Chapter 51 It was entirely up to him.
Pei Yu woke up to a melodious tune. His side was empty; Huiyin was no longer there. The wound on his back had been carefully treated with medicine; the burning pain had disappeared, replaced by a cool and smooth sensation.
The music hadn't stopped when Pei Yu leaned lazily against the couch, savoring it. Although he couldn't quite grasp the nuances, he could tell it was Huiyin playing. He nodded in agreement, thinking, "It's really beautiful."
After lying down for a while, the languid feeling from just waking up dissipated. Pei Yu picked up the clothes that were placed aside, put them on, and walked out feeling refreshed.
Huiyin's hair was pulled to one side, adorned with a flawless white magnolia blossom, and her pearl earrings gleamed. In her hands was a jet-black zither, carved with a lifelike phoenix soaring through the air.
She seemed to be in a good mood, with a faint smile on her lips.
Pei Yu leaned against the door, tilting his head slightly to look at Huiyin under the eaves. His heart suddenly skipped a beat. All the sounds around him disappeared, and in the utter silence, only his pounding heartbeat remained.
After Huiyin finished playing a piece, Yanniang, who was beside her, nudged her hand, gesturing for her to look towards the door. She looked up and saw Pei Yu looking at her with a beaming smile, clapping his hands in support, saying, "It's like listening to celestial music."
Huiyin pursed her lips shyly, touched the still trembling strings, and asked softly, "Does your back still hurt?"
Pei Yu walked into the courtyard, stretched out his arms, raised an eyebrow and said, "I don't even care about this little injury."
Huiyin recalled his other wounds, which seemed insignificant compared to these.
"I've never seen this before?" Pei Yu came up to Huiyin and looked her up and down.
Huiyin's fingertips twitched slightly, and after hesitating for a moment, she finally told the truth, "It's a birthday gift from Wang Huan."
Pei Yu: "...He really won't give up?"
He spoke very softly, and Huiyin could not hear him clearly. "What did you say?"
Pei Yu waved his hand, "It's nothing, it's a good thing."
He sat down next to Huiyin, reached out and pinched her cheek, questioning, "Why did Wang Huan know your birthday, but you didn't tell me?"
While trying to save her cheek, Huiyin replied, "You didn't ask me either."
Pei Yu caught a glimpse of the zither out of the corner of his eye, subtly blocking Huiyin's view and moving it away. He then took out a brocade pouch from his sleeve and handed it to Huiyin, saying casually, "Here, a birthday gift."
Huiyin untied the brocade pouch, inside which was a warm and lustrous wolf tooth pendant, with a small dent on the tooth. She looked up at Pei Yu with a puzzled expression.
Pei Yu awkwardly looked away, raised his chin slightly to the serpent that had been kicked far away, and cleared his throat. "Although it's not as valuable as that thing, this wolf fang was a trophy from my first victory, and it even saved me from a fatal blow. I don't believe in ghosts and gods, but this thing is indeed somewhat useful. I hope it can protect you when I'm not around."
As he finished speaking, his voice grew softer and softer, as if he felt the gift was somewhat inadequate.
Huiyin lifted the pendant, and the wolf fang swayed slightly between the two of them. Their gazes slowly intertwined, as if time had stood still.
Pei Yu saw Huiyin's smile as bright as the sun and her eyes sparkling. "I like it very much. Thank you, Pei Yu."
The sound of Pei Yu sent a chill down his spine, a feeling he had never experienced before, and something in his chest seemed about to overflow.
After many days, Pei Yu finally returned to the warm and fragrant place he had been longing for. After taking a bath, he lay lazily on the bed, propping up one leg, with a military book that Huiyin had found for him to relieve boredom beside him.
Outside, it was pitch black, but inside, the warm light flickered. The military book held no appeal for Pei Yu. His gaze followed the busy Huiyin closely from the moment she entered, through the moment she sat in front of the bronze mirror to fix her hair, and then through the moment she sat down at the desk to write.
Pei Yu glanced at it; it was all strange characters he didn't recognize, the kind that make his head spin. He stared blankly at the blue curtains, silently counting the hours in his mind.
