Chapter 20 Lady Song kissed Lady He, and...
In the northwest corner of the Pei residence, a ten-foot-high rammed earth wall separated it from the main house, with a side gate leading to the outer street for the convenience of the private soldiers. The fine sand drill ground was about two hundred paces square, with elm trees planted along its edges for shade and dust protection.
The command platform, facing due south, is built on a foundation of bluestone and is nine feet high. On the platform are a large, vermilion-lacquered military drum and a tall, tiger-patterned banner that flutters in the wind.
There are three archery paths running east to west, with targets at the end. A double-layered stable is built on the north side, with hay stored on the upper level and strong, fine horses from the Western Regions tethered on the lower level.
Huiyin waited for a long time in the second-floor pavilion behind the command platform. Pei Yu was on leave today, so she got up early to wait here, hoping to see him.
She arrived at the beginning of the fourth hour of the lunar calendar and waited for a full hour, but Pei Yu didn't have time to see her.
Looking through the window, Huiyin saw two neat rows of black-armored soldiers on the west side of the training ground, longbows at their sides, ready to pounce.
Fang Mu, who was always unruly, was now clad in iron armor, his brows and eyes solemn. Holding a banner high, he was issuing orders, and he really did look like a young general.
Pei Yu, meanwhile, was leisurely reclining under the elm tree on the east side, with a lacquered table and soft couch in front of him, on which were placed fine wine and fresh fruit, and a servant kneeling beside him to serve him.
A boy squatting in front of him was doing a horse stance, his legs trembling and covered in sweat.
Yan Niang also came over to look, pointing at the young man with a puzzled expression, "Isn't that the young man who injured someone the other day?"
Huiyin nodded. It was him, the little tyrant Pei Yan, who had been dragged back from the Imperial Academy by his elder brother. A few days ago, he had skipped five days of classes at the Imperial Academy, and the Imperial Academy's Chancellor reported him to Pei Yu. Early in the morning, Pei Yu went out to arrest him.
When Huiyin first arrived, he was squatting there in a horse stance, and he's been punished ever since. She saw Pei Yu lean over and whisper a few words to the servant beside him, and not long after, someone came to ask her to leave.
She followed the servant down the pavilion and headed towards the northeast corner. Upon seeing her arrive, Pei Yan's trembling legs suddenly returned to normal, and he suppressed his grimacing expression, putting on a mature demeanor.
Huiyin bowed to Pei Yu, knelt down beside him, and poured herself a cup of tea. Pei Yu said cryptically, "You're quite impolite."
"I've solved a major problem for General Pei, so it wouldn't be too much of an honor to ask you for a cup of tea."
Pei Yu asked, "What did you solve?"
"Why pretend? Isn't the general just waiting for me to plead for He Jiaying?" Huiyin put down her teacup and stared at him without blinking.
Pei Yan interrupted, "What are you talking about? What happened to Cousin Jiaying?"
Pei Yu glanced at Huiyin, sat up straight, pointed to the training ground, and calmly instructed, "Run ten laps and then come back."
Pei Yan let out a wail, ignoring Huiyin's presence, and collapsed to the ground, waving his hands with difficulty, saying, "I really can't go on, brother, I know I was wrong, please let me go."
"I'll only count to three, one, two." Pei Yu tapped the table, his words carrying a threat. Before he could finish counting, Pei Yan had already flipped himself up and obediently started running.
After he left, Huiyin spoke again: "After this incident, He Jiaying will definitely behave herself and dare not cause any more trouble. It's fine for her to stay; I don't mind."
Pei Yu scoffed, "So what if you mind?"
He stood up lazily and stretched, his long arms and legs shielding Huiyin's face from the sunlight, leaving her only able to look up at him.
Huiyin followed his gaze and saw that Pei Yan had been squatting in a horse stance for an hour, yet he still had the strength to run very fast. He truly lived up to his reputation as a member of the Pei family.
Pei Yu turned to look at Huiyin, his tone casual, as if he were talking about everyday matters, "Have you stopped using the humble term 'concubine' now?"
Huiyin choked. Logically, she should be humble and cautious in front of Pei Yu, always referring to herself as a concubine. However, she had never considered herself Pei Yu's concubine, so she naturally forgot.
