Chapter 31 Tears: A Weakness and a Weapon. ...
Chi Yan, riding behind Pei Yu, stepped forward, raised his red-tasseled spear, and shouted, "The Tiger Guard is here! Any further disturbances will be met with death!"
Following his cry of "No mercy!", the cavalry surrounding the group drew their swords in unison and advanced, the clanging of metal echoing through the night.
The black horse slowly walked forward, and everyone made way for it. Pei Yu ignored Su Jinghao by the carriage and went straight to Huiyin, looking at the disheveled woman on the ground.
He bent down, reached out and grabbed Huiyin's waist, pulled her onto the horse and sat her in front of him. He glanced lightly at the four injured people, then turned the horse around and rode away.
Su Jinghao spoke up to stop him: "General Pei, your concubine openly kidnapped my brother, causing his death. Don't you have any explanation to give?"
Pei Yu continued urging his horse on, coldly saying, "You should think about how to explain tonight's events to the Imperial Guards. As for Su Xin, didn't he die at your hands?"
Su Jinghao's eyes flickered slightly, her gaze shifting from Pei Yu to Song Huiyin's face in his arms, her tone playful: "General Pei, don't you want to know why your concubine caused this commotion?"
Huiyin's long eyelashes trembled slightly as she looked up at the provocative Su Jinghao. Their eyes met in mid-air, and she slowly curved her lips into a smile, as if to say, "Go on, keep talking."
Pei Yu looked down at Huiyin in his arms, raised his hand to cover her eyes as she looked at Su Jinghao, and said impatiently, "If you're not going to talk, then get out of the way."
Su Jinghao froze, reluctantly stepping aside, clenching her fists as she watched the two figures disappear into the distance. Based on her understanding of Huiyin, she was certain that Huiyin was acting behind Pei Yu's back.
Although Pei Yu was the Crown Prince's cousin, he had more influence with Empress Pei than the Crown Prince. He was already dissatisfied with the Su family, and if he found out that the Su family had framed the Song family, the consequences would be unimaginable.
She would not allow anyone to stand in her way to becoming the Crown Princess; Song Huiyin had to die.
Those four people were also taken away by Pei Yu's men. After they left completely, Su Jinghao looked back and saw that more than half of the troops she had brought out had been killed or wounded. More importantly, Su Xin was also dead.
She calmly instructed everyone to clean up the place and take the wounded and Su Xin's body back to the city.
——
The candlelight flickered in Su Wenyi's study. He knelt on the ground and lifted the white cloth covering Su Xin's face, his hand trembling as he touched Su Xin's cheek.
Even though he often disciplined this son, he was still his youngest son, the youngest son whom he would spend all his wealth to save even if he committed a terrible crime. He died so quietly, suffering so much before his death.
Su Wenyi couldn't bear to look at Su Xin's bloodstained body. He aged ten years in an instant and knelt on the ground. From the study came a mournful wail that grew louder as it approached.
Wu was disheveled, probably having rushed over after receiving the news. She hastily threw on her outer robe and rushed into the study. When she saw the familiar pale face on the floor, she threw herself on Su Xin and burst into tears.
"My son, my son!"
Su Wenyi stepped forward and embraced the trembling Wu Shi, holding her tightly to comfort her. Wu Shi's eyes were bloodshot and filled with malice, her voice like that of a vengeful ghost: "Who! Who killed my son? I will make him pay with his life!"
The head of the troops, prostrate on the ground, trembled all over, his voice barely audible, "Yes..."
"Who! If you don't tell me, I'll kill you first!" Wu shouted angrily, veins bulging.
"It was Song Huiyin who injured the young master, and it was... the young lady who shot him."
Madam Wu turned to stare at Su Jinghao kneeling to the side, rushed forward and grabbed Su Jinghao's collar, her face full of hatred: "I knew it, you wretched servant, you have a vicious heart! That was your brother, and you actually killed him!"
Su Jinghao stared at the distorted face, then suddenly burst into laughter. Tears streamed down her face as she pushed Wu Shi away and slowly stood up. "Seeing you like this, I feel so happy."
Wu was trembling with rage. She struggled to her feet and was about to attack when Su Wenyi stopped her. His refined face was now dark with anger. He questioned Su Jinghao, "Are you crazy?"
Su Jinghao's pupils were extremely dark, so dark that one could not see the tears in her eyes. "I went crazy a long time ago. I went crazy when I was five years old."
Upon hearing this, Su Wenyi narrowed his eyes and told the sergeant kneeling in the corner to get down.
He stared at Su Jinghao nervously and asked, "What else do you know?"
He kept what happened back then extremely secret. Su Jinghao was only five years old at the time, so what could she possibly know?
