Chapter 27 My Cousin Is Important. On the scales of life, it's not just me who stands...
"Sister Azhi! Why did it take you so long to come find me! I've been waiting for you!"
As soon as Lin Zhi entered Yuhua Palace, Xiao Wen grabbed her hand and spoke intimately to her. Feeling a little uncomfortable, she tried to pull away, but then remembered the purpose of her trip and gave a stiff smile.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness. I dare not disturb you. I have an important matter to ask of you today."
Upon hearing her say this, Xiao Wen offered her a seat and tea: "Great! We get along well. I couldn't have been happier for you to come."
What important matter is troubling you so much?
Lin Zhi hesitated for a moment before revealing half of Pei Mingli's story: "I know this matter should not trouble the princess, but I really have no other choice."
"My second cousin is loyal to the emperor, but he hasn't sent a letter home for two months, which is worrying. The elders in the family are getting old and can't bear such bad news."
"I only ask that the princess could help send the letters from home to the border?"
Looking at Lin Zhi's slightly furrowed brows, yet still possessing a delicate beauty reminiscent of Xi Shi clutching her heart, Xiao Wen felt a sense of annoyance.
He looked somewhat troubled: "I'm afraid this matter will be difficult."
"The situation at the border is unpredictable, and it is not appropriate for me to interfere too much."
"But Sister Azhi, when was the last time Young Master Pei sent a letter from home? Could you bring the letter with you?"
Seeing her hesitation, Xiao Wen sighed, "That's a real pity. If we could see the family letter today, I could even have someone find out where Young Master Pei was at that time."
"Even if you need to ask someone to pass on a message, it will save you some effort."
"...Some princesses, I've brought them with me."
Lin Zhi brought out the letter that Pei Mingli had sent her. It didn't mention anything about the border, so it wouldn't be a problem for Xiao Wen to see it.
After all, she was Pei Lang's student, so she could at least get some favors out of Pei Lang's name.
Le Ling took the letter from her and presented it to the princess. Xiao Wen glanced at it twice, then her expression changed and she said sternly, "How dare you, Lin Zhi!"
"How dare you spy on important military matters! Do you know that this is a capital offense!"
Lin Zhi's ears were ringing. Before she could react, palace servants rushed up and pressed her down by the shoulders, forcing her to kneel. The cold jade tiles on the floor made her knees ache. "...Princess? This commoner had no such intention!"
"The letters home only contained expressions of concern between family members; there was nothing related to military affairs!"
Xiao Wen held the corner of the letter and slowly walked down to Lin Zhi. Her embroidered shoes, adorned with gold thread and jade, gently touched the ground in front of her. Xiao Wen chuckled softly, "That's not right."
"Miss Lin burned this letter in a fit of rage. I am the only one who has read its contents. What Miss Lin said cannot be taken seriously."
Lin Zhi listened to Xiao Wen's charming yet chilling words with numb hands and feet. Her chin was lifted up by someone, and she could only see Xiao Wen's mocking eyes.
"Does she really think she's some kind of talented woman from the capital? She's nothing but an ant living under someone else's roof."
"This is a serious matter that cannot be delayed. Men, drag her away and interrogate her thoroughly. No matter what method you use, you must make her vomit it up."
Watching helplessly as Xiao Wen held the letter up to the candlelight, the letter was swallowed by the flame and turned to ashes in the blink of an eye, Lin Zhi struggled to get up and step forward, but was firmly held down and had a silk handkerchief stuffed into her mouth.
"Ugh! Ugh..."
The girl's fingertips left bloodstains on the black jade floor tiles, but they only lingered for a moment before being wiped away by the palace servants of Yuhua Palace.
Le Ling dismissed the onlookers and stepped forward with some concern: "Princess, such actions may displease Junior Tutor Pei, won't they?"
Xiao Wen wiped the ashes from her fingertips with a silk handkerchief: "I am of noble birth, and Brother Lang was only interested in her because of her seductive appearance."
"Moreover, this woman is merely a cousin of Pei Mingli's second wife. It's already an honor for her to be related to Pei Mingli; she's not even worthy of being associated with a scrap of Lang-gege's clothes!"