Fortunately, Pei Yu didn't pursue the matter too much. Huiyin stood next to him, only reaching his shoulder. She quietly tiptoed to make herself look shorter.
She heard Pei Yu ask, "How were you able to calculate the celestial phenomena and use them as an opportunity to escape?"
Fragments flashed through Huiyin's mind. She had a father who had a student who liked to study astronomy. Huiyin had also studied it for a while when she was young out of curiosity, but her skills were not very good. At most, she could tell whether it would be windy or rainy the next day.
She replied, "I know a little about stargazing, and I study it before bed."
Pei Yu stood with his hands behind his back, his tone indifferent, "Were you scared that day?"
Huiyin knew what he was talking about. She was just a seventeen-year-old girl who had grown up under the protection of her parents. Even when she later encountered great calamities, her life was never in danger.
But on that day, the copper bell suddenly rang, the mask with a blue face and fangs was terrifying, Zhang Fangshi pointed her out, and the green flames burning on his body made her panic.
After returning home, she had nightmares for two consecutive days. In her dreams, she turned into a monster, hated by everyone, and suppressed underground, unable to rise again.
Even now, she still feels lingering fear when she hears the sound of the copper bell. Her parents have passed away, and Jingchuan is missing. Perhaps it is true, as they say, that she is a cursed star, bringing misfortune to her family.
Pei Yu noticed that the person next to him was in a bad mood, and for once, he had a change of heart and comforted him: "That's a liar. Everything he said is false. You don't need to take it to heart."
Huiyin nodded gently.
Pei Yu then asked, "If you were afraid, why were you willing to plead for He Jiaying?"
"It's probably envy."
"envious?"
Huiyi looked up at Pei Yu with a serious expression: "General Pei, you are cold on the outside but warm on the inside. I have heard that you bring He Jiaying a gift every time you return home, no less than that for Princess Suiyang in the palace. You really treat her like a younger sister. Madam Pei doesn't need me to say anything more. She loves He Jiaying as much as her own life. When she heard that she was leaving, she immediately fell seriously ill and has not been able to get up since."
“Pei Yan, although I haven’t had much contact with him, he has a volatile and unruly temperament and is quick to anger, but I can tell that he is very protective of He Jiaying. And Tao Ao, she was the first person to come to me to plead for He Jiaying.”
Huiyin forced a smile: "She is unfortunate, but also lucky. I envy her for having someone who cares about and loves her. As for me, nothing really happened to me, so let's take a step back and it'll be better for everyone."
Pei Yu quietly watched Huiyin's smile, the deafening sounds of the battlefield fading from his ears.
Song Huiyin was right. Even if she hadn't come today, he wouldn't have sent He Jiaying away, not because of his mother, but because he didn't want to.
Although his cousin was fickle, she had suffered a lot since childhood. Even if he had to punish her, Pei Yu would never send her to the Tiger Academy again. At most, he would give her a couple of stern reprimands, lifting her up high and then gently putting her down.
Everyone knows which is more important. But looking at Huiyin's strained smile, he felt for the first time that he had made a mistake. It was Song Huiyin who was being harmed, but no one cared about her, her thoughts, or her feelings.
What was she thinking when she was accused of being an evil spirit and had no way to defend herself?
Pei Yu gazed at Huiyin's smiling face and asked, "What do you want?"
Song Huiyin, what do you want?
Huiyin's eyelashes trembled slightly; she wanted so much.
She said softly, "I hope the young general will pay more attention to my brother's matter. He's my only remaining family."
"good."
"Thank you, young general."
Huiyin watched Pei Yu's figure disappear into the distance. She stood there, laughing self-deprecatingly. How long ago was it that every word and every expression of hers was full of purpose?
To achieve one's goal, one deliberately feigns weakness to make others feel guilty.
——
In Qiutang Courtyard, He Jiaying knelt among the chests and trunks, watching Shuying pack her clothes, her brows furrowed with worry, and she sighed softly from time to time.
She had tidied up and stored away all the lacquerware and valuables in her room, leaving the entire room empty.