Just as the hour of Xu (7:45 PM) was about to end, he pulled Huiyin back to bed.
Huiyin put down her pen in utter helplessness, her eyes full of confusion. "You slept for a long time at noon, how come you're sleepy so quickly?"
Pei Yu froze, and replied haphazardly, "I'm injured right now, and I'm not in good spirits."
Huiyin thought about it and agreed. She tidied up the things on the table, hugged them to her arms, and was about to leave.
Pei Yu was stunned and quickly stopped him, "Where are you going?"
Huiyin carried her things and walked outside. "I'm not sleepy yet. You rest first. I'm going to Yanniang's place. I won't disturb you."
Pei Yu: "...That's not what I meant. I wanted you to stay with me."
Huiyin was pulled by him, and when she turned around, she saw his lowered eyes, his eyebrows drooping, which was very different from his usual sharpness. His eyes were filled with spring water, as if he was just begging his master not to leave.
Her heart softened, and she stopped walking. "Okay."
The two lay side by side on the bed. Thanks to having slept too much during the day, neither of them felt sleepy for half an hour. Huiyin lay with her eyes closed, like a sheep, when a figure leaned close to her side and whispered in her ear, "Asleep?"
She turned her back to him and said, "Aren't you sleepy? Why aren't you going to sleep?"
Pei Yu chuckled awkwardly, "I do sleep too much during the day, why don't we do something else?"
He reached out and grasped Huiyin's slender waist, slowly lowering her. Huiyin grabbed his mischievous hand, turned around, and looked at Pei Yu, who had a lustful expression on his face, with a serious expression: "You are injured, you cannot do that."
Pei Yu: "The injury is on your back, it's nothing serious."
Huiyin grasped his hand and shook her head firmly, "No."
Pei Yu's eyes were deep and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He pressed against Huiyin's back and whispered, "I'm in pain, Huiyin, please help me."
Huiyin suppressed her soft heart, rolled inside, grabbed the blankets and wrapped herself up tightly, and refused, saying, "Let's talk about it when you're healed."
Pei Yu chased after her and quickly pulled Huiyin out, showering her with light kisses. "You're really alright."
Huiyin turned her head away from him, arched her back and shouted, "No, you go back to sleep."
Pei Yu ignored her and pressed down on Huiyin with one hand to unbutton her nightgown. Her delicate, fair skin unfolded before his eyes. Huiyin was a little plumper than when she first arrived at the Pei residence. She was slim where she should be, and large where she should be, making her irresistible to touch.
Huiyin angrily grabbed his hair and pulled him off her. Her lips were tightly pressed together, and her body was tense. "Your injury!"
Pei Yu took a deep breath, ignoring the stinging pain on his scalp, and buried his head in his hands.
Before long, Huiyin's body went limp and she collapsed onto the couch, exhausted. Pei Yu helped the limp woman up and leaned her against the bedside table. He grabbed a soft pillow and placed it behind Huiyin, then leaned in with unstoppable force, letting out a comfortable groan.
Huiyin bit her lip and gripped his shoulder. She was afraid that hugging Pei Yu would aggravate his wound, so she could only cooperate with him.
After the passion subsided, Huiyin collapsed onto the bed, trembling all over, her back pressed tightly against Pei Yu's burning chest. She took a breath, kicked Pei Yu with her weak legs, and wrapped herself tightly in the summer quilt, angrily shouting, "Get out of here!"
——
The next morning, Pei Yu left the west courtyard feeling refreshed. He first went to the east courtyard to visit Madam Pei, but Madam Pei asked him a couple of indifferent questions about his injuries before sending him away.
Pei Yu then walked towards the garden. As soon as he arrived, he saw a figure he hadn't seen in a long time waiting at the entrance.
Fang Mu rushed forward with tears in his eyes, but Pei Yu dodged him and he missed. He turned back with a wronged look on his face and said, "Young General, I have suffered a lot on this trip."
Pei Yu hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand to pat his shoulder and comforted him, "You've worked hard. Take a good rest these next few days."
Fang Mu was two shades darker than before he arrived. He loudly agreed, his eyes crinkling with a smile, and nudged Chi Yan with his shoulder, a smug look on his face. Chi Yan looked up at the sky helplessly. This kid was really lucky, arriving just as the young general and Lady Song were making up.
