Chapter 40: Three For One
May 21, 2021 mich
This chapter was sponsored by Jane and Leier!
In the next few days, the news of Li Zhongqian’s ambush spread throughout Chang’an, and there were more and more eyes outside the wangfu.
The wangfu was filled with a heavy atmosphere of a mountain rain coming and a building falling. In just a few days, the chief historian had aged several years.
Yaoying dismissed the remaining servants and told them to take the silver when leaving the residence to avoid the disaster, leaving only the personal soldiers to escort her.
On this day, Duke Pei paid a surprise visit.
“I will leave for Wei County in a few days. Your brother is dead, you have no one to rely on; staying alone in Chang’an is like a sheep amongst a pack of wolves. Why don’t you come back to Wei County with me?”
He went to the capital only to relieve Li Yaoying. He had not intended to have his grandson marry Li Yaoying, but suddenly came the sad news of Li Zhongqian. He could not bear to see Li Yaoying, who had lost her support, being bullied by others, so after two days of consideration, he decided to take this young lady back to the Pei family in Wei County.
If Li Yaoying was willing to marry Pei Yu, it would be good.
Yaoying solemnly bowed towards Duke Pei: “Some time ago, I hastily asked Duke Pei to enter the capital, so I have tired Duke Pei to make this trip. I haven’t had time to thank him.”
Duke Pei waved his hand with carelessness and coughed twice: “I promised to help you once, so naturally I have to keep my promise. You don’t have to thank me. Qiniang, I won’t force you to marry Yu lang. You come back to Wei County with me. Although my Pei family is not as good as the giants in the capital, at least I can guarantee your safety.”
Yaoying smiled and shook her head, “Thank you, Lord Pei, for your kindness.”
The Pei family and the Xie family were feuding, and the reason why Lord Pei came to her aid was only to keep his promise back then.
Right now, Duke Pei was willing to stand up for her, but when Duke Pei was gone, would the rest of the Pei family be willing to treat her well?
Even if Pei Yu could treat her well, in the future, when Li Xuanzhen ascended to the throne, the Pei family would definitely be dragged down by her. How could a minor official of Wei County, who has only received a false position, resist the king?
Yaoying had already made up her mind and said, “If there is still no news in these two days, I plan to go south.”
Duke Pei lifted his eyes in surprise and stared at Yaoying for a long time, “You may not be able to return to the capital safely on this trip, and your brother has already died in battle.”
Yaoying smiled, still delicate and bright, like a spring flower blooming on a branch: “I want to see the person in life and their corpse in death. No matter whether my second brother is alive or dead, I have to bring him back.”
Duke Pei looked at Yaoying. He narrowed his eyes, silent for a long time. Then, he nodded approvingly.
“The Pei family ancestors did not get along with the Xie family, and I have always disliked the Xie family.”
He raised his head, his cloudy eyes drenched in melancholy, “But I admire your uncle. He was a weak scholar, unable to pull a bow, unable to lift a sword, and unable to even climb on horseback. When His Majesty and the Xie family allied, I saw your uncle. He wore a wide robe and big sleeves, and stood side by side with His Majesty. That face was even more beautiful than the young ladies of Wei County. I thought to myself, the famous Gentleman Wuliang of Jingnan is not a woman, right?”
The corner of Duke Pei’s mouth tugged gently.
“I despised Xie Wuliang. I thought he was weak, and despised that he was full of calculations. He was the son of a noble family; even if he was not skilled in archery and horsemanship, he should at least have the temperament of a noble son, but he acted the complete opposite. Covered in the stench of copper, he came and went with a group of merchants who seeked only profit! Yet, His Majesty admired him and took him as a confidant, discussing everything with him from military to political matters.”
At that time, Duke Pei looked down on Xie Wuliang very much and thought that Xie Wuliang’s actions were inconsistent with his words, someone who only allied with Li De for glory, fame, and wealth. Otherwise, why did the Xie family force Li De to marry Noble Consort Xie? Why did they work with the Li clan to suppress Li Xuanzhen and support Li Zhongqian?
The day Xie Wuliang died, Duke Pei finally understood: Xie Wuliang never tarnished the centuries-old reputation of the Xie family.
But it was only appreciation. He, as a person of the Pei family, would not have anything to do with the Xie family.
Duke Pei was lost in thought for a while, sizing up Li Yaoying carefully.
“You are somewhat like your uncle….”
Yaoying was stunned. She had seen Xie Wuliang when she was small, but she was really too young at that time to remember her uncle’s appearance. No one had ever said she looked like her uncle.
Duke Pei withdrew his gaze and stood up: “Since you are determined, I will not persuade you.”
He could only help her up to here. No matter how much he admired Xie Wuliang and Li Yaoying, his promise would not change: only Li Yaoying would be saved alone.
She wanted to go to her own death. He could not stop her.
Yaoying sent Duke Pei out.
Duke Pei’s servant who followed him longest helped him to the carriage, saw his face with regret, and asked in a low voice: “Why does Ah Lang look at the Seventh Princess differently?”
The Seventh Princess saved Pei Yu, so Duke Pei kept his promise and went to the capital to relieve her despite his old age. From then on, there was no debt between the two. Duke Pei was not an old-fashioned and warm-hearted person, why did he still want to help the Seventh Princess?
Duke Pei looked back. Yaoying was still standing in front of the steps to see him off, skin lighter than snow, her posture graceful, a branch of rosy peonies, fresh dew congealing its fragrance1, delicate and rich. Anyone who looked, probably could not believe how thin she was wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Noble Consort Xie actually raised that dying baby girl.
“I don’t save people who are related to the Xie family.”
Duke Pei turned to sit in the carriage and said softly.
….
Yaoying waited for two more days, but the war report sent back to the capital was still vague.
Zhao Tong found traces left by the Wei army by the river valley, tracked it all the way and found a battlefield. The river currents were swift and he only found the remains of some of the soldiers. For the time being, he did not find Li Zhongqian’s corpse.
Yaoying did not want to wait any longer and ordered the housekeeper to prepare the carriage and horses, preparing to leave.
Xie Qing and Xu Biao escorted a carriage out of the city first to lure away the Hu people and other spies who roamed outside the wangfu all day while Yaoying disguised herself as a merchant and left the city afterward.
They met at the post on the official road. Before they could speak, there was the thundering sound of horses’ hooves on the mountain road to the south.
A fast horse galloped out like a sharp arrow. When it reached the post, the horse could not support itself any longer, miserably neighed twice then fell dead to the ground.
The rider was thrown in front of Xie Qing’s mount and got up with a face full of blood. His eyes swept over Xie Qing’s solemn face, froze for a moment, and shouted out in excitement.
“Ah Qing!”
Xie Qing recognized the other party as a general of the Xie family, who had previously lost under his own sword and later became Li Zhongqian’s personal soldier.
A look of shock appeared on his face at once, “How did you get here?”
Whirling around, he looked at Li Yaoying.
“Princess, he is Xie Chao, the King’s personal soldier!”
Xie Chao followed his line of sight and saw Li Yaoying. Too late to be surprised why the pampered princess would appear at the post, he pounced forward, tears pouring out in two streams on his blood-stained face.
“Princess, the prince is in danger! He narrowly escaped from death! You must save the prince!”
The dry and biting summertime wind whistled through the silent mountain path, whining and ghostly.
Yaoying clutched the reins. Her body was cold then hot, and her heartbeat suddenly became very slow.
Elder brother was still alive.