Chapter 100 Unexpected Departure "Now the court is at peace, and the borderlands are also..."
"Madam, you're back! The kitchen just made some sesame milk pudding, would you like to try it?"
As the smiling little girl pushed open the door and brought in a steaming porcelain bowl, Lin Zhi, who had been lost in thought, suddenly felt a little dazed, as if she saw Chun Tao from a long time ago.
Chun Tao used to be a few years older than her, but now she's even older than Chun Tao...
"Let's leave it for now. Where's Mianmian?"
The little maid thoughtfully placed the porcelain spoon aside and reached out to trim the candle wick: "The wet nurse was originally sleeping with the little lady, but when she saw you come back, she wanted to come over, but since it's an adult, she came over to play with the little lady."
The mere mention of Pei Lang sent a shiver down Lin Zhi's spine.
She must have been so angry today that she actually hit him and left those marks on his body.
Lin Zhi felt increasingly dizzy as she thought about it, and nervously put on her cloak and got up.
"Mianmian, touch the snow and see if it's cold!"
Pei Lang, who had just recovered, held Lin Mianmian upright in his arms, lifting her up and lowering her down so that she could gently touch the fine snow on the branches. The cool touch made the child laugh.
"Cough cough!"
Lin Zhi was staring at the father and daughter in a daze when Pei Lang's light cough interrupted her. She frowned and told the wet nurse to take the child back to wash her hands.
"Why did you get up? Is your fever gone?"
Hearing Lin Zhi's forced composure, Pei Lang couldn't help but lean closer to her: "It's not hot anymore, just a little pain in my chest..."
Why are you putting this on me?
Lin Zhi unconsciously clenched her hands, which were tucked into her wide sleeves, and her expression became somewhat unnatural.
"...If I were to say I hate you, would I just say it with words?"
Even though Lin Zhi's tone was still impolite, Pei Lang knew her well enough. If she were truly angry, she wouldn't have said such things to him, let alone...
After he finished dressing, the chafing pain in his left chest caused him a kind of subtle, persistent torment.
It wasn't that painful; compared to what happened on the battlefield, it was nothing.
But its location is secluded, and it's a place that you could easily bump into with the slightest movement.
Pei Lang was unaware that he was so attached to pain, or rather, that he was nostalgic for the pain Lin Zhi had given him.
"Okay, whatever makes you happy is fine."
Lin Zhi couldn't stand his indulgent tone the most, and her heart was in turmoil, making her waver slightly.
"It's cold, Mianmian, go back with your mother."
She took the child from the wet nurse, but Pei Lang grabbed her forearm.
"There have been many rumors circulating in the capital lately, but you know my feelings, so you won't overthink it, right?"
Lin Zhi's heart skipped a beat as she stepped on the crunching snow, and she slowly tightened her grip on the child's soft winter clothes.
He turned around as if he had made up his mind: "Now that the court is at peace and the borders are stable, if... if you resign, shall we leave the capital?"
After Lin Zhi finished speaking, her eyes were fixed on Pei Lang, and the smile on that incredibly familiar handsome face gradually faded.
"Ah Zhi, the court still cannot do without me..."
"Besides, I've risen to my current position so that you and Mianmian can have a stable life."
"Do not mention the matter of resigning again."
He can still keep Xiao Ting in check while he is in the court. But if he leaves the capital, Xiao Ting's fear of him will reach its peak, and it will be hard to say how his family will die.
"Okay." Lin Zhi nodded and hummed softly, then turned and left with the child in her arms.
Looking at her slender back, Pei Lang's expression changed slightly, and for some reason, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart.
He hesitated, as if he wanted to say something, but was interrupted by the person who came.
"My lord, someone from the palace has arrived, saying that His Majesty requests your presence..."
Xingyun glanced at Pei Lang's face, hesitant to speak. They had all seen how unpleasant Pei Lang's expression was when he returned from the palace yesterday.
However, if the emperor's personal attendant comes to deliver the imperial decree, refusing to accept it would only cause more trouble.
Pei Lang's eyes blazed with discontent, yet a cold smile crept across them.