All that remained was a soft couch and a low table with vermilion patterns on the right. He Jiaying had no intention of taking the gold and silver jewelry that Madam Pei had given her. If she returned to Yizhou, her ruthless uncle and aunt would certainly not let her go, and she was not willing to let others have her.
She thought that she might as well send the gold and silver to Linshui Pavilion as compensation for sending Huiyin.
Shuying comforted her from the side, saying, "Don't be afraid, young lady. Wherever you go, I will follow you and never let anyone harm you."
He Jiaying's nose tingled, and she was about to cry again. She said sadly, "It's all my fault for being wicked and causing you trouble."
Shuying hurriedly stepped forward to carefully wipe away her tears and held her in her arms to comfort her. Just as the two of them were embracing and crying, her maidservant in the courtyard reported with a happy expression: "Young lady! The young general has spoken, and Lady Song has pleaded for you. You don't need to leave the manor."
He Jiaying sniffled and looked up in disbelief, "What did she say?"
Shuying hugged He Jiaying and exclaimed happily, "Lady, you don't need to go anymore!"
He Jiaying was initially overjoyed that Song Huiyin had actually pleaded for her, meaning she wouldn't have to leave the Pei residence and return to Yizhou.
She held Shuying and sobbed for a moment, then suddenly looked up and said regretfully, "Shuying, you have to think of something! I spoke rudely to Song Huiyin yesterday, comparing her to Liu Tan and belittling her. What should I do?"
She became increasingly flustered as she spoke, scrambling to her feet and pacing back and forth in the room, muttering repeatedly, "I cursed her like that, and she still pleaded for me. How could I do that? I'm not even human."
Actually, she wasn't familiar with Liu Tan. When Liu Tan got engaged to her cousin, she was still young and had just arrived in the capital, so she didn't dare to say much.
The Liu family was a prominent and scholarly family. Although Liu Tan was not as beautiful as Huiyin, she had an extremely kind face, with willow-leaf eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes. She exuded a scholarly air and was like a beauty who had stepped out of a book. She spoke softly and gently, as melodious as a nightingale's song.
He Jiaying wanted to get close to her when she was young, but unfortunately she didn't think much of her. Every time she visited the Pei residence, she went straight to the training ground and Pei Yu's study. If you count it carefully, you can count the number of times she and Liu Tan spoke in those years on your fingers.
Shuying pulled the person down to sit, then hurriedly closed the doors and windows, and peeked out to see if anyone was eavesdropping before rushing back to He Jiaying's side and whispering in her ear.
"Really?!" He Jiaying's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth in surprise.
Shuying slapped her thigh and swore to the heavens: "That day, both the Lady and Tao were there. You were almost dead. I saw with my own eyes that Lady Song did that to you, disregarding her own reputation, in order to save you."
Shuying winked and pouted as she leaned closer to He Jiaying, recreating the scene. She clutched her chest, still shaken, and said, "Afterwards, Aunt Tao gave a strict order that no one was allowed to tell anyone, not even the young general."
He Jiaying stood there, stunned, and unconsciously touched her mouth. When she woke up that day, she was still half asleep and only saw a fairy's face swaying in front of her. She thought that she had gone to the Ninth Heaven after death and met a god.
It turned out to be Song Huiyin. She had saved her, and in such a way. Song Huiyin had not only saved her life, but had also helped her without holding a grudge. He Jiaying couldn't sit still any longer and was about to rush to Linshui Pavilion to apologize.
Shuying grabbed her arm and said urgently, "Young lady, you can't rush through like this."
"What should we do then? Should I bring some gifts?" He Jiaying asked.
Shuying shook her head with feigned profundity, "Madam Song only cares about the young general now. You still hurt her like Liu Tan did, young lady. She must be extremely upset. In my opinion, young lady, why don't you secretly match her with the young general? Once the young general can't live without her, then you can consider your kindness repaid!"
"Then what should we do?" He Jiaying asked again.
Shuying scratched her head: "This servant doesn't know either, but this servant has collected a lot of miscellaneous books from the market, which are specifically about matters of love between men and women. I will tell you after I have studied them."
After thinking about it carefully, He Jiaying felt that what she said made a lot of sense, so she asked Shuying to bring in those miscellaneous books from the market. The two of them huddled together in the room and whispered for a while, discussing a "good idea".
