Chapter 80 A desperate fight or surrender...
The next morning, the Empress issued a summons.
Three years later, Huiyin entered the palace again. The Jiaofang Palace was not as bright and luxurious as before; the entire hall seemed to be shrouded in dark clouds.
Empress Pei looked much older than she had three years ago, with obvious wrinkles around her eyes, but she was still as kind and approachable as ever when she saw Huiyin.
Huiyin felt a lump in her throat. The Empress had never treated her with regard to her social status. After the fall of the Song family, the Empress was someone who offered her warmth. She knelt beside Empress Pei, tears welling in her eyes, and asked, "Is the Empress well?"
Empress Pei gently stroked Huiyin's hair, her gaze seemingly looking through Huiyin at others. She smiled and helped Huiyin up, pulling her to sit down. "I am well-off in the palace, with no worries about food or clothing. But you, you have been traveling outside for three years. Have you suffered a lot?"
Huiyin held back her tears, shook her head, closed her eyes, and rested her head on Empress Pei's lap, savoring a moment of tenderness.
She didn't believe Empress Pei's claim that everything was alright. Her youngest daughter was married off far away and she couldn't see her. The Crown Prince was incapacitated and she had to hold him up. For the past three years, Pei Yu had been away, and she had been isolated and helpless in the deep palace, exhausting her energy to maintain the court. How could everything be alright?
Empress Pei patted Huiyin's hand apologetically, "I know everything about what happened between you and Yu'er. It was indeed the Crown Prince and Yu'er's fault, and you were wronged. I've thought it through these past few days; it was the Crown Prince and I who dragged Yu'er down. I'm thinking of arranging a marriage between you and Yu'er, so that Yu'er can take you to Dai County, far away from Chang'an. What do you think?"
Huiyin saw that Empress Pei's expression did not seem fake. Her brows and eyes showed exhaustion, like a peony that had been deprived of nutrients and was gradually withering away.
"Your Majesty, you..."
Empress Pei smiled helplessly, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were obvious. She sighed deeply, "I am really tired. You have seen the situation in Chang'an. Yu'er alone is powerless to turn the tide. The Crown Prince is not a wise ruler. I do not want him to lose his life for the sake of my son and me. Sending him to Dai County will at least preserve the Pei family. After I die, I will have the face to meet my parents and brothers."
Huiyin said anxiously, "Although the Crown Prince is not a wise ruler, he is kind-hearted and listens to advice. The country has just gone through a major war and needs to recuperate. The King of Wu is disregarding human life and the Zheng family, his relatives, are seizing power. It would be a misfortune for the people if they were to take the throne."
"Moreover, the Zheng family has long held a grudge against Pei Yu, and the two factions are now locked in a life-or-death struggle. Even if Pei Yu retreats to the border, the Zheng family will not let him go."
"Will the Empress fight to the death or submit to execution?"
Empress Pei listened to these words, and feeling somewhat lost, she covered her eyes, asking, "Then what should we do?"
Huiyin grasped her hand, looked into her eyes, and said, word by word, "The only way forward now is to put ourselves in a desperate situation and then survive."
Empress Pei was awakened by Huiyin's determined gaze. She gritted her teeth and understood why Huiyin had come to the palace today.
If His Majesty were to fall into trouble now, the Crown Prince could rightfully ascend the throne. How could the King of Wu possibly give up the throne that was within his grasp? He would surely join forces with the Zheng family to rebel. At that time, Pei Yu could then raise an army to quell the rebellion and rightfully wipe out the King of Wu and the Zheng family in one fell swoop.
Her long-dormant heart began to churn again. Was she really going to surrender with her son? Had she endured twenty-five years of hardship in this deep palace, from youthful beauty to prematurely gray hair, all for this very end?
No, she was unwilling to accept it.
Empress Pei closed her eyes tightly, clenched her fists so hard that her carefully maintained nails broke. When she opened her eyes again, she was no longer hesitant, but full of the courage to burn her bridges.
She looked at Huiyin and smiled, "Huiyin, good child, thank you. I know what to do. You and Yu'er just wait for my news."
When Huiyin returned home, she encountered Pei Yu entering the palace. The two exchanged a glance on the palace road, both understanding each other's thoughts. Having already made up their minds, they naturally wanted to act as quickly as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications.
