Chapter 39 This Pei Yu, not only is he petty, ...
The next morning, Empress Pei summoned her by her eunuch. Huiyin chose a dignified deep-sleeved robe and went to the inner palace with the eunuch. Empress Pei's summons today was probably to find out the details of the scheme at the banquet the night before.
The Wutong Palace is located in the center of the lake. The stone bridge in front of the palace is the only way to get there. Huiyin followed behind the eunuch and looked up at the palace.
The eunuch led her into the front hall, where Empress Pei sat in the center. In front of her was a gilded four-legged paulownia wood table with a goose-fish bronze lamp and several bamboo slips on it. Beside her sat a lady in a lotus-colored blouse, listening attentively to Empress Pei's words.
The eunuch respectfully kowtowed and bowed, "Your Majesty, Lady Song from the Pei family has arrived."
Huiyin knelt on the dark blue stone slab, the chill creeping up her knees from her skirt. She bowed and kowtowed, "This humble servant respectfully wishes Your Majesty the Empress a peaceful and healthy life."
Empress Pei smiled and raised her hand: "Get up."
Huiyin obediently rose, bowed her head, and stood below, awaiting Empress Pei's instructions.
At Empress Pei's instruction, the palace maids serving inside the palace placed a brocade mat near the low table. Huiyin knelt down on it under their guidance, her posture upright, her head bowed, and her hands placed in front of her abdomen.
"No need for formalities, there are no outsiders here. I called you here to ask you something: the palace maid Pei'er committed suicide, do you have any clue about the person behind her?"
Empress Pei was not dressed in her finest attire at the palace banquet today. She wore only a light purple blouse with her hair pulled back, and her demeanor was serene and kind.
Huiyin and Su Jinghao above exchanged a glance, then simultaneously looked away. She replied, "I do not know the person behind Pei'er."
Empress Pei nodded slightly, her expression revealing neither joy nor anger. "Guangling was truly presumptuous; I have already punished her. How are your injuries?"
"There were only some minor bruises, but I'm fine now," Huiyin replied.
Empress Pei beckoned, signaling Yao Lan to come and examine Huiyin's health. Huiyin, puzzled, remained seated. Yao Lan gently knelt beside her and took her pulse at her wrist.
Empress Pei explained, "Yao Lan is a female physician. I'll feel more at ease if I have her take a look at you."
After taking her pulse, Yao Lan smiled and said to Empress Pei, "Madam Song is in good health and spirits, and is suitable for having children."
Huiyin: "..." She realized that Empress Pei's real intention was not what it seemed. Today, she mainly wanted Yao Lan to take her pulse and find out about her physical condition.
Empress Pei was relieved. Seeing Huiyin's helpless expression, she couldn't help but laugh and said, "The Pei family has few heirs. I am now hoping that Yuanxi will have an heir soon. You are the only one by his side now, so he can rely on you."
Huiyin stammered, "My status is too lowly... how can I possibly continue the Pei family's lineage?"
"Have you ever heard of a mother gaining status through her son?" Empress Pei asked meaningfully.
Huiyin and Su Jinghao were both in shock. What did Empress Pei mean?
Seeing Huiyin's surprised expression, Empress Pei covered her mouth and chuckled. It seemed her nephew would have to wait a while. Huiyin was not originally on the itinerary for this trip to Ganquan Palace; it was Pei Yu who personally went to the palace to ask her to be added.
After the banquet the night before, Pei Yu, in order to avenge Huiyin, not only seized Guangling's land in the west of the city, but also sowed discord between him and the Prince of Huainan. She received news that the Prince of Huainan was already getting impatient and wanted to petition the Emperor to allow his heir to marry Guangling.
Empress Pei gently raised her hand, and four maids dressed in palace attire carried lacquer trays into the front hall and knelt behind Huiyin. She smiled and said, "Take all these tonics back with you. Remember to take them every day."
Huiyin was speechless for a moment, then bowed and kowtowed again, "This concubine thanks Your Majesty."