——
After Huiyin left, Pei Yu waited with his hands behind his back on the right side of the training ground. Pei Yan was completely exhausted and was panting heavily. He had to lean on a weapon rack next to him to keep from falling.
Pei Yu handed over a bowl of tea and a clean handkerchief. Pei Yan stuck out his tongue, sweat pouring down his forehead. He tilted his head back, swallowed the water, and grinned, his dark eyes wide. "Brother, how's my stamina?"
Pei Yu nodded and calmly said, "It's alright."
Pei Yan immediately moved closer, and a stench of sweat mixed with the smell of dog hair hit him. Pei Yu took two steps back and subtly covered his nose.
"Then you must take me with you next time you go on an expedition!"
The smell was a bit strong, so Pei Yu pretended to be busy and left, telling Pei Yan to go back and clean up before coming to find him for dinner.
Pei Yan was completely oblivious to his brother's disdainful look and followed Pei Yu eagerly.
From the time he could remember, everyone around him praised his elder brother's bravery. He admired his brother and wanted to fight alongside him on the battlefield, even if it meant being a minor official by his side.
But his older brother always said he was too young; he was already fifteen! He longed to stay by his brother's side and didn't want to be abandoned like he had been five years ago.
Pei Yu continued walking without turning his head, saying, "You should focus on graduating from the Imperial Academy first. The Chancellor has already said that if you skip classes again, he will expel you from the Academy. At that time, you can forget about going to war."
Pei Yan complained in a low voice with a bitter face, "This time it's really not my fault! It's all Song Huiyin's fault. If she hadn't been so ruthless, would I have had to skip class? That palm print took five days to disappear!"
"What did you say?" Pei Yu stopped and turned to stare at Pei Yan, who was sweating profusely and had a flushed face.
Pei Yan felt a chill run down his spine, the heat on his face vanished, and he had already imagined a hundred and eight ways he could die. If his elder brother knew that he had gone to cause trouble for Song Huiyin and even injured someone, having failed miserably, he would definitely not let him off the hook.
He chuckled, trying to brush it off: "Nothing, brother, I was just talking nonsense."
Pei Yu didn't waste any more time with him and said directly, "If you don't confess honestly, all the weapons in your room will be confiscated."
Having no other choice, Pei Yan honestly explained the whole story. When he returned home that day, he overheard the maids discussing how his cousin Jia Ying had been punished because of Song Huiyin. He assumed that Song Huiyin had bullied his cousin and didn't bother to find out the details. Instead, he squatted down on the path Song Huiyin always took to get back to her room, intending to teach her a lesson.
His voice trailed off, and in the end he lowered his head in embarrassment, not daring to look up at Pei Yu. He truly knew he was wrong and had been severely reprimanded; he would never dare to do it again.
Pei Yu stared at her mischievous younger brother without saying a word. So, her hand had been injured by Pei Yan. Why hadn't she told him? Was it because she didn't want to, or was she afraid, or did she think he wouldn't stand up for her, so she simply kept quiet?
Go apologize.
"I'm not going! I already let her fight back and beat me to a pulp that day, why should I apologize?" Pei Yan shouted indignantly.
Pei Yu shouted, "You think you're right to hit a woman? You've wasted all your education! If you don't go, I'll force you to go. Choose for yourself!"
Pei Yan shrank back and begged for mercy repeatedly: "I'll go, I'll go, okay?"
After Pei Yan left the courtyard, he beckoned to a servant boy in the distance and instructed him, "Go and find out what happened in the manor while I was away."
As the sun began to set in the west, the shadow of the locust tree shrank into a ball, and the cicadas chirped noisily among the branches and leaves. The fire in the kitchen stove was temporarily extinguished, and the cook leaned against the door frame, dozing off. The maids hid under the eaves, chatting idly and waving their silk fans.
Inside the study of Shuofeng Hall, a low ebony table sits in the center of the room, with several scrolls of military books scattered on its surface. On the wall is a complete painting of "The Pursuit of the Barbarians," depicting a scene of a thousand cavalrymen charging forward in vermilion ink. To the right of the low table stands a bronze goose-fish lamp, its lamp base still warm.