Fang Mu followed Pei Yu toward the main hall of the garden and reported solemnly, "When I arrived in Dai County, I found several veterans who were the same age as Chen Jie, but I didn't find any useful information. However, one of them said that he had seen Chen Jie's maternal cousin visit him at the military camp a few times."
Chi Yan chimed in, "But Chen Jie's mother's family has no men, right?"
“That’s right,” Fang Mu nodded and continued, “I followed the lead of my cousin Chen Jie and found out that he had repeatedly stayed at the tavern in Dai County. That tavern was the eyes and ears of the Zheng family of the Marquis of Pingyang in Dai County.”
Chi Yan frowned. "The Marquis of Pingyang actually planted spies in Dai County many years ago, and the Grand Marshal's personal guards are also connected to him. What exactly are they planning to do?"
Pei Yu was not surprised at all. Ever since Emperor Xuan detained Chen Jie and then secretly executed him, he had guessed something was amiss. It was certain that the person behind Chen Jie was colluding with the Xiongnu, a crime punishable by the extermination of his entire family and clan. Emperor Xuan was clearly protecting that person.
Those who could let the Xiongnu into the pass must be people of high rank and power. Who else could have committed such a heinous crime that Emperor Xuan was willing to protect, besides the Zheng family?
Emperor Xuan was not surprised that he wanted to protect the Zheng family; it was just a matter of imperial balance. With the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wu growing up, the Pei and Zheng families would check and balance each other, and neither could touch the other.
Therefore, Emperor Xuan would protect the Zheng family and prevent the Crown Prince and the Pei family from becoming too powerful. Similarly, this is why Pei Yu has been deeply favored by Emperor Xuan in recent years; he understands better than anyone the ruthlessness of an emperor.
What he didn't expect was that the Zheng family's reach was so far. Was the Zheng family involved in the battle between his father and the Xiongnu in Dai County five years ago?
Pei Yu calmly said, "The third day is the birthday of Marquis Pingyang. His Majesty has granted him permission to hold a banquet in Pingning Palace. I will go to their residence to investigate then."
——
At Yingfeng Pavilion, Huiyin sat under the eaves eating, a string of gleaming white wolf fang pendants hanging from her chest. She had been getting up late these past few days, saving herself the trouble of eating breakfast. Huiyin sighed; she couldn't continue indulging like this. She must get up early tomorrow.
The wound on Yan Niang's head had healed and scabbed over, the brown scab standing out starkly against her skin. Huiyin gently applied medicine to Yan Niang's head. Give her a few more days, and the secret on the silk scroll would be revealed, allowing them to obtain the evidence to bring down the Su family.
"Clap—clap clap."
The sound of breaking pottery came from the east courtyard next door, along with Madam Pei's angry shouts.
Huiyin gave Aheng a wink, signaling her to go out and check. A moment later, Aheng came running over, panting, and said, "Young Master has somehow angered the Queen, and she's throwing a tantrum in the courtyard."
Huiyin frowned and asked, "Wasn't the door closed?"
“No,” Aheng shook her head, “It sounds like it’s about this young master’s marriage.”
Her brows furrowed even deeper. After all, Madam Pei was Pei Yu's mother, and she couldn't stand idly by. She got up and left the west courtyard. The east courtyard's doors were wide open, and the maids crowded at the entrance to watch the commotion and whisper among themselves.
Tao Ao stayed at the Pei residence to manage affairs and did not come to the imperial palace. With Madam Pei not involved in any matters, many of the maids in the Pei residence were idle. Huiyin walked over, dispersed the crowd to prevent them from gossiping, and ordered the gates to be closed tightly.
The east courtyard was in complete disarray, with broken items scattered all over the ground. Madam Pei stood in the courtyard with a livid face, while her mother, Aunt Qiao, tried to comfort her.
Pei Yan stood stubbornly in the middle, his head held high, with a scratch on his face.
After thinking for a moment, Huiyin instructed someone to invite He Jiaying over. She didn't want to go in and divert Madam Pei's anger, so it was best to have He Jiaying go and persuade her.
