang first fell, the Xuan You army looted extensively, and the Jin Fang manor was not spared. This old servant led Lady Gao and some servants to hide in a secret chamber, thus escaping the calamity. Later, when the King of Yu launched his counterattack, the Jin Fang manor was spared, but then Grand Marshal Gao rebelled, and the King of Yu killed Queen Gao as a sacrifice to his banner..."
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