Chapter 253: Song Xue
“Why did General Song suddenly come to deliver gifts?” Pei Yan leaned over and muttered: “The Pingyang Army is several hundred li away from us; making the trip is no easy task. He’s not harboring some other intention, is he!”
Pei Qinghe smiled and glanced at Pei Yan: “This is indeed rare. Miss Pei Yan is starting to use her brain too.”
Pei Zhi and Pei Xuan grinned widely on the side.
Pei Yan was displeased: “I’ve always had a good brain.”
Pei Qinghe chuckled: “Alright then, tell me, what are the Song siblings here for?”
Pei Yan racked her brains, thinking hard. Pei Zhi couldn’t bear to watch and rolled her pretty eyes: “Back when General Yang sent Yang Huai to deliver gifts, why was that?”
Pei Yan suddenly realized: “The Song family wants a marriage alliance.”
Pei Qinghe smiled and hummed in agreement: “Previously in Bohai Commandery, General Song mentioned to me that he wanted to marry his beloved daughter to Pei Feng. I brushed him off saying Pei Feng was too young. Unexpectedly, General Song’s determination for this marriage is firm; he even took the initiative to send Miss Song to the Pei Family Army.”
“All of you should pretend not to know about this matter. When Miss Song arrives later, don’t look around and ask random questions, so as not to embarrass Miss Song.”
Girls have thin skin; taking the initiative to come for a viewing like this is ultimately not very proper.
Pei Yan, Pei Zhi, Pei Xuan and the others all solemnly agreed. Then they all turned to look at their cousin brother Pei Feng who was vigorously wielding a saber in the training ground.
The oblivious Pei Feng was fighting to the death with the most skilled Xiongnu Barbarian. This Xiongnu Barbarian was tall and strong, his curved saber whistling fiercely. Pei Feng was no match in strength but excelled in agility, holding his own evenly against the Xiongnu Barbarian.
For realistic training, Pei Qinghe had set the rules: once on the training ground, life and death were up to fate. The Xiongnu Barbarians were chained with thin iron chains, making pursuit inconvenient. However, they were all strong and ferocious, and had injured quite a few people these days.
Only in this way could they train soldiers strong enough not to fear Xiongnu Barbarians.
Song Xue and her brother entered the training ground and saw a group of Xiongnu Barbarians wielding sabers ferociously. Every strike was real, drawing blood at any moment; it was a heart-pounding sight.
“So this is how the Pei Family Army trains troops!” Song Dalang drew in a sharp breath, admiration rising in his eyes: “No wonder the Pei Family Army is hailed as the Northern Lands’ number one elite soldiers.”
The title of Northern Lands’ number one elite soldiers originally belonged to the Beiping Army. The Meng Brothers had gained great fame by holding Bohai Commandery against the rebel army’s fierce attacks. Unexpectedly, the Pei Family Army soon stole the spotlight by greatly defeating the Xiongnu Barbarians.
All the armies in the Northern Lands, even if jealous at heart, knew they were no match for the Xiongnu Barbarians and naturally held more reverence for the Pei Family Army.
Song Xue’s eyes sparkled brightly, her gaze excitedly darting around, until it was drawn to a saber-wielding youth.
From afar, she couldn’t see the youth’s face clearly, only his sleek and cold figure wielding the saber nimbly.
Song Dalang coughed, signaling his sister to restrain herself: “General Pei is ahead; come with me to meet General Pei.”
Song Xue withdrew her gaze and followed her brother forward, saluting General Pei: “Song Xue has seen General Pei.”
“Miss Song, please rise.”
General Pei’s voice was unexpectedly clear and pleasant. Song Xue looked up and exclaimed in amazement: “So General Pei looks like this!”
Pei Qinghe smiled faintly: “I’m neither tall and sturdy nor with three heads and six arms; is this disappointing to Miss Song?”
Song Xue’s eyebrows curved like crescent moons in a smile, charmingly naive and adorable: “How could I be disappointed? I’m amazed; General Pei is even more refined and heroic than I imagined.”
Pei Qinghe was not a stunning beauty, nor the most outstanding in appearance among the Pei Clan girls. She had a unique charisma, always the most eye-catching in a crowd.
Song Xue looked at Pei Qinghe, her tone revealing admiration: “General Pei is a heroine who established the Pei Family Army, killed mountain bandits and fought Xiongnu Barbarians, providing protection to the common people. She is a great figure admired and revered by all women under heaven, unattainable. To see the General in person today is truly a blessing of three lifetimes.”
Song Dalang: “…”
No wonder his sister insisted on coming to the Pei Family Army. Turns out it wasn’t to view Pei Feng, but to see General Pei.
Pei Qinghe was quite accustomed to it. Normally, her cousin brothers and sisters looked at her this way too. One more Song Xue made no difference.
Pei Qinghe smiled warmly: “Since you’ve come, stay at ease for a while.”
Song Xue nodded happily again and again, her big watery eyes blinking, clear and endearing like a little deer.
Song Dalang presented the handwritten letter and generous gift from their father. Pei Qinghe opened the letter on the spot, smiled after reading it, and tucked it into her sleeve. As for the several boxes of brand-new weapons, she naturally accepted them with a smile.
A burst of cheers suddenly erupted from the training ground.
Pei Qinghe looked up and also smiled: “Pei Feng won!”
Pei Feng?
Song Xue reluctantly pulled her gaze from Pei Qinghe’s face and sized up the handsome youth striding over.
The thirteen-year-old youth was still somewhat slender, but his face was extremely handsome. Sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, with a face full of cold pride.
Amid the crowd’s cheers and jeers, Pei Feng strode over and grinned at Pei Qinghe: “General, I won!”
Pei Qinghe was never stingy with praise and publicly praised Pei Feng. Pei Feng held his head high and chest out, like a proud little peacock.
Then, they heard Cousin Sister Qinghe say with a smile: “Right, these are the eldest son and youngest daughter of General Song of the Pingyang Army; come greet Young Master Song and Miss Song.”
Pei Feng’s smile froze, alarm bells ringing in his heart, and he reluctantly cupped his hands in salute.
Song Dalang was extremely pleased with Pei Feng and chatted amiably for a few sentences.
Song Xue smiled sweetly, revealing two cute dimples: “Little Brother Pei Feng, I’m a year older than you; you can call me Sister Song from now on.”
Pei Feng twitched his mouth and, under Pei Qinghe’s gaze, barely opened his mouth to call her Sister Song.
…
Thus, starting from this day, Pei Qinghe had one more Miss Song as a tag-along.
Pei Yan didn’t mind; no one could steal her position anyway.
Pei Xuan also didn’t mind. Giving way to her future sister-in-law was fine.
Only Pei Feng kept a handsome face taut all day, cold as cold winter ice and snow. Not to mention talking, he hardly ever looked straight at Song Xue.
Song Xue didn’t care, smiling all day and calling him Little Brother Pei Feng affectionately. Pei Feng couldn’t avoid her, and his handsome face grew even sourer.
Pei Qinghe saw it all and found it amusing, laughing privately to Shi Yan: “Pei Feng is still too young and hasn’t figured it out yet. But this Song Xue is much smarter and more clever than I imagined. In just a few short days, she’s gotten to know all the important figures in the Pei Family Army and even toured Pei Family Village.”
Shi Yan smiled: “The Pingyang Army has quite a reputation among the garrisons in the Northern Lands, and General Song is a powerful figure. His carefully raised daughter naturally won’t be lacking.”
“This marriage can only be settled if Pei Feng is willing.” Pei Qinghe smiled: “If Pei Feng is truly unwilling, then we’ll drop it.”