Empress Pei, the key figure, has already secured the position. The rest is no longer relevant to Huiyin. Neither Pei Yu nor Empress Pei will reveal the specific plans to her, so that if their scheme fails, Huiyin will not be implicated.
These days, Pei Yu won't have time to come see her anymore, so she can only wait for news.
When Huiyin returned home, she met someone at her doorstep whom she thought she would never see again in her life: Su Jinghao.
She was alone, dressed in plain clothes, and dressed simply. If you didn't look at her face, you would think she was an ordinary woman.
She saw Huiyin get out of the car and stood still at a distance without going forward.
Huiyin walked over, and Su Jinghao hadn't changed much in the past three years, except for one thing: three years ago, she always had a gentle and smiling face no matter who she met, but now she was expressionless and her eyes were as still as a deep well.
The two stared at each other in silence for a moment before Huiyin broke the silence first, "You came to see me?"
Su Jinghao curled her lips into a mocking smile, "I came to see if you're dead or not."
Huiyin mercilessly exposed her, "Everyone in Chang'an knows I'm not dead. Not only am I not dead, but I've returned in glory."
Su Jinghao snorted coldly, threw down a sentence, and turned to leave, "A scourge lives on for a thousand years."
Huiyin stopped her and pointed to the courtyard, saying, "Jingchuan is here too. I haven't told him what you did. Why don't you go in and see him?"
Su Jinghao froze. The reason she had been waiting here for most of the day without going in was because of Song Jingchuan. She could openly show her true nature in front of Huiyin, but she dared not do so in front of Song Jingchuan.
She hoped that in that boy's heart, she would always be a gentle and kind older sister, not a hateful and vicious woman.
She replied stiffly, "No."
Huiyin then asked, "What's going on between you and Xie Qinghe?"
Su Jinghao closed her eyes with a sense of humiliation, gritting her teeth as she said, "It's all over the place, why are you still asking? Do you want to laugh at me?"
Huiyin: "Otherwise what? Show concern for you?"
She had no interest in the mess between Xie Qinghe and Su Jinghao. Xie Qinghe had become an important figure in the Wu King's faction. As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle."
Su Jinghao held back her anger and remained silent, but Huiyin noticed something on her face. She knew Su Jinghao well and knew that this expression conveyed deep disgust. Rumor had it that Xie Qinghe had turned against his wife and father-in-law for her sake; why would Su Jinghao despise Xie Qinghe so much?
Su Jinghao looked at Huiyin and said softly, "He has no interest in me at all. He just used me as a raft to get rid of the Xu family. Over the years, he has been suppressed by the reputation of being the Xu family's son-in-law. Now that he has gained power, he naturally wants to turn the tables. He is a deep and ruthless person. The child that Xu Lingyi lost was deliberately caused by him."
Su Jinghao sneered, "He can even scheme against his own child, what else is he incapable of? You should warn Pei Yu to be careful of him."
She took one last deep look at Huiyin before turning and leaving.
Huiyin repeatedly pondered Su Jinghao's expression and actions. She had inexplicably appeared here today and left behind a strange remark. A guess formed in her mind: could it be that they were already impatient and wanted to use a scheme to strip Pei Yu of his military power first?
In the dead of night, Pei Yu finally emerged from the inner palace, nimbly leaping into Huiyin's courtyard and knocking on her window. Huiyin, who was about to retire for the night, heard the familiar movement, got out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and went to open the door.
Pei Yu stood before her, dressed entirely in black, his entire body wrapped in black cloth, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes. She was startled by the shadowy figure, but recognized him only after Pei Yu spoke.
"It's me."
Huiyin asked with some disdain, "What kind of outfit is this?"
Pei Yu pulled down his black mask, revealing the handsome lower half of his face, and said with a smile, "I'm leaving the city tonight. You and your family should stay home for the next few days and keep the doors and windows closed. I'll leave Fang Mu here to look after you. If anything happens, quickly take your men and follow Fang Mu through the back paths to leave."
Huiyin knew Empress Pei would make a move, but she didn't expect her to act so quickly. Pei Yu was going to leave the city tonight to gather troops, which meant he would launch a coup in just a few days.