"Alright, stop all that fussing." Empress Pei pointed to Su Jinghao beside her and said to Huiyin, "You two sisters haven't seen each other for many days, have you? Have a good get-together here today."
Su Jinghao stood up, walked to Huiyin's side and helped her up, her face showing a sincere smile: "Huiyin, how have you been lately?"
Huiyin looked at her flawless expression and admired her. It was the first time she had realized that Su Jinghao was such a good actress. Even though the two of them were fighting to the death in private, she did not reveal any clues on her face and was just like before.
She subtly withdrew her hand, then affectionately took Su Jinghao's arm, saying warmly, "Thank you for your concern, sister. I'm fine."
She was quite adept at putting on an act. The two exchanged a faint smile, their eyes churning with unspoken tension. As soon as they stepped out of the main hall, they simultaneously stopped smiling and stood several feet apart.
Su Jinghao spoke first: "I didn't expect you to be so lucky."
Huiyin took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, slowly wiped her hands, and replied indifferently, "I hope you're just as lucky."
Su Jinghao sneered for a moment, her gaze like a cold, venomous snake coiling around Huiyin, but her tone was gentle, "You don't really believe Empress Pei's words, thinking you have a chance to become Lady Pei, do you?"
Huiyin raised an eyebrow. "Are you scared?"
Su Jinghao chuckled softly, gently stroking the jade bracelet on her wrist. "You think I'm afraid of you? I'm just afraid you won't have the chance to face me."
Huiyin recognized the jade bracelet; it was a piece of natural jade presented by Sichuan three years ago. It was of excellent quality, and the Empress ordered the Imperial Household Department to carve it into three jade bracelets and two jade plaques.
The jade bracelets were bestowed upon the Crown Prince, the Prince of Wu, and the Prince of Lu, while the jade plaques were given to Guangling and Suiyang. Although it was not said, everyone knew that these were tokens for the future princesses and prince consorts.
It seems that Su Jinghao and the Crown Prince have a very good relationship. Before they were even married, the Crown Prince gave her this jade bracelet.
Huiyin smiled and said, "Opportunities are created, just like how you bribed the maid in Suiyang."
"Do you have any evidence? Or rather, do you dare to go to Empress Pei and say that this matter is related to me?" Su Jinghao was fearless.
Huiyin didn't reply. She really didn't dare. Ever since entering the palace, Empress Pei had been taking Su Jinghao to various occasions in a high-profile manner and even having her assist in handling official business. It was clear that she was telling everyone that she was very satisfied with Su Jinghao.
She might also like Huiyin, but that liking is only out of consideration for Pei Yu. Huiyin is currently an orphan, while Su Jinghao has the Su family backing her. Huiyin is just an ordinary concubine in the Pei family, while Su Jinghao is the future Crown Princess. It's self-evident who Empress Pei trusts, or rather, who she chooses.
Su Jinghao took a step closer, lifting Huiyin's chin with one hand. The bright red cardamom in her hand was incredibly alluring. She whispered in Huiyin's ear like a lover: "Huiyin, you can't beat me. I have power and influence. Crushing you is as easy as crushing an ant. As long as you obediently go back to Jingzhou, I promise I won't hurt you."
Huiyin laughed out loud.
Su Jinghao's eyes turned cold, and she tightened her grip. "What are you laughing at?"
Huiyin slapped Su Jinghao's arm away, looked past her, and called out, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Su Jinghao looked flustered, and the speed at which she changed her expression left Huiyin speechless with amazement. She immediately put on a gentle, smiling expression, turned around, curtsied, and said in a soft, charming voice, "Your Highness."
Su Jinghao waited for a while but heard no reply. She was anxious. Could it be that the Crown Prince had heard her conversation with Huiyin and was disappointed and angry with her?
Thinking of this, she quickly looked up and explained, "Your Highness, please listen to me..."