Ah Heng returned quickly, "My lady, Miss He went out this morning."
Huiyin was still hesitating outside the door whether to go in when Pei Yan suddenly shouted, "Mother, you're always like this! You always disregard my and my brother's wishes, using the guise of doing what's best for us to force us to do things we don't like!"
"I already have someone I love, and I will never marry Feng Anjun!"
"What did you say! Say it again!"
Huiyin paused in her steps, slowly withdrew, and hid behind the wall to listen. It seemed that Madam Pei couldn't do anything to Pei Yu, so she had set her sights on Pei Yan, wanting him to marry Feng Anjun.
Pei Yan said he already has someone he likes, which seems to be Shangguan Su, who visited the Pei residence last time.
Pei Yan repeated, word by word, "I already have someone I love, and I will never marry..."
Snap—
A crisp slap rang out, leaving a deep handprint on Pei Yan's cheek. Madam Pei's lips turned white as she pointed at Pei Yan, unable to speak. "Get out of here... I don't have a son like you."
Pei Yan stood frozen in place, motionless.
Madam Pei clutched her chest in discomfort, collapsed with difficulty breathing, and rolled her eyelids upward.
Pei Yan was startled and caught Madam Pei's unconscious body helplessly, saying fearfully, "Mother, don't scare me!"
Hearing something amiss inside, Huiyin peeked out and saw Madam Pei lying pale and convulsing in Pei Yan's arms. Her heart tightened, and she quickly told Aheng to fetch the physician before rushing inside, lifting her skirt.
Upon seeing her arrive, Pei Yan raised his reddened eyes and choked out, "Sister, what should we do..."
Qiao Ao wailed beside her, and Huiyin was also a little flustered for a moment, but she quickly calmed down and instructed Pei Yan to lay Madam Pei flat and pry open her tightly clenched mouth.
Madam Pei lay on the ground, barely breathing. Huiyin knelt beside her and carefully helped her breathe by rubbing her chest.
Madam Pei was clearly overwhelmed with anger. Yan Niang had seen others like this before, and she hesitated before saying, "I've seen people faint from anger before. Perhaps pinching their philtrum would help?"
Yan Niang wasn't sure if this method would work on Madam Pei. Her intention was to have Pei Yan do it, so that even if it didn't work, Huiyin wouldn't be blamed.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Huiyin immediately pinched Madam Pei's philtrum. Yan Niang couldn't stop her in time, and following the way others had treated her in her memory, she pulled up Madam Pei's hand and pinched her tiger's mouth.
Madam Pei's chest gradually calmed down, and her eyes stopped rolling back. Huiyin's tense body slowly relaxed, and she only then realized that her palms were covered in cold sweat. She didn't care about Madam Pei's life, but if something happened to Madam Pei, Pei Yu would definitely be heartbroken, and she didn't want Pei Yu to be heartbroken.
When Pei Yan saw Madam Pei open her eyes, he sobbed and knelt down beside her, wailing. Tears and snot mingled together, and his once handsome face was now contorted. He choked out, "Mother... are you alright... your son will answer you... please don't..."
Madam Pei opened her eyes, tears streaming down her face. She gritted her teeth, raised her hand, and touched Pei Yan's face without saying a word.
Seeing that she was alright, Huiyin instructed Pei Yan to carry Madam Pei inside and settle her properly. The physician arrived at this time as well. Huiyin breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the physician's diagnosis: Madam Pei was fine, but she needed to rest well for a while and should not get angry again.
After thinking about it, she sent someone to deliver a message to Pei Yu.
Huiyin did not leave. Madam Pei lay motionless on the bed, Pei Yan was at a loss, and Qiao Ao was also unable to handle the situation. She ordered someone to prepare medicine and brew it under the eaves, holding a bamboo fan to watch the stove. Wisps of smoke rose, and the aroma of the medicine filled the air.
Inside, Pei Yan was apologizing to Madam Pei at her bedside. Madam Pei weakly asked him who he loved. Pei Yan told her the truth. After listening, Madam Pei remained silent for a long time before saying, "Her family background is too low. After you get married, take her in as a concubine."