"Isn't the time too tight?" she asked nervously.
"There is no time to lose; the longer we delay, the easier it will be to be exposed."
Huiyin understood this principle, which was the most important point in her plan. After all, no one would have expected that Pei Yu and Empress Pei, who had just won a battle, would choose to make their move at this time.
"Then you must be careful," Huiyin said solemnly.
Pei Yu raised his hand and touched Huiyin's face, extremely reluctant to part with her, "Don't worry, I haven't married you yet, I wouldn't dare to die."
It was getting late, and Chi Yan and the others were still waiting for him at the city gate to leave. Pei Yu finally couldn't resist kissing Huiyin's head and promising, "I will definitely come back."
He turned to leave, but Huiyin grabbed him. She then lifted a wolf fang pendant from her chest, took it off, and gestured for him to lower his head so she could put it on for him.
"This thing protected me for three years. Now I'm giving it to you. You must come back safely."
Pei Yu lowered his eyes to look at the wolf fang earrings that swayed gently on his chest, and his heart seemed to tremble with the movement of the earrings.
He gazed at Huiyin, who looked as beautiful as jade under the moonlight, gripped the pendant on his chest tightly, and couldn't help but reach out to embrace the back of her neck and kiss her lips.
Their lips met, and the unspoken emotions between them spread freely. Pei Yu reluctantly released Huiyin and forced himself to turn and leave.
He had many things he wanted to protect: the honor of the Pei family, his status as Crown Prince and Empress. In the past, he had even hurt the most important people in his heart for these things. But now, he only wanted a future with Huiyin, and to have a child with her as lovable as Haoling. For this, he would do everything in his power.
——
To avoid any complications, Huiyin has been staying at home these past few days, claiming illness to avoid those who come to visit her.
She originally intended to have Jingchuan take Heshi and Haoling away from Chang'an back to Jingzhou first, in case Pei Yu failed and she couldn't avoid the Zheng family's purge, while Jingchuan and the others could directly take the route from Jingzhou back to Dayuan.
Song Jingchuan was unwilling, so he sat down and had an open and honest talk with Huiyin, frankly telling her that he had fully regained his memory.
“Sister, I remember everything. Over the years, I have lived recklessly because I lost my memory. You bore all the hatred of the Song family. Now that something has happened, you expect me to abandon you and leave? I cannot do that.”
Looking at Song Jingchuan's tearful eyes, Huiyin didn't know whether to feel more relieved or sad. Subconsciously, she always thought of Song Jingchuan as her immature younger brother and always wanted to protect him under her wings and not let him be disturbed by the world.
But she forgot that Jingchuan had grown up; he had his own thoughts and opinions.
Huiyin: "Fine, I won't force you if you don't want to leave. You need to think it through. If something happens, because of my relationship with Pei Yu, the Zheng family won't let me off the hook, and naturally they won't let you off the hook either, as will Haoling and the others."
Song Jingchuan said solemnly, "Sister, I've thought it through. We are family, and family members should share both wealth and hardship."
Huiyin nodded, and said no more about letting them leave first.
On this day, she did not expect that Madam Pei would come to see her, along with Pei Yan and his wife Shangguan Su.
When Huiyin saw Madam Pei again, she was indeed much weaker than Pei Yu had said. She had also changed her previous fondness for bright colors, now dressed in plain clothes, with no hairpins or ornaments in her hair, and a string of sandalwood prayer beads in her hand. Her once restless eyes and brows were now calm and composed, and her whole demeanor was serene.
Pei Yan was much more composed than he was three years ago. His facial features had matured, and he bore a resemblance to Pei Yu in three aspects. He had never been on the battlefield, and his eyes and brows had less of the murderous aura that Pei Yu possessed, making him more refined and elegant.
Beside him was Shangguan Su, whom he had only met once. She had a rosy complexion, a slightly protruding belly, and her eyes were full of affection and love when she looked at Pei Yan.
Pei Yan took great care of Shangguan Su, carefully protecting her along the way, showing that they had a very good relationship.
The Pei family arrived uninvited, and although Huiyin was somewhat displeased, she still politely welcomed and entertained them. She sat down opposite Madam Pei, her gaze drifting over the teacup, wondering what Madam Pei had come for.