There was no one in front of her, only a gust of wind carrying a fallen leaf by. Su Jinghao knew perfectly well that she had been tricked by Huiyin.
“You…” She turned to look at Huiyin, only to see that Huiyin had already walked to the back hall and was standing with Suiyang, chatting idly. Huiyin’s gaze swept over her with a mocking look and a smile on her lips.
Su Jinghao's face twisted in anger as she forced herself to walk over. Before she even arrived, Sui Yang pulled Huiyin into the inner hall, not glancing at her once from beginning to end.
She stood silently in place, her fingernails broken, her eyes filled with malice.
——
As noon approached, Huiyin returned to Yingfeng Pavilion. He Jiaying was waiting in the outer courtyard. Upon hearing Huiyin's voice, she went up to her, her smug expression evident.
Huiyin understood immediately and asked, "Did you find out?"
He Jiaying tilted her head back, the golden leaves in her hair trembling slightly. "Of course, don't you even know who I am?"
Huiyin pulled her into the west courtyard, dismissed the gossiping maids, and the two went inside and sat down. She asked, "Who is Leyi?"
He Jiaying: "She is the new concubine of the King of Wu. She is a native of Chang'an. Her elder brother passed away last year, and now she is all alone. The King of Wu is very fond of her, and everyone calls her Lady Le."
"Have you seen her?" Huiyin asked.
He Jiaying nodded and said, "I caught a glimpse of her from afar a few days ago. She is quite beautiful, but Consort Zheng does not like her. Several of her maids speak disrespectfully to her."
Huiyin nodded, indicating that she understood. Yanniang knocked on the door from outside and asked Huiyin what to do with the tonic that Empress Pei had sent.
Thinking of this, Huiyin felt a headache coming on. She really couldn't understand Empress Pei's thoughts. Pei Yu was not yet married, and now he had a son born out of wedlock. How could his marriage go smoothly in the future?
And her cryptic words were puzzling. If Huiyin hadn't known how much Empress Pei valued Pei Yu, she would have suspected that she was deliberately trying to undermine Pei Yu.
She called out weakly, "Put it away, don't let anyone see it."
She and Pei Yu had not yet consummated their marriage, and no amount of medicine would help. Huiyin didn't want to put herself through that, and besides, she would never bear children for Pei Yu.
He Jiaying asked curiously, "Did the Empress also send you tonics?"
Huiyin sighed, "This tonic is not the same as that tonic."
He Jiaying noticed an exquisitely carved wooden box beside Huiyin and asked, "What is this?"
Huiyin replied, "Yesterday, Prince Shao won the prize from the pitch-pot game and gave it to Suiyang. Suiyang can't untie the Luban lock on it, so she asked me to help her."
She picked up the Luban lock and examined it for a moment. She had figured out how to solve it back in Suiyang, but it would take some time to figure it out, so she brought the wooden box back with her.
"Wang Zishao?"
He Jiaying seemed to see half of the sun through the clouds, and exclaimed in surprise, "I remember now! I remember who that male concubine looks like! It's Prince Suiyang's fiancé, Wang Xuan!"
Huiyin was used to He Jiaying's easily startled personality, so she wasn't frightened when she suddenly shouted. However, what she said made her very curious.
Are you sure?
He Jiaying affirmed, "I'm sure. The last time I saw Wang Zishao was two years ago, which is why I hadn't thought of him."
"You have to believe me." Afraid Huiyin wouldn't believe her, she swore to the heavens, "I really didn't remember wrong!"
Huiyin played with the Luban lock in her hand, a smile on her face. "Believe it or not, you'll know once you try it."
He Jiaying: "How do we try?"
Huiyin beckoned her closer and whispered in her ear for a moment. He Jiaying's expression was initially somewhat frightened, but after a moment, her face changed to one of eager anticipation.
After Huiyin and He Jiaying finished their meal and saw the person off, they saw Yan Niang rushing over and whispering, "Young Master Feng has sent a message, wishing to see you."
