Chapter 183 Clash
"Oh…"
Pei Yan let out a low chuckle and leaned forward slightly: "Xie Qing, it's been ten years, and you've become even more straightforward."
"How could I not know the deep bond between blood relatives? Back then, I kept Sang Ning in the capital because she was young, the border was harsh and the journey was arduous, and the Empress Dowager needed to be by her side. I had no choice but to do so."
He attempted to regain the moral high ground, using the excuse of necessity and filial piety to whitewash his past acts of control.
"As for Xie Sangyu going to the border with you..." Pei Yan's eyes flickered, as if he was carefully choosing his words, "It was also out of consideration for the deep bond between you and your father. I had good intentions, hoping that he could gain more experience by your side and shed his spoiled habits from the capital. Now it seems that the results have been remarkable?"
He looked at Xie Zhenting, trying to steer the conversation in a direction he could control.
Xie Zhenting listened quietly, his expression unchanged. Only after Pei Yan finished speaking did he slowly open his mouth:
"Your Majesty's wisdom is profound and your considerations are thorough; I am deeply grateful."
"However, Your Majesty, do you know that when I first arrived at the border, my position was not yet secure, the enemy was rampant, and battles large and small were constant. I was always on guard, living a life of constant danger."
“My son, Sang Yu, was just a young boy who had never seen bloodshed before. On his first battle, enemy arrows flew past his ear, and he was so frightened that his face turned pale and he almost dropped his spear. That night, he curled up in the stable, hugged the only old purse his mother had left him, and cried all night.”
Xie Zhenting recounted the past in a calm tone.
"As a father, I failed to protect my young son and ensure he grew up in peace. Instead, I placed him in a battlefield of carnage at a young age, witnessing mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and keeping him company with death day and night. Whenever I think of this, I..." He paused, his voice slightly hoarse, tinged with sorrow, "...my heart is torn apart! This is my dereliction of duty as a father!"
He did not directly accuse Pei Yan, but used facts to make Pei Yan's so-called experience and painstaking efforts seem pale and powerless.
Pei Yan's face darkened completely.
"As for Sang Ning..." Xie Zhenting's voice suddenly became even lower, "She's a frail young girl, left in this dragon's den and tiger's lair in the capital! Your Majesty," he raised his eyes and looked directly at Pei Yan, "do you know how I felt when I was at the border, receiving every letter from her saying that everything was alright?"
"In the general's mansion, she has no one to protect her, and is surrounded by wolves! She can only rely on herself! Does Your Majesty think that she has lived a peaceful, happy, and blessed life for the past ten years?"
A series of rhetorical questions made Pei Yan feel somewhat embarrassed.
Xie Zhenting's words were practically a direct insult: You tore our family apart! You threw my young son into the battlefield, scaring him half to death! You left my only daughter to fend for herself in a wolf's den! And now you have the nerve to ask me how I feel? To ask if I'm enjoying my wealth and status?!
"Enough!" Pei Yan slammed his hand on the imperial desk!
Desheng was so frightened that he trembled all over and almost knelt down.
Pei Yan's chest heaved violently, his eyes blazing with fury as he stared intently at Xie Zhenting.
However, Xie Zhenting remained seated as a mountain, meeting the emperor's furious gaze with a calm, even magnanimous expression.
That look seemed to say: Your Majesty, it is the truth. I am merely stating the facts.
Anger burned in Pei Yan's eyes, but he was, after all, an emperor.
He took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed his anger.
"As expected of Xie Qing, you are a man of deep feelings. Your love for your son is truly moving." The word "moved" was almost squeezed out from between his teeth.
"The past is gone, and there's no point in dwelling on it. Now that you have returned in triumph, my beloved minister, and are about to be rewarded, the Xie family will be honored, and Sang Ning will be personally bestowed the title of Princess Jianing by me, enjoying great honor. From now on, in the capital, you should take good care of yourself, educate your children to become successful, and enjoy the joys of family life."
I've given you everything I could, and you're back safe and sound. Let bygones be bygones. You should know your limits and rest peacefully in Beijing. Don't cause any more trouble!
Xie Zhenting listened quietly, then slowly stood up and bowed deeply to Pei Yan, his posture impeccable.
"Your Majesty flatters me. Both thunder and rain are acts of imperial grace. Your subject can only repay Your Majesty's boundless kindness with his life."
"Your subject takes his leave."
Xie Zhenting said no more and turned to leave.
Only Pei Yan remained in the imperial study.
He stared intently at the direction Xie Zhenting had disappeared in!
"Bang!"
"Thank you! Zhen! Ting—!"
He knew that he had not gained any advantage in this probing and confrontation.
This tiger, returning to the mountain, not only did not bow its head, but instead revealed even sharper fangs.
The already treacherous situation in the capital became even more volatile with Xie Zhenting's return.
——
General's Mansion.
Xie Sangyu was urged by Xie Sangning to take a bath and change clothes.
He complained that his sister disliked him, but he was already running around like a shot.
He had been traveling day and night, covered in dust and sweat, which he found repulsive, and he was even more afraid of offending his sister.
After seeing her brother off, Xie Sangning immediately instructed the small kitchen to reheat the bird's nest that had been simmering for a long time.
She herself was wrapped in a thick, plain brocade cloak, holding a warm hand warmer, and stood waiting at the main gate of the General's Mansion.
The spring night breeze carried a chill, seeping into the collar and cuffs in wisps.
She pulled her cloak tighter, like a magnolia quietly blooming in the night, serene yet resilient.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, Xie Zhenting's tall figure finally appeared. He immediately noticed the figure at the door, who looked so frail.
"Ningning!"
Xie Zhenting gave a low shout, his voice filled with suppressed anger, but even more so with heartache.
He strode up the steps in a few large strides, and before he even reached her, a thick tiger fur cloak, still warm from his body, had already draped over her head, completely wrapping her up.
"Who gave you permission to stand guard here!"
Xie Zhenting's brows were furrowed tightly, his tone as stern as ever, but his actions were quite the opposite. He clumsily and quickly tightened the ties of her cloak, as if afraid of letting in even a wisp of wind. "The spring chill is still in the air. How can your body withstand it? What if you catch a cold!"
However, that feigned sternness melted away instantly when he saw his daughter's upturned face.
Xie Sangning was wrapped up like a dumpling, with only her small face, no bigger than a palm, showing, and her eyes were bright and sparkling.
"Dad, you're back. I'm not cold."
Her voice was soft, with a hint of coquetry, "I just want to see you as soon as possible."
Looking at her daughter's well-behaved appearance, and then thinking about that brat Xie Sangyu, who hadn't even been seen yet...
Xie Zhenting felt that inexplicable sense of pride well up inside him again.
Hmph, daughters are so sweet! They know how to care for their old man! Thinking about those old guys at the border, they all envy him for having a daughter. Now he can finally keep this sweet little cotton-padded jacket by his side!
This feeling, wow, is even more satisfying than winning a great battle!
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