Madam Pei spoke first, looking at Huiyin with a loving expression, "I heard you returned to Chang'an and have been ill these past few days. Are you alright?"
Huiyin was somewhat surprised, as Madam Pei had never shown her this expression before, and even when Huiyin tried to please her in the past, Madam Pei's expression always carried an air of arrogance.
She slightly raised her eyes and replied, "I am not worried about you, Madam. It's nothing serious."
Madam Pei didn't mind Huiyin's cold attitude. She waved her hand, and the servants behind her placed the gifts they brought on the table. She smiled and said, "I heard that your brother has also returned and gotten married and has a daughter. These are the gifts I brought for them."
Huiyin glanced at them and saw that they were all good items, including some high-quality tonics. She said frankly, "Madam, there's no need for that. Please speak frankly if you have something to say."
Madam Pei looked somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this and turned to Pei Yan and Shangguan Su for help.
Upon receiving his mother's distress signal, Pei Yan quickly stood up and bowed to Huiyin, saying, "Sister Huiyin, it was truly inappropriate of us to come without sending an invitation beforehand. I heard that you have been ill these past few days, and I was worried about you, so I came to visit you. Please forgive me."
Shangguan Su also stood up, supporting her waist and looking at Huiyin with a worried expression.
Huiyin could be cold to Madam Pei and Pei Yu, but she couldn't be cold to Shangguan Su, especially since Shangguan Su was pregnant. Her expression softened, and she nodded slightly to indicate that she understood, then invited Shangguan Su and Pei Yan to sit down.
Then someone was sent to summon Song Jingchuan, Heshi, and Haoling to meet the Pei family.
Seeing Shangguan Su's reserved expression, Huiyin took the initiative to ask, "How far along are you in your pregnancy?"
Shangguan Su glanced at Pei Yan, then lowered her head shyly, "It's been four months."
Seeing that Huiyin was very interested in Shangguan Su, Madam Pei quickly chimed in, "This is her second child. Her first child was a son, who is already two years old."
Shangguan Su smiled and said, "He had a bit of a cold, so I didn't bring him along."
Huiyin was somewhat surprised, not expecting this to be Shangguan Su's second pregnancy. She asked a few more questions related to the fetus, but Shangguan Su remained as quiet as ever. However, Madam Pei and Pei Yan seemed to know everything about her pregnancy.
During the conversation, Song Jingchuan carried Haoling and led Heshi to the front hall. He had a bad impression of Madam Pei. Although Huiyin did not say anything bad about Madam Pei to him, he had inquired about many things from that year in the days since he came to Chang'an.
He naturally understood Madam Pei's attitude towards Huiyin back then, so he also put on a cold face, only gave a curt bow, and sat down with Haoling in his arms without saying a word. Seeing that the atmosphere was somewhat silent, Heshi also sat silently next to Huiyin without saying a word.
Madam Pei broke the silence, picked up the candy she had brought from the table and gave it to Haoling, saying with a smile, "This must be Jingchuan's daughter. She's as pretty as her aunt. Come to your grandmother and have some candy."
Haoling blinked and turned to look at Huiyin. Huiyin nodded slightly to her, and only then did she wriggle out of Song Jingchuan's arms, walk towards Madam Pei, take the candy from Madam Pei's hand, and politely thank her, "Thank you, Grandmother."
"Oh my, what a good girl." If Madam Pei's words were somewhat feigned just now, she genuinely adored this little girl, who seemed like a masterpiece. She had always longed for a delicate and sweet little daughter, but alas, she was not destined to have one.
Madam Pei took off the jade bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Haoling. She couldn't resist pinching Haoling's cheek and coaxing, "Here, Grandma will give it to you to play with."
Haoling looked down at the candy in her left hand, then at the jade bracelet in her right hand, and turned back to look at Huiyin in a daze.
Huiyin stepped forward, took the jade bracelet from Haoling's hand, placed it in front of Madam Pei, carried Haoling back to her seat, and helped her tear open the candy, saying, "The jade bracelet is too precious. Haoling is still a child. Madam, you don't need to be so polite."
Madam Pei smiled good-naturedly: "I like this child, it's just a bracelet."
Huiyin focused on feeding Haoling candy and didn't respond to anything.