Huiyin paused in her hand as she waved her fan.
All that could be heard was Pei Yan's pained voice: "I have already wronged her, how can I humiliate her again?"
The room gradually fell silent. Madam Pei drank her medicine and fell into a deep sleep. Pei Yan went out listlessly and knelt beside Huiyin, his face full of disappointment.
After a long while, he asked in a hoarse voice, "Sister, how did you feel when you heard that brother was going to marry someone else?"
Huiyin wasn't good at comforting a dejected young man, so she told him the truth: "Let's cut ties and never see each other again."
Pei Yan shuddered, covered his head with his hands, and let out a low, almost sobbing sound, with a few tears dripping through his fingers.
"I... said I would marry her."
Huiyin thought of Shangguan Su, a very shy girl, and asked, "How did you two meet?"
Pei Yan lowered his head even further, wiped his face, and put his hands on his head, messing up his hair. "Before, I skipped classes many times at the Imperial Academy and was punished by Master Shangguan by copying books. She came to deliver food to Master Shangguan. After the master went out, I threatened her to copy books for me."
Huiyin slowly turned her head, "?"
Did she copy it?
Pei Yan sniffed and nodded, "I copied it. I think she's a nice person. Later, whenever I was punished by the teacher to copy, I would go to her."
He looked up and saw Huiyin looking at him with disdain. He explained incoherently, "I... I bought her something... I paid her."
Huiyin silently turned her head, resting her chin on her hand in thought, looking like Pei Yan, whom Shangguan Suxian liked.
She scrutinized Pei Yan for a few moments, her eyes broken and red-rimmed, looking heartbroken. Her features were exquisite and beautiful, and her eyes and brows already hinted at her future charm and charisma.
Huiyin also liked him this way; he looked much better than when he was energetic and had a bright smile. No wonder Shangguan Su was also moved.
Pei Yan was still sobbing as he recounted his past with Shangguan Su, completely unaware that Pei Yu had already returned.
Huiyin looked at Pei Yu at the door without saying a word. She couldn't help Pei Yan and Shangguan Su; only Pei Yu could.
After Pei Yan finished rambling, he twitched his nose in distress. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a figure standing in front of him. He looked up, his lips trembled, and he burst into tears.
"Brother, brother, I don't want to marry Feng Anjun!"
Pei Yu stared at his younger brother's red eyes and disheveled appearance, then raised his hand and patted his head.
Pei Yan, as if he had found a savior, hugged Pei Yu's leg and burst into tears, "I want Su Su, I only want Su Su..."
"Isn't it ugly for a man to cry like this?" Pei Yu squatted down, wiped Pei Yan's tears with his sleeve, and laughed.
Pei Yan choked up, "Brother, please help me."
Looking at Pei Yan's sobbing appearance, Pei Yu felt as if he had returned to his childhood. Pei Yan was always a little shadow, always following behind him since he was a child. Even before he could walk steadily, he would start calling out in a childish voice, "Brother, brother."
When Pei Yan grew a bit older, he was at the age where everyone disliked him. Pei Yu also got annoyed with this crybaby younger brother and would always secretly slip away from him to go out of the mansion to have fun.
Until one day, Pei Yan was bullied by others when he was alone. He came home with a bruised and swollen face and cried, asking Pei Yu to stand up for him.
Without a word, Pei Yu took Pei Yan and went to fight. In the end, both brothers went home with bruises and swelling on their faces, and were then given a beating by Pei Qing. From that day on, Pei Yu no longer disliked his younger brother and always took him along.
He looked at Pei Yan, his nose and tears mixed together, and felt a mix of emotions. Pei Yu held Pei Yan's shoulders and stood up, tidying up his disheveled hair and said gently, "Go back and tidy yourself up, get some sleep, and leave everything to your brother."
Pei Yan left with tears in his eyes, turning back every three steps. He saw his elder brother standing there, waving to him just like when he first left Chang'an.
Pei Yan knew that as long as his elder brother was around, he wouldn't have to worry about anything.
After he left, Pei Yu looked at Huiyin and touched her face. "Were you frightened today?"
