Chapter 133: Grand Gift
With the errand completed, Gu Lian immediately instructed everyone to pack their luggage.
The next day at dawn, the group set off.
Just after leaving the city gate, suddenly more than a dozen fast horses chased after them from afar. Gu Lian was highly alert and immediately blew the bamboo whistle. Everyone turned their horses around, drew their long sabers, and prepared for battle.
Feng Chang had sharp eyes and whispered a reminder: “Young General Meng has arrived.”
Gu Lian sneered back: “So what? Are you close with him?”
Feng Chang shut his mouth and drew his long saber.
Gu Lian’s anger eased slightly, and she said indifferently: “I’ll handle it later. You stay quiet.”
In the past, the two of them had clashed sharply, neither yielding. On this outing for the errand, Gu Lian took full charge, making decisions both big and small. Feng Chang was initially unconvinced and resentful, but facts proved that Gu Lian was shrewd in small matters and decisive in big ones, responding swiftly, with no mishaps so far. Especially yesterday, facing the young Son of Heaven, with her performance of singing, reciting, acting, and striking, she had fooled the young Son of Heaven. He really couldn’t help but be convinced.
Feng Chang indeed stayed quiet. Sure enough, Meng Liulang led a group of personal guards on fast horses right up to them.
Gu Lian clearly saw who the newcomers were but pretended not to, holding her saber and shouting: “Who are you?”
He had often gone to Pei Family Village before, but he didn’t recognize many faces there—Gu Lian was one of them. It was really because that face, ruined by a knife scar, was too striking. Not to mention that it was he who had led people to annihilate Black Bear Stockade that day, saving the lives of Gu Lian and more than twenty other women.
Now she even had the audacity to draw a blade in front of him.
Meng Liulang was seething inside and snorted coldly. His personal soldier Xiao Mo coughed and quickly answered: “Miss Gu Lian, our Sixth Young Master has come specifically today to see you off.”
“So it’s Young General Meng.” Gu Lian pretended to realize, slowly sheathed her long saber unhurriedly, and replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes: “We’re in a hurry to travel, so we won’t dismount. Please forgive us, Young General Meng.”
Meng Liulang urged his horse forward, his face stern as he said: “I ask you, why didn’t Sixth Sister come?”
Gu Lian reused the excuse she had given the young Son of Heaven.
Meng Liulang knew well how powerful Pei Qinghe was and clearly didn’t quite believe it. He frowned and asked: “Is she really injured?”
Gu Lian sighed: “Indeed. The Pei Clan is utterly loyal to the Eastern Palace. His Highness the Prince’s ascension to the throne is a major event for the dynasty. If not for her injury, how could Sixth Sister not come?”
The Pei Clan was indeed loyal.
Whether Pei Qinghe herself was loyal… that was harder to say.
Meng Liulang’s gaze fell on Feng Chang’s face: “Feng Chang, how is Sixth Sister’s injury?”
Before Feng Chang could respond, Gu Lian’s face turned cold: “If Young General Meng is here to see us off, we appreciate the intention. If you’re here to pick a fight, we’ll take it on.”
Meng Liulang was so angry he laughed: “Your face changes faster than turning a page. I’m inquiring about Sixth Sister’s injury—how does that become picking a fight?”
Gu Lian said coldly: “The moment Young General Meng led five hundred men away from Pei Family Village, you and Sixth Sister went your separate ways. What’s the point of your hypocritical act now?”
Meng Liulang: “…”
Xiao Mo didn’t dare look at his young master’s ugly expression and smiled to smooth things over: “Miss Gu Lian, don’t be angry. Our young master went to the inn yesterday and missed you, then went again early this morning. When he learned you’d left, he specially came out of the city to see you off. No other intentions.”
“After you return, please pass this message to Sixth Sister from Miss Gu Lian: the Beiping Army is now stationed and settled in Bohai Commandery. The original Beiping Army Camp is empty—please have Sixth Sister look after it, and don’t let bandits and riffraff take it over.”