Pei Yu, dressed in his undergarments, sat at a low table, flipping through bamboo slips—military reports from Hexi and updates on the Pei family army. The Pei family army was built by his father and was stationed in Dai County to defend against the Xiongnu; its generals were all his father's brothers who had fought and died alongside him.
After his father died in battle five years ago, he went to Dai County to take over the army. The Pei family army was not only the backbone of the Pei family, but also the support of Empress Pei and the Crown Prince.
The wooden floorboards were polished to a gleaming shine. A servant boy knocked on the door from outside and reported, "Young General, I have brought the maid who was present on the day she fell into the water. Would you like to see her?"
Pei Yu rolled up the bamboo slips, put on his outer robe, and instructed, "Come in."
The servant boy led the bowing maid into the room and instructed her to kneel on the ground to greet him and reply.
He looked up at the young general and said, "Tell me everything that happened on the day Miss He fell into the water, including what you saw. Do not hide anything."
The maid didn't dare to raise her head, keeping her eyes down the whole time. She spoke haltingly, taking about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to explain the matter.
The servant looked up at the young general and noticed that he was staring to the northwest, seemingly lost in thought. He cleared his throat and looked at the maid, saying, "Are you sure everything has been explained clearly and nothing has been hidden?"
The kneeling maid struggled for a moment, then suddenly prostrated herself and kowtowed, saying fearfully, "There is one more thing, but I don't know if I should say it?"
The servant glared at him and scolded, "You dare to hide things from the young general? Quickly report the truth!"
"That day, Miss He fell into the water and stopped breathing. Everyone was at a loss. It was Madam Song who..."
The servant pressed, "What's wrong with Madam Song?"
The maid closed her eyes and gritted her teeth as she shouted, "Madam Song kissed Miss He, and kissed her several times, and then Miss He came back to life. Aunt Tao forbade us to talk about it, or she would sell her off."
After she finished speaking, she realized something was wrong. Lady Song was the young general's concubine, and she had actually kissed another woman. If this got out, it would be a great disgrace to the young general.
The maidservant shrank back and explained, "Madam Song is the reincarnation of the Queen Mother of the West. She can revive people with just two kisses. She is a goddess and cannot be punished."
"Shut up!" The servant wiped the sweat from his forehead. Ever since the maid mentioned that Lady Song had kissed Lady He, the young general's expression had become extremely strange, a mixture of amusement, speechlessness, and something he couldn't quite understand.
Then he heard the young general order: "All of you, go down."
The servant boy left with the maid, and he felt a pang of pity. He had served the young general since childhood and watched him live alone until he was twenty. He had finally found a confidant to accompany him, but alas, it was pitiful.
The servant looked back at the tightly closed door behind him. He had seen Madam Song before; she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. What a pity.
No matter how lively He Jiaying and Pei Yu's place was, Huiyin was extremely comfortable. She returned to Linshui Pavilion, ate rice wine, and leisurely lay on the low couch reading policy essays.
After lunch, she felt a little sleepy and lay down on the low couch to sleep comfortably until late afternoon, gazing at the lake view in the distance.
Pingzhen was indeed a big surprise to her; he was a member of Empress Dowager Ping's maternal family and the only son of the third branch of the Ping family.
Empress Dowager Ping is the biological mother of the current emperor. In her youth, she fought against the deceased Consort Zhang, but lost and was banished to the Cold Palace, where she suffered greatly at the hands of the palace servants. After she was banished to the Cold Palace, the late emperor entrusted the young emperor to Consort Zhang for upbringing. As a result, the emperor is closer to Consort Zhang than to his biological mother, Empress Dowager Ping.
After His Majesty ascended the throne, he brought Empress Dowager Ping out of the Cold Palace and placed her on equal footing with Consort Zhang. As a result, Empress Dowager Ping became estranged from His Majesty and refused to forgive him no matter how His Majesty tried to make amends. She moved into Yongshou Palace and stopped caring about worldly affairs.
After Consort Zhang passed away, His Majesty felt even more pity for the suffering his birth mother had endured, and repeatedly promoted the Taira clan in an attempt to repair the broken relationship between mother and son.