Seeing his nervous expression, Su Jing chuckled twice and changed the subject: "I killed Su Xin with my own hands. If Father wants to avenge him, just come and take my life. However, once I'm dead, your dream of being a member of the royal family will be over."
Wu broke free from Su Wenyi's control and roared, "You think you can get away with this just because you're the future Crown Princess? Don't forget, the Su family still has Jingxian!"
Su Jinghao raised the corners of her eyes and said sarcastically, "Are you talking about your stupid, pig-like daughter? Sending her to the palace is like sending her to her death."
Wu was cornered and couldn't speak, pointing at Su Jinghao. She couldn't understand why Su Jinghao, who had always been docile and subservient to her, had suddenly changed her personality.
Su Jinghao was too lazy to pay attention to this woman anymore. She walked to Su Wenyi's side and smiled, "Father, there are some things that you and I should just understand. We are both members of the Su family and have the same goal. The most urgent thing is to get the Su family out of its predicament and kill Song Huiyin."
Su Wenyi's eyes darkened, and his heart surged with turbulent emotions. When this unknown daughter offered him advice on how to defeat the Song family, he should have realized that she was the child most like him, a venomous snake lurking underground, waiting for her chance to strike.
He voiced his doubts: "Why did you kill your brother? You could have saved him."
“He never treated me as an older sister, so he can’t be considered my younger brother.”
Su Jinghao glanced one last time at Wu Shi, who was lying on the ground weeping, and then stepped out of the room.
When she turned seventeen, Wu disdained superficial gestures; food and clothing shortages were the norm, with no ice in the summer and no charcoal in the winter.
Su Wenyi was probably aware that the Wu family was powerful, while her maternal family was just an ordinary local gentry. So he let Wu use her as a punching bag, beating, scolding, and forcing her to kneel down at the drop of a hat.
Needless to say, all the large and small wounds on Su Jinghao's body were inflicted by Su Xin.
And then there's Song Jingchuan. If we're talking about a younger brother, Song Jingchuan is more like her younger brother. He would protect her and stand up for her when Su You and Su Xin mocked her.
Su Jinghao had known for a long time that Su Xin was after Huiyin; he didn't deserve it...
Does she need a reason to kill Su Xin?
——
Pei Residence, Linshui Pavilion.
The lights in the courtyard had all been turned off, and the maids and servants were forbidden from leaving. Even Yan Niang was locked in her room and forbidden to come out.
Only the second-floor windows of the entire Linshui Pavilion let in light.
A summer breeze rustled through the courtyard. From the moment Huiyin was pulled onto the horse until she returned to the Pei residence, Pei Yu had not uttered a single question. Her body was filthy, and the smell of mud mixed with the stench of blood was extremely unpleasant.
The low couch was just below the window, separated by a wooden table with a fish pattern, creating two seating areas. Huiyin looked up at Pei Yu, who was sitting on the right side of the couch, flipping through the bamboo slips she had written.
The only sound in the quiet room was the rustling of bamboo slips. Huiyin's face was sticky with blood, and she couldn't stand it any longer. She got up to wash herself, but Pei Yu, who hadn't spoken until now, said, "Come here."
Huiyin took a deep breath, turned around and walked to Pei Yu, waiting for his questioning.
Pei Yu patted the brocade mat beside him, gesturing for Huiyin to sit down. He then took out a clean handkerchief, dampened it, and handed it to her to wipe her face.
Pei Yu's tone was unreadable: "Have you thought about what to say?"
As Huiyin wiped her face, she observed Pei Yu's expression. She lowered her eyes and spoke softly, "It was I who orchestrated the discovery of Su Xin and Xiao Fen'er's affair. It was also I who secretly sent letters to the Zheng family and the Prince of Wu to stir up trouble, sent Pingzhen and his wife out of the city, and taught Pingzhen to appeal for justice at the palace gate."
Pei Yu stared at the pale-faced woman in front of him. The bloodstains on her face had been wiped clean, revealing her fair and beautiful face.
This face has a fatal attraction for any man; it seems that as long as she gives a command, many men would be willing to serve her faithfully.
Who helped you today?
As Huiyin silently gathered her emotions, preparing to show weakness, she was caught off guard by this untimely question. Confused, she replied, "He's my brother's man. He only returned to the city these past two days. It has nothing to do with what happened before."
Since Pei Yu was able to uncover her secrets and follow the clues all the way to Mangshan, how could he not know that those people were just temporary helpers she had found and had nothing to do with this matter?
Pei Yu raised an eyebrow and continued to press, "Brother, where did you get a brother?"