There were still plenty of good things in the Beiping Army Camp! Better to let Sixth Sister take a big share than let others benefit.
Gu Lian changed faces like flipping through a book, beaming: “So it’s just this small matter. I will definitely pass on the message.”
Then, she cupped her hands in farewell.
Meng Liulang kept a stern face, so Xiao Mo had to keep smiling. After Gu Lian’s group left, Xiao Mo sighed repeatedly: “Coming today to see you off, and you still had a sour face. We gave such a big gift and got no thanks—what’s the point?”
Meng Liulang was fuming, glaring over: “That Gu Lian is full of bad ideas and speaks sarcastically. She provoked me first—how did it become me having a sour face?”
Xiao Mo kept sighing: “A real man should have a broad mind. Why bicker with a woman over words? When Gu Lian goes back and tattles to Sixth Sister in front of her, won’t our young master be the one at a loss?”
Meng Liulang sneered: “I’m not from Pei Family Village—why should I fear Pei Qinghe!”
Fine!
If the sky falls, Sixth Young Master’s mouth will hold it up.
Xiao Mo twitched his mouth and heard his young master grumble about Gu Lian: “With that knife scar on her face, and coming out of a mountain bandit stockade—who would be blind enough to fancy her?”
Xiao Mo didn’t like hearing this: “A weak woman who ruined her own face to escape humiliation. Such fierce spirit is worthy of respect.”
Meng Liulang looked over inexplicably: “You couldn’t have fallen for that knife-scar face, could you?”
Xiao Mo’s tongue was sharp too, sighing deeply: “If young master were willing to stay in Pei Family Village, I’d still have a chance to vie for Miss Gu Lian’s favor. Where’s the chance now?”
Meng Liulang: “…”
…
Over half a month later.
Gu Lian and Feng Chang, who had rushed back to Pei Family Village travel-worn, first presented the Son of Heaven’s letter and ten bottles of medicine.
Pei Qinghe was somewhat surprised: “Where did the medicine come from?”
Gu Lian suppressed her inner smugness and recounted the events of the trip. Pei Qinghe laughed: “I indeed didn’t misjudge you. I’ll record this merit for you.”
She had fooled the Son of Heaven, buying Pei Family Village another chance to develop quietly. Gu Lian had truly made a great contribution.
Gu Lian smiled: “A word of praise from Sixth Sister is enough.”
Feng Chang’s teeth ached hearing this and took over: he reported Meng Liulang’s message to Pei Qinghe.
Pei Qinghe showed no change in expression upon hearing Meng Liulang’s name. Instead, Pei Yan turned to glance at Chief Steward Shi nearby.
Shi Yan smiled: “Young General Meng has given us a great gift.”
Pei Qinghe nodded gladly: “Indeed. Tomorrow I’ll take people to Beiping Army Camp and bring back everything we can.”
They were recruiting more and more people; grain, supplies, and silver could still be bought, but weapons and armor were unavailable even for purchase. With wars everywhere now, even the greedy General Li of the Liaoxi Army wouldn’t sell weapons.
Shi Yan eagerly requested: “I’ll go along too.”
Pei Qinghe teased with a smile: “I won’t stop you if you want to go. But can you endure the hardships of the journey?”
“Sixth Sister thinks too little of me.” Shi Yan said smiling: “In the past, I was busy traveling eight or nine months out of the year—rushing about was routine. But my horsemanship is average, so I mostly rode in a carriage. A bit slower speed—Sixth Sister can just wait for me.”
Pei Qinghe thought about it and agreed.
Gu Lian’s surprised gaze drifted back and forth between Sixth Sister and Young Master Shi’s faces.
What was going on?
When had Young Master Shi come to Pei Family Village?
Little Fatty Pei Yue came running over, panting: “Cousin Sister Qinghe, Grandmother sent me to call Gu Lian and Feng Chang over.”