Huiyin took the strip of cloth from her hand and slowly unfolded it. Feng Chengyue's location was strange; he had arranged to meet at the Yuanlin Horse Ranch.
To be honest, Huiyin was very reluctant to go to this place. His Majesty was going hunting at the Yuanlin Horse Ranch in ten days, and Pei Yu had been busy with the defenses of the ranch these past few days. Going there would inevitably lead to running into him and causing the same embarrassing situation as last time.
Her relationship with Pei Yu had improved considerably because of the scheming they had that night at the palace banquet. If something like that happened again, she would have to suffer even more to ease the tension.
Seeing Huiyin's troubled expression, Yanniang asked, "What's wrong?"
"I'm thinking of an excuse to go to Yuanlin Horse Ranch," Huiyin said with a worried look on her face.
Yan Niang chuckled: "That's easy. Just bring some pastries or cold soup and say you're going to visit the young general."
Huiyin hesitated and asked, "Is this a good idea?"
Yan Niang had already quickly instructed Asang and the others to prepare things. She turned around and said, "The young general is at the Yuanlin Horse Ranch all day long. The Lady has sent him a lot of food and clothes, but there has been no word from you. That doesn't make sense."
Huiyin also felt this was inappropriate; she seemed to be too idle. Regardless of her inner qualities, she needed to put in the necessary effort. Yanniang then prepared the items and packed them in a lacquer box.
Huiyin, accompanied by Muli and Yanniang, strolled leisurely towards the Yuanlin Horse Ranch. Along the way, they encountered many people, mostly young men and women out for a stroll.
The Imperial Horse Ranch was vast, its lawns, meticulously maintained by the palace servants, lush and verdant, a sight to behold. A cool mountain breeze blew gently, and Huiyin felt no heat as she walked. The ranch's main gate was guarded by the Tiger Guard, who checked the identities of those entering.
Huiyin noticed that everyone who went inside was holding a bronze seal. She asked Yanniang to go and ask what it was. Yanniang returned and told her that it was a pass; the horse farm was under martial law for the next few days, and no unauthorized personnel were allowed to enter.
Huiyin was puzzled. Did Feng Cheng know about the martial law at the horse farm? There were plenty of places to meet in Ganquan Palace, so why did he invite her to the horse farm? She didn't have a pass and couldn't get in at all.
Yan Niang asked, "Should we go and tell those guards that we're here to see the young general?"
The melody of the emblem lifts the curtain, swaying uncertainly.
"Sister Huiyin, it really is you!"
A joyful shout came from afar. Huiyin and Yanniang turned their heads and saw a troop of cavalry slowly walking towards them on the green grass.
The blue-clad youth on the left waved to them, revealing a set of bright white teeth. Beside him stood Pei Yu, clad in light armor.
After they approached, Huiyin took a few steps forward, trying to avoid the undeniable gazes from her side, looked up at Pei Yan, and said softly, "I've come to deliver some things."
Yan Niang understood and picked up the lacquer box in her hand. Pei Yan's gaze was drawn to it, and he asked, "Great! Is there any mung bean soup? I'm about to faint from the heat."
Huiyin saw the beads of sweat and tears streaming down his forehead, and nodded with a smile, "Yes."
Pei Yan cheered for a moment, then looked at Pei Yu beside him with a pair of dark glasses. Pei Yu glanced at his pathetic appearance, dismounted first, and handed the black horse to Chi Yan behind him.
He walked over to Huiyin and said calmly, "Go in."
With him leading the way, we entered the garden smoothly without any obstacles. The place was divided into two parts: in front were magnificent and imposing high-platform pavilions and buildings, while behind was a dense forest near the foot of the mountain, so green that the bottom could not be seen.
Pei Yu led Huiyin into the main hall of the garrison, where he usually handled official business. The hall was very simple, a far cry from the brightly colored and exquisitely carved palaces outside.
The hall contained only an old, dark-colored lacquered wooden table and a sand table in the center that was about the size of a bed. The sand table depicted artificial mountains and rocks, showing the terrain of the entire Ganquan Palace. There were also some small red flags scattered on the sand table.