Huiyin felt increasingly uneasy. "He is a member of the Feng family of Nanyang. He has been a disciple of my father since childhood, so I call him elder brother."
Pei Yu recognized this person; he was the youngest son of the Feng family patriarch. He grunted in acknowledgment.
Huiyin noticed that he was acting very strangely today, but she didn't have time to think about it. She quietly looked at Pei Yu, waiting for him to continue.
What is your purpose?
"I want Su Xin dead."
What did he do to offend you?
Huiyin really couldn't figure out what Pei Yu was up to. According to her guess, Pei Yu should be furious when he found out the truth, and might even kill her in a fit of rage.
At the very least, he should have treated her coldly. Why, after learning of all that she had done, did he speak kindly to her without showing any anger?
Could it be that he's trying to mislead her with this attitude so he can punish her in one fell swoop?
Huiyin unconsciously straightened her back, recalling every flaw in her previous words. She focused intently, carefully stating, "He wanted to humiliate me..."
Her entire focus was on how to organize her thoughts, and she didn't notice at all that Pei Yu's eyes had become deep and unfathomable after hearing those words.
“On that day at Lindu Post Station, it was because of him that my younger brother fell off the cliff.”
"After returning to the capital, I saw that he was still living a life of luxury, ordering servants around, and I was indignant. How could he act as if nothing had happened when my brother's life was still uncertain? So I secretly followed him and found out about his affair with Xiao Fen'er."
As Pei Yu listened to Huiyin's story, perhaps thinking of her younger brother, her expression became even paler than before. He picked up the cooled tea from the side, poured a cup of tea, and placed it in front of Huiyin.
Unaware of what was happening, Huiyin continued, "After their affair was exposed, the Su family tried to shift all the blame onto Xiao Fen'er. I was worried that Su Xin would escape punishment, so I secretly told the Zheng family the details of how he had forced his stepmother."
Huiyin stopped speaking. She only learned later that after the Zheng family intervened, they turned all their firepower on the Crown Prince. Two of the Crown Prince's subordinates were also arrested for their immoral behavior and dismissed from their posts.
Thinking of this, Huiyin was restless. Since she came to the capital to seek revenge, her biggest worry was never the Su family, but Pei Yu. If Pei Yu wanted to harm her, it would be as easy as crushing an ant.
Her actions not only affected the Crown Prince's reputation but also implicated two officials in the Eastern Palace. Pei Yu would definitely be angry. She secretly pinched her thigh. If Pei Yu was going to scold her later, she would make herself look miserable and cry her heart out.
Pei Yu is cold-hearted and hard-hearted; perhaps he can let her get away with it. Tears are both a weakness and a weapon.
"That night I told you that the Xiao family was forced by Su Xin. You felt that you had harmed innocent people, so you went to the Ping family the next day and sent the two of them away, right?"
Huiyin was puzzled as to why this was being asked, and she nodded blankly.
Pei Yu seemed intrigued, leaning against the windowsill and resting his head on one hand: "How do you know about the black market? How did you get in touch with it?"
Huiyin: "...This seems unrelated to what we're discussing today."
"Alright, let's get down to business."
Pei Yu was not annoyed at not hearing a reply. He tapped the small wooden table lightly with one hand. "You told the Zheng family about the matter, resulting in the loss of two officials from the Eastern Palace, sending Pingzhen and his wife out of the city, causing me to be reprimanded by His Majesty, Su Xin to be sentenced to death, and the Crown Prince to plead for him and pay the ransom. This also caused my Pei family to lose a fortune. How do you plan to settle this score?"
Huiyin could no longer tolerate it. How could there be such a shameless person in the world? She retorted, "I acknowledge the matter of the officials under the Crown Prince's command, but I do not acknowledge the ransom. You were the one who wanted to help the Su family. If you were unwilling, who could force you?"
Pei Yu's lips curled up as he approached step by step, "If you hadn't stirred up trouble, how could things have come to this?"
“That’s right, this matter started because of me, but Pingzhen and Xiao Fen’er didn’t want to dwell on it anymore and just wanted to live their own lives. But you chased after them out of the city. It was you who aided and abetted the evildoer and caused her death.”
Huiyin didn't want to talk about this anymore. She had wronged Xiao Fen'er and Ping Zhen, and she could never repay them in this lifetime. She turned her face away, closed her eyes to calm herself down, and said, "I will accept whatever the young general decides to do."
Pei Yu watched Huiyin's retreating figure and explained, "I revealed their whereabouts to the Su and Ping families. Have you considered who would clean up this mess if Xiao Fen'er and Ping Zhen just left like that?"