Huiyin shook her head. "Madam is fine, don't worry too much. As for Pei Yan, how do you plan to talk to her about it? The physician said that Madam cannot get angry right now."
Squeak—
The two turned around and looked at the two people outside. Qiao opened the door and said, "Young General, Madam has woken up and wants to see you."
Pei Yu withdrew his hand, pressed Huiyin down to sit, and stepped into the room.
Madam Pei leaned against the railing, her face pale, pressing one hand to her throbbing forehead. When Pei Yu entered, she said wearily, "Sit down."
Pei Yu lifted his robe and knelt before Madam Pei's bed, serving her medicine from the bowl.
Madam Pei waved her hand with a pained expression, "It's too bitter, just leave it."
“Mother used to always tell her son that good medicine tastes bitter, so why won’t she take it herself?” Pei Yu ignored her and handed her the porcelain spoon.
Madam Pei frowned as she swallowed the medicine, her face full of bitterness. "Speak your mind about Pei Yan's marriage to the Feng family."
After feeding Madam Pei, Pei Yu put down the bowl and said solemnly, "I know perfectly well the reasons why Mother chose Li Yingyue for me and Feng Shi for Ayan."
Madam Pei couldn't help but ask, "Since you know this, why are you unwilling to marry Li Yingyue?"
Pei Yu remained silent for a long time, then said, "I only want Huiyin."
Madam Pei suppressed a cough and couldn't help but shed tears. "If you don't want to marry me, I won't force you. After all, it's thanks to you that the Pei family has been able to hold on all these years. Although I am just a lady of the inner quarters, I also know that one tree cannot make a ridge."
“Over the years, the Zheng family has produced many offspring and has intermarried with officials and nobles in Chang’an, growing into a large and prosperous family. Now look at the Pei family. Your two uncles are far away from Chang’an and do not hold real power. You are the only one struggling to hold on in the capital. If something happens, they will be unable to help you.”
"Is it wrong for your mother to want to choose two powerful marriage partners for you and Yan'er?"
Pei Yu: "That's right."
Madam Pei spoke with tears streaming down her face, her words filled with anguish. "Then why do you all think I'm harming you! You do this, Yan'er does this! I'm your mother, don't I want you to live a comfortable and happy life?"
“You’ve stayed in Dai County alone for the Pei family for five years, and I feel sorry for you. I agree that you don’t want to marry anyone else. But your brother is different. He’s been under your protection all these years, so he should do something for you!”
Pei Yu took a step back, kowtowed, and said in a deep voice, "Mother always feels that she has wronged me, but she forgets that I am the eldest son, and it is my responsibility to take care of my widowed mother and younger brother. Ayan, let him do whatever he wants, I will protect him from the wind and rain."
"Can you protect him for the rest of your life? And is he willing to hide under your wing for the rest of his life?"
Pei Yu looked up, his eyes calm, and said, word by word, "It's entirely up to him."
Madam Pei wept uncontrollably. She should have been happy that her eldest son was willing to protect her youngest. But she truly felt sorry for Pei Yu, for him shouldering such a heavy responsibility all by himself. She only wanted Pei Yan to share some of the burden with him.
She forgot that the children were grown up and had their own ideas, and she couldn't interfere too much. Madam Pei recalled Pei Yan's accusations against her, saying that their mother always used the excuse of "it's for our own good" but never asked for their wishes.
Madam Pei closed her eyes, utterly helpless, "Do as you please, I don't have the energy to care anymore."
Pei Yu helped Madam Pei lie down and covered her with the quilt. Looking at his widowed mother's tired face, his heart suddenly clenched, and he said with a sob, "Mother, you must take good care of your health. My child and Ayan's child are still counting on you."
Madam Pei felt a lump in her throat, turned over, and wept bitterly. "Don't worry, if I can't teach you two older ones a lesson, surely I can teach your son a lesson?"
Pei Yu chuckled, "Yes."
Huiyin calmed down after listening to the commotion inside, and sighed softly as she looked at the changing clouds in the sky. She hadn't expected that Madam Pei would choose wives for the two brothers for this reason.
Putting aside Madam Pei's other flaws, her love for children is commendable.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
