Chapter 167: Letter Arrives
“Cousin Sister Qinghe, what did Great-Great-Aunt write in the letter?”
Pei Yan’s head leaned over.
Pei Qinghe simply called Mao Hongling over as well to read the letter together.
Madam Li had written the first letter a month ago, describing in it how the old women of the Pei clan surrendered to Emperor Jian’an and received courteous treatment. The matter was already settled, so Pei Qinghe had no choice but to accept it. In her reply, she instructed Madam Li and the others to live low-key in Bohai Commandery and not conflict with the powerful and arrogant Zhang Family.
What important news would be in this letter?
Meng Liulang and the daughter of Chancellor Pang have become engaged.
Pei Qinghe’s gaze swept over it, her brows slightly furrowing.
Pei Yan clicked her tongue: “This Meng Liulang has indeed found a good marriage.”
“Chancellor Pang is an old minister of the Eastern Palace, deeply trusted and valued by the Emperor. Now he is the Chancellor of the new court, the head of the civil officials.” Pei Qinghe said faintly: “The Meng Clan is loyal, and the Beiping Army was the first to go to the Capital City to rescue the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace. General Meng died on the battlefield, and the current Beiping Army has recruited a large number of new recruits, with combat power greatly diminished. The Meng Brothers are also being squeezed out by the Zhang clan, and their situation is quite difficult.”
“Meng Liulang is the commander of the Beiping Army, yet he has been sent to guard the City Gate.”
“Now that the Meng Family and the Pang Family are joining through marriage, one civil and one military supporting each other, forming an alliance, they might barely be able to suppress General Zhang’s arrogance.”
Pei Yan was somewhat puzzled: “What does this have to do with us?”
Pei Qinghe couldn’t help but slap the back of Pei Yan’s head: “Can’t you use your brain? How could it have nothing to do with us? The Pei elders are all in Bohai Commandery, and our Pei Family Army has at least surrendered to the Son of Heaven on the surface. The power struggles in the new dynasty will inevitably affect us.”
Pei Yan grimaced from the slap, rubbing the back of her head and crying out in pain: “It wasn’t very bright to begin with, and you keep hitting my head. What if it gets even dumber?”
Pei Qinghe was both angry and amused, and slapped Pei Yan’s forehead again: “You are a block of uncarvable rotten wood. I’ve put so much effort into you, all wasted. When will you truly mature and be able to take charge of a sector!”
Seeing that Pei Qinghe was really angry, Pei Yan didn’t dare make a sound and shrank her neck, hiding behind Mao Hongling.
She was so tall and sturdy; how could the slender Mao Hongling possibly hide her?
Mao Hongling held back her laughter and helped Pei Yan out of trouble: “She is still young, with an unstable temperament. A few more years of honing and she’ll be fine.”
Pei Yan nodded silently, indicating agreement.
Pei Qinghe gave a light hum: “She only uses her hands and not her brain. When will she grow up? She’s not as good as Second Sister-in-law or Cousin Sister Yun, and that’s one thing. But even Pei Xuan and Pei Feng are much sharper than her.”
Mao Hongling smiled softly: “Everyone has their own strengths. Pei Yan is a fierce general who charges into battle. You insist on her being both wise and brave, able to take charge of a sector. Actually, having her always by your side is quite suitable.”
“The Pei Family Army’s territory is growing larger, and the people you trust and can use by your side have all been sent out one by one: Pei Yun in Changping County, Gu Lian in Quanzhou County, Feng Chang gone to Yongnu County. Pei Jia went to Bohai Commandery, Pei Yifang and Fang Datou went outside the passes. You need to keep at least one loyal and reliable person to be the leader of your guard battalion.”
These words struck right at Pei Yan’s heart.
Pei Yan poked her head out and nodded frantically.
Seeing her like that, Pei Qinghe felt her hands itch and knocked Pei Yan on the forehead again before saying: “Second Sister-in-law is right; I’ve thought about it too. Pei Yan is too reckless and impulsive, really not suited to lead troops alone. She can only stay by my side. The guard battalion matter is not urgent for now; as long as we three know in our hearts, that’s enough.”