"King Wu and the Zheng family are determined to bring down the crown prince and will not let this opportunity pass, which will bring endless strife."
Huiyin stared at the flickering firelight in the corner and replied, "Ambition cannot be extinguished. Even without this incident, would the King of Wu not have started another conflict? It's just that in the eyes of you big shots, the death of a woman is nothing more than a chance to gain peace, so why not?"
"Why was it her who died, and not someone who deserved to die?"
Pei Yu's teasing demeanor from before was completely gone. Now, he exuded composure and had a maturity beyond his years. He calmly said, "Things in this world are not simply black and white. Not everything will go as you wish."
Huiyin slowly turned her head to look at Pei Yu, tears sliding down her cheeks, her eyes overflowing with sorrow, her clear eyes brimming with tears.
Pei Yu frowned. He rarely had such an uncontrollable impulse. He didn't know when it started, but subconsciously he didn't want to see Huiyin's tears.
Huiyin stood silently to the side of Pei Yu, tears streaming down her face. Each tear fell onto her dress, staining it dark. No one in the room spoke.
Pei Yu's gaze fell on her thin back. She hadn't washed up since she came back and was still wearing that dirty and messy dress. There were several bloody marks on the back of her fair hands, and he didn't know when she had been scratched.
The lamp oil in the lamp was almost gone, and the wick made a popping sound. A faint fragrance filled the room, like a soft feather, surrounding Pei Yu's heart, tightening incessantly, bringing with it an indescribable tingling sensation.
He broke the silence: "Those two officials in the Eastern Palace are corrupt and will lose their positions sooner or later. It has little to do with you."
Huiyin's eyelashes trembled slightly, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She turned to face Pei Yu in surprise, unable to believe that he would say such a thing.
After calming down, she felt some regret and even thought about her escape route after being kicked out of Pei Yu's mansion. She planned to seek refuge with the Prince of Wu and volunteered herself.
She raised her hand to wipe away her tears, her eyes shining through the tears, and softly asked, "You don't blame me?"
Pei Yu looked away, the candlelight casting a glow on his sharp jawline, highlighting his straight nose, thin lips, and undeniable charm.
Huiyin could even see his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. Pei Yu's voice was much lower, like a feather brushing against her earlobe. She unconsciously rubbed her ear and listened intently.
Pei Yu said, "Su Xin first tried to humiliate you, then caused your brother's accident, and he also has the lives of many innocent women on his hands. He deserves to die, and you did nothing wrong."
After saying that, he got up and walked to the wardrobe. The dark hem of his coat slid past Huiyin's knees, and the scent of soap wafted over him—a cool fragrance that suited him perfectly.
Pei Yu pulled out the bedding from under the wardrobe and placed it in its usual spot. Looking back at Huiyin, he said in a very soft voice, "It's getting late, let's rest."
He seemed to have never made a bed before. He clumsily tidied the messy bedding, and soon after, he got up and walked over to Huiyin's side, opening the windowsill.
Huiyin thought he was impatient and wanted to call someone to make the bed, so she grabbed Pei Yu's clothes to stop him.
Pei Yu had already spoken, his voice echoing in the night, "Boil water and come up to serve Lady Song... Lady Song's bath."
After shouting those words, Pei Yu returned to the bedside to tidy up the bedding. He felt a tug on his clothes behind him. He turned around and met Huiyin's bright eyes. Following the gaze downwards, he saw her hand holding his sleeve.
Huiyin quickly let go, put her hands behind her back, and lowered her head awkwardly. She was still a little confused and didn't understand how things had developed like this.
Seeking refuge with the King of Wu was a decision she was forced to make. He was ruthless and vicious, didn't value human life, and was also lecherous. Pei Yu, on the other hand, was just a worse person, had a sharp tongue, and a bad personality, but he had never harmed her or harbored any ill intentions towards her.
The other people in the Pei household were easy to get along with once their personalities were understood, unlike the numerous concubines in the Wu King's harem. Staying by Pei Yu's side was the best choice for her.
But Pei Yu was acting really strange tonight, completely different from his usual self. Huiyin would rather he had a good tantrum than be like this, with her heart not at peace.
Snap—
Suddenly, a wooden box with animal patterns was placed on the wooden table. The shadow in front of her turned and left. Huiyin picked up the wooden box. It was very light and had a faint medicinal fragrance. She opened the wooden box and found a crystal clear paste inside, which was already half empty.
The bloodstains on her hands came into view at that moment, and Huiyin's mind became increasingly complicated.
Water was boiling on the stove, and soon the wooden tub in the bathhouse was filled. Yan Niang ran over with concern and helped Huiyin into the bathhouse.
