Chapter 121: Strife
After returning to the village, Pei Qinghe immediately summoned everyone to come and told them about Bohai Commandery acclaiming Prince Zhangwu.
Everyone’s reactions varied.
Mao Hongling’s eyes lit up, full of joy: “Prince Zhangwu has ascended to the throne as the new Son of Heaven. This is a great thing for our Pei Clan. What’s there to discuss? We should immediately go to Bohai Commandery to pay respects.”
Wu Xiuniang pondered for a moment and said, “With the Prince ascending to the throne, our Pei Clan must send a generous gift.”
Pei Yun, however, said, “The situation is unclear right now. We should bide our time and wait to see before making a decision.”
Pei Yan said boldly, “Whatever we do, we’ll listen to you.”
Feng Chang and Gu Lian had limited experience, and it wasn’t their place to speak up in such a setting. Pei Jia, Pei Yifang, and Fang Datou were completely baffled.
However, they all understood what Pei Yan said and immediately voiced their support, firmly backing all of Pei Qinghe’s decisions.
Pei Xuan and Pei Feng were a bit younger and didn’t yet have the standing to speak up, so they could only listen from the corner. Pei Xuan whispered to Pei Feng, “In my view, Cousin Sister Qinghe won’t go.”
Pei Feng refused to admit defeat verbally, but he knew deep down that Pei Xuan’s brain was sharper. He humbly asked for her insight for once: “Why not go?”
Pei Xuan rolled her eyes at Pei Feng: “If we go, we’ll have to obey orders. Cousin Sister Qinghe is so powerful that she can be the boss herself. Why bow to others?”
Pei Feng suddenly understood and nodded in agreement: “You’re right. We really shouldn’t go.”
Pei Qinghe had excellent hearing and caught their conversation amid the noise. She looked over approvingly: “Pei Xuan, stand up and repeat what you just said for everyone to hear.”
Pei Xuan wasn’t the least bit intimidated. She stood up under everyone’s gaze and said loudly: “Cousin Sister Qinghe shouldn’t go. The Pei Family Army was built by Cousin Sister Qinghe single-handedly. Why let others steal the fruits of her labor?”
Pei Feng’s head grew hot, and he stood up too, shouting loudly: “There are rebel armies everywhere anyway. Our Pei Family Army can raise its own flag and stand on its own!”
The unspoken matter was thus brought out into the open.
Everyone’s moods were mixed as they all turned to look at Pei Qinghe.
Pei Qinghe stood up steadily, her gaze sweeping over everyone’s faces one by one. Her clear voice reached their ears: “The Imperial Court is divided, and chaos in the empire is right before us. With our current personnel, we can protect ourselves, but we don’t yet qualify to get involved in the struggle for the Imperial Throne.”
“Raising our own flag is also premature.”
“Prince Wei is the sworn enemy of the Pei Clan. We have close ties with the Eastern Palace faction. With the Prince ascending to the throne, we must send a generous gift to congratulate him. The Pei Family Members are all exiled criminal officials and cannot leave Youzhou. I will select loyal and reliable people who are eloquent to go to Bohai Commandery.”
None of the Pei Clan women should show their faces; we need to select someone from outside the clan.
Feng Chang’s heart stirred, and he quickly stood up.
Unexpectedly, Gu Lian across from him beat him to it: “Sixth Sister, I volunteer to go!”
Feng Chang inwardly cursed himself for being too slow and said, “The road to Bohai Commandery is quite far; a round trip will take over half a month. The journey is arduous, and we’ll have to escort heavy gifts. It’s more suitable for me to go.”
Gu Lian raised her brows and retorted: “Anything you can do, I can do too. Why are you more suitable? Don’t forget, my riding and shooting skills are better than yours.”
Feng Chang calmly responded: “Enduring wind, dew, and rushing on the road is tough enough. Once in Bohai Commandery, we’ll have to step forward and deal with people. In Pei Family Village, Sixth Sister is the most respected, and a woman can take charge of a sector. But outside, it’s not like that. It’s more suitable for a man to step forward.”