Pei Yan was overjoyed, grinning nonstop.
Pei Qinghe returned to the room, picked up her pen, and wrote a reply to Madam Li. In the letter, Pei Qinghe once again instructed Madam Li to be cautious in her words and actions, not to form grudges with the Zhang Family. She could associate with the Meng Brothers, but not too closely or frequently.
Half a day later, the good news of Meng Liulang and Miss Pang’s engagement reached Steward Shi’s ears.
Shi Yan was in a pleasant mood, unable to suppress the corners of his mouth.
Dong Dalang and Dong Erlang exchanged a glance, both secretly happy for their own master in their hearts.
Meng Liulang actually couldn’t be considered much of a romantic rival. That day, when Meng Liulang resolutely left Pei Family Village with five hundred soldiers, there was no turning back. Now that the Meng and Pang families were joining through marriage, their master could feel even more at ease.
“Go prepare a pot of wine; tonight I want to have a couple of drinks.”
Got it!
Dong Dalang quickly went to the storeroom. Zhou Shi noted it down in the ledger and casually laughed: “What good day is it today? Why does Steward Shi suddenly want wine?”
Dong Dalang was tight-lipped: “How would I know about the master’s affairs.”
That evening, Zhou Shi returned to her room and chatted with her husband Tao Feng about the matter.
Tao Feng had once been Meng Liulang’s personal soldier. That day, when Meng Liulang insisted on leaving, Tao Feng and four other Beiping Army soldiers stayed behind and became sons-in-law of the Pei clan. Now they were all battalion commanders.
Tao Feng was also well-informed and smiled lowly: “Our Sixth Young Master has become engaged to the granddaughter of Chancellor Pang. Steward Shi is happy, so of course he has to drink a couple of cups.”
Zhou Shi laughed in surprise: “By that logic, when Young Master Ji becomes engaged in the future, won’t Steward Shi be even happier?”
With the rise of the Pei Family Army, Sixth Sister Pei was at the height of her power in Yan Prefecture. There were quite a few eyeing the position of son-in-law to Sixth Sister Pei. For example, Prefect Tang sent his family’s nephews to deliver letters to the Pei Family Army; General Yang of the Guangning Army had also hinted at a marriage alliance; and great families like the Lu Family, with thriving heirs, were all very willing to send a younger generation member to Sixth Sister Pei’s side.
Among them, the most handsome and outstanding in talent was undoubtedly Ji Junze, the eldest son of County Magistrate Ji of Quanzhou County.
Tao Feng also laughed: “Who among them can compete with our Steward Shi.”
The husband and wife chatted and laughed for a while, then Tao Feng’s large hand gently stroked Zhou Shi’s swollen belly, sighing contentedly: “I was just a stinking soldier, living from one meal to the next, muddling through day by day. Now I have a hundred men under me, a good wife like you, and in a few months I’ll be a father. It’s truly a good life I never even dared to dream of.”
Zhou Shi leaned her head on her husband’s solid chest and said softly: “Four years ago when we were exiled, I almost hanged myself with a rope.”
“It was Qinghe who encouraged us, allowing us Pei wives to survive. It was Qinghe who backed us Pei wives, so we didn’t have to remain widows suffering endlessly and could marry sons-in-law into the family. The children born in these years all bear the Pei surname. Sister-in-law Shulan’s little Xiao Wang’er—Qinghe even chose his name.”
“Everything Qinghe has said comes true, one thing after another.”
“This life of mine belongs to Qinghe. At her command, I wouldn’t even frown at a sea of swords and flames.”
In the Pei Family Army, women hold extremely high status. Zhou Shi is Pei Qinghe’s cousin-in-law, with average martial skills and unable to lead troops, so she manages the storeroom.
Leaving the Pei Family Army, where else could one have such good days?
Therefore, Zhou Shi and the other Pei wives are Pei Qinghe’s most loyal followers and supporters.
This is the most authentic human nature.
Tangible benefits far surpass empty slogans.
……