“Very well, since His Majesty has summoned me, I cannot refuse.”
When Pei Lang was led into the side hall, the hall was silent. However, he waved his sleeve to stop the palace servants from bringing in a chair, walked to the incense burner in the hall, covered his mouth and nose, and poured a bowl of tea into it.
After opening the window, he spoke loudly into the hall: "Your Majesty, now that I am here, are you still going to avoid seeing me?"
A moment later, the Empress emerged with a forced smile, her expression grim as she asked, "What is the meaning of this, Chief Minister Pei?"
"His Majesty is still reviewing memorials; I'm afraid you'll need to sit for a while."
Pei Lang was tall and imposing, yet he showed no humility even when facing the Empress. Instead, he straightened his back and stared down at her from his superior position.
"Even if Your Majesty wanted to use underhanded methods, there was no need to do so."
"After the incense for pleasure, will Princess Chaoya come and force the issue?"
"Isn't such a tactic far too unseemly for the mother of a nation?"
The smile on the Empress's face vanished completely, and after several shifts in expression, it turned ashen: "Chief Minister Pei is a wise man."
"The Northern Rong are now in a crucial position and have a strong military. Even His Majesty needs their submission."
"But this tributary relationship is not strong enough. If the two sides could intermarry, it would be a good thing both internally and externally."
"As for Lin Zhi... she was originally a concubine, so it's not unfair to her to be ranked below Princess Chaoya now."
"As a sign of commendation, I may also bestow upon her an official title and honors. What do you think?"
The Empress was so angry she almost broke her fingernails in her palms, but she still had to feign politeness and politeness on the surface.
"Chief Minister Pei has been assisting His Majesty for so long, he should know that His Majesty is a wise ruler. If such a great help is lost, not only will the throne be in turmoil, but the people will also suffer."
"Lord Pei is well-versed in the classics; he cannot neglect the people!"
The blame is getting bigger and bigger. The marriage was arranged without any investigation, but now it's Pei Lang's fault.
Pei Lang had initially thought that the Empress would at least be understanding of Lin Zhi's difficult situation, but now he realized that this woman was quite generous with other people's money.
After straightening his robes, Pei Lang sat down by himself, crossing his long legs in a relaxed manner.
"Her Majesty the Empress is indeed kind and compassionate, and considers everything thoroughly."
The Empress's expression softened, thinking there was still room for discussion.
Unexpectedly, Pei Lang spoke calmly: "Since Princess Chaoya is so important, the position of a mere subject's wife is truly beneath her. Why not enter the palace and become a Noble Consort?"
"Wouldn't this further demonstrate that His Majesty values the Northern Rong?"
The Empress's face paled, and her crimson lips trembled slightly. She never expected Pei Lang to say such a thing.
"What... what are you saying, Lord Pei?"
"Princess Chaoya has taken a liking to you, and besides, His Majesty's harem is already full and he no longer needs a woman from another ethnic group."
But Pei Lang, holding his teacup, calmly returned her words verbatim.
"Your Majesty, you are the mother of the nation; you should have some magnanimity."
"Moreover, there are many noble people in the palace now, and the Crown Prince's qualities are not actually outstanding."
"If I were to appoint a different young master to assist me, would the position of Crown Prince be taken by someone else?"
Pei Lang's lips curved into a gentle smile, bright and beautiful as a spring flower, yet it sent a chill down the Empress's spine.
Others might not know, but how could she not know?
If it weren't for Pei Lang's assistance, the current emperor would probably not be able to sit on the dragon throne.
That's why he was worried day and night and was extremely wary of Pei Lang.
"Your Majesty, be careful!"
The Empress's legs were so weak that she could hardly stand, but fortunately, the palace servants beside her were quick to catch her and steady her.
Pei Lang stood up and dusted off non-existent dust from the corner of his robe: "Most princes in the palace die young and few live long. His Majesty is not unaware of this, nor is this humble subject, nor is anyone in the court unaware of it."
"His Majesty still has some hopes for the Crown Prince, but without my assistance, it will not be easy for His Highness to succeed. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider."