Summer had arrived, but the water temperature wasn't high. Yan Niang knelt behind the bathtub, rubbing Hui Yin's hair as she whispered, "The young general didn't do anything to you, did he?"
Huiyin helplessly cupped her face in her hands, "I wish he would do something to me, rather than leave me like this, unable to see through him or guess what he's thinking."
"How is he?"
Huiyin turned around in the water, her long hair sliding into the bathtub, her black hair intertwined with her fair skin, and told Yanniang everything that had happened that night.
She rarely showed such a confused expression, and murmured, "Mother Fu, what do you think he wants to do?"
Yan Niang was an experienced woman who had seen many lovers get along, like Huiyin's parents, whose relationship was like a gentle stream, or like the maids and servants in the mansion, who supported each other through thick and thin. She had her suspicions but dared not speak rashly.
In Yan Niang's eyes, Huiyin was perfect in every way, so it was only natural that Pei Yu would fall for her. Huiyin, being oblivious and clueless, would only cause herself more trouble if she spoke about certain things.
Yan Niang made up her mind and replied, "The young general is a good person, perhaps he also dislikes Su Xin."
Huiyin had been tossing and turning all night and didn't want to think about these troublesome things anymore. After taking a bath, she wore a pink nightgown, the fabric of which was smooth and silky.
She stopped at the doorway, looking at Yan Niang who was about to leave, her face pleading. For some reason, she really didn't dare to be in the same room with Pei Yu tonight. Just looking at Pei Yu's aggressive face made her feel flustered.
Yan Niang was at a loss. She wanted to sleep with Huiyin, but she figured Pei Yu would just kick her out. She patted Huiyin's hand, offering silent comfort.
Huiyin sighed for a moment, then turned and pushed open the door to enter the room. To her surprise, Pei Yu had already changed into a bathrobe and was lying casually on the floor, flipping through a scroll of bamboo slips.
He heard Huiyin enter the room, but without looking up, he said, "You're so slow. I went back to the front yard and you're still not done."
Huiyin paused in her hair-tidying. Since they had already returned to the front yard, why did she come back here? The soft bed in the front yard was not as comfortable as the floor mat here. What was even stranger was why he had offered to sleep on the floor mat today and given her the bed.
Pei Yu realized something was wrong after he finished speaking. He got up and sat on the floor, looking at Huiyin. The bamboo slips lay to one side. He asked, "Why didn't you dry your hair?"
Huiyin was really not used to his caring manner, especially since clothes were thin in the summer. The nightgown that Yanniang brought up had a large neckline, and with Pei Yu staring at her so intently, she felt hot all over.
Huiyin gave a perfunctory reply, wanting to quickly enter the inner room behind the curtain to avoid Pei Yu's gaze.
"It's getting late, let's just go to sleep."
Pei Yu stared at Huiyin for a few moments. She had probably just finished bathing, as her cheeks were rosy and glowing. Her pink nightgown made her skin look even whiter than snow, and her eyes were as clear as water.
He looked away and cleared his throat, saying, "Don't forget to apply the ointment."
Huiyin turned and quickly walked around to the wooden table in front of the window to get the small wooden box. When she turned around, she forgot about the bamboo slips scattered next to the bedding. The handwriting looked familiar; it was clearly her annotations when she was reading policy essays. Thinking of her own arrogant remarks, she felt her blood boil instantly.
Huiyin stepped forward and knelt on the floor, glaring angrily at Pei Yu. She clutched the bamboo slips to her chest and said furiously, "How shameful it is to read other people's handwritten letters without permission!"
This was the first time Pei Yu had seen her so full of life. He touched his nose. Huiyin had nothing here, so he could only flip through her handwritten notes to relieve his boredom.
"It's not like it's the first time I've seen this; your comments are quite good."
Huiyin turned around fiercely: "Shut up!"
The most shameful thing in the world is having your haphazardly written opinions and theories read by others.
Huiyin angrily shoved the bamboo slips into the bottom of the cupboard, covering them completely with clothes. After doing this, she went behind the curtains, sat on the bed, and sulked at the figure outside.
This isn't the first or second time; every time this person comes to her place, he always flips through her handwritten notes, showing absolutely no gentlemanly conduct.
Not long after, Pei Yu asked from outside, "Have you lain down yet?"
Huiyin replied irritably, "She's already asleep."
Sure enough, she heard Pei Yu retort in an annoying way, his voice laced with laughter: "You can still talk back after sleeping with someone, you're really something."
Just as Huiyin was about to reply, the sound of wind came and all the candles in the room were extinguished. She turned over and looked at the dark shadow outside the curtain. For the first time, she felt that Pei Yu was a very difficult person to understand.
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