Seeing this, Le Ling stopped trying to persuade her and pursed her lips to suppress the worry in her eyes.
As night fell, Pei Lang hurried into the East Palace, but was stopped by the Crown Prince's personal eunuch before entering: "Your Excellency, the Crown Prince has ordered that no one else is allowed to disturb you. Please wait a moment."
After saying that, he asked a young eunuch to bring him a chair to sit and wait.
Pei Lang received a message from the Crown Prince as soon as he left Zuisheng Pavilion. When he returned to the manor, he found that Lin Zhi was indeed missing. He rushed over, but it was too late.
"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Bu."
Despite saying that, Bu Ping could tell that he had no intention of sitting down.
Although this Junior Tutor was not much older than His Highness the Crown Prince, he was much more experienced and mature. It was rare to see a hint of anxiety in his eyes, so it seemed he was truly anxious today.
"Bu Ping, please invite Junior Tutor Pei in."
Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, Pei Lang strode in, lifting the hem of his robe. He had just seen Xiao Ting when someone raised a hand to stop him from speaking.
"Since you know that I sent you the message, there is no need to say more. I suppose my ignorant elder sister has already tortured your cousin."
Pei Lang frowned upon hearing this: "Forgive my bluntness, but my cousin is well-behaved and gentle. I wonder how she offended Princess Wenyu?"
Xiao Ting put down the sword he was wiping, and looked at Pei Lang with a hint of speechlessness in his eyes: "Sir, my sister's feelings for you are obvious. It's just jealousy between women. How could someone as wise as you not see it?"
"However, perhaps you are the wiser one. When the Crown Princess and the other concubines were openly and secretly fighting, I pretended not to see it."
Pei Lang's brow twitched slightly, and his voice turned colder: "Please tell me, Your Highness, where is my cousin now?"
Seeing that he had finally lost his composure, Xiao Ting slowly stood up: "Why is there such a hurry, sir?"
"I have another important matter to discuss with you. If we reach an agreement, I will naturally not stand idly by."
"But if the talks don't go well... I'll have to ask you to leave before the palace gates are locked."
Seeing Xiao Ting sit down at the low table and pour tea, Pei Lang could only lower his eyes and kneel down: "Your Highness, please speak."
"Young Master Lu said he was sent up the mountain by Marquis Lu to worship Buddha and eat vegetarian food, but when I went up the mountain to 'pay my respects,' I couldn't find him. Isn't that strange?"
"I have also heard that Lu Jue has secretly gone to recruit soldiers and horses and unite with border generals..."
Upon hearing this, Pei Lang's expression hardened, and he retorted in a deep voice, "The Pei family has been loyal and brave for generations, and Pei Mingli dares not do that."
Xiao Ting moved the teacup in front of Pei Lang: "General Pei wouldn't dare, but this person has disappeared now, hasn't he?"
"A generous reward will surely bring forth brave men. I am not afraid of people's fear, but I am afraid that the reward is not enough."
Pei Lang stared at the crystal-clear tea in front of him, picked it up with one hand, and drank it all in one gulp: "Please enlighten me, Your Highness, I will do my best."
"Tsk tsk." Xiao Ting leaned on the low table and sighed, "The messenger from the front line reported that you have a sweetheart, but I thought it was just a smokescreen."
"I never expected it to actually be like this. They didn't even discuss conditions with me, they just wanted her to be safe?"
Pei Lang looked at the crown prince he had known since his youth, whose once-innocent face now held an unfathomable smile. He originally had enough leverage to gamble and secure a better future and greater importance for himself.
But now, standing on the scales of heaven are not only himself and the crown prince, but also Lin Zhi.
He had already lost the moment he entered the palace.
But at least, he still had the power to make the Crown Prince wary of him and value him highly, even at the cost of threatening Lin Zhi's life.
After a long silence, Pei Lang slowly nodded: "Your Highness has been by my side for many years, and naturally I am wholeheartedly devoted to Your Highness."
"I am even more grateful to Your Highness for what happened today, otherwise my cousin's life would have been in danger."
A smile gradually appeared in Xiao Ting's eyes: "The teacher taught me principles and political skills, so he is naturally the person I rely on most."
"As for Miss Lin, she's probably been taken to the Emperor's private prison now."
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