Gu Lian said, “Precisely because the world is like this, I should go. No one will dare to be harsh or nitpick a woman. The Pei Family Army doesn’t need to be flashy; the more low-key, the better.”
Without waiting for Feng Chang to retort, Gu Lian straightened up, cupped her hands, and said solemnly: “Please give the order, Sixth Sister. I, Gu Lian, will give it my all to handle this errand smoothly.”
Pei Qinghe agreed straightforwardly: “Good, go select a hundred men to go with you. Set off tomorrow!”
Gu Lian was overjoyed and cupped her hands to accept the order.
Feng Chang hadn’t outmaneuvered Gu Lian and was furious, holding back a huge breath of stifled anger.
Pei Qinghe looked over: “Feng Chang, you go with Gu Lian too. For small matters, follow Gu Lian’s lead. For difficult issues, discuss and handle together.”
Feng Chang was pleasantly surprised and breathed a sigh of relief, cupping his hands in acknowledgment.
“Remember, you two are going out together on this errand. Do not act on personal grudges, and do not let disputes delay the main business.” Pei Qinghe said coldly: “If there’s any mistake, I will punish severely.”
As more and more refugees joined, Pei Family Village’s village rules gradually increased. One rule had never changed: those with disloyalty were hanged under the trees north of the village.
Gu Lian and Feng Chang didn’t dare meet Pei Qinghe’s cold gaze and lowered their heads in assent.
After admonishing the two briefly, Pei Qinghe first sent them back to select personnel and pack luggage. Once they left, Pei Qinghe discussed the gift list with Wu Xiuniang.
Such a big movement couldn’t be hidden from everyone. By evening, the matter had spread to all ears.
Madam Lu came with a stern face, bringing along the eldest Madam Li, as well as Madam Fang and others. Over a dozen elders of advanced age stood neatly in front of Pei Qinghe.
Pei Qinghe first smiled at the tense Madam Feng: “Mother, take Little Doggy and Little Yu’er out first. I’ll talk with Grandmother and the others.”
Madam Feng suppressed her worries and led Little Doggy and Little Yu’er out of the house.
Even through the thick door, Madam Lu’s furious roar could be heard: “Pei Qinghe! Why aren’t you going to Bohai Commandery to pay respects to the new Son of Heaven?”
“Our Pei Clan is loyal and upright, with unwavering loyalty to the Eastern Palace. What are you trying to do now?”
“Do you want to raise a flag and stand on your own? What righteous army—it’s just rebels!”
Pei Qinghe glanced indifferently at Madam Lu: “Our Pei Clan committed the grave crime of treason; we’re rebels to begin with!”
Madam Lu hadn’t been this angry in a long time. Her blood surged, her face flushed red like a watermelon ready to burst at a touch: “You, you… you rebellious scoundrel!”
“I’m telling you, as long as I’m here, you won’t bring shame to the Pei Clan!”
“I absolutely disagree!”
Madam Lu’s angry shouts were deafening.
Madam Fang and the others chimed in noisily: “Qinghe, you built the new village, erected walls, recruited refugees, trained troops for self-defense, led people to guard the county town, and fought to the death against Xiongnu barbarians. We’ve gone along with all that. But raising a flag to stand on your own concerns the Pei Clan’s reputation.”
“Not to mention your grandmother disagrees—we don’t agree either. If we go underground later, how can we face our deceased husbands and grandsons?”
“Taking this step means we’re truly rebels. There’ll be no turning back.”
“Better to go to Bohai Commandery and submit to the new Son of Heaven. Once the new Son of Heaven eliminates Prince Wei and secures the empire, our Pei Clan can clear our former crimes.”
“The Prince has always had intentions toward you. If you’re willing to seek refuge, you could enter the Imperial Harem as an Imperial Concubine. That would be the safest path, a broad and smooth road.”