Seeing that her mother-in-law's expression was not good, Shangguan Su quickly reached out and tugged at Pei Yan's sleeve, signaling him to speak up and help her out.
Pei Yan was also at a loss for what to do in this situation. Before leaving Chang'an, Pei Yu had repeatedly told him not to disturb Huiyin. However, his mother insisted on coming to see her, and he didn't know what to do in this awkward situation.
Pei Yan could only turn his gaze to the silent Song Jingchuan and ask him how he had fared in Dayuan over the past three years. Although Song Jingchuan disliked the Pei family, he did not lack proper etiquette. The two exchanged pleasantries, and Madam Pei and Shangguan Su occasionally chimed in, creating a somewhat harmonious atmosphere.
After chatting for a while, Song Jingchuan and Pei Yan ran out of things to say. Huiyin looked up at the sky and invited them to stay for dinner.
Pei Yan waved his hand repeatedly, "Sister, there's no need to trouble yourself. We just came to see you and are relieved to see that you're alright. We'll be leaving now."
Pei Yan went to help Madam Pei to her feet, but Madam Pei pushed her away and looked at Huiyin with a pleading expression. "Huiyin, could you speak with me alone for a while?"
"Mother?" Pei Yan tugged at Madam Pei's sleeve, his forehead beaded with sweat. Was his mother about to say something strange again? His brother's relationship with Huiyin had finally started to improve; he couldn't let his mother ruin it again.
Huiyin glanced at the mother and son glaring at each other, and recalling Pei Yu's reluctant expression the night he left, she sighed helplessly and agreed to Madam Pei's request. She also wanted to know why Madam Pei had put on this show today.
After everyone else had left, Huiyin looked at Madam Pei and said, "Everyone has left. If you have something to say, Madam, please speak freely."
Madam Pei sighed softly, "I've come today to apologize to you."
Huiyin's hand trembled as she poured tea, and the tea accidentally spilled onto the table. She hadn't expected that Madam Pei had come to apologize to her; she had thought Madam Pei wanted to tell her to stop getting entangled with Pei Yu.
Seeing that Huiyin had no reaction, Madam Pei smiled bitterly and said, "I know it's too late to say all this now. Three years ago, I was indeed blinded by my own ignorance and couldn't distinguish right from wrong. But it was all my fault, and it had nothing to do with Yu'er."
“He loves you, and he would even risk his life for you. That day, he was carried back from the palace covered in blood. He was unconscious for several days before waking up. As soon as he woke up, he insisted on going to find you. He rushed into the rain and couldn't be stopped. His wound reopened and became infected. He forced the physician to give him strong medicine and couldn't wait to chase after you. At that moment, I knew that I was terribly wrong. He had made up his mind about you. I should have known sooner.”
Madam Pei lowered her head and wiped away her tears, her voice choked with emotion: "He later went to the battlefield, leaving me only one sentence: he said he would find you and that even if he died, he would die by your side, close to you."
“Huiyin, it’s all my fault. If you want to blame someone, blame this old woman. For the past three years, I’ve been living in fear, praying to Buddha to bless him with a safe return. I made a solemn vow to Buddha that as long as he can return safely, I will never interfere in anything that happens afterward.”
Seeing Madam Pei's tear-streaked face, Huiyin handed her a clean handkerchief. Madam Pei said that Pei Yu was willing to give up everything for her, and Huiyin knew this better than anyone else.
Huiyin spoke her first words: "My separation from Pei Yu back then was due to our own reasons, and it had little to do with you."
Madam Pei took the handkerchief and asked hopefully, "And now? How are you all doing?"
Huiyin: "We are doing very well now."
Madam Pei breathed a sigh of relief, sat back down on the couch, her face haggard. "I'm old and my health isn't good. I won't be staying in Chang'an for long anymore. The Pei family will have to rely on you from now on."
Huiyin looked up and examined Madam Pei. She had indeed aged considerably and was very thin. Recalling what Madam Pei had just said about living in constant fear for the past three years, Huiyin's resentment towards her slowly dissipated.
Madam Pei genuinely loves her children, but she uses the wrong methods. Now that she's willing to change, Huiyin won't dwell on the past, but she won't be as filial as a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law. The best state for them is to maintain a distant yet respectful relationship.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