It doesn't resemble a garrison post, but rather a military tent for marching and fighting.
Pei Yu took off the accessories from his waist and hung them on the weapon rack behind the table. Pei Yan followed behind him like a gust of wind, took the lacquer box from Yan Niang's hand, placed it on the table, and eagerly took out the chilled mung bean soup inside, ladled it into a bowl, and drank it in big gulps.
Seeing how much he was craving food, Huiyin couldn't help but ask, "Isn't there a kitchen here?"
Pei Yu wiped his sweat without turning around, "There's a kitchen, but no ice."
Pei Yan took a moment from his busy schedule to speak: "My brother and I took a walk around the ridge, it was just too hot."
"You can't even stand this little bit of heat, yet you say you want to go to the battlefield." Pei Yu finished packing, ladled out a bowl of mung bean soup, and drank it in big gulps, but his movements were much more refined than Pei Yan's.
There were still beads of sweat on his neck, which rose and fell with his Adam's apple as he drank the soup. Huiyin watched, and a word came to mind: desire.
Pei Yan didn't reply. He plopped down on the ground, looked at Huiyin with clear eyes, and asked, "Sister Huiyin, did Mother send you?"
Huiyin glanced at Pei Yu, who had already put down his bowl and was leaning against the wall, listening to her conversation with Pei Yan.
"No, I wanted to come myself."
Pei Yan's face broke into a sly smile. He nodded meaningfully, glancing at Huiyin for a moment, then at Pei Yu standing there, his desire to watch the spectacle written all over his face.
Pei Yu couldn't stand his foolish look, and with just a few words, he sent Pei Yan out to practice martial arts. After Pei Yan left, Yan Niang conscientiously cleaned up the remaining mung bean soup and took it down to distribute to the other guards in the garrison.
For a moment, only Huiyin and Pei Yu remained in the hall.
Huiyin recalled the scene of him coaxing her to sleep last night, and the tips of her ears turned red involuntarily.
Pei Yu had been staring at her the whole time, his gaze never leaving Huiyin from the moment she appeared at the entrance of the Yuanlin Horse Ranch. He asked, "Are you hot?"
Huiyin awkwardly turned to the side, avoiding his gaze, and shook her head, replying, "It's alright."
Pei Yu, however, did not let her go. He stepped forward, standing only a step away from Huiyin, a distance that allowed him to clearly see the blush behind her ears.
He raised his hand to touch it, and the skin beneath his hand was burning hot.
Huiyin was taken aback by his sudden attack. Startled, she took two steps back, dodging Pei Yu's hand, and looked at him warily.
What are you doing?
Pei Yu withdrew his hand, rubbed it a couple of times with a lingering sense of satisfaction, and then lied through his teeth, saying, "You've got some dust on here."
Huiyin touched her ear suspiciously, rubbing it gently twice. "Is there more?"
"have"
Huiyin raised her hand and wiped it twice more, then asked, "Is there any more?"
Pei Yu nodded affirmatively.
Huiyin looked around and noticed a copper basin filled with water not far away. She walked over to it, intending to use it to check the location.
Suddenly someone reached out and grabbed her from behind. The hot palm climbed up her arm and burned her heart.
Pei Yu pressed his body against hers; his broad chest could easily accommodate Huiyin.
Huiyin didn't try to break free from him for a moment. Instead, she closed her eyes, turned her head, and took a sniff. Before she could smell anything, a handkerchief covered her nose.
Pei Yu laughed and said, "Are you a dog?"
Huiyin blushed, lifted the handkerchief from her face, and stepped out of his embrace.
"I..." She didn't know how to explain her momentary infatuation.
Pei Yu didn't need her explanation. He took the handkerchief from Huiyin's hand and gently wiped the area she had mentioned as dusty. In reality, there was no dust at all; the skin there had already turned bright red from Huiyin's wiping. Pei Yu touched it lightly twice, then withdrew his hand and stepped back.