If Pingzhen is used properly, Su Xin can be brought down smoothly. However, she needs to devise a good plan for this matter. She has never met Xiao Fen'er. From He Jiaying's words, she can tell that she is a gentle and quiet woman. How could such a woman commit adultery with someone, especially a rich and powerful man like Su Xin?
This matter concerns a woman's reputation and could endanger her life if she is not careful. She must be extremely cautious.
With nothing else to do, Huiyin had Yanniang bring out the Liubo chessboard and played Liubo with Asang and Aheng. Halfway through the game, a shout came from the courtyard gate: "Song Huiyin!"
Pei Yan was going through puberty, and his voice was hoarse and unpleasant, making him easily recognizable. However, Huiyin's head spun whenever she heard his voice; could it be that he had been punished by Pei Yu and was deliberately coming to cause her trouble?
She initially intended to ignore it, but the person outside the courtyard wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted, continuing to shout in his unpleasant voice: "Song Huiyin! I know you're in there, don't play dead!"
Asang and Aheng exchanged glances. Having grown up in the Pei household, they naturally knew whose voice it was. Yan Niang, however, was far less polite, hastily putting on her shoes and opening the door: "Who is it? No manners at all! How dare you call Lady Song by her name!"
She opened the door, and a grinning face loomed in front of her. It was Pei Yan, the one who had shot at her and Huiyin with a slingshot that day. Yan Niang was furious at the sight of him. The bruise on Huiyin's knee hadn't faded yet. She raised her hand to close the door.
The young man raised his hand to block her. Although he was young, he was quite strong and had learned martial arts. He subdued Yan Niang and rushed into the courtyard in no time.
Asang and Aheng quickly rose to greet him upon his arrival. Pei Yan waved his hand, carried the lacquered wooden box in his hands, walked outside, and bowed to Huiyin, who was sitting upright. "I have come today to apologize for hurting you that day."
Huiyin remained seated, raising her chin to gesture for him to look at Yanniang beside her. Pei Yan turned his head to look, but saw nothing. He scratched his head in confusion: "What do you mean?"
“You not only hurt me that day, but you also hurt my mother. My mother is the most important person to me in this world. You should apologize to her first.”
Pei Yan also remembered. He straightened his clothes, turned to Yan Niang, and bowed respectfully to apologize, "It was all my fault that day, please forgive me."
Yan Niang was at a loss, not knowing what to do with her hands and feet. Although she had never been harassed while following Huiyin, she was often treated coldly and ridiculed by noble people. No noble person had ever respectfully apologized to her.
In the eyes of these nobles, the life of a servant girl was less important than the gold thread on their clothes. She stepped aside to avoid the curtsy, nodded slightly, and knelt behind Huiyin.
Pei Yan looked at Huiyin and handed the lacquer box in his hand to Asang to pass on. "Brother punished me severely today. I know I was wrong that day and shouldn't have hurt people. I've come here today to apologize and hope that Sister Huiyin will forgive me."
Huiyin opened the lacquer box, inside which was a bamboo-woven dragonfly, the craftsmanship of which was slightly rough.
Pei Yan scratched his head sheepishly and explained, "After thinking it over, I still feel I should make something for you myself. This bamboo dragonfly is a bit rough, but please don't mind it."
Huiyin took out the bamboo dragonfly, held it in her hand and examined it for a long time, then smiled and said, "I like it very much, and I forgive you."
Pei Yan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she liked it, it wasn't a waste of the high price he paid for the purple bamboo. He then recalled his rude remarks to Huiyin that day, including saying he would never acknowledge her as his sister-in-law. His face turned ashen, and he didn't know how to salvage the situation.
Seeing Huiyin looking at him with a smile, Pei Yan awkwardly threw down a sentence and ran away: "What I said that day was just in anger. You're a pretty good person!"
Huiyin watched his departing figure, feeling quite pleased. She carefully put the bamboo dragonfly away in a lacquer box and instructed Yanniang to keep it safe.
Although Pei Yan is eccentric, he is still kind-hearted. He lacks guidance and has not thought of coming to apologize in the past few days. Why did he suddenly come today? Was it at his behest?
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