Pei Lang didn't linger any longer and turned to leave.
The empress collapsed to her seat and remained in shock for a long time.
"...How dare you! How dare you!"
Ignoring her empressly demeanor, she threw down whatever was at hand like a madwoman.
But after the initial rage, a look of pain appeared on his face.
The palace servants remained silent out of fear until the Empress herself slowly rose, at which point they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Help me change my clothes and do my makeup so I can go see His Majesty."
After changing her clothes, the Empress, her eyes red, went to Xiao Ting and knelt down, pleading with the Emperor to take Princess Chaoya into the palace and grant her the title of Imperial Concubine.
In the golden palace, Xiao Ting, his face grim, impatiently threw down the vermilion brush in his hand: "The Empress has truly lost her mind!"
"Such a dissolute and immoral woman, does she even deserve to enter my harem?"
"Did someone say something to the Empress?"
The eunuch stood to one side, hesitating for a long time before finally managing to speak with difficulty: "It's...it's Lord Pei who has entered the palace..."
“Pei Lang…”
Xiao Ting laughed in anger. He had guessed that Pei Lang would resist the marriage alliance for the sake of Lin Zhi, but he did not expect Pei Lang to be so bold as to threaten the Empress!
"The Empress has fainted after kowtowing and pleading. And...and there are also many civil officials gathered at the palace gate, saying that His Majesty's decision to make Princess Chaoya a Noble Consort is the best course of action."
The eunuch's voice grew softer and softer until he saw Xiao Ting smash everything on the table, at which point he quickly fell silent and dared not utter a word.
"Well done, Pei Lang! He's so powerful and influential that he can use everyone around me, the emperor, for his own purposes!"
"Secret Guard!"
Xiao Ting leaned back on the dragon throne, his anger still simmering.
"Wait for His Majesty's instructions."
Xiao Ting's eyes were filled with ruthlessness. "You've endured for so long, now's the time to act. A man like Pei Lang doesn't deserve my mercy."
"Such absurdity is truly deserving of punishment."
"Your Majesty, please rest assured!"
In the blink of an eye, the guards who were just in the hall vanished without a trace.
"I'm late!"
When Xie Zheng arrived with his carriage and servants, he saw Fang Shiyun already waiting in front of the Pei residence, frowning and staring at him with displeasure: "You're more trouble than you're worth. I only entrusted you with such a small task, and you can't even do it properly?"
Xie Zheng didn't even glance at him, but walked past him and looked directly at the empty space behind him: "Where's Lin Zhiren? And the children?"
Fang Shiyun clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction: "Won't the child freeze if she waits for you outside like this? I told her and her daughter not to worry."
“Pei Lang has entered the palace, and I’m afraid he won’t be back for a while. Let’s call them out after we’ve made the arrangements.”
"Let me see what you've prepared... What cheap stuff is this? Luckily I prepared things, otherwise, if I had left it all to you, who knows how much hardship Azhi and her daughter would have suffered on the road..."
Fang Shiyun had never listened to anyone. While disgustedly moving out the things Xie Zheng had prepared, he had his servants move his own things back in.
"By the way, I happen to have a caravan heading south, and I'll accompany them and escort the mother and daughter for a while."
"If anyone asks you about this, you absolutely must not say anything!"
Xie Zheng frowned upon hearing this, reached out and pulled Fang Shiyun down from the carriage, his expression grim: "What do you mean? Who gave you permission to leave with her?"
"Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? Trying to secretly gain the upper hand? Dream on! No way!"
Fang Shiyun's face was full of embarrassment and anger at being exposed. He angrily slapped his hand away: "What's impossible about it! I don't hold any official position, so what business is it of yours where I go!"
"If you want to leave, then go ahead! As long as that little emperor doesn't stop you!"
The two exchanged sharp glances and started fighting before they could even react!
Just as they were exchanging blows, they suddenly heard someone greet them: "The lord has returned!"
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Author's Note: Enjoy the story to your heart's content today! [Rabbit head with upright ears]
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