"alright."
Huiyin touched behind her ear and sincerely thanked them.
She saw Pei Yu chuckle, the sound of his laughter reaching her ears, making her heart flutter again.
He said, "Wait here for me, I'll go change first."
After Pei Yu left, Huiyin followed her memory out of the main hall. On the way, she met several Tiger Soldiers who were peeking at her. She smiled back and politely asked them where the Yuanlin Document Desk was.
Several elite soldiers rushed to point her in the right direction, and Huiyin thanked them all and quickened her pace to get there.
Figures moved back and forth inside the document desk, seemingly very busy. Huiyin heard Feng Cheng's voice.
He was cursing someone, and coincidentally, Huiyin knew that person too.
"That damned Pei Yu only knows how to play dirty tricks behind people's backs."
Someone nearby advised him, "Young Master Feng, keep your voice down. If he hears you, he'll give us more work to do."
Enraged, Feng Cheng shouted, "I'm afraid of him?!"
Huiyin asked the eunuch guarding the door to go in and call for someone. She waited quietly behind the gate of the scribe's office. When Feng Cheng came out, he saw Huiyin. His angry expression instantly softened, and he took Huiyin to the backyard.
The backyard was quiet and secluded, with a large banyan tree that would take two people to encircle. Feng Cheng pulled Huiyin behind the tree and said, "There are few people here, so we won't be discovered."
Huiyin asked, "Brother, what are you doing here?"
“Don’t even mention it,” Feng Cheng said, wiping his sweat with a face full of resentment. “That night, after Pei Yu caught us together, he went to my uncle the next day and said that I was old enough to enter the officialdom and gain some experience, and that he happened to be short of a clerk to help him. As soon as my uncle heard this, he sold me to Pei Yu and let him do whatever he wanted with me.”
Feng Cheng gritted his teeth and said, "He's really a scoundrel. He used martial law as an excuse and I couldn't leave without his permission. I don't know where he got a batch of documents and made me sort them out urgently. I've been stuck here for quite some time and haven't even had a chance to attend the palace banquet."
Huiyin listened silently, then said with guilt, "If it weren't for me, he wouldn't have made things difficult for my brother."
Feng Cheng shook his head, speaking earnestly, "Huiyin, you spend all your time with such a treacherous person like him, I wonder how much effort you'll have to put into dealing with him. I've finally figured it out, this Pei Yu, not only is he petty, but he's also heartless!"
Huiyin couldn't help but laugh out loud. She tilted her head and thought, Pei Yu is indeed petty. As for whether his heart is clean, she hasn't had the chance to see that yet.
After venting his pent-up anger, Feng Cheng got down to business. His gaze was serious. "You'd better be prepared for what I'm about to say."
Huiyin stopped laughing. "Does this concern Yuan Zhi?"
“That’s right.” Feng Cheng nodded, then said thoughtfully, “My men sent word that they have found Yuan Zhi’s family, but the entire family, including the seven-year-old child, is missing.”
Huiyin remained silent for a moment. She hated Yuan Zhi and felt sorrow for the young child. The consequences of dealing with a tiger were terrifying. No wonder Su Jinghao was so fearless; it turned out that anyone who could threaten the Su family had been killed. She was certain that without Yuan Zhi, Huiyin would be no match for him.
Feng Cheng continued, "I sent people to search the place where the Yuan family was murdered, and they found nothing. They really did a clean job."
“I predicted this outcome from the moment Yuan Zhi disappeared.”
Huiyin sighed. Disappointed? Of course she was disappointed. Without Yuan Zhi's identification, even if she successfully exonerated her father, she wouldn't be able to bring down the Su family.
Feng Cheng pursed his lips and comforted her, "Huiyin, don't be discouraged, there must be other ways."
Huiyin nodded, bid farewell to Feng Cheng, and returned to the main hall alone. Pei Yu had not yet returned.
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